I am so excited to share this post with you for so many reasons. We were privileged to be able to ask the wildly successful author Meg Cabot some questions, and I love what she has to say about writing, about teens, and about her own growing-up years.
But can I be honest? The thing that really excites me is to be able to share this fun video review of Abandon that my 12-year-old daughter I did together, since we both read the book. She enjoyed it so much that she wants to do more, and I like that having a partner helped me to loosen up, so we’ll have to keep our eyes open for that, right?
We also have a fantastic giveaway to offer at the end, so stick with us.
You can also check out the cool video trailer, where you will also find several interviews with Meg Cabot about the novel.
And now — our exclusive Q&A with Meg Cabot:
What do you like about writing for teens?
My favorite thing writing about teens is that they’re in a time of their lives when it is okay for them to still be undecided about who they are or where they’re going in life. When you’re an adult, this isn’t such an OK thing (although secretly many of us feel this way).
Plus, there’s often a dance in YA books, and then the characters get a chance to dress up, and it’s always nice to give your characters a chance to shine. Adults never get to go to dances (except weddings), and so hardly ever get a chance to dress up. We lead such boring lives. Except those of us who are professional wedding planners, or spies.
Is it different from writing for adults?
Any writer who says writing for teens is “different” than writing for adults is probably writing “down” to the audience. I don’t make any adjustment to my writing style when I’m writing for non-adult readers . . . except that I usually leave out the swear words. But in reality, teens swear. A LOT.
How do you hope your readers will respond to your stories?
I hope my books offer an escape for them from their problems, as my favorite authors’ books do for me when I’m looking for something “good to read.” It seems like there are more pressures in life than ever before (for instance, when I was teen, girls wrote nasty things about other girls on the bathroom wall; now they write them on Facebook), making it harder than ever to escape from them! So stories have to be really engrossing to help us get away from our problems. That’s what I’m always looking for in a book.
What books were you reading in middle school and high school?
I loved the “classics”—Jane Eyre, and Pride and Prejudice, and all of those.
But I loved what some people consider “trashy” fiction too . . . comic books, sci fi, horror novels, romance, mysteries. I’d read pretty much anything as long as it had a strong female character and suspense mingled with romance in it!
Wasn’t that fun?
One of you will win a copy of Abandon and this limited edition silver bracelet, giving you a hint of heroine Pierce Oliveria’s new life lesson (after cheating death once and sort of fleeing from him ever since). It’s nothing new to those of us who have experienced such things in our many years, but it’s such a teenage revelation — after living a safe and simple life to find out that things are really quite unexpected and out of our control.
Leave a comment if you’d like to win (U.S. shipping addresses only). We’ll announce the winner on Wednesday, May 18. The giveaway is closed.
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Jennifer Donovan and her daughter Amanda share a love of reading, and both enjoy reading some of the same books, though they might differ in opinion on what makes a truly great book. She blogs at Snapshot, which gives her yet another forum to share her opinions.
The trailer was awesome and the books is one I definitely need for my school shelves next year.
Love the bracelet very cool. too bad only US.
I read the Princess Diaries series avidly and would love this book. Plus that bracelet looks great.
Sounds like an exciting book for my daughter that she will certainly want to read. Nice mother-daughter video trailer.
Sounds intriguing!
Love your video review and that Amanda joined you — you guys were great!
My daughter likes her books.
My niece is becoming an avid reader and I would enjoy winning Meg Cabot’s book and message bracelet for her…
Many thanks, Cindi
I love her books. Thanks for the chance!
bacchus76 at myself dot com
I would love to read this book.
lkish77123 at gmail dot com
Oh my, how I LOVED hearing you and Amanda talk about the book together, especially the part in which you asked her if it was inappropriate and she responded with that pitch-perfect “No!” 🙂
I saw this book the other day and regret not picking it up. Thanks for the chance!! 🙂
Sounds like a good one!
My teen age sister would probably love this. Although, I think I’d have to sneak in a read first. 😉
I am new to Meg Cabot, but I love her stuff! Thank you for holding this contest.
Loved the video, kudos to you Amanda!! Well done! Sounds like a new series that may be of interest to my boys, unless the romance becomes too big of the story! But the mythology part would really interest him! Hope to see Amanda in another review soon! :o)
Would love to win this book. 🙂
I would LOVE to win this book & bracelet!
This might be a good one for my grand-daughter. I would love to win this for her!
I sooo can’t wait to read this book!
I loved hearing your daughter’s opinion on the book, it gives good insight as to how a younger audience would read it and how they might read it differently than an older reader would.Excellent choice of guest star haha
(: I love Meg Cabot’s books and I’d love to own this one! fingers crossed!
This book was amazing!! Meg Cabot never fails! I’m really excited to see where the next book goes.
I just finished this book on my nook and I didnt realize it was almost over until I turned the page and saw there was no story left. So now im in a little tantrum over the cliff hanger ending and had to call up one of my friends to tell her all about the book. I cannot wait for the second book!!!! I dont know how I will survive! I love john ahh!
Eu gostaria de ganhar mas não entregam no Brasil. =(
Adorei a entrevista!
i really love that this book has the literary allusion of the Hades/Persephone mythology. that adds so much to the story, in my opinion.
I just got this book out from the library and I’m very excited to read it. I really liked your guys’s imput on the review.
These bracelets look so awesome
Awesome review and Q&A! Not to mention a very cool bracelet to boot. Looking forward to reading Abandon as soon as I get a chance!
I’d love to win, it’s a great giveaway 🙂
I have been a big Meg Cabot & i love her books I am looking forward to having Abandon in my Book Shelf soon & the Bracelet it awesome.
Lizzie–
You won the book and the bracelet. Congrats!
Please reply to the email notification with your shipping info.
I am excited for a chance to win, this book sounds truly amazing and thank you for the chance to win, Its a great opportunity to win the book.
I LOVED this book. Best part of it is that the story is totally unpredictable even for someone who has read almost all of Meg’s books.
You guys are adorable. It’s so great that you share your passion for reading. Thanks for the insight from Meg!
I love Meg Cabot and I can’t wait to read this book.
Meg Cabot is one of my favorite authors hands down. She really puts her all into her work and delivers with AMAZING stories. The Airhead series would have to be my favorite.
Can’t wait to read Abandon!
Loved the trailer, and can’t wait to read Abandoned. My copy arrived! Squeeee!
I absolutely love your books and Abandon is one of my favorites. Love the bracelets too.
Meg is everyone’s all time fav. and have alredy ordered the book Abandon and would love to read the book with the braclet in my hand:)
Would love to win either the book, or the bracelet. Lovely video. 😀
I absolutely loved this book. I cannot wait until the sequel is released. I ended up reading Insatiable directly after it, and now I feel like I’m on a Meg Cabot bender.
Amanda was amazing…loved her review! Definitely want to pick up the book for my teenage daughter!
I absolutely loved Abandon! The wait for Underworld is going to be excruciating.
Meg Cabot is one of my all time favorite authors. She can make the work that she creates and gears towards a teenage audience so interesting and attention getting, that I at 21 (granted I have been reading her books since I was 10) can’t put them down. I would love to win a copy of “Abandon” and the awesome looking bracelet. I just know that within 6 to 12 hours of receiving it, I will have read it again. Yes I have read it before…but I want to own it. 🙂
My daughter and I love Meg Cabot! We saw her when she was in Kansas City the last week of April. Love the video! Love to win the bracelet for my daughter!
Those bracelets are so cool! I would love to have one!
Sounds like a good read for my granddaughter.
It sure was fun to meet Amanda!
Can’t wait to read this book!!!
I enjoyed your interview with Meg. Thanks!
I need this book! (: the bracelets are so cute … ♥ xoxo , Claire 🙂
THANKS SO MUCH!!!
Great job guys! my 11 year old loves Meg Cabot. Is this book too old for her still? she just turned 11 this week.
I would say that it’s probably too old for her, and as I alluded in the review, the next book in the series might get steamier. Right now, there was just some kissing, but the characters are 17, so . . . . .
I’ll have to look through my books and see what we could loan you. We have TONS of great ones.
I would love to read this book, thank you for the giveaway.
seriousreader at live dot com
Looks like a great read and such a great message on the bracelet.