So I'm a really big fan of Lauren Mechling's Dream Girl and Dream Life: they are just such smart, well-written, and funny teen chick lit of sorts with a dash of the magical/paranormal. So when Lauren let me know that she has another project coming out, I was super excited about it! What's cool and different about it is that it's being serialized on the web! Check out what Lauren has to say about MY DARKLYNG (plus find out the fun premise behind the story), and then read an exclusive interview with one of the real teens who plays one of the characters!
-
Laura Moser (my hilarious 10th Grade Social Climber co-author) and I are co-writing a teen thriller that will be running in serialized form all summer long on the web site Slate. It is called MY DARKLYNG and it will publish on Fridays, starting today, June 4.
My Darklyng is a creepy thriller about a normal 16-year old-girl named Natalie who, as embarrassing as it may be, obsessed with the "Dark Shadows" vampire series. She ends up becoming friends with the gorgeous cover model on every "Dark Shadows" book and gets sucked into the Dark Shadows world. It's a dream come true--until her life starts to get really scary and crumble apart.
It's unlike anything I've ever written before--and not just because it isn't a comedy. We wanted to give the story an element of texture that's impossible to do when you're working on a regular printed book. So we have real teenagers "playing" the characters--they are making videos, photographs and keeping Twitter and Facebook pages. Follow the characters so you can follow the ups and downs of Natalie's life in between publication days. Here are the Twitter pages--they're really fun so far.
@eternalnat (main character Natalie Pollock) @mydarklyng (the demented and brilliant vampire author Fiona St. Claire) @tillax (Fiona's sweet supportive sister Tilly) @thejameskay (the vampire cover model James Kay).
The big multiplatform YA thriller MY DARKLYNG launches today on Slate, You can read chapters here--and new chapters will be posted every Friday. So definitely bookmark the page!
Being a multimedia bonanza, the project also has Twitter feeds, videos, photographs, Wikipedia pages, and more. There are also real live teenage girls playing the main characters. I am presenting you an exclusive interview with Hannah, who plays the main character Natalie and is also serving as our art director. She's been taking buckets of photographs to go along with the story. (You can watch them--along with some truly scary pix--upload on her Facebook page here.)
Without further ado. . .
What's your name? Hannah Grosman [girl on the right in the picture]
How old are you? 16
How did you meet Lauren? I actually met her through my school. She graduated from the school that I go to and wanted someone from here to help.
What's your take on this weird multimedia project? Do you think kids will be into it? I think it's AWESOME! The multimedia side of the project is so different than anything else that I've ever seen, and it will definitely attract a lot of readers.
Whats your favorite cheesy YA book? I'd definitely have to say that my favorite YA novels are the Twilight series. Who doesn't love vampires?!
What kinds of pictures have you been taking? I've been taking the type of pictures that my friends and I would take for our own Facebook pages. They are quirky and cute shots that show Natalie and her friends joking around and being teenagers!
Whats the biggest similarity between you and Natalie? It's actually quite scary how similar Natalie and I are... we both have secret obsession with nerdy books, we both run track, the similarities are endless!
Biggest difference? Natalie is way cooler than I am! I absolutely adore her character.
[For the record Hannah is totally lying. She's The Coolest.]
-
Thanks, Lauren and Hannah, for visiting my blog today! Be sure to keep your eyes open on the blogosphere for other guest posts regarding this series, and above all, check it out on Slate!
Yesterday, you heard from me and the main character, Claire, about Lauren Mechling's latest book, Dream Life. Today, you get to hear from the author herself! Welcome, Lauren, to Steph Su Reads!
1. Where did the inspiration for Claire's story come from?
It came from a lot of places--I've folded many of my personal fascinations into Claire's world. But I'd day the primary spark came about five years ago, when I visited a dear friend's grandmother at her hotel apartment. My friend's grandmother is a scream--an imposing woman who wears peacock blue two piece suits, with matching peacock blue shoes and an elaborate jeweled cane. She used to be the biggest heartbreaker of her time and she married quite well. She now lives alone and spends time with those from her social circle who are still kicking around. She is the smartest and funniest woman, always brimming with advice and opinions that she mutters under her breath, just loud enough for those sitting closeby to hear. When I met her I felt simultaneously intimidated by her and in love with her. And thus the inspiration for Kiki, Claire's dreamy grandmother, was born.
2. What's your favorite mystery story, author, or movie?
I love the mystery author P D James; ideally I like to read her whodunnits curled up next to a fireplace, sipping a glass of port. She used to work for the police and criminal law department of the British Home Office and didn't publish her first book till she was 42. She's in her 80s and still writing. I have a soft spot for late bloomers.
3. For the aspiring-author readers on my blog, tell us a bit about your path to publication. How long did it take for you to write your first published novel? (How many unpublished novels before then?) How long was it in the query process?
I wrote my first book, The Rise and Fall of a 10th Grade Social Climber, with my friend Laura Moser as a lark, actually. We were about 23 and we wrote it in the mornings before going to our jobs. We didn't think anything would come of it. When we were done, about a year later, we were rejected by about a dozen publishers before Eden Edwards, who ran an imprint at Houghton Mifflin, said yes. It had been about six months since the submission had gone out and we were back in the swing of our every day lives, certain our odd little creation would never see the light of publication. We were shocked.
4. Why did you choose to make Claire and her family French?
I am a francophile, which can be annoying to other people. I thought it would be funny to write a character who isn't French but thinks she is (Claire's mom).
5. Do you have any personal experience, interests, or anecdotes regarding clairvoyance, visions, or "sixth senses"?
I have intense dreams where people I know do shocking stuff. They're not clairvoyant visions, but they're powerful. I have to say I never look at anybody the same after I've "seen" what they're capable of.
6. Of all the characters in this series, who was the most fun to write? Who was the most difficult?
I loved Louis, Claire's old time BFF. He's like a human teddy bear, except with attitude. And Andy was hard, because I wanted him to be riding the cusp that's just between lovely and aloof--not an easy balance to strike.
7. Which authors/books were you most influenced by when writing Dream Girl and Dream Life?
My biggest influence is my hero Barbara Pym (another late bloome), though her books about quaint English life aren't that related to my books. I just love her. I also read a bunch of James Bond books to get in the butt-kicking, globe-trotting adventurer mindset.
8. Name 3 things you want to do before you die.
Learn to drive.
Become better at watching TV (I get distracted).
Write a big juicy book that isn't a comedy. Not because I don't like funny books, but because it would be the biggest challenge I can think of.
9. Can you give us a teeny tiny hint as to what is next for you in terms of writing?
Im working on a YA project that's part mystery, part, well . . . .I really can't say more but it will be announced later this spring. It's going to be awesome.
-
Thanks for the interesting answers, Lauren! Readers, I hope you check out Dream Girl and Dream Life for a fun and enjoyable reading experience! (Remember that Dream Life is not readily available in bookstores, so the easiest way to get it would be through Amazon, or have your local bookstore special order it for you.)
I am thrilled to be part of the blog tour to promote Lauren Mechling's newly released novel, Dream Life, a companion novel/sequel to Dream Girl. When Lauren contacted me months ago to see if I would be willing to review her book (and bloggers, she's, like, one of the coolest authors out there. SO nice and genuine), I didn't know what I was getting myself into. I never expected to like this series as much as I did, and I recommend it without reserve, to almost any reader. Enough of my blabber now; let's get on with it!
15-year-old psychic detective Claire Voyante’s new semester is not getting off to so great a start. Her best friend Becca is too busy with some old friends of hers to spend much time with Claire. And now Andy, Becca’s older brother and Claire’s crush-slash-somewhat-boyfriend, also seems too busy for her.
Then it turns out that Becca’s actually in a secret society responsible for improvement projects all over NYC, and their latest project is about to go downhill with a mysterious enemy attempting to sabotage their plans. It may be all up to Claire and her psychic dreams to help save the day once again.
Review
This companion novel/sequel to DREAM GIRL does not disappoint at all: Claire and her eclectic group of friends and family are all here again, helping us enjoy the heck out of reading contemporary chick lit mystery with a twist of magic. Lauren Mechling proves once again that fluff reading can also be smart, and that smart girls can read fluff.
The most outstanding thing about this series is its gold medal-worthy characters. Claire is not your average teen chick lit heroine: she’s smart, she’s snarky, and she has a way of narrating that will leave us chuckling and wondering why we didn’t think of it ourselves. Likewise, I’m flabbergasted at the way Lauren writes atypical supporting characters, ones whose existence lies beyond being merely a plot device, or the MC’s loyal, opinion-less sidekick.
In fact, even though DREAM LIFE is at its core a gentle mystery novel, I loved the way everything didn’t revolve around the mystery. As in real life, there is more than one issue in a person’s life, and so it is with Claire. Lauren blends the mystery element with family eccentricities, friends’ troubles, choppy romantic waters, and more, to create a well-rounded, enjoyable, yet utterly relatable tale.
Similar to DREAM GIRL, the mystery aspect of this novel requires a bit of suspension of disbelief in order to believe. Secret society novels are rather overdone, and the creed of the one in DREAM LIFE is, well, a little silly and ridiculous. Still, one cannot deny Lauren’s skill at writing these novels. If you haven’t yet read this series, I highly recommend you pick it up. As far as lighthearted yet intelligent fluffy mysteries go, you can’t get much better than this.
Similar Authors
Rosemary Clement-Moore
Maureen Johnson
Natalie Standiford (How to Say Goodbye in Robot)
Writing: 4/5 Characters: 4/5 Plot: 4/5
Overall Rating: 4 out of 5
Cover discussion: 2.5 out of 5 - Okay, okay, it still looks really weird IMO, but at least we've disposed of the excessively girly colors now. The cover has very little to do with what the book is about, and it's one of those cases where you need to overlook appearances for the genius that is inside.
Thanks, Lauren and Random House, for providing me with a copy for review!
-
And now, a few words from the star herself...
Greetings and salutations, book lovers! I’m Claire Voyante, the main character of Dream Life, Lauren Mechling’s rip-roaring detective novel (and no, it is not immodest to say that about a book you didn’t write but in which you star—I checked in one of my grandmother Kiki’s etiquette books).
Dream Life is all about what happened after I found out my best friend Becca had just joined a super-exclusive, centuries-old secret society called the Blue Moons. I figured out how to wiggle my way into the club, and, of course, much drama ensued. I warmly invite you to check Dream Life out—it’s available at a bookstore or Internet site near you.
When Dream Girl, the first book in the series, came out, my creator Lauren fielded questions from bloggers and journalists. Lauren is currently underground working on a secret project so I offered to step in and relief pitch. I’m taking a page from Ann Landers's book and writing an advice column. The questions came from fans of the series. The answers came from the heart.
(Warning: I don't have a degree in psychotherapy--use at your own risk!)
12. Dear Claire,
I heard you new book is all about a secret society. I’ve been a member of my school’s track team and National Merit Scholarship club, and the thrill is gone. I’m writing because I’d to start my own secret society. Got any tips?
Yours,
Janine Who Could Use Some Excitement In Her Life
Askov, Minn
Dear JWCUSEIHL,
I hear you! I go to this nerd school called Henry Hudson where everyone is obsessed with joining extracurricular clubs like Young Engineering Professionals and PoWER (People With Excellent Reading [abilities]). I’m sure these societies will look good on college applications, but that’s assuming you don’t die of boredom and you make it all the way to the college application process.
I didn’t belong to anything until the Blue Moons came knocking on my door. Okay, they didn’t exactly come knocking—more like I inserted myself among them. But that’s just a minor detail! The important thing is joining a secret society sure spices up a girl’s life.
If you want to start your own secret society, here are a few tips I picked up:
1. Code words are big. After all, it’s a secret society, so everything can’t just be lying out in the open. I’d come up with a special word for everything, so for example if you started the Orangina Society, you could call getting invited to join getting “juiced,” a member could be called a “seed,” and if somebody gets kicked out, she’s been “spilled.
2. No-nos are huge. Most of the times, a secret society isn’t about something so much as it’s not-about a lot of things. For instance, you might want to say your Orangina Society Society doesn’t allow shoes with laces, the color yellow, and any mentions of Megan Fox in its environs. And it’s always good to have a Major No-No—the society’s nemesis, the force you’re fighting against. It can either be something like pollution or injustice against minors. If you’re really feeling brave, go ahead and say your foe is the devil.
3. You’ll need to come up with a secret ritual or two. These can--and should!--be as preposterous as you like, and if anyone has any questions about why they have to wake up at two in the morning to roll watermelons across somebody’s lawn, you have an easy response. Just say these were the rules of another secret society from the very distant past and your society is that society’s reincarnation.
I hope these tips help, Janine.
L’amour toujours!
Claire
-
In an twist of incomprehensibility, few bookstores have opted to stock Dream Life. The easiest way to get your own copy--which you should do--is to order it through Amazon. I also recommend you ask your local bookseller to special order it for you: special orders generally result in bookstores stocking the book, leading to greater audiences reached. Do so now, if you can! I will leave you with the trailer for Dream Life, for those who need more visual and image-based persuasion:
15-year-old Claire Voyante has always been a little abnormal. Her mother is a wannabe Frenchwomen with ADD; her father—who is actually French—is a professor with eclectic friends; her younger brother Henry takes walks in the middle of the night. Claire herself has had visions on and off her whole life, but it is only when her grandmother Kiki gives her a black-and-white pendant that Claire’s dreams seem to suddenly sharpen and become prophetic.
When Claire befriends Becca, whose family is American condiment royalty, at their new and intense high school, Claire’s dreams suggest that someone may be trying to sabotage Becca’s family. It’s up to Claire to channel her love for Agatha Christie and find out who’s plotting against them before it’s too late.
Review
DREAM GIRL is an utterly delightful, entertaining, and real book, featuring sharp writing and amazing characters. I couldn’t put it down, and, considering how this is not my usual genre fare for reading, that’s saying something.
Lauren Mechling’s writing is pitch-perfect for the likable Claire. Claire has a tongue-in-cheek way of approaching and viewing the world, going along with all the eccentricities around her while simultaneously making her genuine mark on others. She sounds like a real 15-year-old, not a grown up trying to hard to capture a 15-year-old’s voice or a 15-year-old whom you want to whack in the head for being insufferably annoying.
But Claire is not the only strong character in this book. With the possible exception of the mean-girl posse at school (and Lauren even hints at the possibility of their redemption), there is not one character in DREAM GIRL that feels like a stereotype. They are, incredibly, all charming and interesting. The dialogue is excellent; in fact, if you’re an appreciator of all-too-rare good writing in chick lit, as I am, you won’t be able to stop smiling through this book, chuckling at all the subtle witticisms and nodding your head at the realistic portrayal of people.
The psychic mystery element of DREAM GIRL works if you suspend your disbelief that a girl’s dreams can help her solve a sinister international crime. I liked how this novel is character-driven, not plot-dependent. Claire’s prophetic dreams do not overshadow her daytime life; instead, the mystical element of the story adds just a touch of the fantastical to this otherwise contemporary novel.
Overall, those looking for good writing and light reads will enjoy DREAM GIRL. Hardcore mystery fans may find Claire’s sleuthing abilities a bit too lighthearted for their tastes, but for those of us less well-versed in the genre, DREAM GIRL is a promising read. I can’t wait to see what Claire will do next in future books!
Similar Authors
Rosemary Clement-Moore
Jaclyn Moriarty
Writing: 4/5 Characters: 4/5 Plot: 3/5
Overall Rating: 3.5 out of 5
Cover discussion: 2 out of 5 - Completely not my thing, not even when they changed the pink flowers to red for the paperback version. There is an excess of girliness that gives the wrong impression of the book (and I admit fully that the cover had turned me off to this book for a long time), the model is definitely not Claire, and it's just.... eh.
Random House / July 2008 / Hardcover / 256pp. / $15.99
also available in paperback (320pp.), $8.99
