I Was Here Seattle Tour Stop and Interview with Gayle Forman

 Gayle Forman's new book I Was Here is set partially in nearby Tacoma. To celebrate the launch, she has been having friends and fellow authors meet up with her. Tonight Nina LaCour and Deb Caletti joined her for a conversation at University Bookstore in a very rainy Seattle, WA. They talked about their writing process and how do they revise. They also talked about how they name their characters and how they feel about setting. A general theme of the night was friendship as they reflected on their writing experience and lives in general. The night felt like overhearing a conversation of friends and was very much enjoyed by me.
Earlier that night, I had the opportunity to briefly talk with Gayle and ask her a few questions.
S: Why did you decide to write contemporary with many other genres in YA?
Gayle said that it is the world that she lives in and it is where she can explore many of the questions that she is drawn to.
S: What are some of your recommended reads? 
She recommended Deb Caletti's The Last Forever, Nina LaCour's The Disenchantment,
Jandy Nelson's I'll Give You the Sun, Jacqueline Woodsen's Brown Girl Dreaming, and Coe Booth's Tyrell Series.
S: What is the best writing advice that you have received?
"Hard Writing makes easy reading."
S:What inspired or influenced you to grapple with suicide?
Gayle said that she was inspired by an article that she wrote about suicide; which, introduced her to Suzy Gonzales, who didn't seem like someone that would commit suicide from many of the people surrounding her. Gayle wanted to deal with being on the receiving end of a timed suicide note from someone that you love and that you find incredibly gifted and amazing. Over the writing process, she found that it was more about survival and loving life as she explored Cody's character and revised the book..
S: What are your upcoming books?
 Gayle said she is currently working on three books, which has recently become more so between two books. She likes switching, because it makes the writing seem more fresh and exciting.  

Thank you to University Bookstore for hosting; Penguin Randomhouse for organizing the interview and the tour;  Gayle Forman, Nina LaCour, Deb Caletti; and you for reading this.

Hold Still by Nina LaCour

Rating:
Characters: 18/20
Plot: 18/20
Originality: 19/20
Writing: 18/20
Recommendation: 18/20
Overall: 91/100 or A
The night that Ingrid told Caitlin, "I'll go wherever you go. But by dawn Ingrid, and her promise is gone. Caitlin was left alone. Ingrid's suicide immobilizes Caitlin, leaving her unsure of her place in a new world that she doesn't recognize. She can't enjoy anything without her best friend. But Ingrid left more then just her memory behind. She left a journal accounting her last days behind -just for Caitlin. She travels through the her memories of Ingrid and is in search of a renewal of hope.
Hold Still is one of those books that you have to think about. It is so strong and it is hard to tell if you like it. Caitlin is a realistic girl in a very hard and real situation. At the beginning of the book, she is in a very dark place and you can tell that she really wants to come to terms with Ingrid's suicide. She is a really interesting character. Hold Still had a great plot. It was also very original novel about depression. LaCour is a great writer and captured all the emotions of a teen that goes through at a time like this. I recommend that you check out, Hold Still.

Book Trailer

This is the second book trailer for Hold Still by Nina Lacour. Check it out. Kudos to Amanda for e-mailing me it. I guess the whole trailer was filmed one day with a Super 8 camera, with her friends. That is totally awesome and it explains the whole book so well.

Hold Still Trailer.

So, I read Hold Still by Nina LaCour recently and it was pretty good. Anyways, here is a trailer for it. So, check it out.