Stolen Secrets by L.B. Schulman - Book Blitz
Synopsis:
After
an abrupt move across the country to San Francisco, sixteen-year-old
Livvy is shocked to find that her mother has
lied to her. Instead of looking for work at a bakery, her mom is taking
care of Adelle, Livvy’s grandmother, who Livvy thought was long dead.
Suffering from Alzheimer’s, Adelle shouts out startling details,
mistakes her own name, and seems to relive moments
that may have taken place in a concentration camp. When Livvy and her
new friend Franklin D. find journal entries from the Holocaust in
Adelle’s home, Livvy begins to suspect that her grandmother may have a
shocking link to a notable figure -- Anne Frank.
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Author Interview
1. What is the first book that made you fall in love with reading?
A Wrinkle in Time,
by Madeleine L’Engle. The characters were well-defined and powerful, and the
story was plot driven, fast-paced, and visual—all things I strive to do with my
own books now.
2. How long, on average, does it take you to write a book?
Forever. Okay,
slight exaggeration. But with Stolen Secrets, I had the idea 22 years ago! Then
I sat on it for a long time because I was too scared to tackle the intense
subject matter. It took about four years from the first word to selling it. I
write and revise very s…l…o…w…l…y. Of course, if I had a deadline, I would be
much faster because I hate being late for anything.
3. How do you select the names of your characters?
If it doesn’t just
pop into my head, I go to baby name sites, look up the year my character was
born, and pick from the top 100. I often can sense the letter the name should
begin with. I have no idea why, but it helps to eliminate choices.
4. What creature do you consider your "spirit animal" to be?
Definitely a bird.
One that stays mostly in low trees so I can spy on the world. Also, it allows
me to spot a worm and get it before anyone else. And flying from low tree to low
tree doesn’t take too much energy, so I wouldn’t be competing with those nasty
hawks.
5. If you were the last person on Earth, what would you do?
Build myself the
most luxurious home I could. It would keep me busy for awhile, because I would
be scared of being the last person. Also, if I’m the only one alive, there
should be no problem with stealing all the cool stuff other people once owned
and making my home a wondrous palace. I would also get myself a pet. I mean,
you didn’t say there wouldn’t be animals. At least then I could talk to someone
other than myself.
6. Do you have any advice for aspiring writers?
Always keep
learning. Attend writing conferences, take craft classes, read and analyze
everything you can in your chosen genre. Join a critique group so you can have
eyes other than your own on your work. The more you write, the more you will improve
so set a writing schedule for yourself and stick to it. Finally, persevere. You
won’t get anywhere unless you finish a project and then start another and
another. Learning to write well takes a long time. I am still learning to do
that.
7. What book do you wish you had written?
Anna and the French
Kiss by Stephanie Perkins. It’s such a great love story that I couldn’t put
down. I love authors who are talented at both character creation and plotting. I also like to cry when I read. This book has
it all.
8. Tell us 10 fun facts about yourself! :)
1.
I have a black belt
in Taekwondo.
2.
I am a genealogy nut. I’ve had my DNA tested and
analyzed at ancestry.com and 23andme.
3. I’ve become really good friends with several of
my second and third cousins who I found through my above obsession.
4.
I love to act, but I’m terrified I will forget
my lines, so I take improvisation classes.
5.
The number one word I hear to describe myself is
“adorkable.”
6. My first website, in 1997, was called “Cyberbaby” and was built by my brother. It was all about my new daughter and how wonderful she was.
7. I’ve become convinced that my guardian angels are leaving me dimes everywhere as encouragement. Hardly a day goes by without finding one.
6. My first website, in 1997, was called “Cyberbaby” and was built by my brother. It was all about my new daughter and how wonderful she was.
7. I’ve become convinced that my guardian angels are leaving me dimes everywhere as encouragement. Hardly a day goes by without finding one.
8.
I believe in psychic phenomena and ghosts. I
really want to know for sure if it exists and keep waiting for definitive
evidence. (See #7 above.)
9. I was a screenplay major in college and am currently turning Stolen Secrets into a movie, just for fun.
9. I was a screenplay major in college and am currently turning Stolen Secrets into a movie, just for fun.
10. I am a believer in Karma, setting one’s
intention, and that it’s important to be careful of what you “put into the
universe,” so I watch my thoughts and what I say. I have a visualization board,
too, in case the universe decides to grant me my wishes.
Bio:
Lisa Schulman (L.B.
Schulman) writes middle-grade and young
adult books. She grew up in Annapolis, Maryland and now resides in the
San Francisco Bay Area with her husband, two teen daughters, and a pair
of lovable mutts. In addition to STOLEN SECRETS, she wrote LEAGUE OF
STRAYS, published by Abrams Books in Fall 2012,
which explores bullying, revenge, and breaking free from the ties that
bind. You can visit her online at LBSchulman.com
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