Feature Friday - Interview with Theresa Paolo

Feature Friday is a feature on Bookish Treasures that spotlights an author and their latest release. Every Friday I will be featuring an author through either an interview or a guest post. If you are interested in taking part please send me an email.

This week I am featuring Theresa Paolo whose NA contemporary romance novel (Never) Again release in October from Berkley and is very good (I'll get around to writing a review soon, promise!) :D

(Never) Again by Theresa Paolo

Synopsis

Just when she had finally moved on…
…He moved back.

When college freshman Liz Wagner hears her ex's voice for the first time since he moved clear across the freaking country, she does what any respectable girl would do: Dive into the girls' bathroom.

Zach Roberts—the Zach Roberts—is back. And he’s everywhere Liz looks—infiltrating her friend group, buddy-buddy with her brother. It’s enough to ruin college altogether. But what choice does she have but to put on a happy face and pretend he didn't leave her vulnerable and alone in a pile of emotional wreckage?

Pretending works, until tragedy strikes and the only person available for comfort is the one person she wants to stay away from. When Zach turns out not to be the jerk she convinced herself he was, but the boy she used to love, Liz needs to decide whether to open her heart again to the boy who tore it out.

Interview with Theresa Paolo

Why did you decide to become an author?

I’ve always wanted to be some sort of writer for as long as I can remember. A journalist then a columnist, a poet (thankfully I gave up on that one, I was terrible!) but I always went back to an author.  When I finally decided to write my first book, and let those characters completely consume my every thought, I was hooked and there was no turning back.

How do you balance writing with other things in your life?

This is a constant struggle for me and I haven’t found that balance yet. However, I dedicate my Saturdays to writing and I do as much as I can during the week. I got a tablet for Christmas (YAY!) so I’ve been spending my lunch breaks at Starbucks and writing as much as I can in those 45 minutes. 

What is your favourite thing about being an author?

The people I meet and get to talk to on a daily basis. I can credit writing for introducing me to some of my best friends.

What are your favourite books?

As long as it has romance, sign me up. I’ll read anything. YA, NA, Adult. My faves would be. Man I have a lot. Anything by Sarah Dessen, Simone Elkeles, Toni Blake, Susan Mallery, Cassie Mae and Colleen Hoover. Easy by Tammara Webber, True by Erin McCarthy, Gabriel’s Inferno series by Sylvain Reynard, The Gansett Island series by Marie Force, Charade by Nyrae Dawn, The Next Best Thing and My One and Only by Kristan Higgins, Going too Far by Jennifer Echols, Effortless With You by Lizzy Charles, and I’m going to stop now.

Are there any books/authors that inspired you to write?

I hated to read when I was in school. The books they gave you, for the most part, I thought were terrible. I couldn’t relate to them at all. They didn’t speak to me. To be honest, I found them boring. Then I discovered R.L. Stine and Hailey Abbot and from there Sarah Dessen and Carly Phillips. They wrote books I actually wanted to read. And that’s what I wanted most. To write books I want to read.

Describe your book in one sentence.

I think the tag line sums it up perfectly. Just when she had finally moved on...he moved back.

Where did you get the idea for (Never) Again, did anything inspire you to write it?

How to do this without giving away the whole story. Hmm. In 2007 I was home when a news story came on and I couldn’t turn away. It was something that I couldn’t get off my mind for days. I thought about all the stories I had read/seen that dealt with the situation, but I had never read one about the people on the outside. The people who weren’t there, but knew someone who was. I couldn’t stop wondering what they were going through, knowing something was wrong but not knowing all the details. I wanted to know their story. So that’s when I decided to write (Never) Again. Hope that wasn’t too vague.

What made you decide to write a New Adult contemporary romance novel?

NA actually found me. (Never) Again was originally written as YA, but after a discussion with my agent and editor we decided to make it a NA, and I couldn’t be happier with the outcome. I feel like the story was meant to be NA.  I started devouring NA books and I can’t get enough of them. I’m all for recs so if you have any favorites please let me know J

What would you say makes your book unique and worth reading?

I didn’t let Liz, my main character, make the best decisions. She isn’t perfect. I didn’t want her to be because I have never met a perfect person. She’s flawed and you’ll want to reach into the book and strangle her, but I think that’s what makes her and her story relatable. Plus Zach is pretty hot. Not to mention Liz’s brother, Josh! He’s my favorite secondary character.

Is there any specific message you wanted to convey in the book?

Nobody’s perfect. People make mistakes and there is nothing wrong with that. Also don’t take things for granted.

What are your plans for future books?

I have a YA book coming out in Feb with Cassie Mae called King Sized Beds and Happy Trails. I also have a ton of ideas I’m currently working on but nothing set in stone yet. Hopefully I’ll have news soon.

Do you have any hobbies and Interests unrelated to books?

Photography, but unfortunately I don’t really have time for it anymore. I also like to travel even though I hate to fly.  I love history especially the 1920’s and ancient history.

Would you ever consider putting these (answer to above) into any of your books?

Absolutely. I actually wrote a book about a girl that time travels back to 1925 where she is mistaken for her great grandmother. The first book I ever wrote, which is awful, the main character loves photography. I also noticed a lot of my characters like history. It’s easy to write about things I know and love and I do try to incorporate them.

FUN STUFF

If you could meet any one author (dead or alive) who would it be and why?

Sarah Dessen because her books made me fall in love with reading. This past BEA I spotted her by the Penguin truck. I hyperventilated and tried to speak to my Mom who was trying to figure out what was wrong with me, but I couldn’t get the words out. So instead of trying to explain to my Mom I just walked over to Sarah Dessen and totally fan girled it.  And she was just as amazing as I hoped. I turned to my Mom after we said our goodbyes and I told her I could go home now. We hadn’t even got our badges yet.  

Tell us one interesting fact about yourself.

I have a degree in Marketing. Okay that’s super boring...I can touch my tongue to my nose.

What is your favourite food?

Pizza. Quesadillas. Chicken parm. I’m a foodie I can’t just pick one.

What is the most adventurous thing you have ever done?

I drove from NY to Minnesota with author Cassie Mae for a writers retreat. We left on a Thursday and were back in NY on Sunday.  I’ve also ziplined and parasailed. I have a really hard time sticking to one thing. Sorry.  

If you could be any supernatural creature which would you choose?

Oh good question! Funny thing. I just took a test called what supernatural creature are you? It said I was a witch and that would be my choice. Or vampire just because of the whole immortality thing.

Thanks for having me. This has been so much fun!!! :)