The Girlfriends' Cyber Circuit is a web ring of YA authors which I've
recently had the great honor to join. Check these posts for the latest
releases!
It's been a busy few weeks for the the Girlfriends! Today, I'm so happy to be featuring Denise Jaden and her new YA contemp, NEVER ENOUGH. I absolutely loved her debut LOSING FAITH, and can't wait to dive into this:
From the author of Losing
Faith, a novel about two sisters and the eating disorder that threatens to
destroy their family.
Loann’s always wanted to be
popular and pretty like her sister, Claire. So when Claire’s ex-boyfriend
starts flirting with her, Loann is willing to do whatever it takes to feel
special…even if that means betraying her sister.
But as Loann slips inside
Claire’s world, she discovers that everything is not as it seems. Claire’s
quest for perfection is all-consuming, and comes at a dangerous price. And
Loann is frightened she could lose the sister she’s always idolized.
As Claire increasingly withdraws
from friends and family, Loann struggles to understand her and make amends. Can
she heal their relationship—and her sister—before it’s too late?
Buzz for NEVER ENOUGH:
"In
her sophomore novel, Jaden (Losing Faith) offers an intimate and enlightened
rendering of anorexia and bulimia...Loann's fight against forces that might be
beyond her control is both harrowing and inspiring. While Jaden does not
provide simple answers for the problems presented, she dramatically illustrates
the importance of speaking out and reaching out."
—Publishers Weekly
“Denise
Jaden's Never Enough is honest, gut wrenching, and oh so beautiful.
It's a book you can't wait to share.”
—Eileen Cook, author of Unraveling
Isobel and The Education of Hailey Kendrick
“A poignant,
important book...Denise Jaden has created a cliché-free zone filled with hurt,
heart, and personal strength.”
—C.K. Kelly Martin, author of I
Know It’s Over and Yesterday
“Denise Jaden
positively
nails the love-hate relationship between two polar opposite
sisters who share a single quest: the desire to be perfect, regardless of the
cost. A compelling, often gut-wrenching coming-of-age novel,
Never Enough
will haunt you long after the last page.”
—From Jeannie Garsee, author of Before, After and Somebody In
Between
"A poignant look at sisterly devotion
and heartache, woven into a sweet tale
of first love and a girl coming into her own."
—Holly Cupala, author of Tell Me A Secret and Don't
Breathe A Word
About Denise:
Denise Jaden spent her high school lunch hours trying to
tame her frizzy/curly hair in the bathroom, or playing freeze tag in the drama
room. She attended the theatre program at college, and then enjoyed a variety
of occupations, including stage production, mushroom farming, and Polynesian
dancing. The first draft of her debut novel,
Losing Faith, was written in 21 days during National Novel Writing
Month. This is her second novel. She lives just outside Vancouver, Canada with
her husband and son. Find out more online at
http://www.denisejaden.comor on Twitter:
@denisejaden
Make sure you check these out, because Denise is hosting a
mega book giveaway on her blog, and anyone who comments on this post is eligible to enter! It's linked up
here!
And now, my favorite part, a peek into Denise's writing life...
1. Do you have a pre-game writing warm-up?
Something you do before you write to help get you in the right frame of
mind?
No, I pretty much just sit down in front of my
laptop whenever I can find spare minutes to write. I’ve learned to be able to
sit down in five minute shots and have truly productive moments. When I get
stuck, I pace around my kitchen and dining room a few times and that seems to
get my mind working again.
2. Is there a time of day you like to write
best?
I really like to write first thing in the morning.
Often when I’m first waking up, I get some great ideas that I want to work into
my current manuscript. It’s always best if I can implement these right away, but
often I have to wait until the afternoons to get any serious writing
done.
3. Where do you
write most often? Do you have a picture you wouldn’t mind sharing of your
writing space?
I have an office, officially, but really it’s just
our spare room with a teeny-tiny desk shoved into the corner. To be perfectly
honest, though, I wrote Losing Faith at my kitchen table during my
pre-office days, and quite often I migrate back there with my laptop.
4. What things do you
always have on hand when writing? Special pens, notepads, snacks…
I used to crunch on baby carrots all the time while
working until I learned they’re soaked in bleach. Yelch! Now I try not to snack,
but more often than not, you’ll find a dark chocolate bar somewhere in the
vicinity of my desk.
5. How do you stay
focused when writing?
Believe it or not, Twitter helps. I’m serious! I
tweet that I’m going to be working, sometimes I have a wordwar or challenge with
somebody, and those are often my most productive times. I’m very goal driven,
and once I say something (or type it in 140 characters or less), I stick to
it.
6. What is your worst writing
distraction/procrastination tool?
Twitter! Wait, does that work to answer this the
same way? But it’s true. While it can be my best helper, it can also be my worst
hindrance. There’s always someone fun to chat with on
there.
7. Describe your
perfect writing day:
My perfect writing day would involve my husband
getting my son up and out of the house before I wake up. Then I could go
straight from bed to my laptop, which would be ideal. After an hour or two’s
work in the morning, I’d probably take a break, do some homeschool with my son,
and ideally have another two hours to work in the afternoon. When my husband
goes out of town, I also write a little in the evenings (a glass of wine is a
nice bonus!) but I don’t think I’d want to write in the evenings every
day.
Thank you so much for stopping by, Denise! I can't wait to read Never Enough!
