68 ratings | 9 reviews | avg rating:4.01

Alex's Bookshelves

read (68)
currently-reading (0)
to-read (0)

Alex's Friends (119)

Kitty Bullard (Great Minds Think Aloud)

1,666 books | 2,944 friends

Ira

1,326 books | 1,372 friends

Tori

522 books | 46 friends

Diana

3,088 books | 278 friends

Ycia Herrera

242 books | 80 friends

Tamara

1,045 books | 86 friends

Alex

192 books | 53 friends

Suz

2,234 books | 529 friends

More friends…

Alex is following 0 people

Alex Flinn

Goodreads author profile

url

http://www.goodreads.com/AlexFlinn

born

October 23, 1966 in Long Island, New York, The United States

gender

female

website

http://alexflinn.com/

genre

Young Adult, Science Fiction & Fantasy

influences

Richard Peck

member since

March 2008

About this author

edit data

I was born in a log cabin in the Big Woods of . . . okay, maybe not. I was born on Long Island, New York. When I was five years old, my mom said that I should be an author. I guess I must have nodded or something because, from that point on, every poem I ever wrote in school was submitted to Highlights or Cricket magazine. I was collecting rejection slips at age seven!

I learned to read early. But I compensated for this early proficiency by absolutely refusing to read the programmed readers required by the school system -- workbooks where you read the story, then answered the questions. When the other kids were on Book 20, I was on Book 1! My teacher, Mrs. Zeiser, told my mother, "Alexandra marches to her own drummer." I don't think that was...more I was born in a log cabin in the Big Woods of . . . okay, maybe not. I was born on Long Island, New York. When I was five years old, my mom said that I should be an author. I guess I must have nodded or something because, from that point on, every poem I ever wrote in school was submitted to Highlights or Cricket magazine. I was collecting rejection slips at age seven!

I learned to read early. But I compensated for this early proficiency by absolutely refusing to read the programmed readers required by the school system -- workbooks where you read the story, then answered the questions. When the other kids were on Book 20, I was on Book 1! My teacher, Mrs. Zeiser, told my mother, "Alexandra marches to her own drummer." I don't think that was supposed to be a good thing. Now, when my daughter, Katie, brings home FCAT prep materials where you are supposed to read a passage and answer questions, I want to ask the teacher, "Does she really need to do this? She can read!!!"

My family moved to Miami when I was in middle school. I had a really hard time making friends, so I spent a lot of time reading and writing then. But unlike Christopher Paolini or Amelia Atwater-Rhodes, I never finished writing a novel. That was also when I learned to be a keen observer. By high school, I'd made some friends and gotten involved in various "gifted and talented" performing arts programs. I studied opera in college (I'm a coloratura -- the really loud, high-pitched sopranos.) and then went to law school.

It was law school that probably helped with my first novel. Breathing Underwater deals with the serious and all-too-common problem of dating violence. I based the book on my experiences interning with the State Attorney's Office and volunteering with battered women. I thought this was a really important topic, as 27 percent of teenage girls surveyed have been hit by a boyfriend. I'm happy that the book is so popular, and if you are reading this bio because the book was assigned for school, I'm happy about that too.

I started writing an early (and laughable) version of Breathing Underwater in college (I was really bored on a car trip with my parents). I didn't get back to it until I had my first daughter, Katie. I'm self-taught. I went to the library and took out books on writing. Then, I read a lot of young-adult novels by writers I admired, particularly Richard Peck. Reading his books is like listening to Mozart -- you learn the right way to write a novel. Then, you fill in your own style. I actually got to meet Richard Peck in person at a workshop of the Key West Literary Seminar. Lots of writers have been really helpful to me, especially Richard and fellow YA author, Joyce Sweeney.

I think I write for young-adults because I never quite got over being one. In my mind, I am still 13-years-old, running laps on the athletic field, wearing this really baggy white gymsuit. I'm continually amazed at the idea that I have a checking account and a mortgage. So I try to write books that gymsuit girl might enjoy. It's a way of going back to being 13...knowing what I know now.
Right now, I live half a mile away from my old middle school, in Palmetto Bay, a suburb of Miami, with my husband, Gene, and daughters, Katie and Meredith. (less)

88 posts
Alex Flinn's Blog

FAQ

Okay, I've done it, the dreaded FAQ post. Since it seems like a lot of teachers are assigning author studies that are due the last few weeks of school, maybe this will help. I think it's actually a little unfair to REQUIRE students to interview an author (because it relies on events that are outside your control, i.e. a stranger answering your e-mail), so if that is what happened, I give you pe...

View more on Alex Flinn's website »

0 comments

•

like 2 likes

•

Published on May 23, 2012 07:57 • 44 views

View all 88 posts »

combine editions
Books by Alex Flinn

Average rating: 3.79 · 53,592 ratings · 7,900 reviews · 11 distinct works

	Beastly (Kendra Chronicles, #1) 3.80 avg rating — 36,760 ratings — published 2007 — 47 editions	My rating:
	A Kiss in Time 3.80 avg rating — 6,491 ratings — published 2009 — 12 editions	My rating:
	Cloaked 3.60 avg rating — 3,887 ratings — published 2011 — 18 editions	My rating:
	Breathing Underwater 3.89 avg rating — 2,442 ratings — published 2001 — 13 editions	My rating:
	Bewitching (Kendra Chronicles, #2) 3.92 avg rating — 1,556 ratings — published 2012 — 6 editions	My rating:
	Diva 3.60 avg rating — 686 ratings — published 2006 — 5 editions	My rating:
	Nothing to Lose 3.83 avg rating — 527 ratings — published 2004 — 6 editions	My rating:
	Breaking Point 3.59 avg rating — 541 ratings — published 2002 — 11 editions	My rating:
	Fade to Black 3.76 avg rating — 433 ratings — published 2005 — 4 editions	My rating:
	Beastly: Lindy's Diary (Kendra Chronicles, #0.5) 3.79 avg rating — 234 ratings — published 2012 — 3 editions	My rating:

More books by Alex Flinn…

Series by Alex Flinn

Kendra Chronicles (1 book)
by Alex Flinn (Goodreads Author)

3.81 avg rating — 38,550 ratings

Upcoming Events

No scheduled events. Add an event.

rss
Alex's Recent Updates

Alex Flinn wrote a new blog post: In which I answer reader e-mail . . . In which I answer reader e-mail . . . I've had quite a bit of mail lately, particularly from aspiring teen authors. I've posted tips before, but it was a while ago, so I thought it woul... read more »
May 23, 2012 02:14pm · like 1 like
Alex Flinn made a comment on Diana's review of Bewitching (Kendra Chronicles, #2) "Glad you liked it, Diana. "
Apr 20, 2012 11:37am · see review
Alex Flinn liked Diana's review of Bewitching: " Delightful re-imagined contemporary Cinderella story, loved seeing Kendra from Beastly again, and the inclusion of stories from Kendra's past were a lovely addition. Masterful storytelling. " Read more of this review »
Apr 20, 2012 11:37am · see review
Alex Flinn gave to: Diabolical by Yelena Black	My rating:
Apr 06, 2012 02:56pm
Alex Flinn made a comment on Pinterest Boards: "Thanks! "
Apr 06, 2012 06:45am
Alex Flinn gave to: Notes from the Midnight Driver by Jordan Sonnenblick	My rating:
Mar 30, 2012 06:24pm
Alex Flinn gave to: The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants by Ann Brashares	My rating:
Mar 30, 2012 06:24pm
Alex Flinn gave to: One of Those Hideous Books Where the Mother Dies by Sonya Sones	My rating:
Mar 30, 2012 06:24pm
Alex Flinn gave to: The Hangman's Daughter by Oliver Pötzsch	My rating:
Mar 19, 2012 11:35am
Alex Flinn gave to: Saving Fish from Drowning by Amy Tan	My rating:
Mar 19, 2012 11:34am

More of Alex's books…

Quotes by Alex Flinn

“Just because something is beautiful doesn´t mean it´s good.”
― Alex Flinn, Beastly

tags: beauty , fairy-tale

381 people liked it

“those who do not know how to see the precious things in life will never be happy.”
― Alex Flinn, Beastly

tags: happiness

272 people liked it

“You shouldn't miss someone who don't miss you, right?”
― Alex Flinn, Beastly

tags: miss

263 people liked it

See all Alex Flinn's quotes »

Polls

Which randomly selected book should we read in May?

Beastly by Alex Flinn

4 votes, 33.3%

White Cat by Holly Black

3 votes, 25.0%

Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare

2 votes, 16.7%

Glimmerglass by Jenna Black

2 votes, 16.7%

Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead

1 vote, 8.3%

The Giver by Lois Lowry

0 votes, 0.0%

Living Dead Girl by Elizabeth Scott

0 votes, 0.0%

Blue Bloods by Melissa de la Cruz

0 votes, 0.0%

Magic Under Glass by Jaclyn Dolamore

0 votes, 0.0%

My Blood Approves by Amanda Hocking

0 votes, 0.0%

12 total votes

22 comments

More...

Topics Mentioning This Author

topics	posts	views	last activity
Room 110, Period 6: Letter #3 Due November 24	18	28	Dec 12, 2008 01:48pm
100+ Books in 2012: Natalie's 2009 List	2	115	Aug 07, 2009 08:54am
Novel Ladies: Samantha's 2010 Reading Log	25	21	Sep 16, 2009 07:54pm
GR-101: Book Appr...: Scoozer's 2010 Reading Log	21	11	Sep 24, 2009 11:51am
100+ Books in 2012: Ashley's books starting from 10/09 to 10/10	19	15	Mar 05, 2010 11:20pm
The Seasonal Read...: Must Reads List (Summer 2010 Task 20.6)	6	148	Jun 24, 2010 08:09pm
Cover to Cover Ch...: Read-A-Thon Progress and Discussion -- July	66	42	Jul 19, 2010 03:08pm
The Seasonal Read...: 10.1 - Stormy Weather	18	163	Jul 24, 2010 07:37am

More…

Alex's Bookshelves

Alex's Friends (119)

Alex's Fans (1829)

Alex Flinn

Goodreads author profile

88 posts
Alex Flinn's Blog

combine editions
Books by Alex Flinn

Series by Alex Flinn

Upcoming Events

rss
Alex's Recent Updates

Quotes by Alex Flinn

Polls

Topics Mentioning This Author

Alex's Friend Comments

Flag Abuse

Alex Flinn

Goodreads author profile

Upcoming Events

rssAlex's Recent Updates

Polls

Topics Mentioning This Author

Flag Abuse

rss
Alex's Recent Updates