Ask the Author: Simone Elkeles
Answered Questions (21)
Simone Elkeles
I am working on the second book in the Wild Cards/Better than Perfect series but I will have more books out by the end of this year! Detailed information to come soon!
Simone Elkeles
Allison, I am so thankful that you've read all of my books - multiple times!!! I use some news stories that inspire me, some personal things that trigger ideas for books, and my weird imagination! More details are outlined in the Q&A section of my website!
Simone Elkeles
I have some advice on my website in the Q&A section. If you have a specific question let me know. I also detail how I was inspired to write Perfect Chemistry on my website in the Q&A section!
Simone Elkeles
I hope so! I have an agent at CAA who has been pitching my books for a tv show or movie. Cross your fingers that it will happen soon!
Simone Elkeles
My next-door neighbor, Vivian, is a teen with arthritis. I wanted to write a book with a teen who had arthritis (Monika). I also wanted to write about a teen who has a parent who doesn't have any faith in them - I've had a few friends who have had parents who told them they were stupid or worthless. It does affect them and my character Victor has parents who don't support him. I won't give away anything else, because the book is coming out soon! :)
Simone Elkeles
Sometimes it's hard to sit down and write - especially because I'm an extrovert! It takes hard work and dedication. Sometimes I get inspired by a news story (Leaving Paradise) or someone from my personal life who says something that triggers me to want to write a story (Perfect Chemistry).
Simone Elkeles
I'm working on the second book in the Wild Cards/Better than Perfect series!
Simone Elkeles
I have advice on my website in the Q&A section - www.simoneelkeles.com
One piece of advice is try to write how you talk - make the book conversational so the reader feels like the character is talking to the reader and feels like part of their life. (Other authors might have different opinions, but that's mine.) Check my website for more tips!
One piece of advice is try to write how you talk - make the book conversational so the reader feels like the character is talking to the reader and feels like part of their life. (Other authors might have different opinions, but that's mine.) Check my website for more tips!
Simone Elkeles
Writing a book that people spend part of their lives reading. It's surreal that people spend hours of their lives reading words that I wrote - it's the biggest compliment and humbling. I also love meeting the fans...they are why I am still writing. Oh, and writing THE END is amazing! It's not easy to write a book and it's such a huge accomplishment when you finish one!
Simone Elkeles
By the end of 2015 I'd like to be working on a 4th book in the PC series, where Alex is a dad! I'd love to see Alex and Brit as parents to teenagers!
Simone Elkeles
I was a teen once and completely remember what it was like - I still feel like a teen sometimes (unless I look at myself in the mirror, then I'm DEFINITELY reminded I'm not a teen anymore!). I'm also really down-to-earth and can relate to a lot of people, so it comes naturally for me. I was a teen in the 80's and I think I'm still stuck there! ;)
Simone Elkeles
I seriously laugh a lot in my own personal life and try to find something funny in every situation. It's a blessing as well as a curse. I don't know if I do it consciously - I mean, when I was eating a taco and the grease fell on my pants I knew I had to do that to a character (sorry Alex). If you hang with me for a while you'll find yourself laughing, too. It's just part of my nature, and the most ridiculous things have happened in my real life so it might just come out naturally in my writing. Basically, I have no clue how I do it lol.
Simone Elkeles
I loved writing Amy and Avi's story in the 3 How to Ruin books - Amy is more like me than any other character I've ever written. I would love to revisit those characters - I have no plans to write another book in the How to Ruin series but I never say never and maybe next year I'll write a "what happens next" book for them because that would be so much fun!
Simone Elkeles
I cry at lot. And force myself to keep writing even if I feel it's bad because you can't revise a blank page!
Simone Elkeles
I started writing when I was 30. I'm sorry to say I didn't love reading as a teen but I fell in love with reading and writing as an adult. I never think I'm an amazing writer and I'm always trying to learn and get better. I am so thankful and humbled at my success. Without readers like you I wouldn't be where I am so thank you!
Simone Elkeles
I base it off of my rival high school in Illinois where there is a big Latino community on one side of the tracks and kids living in mansions on Lake Michigan on the other side - but I also had a friend come to my house and he told me he was not proud of being Mexican and that bothered me because he's Mexican and should be super proud - I love his culture and the closeness of his family. I wanted to write a book that had a Mexican hero who was super proud and glad to be Mexican as a tribute to my friend Eduardo.
Simone Elkeles
I'm assuming you mean Fuentes. I loved writing Alex's story...but Carlos is such a jerk I loved writing his story and turning him into a hero!
Simone Elkeles
I am hoping to write a 4th book about the Fuentes family by the end of the year - I'd love to see Alex as a dad! :)
Simone Elkeles
Right now I'm working on Wild Cards aka Better than Perfect book #2 - it's Monika and Victor's story. After that, I have a couple of books in mind that I'm so excited to work on! And hopefully later in the year I can work on a new Perfect Chemistry book - I'd love to see Alex as a dad!
Simone Elkeles
I'm working on the final draft as I'm writing this (well, as soon as I'm done writing this lol) and I'll post updates on my website and Facebook (and Twitter) when I have a release date! :)
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Feb 16, 2015 11:46AM · flag