580 ratings | 85 reviews | avg rating:3.64

Brian Katcher’s Followers (298)

More followers…

Brian’s Bookshelves

read (603)
currently-reading (0)
to-read (13)
200-books (157)
what-s-new-in-ya-2013 (19)
what-s-new-in-ya-2014 (26)
what-s-new-in-ya-2015 (25)
what-s-new-in-ya-2016 (25)
what-s-new-in-ya-2017 (26)
what-s-new-in-ya-2018 (32)
See all bookshelves »

Brian’s Friends (289)

Myria

1,133 books | 222 friends

Tom Quinn

1,786 books | 1,347 friends

Megan Bannen

1 book | 107 friends

Michele

27,917 books | 4,998 friends

A.K.

916 books | 139 friends

grieshaber.reads

2,144 books | 223 friends

Hillary

1,249 books | 126 friends

Jennifer

811 books | 55 friends

More friends…

Brian Katcher

Goodreads Author

Born

in St. Louis, The United States

Website

http://www.briankatcher.com

Genre

Young Adult

Member Since

June 2008

edit data

Learn more
Ask the Author

To ask Brian Katcher questions, please sign up.

Popular Answered Questions

Hello, Brian! Could you tell us a little bit about your new novel?

Brian Katcher Hello, and thanks for asking! My newest book, THE IMPROBABLE THEORY OF ANA AND ZAK will be available on May 19th, 2015 from Katherine Tegen Books. Her…moreHello, and thanks for asking! My newest book, THE IMPROBABLE THEORY OF ANA AND ZAK will be available on May 19th, 2015 from Katherine Tegen Books. Here's a blurb:

Zak 'Duke' Duquette wants nothing more out of life than to play video games, hang with his friends, and attend Washingcon, the largest comic book convention in Seattle. This is especially true this year, now that his widowed mother has remarried and his stepfather insists on living with them.

Unfortunately, Zak has blown off a major assignment for a class and is in danger of failing...and by failing, not graduating. The only way he can make up the credit is to 'volunteer' as an alternate at a quiz bowl tournament...the weekend of Washingcon.

Ana Watson, captain of the quiz bowl team, is not thrilled with having Zak on the team, considering him a slacker and a loser. But she has more important things on her mind: the team, her grades, and her younger brother, Clayton, who's also on the team. Sure, Ana would like to take some time off, maybe not study or bend the rules a bit...

Ana used to have an older sister, Nicole. Nicole bent the rules. Ana doesn't have a sister anymore.

At the Friday tournament, Zak gripes nonstop about the convention he is missing: the wild parties, the crazy costuming, the nonstop fun. Clayton is intrigued. So intrigued, in fact, that under the cover of the Seattle rain, he sneaks out of the hotel to see this event for himself.

Ana and Zak have to drag Clayton back to the hotel before the sponsor realizes he's gone. Zak knows the con like Han knows the Kessel Run. He can flush Clayton out, no problem (and maybe score points with Ana). Ana, on the other hand, knows her brother can be very devious when he wants to, and realizes what will happen if her parents find out he ran off.

Together, Ana and Zak descend into a world of Klingons, furries, bronies, cosplayers, filkers, Wookies, drunks, geeks, and party animals. They run afoul of a angry girl with a longbow, a seven-foot-tall viking, a pack of zombies, and several of Zak's ex girlfriends. As the night wears on, they start to realize the only ones they can depend on are each other. And maybe that's not such a bad thing.
(less)

flag

9 likes · like
5 comments

Almost Perfect is one of my all time favorite books. I was wondering, what inspired you to write the novel? Was there any hesitation to have it published?

Brian Katcher Thank you! Well, I wanted to write a boy-meets-girl story that hadn't been done a million times. I eventually hit upon the idea of a heterosexual guy …moreThank you! Well, I wanted to write a boy-meets-girl story that hadn't been done a million times. I eventually hit upon the idea of a heterosexual guy who falls for a girl who had to work to achieve her female identity. Could such a relationship work? I tried it as a short story, but my writers' group told me that I couldn't pull that plot off in 80 pages. Do it as a novel or don't do it. It took a lot of research, and the more I talked to real life Sages, the more I realized that this was a story that needed to be told.

As to publishing hesitation, not really. In fact, Almost Perfect was probably the easiest of all my books to have published. I was lucky to have an editor who was willing to take a chance on the topic.

Thanks for reading!(less)

flag

8 likes · like
Comment

See all 15 answers from Brian Katcher…

Combine Editions
Brian Katcher’s books

Average rating: 3.79 · 14,628 ratings · 1,891 reviews · 6 distinct works • Similar authors

	Almost Perfect 3.85 avg rating — 8,470 ratings — published 2009 — 13 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Improbable Theory of Ana and Zak 3.70 avg rating — 4,811 ratings — published 2015 — 19 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Playing with Matches 3.80 avg rating — 941 ratings — published 2008 — 9 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Deacon Locke Went to Prom 3.66 avg rating — 263 ratings — published 2017 — 6 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Everyone Dies in the End 3.88 avg rating — 98 ratings — published 2014 — 5 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Awake by Tracey Pennington, Robin Reardon (Goodreads Author), Jordan Taylor (Goodreads Author) 3.89 avg rating — 45 ratings — published 2011 — 4 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

More books by Brian Katcher…

Upcoming Events

No scheduled events. Add an event.

rss
Brian’s Recent Updates

Brian wants to read That Way Madness Lies by Dahlia Adler (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Nov 25, 2020 07:42PM · like
Brian rated a book really liked it Anne of Green Gables (Anne of Green Gables, #1) by L.M. Montgomery	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Nov 22, 2020 03:35PM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery <iframe id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Brian and 1 other person liked Forever Young Adult's review of Anne of Green Gables: "Graded By: Jenny Cover Story: Classic BFF Charm: Y to-the- A to-the- Y Swoonworthy Scale: 8 Talky Talk: L.M. Montgomery Ain't Nothin' To @#$* With Bonus Factors: Orphans, PEI, Kickass Parents, Academic Competition Relationship Status: I'll Never Have Anoth" Read more of this review »
Nov 22, 2020 03:34PM · see review
Brian is now following Andrew's reviews
Nov 22, 2020 03:33PM · like
Brian rated a book really liked it Dragon Stew by Tom McGowen	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Even though Stanley makes it clear that he doesn't believe him,
Nov 22, 2020 06:19AM · like · see review
Brian liked Jennifer Heise's review of Dragon Stew: "This pseudo-fairy tale is actually a management text in disguise, but with a great deal of amusement involved. When a very picky gourmand king is looking for a cook-- every cook he has had has quit due to his interference in the kitchen-- a young man " Read more of this review »
Nov 22, 2020 06:17AM · see review
Brian answered a question about Almost Perfect: I read this years and years ago many times and just finished the audiobook for the first time this weekend....I think it's time for a sequel, what's going on with Logan, Sage now? Will there be a sequel? Honestly, I don't think there will ever be a sequel, though you're not the first person to ask. But since I'm the author, I can tell you what would have happened with Logan and Sage: Logan went off to college, older and wiser. He had a couple of girlf See Full Answer
Nov 20, 2020 01:30PM · 1 like · like
Brian rated a book really liked it Soulswift by Megan Bannen (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Nov 12, 2020 10:55AM · like
Brian rated a book it was ok This Is Not a Ghost Story by Andrea Portes (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Nov 12, 2020 10:06AM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of This Is Not a Ghost Story by Andrea Portes. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — This Is Not a Ghost Story by Andrea Portes <iframe id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Brian rated a book it was ok Sasha Masha by Agnes Borinsky	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Oct 31, 2020 02:11PM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Sasha Masha by Agnes Borinsky. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Sasha Masha by Agnes Borinsky <iframe id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">

More of Brian's books…

Quotes by Brian Katcher

“Everyone thinks they're the only one who's ever been hurt.”
― Brian Katcher, The Improbable Theory of Ana and Zak

23 likes

“Everyone has that one line they swear they'll never cross, the one thing they say they'll never do. Not something serious like I'll never kill anyone or I'll never invade Russia in the winter. Usually, it's something less earth-shattering.
I'll never cheat on her.
I'll never work at a job I hate.
I'll never give up on my dreams.
We draw the line. Maybe we even believe it. That's why it's so hard when we break that promise we make to ourselves.
Sage Hendricks was my line.”
― Brian Katcher, Almost Perfect

19 likes

“Because that's the way the world works, isn't it? You can work hard and be miserable, or do nothing and be happy.”
― Brian Katcher, The Improbable Theory of Ana and Zak

tags: life

14 likes

See all Brian Katcher's quotes »

Polls

Which book should the YA LGBT Group read for our February 2013 Book of the Month?

Will Grayson, Will Grayson

by John Green and David Levithan

30 votes 43.5%

Scars

by Cheryl Rainfield - edgy 16+

14 votes 20.3%

Accepting Me

by Jo Ramsey

12 votes 17.4%

Almost Perfect

by Brian Katcher

7 votes 10.1%

Luna

by Julie Anne Peters

4 votes 5.8%

Out

by Laura Preble - role reversal

2 votes 2.9%

69 total votes

comments and details

More...

Topics Mentioning This Author

topics	posts	views	last activity
Wild Things: YA G...: Reading Challenge #7 - Report Points Here	498	211	Apr 14, 2011 09:58PM
The Teen Writing,...: Recommendations	5	9	Sep 02, 2011 11:40PM
Wild Things: YA G...: August group read winners!	19	86	Aug 04, 2012 04:45PM
Chaos Reading: YA Books Dealing with Gender Identity	21	485	Aug 26, 2012 02:28PM
2020 & 2021 Readi...: Trevor's 125 Books for 2012	197	140	Dec 20, 2012 03:28PM
2020 & 2021 Readi...: Trevor's Corner	31	91	Dec 24, 2012 08:39AM
YA LGBT Books: February Book of the Month - WINNER is Will Grayson-WG	28	55	Feb 04, 2013 07:22AM
Wild Things: YA G...: Reading Challenge #15 - Report Points Here	174	165	Apr 01, 2013 09:34PM
Book Nook Cafe: What I read ~~ March 2013	62	95	Apr 11, 2013 07:01AM
2020 & 2021 Readi...: The Listopia Challenge January-December	244	240	Apr 30, 2013 05:54PM

More…

Brian’s Quotes

“Yes; your house is dull enough to drive people to think.”
― Alexandre Dumas, Il Visconte di Bragelonne

1 likes

“dreamers--which the English call splash; Arabian poets gasgachau; and which we Frenchmen, who would be poets, can only translate by a paraphrase--the noise of water falling into water.”
― Alexandre Dumas, The Vicomte de Bragelonne

0 likes

“this is a very fair gathering--circumspect, calm, accustomed to disturbance, acquainted with blows! Peste! I have been lucky.”
― Alexandre Dumas, The Vicomte de Bragelonne

1 likes

“Mazarin, in his character of cardinal and prime minister, was almost an atheist, and quite a materialist.”
― Alexandre Dumas, The Vicomte de Bragelonne

1 likes

“Just because you're paranoid doesn't mean they aren't after you.”
― Joseph Heller, Catch-22

tags: misattributed-kurt-cobain

3148 likes

More of Brian’s quotes…