Author Discovery ~ Mini Interview with Haleigh Wenger
[image error]Please welcome the author of The Art of Falling in Love – a YA story just released this month. At the end of the interview, you can find a blurb about the book. Be sure and add it to your Goodreads list!
What author do you compare your book(s)/writing style to the most?
I’d like to think that my style is a mix of Sarah Dessen and Morgan Matson, but those are two of my favorite authors, so it feels ambitious just to say!
What is your favorite book genre? Why?
I love contemporary YA. It highlights such an important time period, right when teens are making choices about what kind of person they want to be and why, and they’re still so vulnerable but are also discovering real-world truths.
What is your favorite television show? Why?
My favorite show right now is “The 100”. It has it all! Teen drama, romance, sci-fi suspense. My favorite thing about it is that the storyline dramatically changes every season, so the story always feels fresh and interesting.
If you could have written a popular, well-known book, what would it have been and why?
Any of Judy Blume or Sarah Dessen’s novels. They were all I read growing up, over and over again. I loved the way the stories about girls like me made me feel.
Using your most recent book, who would play your main character(s) in a movie?[image error]
In The Art of Falling in Love, I always imagine Shailene Woodley as my MC Claire. And for LI Foster, I think Ross Lynch would be a pretty good match.
Why should your readers pick your book over a well-known author’s book?
If you like YA contemporary that’s heavy on the romance, my book would be a great fit! I think the best part of discovering new authors is that you’re just adding to your stack of great books, and who can be mad about that?!
What is your go-to snack?
Anything chocolate! And always paired with cold water. LOL!
Website: HaleighWenger.com
Twitter: @haleighwenger
Facebook: Author Haleigh Wenger
The Art of Falling in Love – blurb
Seventeen-year-old Claire Haynes always spends summer vacation at her family’s beach house in Florida, sketching and dreaming of art school with her biggest fan—her Opa. But when Opa dies right before summer break, all Claire has left besides her memories is a sand-sculpting contest application with her name on it and the lingering question of why Opa filled it out in the first place. Claire has never even made a decent sandcastle, but she reluctantly turns in the entry forms, hoping the contest will help her navigate the grieving process by honoring one of Opa’s last wishes.
When she meets Foster, a teenage boy with a talent for turning recyclables into abstract sculptures, the two join forces to win the contest and salvage the Summer of Art. They spend the humid summer days shoveling sand, devouring ice cream, and exploring Florida’s art scene. Just like Opa, Foster understands Claire and her overwhelming need to create, but he has a secret that threatens to ruin everything: he’s homeless and hiding from an abusive brother who would have him believe family trumps all.
When Claire’s parents find out about Foster’s homelessness, they offer him a home along with their hearts. But even picture-perfect families like Claire’s can harbor an ugly side, especially in the aftermath of Opa’s death. When someone close to Claire spills Foster’s secret, they’re both forced to choose between love and familial obligation. If Claire can’t break through long-held beliefs and prove family is more than shared DNA, she could permanently lose Foster and a chance at the sand contest to honor Opa.
Buy the book – Amazon and Barnes and Noble
