The GCC Presents Mindi Scott’s LIVE THROUGH THIS

Hey everyone!  It’s Girlfriends Cyber-Circuit time again, and it’s my pleasure to present Mindi Scott’s new book, Live Through This!

Here’s a little about the book:

From the outside, Coley Sterling’s life seems pretty normal . . . whatever that means. It’s not perfect—her best friend is seriously mad at her and her dance team captains keep giving her a hard time—but Coley’s adorable, sweet crush Reece helps distract her. Plus, she has a great family to fall back on—with a mom and stepdad who would stop at nothing to keep her siblings and her happy.

But Coley has a lot of secrets. She won’t admit—not even to herself—that her almost-perfect life is her own carefully-crafted façade. That for years she’s been burying the shame and guilt over a relationship that crossed the line. Now that Coley has the chance at her first real boyfriend, a decade’s worth of lies are on the verge of unraveling.

In this unforgettable powerhouse of a novel, Mindi Scott offers an absorbing, layered glimpse into the life of an everygirl living a nightmare that no one would suspect.

It sounds great, and I’m not the only one who thinks so.  Kirkus gave it a starred review, and said, “What makes this more than another ‘problem’ novel is the author’s steadfast refusal to deal in stereotypes and easy answers.”

No easy answers?  Perfect — let’s see how Mindi does with my GCC questions!

If you had no other responsibilities and could take off on a retreat to your dream place to write, where would that be, and what would your dream daily schedule be like?

I love tropical places and would love to be able to spend my mornings writing and the afternoons exploring and relaxing at the beach.

Is there a character you thought would be in the book, but who landed on the cutting room floor?  Conversely, is there a character you never expected to appear, but turned out to be intrinsic to the story?  If so, tell us about him/her.

I don’t have a scenario exactly like either of those, but Xander, a character from my first novel, Freefall, ended up in Live Through This, even though I hadn’t outlined it that way. Originally, my protagonist’s friend had a boyfriend named Michael, but I realized after a while that since Michael acted like Xander and spoke like Xander, he should just be Xander.

Writing rituals: do you have any?  If so, what are they?  If you don’t follow them, do you find it harder to write?

I don’t specifically have any rituals, but I do best when I handwrite my first drafts anywhere other than my office, and then type up and revise the scenes only in my office.

Ever gotten a piece of fan mail, or had an experience with a reader that really stands out in your mind?  Tell us about it!

I’ve had a few moving emails where readers have expressed that my characters’ stories have helped them find some kind of comfort, peace, or joy in their own lives. Those are the ones that stand out the most for me.

Let’s reach back to school and describe your book in a single… HAIKU!  Three lines, five syllables-seven syllables-five syllables.  Ready?  Go! 

Coley’s “normal” life

Complicated by secrets

She can’t ever tell

Excellent answers, Mindi!  I’m so impressed that you handwrite your first drafts — I can’t even read my own handwriting.  Congratulations on the new book!