22 Jan
2010

Saturday’s Seven with Jen Nadol

Today I welcome author Jen Nadol whose thoughtful and moving YA debut, The Mark, was just released this week.  Congrats, Jen!  Jen and I are both members of the online support and promotional group, the Tenners.  

[Be sure to keep reading for a fun GIVEAWAY at the end!]

 




 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hi, Jen.  What’s your favorite flower and why?

I really like the simplicity of white tulips. [FYI, flower lovers.  White tulips are for forgiveness in the language of flowers.]

Which book do you wish you could live in?

Oh gosh. Honestly? None.  Most books – at least the ones I read – have some kind of compelling, and often unpleasant, conflict.  I don’t really need any extra drama.

Who’s your favorite dead author? (We don’t want to hurt the feelings of the living here!)

I’ll go with Theodore Dreiser because I’ve re-read An American Tragedy over and over, though I’ve never read anything else he’s written.

What about the story compels you to read An American Tragedy over and over? [Gulp.  Note to self:  add to reading list.]

I love stories that explore the human psyche in the way this does. You see disastrous looming, watch in slow motion as the events unfold and understand, on a certain level, exactly why the protagonist makes the terrible choices he does. It’s fascinating, plus just really solid storytelling.

What’s the most impressive dish you can cook?

Bananas Foster - delicious and on fire!

What’s your favorite time of the day to write and why?

Anytime that I can be by myself without distractions.

Your novel deals with the weighty issue of knowing someone else is about to die and how to deal with that knowledge. Did writing this novel change how you think about your own life?

That’s a great question. Writing the scenes where Cassie’s trying to make decisions or thinking about what she’d do if it were her last day definitely made me answer those questions for myself (the best you can answer questions like that). But I think, really, it was having kids that made the value of time tangible to me: how quickly it passes, how careful we have to be about not squandering the days we have. So I think I was already *in* a mindset of contemplating mortality and such when I began the novel.

Who do you think is the wisest philosopher mentioned in The Mark, or one whose thoughts you try to follow and why?

What I enjoy about philosophy isn’t any particular teacher or school of thought, but how it teaches you, the reader, to think critically and examine independently. Question everything. It’s easy to glide along, accepting things at face value, but it’s important to stop sometimes and really think about what we’re doing, what people are telling us and be sure we’re on the path we want to be on.

You can find out more about Jen here.  Thanks so much, Jen!

 

HERE’S THE FUN CONTEST PART!!!

One lucky reader will win a copy of The Mark, along with a $15 iTunes gift card and a bunch of Forget-Her-Nots swag.

To enter:  Post (on blog OR Facebook) and/or tweet (I’m @amybrecountwhit  and you can RT what I said) about this interview/ contest with Jen.  UP TO 2 ENTRIES if you both post and tweet.  Also, please follow me and Jen on Twitter if you’re not already!  Please comment with links on this post to let me know what you’ve done and that you’re in.

The Fine Print:  Giveaway is open internationally to anyone age 13 or older.  Prize winner will be announced on Twitter and here, so please provide info for me to contact you easily.   The contest is over on 1/30 at 12 p.m.   Prize must be claimed by 2/10. 

Thanks so much for entering!  Happy reading!

39 Comments
Posted by Amy in Uncategorized |

39 Responses to “Saturday’s Seven with Jen Nadol”

  1. Bianca F

    Great Interview. =D would love a chance to win.

    +Facebooked (is that a word?) it. (Bianca Flatman)
    http://www.facebook.com/bianca.flatman?v=feed&story_fbid=266727499348

    +Twittered it
    http://twitter.com/bianca_riot/statuses/8101316804

    *Following both of yous. (bianca_riot)

    Thanks,
    wateva_08(at)hotmail(dot)com

    January 23rd, 2010 | 1:23 am
  2. Chloe

    Great giveaway!!

    Tweeted: http://twitter.com/chloeeesays/status/8102685531

    January 23rd, 2010 | 1:36 am
  3. Brodie

    Great interview with Jen! Loved her answers and I’m really looking forward to reading The Mark!

    Fantastic giveaway – I follow you both on twitter @peacelovevegan and

    +1 Tweeted – http://twitter.com/peacelovevegan/status/8106963380

    Thanks!
    hanging.by.a.moment_@hotmail.com

    January 23rd, 2010 | 5:27 am
  4. Precious

    Hello! That was a great interview! Jen likes tulips! I like them too!
    I’m interested in joining the giveaway, please include me!

    These are what I did:

    I tweeted about the interview and the giveaway here: http://twitter.com/precious_shusky/status/8108280687

    I already follow you and jen. You can check here: http://twitter.com/precious_shusky/following

    Thanks for making this international!

    January 23rd, 2010 | 6:47 am
  5. Jen Nadol

    Wow, Amy! I didn’t know you were doing a giveaway…thanks so much!!!

    January 23rd, 2010 | 8:11 am
  6. Sherry Salach

    Great interview and Giveaway!

    Here’s what I did:

    Follow both Jen and you on twitter @sslaach21

    I retweeted about the interview/giveaway on your original tweet (http://twitter.com/amybrecountwhit/status/8109625596)

    Thanks so much!

    Sherry
    ssalach88(at)gmail(dot)com

    January 23rd, 2010 | 8:37 am
  7. Aik

    I tweeted:
    http://twitter.com/aikchien/status/8112032581

    I’m also following Jen and you on Twitter @aikchien

    January 23rd, 2010 | 9:32 am
  8. Iffath

    Fab interview with Jen! And cool giveaway, would love to win these fabby prizes!

    +1 Blogged: http://lovereadingx.blogspot.com/2010/01/win-mark-and-other-prizes.html
    +1 Tweeted: http://twitter.com/amybrecountwhit/status/8109625596

    Following you and Jen :) [@lovereadingx]

    January 23rd, 2010 | 9:37 am
  9. Erica

    What a fun interview!

    I tweeted here! http://twitter.com/thebookcellarx/status/8113851341 and follow both of you on twitter @thebookcellarx

    :) Erica
    thebookcellar@wi.rr.com

    January 23rd, 2010 | 10:34 am
  10. Amy

    Thanks, everyone! Glad you enjoyed the interview!

    -Amy

    January 23rd, 2010 | 10:58 am
  11. austenfan

    Yay! Great interview! And thanks for the giveaway! :)

    tweeted (@austenfanblogs):
    http://twitter.com/austenfanblogs/status/8116677173

    posted on sidebar:
    http://fictiondoesitbetter.blogspot.com/

    January 23rd, 2010 | 12:07 pm
  12. Morgan

    Neat contest!
    I’ve posted a link to this contest in under my Menu sidebar. (See blog)
    I’ve also tweeted here: http://twitter.com/morganluvsbooks/status/8121357140

    January 23rd, 2010 | 2:41 pm
  13. Justine

    Mmmm, Bananas Foster sounds really good. Lovely interview! :)

    I tweeted: http://twitter.com/justeena/status/8121636109
    And I’m following both of you – @justeena

    January 23rd, 2010 | 2:52 pm
  14. Jessy

    Great interview! I never heard of Banana’s Foster, what is it?

    I’m following you both on Twitter (@emma015)

    Tweeted: http://twitter.com/Emma015/statuses/8122321001

    Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/profile.php?ref=profile&id=100000188700801

    Thanks for the awesome giveaway!

    ~Jessy~
    findjessyhere at gmail dot com

    January 23rd, 2010 | 3:20 pm
  15. Lucy

    Fantastic interview! :)

    I RT’d your tweet (@lovelymisslucy)
    I follow (@lovelymisslucy)
    I follow Jen too! (@lovelymisslucy)

    Thank you for this giveaway!

    Lucy
    delightfulreviews[at]gmail[dot]com

    January 23rd, 2010 | 3:58 pm
  16. Sarah

    Hi there! What a great interview. I’ve never thought about not living in a book, I always assumed I’d want to, but you’re quite right, books have quite a few issues of their own!

    I retweeted about the contest. I’m truthuniversaly

    http://twitter.com/truthuniversaly/statuses/8128028404

    January 23rd, 2010 | 6:44 pm
  17. Donna S

    Great interview. I would love to be included.

    +1 I posted here: http://donnasbloghome.blogspot.com/2010/01/contests-found-this-week_17.html its on the sidebar too.

    +1 tweeted here: http://twitter.com/DonnaS1/statuses/8137273221

    And I follow you both on twitter

    Thanks!
    bacchus76 at myself dot com

    January 23rd, 2010 | 11:29 pm
  18. Jenny

    Great interview, I can’t wait to read this book.

    Tweeted: http://twitter.com/Jullysay/status/8119755056

    January 24th, 2010 | 4:48 pm
  19. Elie N

    http://ellzreadz.blogspot.com/2010/01/reminder-and-contest-finds.html
    blogged about it…

    http://twitter.com/EllzReadz/status/8215953391
    tweeted

    following both of you ladies on twitter
    @EllzReadz

    January 25th, 2010 | 8:37 pm
  20. Kathy Martin

    What a nice interview. I have been looking forward to reading The Mark ever since I first heard of it. How exciting that it is available now.

    Twittered at http://twitter.com/kmartin802/status/8217110759

    Posted on my blog at http://inside-dog.blogspot.com/2010/01/contest-to-win-mark-and-swag.html

    Following you and Jen on Twitter. I’m kmartin802

    Thanks.

    BTW, Forget-Her-Nots is also on my Amazon wishlist.

    January 25th, 2010 | 9:12 pm
  21. Violet

    Wonderful interview! Thank you for hosting this giveaway. :)

    I follow you both on twitter & RT-ed your contest post on 1/23:
    http://twitter.com/amybrecountwhit/status/8123490452
    @EagerReaders

    Blog post/sidebar:
    http://theeagerreaders.blogspot.com/2010/01/book-giveaways-contests_21.html

    Thanks! :)

    January 25th, 2010 | 10:15 pm
  22. InABox

    Tweet: http://twitter.com/whatinabox/status/8223163456
    Blog: http://bookishinabox.blogspot.com/2010/01/giveaways-week-of-124.html

    The Mark sounds like a great read and the interview was unique. Thanks!

    January 25th, 2010 | 11:55 pm
  23. Lisa B.

    Great giveaway! I can’t wait to read The Mark!

    I tweeted:
    http://twitter.com/LisaMBasso/status/8251137030

    January 26th, 2010 | 4:27 pm
  24. Kristen H.

    Tweeted: http://twitter.com/bookgoil/status/8262790786

    Following both you and Jen on twitter @bookgoil

    January 26th, 2010 | 9:54 pm
  25. Kristen H.

    Sorry! I meant to leave a worthwhile comment with that post up there.

    Great interview! Jen sounds great and I can’t wait to read her novel. Thanks for hosting her today!

    January 26th, 2010 | 9:55 pm
  26. Catie S

    Fabulous interview. Fabulous Contest! I am looking forward to reading both of these.

    RTed your tweet: @meow_mix85

    January 26th, 2010 | 10:18 pm
  27. Megan (Em)

    Great interview. Book looks good too.

    I tweeted it: http://twitter.com/Sillylilmegan/status/8264431688

    January 26th, 2010 | 10:37 pm
  28. Ana R.

    Great interview!

    +1 RT (@ana_rm5)
    +1 Facebooked: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=263887953441&ref=nf&v=info#/profile.php?v=feed&story_fbid=271505809669&id=561296585&ref=nf

    aura_arua90@yahoo.es

    January 27th, 2010 | 4:05 am
  29. Book Splot

    Glad I decided to check the internet for a moment even with being sick because yay for contestyness..posted about it here: http://book-splot.blogspot.com/2010/01/another-contest-link.html

    Loved the interview (and it reminded me of the tulips that used to grow at one of my old houses….and that I own Sister Carrie and should read it someday).

    I’ll follow you both on Twitter if I ever actually use it ;)

    -Lucile

    January 27th, 2010 | 3:13 pm
  30. Crystal F

    I retweeted your tweet (I’m @cfulcher). Wonderful interview and thanks for the giveaway!

    crystalfulcher(at)ec.rr.com

    January 28th, 2010 | 9:00 am
  31. Shannon

    I tweeted it! http://twitter.com/YAauthors/status/8387213540

    Thanks for the chance to win these wonderful prizes. :)

    January 29th, 2010 | 5:44 pm
  32. Andrea

    Yay! This book is on my “MUST READ NOW!!!!” list.

    I retweeted (@buzzinglikeneon)
    http://twitter.com/buzzinglikeneon/status/8388324187

    I follow both of you on Twitter.

    January 29th, 2010 | 6:16 pm
  33. Shy

    Hi! This book has been in my wishlist ever since the 1st time I heard of it!

    I RT’ed here: http://twitter.com/shy8629/status/8396991997

    And I followed both you and Jen! @shy8629

    January 29th, 2010 | 10:27 pm
  34. Raquel Vega-Grieder

    I Blogged About This Giveaway.
    http://skyla11377.blogspot.com/2010/01/amy-brecount-whitecom.html

    I Tweeted About This Giveaway (@skyla11377).
    http://twitter.com/skyla11377/status/8397306146

    I Am Following @amybrecountwhit And @jennadol On Twitter.
    http://twitter.com/skyla11377

    January 29th, 2010 | 10:39 pm
  35. Denise

    I’ve been hearing amazing thing about this book This just added to my excitement :)

    Twitter https://twitter.com/DeniseMadness/status/8396958733 I RT to you :)

    &&&&

    Post on Blog
    http://denisemadness.blogspot.com/2010/01/contest-alert-win-mark-15-i-tunes-gift.html

    January 29th, 2010 | 10:41 pm
  36. Katlyn

    Tweet: http://twitter.com/kittydanza/status/8407902515
    Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?v=feed&story_fbid=279081929647&id=67400027&ref=nf

    follow both! @kittydanza

    January 30th, 2010 | 5:57 am
  37. YA Vampire Books

    I’ve posted about this contest on my blog: http://yavampirebooks.blogspot.com/2010/01/contests-around-blogosphere-week-4.html

    Sara
    sosarora_11(at)hotmail(dot)com

    January 30th, 2010 | 9:08 am
  38. Kelly H.

    I tweeted for the first time ever! https://twitter.com/kghobbs
    I posted on my blog! http://kghobbs.wordpress.com/2010/01/30/jen-nadol-contest/
    following on twitter @kghobbs
    kghobbs (at) gmail (dot) com

    January 30th, 2010 | 11:15 am
  39. Spav

    Great contest!

    I retweeted you tweet (@sparima)

    spav05(at)gmail(dot)com

    January 30th, 2010 | 4:21 pm

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