Interview and Giveaway - Jen Calonita - There's No Place Like Home

INTERVIEW AND GIVEAWAY

JEN CALONITA

THERE’S NO PLACE LIKE HOME

I sometimes wonder what it would be like to be a Hollywood star.  Come on, I bet you do to!  I wonder what it is like behind the scenes, how the young stars deal with the pressures, and whether egos really do get in the way. 

I have gotten my Hollywood fix by reading the Secrets of My Hollywood Life series by Jen Calonita.  This series is HOT and Jen dishes on what young Hollywood is really all about.  As the former Senior Entertainment Editor at Teen People, she has the credentials to back it all up.   

And she is HERE for an interview….today!

But wait, there’s more.  There are six awesome books in the series and I am giving away a finished copy of the final book, There’s No Place Like Home.  See my review HERE.  Let’s get right to it! 

 

You have created a unique niche by bringing the entertainment industry to life in young adult fiction.  What inspired you to make the leap to writing novels with an entertainment industry spin?

Thank you! I always tell teens that are interested in writing that I started by writing what I knew best, and at the time, it was teen celebrities! I was an entertainment editor at a teen magazine and I spent my days interviewing the Britney Spears and Orlando Bloom's of the world. It was a really fun job.

At one point, Kaitlin moves from Hollywood to New York.  How do you think these two entertainment scenes compare?

I always thought of Broadway as the place that determines the amateurs from the pros! Broadway tests their talents. To have to perform live every night in front of an audience...that takes guts and conviction, and that was a scary thing for Kaitlin, especially after having her ego bruised in the previous book.

Today's young Hollywood stars have the spotlight on them even when they may not want it.  What are your feelings about the paparazzi and celebrity privacy?

I have no idea how teen stars deal with the paparazzi everyday! At that age, I feel like I always said the wrong thing, walked around in my pajama pants, probably chewed with my mouth open...can you imagine doing all that with a camera in your face? I've always thought it was unfair, but I guess unfortunately, it has become part of the "job."

I love that Kaitlin, the main character in Secrets of My Hollywood Life, is a famous actress who is also very down-to-earth.  Are there any real-life actors or actresses who you feel fit that mold?

I hope so! Not that I know them personally, but I've always imagined Reese Witherspoon, Anne Hathaway, George Clooney, Brad Pitt...stars like that to be that way. And most of the stars that I did interview were genuinely appreciative of the work they were getting. Zac Efron had to be the nicest guy I ever held a tape recorder in front of!

Do you think there is hope for ego-maniac divas like Sky and Alexis? 

There is hope for Sky in my book because Kaitlin has grounded her somewhat. Alexis, not so much! I think when stars lose sight of the gift they were given, and concentrate only on the celebrity that comes from it, they're going to encounter problems.

I loved how The Secrets of My Hollywood Life series wrapped up.  Did you have the entire series planned out or did the story evolve in your mind over time?

The story definitely evolved over time. I always knew when it came time to end the series I wanted to make sure readers knew what Kaitlin was going to do with her life. I also wanted to show what happens to all the core characters. I've always been disappointed by series' that didn't wrap up all the major storylines.

I hear that you like to scrapbook.  If Kaitlin had a scrapbook, what would be the themes of some of her favorite pages?  

I LOVE to scrapbook! I've never thought of Kaitlin's scrapbook before--I love this question! Hmm...I think her favorite pages would be ones that show her having fun with her friends and with Austin. Her with her favorite people like Nadine and Rodney and even Matty. Anything that would show the love around her. I'm sure she'd also have pages dedicated to her goofing around in-between takes on the set.

Finally, rumor has it that you have a new young adult series coming out in 2012.  Is there any information you can share with me now?

I can't wait for people to get a chance to read about this new world I'm diving into! The series is called Belles and it is about two dueling cousins who've only recently met. Their worlds and cultures collide and I just love what they learn from each other and what they learn about their family ties.

Win a finished copy of

THERE’S NO PLACE LIKE HOME

Keepin’ It Simple

Fill out the form below

US addresses only

Must be 13 or older

Random.org chooses the winner

Ends Midnight Eastern Tues April 12