Blurb:
“Everyone trusted me
back then. Good old, dependable Diana. Which is why most people didn’t notice
at first.”"Your shirt is yellow."
"Your eyes are blue."
"You have to stop running away from your problems."
"You're too skinny."
Fifteen-year-old Diana Keller accidentally begins teaching The Obvious Game to new kid Jesse on his sixteenth birthday. As their relationship deepens, Diana avoids Jesse's past with her own secrets -- which she'll protect at any cost.
My Interview:
1. Is it really hard to write a book? not the process of getting a publisher and all that, but was it hard for you to write a full length book? How long did it take, did you ever get stumped? I'm pretty verbose, so the length wasn't a problem -- it was the craft of it all. I, like many writers, have a first unpublished novel that will likely not see the light of day. Since I'd already had my "learning novel," I thought I knew what I was doing when I started THE OBVIOUS GAME, and well, I didn't. It took me three years to write THE OBVIOUS GAME. I got stuck on structure, mostly.
2. Is your second book going to be a sequel? No, the second novel is tentatively titled THE BIRTHRIGHT OF PARKER CLEAVES and has nothing to do with THE OBVIOUS GAME, but it will also be contemporary young adult.
3. Did you find it harder to write your words on paper or to speak at blogging conferences? Oh, definitely write my words on paper. I'm one of those rare people who has no fear of public speaking. I'm happy to make a fool of myself wherever.
4. Are you going to be doing book sign-ins? I'm going to have a release party and signing in Kansas City, Missouri, where I'm on the board of an arts organization called The Writers Place. We're going to have a signing there on April 5, 2013. Other than that, I'm not planning any in-person signings. Budget cuts and all.
5.How close is writing your blog posts and what you wrote in the book? Which is harder? The novel and the blog are extremely far apart, though if you like my blog, chances are good you'll like THE OBVIOUS GAME because voice is voice. My blog is reality, though, and THE OBVIOUS GAME is fiction. Some characters are based on combinations of people I've known, but they became their own people. Some scenes started out rooted in reality, but then I twisted them to carry forth the story, and they ceased to bear much resemblance to anything real. In fiction, you have to put your characters in horrible positions so they can find their truth.
Praise for The Obvious Game:
“I couldn’t put down The Obvious Game. Arens perfectly captures the hunger, pain and uncertainty of adolescence.” -- Ann Napolitano, author of A GOOD HARD LOOK and WITHIN ARM'S REACH
"THE OBVIOUS GAME is a fearless, honest, and intense
look into the psychology of anorexia. The characters—especially Diana--are so
natural and emotionally authentic that you’ll find yourself yelling at the page
even as you’re compelled to turn it." -- Coert Voorhees, author of LUCKY
FOOLS and THE BROTHERS TORRES
"Let’s be clear about one thing: there’s nothing obvious about The Obvious Game. Arens has written a moving, sometimes heart-breaking story about one girl’s attempt to control the uncontrollable. You can’t help but relate to Diana and her struggles as you delve into this gem of a novel." -- Risa Green, author of THE SECRET SOCIETY OF THE PINK CRYSTAL BALL
Book Information:
Publisher: Inkspell PublishingRelease Date: Feb 7th, 2013
ISBN: 978-0-9856562-7-0 (ebook), 978-0-9856562-8-7 (Paperback)
Paperback Price: $13.99
E-book: $4.99
About The Author:
Rita Arens is the author of The Obvious Game and the editor
of the award-winning parenting anthology Sleep Is for the Weak. She writes the
popular blog Surrender, Dorothy (www.surrenderdorothyblog.com) and lives in
Kansas City with her husband and daughter. The Obvious Game is her first young
adult novel. She is at work on a second.
Rita has been a featured speaker at BlogHer 2012, BEA
Bloggers Conference 2012, BlogHer Writers 2011, BlogHer 2011, Blissdom 2011,
Alt Summit 2010, BlogHer 2010, BlogHer
2008 and BlogHer 2009, the 2008 Kansas City Literary Festival and 2009 Chicks
Who Click and appeared on the Walt Bodine Show in 2008.
She’s been quoted by Bloomberg Businessweek, The Associated
Press, Forbes Woman, the Wall Street Journal, Businessweek and Businessweek
Online and featured in Breathe magazine, Get Your Biz Savvy, The Kansas City
Star (archived material available on request), Today Moms (Today Show blog) and
Ink KC.
Website/blog: http://www.surrenderdorothyblog.com or
http://www.ritaarens.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/ritaarens
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rita.arens
BlogHer: http://www.blogher.com/member/rita-arens
Pinterest: https://pinterest.com/ritajarens/
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B002KRLEHE
My sister would love to read this book. Thanks for the giveaway
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