~ Interview~
An Interview with Author Natalie Palmer
How long did it take you to write this book?
It’s hard to say exactly but I would guess about a year. Keep in mind that I’m only able to write a couple hours a day while my kids are asleep. And this book actually went a LOT faster than my first one even though I had to squeeze it in between raising two kids instead of just one.
What was your inspiration to write this book?
Gemma and Jess. Their story is inspiring to me and I’m so happy that my imagination stumbled across it. I knew that one book wasn’t enough. There’s just so much more to their story.
Were you always planning on continuing the story from “Second Kiss”?
I knew going into the first book that I wanted to follow my main character through the better part of her teen years and it’s nearly impossible to truly feel what she feels unless you watch her grow on a day to day basis. For this reason, yes, I knew from the beginning that it would take more than one book to finish her story.
When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?
When I was like six my older sister helped me write a book about a kid with crazy hair. It became my new favorite thing and a love for creating stories was instilled in my brain.
Why are you drawn to writing Young Adult fiction?
Maybe because I still feel like I’m seventeen… but also because I think it’s the most crucial time in a girl’s life. When you’re a teen there are so many forks in the road and I’m hoping that my books will help my readers to see the bigger picture.
What do you think makes a good story?
A little bit of real-life humor and a whole lot of feeling. I like real people and real situations. I love a story that makes you realize that every person in the world can in some way relate to each other. Nothing makes me happier than when a reader tells me my books made them both laugh and cry.
Has someone helped or mentored you in your writing career?
A lot of people indirectly helped me get to this place (i.e. my husband who has supported me every step of the way) but the first person to specifically mentor me in my writing was my first editor for Second Kiss. She made a huge impact on my writing and helped turn the Gemma and Jess story into what it is today.
Do you have critique partners or beta readers?
Always! My favorite one is my mom. She will tell me what she really thinks but she’s so full of compliments that it makes me want to shoot for the moon.
What was your favorite Book when you were a “young adult,” has it changed as an adult?
Oh geez. I’m embarrassed to say. In my tween days I liked everything Jack Weyland (but I blame that on the fact that the internet was not yet kid friendly and the other options in my at-home library were Nancy Drew and Choose Your Own Adventure). But during my junior year of high school I read A Separate Peace by John Knowles and that changed my literary taste forever. It is still at the top of my list along with The Hiding Place, The Wednesday Sisters and anything Jane Austen.
As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
I went through my teacher and veterinarian phases and for a long time I thought it would be cool to be a taxi driver. But for the most part I always wanted to be a mom and a writer. I guess some things do work out the way you want them to. J
What is your favorite quote from a book?
From A Separate Peace by John Knowles:
“Everyone has a moment in history which belongs particularly to him. It is the moment when his emotions achieve their most powerful sway over him, and afterward when you say to this person “the world today” or “life” or “reality” he will assume that you mean this moment, even if it is fifty years past. The world, through his unleashed emotions, imprinted itself upon him, and he carries the stamp of that passing moment forever.”
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