The time there were sips

So. If you follow me on Twitter, then you know how much I wanted a copy of The Distance Between Us. The ever so awesome Jaime let me borrow her arc and I instantly fell in love. I went around and entered all of the contests [it was really just the one on Kasie's website] trying to get my hands on a copy of my very own. Amazingly, I found it at a local library's on site book store [for a dollar] where I immediately snatched it up and hugged it. There may or may not have been some loud squealing and dancing. I cannot confirm or deny that.

Anyhoo.

After I read it, I flailed all over Kasie about it and begged asked for an interview. Since she's so amazing [and perhaps immune to my fangirling, I mean, we did hang out at Disneyland], she agreed! Before we get to Kasie, let's check out Distance Between Us.

Seventeen-year-old Caymen Meyers studies the rich like her own personal science experiment, and after years of observation she’s pretty sure they’re only good for one thing—spending money on useless stuff, like the porcelain dolls in her mother’s shop.

So when Xander Spence walks into the store to pick up a doll for his grandmother, it only takes one glance for Caymen to figure out he’s oozing rich. Despite his charming ways and that he’s one of the first people who actually gets her, she’s smart enough to know his interest won’t last. Because if there’s one thing she’s learned from her mother’s warnings, it’s that the rich have a short attention span. But Xander keeps coming around, despite her best efforts to scare him off. And much to her dismay, she's beginning to enjoy his company.

She knows her mom can’t find out—she wouldn’t approve. She’d much rather Caymen hang out with the local rocker who hasn’t been raised by money. But just when Xander’s attention and loyalty are about to convince Caymen that being rich isn’t a character flaw, she finds out that money is a much bigger part of their relationship than she’d ever realized. And that Xander’s not the only one she should’ve been worried about.

Sounds good, yes? [It totally is. And that cover is gorgeous!]

 

 

1. Where did the idea for Distance Between Us come from?

Oh my gosh, I just had a surreal moment with this question because I realized you are my first interview ever for The Distance Between Us. I'm so used to answering this question for Pivot Point that I almost immediately typed in that answer. Okay, so you don't want to hear Sliding Doors. Ha. Annnnnyway, I got the idea for The Distance Between Us on a Tuesday. I know this, because it's the day I used to take my daughter to guitar lessons. Her lessons are only a half an hour so I never really had time to do anything while she was there. So I usually would just sit in my car and read or get on twitter. Well, next door to the music store where she takes her lessons is a dollstore called 'Dolls, Bears, and More.' The main thing they sell there are porcelain dolls and as I sat there one day staring at the window display of these creepy dolls, I thought to myself, that would make a fun book--a girl who works in a porcelain doll shop. And thus, this book was born (well, the idea was born). :)

2. I love all of the sarcasm. Caymen's sense of humor is a lot like mine. How did she develop as a character?

My husband will die if I say this but I have to. Caymen is basically the girl version of my husband. I mean, of course she's different, but her humor was very heavily influenced by his humor. He has this dry humor that has always made me laugh. So whenever I thought about what Caymen might say in a situation, I pictured him. Which sounds really bad and please don't picture my husband as Caymen as you're reading because that would completely take all the romance out of this book. :)

3. Xander. I don't even have words for this boy. I cant tell you how much I flailed over the sips of Caymen's drinks. Where did he come from and would you ever consider doing something from his POV?

I love Xander. He was one of those rare characters that came to me fully formed. He was so easy to write. He just was. If that makes sense. Maybe that's why I like him so much. Because he was easy. In more ways than one. Ha. No, just kidding. He was only easy in one way. :)

And a book from his POV?? Hmmm. I have a confession (I know, another one) I'm terrified to write from a male POV. I don't know that I could do it. So my knee jerk, scaredy pants reaction to that question is no, I probably never would. BUT, I've learned to never say never. So....maybe. :)

4. The dolls are creepy. Why a doll store as the family business?

Well, as I stated above, the store that I sat in front of weekly was the main reason. But I also had a very unpleasant history with porcelain dolls dating back to my childhood and my grandmother who made us sleep in a guest room full of them. It was not fun. They really are creepy. And they used to stare at me. And my older sister thought it would be funny to tell awful stories about them and then proceed to fall asleep. So yeah, I thought there needed to be a book in a porcelain doll store.
 

5. Distance Between Us is a lot different from Pivot Point. Was it easier to write?

Yes and no. It was easier in that I didn't have to worry about alternate realities and keeping track of what she knew in one life versus what she knew in another and if it is this time in one life, I have to make sure it's this time in the other. All of those detail type stuff that made my head want to explode were not in DBU. But when you take out all that stuff, you realize how much contemporary depends on emotions and relationships and characters. And that's hard.

Speed [ish] round:

1. What's your go to guilty pleasure thing to eat?

Cookies (I also eat a lot of Jr. Mints but for some reason don't feel guilty about that)

2. What are you reading right now?

Going Vintage by Lindsey Leavitt

3. Who are your favorite swoony boys?

Jace (Mortal Instruments), Perry (Under the Never Sky), Wes (The Truth About Forever)

4. Are there any authors that you fangirl over?

Absolutely. A lot of them. :) I would love love love to meet Sarah Dessen though.

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Huge thanks to Kasie for taking the time to deal with my fangirling answer my questions.

Go find Kasie on her website or on Twitter. And go add all of her books on GoodReads.  

Now. The Distance Between Us has quickly become by go-to-when-in-a-slump book and I want everyone to read it and flail right along with me.... Soooooo.

Haven't read The Distance Between Us yet? Well, you're in luck. I'm giving away three [YES, THREE] copies. This is an international giveaway [as long as TBD ships for free to your country, so check first!]

Rules for the giveaway are listed under the "terms and conditions" on the Rafflecopter widget.

**Good Luck!!**

a Rafflecopter giveaway