Go WILD for Simone Elkeles


Today, Olivia from YA-Mag has YA author Simone Elkeles dishing on her latest romantic triumph, WILD CARDS!

Wild Cards coverAfter getting kicked out of boarding school, bad boy Derek Fitzpatrick has no choice but to live with his ditzy stepmother while his military dad is deployed. Things quickly go from bad to worse when he finds out she plans to move them back to her childhood home in Illinois. Derek’s counting the days before he can be on his own, and the last thing he needs is to get involved with someone else’s family drama.

Ashtyn Parker knows one thing for certain–people you care about leave without a backward glance. A football scholarship would finally give her the chance to leave. So she pours everything into winning a state championship, until her boyfriend and star quarterback betrays them all by joining their rival team. Ashtyn needs a new game plan, but it requires trusting Derek—someone she barely knows, someone born to break the rules. Is she willing to put her heart on the line to try and win it all?



Olivia with YA-Mag: Simone, welcome to Young Adult Magazine!

Simone ElkelesYA: Tell us a little bit about how you met Derek and Ashtyn? What about them
screamed “We’re your protagonists” enough that they needed to share the stage? 



Simone Elkeles:

 I love a girl who’s “one of the guys” and can be tough and vulnerable at the same time – that’s Ashtyn. I also love a guy who likes to have fun and not take life seriously – although there’s a sensitive guy inside just waiting for the right girl to come along and challenge him to open up and show his true self. That’s Derek! I love that push-pull relationship and Derek and Ashtyn definitely have that! As much as they try, they can’t keep each other off their minds.


YA: What sets Ashytn and Derek’s story apart from other contemporary
YA romances, like the PUSHING THE LIMITS series by Katie McGarry or the JUST ONE DAY series by Gayle Forman? What will readers find in you and your latest work that they can’t find anywhere else in YA books? 



SE:

 Every one of my YA romances are unique stories that aren’t found anywhere else.  In my NY Times bestselling Perfect Chemistry series, each of the Fuentes brothers falls in love with the girl who is their complete opposite (or so they think).  They are hot, sexy romances that stick with the reader long after they read the last page. In my Leaving Paradise series, Caleb and Maggie have to learn to trust each other and heal emotional scars in order to fall in love. In the How to Ruin series, Amy and Avi’s story is hilarious and you root for them while laughing through their crazy adventures together. In Wild Cards, Ashtyn and Derek have both been abandoned by their mothers – Ashtyn’s mom left her when she was younger and Derek’s mom died. Ashtyn has to learn to trust Derek won’t abandon her and Derek has to learn to open up and trust himself to love again. Each story I’ve written holds a special place in my heart and I hope my readers feel the same way.


YA: You grew up loving football but, as a woman, were relegated to
the sidelines. With this series, you’ve done a lot of research, talking with teens on and off the football field. What has changed and what has stayed the same for these football-loving teens since you were one? 



SE:

 I always wanted to try out for the football team in high school but was too nervous to be the only girl on the team so I didn’t even try out. Fear and insecurity kept me from doing it – whether I would have succeeded or not we will never know and I definitely regret not trying! I’m from Chicago, where football is a beloved sport. I was recently at a high school game and things are just the same as they were when I was a teen, except now it’s not that uncommon to see a girl on the football team!


YA: What non-book influences (films, television shows, music, plays, etc) helped spark this story or your
writing career in general? 



SE:

 I did love Friday Night Lights and MTV’s reality show Two-A-Days. Both shows highlighted what it was like to be on the football team in high school, from the teenage drama to the pressures of being on a competitive football team. I wish both were still on tv, but they’re not. Hopefully one day a new football series will emerge and I’ll have something new to watch!


YA: When you were a teen, what was your favorite book (YA or otherwise)? Now that you’re an author for teens, what is your favorite contemporary YA?



SE: 

I loved Judy Blume’s Forever. It was edgy and sexy and exciting for a young teen. I wasn’t a big reader, but when I got into a book I couldn’t put it down. I also read the book Sooner or Later and that became a made-for-tv movie which was so exciting! I loved seeing the characters come alive on the screen.


Wild Cards quoteYA:  Sometimes a title sticks from rough draft to published novel; sometimes the author works with their agent or editor to find the perfect title.
 What is WILD CARD’s story?

SE:

 I actually had a different title for Wild Cards. I called it The Fullriders. What’s a fullrider, you ask?  It’s a person who’s perceived to get a “full ride” in life because they’re so popular and charismatic. My publisher was worried that people would be super confused by the term “fullrider” so we changed it to Wild Cards – because of the football reference and also because the characters in the series are wild cards and you never know what they’re going to do!


YA: This is the first book in the WILD CARDS series. What can you tell us about what’s up next for our hero and heroine? Many reviewers noted that–as it’s summer training season for Ash–we didn’t get a chance to see her in action: can we look forward to a lot of time to admire her on-the-field skills?



SE:

 The second book in the Wild Cards series, Total Possession, is about Victor and Monika. Victor has been in love with Monika for years, but she’s currently dating his best friend Trey. It’s been rough for Victor, but hopefully he can finally find true love without breaking his longtime friendship with Trey. You will definitely see the football team in action and watch Ashtyn lead her team through the season and the series!


YA: If you could cast the Dream Film Adaptation, who would you cast as Ashtyn, Derek, their family, and friends?



SE:

 I am so glad you asked this question! Because I’m a reality show junkie, I filmed a reality show as a prequel to Wild Cards with actors playing the roles of the characters in the book. You can watch the 4-episode series at www.wildcards.com. It was so much fun seeing my characters come alive and writing the backstory for the book.


YA: Do you have any secret pet projects you’re eager to work on?



SE:
 In regards to books, I’ve got a list of ideas for books I want to write but it would be too long to list them all here. I would love to produce and direct a movie about one or more of my books. My fans would love to see my books turned into movies and it hasn’t happened yet – but that would be a dream pet project for me!


YA: All right, last one! With Thanksgiving coming up in these United States, if you spent the day with Derek and Ashtyn (and the rest of the Parker household!), what would each of you bring to dinner? What would you want to say to your protagonists about their past and future?

SE: Derek: Tofurky (tofu turkey because he’s so health-conscious)

Ashtyn: Skittles for dessert – they’re her favorite!

Mrs. Worthington: Gourmet turkey and stuffing catered in by a famous chef

Brandi: Mashed potatoes from a box

Gus:  Nothing. He’d rely on everyone else to bring stuff

Me: My phone so I could video and document everything – also my famous homemade chocolate chip cookies that are a crowd-pleaser.


What would I say to my protagonists about their past and future?  Keep challenging each other and never forget the first time you met and sparks flew… and don’t forget to rely on each other when you need it!


YA: Thank you very much, Simone! And again, from YA Mag, congratulations on your latest work! We look forward to hearing a lot more from you!

SE: Thank you for the interview – I had a ton of fun answering the questions and I hope your readers love Wild Cards!

~*~

Readers, be sure to check out Simone Elkeles at her website SimoneElkeles.com and facebook fanpage. Or follow her on Twitter @SimoneElkeles.


WILD CARDS, published by Walker Books, is now available at your favorite retailers and local independent bookstores!

Olivia Hennis is a transplanted New England girl dropped by a tornado into the magical Land of Jersey.  For more info, follow her on Twitter or at her blog, Olivia’s Secret Reading Room.

 

go-wild-for-simone-elkeles

Today, Olivia from YA-Mag has YA author Simone Elkeles dishing on her latest romantic triumph, WILD CARDS!

Wild Cards coverAfter getting kicked out of boarding school, bad boy Derek Fitzpatrick has no choice but to live with his ditzy stepmother while his military dad is deployed. Things quickly go from bad to worse when he finds out she plans to move them back to her childhood home in Illinois. Derek’s counting the days before he can be on his own, and the last thing he needs is to get involved with someone else’s family drama.

Ashtyn Parker knows one thing for certain–people you care about leave without a backward glance. A football scholarship would finally give her the chance to leave. So she pours everything into winning a state championship, until her boyfriend and star quarterback betrays them all by joining their rival team. Ashtyn needs a new game plan, but it requires trusting Derek—someone she barely knows, someone born to break the rules. Is she willing to put her heart on the line to try and win it all?



Olivia with YA-Mag: Simone, welcome to Young Adult Magazine!

Simone ElkelesYA: Tell us a little bit about how you met Derek and Ashtyn? What about them
screamed “We’re your protagonists” enough that they needed to share the stage? 



Simone Elkeles:

 I love a girl who’s “one of the guys” and can be tough and vulnerable at the same time – that’s Ashtyn. I also love a guy who likes to have fun and not take life seriously – although there’s a sensitive guy inside just waiting for the right girl to come along and challenge him to open up and show his true self. That’s Derek! I love that push-pull relationship and Derek and Ashtyn definitely have that! As much as they try, they can’t keep each other off their minds.


YA: What sets Ashytn and Derek’s story apart from other contemporary
YA romances, like the PUSHING THE LIMITS series by Katie McGarry or the JUST ONE DAY series by Gayle Forman? What will readers find in you and your latest work that they can’t find anywhere else in YA books? 



SE:

 Every one of my YA romances are unique stories that aren’t found anywhere else.  In my NY Times bestselling Perfect Chemistry series, each of the Fuentes brothers falls in love with the girl who is their complete opposite (or so they think).  They are hot, sexy romances that stick with the reader long after they read the last page. In my Leaving Paradise series, Caleb and Maggie have to learn to trust each other and heal emotional scars in order to fall in love. In the How to Ruin series, Amy and Avi’s story is hilarious and you root for them while laughing through their crazy adventures together. In Wild Cards, Ashtyn and Derek have both been abandoned by their mothers – Ashtyn’s mom left her when she was younger and Derek’s mom died. Ashtyn has to learn to trust Derek won’t abandon her and Derek has to learn to open up and trust himself to love again. Each story I’ve written holds a special place in my heart and I hope my readers feel the same way.


YA: You grew up loving football but, as a woman, were relegated to
the sidelines. With this series, you’ve done a lot of research, talking with teens on and off the football field. What has changed and what has stayed the same for these football-loving teens since you were one? 



SE:

 I always wanted to try out for the football team in high school but was too nervous to be the only girl on the team so I didn’t even try out. Fear and insecurity kept me from doing it – whether I would have succeeded or not we will never know and I definitely regret not trying! I’m from Chicago, where football is a beloved sport. I was recently at a high school game and things are just the same as they were when I was a teen, except now it’s not that uncommon to see a girl on the football team!


YA: What non-book influences (films, television shows, music, plays, etc) helped spark this story or your
writing career in general? 



SE:

 I did love Friday Night Lights and MTV’s reality show Two-A-Days. Both shows highlighted what it was like to be on the football team in high school, from the teenage drama to the pressures of being on a competitive football team. I wish both were still on tv, but they’re not. Hopefully one day a new football series will emerge and I’ll have something new to watch!


YA: When you were a teen, what was your favorite book (YA or otherwise)? Now that you’re an author for teens, what is your favorite contemporary YA?



SE: 

I loved Judy Blume’s Forever. It was edgy and sexy and exciting for a young teen. I wasn’t a big reader, but when I got into a book I couldn’t put it down. I also read the book Sooner or Later and that became a made-for-tv movie which was so exciting! I loved seeing the characters come alive on the screen.


Wild Cards quoteYA:  Sometimes a title sticks from rough draft to published novel; sometimes the author works with their agent or editor to find the perfect title.
 What is WILD CARD’s story?

SE:

 I actually had a different title for Wild Cards. I called it The Fullriders. What’s a fullrider, you ask?  It’s a person who’s perceived to get a “full ride” in life because they’re so popular and charismatic. My publisher was worried that people would be super confused by the term “fullrider” so we changed it to Wild Cards – because of the football reference and also because the characters in the series are wild cards and you never know what they’re going to do!


YA: This is the first book in the WILD CARDS series. What can you tell us about what’s up next for our hero and heroine? Many reviewers noted that–as it’s summer training season for Ash–we didn’t get a chance to see her in action: can we look forward to a lot of time to admire her on-the-field skills?



SE:

 The second book in the Wild Cards series, Total Possession, is about Victor and Monika. Victor has been in love with Monika for years, but she’s currently dating his best friend Trey. It’s been rough for Victor, but hopefully he can finally find true love without breaking his longtime friendship with Trey. You will definitely see the football team in action and watch Ashtyn lead her team through the season and the series!


YA: If you could cast the Dream Film Adaptation, who would you cast as Ashtyn, Derek, their family, and friends?



SE:

 I am so glad you asked this question! Because I’m a reality show junkie, I filmed a reality show as a prequel to Wild Cards with actors playing the roles of the characters in the book. You can watch the 4-episode series at www.wildcards.com. It was so much fun seeing my characters come alive and writing the backstory for the book.


YA: Do you have any secret pet projects you’re eager to work on?



SE:
 In regards to books, I’ve got a list of ideas for books I want to write but it would be too long to list them all here. I would love to produce and direct a movie about one or more of my books. My fans would love to see my books turned into movies and it hasn’t happened yet – but that would be a dream pet project for me!


YA: All right, last one! With Thanksgiving coming up in these United States, if you spent the day with Derek and Ashtyn (and the rest of the Parker household!), what would each of you bring to dinner? What would you want to say to your protagonists about their past and future?

SE: Derek: Tofurky (tofu turkey because he’s so health-conscious)

Ashtyn: Skittles for dessert – they’re her favorite!

Mrs. Worthington: Gourmet turkey and stuffing catered in by a famous chef

Brandi: Mashed potatoes from a box

Gus:  Nothing. He’d rely on everyone else to bring stuff

Me: My phone so I could video and document everything – also my famous homemade chocolate chip cookies that are a crowd-pleaser.


What would I say to my protagonists about their past and future?  Keep challenging each other and never forget the first time you met and sparks flew… and don’t forget to rely on each other when you need it!


YA: Thank you very much, Simone! And again, from YA Mag, congratulations on your latest work! We look forward to hearing a lot more from you!

SE: Thank you for the interview – I had a ton of fun answering the questions and I hope your readers love Wild Cards!

~*~

Readers, be sure to check out Simone Elkeles at her website SimoneElkeles.com and facebook fanpage. Or follow her on Twitter @SimoneElkeles.


WILD CARDS, published by Walker Books, is now available at your favorite retailers and local independent bookstores!

Olivia Hennis is a transplanted New England girl dropped by a tornado into the magical Land of Jersey.  For more info, follow her on Twitter or at her blog, Olivia’s Secret Reading Room.