Find Out Friday: Tina Ferraro + Giveaway!

What inspired you to write a novel for young adults?

The young adult novels I read as a teen, and continued to read as an adult. I have always loved the "coming-of-age" time when your adult life is still ahead of you, and anything is possible!

What's the best part about being a writer?

Playing with my characters. One time my husband asked me, "How can you stand to be alone all day when I'm at work and the kids are at school?" And I was like, "Who's alone?"

Are you working on any other books?

Always! At the moment, I have three books that I am working on, and a fourth one coming alive in my head!

Is the cover of Top Ten Uses For An Unworn Prom Dress what you imagined it would look like while writing?

Wow--no one has ever asked me that before! Great question! I had actually been thinking that Nic would be holding a list. And a friend had suggested the list be loosely wrapped around her dress. Something like that. But I was delighted by the cover. In fact, my teenaged daughter was having a study group the afternoon it first arrived, five girls, all very different. I showed it to them and all five gasped and said they'd buy the book based on the cover. I knew I had a winner!

How did you choose the names for your characters?

For the most part, they come to me in add inspirations. My favorite was Rascal. I was a couple chapters into the book, and calling him Lance, but the name wasn't working. Then I was in a music store and someone asked the clerk if they had anything by Rascal Flatts. And it was like a lightning bolt hit my head. I went running home, changed his name to Ron "Rascal" Pasqual, and the story took off...

What young adult book is your favorite?

Well, if I had to only point to one, I'd like to say A Northern Light by Jennifer Donnelly. It was incredibly exciting, moving, and beautifully written. Oddly enough, I later found out that my own editor was an assistant editor on that book, and it was great fun to talk "behind the scenes" with her.

Thanks so much Tina!

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Tina has graciously offered a signed copy of Top Ten Uses For An Unworn Prom Dress for me to giveaway!

Nicolette Antonavich was dumped two days before prom by the hottest guy at school - Rod "Rascal" Pasqual. As a result, she became the proud owner of one unworn, perfectly magical pink vintage dress. And she got to stare at it all evening long as a reminder.

But Nic is determined to put that night behind her for good. She's a junior now - older, wiser, and completely overwhelmed by a new set of problems: 1. The bank's ready to foreclose on her childhood home. 2. Her father's too busy with his "replacement' daughter to care. 3. Her best friend's brother is an eternal thorn in her side. 4. Her best friend isn't exactly the rose attached to that thorn. 5. Rumors are flying around school that could get her kicked off the volleyball team, which would 67 ruin all chances of a college scholarship. 7. She still likes the boy who dumped her in the first place. An 8 9 & 10 what in the world do you do with an unworn prom dress, anyway?

Strangely, it's getting to the bottom of this last dilemma that just might hold the answer to all Nic's problems.

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Ends: 11/13

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+1 comment on my review of Top Ten Uses here.

Good luck!