Friday, June 24, 2011

Imaginary Girls Blog Tour: Secret #5



I’m here spilling secrets about my book Imaginary Girls. As the cover says, “Secrets never stay below the surface.” I guess not, because here’s another one bubbling up now…

Secret #5: I did swim in the reservoir that inspired the one in the novel, but not since I was a teenager.

My last secret revealed how the town in Imaginary Girls is based on a real town, sort of. So you should know that the reservoir is a real place, too, even if I made up some stories surrounding it. This is the Ashokan Reservoir in the Hudson Valley of upstate New York, which used to be a fifteen-minute walk or so across the highway from my house. It really is illegal to go swimming there, but just like the characters in the story, my friends and I ignored the No Trespassing signs and snuck in to cool off on hot summer nights with full knowledge that we may have to flee, and fast, if anyone saw or heard us. I admitted in an interview recently that I did swim illegally in the reservoir as a teen, and I was asked if I was ever caught or arrested. No, I never was. But my friends and I, on a couple occasions, did have to quickly grab our clothes off the rocks on shore and run.

The last time I went swimming in the reservoir was the night before I left town to go to college. A friend of mine suggested we walk there, just the two of us, a friend who is no longer with us. I saw her only once after that, months later in town, and never again. When I think of the reservoir, I think of her, and how I was so preoccupied with my own life I never did anything to help save her. That night kept coming back to me, and I wonder if it’s one of the reasons why a night swim at the reservoir became such a pivotal moment in Imaginary Girls.

When I was writing I began to think that I should go back upstate to see the reservoir again—to breathe the air, catch the reflection of the moon on the water, dip my toes in… I thought it would help me describe the place better, since I live in the city now, and have for years. But I kept postponing the trip. Finally I decided I shouldn’t go back, not until the book was done. It was memories of the place that brought the story to life, and I didn’t want to shatter them. So I stayed away, on purpose. And, actually, I haven’t been back to the reservoir since.

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-The IMAGINARY GIRLS sampler: http://www.scribd.com/doc/53080390/Imaginary-Girls
-A link to Nova’s website (www.novarensuma.com) and Twitter (http://www.twitter.com/novaren)

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GIVEAWAY TIME!

I also have one signed, finished copy of Imaginary Girls to giveaway to one lucky winner!

Fill out THIS FORM to enter.

US Only. Ends July 8th. Thank you to Penguin for sponsoring the giveaway!

32 comments:

  1. Interesting post. It reminds me of a time when I went back to a place I'd often gone as a kid. It used to look big to me, but when I went back I couldn't belive how small it was.

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  2. I love these secrets, they're so cool! <3

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  3. I am dying to read this book. I have read a little bit of the first chapter online but I would love to win a signed copy.

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  4. GAH....I need more secrets!! I've been eagerly awaiting this one.

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  5. Love the trailer - this book sounds very interesting. Thanks for the giveaway!

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  6. For some reason, it makes me grin to hear that the reservoir is based on one from your real life past, but you let it live on in your past instead of bringing it forward into your present by revisiting :)

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  7. I love these secrets. They give so much more insight into a book I already love.

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  8. Your story sounds like it belongs in a book. Thanks for sharing.

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  9. I like knowing when I'm reading a book that it's based on a real place. I'm looking forward to reading this! Thanks for the giveaway!
    mittens0831 at aol dot com

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  10. ha! I wouldn't think Nova would go swimming in the reservoir because in the interview she did of her sister on release day, her sister didn't go swimming in it. Kinda like Chloe and Ruby. ;)

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  11. I would love to win this book!

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  12. Sounds like a good book
    as young kids seem to like to swim in reserviors for some reason.


    amhengstATverizonDOTnet

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  13. That was very touching to read. I can't wait to read that part of the book now that I know part of the reason behind it.

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  14. I love when authors use personal experiences in their stories, it feels more realistic. Great interview!

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  15. I really want to read this book. It sounds very good. Tore923@aol.com

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  16. I think it's really cool how things from the author's life find their way into their books. Sometimes I do it on purpose, but sometimes I go back through my stories and find little bits of real life I hadn't realized I'd put there. :] Great post, can't wait to read the book!!!

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  17. The cover of this book is so beautiful! I want a poster of it. ;) Seriousley it's that good.
    Thank you for telling this secret.

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  18. cant wait to read it! thanks for the giveaway :D

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  19. I think that's so interesting, the way that a place can be almost stronger, more emotional, in your memory, and that going back might actually prevent you from conveying it the way you'd like. I feel that way about certain places too.

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  20. It's really interesting how swimming in the reservoir inspired part of the novel. I love how authors take real-life places and insert them into novels. It makes them all the more real and vivid and makes me eager to read the book! :)

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  21. Every time I see this cover, I swoon all over again. I loved this secret too! It's so sad and eerie how true life can work it's way into fiction... I really want to read this one!

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  22. The memory of walking to the resevoir with the friends--very powerful. I really want to read this book.

    Amy // amyismyfriend at aol dot com

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  23. Kelsey, Thank you for hosting me on the IG blog tour and having me share this secret here!

    Thank you to everyone who left comments and entered the giveaway :)

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  24. Thanks for sharing and for the giveaway! I've been really interested in reading this book.

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  25. With these secrets I want to read the book now!!!!

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  26. What a powerful memory to integrate inside an amazing novel! Oh, I'm so excited to read this now. The cover's lovely, and I'm pretty sure the writing will be better.

    THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE GIVEAWAY! C:

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  27. After reading these secrets I really can't wait to read the book.

    the imagine tree at aol dot com

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  28. Sounds like an interesting book! Thanks for the giveaway!

    nancyecdavis AT bellsouth DOT net

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  29. Some of my best memories are those with my friends right before I left for college. Great post!

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I love getting comments, so feel free to leave your thoughts :)