Blog Tour: Keri Mikulski (Character) Interview and Giveaway

I'm excited to introduce Taylor, the main character of Head Games. Thanks so much for answering my questions Taylor! At the bottom you can also find a chance to win a gift card and fun basketball related swag!

1. Hey Taylor, thanks for stopping by! What first got you interested in playing basketball?

Definitely, my dad. He used to play semi-pro so he’s a basketball fanatic.

2. Other than basketball, what else do you enjoy doing?

Playing basketball at the beach courts (opps…). I mean, hanging out with Hannah… And spending time with someone who shall remain nameless. *blush*

3. Fashion may not be your strength, but it is Hannah's. How did you two become friends?

Years ago, I brought a Bratz doll in to school for show and tell dressed like Lisa Leslie. Hannah was so impressed with my design skills that she invited me over to her house. We’ve been inseparable ever since.

4. Who is your idol? Do you have a famous basketball player you look up to?

I have three. Lisa Leslie, Diana Taurasi, and Candace Parker. I look up to Parker because she’s incredibly strong on and off the court. I love Leslie because she’s the most amazing center of all time. And I look up to Taurasi’s work ethic. She worked incredibly hard to become the best player in the WNBA.

5. What is some advice you can share with other teenagers entering high school?

Don’t let your friend talk you into walking the runway for a fashion show. And watch out for boys carrying lists. :)

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Thanks to Taylor and Keri I have an awesome giveaway for one lucky commenter! Win a $10.00 Barnes and Noble gift card along with a basketball charm. Get an extra entry for commenting on my review Blog Tour: Head Games Review

Review: Head Games by Keri Mikulski

Head Games: A Pretty Tough Novel by Keri Mikulski

Taylor is calm, cool, collected, and ferocious on the basketball court. A total all-star. Not so much in real life. She may be tall, gorgeous, and an incredible catch, but just try telling her that!

And lately, Taylor doesn't know which way to turn: The summer showcase game is almost here. Her BFF Hannah roped her into a fashion show (eek!). And she can't decide between Zach - the super-popular, super-tall, super-off-limits basketball dynamo and Matt - the sweet boy from her math class (who may just be dating her BFF's older sister). It's enough to make any girl's head spin!

Can Taylor strike a pose, land the boy of her dreams, and win the game?

Review:

Head Games was the first novel in the Pretty Tough series that I have read and one of my first forays into sporty YA fiction. I really enjoyed reading about all the basketball plays and games and how focused Taylor was on the sport.

Taylor was a very relatable main character; dealing with a lot of ordinary teen problems. Not only was she uncomfortable in her own skin but she was adjusting to working on a fashion show with her best friend, Hannah. Taylor was incredibly tall and perfect for the modeling gig as well as playing basketball. I enjoyed reading about her high school experiences and ups and downs dealing with boys and the mean girls in her school. Keri Mikulski really got inside Taylor's head and made her a very realistic and believable teenager. Pop culture references, slang terms, everything was modern and actually what high school students would talk about today.

I'm not very athletic although I used to participate in cross country and track so it was interesting and eye opening to see how tough things can be for a basketball star. Taylor was under pressure from her team mates, coaches, and parents and was trying to balance basketball with the rest of her life. The basketball references in Head Games were not overly complex that it would be boring to someone not interested in the sport, but it also was interesting to learn some of the terminology.

There was drama among Taylor and Kylie, another girl on her team, which starts to disrupt the team's dynamic. There is also some romance in this novel that may not turn out well once Taylor discovers some boys are making a list seeing who can date the most girls.

Overall, Head Games was a fun and original debut novel by Keri Mikulski filled with fun twists and a great main character. I definitely recommend it!

Overall: 4 out of 5 stars

January 6, 2011/Razorbill/284 Pages/Young Adult/Book Three

Source: Author/Publisher (ARC)

Other books in the series: Pretty Tough, Playing With the Boys (both written by Liz Tigelaar)

Introducing 2011: Keri Mikulski

Keri Mikulski teaches writing and resides at the Jersey Shore with her family, where she plays a ton of pick-up basketball and worships Derek Jeter from afar. A three-sport athlete, Keri took enormous pride in her lucky game day scrunchies and half-top Nike Air Jordans.

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Keri's debut novel, HEAD GAMES, will be published by Razorbill/Penguin in January 2011!

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1. What was the inspiration for Head Games?

Everything pretty much inspires me – places, people, music, dreams, and even simple words or phrases.

However, specifically with Head Games, the story began with a ‘what if’ – ‘What if a super tall, super nice, and super talented freshman basketball player would only consider guys who were taller than her? What if she was ferocious on the court, but a total people pleaser off? Then I let my crazy imagination run wild, added embellished details from my own high school experiences, and ended with Taylor Thomas’s story.

2. Have you used any parts other than the setting of the first two Pretty Tough books for your part of the series?

Since it’s set a few years later than the first two series books (which were originally written by the fabulous Liz Tigelaar and published in 2007), Beachwood Academy and the general setting (Southern California) and one character, Martie are the same, but the entire cast of characters (besides Martie) and story lines are different. Also, instead of third person, the new books will be written in first person.

3. Which character do you relate to more- Taylor (the athlete) or Hannah (the fashionista)?

Definitely Taylor the athlete…fashion and I only go as far as handbags and even that is limited. The fashion part of the book was definitely the most difficult for me to write.

4. What plans do you have for future novels in the series?

So far Book 4 will follow the mean girl in HEAD GAMES, Kylie Collins. I’m in the process of revising her side of the story right now and having a blast. As far as the rest of the books, I have a couple of ideas I can’t wait to tackle.

5. Did you have to do any research on basketball or modeling before writing?

Yes.. A ton… Basketball wasn’t too tough since I played since I was seven. But I still relied heavily on a college coach and WNBA journalist to make sure every detail is correct. However, fashion was another story. I Ti-voed as many episodes as I could of America’s Next Top Model, read every Teen Vogue I could get my hands on, and researched fashion trends. Thank God for my fashion savy editors. J

Thanks for having me, Kelsey!! Happy Summer!

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Thanks so much, Keri!

Click here to visit her website.