Have I mentioned lately how much I love HarperCollins, especially their YA division, HarperTeen? Well, I do. I heart them big time. HarperTeen features fabulous books, authors, contests, quizzes, etc. - just so much fun. All throughout the month of February, they're running a contest called 28 Days of Winter Escapes: A Book A Day Giveaway. You'll definitely want to check it out.



Today's featured author is the fabulous (I think fabulous is going to be my official word for February) Melissa Kantor, author of The Amanda Project: Invisible i as well as several other YA books. The following is a little Q & A HarperTeen put together:

1. Callie, Nia and Hal were from different social circles before they found their one commonality. When you were in high school what were your friends like, and did you ever venture outside of that group?

I had a lot of friends from different groups when I was in high school. I was in the plays, so that made it easy for me to meet people in different grades, which was cool. I was very conscious of being popular, of who was and who wasn’t and whether I was or I wasn’t. Pretty embarrassing to admit now, but sadly true.

2. Amanda is very mysterious—did you base any aspects of her character on anyone you know?

I WISH I knew someone as awesome as Amanda. She’s like a best friend, a sister, and a protector rolled into one. She’s got all the most fabulous traits you can imagine someone having, but she is not based on one specific person.

3. Amanda leaves her friends clues because she can’t communicate with them directly. Have you ever put together or participated in a scavenger hunt for fun?

I am the absolute WORST at scavenger hunts. You could give me a clue that said, basically, “look in the kitchen” and I’d be all, “Do you think we should look in the kitchen?” Let’s just say Amanda is lucky she’s not relying on me to figure out how to find or help her. . .

4. In which spot would you be more likely to curl up with a book: by a roaring fire or in a cozy bubble bath?

DEFINITELY a roaring fire. I’m way too impatient to sit in the bathtub for a long time.

5. If he/she needed you, who’s one person you would drop everything for?

The truth is, I’m someone who drops things for people. According to the “What’s Your Animal Totem” quiz at theamandaproject.com, I’m a total deer. It means I might not be all dangerous and adventurous (oh, to be a tigress!) but I’m super loyal.

6. If you could disappear, where would you go to get away from it all?

Not the bathtub, that’s for sure. . .

For more Melissa Kantor fun, check out the interview I did with her last month, as well as my reviews of Invisible i (here) and If I Have A Wicked Stepmother, Where's My Prince? (here), and Confessions Of A Not It Girl (here).