Author Interview & Giveaway: Belles by Jen Calonita

Welcome everyone. Today we have Author Jen Calonita on the site answering a few questions for us. Jen's  recent release is Belles, which came out on April 10th from Poppy. Read our review HERE for Belles. Other novels by Jen are: Secrets of My Hollywood Life Series 1-6, Sleepaway Girls and Reality Check. The sequel to Belles is Winter White  expected to be released October 9th 2012.

Jen Calonita Links: Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter

Author Bio: Jen Calonita is a former magazine editor who has interviewed everyone from Justin Timberlake to Reese Witherspoon. She lives in New York with her husband, Mike; sons Dylan and Tyler; and their Chihuahua, Captain Jack Sparrow, and daydreams about moving south. Jen is currently hard at work on her second book in the Belles series, Winter White, coming October 2012. She invites you to visit her online at www.jencalonitaonline.com.

OUaT: Is this story based on true events? If so, is it your own or someone close?

Nope! The world of Emerald Cove is pure fiction. I will say though that the part with Izzie's grandmother's illness is taken from my life.

OUaT: What an inspirational and captivating story! What inspired you to write this particular story?

I love the fish out of water element to it. Throwing Izzie into the lion's den of Emerald Cove was so much fun, especially because she is someone who knows how to overcome a challenge. I actually felt bad for Emerald Cove at first because I thought, they have no clue what they are in for with Isabelle Monroe! Izzie has a profound effect on Mira and her friends and I love seeing how their two different worlds collide.

OUaT: Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?

I'm a writer, wife, mom of two boys, scrapbooker and Disney enthusiast who has never met a cupcake she didn't like.

OUaT: What do you do when you are not writing?

Finger paint, Playdoh, build legos--with my three and seven year old sons....basically kid stuff! I also attempt to cook badly. SERIOUSLY. I'm terrible. If someone wants to offer me lessons, I'm game.

OUaT: What projects are you working on now?

I'm actually writing the third Belles book, which will come out next year. The title is The Grass is Always Greener and it deals with skeletons in Izzie's closet that even she wasn't aware of. For Mira, there is a huge change in her life coming up and she's not dealing with it well.

OUaT: Can we expect a part 2 to Belles and see where Isabelle Scott's life is heading?

You can expect three more Belles books! Winter White (Belles 2) is out this October and I've thrown the girls into cotillion season (which, for those who don't know, is an incredible dance with all white gowns that usually requires dance lessons and etiquette classes leading up to it. Think debutante ball). My favorite part about EC's cotillion is that there is a fun behind-the-scenes rite-of-passage the girls must pass to take part in it. Izzie and Mira both handle the challenge in different ways.

OUaT: Is there anything you find particularly challenging in your writing?

The first draft of every book! Getting the initial story down on paper is always tricky. I use outlines to help me through it, but I find it easier to edit my own work in future drafts than in the first one.

OUaT: Who is your favorite character and why?

I can't choose between Izzie and Mira! It's like picking a favorite between your children. I love Mira's style and Izzie's spunk. They work well together.

OUaT: Did you ever live in the South? 

I have not lived in the South before, but I am fascinated by it and have always wanted to move there.

Thank you to Jen for taking time out to answer these questions for us while she is on her signing tour which began yesterday in TN. You can check her schedule for her tour HERE, to see if she is stopping near you. To celebrate her signing tour, Little Brown is providing a chance to one reader to win a hardcover copy of BELLES and a special edition BELLES lip gloss. 

To Enter:

• Fill out the Form below
• US Giveaway
• Giveaway ends Sunday May 13th at midnight
• Must be 13 years or older to enter
• No PO BOXES
• Read our Giveaway policy HERE
• Do not leave email or any personal information below
• CHECK OUT THE REST OF THE GIVEAWAYS GOING ON NOW HERE

a Rafflecopter giveaway