The Laughs Never End with Author Rhonda Stapleton

I'm so pleased to bring an interview to you with author Rhonda Stapleton. Her book Stripped is a chick lit that has gotten great reviews. Currently, she is actively marketing her YA manuscript and hopes to break into the YA chick lit market with Nibbling Nirvana. We certainly wish her success and hope to hear good news on that front soon. And if you want to get to know Rhonda's wicked sense of humor better, visit her blog.

1. First off, tell us a little about yourself. How did you get into writing YA and why chick lit?

I have two kids and a fiance who keep me busy at home. LOL. I have a Master's degree in English and a Bachelor's degree in English, creative writing. I actually started out as an adult writer--I have an adult chick lit novel and an adult chick lit short story published through Freya's Bower. I started that adult novel as a romantic comedy, then realized chick lit was a better fit for my voice and decided to run with it. A writer friend of mine, Erin McCarthy said I should try writing YA. And she was right--I fell in love with the genre instantly!

2. You write chick lit for adults and for teens. What are the similarities and differences writing for these two markets?

Great question. The similarities for me is the chick lit angle. I tend to have a very conversational tone in my writing, which carries well into both adult and YA. But YA presents its own challenges--writing tight, and channeling how things are for the modern-day teen. It sure ain't Sweet Valley High anymore! :D

3. What is your YA story Nibbling Nirvana about? What are your plans for this novel?

This story is about a flaky, self-centered girl who dies while eating a pulled pork sandwich. So, she becomes a ghost and has to accomplish some good deeds in order to cross over. The idea came about because I choked on a pulled pork sandwich one time--NOT fun. My agent is currently submitting the novel to publishers as we speak! *gulp*

4. Briefly describe, Stupid Cupid, which sounds like a hoot, by the way. In what stage of completion is it?

This story is about a teen who becomes cupid for her school. Of course, she's pretty bad at matchmaking, and some crazy stuff happens. The story is completed and going through revisions right now, and then I'll send it to my agent to see what she thinks.

5. What is it you hope readers take away from your stories?

For me, I hope they feel like they just came away from a funny conversation with a close friend. I like the intimate, close feel of writing. I also write a lot of funny--I just like writing goofy stuff!

6. Do you find it harder or easier to write novels for teens as opposed to adults? Why or why not?

Wow, good question. In a way, I actually find it harder to write for adults. Maybe I'm just a teenager trapped in a woman's body. LOL. But the teen voice just felt right to me.

7. On your website you have "Romance, Fun and lots of Laughter." Is that a principle you live by? How do you not let things get to you?

Oh, absolutely. Doesn't mean I don't flub up and get down sometimes, but I think life is too short to feel bad. I hope when I get really old, I have tons of laugh lines around my eyes and mouth. To me, that's REAL character, you know? Having great memories of laughing so hard, tears pour out of the sides of my eyes. But when I get too down to laugh off my problems, I run right to the Reese's peanut butter cups. My pants hate me for it, though. haha

8. What YA books have you read recently that you loved? Who are some of the YA writers that you like?

I've read several that I loved: Lois Lowry writes some FABULOUS YA stuff--I read The Giver, Gathering Blue, and The Messenger. Her stuff is so simplistic, but beautiful. I also read a great book called The Heavenward Path by Kara Dalkey. Great read--go get it if you love reading about ancient Japan! Hmmmm--I also read Now and Zen, which is set in modern Japan, by Linda Gerber. There are tons in my to-be-read pile, too, including Twilight by Stephenie Meyer and Uglies by Scott Westerfeld. I like reading all kinds of YA--historical, funny, serious, etc.

9. If you could be any character from any movie or book, who would you choose to be and why?

This is a cool question. I don't think anyone has asked me that before. SO many people to choose! I'd say someone like Angela Lansbury and investigate crazy happenings (and solve them!!), but it would stink to have people be afraid of you--every time she goes somewhere, someone kicks off. So, maybe Nancy Drew is a better answer. :D

10. When you were growing up, did you dream of becoming a writer? What did you want to be?

Actually, I had about 42,000 different careers I wanted to try, including opera singer (until I went from soprano to alto), deep-sea diver (until I learned about the bends, which freaked me out), a cartoon animator (until my mom made me pass on an art scholarship to a college because it was in another state--wah!), psychologist (until I got preggers and didn't have time to finish all that schooling), and teacher (until I realized I hated the school's education program, haha). I decided on English, finally, because it was a core interest of mine forever. And what I love about writing is that I can be all of these! I can research them, make characters live these roles, and that way, I don't have to pick just one career. Which is great for my other personalities. haha

11. Five years from now, where do you hope to be in your writing career?

I hope to have many YAs written and sold! I'd love to keep moving up, get my books out there, continue growing in my writing and expanding. I think writers need to take an active interest in their own careers, and I plan to do so.