I am beyond excited today to be able to have this conversation with author, Becca Fitzpatrick. Becca wrote the YA book hush, hush and she has agreed to take some time and join me here.
Please welcome Becca Fitzpatrick!
So Becca, thank you for taking the time to share a little with me and my readers about you and your wonderful book hush hush. This being your first book, what was the idea that brought this story line together?
Becca: I started writing HUSH, HUSH in 2003, after my husband enrolled me in a writing class for my birthday (I should add that he’s very creative when it comes to gifts). For one of the class assignments, my instructor asked me to write a scene “showing, not telling, humiliation.” Typically for these assignments, I wrote fictional pieces, but with this particular assignment, I was struck by the memory of something that happened to me in my tenth-grade biology class. My teacher had asked me, in front of the whole class, to name characteristics I’d want in a mate. It was really embarrassing. For those who’ve read HUSH, HUSH, you can probably guess exactly which scene in the book was the result of this writing assignment! Over the course of five years, that scene expanded into a chapter, then several chapters, then an entire book – HUSH, HUSH.
That is such a great memory! Describe that feeling when you first knew your book is going to be published?
Becca: *Laughing* I’m having a really hard time finding the words to describe the shock and euphoria of achieving a dream! Even supercalifragilisticexpialidocious seems to fall a little short. After what probably amounted to close to one hundred rejections for HUSH, HUSH, I thought it would be a miracle if the book was published. And maybe it was a miracle. I find the whole thing was pretty miraculous!
Oh my gosh – that is fantastic. You hear of so many authors that are rejected tim eand again and it just s takes that one person… well, here you are! The title hush hush is fantastic. How did you come up with this title and why is is in small letters?
Becca: I’m not sure why it’s in small letters. You’ll have to ask Lucy Cummins at Simon & Schuster, the creative mind behind HUSH, HUSH’s cover design. I can say, however, that I love it! When I was searching for titles, I stumbled across the definition of the word hush in the dictionary. It means “to keep concealed.” I thought that was a perfect description of Patch and Nora’s relationship in this book. After all, he’s keeping quite a few things from her.
That is perfect! To me the small “hush hush” makes me think of quiet…. like a secret. What advice would you give someone who would like to write a novel?
Becca: I highly recommend keeping a journal, and writing in it daily. You never know when your own life experiences will inspire a story. Try not to procrastinate. Sometimes it can be tempting to think and plan and plot the novel, but never actually sit down to write it. The crazy thing is, most of the time, the plot and characters evolve during the writing process. And while this might seem a little repetitive, it bears repeating. READ. Read, read, read. It’s brain candy 🙂
Every Author I chat with I ask them to share one little known fact about themselves.
Becca: I played the clarinet in my high school marching band. After the halftime performance, I always sneaked off and went home. School spirit, right here!
That is seriously awesome! I think that right there is a great scene for a book. You are filled with great material! Is there anything new and exciting coming up?
Becca: Lots of exciting things coming up! I’m going on tour for HUSH, HUSH during January and February. I’ll be in Texas, Arizona, and California. For a full lineup, visit my website at beccafitzpatrick.com
Well Becca I am excited for the second book that is due out fall 2010! Thank you so much for stopping by and hanging out with us here at One Persons Journey Through A World of Books!
Book Journey 