Mia Kerick
Genre: YA LGBTQ
Contemporary Romantic Comedy
Publisher: CoolDudes Publishing
Date of Publication: June 1, 2015
ISBN: 978-1511831857
Number of pages: 123
Word Count: 44,300
Cover Artist: Louis C Harris
Book Description:
Strutting his stuff on the catwalk in black patent leather pumps and a snug orange tuxedo as this year’s Miss (ter) Harvest Moon feels so very right to Chance César, and yet he knows it should feel so very wrong.
As far back as he can remember, Chance has been “caught between genders.” (It’s quite a touchy subject; so don’t ask him about it.) However, he does not question his sexual orientation. Chance has no doubt about his gayness—he is very much out of the closet at his rural New Hampshire high school, where the other students avoid the kid they refer to as “girl-boy.”
But at the local Harvest Moon Festival, when Chance, the Pumpkin Pageant Queen, meets Jasper Donahue, the Pumpkin Carving King, sparks fly. So Chance sets out, with the help of his BFF, Emily, to make “Jazz” Donahue his man.
An article in an online women’s magazine, Ten Scientifically Proven Ways to Make a Man Fall in Love with You (and a bonus love spell thrown in for good measure), becomes the basis of their strategy to capture Jazz’s heart.
Quirky, comical, definitely flamboyant, and with an inner core of poignancy, Love Spell celebrates the diversity of a gender-fluid teen.
Book Trailer: https://youtu.be/Lx7mVc8846E
Available at Amazon
Not to say that I kept my phone basically right beneath my chin for the next four days, but I kept my phone basically right beneath my chin for the next four days. Yes, I was oh-so-pathetically waiting for his call, which I am aware fully explains the need for the phrase “get a life.” But Jazz hadn’t been at school on the Thursday or Friday after he had called and cancelled our playdate, and now it’s Sunday night, and I still haven’t heard from him. And although I’m frustrated that all of my elaborate plans to make him fall head over heels in love with moi have apparently tanked, I’m also growing genuinely concerned.
That’s when my cell phone, which I placed on my chest before I lay down on my now “love-spell-pink” wrapped mattress, starts singing Express Yourself.
“Yo.” I don’t check the number. It’s Emmy—who else would it be?
“Hi, Chance.” The deep voice is so not Emmy’s.
Yaaassss!!! This is what ninety-nine percent of my insides shout. One percent says quietly, “It’s about frigging time you called, asshole.”
But my voice is calm. “Jasper,” I say blandly. In my opinion, he hasn’t earned the right to be called Jazz any longer.
“Um, sorry, no. It’s Jazz.”
I try not to roll my eyes even though I know he won’t see, but it’s an epic fail. “Whatever.”
“I’m sorry I haven’t been in touch for a couple days. My mom’s been real sick. I was lookin’ after her, gettin’ her to the doctor, goin’ to the pharmacy, bringing JoJo back and forth to school, and stuff.”
Oh.
“Mom caught JoJo’s strep throat and had to go to the ER because she couldn’t even swallow.” He stops talking for a second and then clears his voice. “Alls she could do was spit into a rag whenever she needed to swallow.”
Well, that’s definitely TMI, but I get the fucker-nelly revolting picture. “I’m sorry.”
“Not your fault, dude.”
And then there’s silence.
“Gonna take JoJo to the library after school tomorrow. But first I gotta stop by the cable company and pay up or we’re gonna lose our TV and internet at home. They already warned us like twice.”
“Want me to pick up Yolo at school and take her to the library?” I’m so freaking pissed off at him. Why am I offering to save his ass again?
“That’s cool of you to offer, but there’s a bus she can take to the library from her school. Could ya be waiting for her at the library, in case I get held up?”
“Of course.” I’m a Class A sucker.
“You’re such a cool pal.” Ugh—so not what I’m going for.
“Thanks.”
“I’m not gonna be at lunch tomorrow seein’ as I’ll probably be collecting my makeup work. So, I’ll see ya at the library. ‘Kay?”
I don’t say kkkk cuz it’s not even slightly cool. “Sure. The libes after school, it is.”
“Thank you, bro,” Jazz offers.
One more silence, and then I say, “Later.”
I have research to do.
Did you always wanted to be a writer? If not what did you want to be?
I was a middle school social studies teacher, as well as some English and reading and other subjects, for years until I had children. I loved the kids- they inspired and motivated me. However, my creative urges were fulfilled by creating vibrant lesson plans. I spent hours and hours on creating lesson plans that would encourage kids to use higher levels of thinking. I had to do plenty of research on uncountable subjects so that I could come up with topics and activities that the students could work with, and eventually come to own.
When did you first consider yourself a “writer”?
There was no actual day that I said to myself, “Mia, you are now an author”, and it certainly didn’t happen right after I wrote my first few books. But I kept writing books and there comes a time when I couldn’t deny it any longer… with 14 books to my name (I think), I am an author.
How long did it take to get your first book published?
Dreamspinner Press accepted Beggars and Choosers in the eight weeks they allot themselves, and it was published within six months or so. It was an incredibly easy process, as Dreamspinner Press is efficient.
Do you do another job except for writing and can you tell us more about it?
My other job is stay-at-home mother of four children. I honestly don’t stay at home very much! I have 15, 17, 19, and 21-year-old children. My oldest is a senior at Georgetown University, my second is a dancer at Purchase College Conservatory of Dance. My third is entering her senior year in high school and my youngest is entering sophomore year. Keeping up with the kids, my husband, five cats, and our house keeps me busy!
What is the name of your latest book, and if you had to summarize it in less than 20 words what would you say?
Love Spell is my most recent release and it is a YA contemporary romantic comedy about a gender fluid high school senior who is struggling with friendship and falling in love.
Who is your publisher? Or do you self-publish?
I have published with Dreamspinner Press, Harmony Ink Press, and now I’m with CoolDudes Publishing’s YA branch, YoungDudes Publishing. CoolDudes/YoungDudes is a wonderful publishing company that encourages the publication of diverse books. I have also self-published one book, but I prefer the support of working with a publisher.
What can we expect from you in the future? ie More books of the same genre? Books of a different genre?
On September 1st I have a release of a novella from YoungDudes Publishing called A Hard Day’s Night, a contemporary YA LGBTQ fiction that deals with coming out.
What genre would you place your books into?
I write LGBTQ YA and adult contemporary romantic fiction.
Do you have a favorite character from your books? And why are they your favorite?
My favorite character often changes, as I truly love and to some extent identify with all my main characters. Right now, Chance César from Love Spell is my favorite because he was so much fun to create. I could allow my mind to go wild as I came up with his character and dialogue. I enjoyed the plentiful research I did to learn another about gender identity confusion to create Chance’s character. I also think he is quite important because he is a gender fluid main character.
How long have you been writing?, and who or what inspired you to write?
My first novel was published in 2012. I have been being published for just over three years. My inspiration to write was largely that I couldn’t find any more books with main characters who were so totally devoted to the love of their life, the way I like a main character to be in a romance. Another inspiration was Edward Cullen in Twilight by Stephenie Meyers. I couldn’t get enough of how he loved Bella. Sometimes to get exactly what you are looking for you have to create your own and so I did.
Do you read all the reviews of your book/books?
When one of my books first comes out I wait for reviews, and you had better believe that I read every one. Sometimes I get kind of down about a very critical review and I wish that they would all be glowing. However, I do learn from all reviews. Once another book is in the works, though, I become to busy too busy to study each review as carefully, so I check them now and then.
Do you choose a title first, or write the book then choose the title?
Usually the book comes first, and then the title. Every once in a while I am certain that I know what a book will be titled and in a sense, the title gives breath to the idea.
Are there any hidden messages or morals contained in your books? (Morals as in like Aesops Fables type of "The moral of this story is..")
I don’t really try to hide my messages. They are there, and they are in no way camouflaged.
Which format of book do you prefer, eBook, hardback, or paperback?
I like to hold a book and read it especially if it is long, so I can know where I am and so I can easily look back to check for a piece of information I missed. But in the interest of space for storage, I appreciate my Kindle.
What is your favorite book and Why? Have you read it more than once?
I love Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte and I read it every several years. I just adore the way Mr. Rochester is devoted to Jane.
Your favorite food is?
Cookies- but only homemade. I also like cake but only if it has a great, rich, sweet frosting.
Your favorite singer/group is?
I love Queen. Freddie Mercury is my all-time favorite vocalist.
Your favorite color is?
green
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The Red Sheet ebook and Love Spell Charm made by Bewitching Book Swag
Intervention ebook and Love Spell Charm made by Bewitching Book Swag
Not Broken Just Bent ebook and Love Spell Charm made by Bewitching Book Swag
Mia Kerick is the mother of four exceptional children—all named after saints—and five nonpedigreed cats—all named after the next best thing to saints, Boston Red Sox players. Her husband of twenty-two years has been told by many that he has the patience of Job, but don’t ask Mia about that, as it is a sensitive subject.
Mia focuses her stories on the emotional growth of troubled young people and their relationships, and she believes that physical intimacy has a place in a love story, but not until it is firmly established as a love story. As a teen, Mia filled spiral-bound notebooks with romantic tales of tortured heroes (most of whom happened to strongly resemble lead vocalists of 1980s big-hair bands) and stuffed them under her mattress for safekeeping. She is thankful to Dreamspinner Press, Harmony Ink Press, CoolDudes Publishing, and CreateSpace for providing her with alternate places to stash her stories.
Mia is a social liberal and cheers for each and every victory made in the name of human rights, especially marital equality. Her only major regret: never having taken typing or computer class in school, destining her to a life consumed with two-fingered pecking and constant prayer to the Gods of Technology.
Facebook- https://www.facebook.com/mia.kerick
Hi Karen and readers! I am so happy to be on your blog today, doing such a great interview!! Thank you for having me!
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