1) Can you give us a brief overview of Chase?
Chase is a coming of age story about a young woman named
Amalia Hastings. It’s the first novel in a series of books I am writing.
Amalia is
from another area of New York and moves into Manhattan to attend graduate school at NYU. When we first meet her she is 22, in a
relationships with her long term boyfriend, Nicholas, and best friends with
Cassandra who she’s known since childhood. Even though she has a great
apartment (which she takes out extra loans to pay for), a great best friend,
and is enrolled in one of the best schools in the country, she still isn’t
happy. Her roommates drive her nuts, school is much more difficult than she
ever anticipated, and as the months pass she finds herself feeling confused and
lonely. Her eye begins to wander over to a fellow classmate name Michael, who
quickly becomes one of her closest friends. Despite his romantic entanglements
with his college girlfriend, his eye begins to wander to Amalia as well.
Throughout
the book, she makes decisions that affect her young adult life, both personal
and professional. It also affects her attitude towards the people in her life,
and Manhattan itself.
2) What's your favorite quality about
your heroine/hero?
My favorite quality about her is that
she learns how to speak her mind. All too often people keep their emotions
inside. Amalia learns throughout the book that not standing up for herself is
getting her nowhere in life.
3) What made you want to write
Chase?
I wanted to
write a story that took place in NYC that was different from any of the other
books I have read. I wanted to write something that was more realistic.
4) How long did it take you to write Chase?
What is your writing process like?
It took me about 3 years! But that was
because I stopped and started a lot of times. I moved twice and got engaged
during the process of writing my book. I actually finished it not too long
before my wedding day. After that I waited 3 months for it to be edited (the
editor had two books ahead of mine) then went through another couple of months
having the book formatted. It is not an easy process- the entire thing took about a
year from when I finished the last sentence. My process is probably a little
more unorthodox then others. I write whenever I have the time. I get a lot of
ideas throughout the day. I’ll hear a song that I haven’t heard in years and
think, “I have to write a chapter where Amalia does X!” solely based on how
that song made me feel in that moment.
5) If Hollywood comes calling and asks you to sign over the movie rights for Chase,
who would you like to see play Amalia and Michael on-screen?
I’d much rather it be turned into a
television show! I’d probably chose Sasha Pieterse as Amalia. She’s fantastic
on Pretty Little Liars, the best
actress on that show in my opinion. For Michael I’d choose James Lafferty who
was previously on One Tree Hill. He’s
a few years older, about 28, but I think he’d fit the bill well for Michael.
Also, my pick for Olivia would be Alexandra Chando.
6) How do you think of titles?
They're
usually inspired by music or they come to me as I am writing the story.
7) Tell us about your cover art design.
How did you come up with the concept? Did you execute it yourself or have a
professional do it?
I held a contest on a web-site called “99Designs.” It’s a great site! You get to have lots of artists compete for your
project, and you choose the best one.
8) The fiction market is so competitive
now. How did you find an audience for your work? What do you think are the most
effective ways an author can promote herself?
Take to
blogging and be active on Twitter I would say are the best ways I know of.
Follow a lot of Women’s Fiction’s blogs (or whatever genre you write) and try
to get involved with them. Promoting is something I’m definitely still working
on. I was working with a publicist who got me a lot of opportunities but
eventually it becomes too expensive to keep that up!
9) What are your thoughts on love
scenes in books? Do you prefer to read/write sweet/romantic encounters between
your hero and heroine or spicy ones?
Sweet and romantic but either way it’s
the hardest part of the book to write!
10) What are you working on now?
I am currently working on a short
story, called “Deliver Me” that I am entering in a competition, and I am also
working on the second installment in the Chase
series.
11) Who are the authors who inspire
you?
Lauren Weisberger’s earlier work. Emily
Giffin is probably my favorite author. I am also really inspired by television
writers like Kevin Williamson, Mark Schwahn, and Joss Whedon.
12) What genres do you like to
read? Do you stick to one or are you eclectic in your reading tastes?
Right now I am reading The Lying Game Series. I am almost done
with the third book. It’s fantastic. It’s a bit of chick-lit mixed with
mystery. It really hold my interest. My favorite genre to read is definitely
Women’s Fiction.
13) If you could be plopped down in the
middle of any book, which one would it be?
Twilight, so I could slap Rosalie.
14) If you could invite any five
people (living or dead) over for a dinner party, who would they be and
why?
Sarah Michelle Gellar and Jennifer
Garner, because they are my favorite actresses. Benedict Cumberbatch because I
find him wildly entertaining. Joss Whedon, so I could ask his advice on
creating such strong characters. And Herman Hesse.
Fast and Flirty
Favorite scent? Peonies
Favorite color? Lavender
Favorite food? Eggplant Parm
Favorite word? Persnickety
Favorite article of clothing? Dresses
Dream vacation spot? Bali
Favorite time period in history? Medieval
Favorite girl's night out drink? 7 & 7
Favorite date night activity? Staying in and watching a movie
Favorite song? Kill by Jimmy Eat World
Celebrity hottie on your laminated
list? Isabella Rossellini
Author Bio: Jill Knapp-Zitron, a native New Yorker, is the author of the Chase series (New Adult/ Women's
Fiction) and a former adjunct professor of Psychology at her alma mater Kean University.
A regular
contributor to the Huffington Post,
Knapp-Zitron reports on entertainment, relationships and the differences
between city and suburban lifestyles. She received a Masters in Psychology from
the New School For Social Research in Manhattan. She also runs Chick Lit Books.
Book Blurb: The
question that 23-year old Amalia Hastings wants the answer to is: What happens
to men when they move to Manhattan?
Life in the big city gives Amalia a ride she is
not expecting. As she tries to find her way on the little island that never
sleeps, she discovers she has a harder time navigating through life then she does the
streets of Greenwich Village and finds herself truly lost in the complex
world of men, graduate school, money, family, and friendship.
She thought she had everything she wanted – a
new apartment in Manhattan, a first-rate education at NYU, a group of
trusted friends and Nicholas, a boyfriend who she once believed was her
soul-mate. But somehow, it isn’t enough.
Stumbling through her relationships, Amalia
encounters Michael. An attractive classmate who quickly moves from being one of
her close friends, to an inconsistent friend-with-benefits. After all, the only
thing consistent about New York is its beauty.
After getting terribly lost searching for love
in all the wrong places, Amalia finds herself torn between the possibility of a
relationship, and an adventure she's been planning all along.
She eventually realizes that solely chasing love
closes her off to all of the other good things life has to offer. Now she must
decide – what is worth the chase?
Connect With Jill Knapp-Zitron
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