AUTHOR INTERVIEW WITH NEW ADULT/WOMEN'S FIC WRITER JILL KNAPP-ZITRON

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?

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