2013 Debut Author Interview: Hooked by Liz Fichera

Welcome to Debut Author Liz Fichera

I’m an American author living in the American Southwest by way of Chicago.

Born and raised in Park Ridge, Illinois, I moved to Phoenix, Arizona, after college, never expecting to live more than one year among cactus and people who’d never seen snow. I was wrong. It certainly didn’t hurt that I met my future husband in Phoenix too.

Most of my stories are set in the American Southwest because I think the desert is a cool place. Living in Phoenix, I’m surrounded by Native American culture and influences, not to mention intriguing Hohokam petroglyphs and centuries-old canals. There are over 20 tribes in Arizona and I’m lucky to be neighbors to the Gila River and the Salt River Indian Communities.

When I’m not busy writing my next novel, I like to travel, visit museums, support local theater productions, hike, and pretend that I’m training for a triathlon. I post a lot of photos from my desert and mountain hikes on my Facebook and Twitter pages. In no particular order, I’ve been chased by javalinas, rattlesnakes, coyotes, and even one curious black bear. Would love to connect with you there too!

Twitter * Website * Facebook

Interview

Favorite Candy?

M&Ms

If you could travel in a Time Machine would you go back to the past or into the future?

I’ve always been fascinated by the Old West. I think that I would like to go back to the 1800’s and be one of the pioneers who traveled across the country on horseback and settled in the American Southwest back when it was even more wide open and rugged than it is now.

If you could meet one person who has died who would you choose?

That’s easy: my parents.

Please tell us in one sentence only, why we should read your book?

How many mainstream young adult novels have you read where a Native American girl was the main heroine?

Any other books in the works? Goals for future projects?

Yes, I finished another YA contemporary this summer that is currently with my agent. I’m also halfway through another YA contemporary about a Hopi Indian teen girl; however, it requires more research and I have plans to spend some time visiting Hopi Land in northeastern Arizona this spring.

What inspired you to want to become a writer?

I’ve been writing stories since I was ten years old. Becoming a writer was my first career goal. However, life and responsibilities got in the way for a while and put that dream on hold until about 7 years ago when I began to write full-time.

What is your dream cast for your book?

That is a wonderful dream. J If the models on the cover of Hooked could act, I would choose them. Somehow HarlequinTEEN was able to find models that reflected the exact faces that I had in my mind as I wrote the story. When they first showed me the cover, I about fainted at the resemblance. That girl on the cover is definitely Fred; that boy is Ryan.

What was your favorite book when you were a child/teen?

I loved the Little House books and The Boxcar Children series. I’m pretty sure that I checked out those books from my school’s library at least a thousand times. Maybe more.

Is there a song you could list as the theme song for your book or any of your characters?

A Chicago teen wrote a song called “Choose My Way” after she read Hooked. It’s a song about dreaming big dreams and not letting anyone stand in your way. To me, that song represents Hooked perfectly.

What’s one piece of advice you would give aspiring authors?

If you don’t love writing, don’t waste your time. And develop some very thick skin.

Can you see yourself in any of your characters?

Not myself but Fred’s father in the book is very similar to my own dad.

If someone wrote a book about your life, what would the title be?

CRAZY

TV or Movies?

Movies

Night owl, or early bird?

Night owl.

Print or Ebook?
I’ve grown to absolutely love my Nook.

Hooked

When Native American Fredericka ‘Fred’ Oday is invited to become the only girl on the school’s golf team, she can’t say no. This is an opportunity to shine, win a scholarship and go to university, something no one in her family has done.

But Fred’s presence on the team isn’t exactly welcome — especially not to rich golden boy Ryan Berenger, whose best friend was kicked off the team to make a spot for Fred.

But there’s no denying that things are happening between the girl with the killer swing and the boy with the killer smile…

GET HOOKED ON A GIRL NAMED FRED.

Hooked will be released on January 29th by Harlequin Teen.

Book Trailer

Goodreads

Amazon