I love a good mystery novel, especially when the stakes are high—like, say, avenging your sister’s death. That’s why I’m very excited for GCC member Denise Jaden’s new YA novel, LOSING FAITH, which debuted this week through Simon Pulse.
As always, here’s a little bit about her book to get you hooked:
When Brie’s sister, Faith, dies suddenly, Brie’s world falls apart. As she goes through the bizarre and devastating process of mourning the sister she never understood and barely even liked, everything in her life seems to spiral farther and farther off course. Her parents are a mess, her friends don’t know how to treat her, and her perfect boyfriend suddenly seems anything but.
As Brie settles into her new normal, she encounters more questions than closure: Certain facts about the way Faith died just don’t line up. Brie soon uncovers a dark and twisted secret about Faith’s final night…a secret that puts her own life in danger.
Here’s what Denise had to say:
Q: In AMIGAS AND SCHOOL SCANDALS, Mariana takes a road trip to Cornell. What’s your funniest road trip story?
Denise: My husband and I used to drive from Vancouver to L.A. every year to go to Disneyland. We were young and dumb and usually did the 22-hour drive straight through, taking turns napping. I don’t know what the funniest time would have been, but the most memorable was the time it was 108 degrees through Redding and we were in a car without A/C.
Q: I often talk about how I didn’t always “know” I wanted to be a writer. Did you? Or did you have other plans when you were little?
Denise: I’m also one of those rare authors who didn’t always “know”. For me it was about seven years ago when I sat down to write a journal, which quickly turned fictional. I had so much fun writing that I couldn’t stop. Within the year, I knew I wanted to be a real writer, writing things that others would want to read.
Q: Throughout the AMOR series, Mariana and her friends celebrate their Sweet 16s (and 15s). What did you do for your Sweet 16 or Quinceanera?
Denise: I don’t remember my sweet 16 being particularly different from any other birthday. I probably hung out with friends and went to a movie. I would have definitely had ice cream. 🙂
Q: I wrote the AMOR series organically, no outlines. My new manuscripts, I’ve outlined extensively. How about you? Are you an outliner?
Denise: I think we must have been separated at birth, Diana! I have the exact same story – started my early manuscripts just following my muse for the stories. With my more recent novels, I’ve used extensive outlines – one of them 38,000 words, just for the outline!
Now THAT is an outline!
Q: Where were you when you found out that your novel was going to be published? Tell us the story.
Denise: I had houseguests at the time and was checking my email around six a.m. Because I’m on the West Coast, the publishing world of New York was already open and I had an email sitting in my inbox with the subject line reading, “Good News.” My agent had forwarded me a message from my now-editor that read, “I love it. I want it. Denise is super-talented.” Yes, I have that memorized. LOL. I tried to suppress my scream, but I guess I wasn’t quiet enough. The house guests were soon up and brought back champagne later that day.
Thank you, Denise! Now, everyone go out and buy books, lots and lots of books!
