Thursday, May 14, 2015

Interview and Giveaway: Jen Brooks + In A World Just Right

http://www.amazon.com/World-Just-Right-Jen-Brooks/dp/148141660X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1431569299&sr=8-1&keywords=In+a+world+just+right

It's been an interview kind of week this week! I'm an overly curious question-asking machine apparently:) 

I'm so excited today to have author Jen Brooks stop by the blog, she was nice enough to answer a few questions for me about In A World Just Right, her new young adult novel released last month from Simon and Schuster. I've always been a sucker for any story that deals with multiple worlds or parallel universes, and Jen really put her own unique spin on this idea so I had a blast trying to poke around in her head a bit with my questions. I hope you all enjoy the interview and don't forget to check the bottom of the post for a fantastic giveaway!

If you could create your own world at will as Jonathan does, what are the top three things you would make sure it had?

If I were simply trying to improve my own life, I’d have a personal nutritionist/chef to make sure I eat all the healthy things; enough time in every day to work, exercise, read, and be relaxed with my family; and a screened porch.

If I were trying to improve the whole world--and since unlike Jonathan I don’t need to fix my own life first because 1) I’m older and 2) I have everything that he does not—I would aim much, much bigger. Any change you make to the world comes with consequences—environmentally, socially, biologically, economically—so I’m not sure I would with one broad stroke eliminate poverty or disease or war, though I would love for all three to cease to exist. Honestly, there is only one thing that I think I’d really like to experiment with in a world, and it might be the most cliché thing ever, but I would create a world where people don’t judge other people. As Mother Teresa said, “If you judge people, you have no time to love them.” Think of how very different all kinds of people would be in this world if they were loved and loving and never had or received a judgmental word. I think such a change would go a long way toward eliminating poverty, disease, and war.

If the real Kylie was able to see the version of herself from Jonathan’s alternate world, what’s the one thing she’d find most surprising about her doppleganger?

That she was in love with him.

I almost feel sorry for my husband because if his well-being was ever dependent on whether or not I was able to unravel a mystery, he’d more than likely be up a creek without a paddle. Good with puzzles or under pressure I am not. How well do you think you’d handle a situation like Jonathan’s?

Meaning the puzzle of what’s happening to the Kylies? I think I’d handle it just about as well as he does. At first he tries to figure out just how the two Kylies are changing. Then when the situation gets worse, he goes into damage control mode, and ultimately he . . . well, you’ll have to read the book to see what he’s ultimately willing to do.

What would Jonathan miss most from his real life if he were forced to live solely in the world he created?

Throughout the book, more and more he craves what’s real. Knowing that he lives in a fantasy world, for Jonathan, isn’t satisfying, and that’s why he keeps coming back even though he’s miserable.

If Jonathan could temporarily exchange his world-creating ability for any other supernatural gift, which would he choose and what’s the first thing he’d do?

He says at one point he would want to fly, and I would guess the first thing he’d do with that gift is take Kylie up in the sky like Superman does with Lois Lane.

I suspect, though, that by the end of the book he might give a different answer.

Thanks so much for taking the time to answer my questions Jen!

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IN A WORLD JUST RIGHT


High school senior Jonathan Aubrey creates worlds at will. In Kylie-Simms-is-my-girlfriend, he’s given himself everything he doesn’t have in real life-–the track team, passing grades, and his dream girl–-until one day he confuses his worlds and almost kisses the real Kylie Simms. Now his girlfriend Kylie and the real Kylie are changing, and Jonathan must solve the mystery of his own life to save his love from a gruesome fate.


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JEN BROOKS


Jen has a habit of being deeply moved by profound ideas, and her writing reflects her interest in exploring human goodness, relationships, and the feeling of being a part of something greater than oneself. She loves the science fiction and fantasy genres because of their dazzling possibilities for portraying characters and ideas. She credits her undergraduate experience at Dartmouth College, her MFA at Seton Hill University, and her fourteen years of English teaching with shaping her writing.  She is grateful to her family, friends, and students for inspiring her to write.


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• • • • • • • • • • • •

GIVEAWAY

Thanks to the generous team at Simon and Schuster, I have one copy of In A World Just Right to give away on the blog today! To enter, please fill out the Rafflecopter form below. Giveaway is open to US addresses only.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

33 comments:

  1. That is an interesting premise, nice :D

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  2. I'm looking forward to reading this book, Jenny! It sounds fantastic and I'm curious about the puzzle you talked about in the interview.
    Thanks for sharing!

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    1. I can't wait to hear what you think Nick!

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  3. Ah yes a personal chef would be heaven and someone to do my hair for me everyday LOL!
    Wonderful interview Jenny. This book sounds really unique and fun.

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    1. WOULDN'T IT?! One of these days I'm going to be able to afford one Ali, I just know it ;-)

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  4. I'd make sure my world didn't have chronic illnesses.

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  5. If I could make ANY world, it would involve a certain doctor and his Tardis....

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  6. Jenny, if ever a puzzle cropped up in front of us and we had to solve it to live...we'd be in so much trouble! And I do agree with the author -- it'd be awesome to see a world where people didn't ugly-judge one another like we do these days.

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    1. *HIGH FIVE MARY* I suck at solving anything - mysteries, puzzles, riddles. Kevin would be screwed ;-)

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  7. What an interesting concept for a book! I have to admit that I haven't seen too many write ups about this, but thanks to this interview, I'm wholly curious now.

    Thanks for sharing!

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    1. Yay! Glad I could help pique your interest Joy:)

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  8. Curious about the puzzle. Thanks for putting this one on my radar Jenny.

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  9. Jenny I'm exactly the same, I love my books which deal with parallel universes, so thank you for putting this book on my radar and yes like Jen I would so need a nutritionist to tell me all the good food to eat, as I'm so bad at eating healthily!

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    1. Yessssss! I can't get enough parallel world stories! And I completely fail at eating healthy too. *takes a sip of coke* ;-)

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  10. Hmmmm, now that's quite a different kind of parallel worlds story and it sounds quite intriguing indeed!
    Great interview Jenny!

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  11. I can't wait to read this one. I love the concept and I've always had a soft spot for parallel universes. The story sounds compelling and I know that many bloggers have loved it. The interview was interesting as well :) A screened porch, how lovely!

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    1. ME TOO! I haven't met a parallel universe story yet that I haven't liked. I just am fascinated by the concept:)

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  12. Another parallel world book. I would want ta personal chef as well. This looks terrific. Thanks for sharing.

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    1. I can't even imagine how amazing having a personal chef would be! *dreams of it*

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  13. I can appreciate the author understanding that every change you make to your life has a consequence. And even though she is referring to parallel universes, I do think it is like that in real life too. Change something in your life, and things will change based on that. As physics says, every action has a reaction ;) I will be reading this one soon because my copy is just calling to me...

    Check out my book review: http://olivia-savannah.blogspot.nl/2015/05/stone-cold-dead-review.html

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  14. peace! thanks for sharing :)

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  15. I've heard mainly mixed reviews about this one so I'm not sure if I would like it - the concept sounds fantastic though. Thank you for sharing :) <3 Benish| Feminist Reflections

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  16. Creating your own world? Oh man, that's tempting. But also dangerous, for sure. I'm curious, although it seems that romance is very important to this story so my question is: Is it character-driven or is the world-building well exploited and described? Great review, Jen!! Missed your posts!!

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  17. I'd definitely have free pizza for everyone!! ;);)

    Carolina M on rafflecopter

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  18. A world where people don't judge each other sounds wonderful to me! It would be so hard to decide what to change, because Jen is right, there would be so many repercussions you might not even dream of from even a simple improvement. Very cool interview!

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