Guest YA Author Barbara Ehrentreu
I read her book IF I COULD BE LIKE JENNIFER TAYLOR and really enjoyed it!
My YABC review: http://www.yabookscentral.com/yafiction/12209-if-i-could-be-like-jennifer-taylor
I recommend reading this YA contemporary tale! And this month it's a real deal at $1.99!
Interview with Carolyn Samuels from If I Could Be Like
Jennifer Taylor
Today my guest is a girl who
has suddenly been thrust into the media. Recently she gave a talk on Karen’s
Chaise Lounge, she has been making the rounds on several blogs and now she is a
featured guest on this blog. How is it affecting this young girl who has
graciously agreed to talk about the events of her freshman year in high
school. Since Carolyn is always a little
nervous about any interview she asked the author of her story, If I Could Be
Like Jennifer Taylor, Barbara Ehrentreu, to interview her.
Welcome to both of you.
Barbara and Carolyn.
Barbara, please ask your
first question.
Carolyn, would you please tell us a little about
yourself?
There’s not much to tell. I
live in Mill Valley, which is in Westchester, NY and I attend Mill Valley High
School. My best friends are Becky and Janie and I love Math. Oh, yeah, I have a
Newfoundland dog named Max and my favorite cookie is chocolate chocolate chip
homemade by my mom. My mom works for an ad agency in the city. That’s what New
Yorkers called New York City. My dad is a criminal lawyer. I’m an only child,
but you couldn’t ask for better parents. Except they don’t pay much attention
to me.
On the surface it looks like
you have a great life. Why, then did you come to me one day crying and telling
me you hated Jennifer Taylor and she made your life miserable? Who is Jennifer
Taylor and why do you hate her?
Jennifer Taylor has made my
life a living nightmare since middle school. I call her Miss Perfect, because
she is a size two and her father owns half the town. She’s on the path to be an
Olympic gymnast so she’s excellent in gym. Jennifer is the most popular girl in
the freshman class. I think she knows everyone in the class. And to top it all
off she has this hot boyfriend, Brad, who is a Junior and the quarterback for
our football team. He’s so amazing and I don’t think she deserves to be with
him. Okay, maybe I have a crush on Brad myself.
What happened last year on the first day of school?
I’m not sure I can talk about
this, because it brings back awful memories. Do you want me to go all the way
back to the rope line incident? I mean that’s what started all this.
Yes, tell us as much as you can.
Well, I got up on the first
day of school after having this incredible dream where I was popular and a
cheerleader and my boyfriend fed me a piece of chocolate cake because I was
thin and blonde and didn’t gain weight. Of course the truth is I am a little
overweight and my hair is dark brown and hangs like shriveled spaghetti. But
still this was a great dream, wouldn’t you agree? I wanted to stay in bed,
because when my alarm rang I realized I might run into Jennifer Taylor.
You see I hate her and I also
want to be like her. It’s awful and here’s how it started. When I was in
seventh grade we did the ropes course. One part of it , the zip line, required
you to climb up to this platform and you were given a harness. When you got up
there you had to clasp yourself to the line and then you could slide down. A
few people went in front of me and then of course, Jennifer did it perfectly.
When my turn came I froze. Then I started breathing funny, because I have this
thing. I hyperventilate when I’m nervous and that day I started turning blue. If
I can’t start breathing I can faint. I started feeling dizzy and couldn’t clasp
myself onto the zip line. Jennifer was on the ground and saw me. The teacher
saw me too and raced up the ladder to the platform. She said to me, “Breathe,
Carolyn, breathe.” Then Jennifer started saying too and soon all the kids who
had been on the line echoed her. As I came down the ladder I wanted a big hole
to open up and swallow me. So then Jennifer started bothering me at odd times
every day. She’d sneak up and say “Breathe, Carolyn, breathe.” Or she would
whisper it in class when I had to go up to the board. We were in Math class
together and I started to dread it. So when I was in her Math class again and
the teacher put us together as partners I didn’t know how I could stand it.
What happened?
Well the first day of school
after being pushed together with her for a Math project I was put in front of
her in line for gym. I don’t know what happened, but all of a sudden I didn’t
want to be anywhere near Jennifer and I started hyperventilating until I
fainted. I guess that’s when I got connected to Jennifer in a much more serious
way.
Oh, my goodness, your story has more to it?
Oh yes, I learned way too
much about Jennifer and wound up holding her secrets until the end of the year.
I mean, I did meet Brad and well, I don’t think I can say anymore. This is all
really painful to talk about, you know?
Yes, Carolyn and thank you for telling us a little bit
about your story. I guess if you want to learn more about what happened that
year you will have to read the book, If I Could Be Like Jennifer Taylor from
MuseItUp Publishing in a cool e-book or paperback.
Thank you, Kim for hosting us today.
Yes, thank you Amy. This was
my first blog interview and thank you Barbara for helping me through it.
My pleasure, Carolyn. I know talking about these
things is hard for you, but you did very well. Where can we find If I Could Be
Like Jennifer Taylor?
Right now during the entire
month of May, Barbara’s ebook is on sale for $1.99 here:
Amazon (Kindle):
MuseItUp Publishing:
It is regular price for Nook
here:
Barnes and Noble:
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