Today is the next stop in the “Three Truths and a Lie” tour for Susane Colasanti’s new novel, Waiting for You.
You get a guest blog about a High Schoo Myth-#7 in fact-as well as three Q&A’s with the author!
Myth #7. Karma exists here.
What goes around doesn’t really come around in high school. It’s like this alternate dimension where the rules of the natural world get all warped and twisted. Even in the real world, it’s true that bad things happen to good people. Life is unfair. That is a harsh reality. But for the most part, karma applies out here in Reality Land.
Mean people suck. From my experiences, I have come to the conclusion that people are their meanest in high school (middle school is also horrendous, but everyone knows this). We hope these mean people grow out of their evil ways, like tormenting anyone who’s even the slightest bit different because they think it’s fun or something. Mean people tend to be golden kids (the ones who are beautiful and rich and know how to either throw or kick a ball around) who feel entitled to treat everyone else like crap.* They’re getting away with a lot of evil stuff now, which totally sucks. All of it will have consequences at some point.
*Note that while mean people are usually golden kids, not all golden kids are mean people. If you are golden with an actual heart of gold, thank you.
1. I’m a huge music fan and I love finding songs that remind me of books. As such, I really enjoy checking out playlists that authors make themselves for their own novels. For Waiting for You, did you come up with the songs after writing the book or are these ones that you listened too while writing? How do they relate to the story (same themes, character’s favorite songs, songs that fit scenes, etc.)?
Creating playlists for each of my books is super fun! I compile the playlists as I’m writing each book, including songs I’m listening to on heavy rotation during the writing process or ones with lyrics that directly apply to the story. All of the songs on each playlist are related to the book in some way.
Here’s the Waiting for You playlist:
1. “Clarity” – John Mayer
2. “Nothing Left to Lose” – Mat Kearney
3. “These Are Days” – 10,000 Maniacs
4. “Treasure” – The Cure
5. “Wave of Mutilation” – Pixies
6. “Shiver” – Coldplay
7. “I Just Don’t Think I’ll Ever Get Over You” – Colin Hay
8. “Orange Sky” – Alexi Murdoch
9. “Passenger Seat” – Death Cab for Cutie
10. “Magic’s in the Makeup” – No Doubt
11. “Sad Eyes” – Bruce Springsteen
12. “When I’m With You” – Sheriff
13. “Wheel” – John Mayer
The main character in Waiting for You, Marisa, believes that the answers to all of life’s problems can be found in a John Mayer song. That’s why I wanted to start and end with John Mayer songs. I am pretty much obsessed with his music and am always listening to John Mayer during the writing process of every book. His lyrics apply to my stories in so many ways.
A few songs on the playlist were inspired by specific scenes. “Orange Sky” was selected to enhance the last scene, in which Marisa and Nash are sitting on their dock, watching the sunset. I included “These Are Days” because Marisa is trying to live in the Now. Living in the moment is a huge challenge for her. This song is all about absorbing the overwhelming quality of this time in your life, the way it never will be again.
Several of the other songs on this playlist, like “Treasure” and “Sad Eyes,” speak to Marisa’s struggle with depression, which she wants desperately to overcome. It’s actually a very melancholy, bittersweet, reflective playlist. Definitely good to hear when you want to mellow out.
2. All three of your book covers include a boy and a girl’s back or side (hiding behind books, behind a tree, facing out at a lake). Do the covers truly relate to the story inside? What are your thoughts about the similar photos?
I love how all of my covers share this motif of a girl and a boy without revealing their faces. It’s cool when readers get to create their own images of how they envision the characters to look. Melissa Walker just did a Cover Story comparing my covers, saying that the signature look of my covers is a light, airy feel, with a blue sky or natural light. I love that! The big window on the cover of Take Me There with all of that gorgeous natural light is breathtaking.
The covers totally tell the story of each book. I have an excellent cover designer who is able to reflect the tone of my books with amazing accuracy. The cover of Waiting for You is my favorite. I was so excited when I first saw it. I’m able to provide feedback for each of my covers, but the Waiting for You cover is so perfect that I didn’t suggest any changes. I love the characters, the water, the fonts, and the colors. The hues are so peaceful, which is the sort of feeling I was trying to capture in the book.
3. Finally, I have to ask: If you could wish on a real shooting star, what would you wish for and why?
Actually, I’ve seen several meteors. Usually their flash of light comes and goes too quickly for me to make a wish and I’m always like, “Dude, come back!” If I could make a wish, it would be for everyone to respect the Earth and its living things. If we continue to treat this planet like a giant garbage dump slash war zone, humans will not be here for much longer.
Contest
Enter: Comment here!
Ends: May 31
You Can Enter: U.S. and Canada ONLY!
Prize: One finished copy of Waiting for You, signed!
nice questions. I believe in what Justin Timberlake taught me. What goes around comes around
Great interview! Thanks for posting.
I would love to be entered in the contest!!
Great questions!! I was going through her music playlist trying to get an even better feel for the book!!
Amber
Mustandlustforbooks.blogspot.com
I like it when the cover models’ faces aren’t revealed =) There are times where I don’t mind it but definitely as a reader, it’s good to visualize. ^^
I’ve never heard of the songs on the playlist! It sounds good though.
behapppppppy(at)hotmail(dot)com
You always ask some of the best questions and Susan sound so laid back. Completely agree about what goes around comes back around except for high school, but that is what reunions are for to see how all the crapheads (who sometimes are still being crapheads) turned out. Awesome playlist too by the way!
Love to enter the contest!
Amber
sammyjones57(at)hotmail(dot)com
Awesome interview! I love the whole High School Myth tour, it’s a very cool idea. 🙂
Also, I would love to be entered in the contest.
Love the myth and the interview. I have to check out the songs from the playlist.
Great questions! I used to make a “game” out of shooting stars and “lucky” things like four leaf clovers. Each lucky thing would get me a certain amount of “luck points” that I could exchange for wishes. I was a weird kid.
paradoxrevealed (at) aim (dot) com
I love it when authors have similar motifs for their covers. They make such a great set!
Nora
wishonstars13@hotmail.com
Nora: I do agree, it’s nice to put them all together.
Paradox: Aw, thanks, and it sounds fun. I was a very weird child as well. LOL
Thao: I know! I love playlists for books. Thanks.
Lauren: I know, it was such a cool idea. So many people have blog tours, it’s fun to see one that has an overall theme, you know?
Amber: Aw thank you so much. I’m glad you usually like my questions. I try and do some different ones so it isn’t all the same stuff.
Ann: I’m not sure which songs I KNOW, but I’ve heard of most of the artists.
Diana: true, it’s good for that reason, definitely. And it helps you so you aren’t thinking of the cover, when the cover is so completely off the character in the story.
amberella: Thank you!!
Notnessie: No problem.
Summer: Thanks, and very true. I think so as well in most regards.
I would wish for the success and well-being of my children.
Margay
So glad to see the playlist for the book!
Also, I wish I could see a shooting star. I think it would be amazing and beautiful.
joannarenee (at) mail (dot) com
I love it when books have playlists! This looks so good!
wpould love to be enter ing this contest
This looks great! Please enter me!
I totally agree that we need to protect our Earth and all its inhabitants!
BookCrossingKitten22[at]gmail[dot]com
Great playlist!! Please enter me, lol. 🙂 Laina1312@gmail.com
Enter me, pretty please! Love the cover.
Count me in please! 😀
I love that playlist-great mix of songs!
I’m gonna download the songs now!!:) Although I don’t think there’s karma, those “mean” people in high school just have to deal with the guilt of having been cruel, and I think that’s the worse karma ever, ironically:D
sylvia_uy4@yahoo.com
Great interview! Please enter me!
nbmars AT yahoo DOT com
That’s a good wish; I definitely agree. I love playlists too!
lucidconspiracy at gmail dot com
Please include me in your giveaway.
Thanks
Carlene
iluvreading(at)verizon.net
Great interview, I enjoyed reading it. Please enter me in the giveaway
“Canadian Contests, Freebies, Coupons, Deals, Games and Fun:
CoolCanucks.ca”
🙂 Please enter me. I’ve been waiting for Waiting For You forever! I’m so happy it’s finally out
🙂 Erica
thebookcellar@wi.rr.com
Awesome playlist with a book!
holly.kay.lee@gmail.com
I am going to have to check out some of those songs!
This looks like such an interesting book. Please enter my name in your draw. Thanks!
wandanamgreb (at) gmail (dot) com
I adore this cover. It is sweet. But I do like Susane’s response about how their faces aren’t showing, yet readers can decide for themselves what the characters look like. I really dislike seeing a character on the cover and they look nothing like what I imagined.
Count me in. I loved all the high school myths I’ve seen.
-towerofbooks(at)gmail(dot)com