Calli by Jessica Lee AndersonPublished Date: September 2011
Publisher: Milkweed Editions
Genre: YA
The Story:
Fifteen-year-old Calli has just about everything she could want in life—two
loving moms, a good-looking boyfriend, and a best friend who has always been
there for support. An only child, Calli is excited when her parents announce
that they want to be foster parents. Unfortunately, being a foster sister to
Cherish is not at all what Calli expected. First Cherish steals Calli’s
boyfriend, then begins to pit Calli’s moms against one another, and she even
steals Calli’s iPod. Tired of being pushed around and determined to get even,
Calli steals one of Cherish’s necklaces. But this plan for revenge goes horribly
awry, and Cherish ends up in juvenile detention.
Isolating herself from her moms, her boyfriend, and even her best friend, Calli wrestles with her guilt and tries to figure out a way to undo the damage she’s caused. When her moms are asked to take on another foster child, Calli sees an opportunity to make amends for her past mistakes.
Funny, moving, and emotionally rich, Calli is a portrait of an endearing young woman caught between adolescence and adulthood, striving to do the right thing even when all of her options seem wrong.
Isolating herself from her moms, her boyfriend, and even her best friend, Calli wrestles with her guilt and tries to figure out a way to undo the damage she’s caused. When her moms are asked to take on another foster child, Calli sees an opportunity to make amends for her past mistakes.
Funny, moving, and emotionally rich, Calli is a portrait of an endearing young woman caught between adolescence and adulthood, striving to do the right thing even when all of her options seem wrong.
About the Author:
Jessica Lee Anderson is the author of Trudy (winner of the 2005 Milkweed Prize
for Children's Literature), Border Crossing (Quick Picks Nomination, Cynsational
Book of 2009), as well as the forthcoming young adult novel, Calli (2011). She's
published two nonfiction readers, as well as fiction and nonfiction for a
variety of magazines including Highlights for Children. Jessica graduated from
Hollins University with a Master of Arts in Children's Literature, and
instructed at the Institute of Children's Literature for five years. She is a
member of The Texas Sweethearts & Scoundrels and hopes to be more sweetheart
than scoundrel. She lives near Austin, Texas with her husband and two crazy dogs.Website
Why I chose to become an author:
After
reading LITTLE WOMEN by Louisa May Alcott, I decided I wanted to become an
author like Jo March. As a tomboy and
someone who didn’t always fit in as a child, I could really relate to Jo’s
character and her love of books and writing.
But that dream seemed short lived when I struggled with writing projects
at school, especially as I moved frequently and each school seemed to have a
different set of standards. I still
enjoyed writing but the idea that I’d ever become an author seemed impossible. Fortunately, I unknowingly created the
perfect “internship” by continuing to read voraciously.
By high school, that author dream nudged
at me again when I got the idea to write a novel. I drafted some solid first chapters and had a
perfect ending in mind. Given my
previous struggles and many self-doubts, I kept the writing a secret, hiding
the manuscript pages underneath my dresser.
When the middle of the story got rough, I ditched the story and let the
dream slip from me once again.
It
wasn’t until I went to college to become a teacher and took a children’s
literature course that I decided to give the author thing another chance. I had an idea for a novel inspired by events
happening in my life, and this time, I shared my convictions with friends and
family who held me accountable and encouraged me. My failed novel attempt in high school taught
me a lesson on perseverance and the importance of overcoming the
sagging-middle-of-the-novel syndrome.
Amazingly, Milkweed Editions pulled this manuscript from the slush pile!
I had a complete Jo March moment when I
saw the novel, TRUDY, on the bookshelf for the first time.
I feel blessed that
I’ve had subsequent Jo March moments—my novel CALLI is the most recent, but I’d
be lying if I didn’t share that I still have self-doubts especially when
unexpected changes in the industry have happened or when the writing gets tough
or when negativity in the form of rejection or criticism sets in. When this happens, I remind myself of what is
important and awesome and renew my author vow.
* Twitter party: Friday, July 19th at 7PM; The hashtag: #2013SummerAuthorBlitz
* Facebook Event: Friday, July 26th at 3PM
Summer Author Blitz Schedule!* Facebook Event: Friday, July 26th at 3PM
Come one, come all to the 2013 Summer Author Promo Blitz!
Follow along for author interviews, guest posts, giveaways, a super-fun scavenger hunt, a twitter party, a Facebook Event, and a full-panel author discussion on Authors on the Air!
Belle and Tabatha hope everyone enjoys meeting all these new authors and bloggers during this month-long blitz!
July 1
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SWAG Contest!
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July 2
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Jessica Lee Anderson
Guest Post
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July 3
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Janet Fox
Interview
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July 4
|
Happy Independence Day!
Nicole Story
Interview
Janet Lee Carey
Interview
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July 5
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Cory Putnam Oakes
Guest Post
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July 6
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Steven E. Metze
Interview
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July 7
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LB Whittington - creator of book covers and trailers
Interview
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July 8
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Kimberley Griffiths Little
Interview
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July 9
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Stacy A. Moran
Guest Post
Michelle Pickett
Interview
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July 10
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Missy Jane
Guest Post
Janni Lee Simner
Interview
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July 11
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Cinda Chima Williams
Interview
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July 12
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Nikki Lofkin
Guest Post
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July 13
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Faith A. Rice-Mills
Interview
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July 14
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L.S. Broomfield
Guest Post
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July 15
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Melissa Studdard
Interview
Joy Preble
Guest Post
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July 16
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E. Kristin Anderson
Interview
Alberto Arcia
Interview
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July 17
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Krissi Dallas
Guest Post
Jo Whittemore
Interview
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July 18
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Belle Whittington
Interview
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July 19
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PJ Hoover
Interview
CC Hunter
Guest Post
Twitter Party at 7 PM: Use #2013SummerAuthorBlitz
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July 20
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Heather Lamb
Interview
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July 21
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Nickie Seidler
Guest Post
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July 22
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Jonathan Maberry
Interview
Ashley Nemer
Guest Post
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July 23
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Heather Poinsett & Chris Dunbar
Interview
Editorch
Guest Post
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July 24
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Ali Cross
Interview
Mickey Mills
Guest Post
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July 25
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Jennifer Bray-Weber
Interview
Dom Testa
Guest Post
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July 26
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Dicey Grenor
Interview
Facebook Event at 3 PM: https://www.facebook.com/events/1393136437566649/
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July 27
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Dean Wilson
Guest Post
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July 28
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Hafsah at IceDesigns
Interview
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July 29
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Tracee Ford
Guest Post
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July 30
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Heidi McLaughlin
Interview
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July 31
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RH Ramsey
Guest Post
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a Rafflecopter giveaway
Thank you so much!!!
ReplyDeleteGreat interview!
ReplyDeleteI loved this interview!!!! <3 Jessica, it was terrific getting to know more about you!
ReplyDeleteBut, oh, aren't all us Texas gals a little bit scoundrelous? ;-)