I’m really excited to announce that Tammara Webber has graciously stopped by the blog to answer some questions for me in regards to her most wonderful debut novel, Between the Lines, and is also offering an eBook GIVEAWAY to FIVE lucky winners!  Here’s the synopsis of her wonderful novel:

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When Hollywood It Boy, Reid Alexander, arrives on location to shoot his next movie, his goals are the same as always-film another blockbuster hit and enjoy his celebrity status to the fullest while doing so. His costar is a virtual unknown with whom he had blazing hot chemistry during her auditions. The universe is lining up nicely to grant whatever he wants, as usual, until he’s confronted with unexpected obstacles on location like a bitter ex-girlfriend and a rival for the first girl to spark his genuine interest in years.

Emma Pierce just got her big break after more than a decade of filming commercials for grape juice, department stores and tampons, and more recently, bit parts in made-for-TV movies. Nailing the lead role in a wide-release film sent her agent, father and stepmother into raptures, and should have done the same for her. The Problem? Emma is experiencing a building desire to be normal, and starring in a silly, modernized adaptation of one of her favorite novels-opposite the very hot Reid Alexander-isn’t going to advance that aspiration.

Graham Douglas doesn’t fear playing the part of a nerdy dimwit; when it comes to choosing film roles, if it pays, he’ll do it. Besides, his friend Brooke Cameron snatched up the role of the bitchy hot girl and could use his help as a buffer, because her ex is the star. Graham has no problem keeping a handle on the situation, until he finds himself attracted to Reid’s costar, Emma, the girl Reid is pursuing full-throttle with his standard arsenal of charm, good looks and arrogance.

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 I absolutely loved this novel, and you will too; Tammara is a truly gifted writer, so without further ado, I give you Tammara Webber:

When I started writing it, my oldest son was studying drama at NYU. I watched the way the media and fans get so into the lives of celebrities now – there’s no such thing as privacy. People are assumed to be hooking up or cheating or breaking up and once the assumption is there it spreads like wildfire. My original idea was how that affects the people – especially young people – who really want nothing more than to be the artists they are, but suddenly every single thing they do (and even stuff they don’t do) is public knowledge. Some of them must wish, occasionally, to just be a normal private person, while others revel in the whole celebrity thing.

My kids say I’m a cross between Emily (Emma’s BFF) and her mom. They’re both supportive and snarky. Reid was the easiest voice to write; I have no idea why. He let me into his head, no holds barred, and I guess for that reason I’d have to say Reid.

I actually wrote the whole thing from Emma’s POV, and it just felt not quite there. I began writing the sequel, which flowed dual POV naturally. After a few chapters I thought, “Oh NO. I need to rewrite the first book. It’s got to have Reid’s voice.” I dreaded an overhaul like that, but the moment I started doing it, I knew it was the right move. Reid from the outside is too good at pretending to be sweet. I had to get in his head to show the real guy.

Oh, man. Well, the importance of friendship, of following your instincts, of speaking up for what you want instead of expecting people to read your mind. Communication is crucial to any relationship. The lack of it is what causes people to begin making assumptions. For high school readers, because a teacher I never expected to say this said this to me — whatever intolerable situation might be going on at home now, you’re about to be on your own. Not everything can or will be resolved—but it doesn’t need to be. Some relationships just need distance, and parent/child relationships, particularly when seeing eye-to-eye isn’t possible, benefit from the “child” reaching an age of autonomy and getting some separation. Take that independence by the horns and show it who’s boss. Most parents can’t help but respect that.

When my oldest was old enough to check out the YA section, I was amazed at what was there. I took a YA lit course in college (I went back to school late), and that’s the point I first started thinking about writing YA. The book that clinched the deal was The Truth About Forever by Sarah Dessen. It was just perfect and lovely. I wanted to do that. With steamier scenes and the F-word.

I recently set up an extra bedroom as a writing room. The book A Room of Her Own, by Virginia Woolf, inspired me to take this space for myself, and it’s made a huge difference for me in output. My rituals include a lot of staring (out the window, at a cat, at the wall) and attempting to avoid clicking open facebook, twitter, email, etc. I actually benefitted from writing one novel and revising another at the same time, which is probably weird. I went by what mood I was in. Logical and analytical? Editing. Creative? Writing. Writer’s block? Reading (I have a comfortable loveseat in the room as well).

I think readers have a greater ability now to find authors they can connect with than they ever have before. My favorite YA author is Jennifer Echols. She is masterful at writing hot guys and complications and plucky heroines and I always laugh out loud while reading her books. I also love Courtney Summers, queen of the misunderstood, imperfect heroine. My current WIP was very influenced by her. I also love Maggie Stiefvater, Sarah Dessen, Melina Marchetta, Kristen Cashore… heck, just friend me on goodreads.com and you can see who I love. Right this moment I’m reading Let’s Get Lost by English author Sarra Manning. Loving it so far.

I did not expect Between the Lines to become a series when I was writing it. I don’t outline, though I do begin with an idea of where I’d like to end up. However—I create characters and then I set them loose, and often they do stuff I don’t expect. I was won over towards the end by a couple of characters. I had to give them another shot. So, a sequel, and maybe one more. Absolutely no more than three  total. The sequel could stand alone, just as Between the Lines could. The third, if it works out, will relate back to the other two. I have ideas for another story, which I’m trying to hold back while I finish editing book two and writing book three! The plan is for it to be a stand-alone with a whole new cast of characters. (I’d better stop before the characters get the idea I want them to start talking to me. Being a writer is a little bit schizophrenic.)

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