FLASH BURNOUT is here and it’s fabulous. L.K. Madigan has written one fine book. It’s funny. It’s poignant. It’s a “connect-with” kind of story that teens will love.

Having the author here today is a special treat because I was one of the fortunate members of The Garett (a group of fine YA writers) who read Flash Burnout as it developed into the novel you’re going to love.

Here’s a little bit about the story.

Fifteen-year-old Blake has a girlfriend and a friend who’s a girl. One of them loves him, the other one needs him.

When he snapped a picture of a street person for his photography homework, Blake never dreamed that the woman in the photo was his friend Marissa’s long-lost meth addicted mom.

In a tangle of life, death, and love, Blake will emerge with a more sharply defined snapshot of loyalty.

So who is this author?

L.K. Madigan is a writer living in Portland, Oregon, who finds it odd to speak in the third person. Therefore:

Hi. I am married with one son, two big black dogs, hundreds of books, and a couple of beaters, I mean vintage cars.

While you’re hanging out here, give us a little insider stuff about the person, L.K. Madigan. Tell us of all your favorite books, which one do you wish you had written?

I’ve been sitting here staring at the blank screen for a long time … which must mean I can’t think of a good answer.

So what I’ll say is that I wish I could write a really excellent mystery someday, like FINGERSMITH. I admire the gorgeous prose and the many deep, dark secrets, and the satisfaction of the ending. I’d like to be able to knit together that many plot threads so neatly, and create the kind of tension that makes readers fear for the well-being of the characters.

Here’s one that may be easier . . . or not. What fictional character do you wish you could be?

Hermione Granger. 🙂

I’d like to be Hermione too, just to have people call my name. Now here’s a deep, deep secret kind of question. After chocolate, what do you eat to make the writer-block pain go away?

It’s not food, it’s drink that helps with writer’s block … strong drink! No, I’m kidding. I drink coffee or iced tea while I write.

Whatever works. And what you’re doing seems to be doing the trick.

Be sure to visit L.K. Madigan’s web site to find out more about the author and her work. Whatever you do pick up your copy of Flash Burnout today. It’s on Amazon or at 
Indiebound.




In SHINE, COCONUT MOON Samar-a.k.a. Sam-is an Indian-American teenager whose mom has kept her away from her old-fashioned family. It’s never bothered Sam, who is busy with school, friends, and a demanding boyfriend. But things change after 9/11. A guy in a turban shows up at Sam’s house-and turns out to be her uncle. He wants to reconcile the family and teach Sam about her Sikh heritage. Sam is eager, but when boys attack her uncle, chanting “Go back home, Osama!,” Sam realizes she could be in danger-and also discovers how dangerous ignorance is.

The author,NEESHA MEMINGER, was born in India, grew up in Canada, and currently lives in New York City with her family. All of her writing explores the inner landscape of her characters, and how it merges or conflicts with the outer. She writes stories of women and girls defining themselves and shaping their own destinies within the confines of their day to day realities.

I feel so close to this book and this author because I was very fortunate to read it during its development. Right from the beginning I knew it was a winner, a book I’d tell friends to read. How much fun it has been to connect with NEESHA MEMINGER along her creative path to publication.

So trying to be as creative as Neesha, here’s the interview I conducted. Already I wish I had oodles more time to do this. This writer bubbles over with enthusiasm and her responses only bring more questions to mind.

COCONUT MOON does Sammy’s struggle for a big, loving family stem from your personal experience?

Yes and no. I had a pretty large extended family and a medium-sized immediate family. But we are an imperfect bunch and when I was in high school, I probably bought into the Hallmark commercials and television families and thought I wanted what was depicted. My poor, flawed, family didn’t stand a chance next to those picture perfect ones :). So maybe that was part of the experience I drew upon when I wrote about Sammy’s longing for a big, beautiful, perfect family.

Since your story is about such universal issues–search for love and belonging, family half-truths, breaking from tradition–I’m thinking a mom /dad/grandmother/grandfather would find it a fascinating read. Can you comment on this observation?

Actually, the relationship between mothers and daughters is what I initially wanted to explore when I began writing SHINE. That includes Sam’s relationship with her mother, and her mother’s relationship to her own mother. Then, of course, Sam’s relationship with her grandmother. I loved being witness to the complexities in those relationships — what made them work and what made them fragment. I also wanted to look closely at how these relationships and generational rifts fare when issues like immigration, displacement, and migration are thrown into the mix.

So, to answer your question, I think mothers, fathers, grandfathers, uncles and aunts would find this a terrific, perhaps insightful read :).

Okay, Neesha those were fabulous answers. Here are some sorta not so book-specific, but maybe a bit self-revealing questions, things your readers just might find fun to know about you.

Of all your favorite books, which one do you wish you had written?

Wild Seed, by Octavia Butler

That’s an interesting choice, Neesha. Sci-Fi.

What fictional character do you wish you could be?

The main female character in Wild Seed — I can’t remember her name right now, but it became Emma toward the end of book two.

Was it Anyanwu? No wonder you couldn’t remember it. I can barely spell it. But I did admire her power and her generousity in using it for the good. Says something about you Neesha.

After chocolate what do you eat to make the writer-block pain go away?

Cheese, or something creamy. Or caramel.

Yeah! My kind of writer.

Order your copy of Coconut Moon from Amazon, U.S or Amazon, Canada now, and visit Neesha at her website to see what’s up with this writer-diva.

AND . . . there’s more to come. Check out what Neesha and Cindy Pon talk about on March 31st.