When Irish Guys Are Smiling by Suzanne Supplee

My family is very supportive of my writing, and I have a core group of friends who've helped me celebrate all the baby steps along the way. Throughout the story, Rosemary finds some unlikely sources of support: popular Kay-Kay, handsome Kyle, even a counselor. I bet she would have been proud of your accomplishments and your books. In addition to what I was experiencing personally, I also felt that Artichoke's Heart needed something more, that I had to juxtapose Rosemary's struggle somehow, and cancer seemed a logical choice. We just expected my mom to repeat that pattern of longevity, but things didn't work out that way. She'd never smoked, didn't drink alcohol, and had all the usual medical check-ups, etc. We were all stunned by this news because my mother had always been healthy. I'd just finished the first draft of Artichoke's Heart when my own mother was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. When and why did you choose to incorporate her mother's illness? It's the hair salon I would've owned IF I'd gone to beauty school and IF I'd stayed in my hometown! And, I would've hired people like Miss Bertha and Richard to help me run it, too! Was Heavenly Hair inspired by a real salon?

While I do feel that YA authors have a certain amount of responsibility for what we write, I also believe we must stay true to our characters and try to be as honest and authentic as possible. As for the Pounds Away diet, I don't believe in these kinds of diets either, not for the long-term anyway.

Rosemary realized this was insane and later regretted such a crazy method for weight loss. So, I'll say it here: Do NOT eat tainted mayo or tainted anything, for that matter. I have three daughters, so I am very aware of the hefty responsibility that comes with writing. While detailing Rosemary's weight loss, were you cautious or wary of readers who might try to copycat her attempts?

But, once I get started, I am constantly outlining the story in my head, and if I get stuck, I'll create an outline on paper to nudge me along. It's sort of like reading the instructions before putting something together. Did you attempt to balance the storylines and outline all of the events in advance? Here are the results of our discussion dessert, in which we offer plenty of food for thought.Īrtichoke's Heart covers about six months in the life of fifteen-turned-sixteen-year-old Rosemary - and there are a lot of things going on in her life. After sharing Artichoke (and virtual chocolate) with me, Suzanne answered questions for me and for her readers. January brought When Irish Guys Are Smiling, in Penguin's Students Across the Seven Seas (S.A.S.S.) line, and June revealed Artichoke's Heart, in which a young woman struggles with her weight and other things happening in her home, school, workplace, and town.

Author Suzanne Supplee has seen two of her novels hit the shelves so far this year.

When Irish Guys Are Smiling by Suzanne Supplee