**UPDATED** I forgot to say the contest closes FIRDAY NIGHT. So keep the entries coming, and I’ll pick a winner on Saturday. Tell your friends. Or, don’t, because then you’ve got better chances to win. Okay. As you were.**
If you’re new around here, you might not know that we visited with Ally Condie when MATCHED released November 2010. If you read books and stuff, and haven’t had your sweet little head under a rock, you may know that Ally did an extensive blog tour (in addition to actual get-on-a-plane tours) when CROSSED released in November 2011. I thought I’d give her a few months to get her mojo back before I asked Ally to come talk with us.
Sometimes when you read blog interviews about authors, they sound kind of like working machines. Well, Ally actually IS a working machine. She is by far the most dedicated writer of my acquaintance, and she works as hard on her writing as she does on any of the other parts of her life, which makes her a vast deal more dedicated than, say, most of us. Also sometimes, when you read interviews, the authors get asked the same questions over and over. So to prevent that, I like to ask questions completely unrelated to all that miscellany of writing and get right to the crucial matters of food preference.
Becca’s Brilliant Question: What did you make for dinner last night?
*Ally’s Answer: Stir-fry, for Chinese New Year.
BBQ: Do you miss mail in the mailbox, or are you all for a digital world of communication?
*AA: I miss mail in the mailbox, but I like the instant gratification of the digital world too. And it’s better for the environment! I think!
BBQ: You’re watching your favorite movie (at home) as a well-deserved break. What is the film? Did you change into jammies or sweats? What are you eating?
*AA: Um…is there a difference between jammies and sweats? And I don’t really re-watch movies. That’s lame, I know. A movie I’ve been wanting to see is The King’s Speech, but I missed the PG-13 version in theaters and now I appear to be stuck. I can’t find it online anywhere!
(Quick! Someone tell us how to find that amazing movie in PG-13. I saw it that way in the theatre, and remember that I loved it? And I tried to buy a PG-13 version for Christmas but couldn’t find one? So if you did, or have, or can, TELL! Okay. Back to your regularly scheduled Random-O-Rama. Thank you.)
BBQ: Best dream vacation destination with kids/without kids?
*AA: I’d love to take my kids back to Disneyland. They’ve only been once, but they adored it. As far as without kids, anywhere beachy and warm would be great with me.
BBQ: And how’s that BOOK 3 coming, anyway?
*AA: Great, actually! It’s been a lot of fun to write. I started the series in 2008 and so this feels like the payoff–putting down on paper some of the things I’ve had planned for a long time.
BBQ: Assuming you’ve had a moment to read anything in the past year, what’s a great new book everyone should get?
*AA: I quite enjoyed the latest book in Alan Bradley’s Flavia De Luce series, “I Am Half-Sick of Shadows.”
(Can I get an Amen for Flavia de Luce? Start with Bradley’s “The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie.” You won’t be sorry.)
BBQ: If you could hire an old-time TV character to help you do your MOM work, which one? (Anything pre-The Nanny) *Perry Mason. He could walk around and smolder at things and then they’d pick themselves up and put themselves away.
(Every time I read that answer, it makes me giggle. See, here’s me thinking Donna Reed or Mrs. Cleaver. Leave it to Ally to bring me Perry. And, hello? I would love to have Mr. Raymond Burr in my house, smoldering. If for nothing else, I will love you forever, Ally, for giving me that image.)
BBQ: Are you partial to a certain brand of running shoes?
*AA: Mizunos. Love them. They fit my foot right and there is something about them that makes the breaking-in period a lot less than any of the others I’ve tried (and I’ve tried a lot).
BBQ: If you were given a bottle of nail polish, would you be most likely to paint fingers or toes?
*AA: Toes. I can’t wear polish on my fingernails. It makes me feel like my nails can’t breathe and I can’t stand it. I know that’s quite weird!
(Not weird at all. My fingers can’t breathe when polished, either. Also, there’s the matter of Unsightly Chipping. But I’m all for toes… Until I start doing dishes with my feet. Then we may have to revisit the chipping issue…)
Thank you, dear Ally, for spending some minutes indulging my bizarre, nosy side.
And now, the moment you’ve all been waiting for: PRIZES! I have here (right here — I know you can’t see it, but you can take my word for it) a beautiful copy of CROSSED, for which you are drooling right now.
Want it? Do you? Well, allow me to give it away. All you have to do is leave a comment telling me you want to win the book. That’s it! Then I’ll pick a winner sometime later this week. And I will let you know, winner, that it’s you. Because that’s how I like to do things. If you can manage to live in the USA or Canada, it will help me out a whole lot, thanks very much. I’m not sure my little post office is capable of handling the international shipping thing. (Just kidding. I’m cheap, is all. US or Canada residents only.)
And even if you aren’t the one who gets to take home this wonderful prize, Fear Not. Because we have prizes all month long. Stay tunes and stuff…
(52) Comments for this blog
I would love a copy! I read it from my library but don’t own it yet.
I would love a copy! I read it from my library but don’t own it yet.
I would love a copy of “Crossed”! Thanks so much for offering it up. Love your blog by the way!
I would love a copy of “Crossed”! Thanks so much for offering it up. Love your blog by the way!
I adored ‘Matched’, and haven’t read ‘Crossed’ yet- but I really want to!
I adored ‘Matched’, and haven’t read ‘Crossed’ yet- but I really want to!
Hey, we’ve been looking for the pg-13 version of the King’s English too. They should put it out for us! 😉
Congrats on Ally’s second/third book. I actually just cracked open Crossed yesterday! I can’t WAIT to see what happens.
Hey, we’ve been looking for the pg-13 version of the King’s English too. They should put it out for us! 😉
Congrats on Ally’s second/third book. I actually just cracked open Crossed yesterday! I can’t WAIT to see what happens.
I would like to win it. And also, tell Ally she’s welcome to come stay at my house and take her kids to Disneyland. I think she knows my brother and sister-in-law, Barrett and Angela Nelson, from when she lived in Ithaca. So it’s kinda like she already knows me. Plus you and I know each other. (But I’m forgetting she has family–so I’ve heard–in the ward next to mine, so maybe she’d just stay with them.)
Oh, and, just to make this longer… I think I read the other day the studio is going to release a PG-13 version of The King’s Speech. So keep your eyes peeled because it is a great movie. (Though I have to cop to seeing the unedited version at Melanie J.’s urging).
I would like to win it. And also, tell Ally she’s welcome to come stay at my house and take her kids to Disneyland. I think she knows my brother and sister-in-law, Barrett and Angela Nelson, from when she lived in Ithaca. So it’s kinda like she already knows me. Plus you and I know each other. (But I’m forgetting she has family–so I’ve heard–in the ward next to mine, so maybe she’d just stay with them.)
Oh, and, just to make this longer… I think I read the other day the studio is going to release a PG-13 version of The King’s Speech. So keep your eyes peeled because it is a great movie. (Though I have to cop to seeing the unedited version at Melanie J.’s urging).
I would love to read this book!! I’ve been waiting, what seems like forever, for it. The library is so slow. lol.
-Maddi
I would love to read this book!! I’ve been waiting, what seems like forever, for it. The library is so slow. lol.
-Maddi
I would love a copy of crossed and I <3 Ally Condie!
p.s. I adore your blog
I would love a copy of crossed and I <3 Ally Condie!
p.s. I adore your blog
I would really like to win. I see a lot of potential in the trilogy and would love to see it in movie form!
I would really like to win. I see a lot of potential in the trilogy and would love to see it in movie form!
I would love a copy of this book on my YA shelf. The cover and the way Ally Condie writes is so gorgeous
I would love a copy of this book on my YA shelf. The cover and the way Ally Condie writes is so gorgeous
I would love to win a copy of Crossed for my school library. Matched is checked out all of the time 🙂
I would love to win a copy of Crossed for my school library. Matched is checked out all of the time 🙂
I would love to win this book!! (But, even if I don’t, picking up a copy is definitely on my “to do” list!) Thanks for considering me. I can’t wait to read it.
I would love to win this book!! (But, even if I don’t, picking up a copy is definitely on my “to do” list!) Thanks for considering me. I can’t wait to read it.
I WOULD LOVE A COPY OF CROSSED! im obsessed with the books and i want to finally read crossed, i cant find it anywhere and it would be amazing to get a copy!
I WOULD LOVE A COPY OF CROSSED! im obsessed with the books and i want to finally read crossed, i cant find it anywhere and it would be amazing to get a copy!
Add my name to the hat: I’d love to have a copy of Crossed!
Add my name to the hat: I’d love to have a copy of Crossed!
Thank you for sharing the interview! Ally Condie’s books are wonderfully written, and I would love to have one.
Thank you for sharing the interview! Ally Condie’s books are wonderfully written, and I would love to have one.
I will pass on to my marketing students that if you offer prizes, you get lots more comments on your blog than if you just write witty prose. I’d love to read Crossed, as would Ally’s cousin-in-law Spence, but since I’m only 350 pages into Les Miserables, I probably have a while to go before I can get to it.
I will pass on to my marketing students that if you offer prizes, you get lots more comments on your blog than if you just write witty prose. I’d love to read Crossed, as would Ally’s cousin-in-law Spence, but since I’m only 350 pages into Les Miserables, I probably have a while to go before I can get to it.
I really loved this book. The story line is really well done and I felt like I knew the characters really well. It made me want to be in the book just so I could join the resistance. I would love a copy of it.
I really loved this book. The story line is really well done and I felt like I knew the characters really well. It made me want to be in the book just so I could join the resistance. I would love a copy of it.
This review was delightful, and you are (both) adorable. Perry Mason. Haha!
I own them both on my kindle, but I’d love to win a hard copy! Pick me! Pick me!
This review was delightful, and you are (both) adorable. Perry Mason. Haha!
I own them both on my kindle, but I’d love to win a hard copy! Pick me! Pick me!
I’m very interested in the PG-13 version of The King’s Speech as well. If you hear, will you let me know, Becca? And also, Crossed would be awesome too.
I’m very interested in the PG-13 version of The King’s Speech as well. If you hear, will you let me know, Becca? And also, Crossed would be awesome too.
I love this series, I just hate having to wait a whole year for the next book. I wish I could make myself wait till a series is complete before reading it. I know that will never happen, since I love reading too much. I enjoyed reading the interview and learning some new Ally facts. Hello to you and your family, best of luck with all of your endeavors!
I love this series, I just hate having to wait a whole year for the next book. I wish I could make myself wait till a series is complete before reading it. I know that will never happen, since I love reading too much. I enjoyed reading the interview and learning some new Ally facts. Hello to you and your family, best of luck with all of your endeavors!
I would LOVE to have a copy to pass around to members of my book group. We are having a meeting tonight and discussing Matched, of all books! 🙂
I would LOVE to have a copy to pass around to members of my book group. We are having a meeting tonight and discussing Matched, of all books! 🙂
I’ll leave a comment, not only because I love your books but because you are truly ADORABLE! Last month when I was looking for pictures of my sister when she was a teenager, I ran across some old pictures of your mom and that old gang from Oakland. What a fun teenager she was — and although I was pretty young, I idolized them all! She would be very proud of you and the wonderful life that you are living.
I’ll leave a comment, not only because I love your books but because you are truly ADORABLE! Last month when I was looking for pictures of my sister when she was a teenager, I ran across some old pictures of your mom and that old gang from Oakland. What a fun teenager she was — and although I was pretty young, I idolized them all! She would be very proud of you and the wonderful life that you are living.
Ooh!! Pick me!! 😀
Loved the post by the way. It was really fun to learn a little bit more about Ally. 🙂
Ooh!! Pick me!! 😀
Loved the post by the way. It was really fun to learn a little bit more about Ally. 🙂
Pick me pick me! I love your blog, ps.
Pick me pick me! I love your blog, ps.
You are such a delight, Becca! I would love to win a copy. Of course I will continue to faithfully read your blogs anyway even if I don’t win. But I’d still like to win 😉
You are such a delight, Becca! I would love to win a copy. Of course I will continue to faithfully read your blogs anyway even if I don’t win. But I’d still like to win 😉
Can’t believe I missed the contest but I’m so glad my sweet friend Charrette won it – yay!
Loved this interview. Your zany questions made me grin as much as Ally’s answers did!
Can’t believe I missed the contest but I’m so glad my sweet friend Charrette won it – yay!
Loved this interview. Your zany questions made me grin as much as Ally’s answers did!