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In the Best Worlds: What is your favorite thing about writing or reading in the New Adult category?
Erin McCarthy: I love the freedom that your characters can make mistakes and no one is going to hold it against them indefinitely. We don’t expect them to be perfect at twenty, and how can anyone grow and develop if they don’t make mistakes? It’s a cool time in your life, with a ton of change and maturation.
ItBW: Since we’re talking New Adult, what were you like as a new adult?
EM: I went to college at 17 and I loved to go out dancing. I was studying law, philosophy and history, I loved the color black, coffee, and late night conversation. So clearly not much has changed. J But seriously, by twenty I was pregnant with my daughter and working full time while taking classes at night. I went from being super irresponsible to being super responsible in the course of two years.
ItBW: Can you explain briefly why you feel NA is important?
EM: It’s important because it legitimizes an important stage in women’s lives. The decisions made then have a huge impact on the rest of our lives and I think it’s awesome that we now have fiction that explores that.
ItBW: As far as book boyfriends go, Tyler and Riley from your True Believers series are pretty stellar. What are the qualities you think are most important in the perfect book boyfriend?
EM: I think a book boyfriend needs to be sexy, loyal, romantic. The way you want a guy in real life but with an extra dose of intensity.
ItBW: Can you dish a little on what we can expect from Sweet?
EM: Sweet has a different tone than True because the main characters are different. Jessica and Riley banter a lot and their sexual tension is strong, but first and foremost they develop a friendship. Expect lots of fun dialogue and snarkiness and plenty of heat.
ItBW: Finish these sentences…
If I could go back to college, the one thing I’d do differently is…. Finish. I didn’t graduate because I was working full time and raising a baby so I decided to let school go. I made the right choice at that time but I do wish I had that damn piece of paper that says I finished what I started.
My current obsession is… My charm bracelet I got at the vintage fair. It’s goth and cool and very me.
We could be best friends if… you have a sense of humor and love live music.
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Erin McCarthy is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of more than 40 novels and novellas in the paranormal, contemporary romance, young adult, and new adult genres. The author is a RITA award finalist and an American Library Association winner of the Reluctant Young Reader award. She lives with her family in Ohio. 