------------------------------
Guest Post
ASK ME is not a funny book. That might seem like an obvious thing, as it’s billed as a “dark, paranormal mystery” and even “Paranormal gets a Stephen King makeover” (which, let me just say right now that I never ever dreamed one of my books would be mentioned in the same paragraph as Stephen King), but it kind of freaks me out a bit. All of my other books have been funny. I mean, I’ve written about a girl who talks to cats…in particular, a pink cat named Rufus Brutus the Third. Sure, there’s danger in Cat Girl’s Day Off, but a literal horde of cats come to the rescue.
ASK ME is not a funny book. That might seem like an obvious thing, as it’s billed as a “dark, paranormal mystery” and even “Paranormal gets a Stephen King makeover” (which, let me just say right now that I never ever dreamed one of my books would be mentioned in the same paragraph as Stephen King), but it kind of freaks me out a bit. All of my other books have been funny. I mean, I’ve written about a girl who talks to cats…in particular, a pink cat named Rufus Brutus the Third. Sure, there’s danger in Cat Girl’s Day Off, but a literal horde of cats come to the rescue.
There are no cats in ASK ME and no overt jokes. Of course, it wouldn’t be me if there weren’t some funny bits, but in this case, it all takes the form of cringe worthy embarrassment for the main character, Aria. After all, when you’re an Oracle that has to answer every question you hear with the truth (or some cryptic variation thereof), you’re bound to say some pretty embarrassing things. If Aria were to come to life, I’m pretty sure she’d want to slap me for all the things I put her through.
So, why does this make me nervous? People write non-funny books all the time, right? You know, like every Nicholas Sparks book ever.
Well, I can’t help but wonder how my current fans will react to something so entirely different. And, when you’re known for one thing (wacky, quirky, fairly silly books), people often want to pigeonhole you and keep you in that box. On the other hand, people who don’t read funny stuff and have never read my other books might take a chance on me now. That’s great, but still slightly terrifying. All these NEW people are going to read MY book and compare me to, oh, I don’t know, STEPHEN KING.
Talk about terrifying.
The thing is, I had a lot of fun writing ASK ME. Not the same kind of fun I had writing my other books (yes, I do make myself laugh out loud sometimes while writing…there are probably a few baristas that think I’m pretty strange…), but fun nonetheless. It’s a different experience writing dark, trying to make the pulse pound, rather than the giggles fly. Humor, in some ways, is a more cerebral thing to write, whereas writing ASK ME was more visceral.
I let myself delve into deeper, more emotional places while writing. And, since the book is set in a fictional small town in Florida much like the one I grew up in, I was able to draw on my own sense memory and really, truly try to connect Aria to where she was. The setting really resonated for me…and I hope it resonates for readers as well.
So, even though ASK ME isn’t funny and probably won’t make you laugh out loud, I hope it hits a chord deep inside you instead. I hope you feel the book like I did writing it.
------------------------------
About the Book
Ask Aria Morse anything, and she must answer with the truth. Yet she rarely understands the cryptic words she‘s compelled to utter. Blessed—or cursed—with the power of an Oracle who cannot decipher her own predictions, she does her best to avoid anyone and everyone.
But Aria can no longer hide when Jade, one of the few girls at school who ever showed her any kindness, disappears. Any time Aria overhears a question about Jade, she inadvertently reveals something new, a clue or hint as to why Jade vanished. But like stray pieces from different puzzles, her words never present a clear picture.
Then there’s Alex, damaged and dangerous, but the first person other than Jade to stand up for her. And Will, who offers a bond that seems impossible for a girl who’s always been alone. Both were involved with Jade. Aria may be the only one who can find out what happened, but the closer she gets to solving the crime, the more she becomes a target. Not everyone wants the truth to come out.
------------------------------
About the Author
Kimberly Pauley is the award-winning author of Sucks to Be Me, which was honored
on the YALSA Quick Picks for Reluctant Readers list, and a paranormal mystery
starring an oracle, called Ask Me. Born in California, she has lived everywhere
from Florida to Chicago and has now gone international to live in London with
her husband and son. She is also the founder of YA Books Central, one of the
first and largest teen book websites in the world. Visit her online at
www.kimberlypauley.com
