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Deborah Blumenthal on MAFIA GIRL + Giveaway

A couple years ago I interviewed Deborah Blumenthal, author of over fifteen titles, on the release of her young adult book THE LIFEGUARD. This year she's out with a new YA called MAFIA GIRL and she's one-upped me - by interviewing herself! Enjoy.

You have a new book out and somebody wants to write it up.  You’re excited, but you’re also a little curious. What will they ask me? What do I want to tell them about the book?

Deborah Blumenthal interviews Deborah Blumenthal, author of MAFIA GIRL, just published by Albert Whitman & Co..

Deborah, after six seasons of The Sopranos, really, what more is there to say about the Mafia?

MAFIA GIRL takes a different perspective.

Remember Meadow Soprano, Tony’s daughter? MAFIA GIRL is the story of the daughter of New York’s most powerful crime boss.  Gia lives a protected and privileged life. She gets driven to school by an armed bodyguard. She attends one of Manhattan’s most elite private schools. And she wears $2,000 sweaters and $1,000 designer shoes. That’s symbolic of the problem.  She’s so much a part of that culture that she can’t breathe, she doesn’t know who she is.  She lives under the thumb of her dad, and that’s the basis for the story.

I noticed that the style of the book is a lot different from the style of other books for
young adults. There are lots of run on sentences, giving it a breathless quality.  Some readers say that drove them crazy. Tell us why you did that?

Gia is a high-energy girl with a fast brain and an even faster mouth.  She has an opinion on everything.  And she’s got a high libido.  When she’s excited, she can’t stop talking.  And when she meets a hot, green-eyed cop, never mind that he’s the one who takes her in for under-age drinking and DUI, she can’t stop obsessing about him. So I started the book that way, but as it  progresses, you’ll see that the style changes in keeping with Gia’s personality and growth as a character.

Last question, writers are almost always asked how much of themselves they put into their characters.  Do you see a lot of yourself in Gia?

For better or worse, I’m fast to evaluate situations, and sometimes lack subtlety, and I certainly get the part about insta-love.  But I definitely don’t walk around in Louboutins, and even if I could handle the heels, I couldn’t afford them – unless they fell off a truck.

Love the sound of this book! Deborah has generously offered to give away a hardcover copy of MAFIA GIRL to one lucky commenter. US only. To enter, please be a follower and leave a comment by Friday, March 28th. The winner will be announced the following Monday. If your e-mail is not easily found online, please leave it with your comment. 

You can find Deborah at her website, Twitter @deborahblu, and Goodreads.


30 comments:

Beth said...

I'm not American, so don't enter me in the draw. But congratulations to Deborah on the book (and the interview!).

S.P. Bowers said...

Sounds very intriguing. Congrats on the new release!

Anonymous said...

Loved this! Congrats on the book! In Canada so don't enter me in the giveaway. Thanks and sorry for commenting even though I can't win, eh? Yep, livin' the stereotype. Congrats again!

Denise Covey said...

Deborah's book sounds catchy - Mafia Girl. Great title. Congrats!

holdenj said...

Nice interview and I liked her explanation about Gia. Would love to win and read it! Thanks!
JHolden955(at)gmail(dot)com

Jemi Fraser said...

Sounds like an intriguing book - love how the sentence structure echoes the MC's voice! Good luck with the book!
(I'm not in the US so don't enter me in the draw :))

Jessie Humphries said...

You had me at Louboutins! And insta-love! Anyone who has this way word words deserves a purchase. Done.

Ann Finkelstein said...

This book is going on my To Read list. Thanks.

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

That was funny. I've met a few non-stop talkers like that.

Mikky said...

I loved that interview C: Will definitely add this to my TBR Pile!!!

Enter me in the giveaway!

Email: mikaella08 AT hotmail DOT com

I follow your blog via Email (same email I mentioned above C:

pandas4vic said...

Great interview, Deborah! Sounds like such an exciting book...would love to read it! Sure to be a success!

Anonymous said...

My interest is piqued.

Stephanie said...

I love the concept of this book, especially Gia's character traits. It seems more like an NA than YA but my interest is definitely piqued. In a sea of YA books, this stands out.

Sdebear1@aol.com

Danielle H. said...

Thank you for the interview and incite into your characters. I am interested in reading your style of writing as it seems unique. I hope to win your book. It's going on my to read list now!

cleemckenzie said...

I love it when authors play with their prose to produce an effect. Breathy prose! That's interesting.

Amy Mak said...

Sounds interesting - and tells a totally different side of life. That interests me. Congrats on so much publishing success!

Unknown said...

It's nice Deborah let you go on vacation, Natalie, while she interviewed herself. She's funny and I bet her book's a great read. :)

Unknown said...

Thanks, Jemi!

Unknown said...

Thanks, Amy!

Donna K. Weaver said...

Isn't there always a different spin people can put on stories. Love this. Congrats.

Rosi said...

This sounds like a really fun book. I loved the interview. Thanks for the chance to win.

Unknown said...

:) Thanks!

Leslie S. Rose said...

I was hooked on the Sopranos and I always wondered about the kids. Yay, now I can peek into that perspective. Congrats, Deborah.

Natasha said...

Sounds like a great read!!
Thanks for the chance to win!
natasha_donohoo_8 at hotmail dot com

Unknown said...

Thanks!

bison61 said...

read the interview - $2,000 sweaters and $1,000 designer shoes wow!

tiramisu392 (at) yahoo.com

Anonymous said...

If the grammar is odd in a book, my mind adjusts after a few pages, so I don't mind run-on sentences.

This looks like a great read and I love that cover.
sharif(at)sharifwrites(dot)com

Holly Letson said...

Sounds like an interesting story. Would love to "meet" Gia.

I follow on Bloglovin' as Holly Letson.

bookaholicholly at gmail dot com

Yamile said...

sounds like a fun book!

Yamile said...

My email is cheboricuas AT gmail DOT com