Book Giveaway and Interview-Eileen Cook

Today I welcome Eileen Cook to my blog and Oh (MG&YA) Canada!  From her website:

Eileen Cook is a multi-published author with her novels appearing in six different languages. She spent most of her teen years wishing she were someone else or somewhere else, which is great training for a writer.  

Eileen lives in Vancouver with her husband and two dogs and no longer wishes to be anyone or anywhere else.

This week's  giveaway is for Eileen's recent release, THE EDUCATION OF HAILEY KENDRICK. (details at the end of the interview)

From Good Reads:

Hailey Kendrick always does exactly what's expected of her. She has the right friends, dates the perfect boy, gets good grades, and follows all the rules. But one night, Hailey risks everything by breaking a very big rule in a very public way...and with a very unexpected partner in crime. Hailey gets caught, but her accomplice does not, and Hailey takes the fall for both of them. 

Suddenly, Hailey's perfect life--and her reputation--are blowing up in her face. Her friends are all avoiding her. Her teachers don't trust her. Her boyfriend won't even speak to her for long enough to tell her that she's been dumped.

They say honesty is the best policy--but some secrets are worth keeping, no matter the cost. Or are they?

More from Eileen’s website:

".. enormously appealing and great company throughout this breezy read.....the highest quality—like a gourmet truffle. Cook has whipped up a real treat." - Kirkus Starred Review

"Cook coaxes considerable empathy for the otherwise privileged Hailey as she abandons the achievement treadmill to explore her independence." - Publishers Weekly

I totally agree with the above reviews. Especially what Publishers Weekly says about empathy for Hailey. I had that empathy one-hundred percent and felt for her as the father pulled further and further away from Hailey following the mother's death. Hailey is rich girl with everything she wants, but not the one thing she desperately needs.

Now! On with the interview. (the italics  is me, after the fact)

Thanks for taking the time to do this, Eileen! The book we’re giving away is  THE EDUCATION OF HAILEY KENDRICK. What was your inspiration for writing this particular book?

I was talking to some friends about how we tend to decide how we feel about ourselves based on what other people think of us. If you are the girlfriend of someone popular then somehow you are worth more than if you were dating someone who wasn’t as well liked.  If other people think we’re pretty or smart or funny, then somehow it is okay for us to think of ourselves that way. The downside of course is that if people tell you that you’re nothing, it’s too easy to start believing them. I wanted to write about someone who thought she knew EXACTLY who she was and how she fit into the world and then take all of that away from her. (And it so, so worked with this book. She had to rebuild herself and in doing so found her strength. I especially love how doing that also _gave_ her the strength to speak up and get exactly what she needed. Just a great read---and well worth re-reading!)

In the book, Hailey does something that is completely out of character when she is pushed to the limits by her dad. Is there anything you’ve ever done that you thought you’d _never_ be able to do? Er, that doesn’t involve destruction of school property, lol?

Well, some things I will never admit to because I never told my parents about it and they would still be mad if they knew. lol

When I was in university I decided to do a semester in Europe. It freaked me out because I had never gone someplace so far away without family or friends.  Traveling alone gave me the confidence that I could take care of myself and deal with things when they came up, without having to rely on someone else. Plus, I learned that I really liked my own company.  Now when I worry about something (and I tend to be a big worrier) I remind myself that if I can figure out foreign airports and ordering food off a menu in a language I can’t speak, I can probably figure out whatever situation I’m in.

We have some 2011 debut authors taking part in OH MG & YA Canada. Do you have any advice for them on going in to do that first school or library visit?  Or do you have a great debut moment you would like to share with us? (or--both?)

My advice for debut authors is to relax and enjoy the process. There will always be one more thing you should be doing, more time you could spend preparing for a talk, more interviews to do, but in the end there are only so many hours in the day. You can’t do everything, you have to choose what you feel you can do and what you enjoy.

I do have a great debut moment.  Not long after my first book came out I was on a ferry and saw someone reading my book. I had dreamed of this moment my whole life. A random stranger had bought my book and was reading it! I debated playing it cool- but I’ve never been able to pull that off.  I went over to the woman and told her that I was the author of the book she was reading. She gushed about how much she liked it. She asked me if I would autograph it for her. When she passed me the book I realized that even though the covers looked the same from across the ferry- this wasn’t my book. She was reading someone else’s book. I was too humiliated to tell her that I was mistaken and it wasn’t my book, so I simply signed the other author’s name and scurried away. (Oh. My. Oh. My, lol!!...Eileen. What a story-thank you for sharing it!)

In my book club I have some keen readers (of course!), but also some keen writers. They range in age from 8 to 13. When did you start writing and do you have any advice for my book clubbers?

I was always a huge reader and writer. My parents saved a homework assignment I did in second grade. We were supposed to write sentences to practice our handwriting, but I had linked mine all together so they made a story. The teacher wrote on the bottom “I’m sure someday you’ll be an author.”

My advice for writers is to read a lot. Books are the best teachers. If you like a book try and figure out how the author did it. Who is the main character? How would the story have been different if the story had been told from someone else’s point of view. For example- try and imagine the Harry Potter books told from Hermione’s point of view instead of Harry’s.

My second piece of advice is don’t let anyone tell you that you can’t be a writer. There are unfortunately many people in the world who spend all their time and energy on trying to tear down other people’s dreams versus coming up with their own. Surround yourself with people who believe in you and cheer you on. (Thanks for this, I will be sure to pass this along at this Thursday's meeting. Thinking we need to set up a Young Writer's Club at the library...)

Speaking of my book club kids. Anything you’d like to recommend they read or we get for our library? Something that is a recent read, or a book you loved when you were a kid?

So many good books!  Some of my more recent favorite reads have been:  Restoring Harmony by Joelle Anthony,  Revolution by Jennifer Donnelly and The Declaration by Gemma Mailey. (Yes, yes on Restoring Harmony, I am giving that one to one of my book clubbers this Thursday.  Revolution is one of my co-workers favourite reads of all time. Will be sure to check out The Declaration! BTW, Joelle will be here for an interview and giveaway in April!)

And finally...

What is your favourite part of living where you do? Do you have another part of Canada that you love to visit or that you’ve always wanted to but haven’t yet?


I love Vancouver.  My favourite part is that it is such a great mix of everything, there are the mountains, the ocean, great funky shops, the hockey team, restaurants for every kind of food you can imagine, and always something to do. Sometimes when I get tired of all the bustle of the city I enjoy visiting the Sunshine Coast or Salt Spring Island.  I haven’t been to Prince Edward Island or Newfoundland, but those are both on my list for places I’d like to visit.

Okay. One more...

Anything I didn’t ask that you were hoping I would ask?

I’m so excited about my next YA book (it won’t be out until next January), so I’d love to tell you a bit about it.  The book will be called  Unraveling Isobel.  It is a gothic story complete with a giant old home on a remote island, a handsome and dangerous love interest, a centuries old family mystery, and a possible ghost. (Oh WOW, this sounds fantastic. Cannot wait!)

Lastly, I love hearing from readers. They can reach me at eileen@eileencook.com

Thanks for being here, Eileen!

Eileen's Website and Blog. 


All about OH (MG & YA) Canada.


To enter to win a copy of Eileen's book all you have to do is comment! Contest is open until February  16, 2011and is for U.S, and Canada.


And now, just for fun, Popularity Tips from Lauren Wood (Lauren is the MC of Eileen's Getting Revenge on Lauren Wood).