Author Interview: Allison Van Diepen (The Oracle of Dating)

Everyone please welcome Allison Van Diepen, author of The Oracle of Dating. Thank you so much for doing this interview! I have yet to read this book but I am looking forward to it. I've read Snitch by Allison and truly loved it! If you missed my review go here.

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In Allison's words, "If you’re reading this, you probably already know a few things about me. I’m the author of STREET PHARM, SNITCH, RAVEN, and a number of other teen novels at various stages on their way to a bookstore or library near you. I work full time as a high school teacher in Ottawa, Canada, and write evenings, weekends, and – thank God – summer vacations. I’ve been writing for more than half my life, and have been telling stories since I was a kid. Back then, I was into movies, and the original Terminator and Pee-Wee’s Big Adventure are among my all-time faves. As a teen, I fell in love with books and with writing, and my goal was to become a published author one day. In the meantime, I went to Carleton University, got a degree in History, and eventually went to teacher’s college. While still in teacher’s college, I heard that the NYC Dept of Ed was recruiting teachers. It sounded like a great adventure – and challenge – so I went to Toronto for the interview and got hired on the spot by the Brooklyn school board. Teaching in Brooklyn inspired my writing, and that’s when I wrote STREET PHARM and SNITCH. Since then, I’ve returned to my hometown, and have kept on teaching and writing."

For more info on Allison, check out her site(s):
-Website
-MySpace
-GoodReads

Books by Allison:
Street Pharm
Raven
Snitch
The Oracle of Dating (Book #1)
The Oracle of Rebounds (Book #2) - November 1, 2010

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The Oracle of Dating by Allison Van Diepen
Genre: Young Adult Fiction
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Pages: 184

Summary: For five bucks, the Oracle of Dating will tell you:

* How to flirt
* If that cute guy you're crushing on likes you, too
* Whether your new romance will last through lunch period
* And much more

What she won't tell you? Who she is. No one at Kayla's school knows she's the famous Oracle of Dating— the anonymous queen of dating advice. She doesn't even have a boyfriend. Two relationship disasters were enough to make Kayla focus on everyone else's love life. But then her advice backfires on her own best friend. And Kayla starts to seriously obsess about Jared Stewart—the very cute, very mysterious new guy in school. Suddenly, the teen queen of advice needs her own oracle of dating—and she knows just where to find one….

Now Available in Bookstores!
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Author Interview:

1) When did you first consider yourself a writer?

AVD: When I was fourteen, I wrote my first novel. I wrote it longhand, then typed up the whole one hundred and fifty pages. I'm still very proud of it. I knew if I could do it once, I could do it again – and that’s when I began to consider myself a writer.

2) What inspired you to write The Oracle of Dating?

AVD: I've always loved giving dating advice. As a teen, my older sister’s friends called me the Oracle of Dating. Over the years I’ve had some funny dating experiences myself, and met some, uh, interesting characters… and all of that fed into The Oracle of Dating. (And yes, some of what’s in the book actually happened to me.)

3) If you had to do it all over again, would you change anything in The Oracle of Dating?

AVD: Whenever I see one of my books in print, I see it with new eyes, and often see spots where I could have improved it. With The Oracle, I’m satisfied with how the story flows, so even if I could, I wouldn’t make major changes.

4) If you had to describe your book in one word, what would it be and why?

AVD: The word would be FUN. It’s meant to entertain you and (hopefully) make you smile. :)

5) Out of all the books you've written, which one is your favorite?

AVD: My latest book is usually my favorite – the romance is still hot, so to speak. But I have to say that Snitch seems to have garnered the most overwhelming response.

6) Do you have any other projects you're currently working on?

AVD: I’m working on a paranormal in which your wildest dream comes true. That’s all I’ll tell you right now…

7) What do you like to do when you're not writing?

AVD: I don’t have any exotic hobbies. I like to be with my family or my girlfriends.

8) What book are you currently reading?

AVD: Sea Change by Aimee Friedman. It's a gorgeous YA romance, and I'm loving it.

9) Do you have anything to say to all your readers?

AVD: Yes – THANK YOU for your wonderful emails. I love hearing from you!

10) Tell us something about yourself that no one knows about.

AVD: How about ten things? Check it out here.