Author Interview: Alecia Whitaker (The Queen of Kentucky)

Today we have the lovely Alecia stopping by my blog! Her debut novel, The Queen of Kentucky, just recently hit shelves. Since I live in kentucky I just knew I was going to have to read this cute funny book. My review will be posted soon! On to the interview! 


Can you tell us what The Queen of Kentucky is about in a single sentence?
I like how my editor put it: Judy Blume meets Friday Night Lights. 
But I'd say it's about a quirky country girl looking to reinvent her image at a new school, trying desperately to win the affections of new friends and a new boy, when the perfect guy for her has literally been next door all along.


The main character Ricki Jo, err I mean Ericka, seems to go through a lot. Is she based off you in any way?
Ricki Jo definitely has the same gumption I had at her age and the setting is very similar to where I grew up, but otherwise, she's her own character. I would say that the skeleton of the story is me, but the fleshy good parts are all fiction. I was her size, searched for my place much like she did, and lived out in the boondocks; but the relationships she has/makes in the book are all her own. I don't want to drop any spoilers so I won't be specific here, but let's just say that a lot of the funny parts are from personal experience while the more serious stuff was made up to fit the story and Ricki Jo's arc.


Can you tell a little about how The Queen of Kentucky came about?
You know, they say to "write what you know" so I started with tobacco. I was always one of the few girls in the fields and thought it would make for a great setting. And I think that pre-pubescent time of life is tough and wanted to write something fun for kids going through it now. You know, I guess I just really wanted to write the kind of book I'd have liked to read at that age.

Oh, but logistically, I signed up for a Young Adult writing class at MediaBistro.com and my teacher, Micol Ostow, seemed to believe in me and my story. She brought editors and agents into each class so we could pick their brains and provided an awesome workshop environment each week. I wrote the book in two sessions - six months.


If your book was being made into a movie who would you cast for your characters (at least the main ones)?
You know, it's funny that you ask that because I've actually wondered the same thing. I don't know a lot of young teen/tween actors right now, but I think the kids I cast for my book trailer pretty much nail it. 



Still, if I had to go Hollywood, I'd say Taylor Swift has some of the adorably awkward qualities of Ricki Jo while her BFF Miley Cyrus has the spunk. And for the guys, I'd say Taylor Lautner could pull off Wolf for his looks, but seems to have the laid back and humble personality of Luke.


The Queen of Kentucky is about a lot more then just a girl growing up on a farm. Can you tell us what you hope readers will take with them even after they have finished reading?
I hope that they'll realize that the only time that it's okay to change is when the motivation to change comes from within. Whenever you change for someone else, it always ends in disappointment, and sometimes, fractured relationships.


Do you have any advice for aspiring authors? 
Write. The first step is to write the book. 
Edit. Never be married to your work. A book is for an audience, a diary is for yourself. If you want to be published, be willing to listen to and apply feedback.
Then, research. Look up titles that are similar to yours and find out who their agents are and how they like to be queried. 
Network. There are lots of ways to do this. Get on Twitter, start and keep up a great blog (like yours), support authors you like by going to their events, and start up rapport in person and online with industry people.
But mainly, write.


In three words tell our lovely readers why they should read The Queen of Kentucky. 
You will laugh.


And lastly, where can our readers find you?
My website is www.aleciawhitaker.com.
My Twitter handle is @aleciawhitaker.
My FaceBook fan page is Alecia Whitaker. https://www.facebook.com/pages/Alecia-Whitaker/214702771907726
My home address, personal cell phone, and social security number...  Sike! 
(Oh yeah, I just used "sike" and am not even ashamed. I even think that maybe it should be spelled "psyche" and yet, still not ashamed.)


Thanks so much for letting me stop by!