Q&A with Author Colleen Hoover
Question: You are โlabel-lessโ in the fact that you write in several genres. Readers never know what to expect next. If someone asks, how do you label yourself?
Colleen: When I self-published my first novel I had no idea what genre to put it in. I thought I had written a drama but it turns to that I had written a romance. Iโve learned a lot since then, but I still donโt put a lot of weight in genre when I write. When your best friend is begging you to read a book, itโs not going to matter what genre it is when someone you trust is passionate about the story.
Question : To keep all of your stories and characters straight, you must be very organized.
Colleen: Iโm the most disorganized person you will ever meet! I have no schedule. I canโt wake up before nine in the morning. I probably donโt go to bed until like three in the morning. I usually work about 16 hours a day.
Question: What happens if you get blocked when you are writing?
Colleen: If I get stuck writing, I go for a drive and play music. Music really helps me plot. I love The Avett Brothers, X Ambassadors, Airborne Toxic Event…I could go on and on.
Question : What can you tell readers about your latest release Regretting You?
Colleen: I would spoil it if I told you about it! Most of my books are like that. I canโt say what they are about or it spoils it. But I can say that Regretting You is told from a dual point-of-view centered on the inner lives of both a teen and adult protagonist.
Question: Sounds like lots of different types of readers will be interested!
Colleen: Absolutely. I wanted to write a book that bridged the gap between young adult and contemporary romance so that mothers can read with their daughters. I think itโs exciting to see people sharing reading experiences.
Despite knowing I just pissed my mother off by being half an hour late for curfew, I still canโt stop smiling. That kiss with Miller was worth it. I bring my fingers to my lips.
Iโve never been kissed like that. The guys Iโve kissed in the past all seemed like they were in a hurry, wanting to shove their tongue in my mouth before I changed my mind.
Miller was the opposite. He was so patient, yet in a chaotic way. It was like heโd thought about kissing me so often that he wanted to savor every second of it.
I donโt know that Iโll ever not smile when I think about that kiss. It kind of makes me nervous for school tomorrow. Iโm not sure where that kiss leaves us, but it felt like it was a statement. I just donโt know what exactly that statement was.
My phone buzzes in my back pocket. I roll over and pull it out, then fall onto my back again. Itโs a text from Miller.
Miller: I donโt know about you, but sometimes when something significant happens, I get home and think of all the things I wish had gone differently. All the things I wish I would have said.
Me: Is that happening now?
Miller: Yes. I donโt feel like I was entirely forthcoming with you.
I roll onto my stomach, hoping to ease the nausea that just passed through me. It was going so wellโฆ
Me: What werenโt you honest about?
Miller: I was honest. Just not entirely forthcoming, if thereโs a difference. I left a lot out of our conversation that I want you to know.
Me: Like what?
Miller: Like why Iโve liked you for as long as I have.
I wait for him to elaborate, but he doesnโt. Iโm staring at my phone with so much intensity that I almost throw it when it rings unexpectedly. Itโs Millerโs phone number. I hesitate before answering it, because I rarely ever talk on the phone. I much prefer texting. But he knows I have my phone in my hand, so I canโt very well send it to voice mail. I swipe my finger across the screen and then roll off the bed and head to my bathroom for more privacy. I sit on the edge of the tub.
โHello?โ
โHey,โ he says.
โSorry. Itโs too much to text.โ
โYouโre kind of freaking me out with all the innuendos.โ
โOh. No, itโs all good. Donโt be nervous. I just should have said this to you in person.โ Miller inhales a deep breath, and then on the exhale, he starts talking. โWhen I was fifteen, I watched you in a school play. You had the lead role, and at one point, you performed a monologue that went on for like two whole minutes. You were so convincing and you looked so heartbroken I was ready to walk onto the stage and hug you. When the play was finally over and the actors came back out onto the stage, you were smiling and laughing, and there wasnโt a trace of that character left in you. I was in awe, Clara. You have this charisma about you that I donโt think youโre aware of, but itโs captivating. I was a scrawny kid as a sophomore, and even though Iโm a year older than you, I hadnโt quite filled out yet, and I had acne and felt inferior to you, so I never worked up the courage to approach you. Another year went by, and I continued to admire you from afar. Like that time you ran for school treasurer and tripped walking off the stage, but you jumped up and did this weird little kick and threw your arms up in the air and made the entire audience laugh. Or that time Mark Avery popped your bra strap in the hallway, and you were so sick of him doing it that you followed him to his classroom, reached inside your hoodie, and took off your bra and then threw it at him. I remember you yelling something like, โIf you want to touch a bra so damn bad, just keep it, you perv!โ Then you stormed out. It was epic. Everything you do is epic, Clara. Which is why I never had the courage to approach you, because an epic girl needs an equally epic guy, and I guess Iโve just never felt epic enough for you. Iโve said epic so many times in the last fifteen secondsโIโm so sorry.โ
Heโs out of breath when he finally stops talking.
Iโm smiling so hard my cheeks ache. I had no idea he felt this way. No idea.
I wait a few seconds to make sure heโs done; then I finally respond. Iโm pretty sure he can hear from my voice alone that Iโm smiling. โFirst of all, itโs hard to believe you were ever insecure. And second, I think youโre pretty epic, too, Miller. Always have. Even when you were scrawny and had acne.โ
He laughs a little. โYeah?โ
โYeah.โ
I can hear him sigh. โGlad I got that off my chest, then. See you at school tomorrow?โ
โGood night.โ
We end the call, and I donโt know how long I sit and stare at my phone.
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Brilliant post. The interview was really interesting,
I am starting this book this evening…. I’m excited
This sounds so good, thanks for the interview, review, excerpt. Not an author I have read before.
Great review and excerpt.
Her characters feel real and flawed, allowing for growth. I too love that you never know what she will write next…sometimes I don’t think she knows either and that makes me laugh.
So true Kim, her characters are people we can relate because of how real they feel. I like that they are never stagnant.
I have never read CoHo and keep meaning to do so.
I hope you get the chance to do so, and if you do that you have a good time immersing yourself in her world.
I love this author and I so can’t wait to try this one!
I hope you get the chance to read it.
So glad you loved this too and I loved that interview!
Yes, it is a great interview.
Very nice review , sadly She’s not an author for me, I tried one of her books , and just can’t get in to them .
I realise not everyone enjoys her books.
I’ve seen a lot about this, but the only CoHo book I’ve ever read is Verity!
Verity was a good read for me.