Possums are Awesome Blog Tour!

Two weeks ago I wrote a little pay-it-forward post about a friend of mine who has helped me along with my writing. Someone who has taken me under her wing and who is already making a splash with her debut novel, Possum Summer.

"Possum Summer, is a heartwarming, vibrant story of a western Oklahoma 'country' girl [that] mixes themes of honor, resolve, and courage with just the right blend of adventure, excitement, humor, danger, love, compassion, and a small touch of romance. It's a book that middle graders will want to read. The author should brace herself for all the letters and emails she'll receive asking 'did this really happen?" -- Bill Wallace, author of A Dog Called Kitty and many other books

Today, I am honored to have her here! Live! In person! The fabulously talented Jen K. Blom...

Welcome to the POSSUMS ARE AWESOME blog tour for the middle-grade book, POSSUM SUMMER, coming out in March! (Have you preordered yet?)

The fantastic Alison was kind enough to be part of my blog tour, and she is one great lady! I'm here answering a couple great questions, and of course, P tagged along too...

First off, a little about the book:

a lonely kid.

an orphaned baby possum.

a dad that says no way.

how do you keep that kind of secret?

and what happens when you’re found out?

Here we go!

AS: You've described yourself as a Pantser. How much do you need to know about a story before you start writing?

JKB: Wee-eell, not too much. I need to know the conflict, the person's first name, the animal, and what makes me sad about it. I tend to write books that make me sad, for some reason.

AS: I suppose if you write things that make you sad, it helps you appreciate everything else. If you could go anywhere in the world where would you go and why?

JKB: Interesting! I've thought about this for a few days now and I guess I'd go back to Darwin, Australia, and just chill like a lizard on a sunny flat rock until all my worries were just cooked out of my brain. I lived there back in the day, and there is NOTHING like laid-back Aussie attitude to make you put things into perspective.

I would also like to show Loki * and DearHubs * my favorite outcrop of sand with the old beached tree where I watched many a sunset over beautiful water.

* Names changed to protect the innocent

AS: Possum Summer takes place in Oklahoma, where you grew up. To what extent did your childhood experiences influence the story?

JKB: Quite a bit. :-D I freely admit I stole the name of the creek where I grew up, as well as the entire first chapter (excepting the father bit) from my childhood. I was nuts! And I think a bit of me shows through there in P. She is SUCH a dear.

Princess: Deer? I ain't no deer!

JKB: DE-AR, you monster. Like a sweet little girl!

P: Listen here. I am not a sweet little girl! Just ask Mart! Why, he called me a girl one day, and I dumped all the tray of orange juices over him! And it felt GOOD! What do you like to eat, Miss Alison?

AS: I don't know if I can choose, I like so many things.

P: Ha Ha Ha! So many things, huh? How about earthworms and cow butt? Those things included?

JKB: P --- *warning look*

AS: *shakes head* I should have known better.

P: Sorry. (kind of) So what do you like to do? I'm gonna go out on a limb here and say writing.

AS: Writing and gardening.

P: Well! At least you go outside! That's good! (I KNEW it about the writing part!) What's really interesting about you?

AS: I have very curly hair.

P: Ha! Curly hair! I wish I had curly hair. My dad calls me a bottlebrush, which makes me mad. But because you said you like to eat lotsa different things, I drew you as a ... :

P: Yeah! A Raccoon! Jen had one when she was younger and that thing like'tve ate her out of house and home! Why, I met a rabid one, did you know that? For real! Jen said she put it in POSSUM SUMMER, and I read it, but ---

**scuffle**

JKB: Alison, thanks for having me! I really appreciate it! (and sorry for the monster!)

AS: Thanks for stopping by Jen! Love the drawing, P! Can't wait to get my hands on the book!

Jen K. Blom writes about animals, the land, and kids, not necessarily in that order. Her debut, POSSUM SUMMER, is available March 2011.

Just the thing to give to a kid to start their summer of reading off right! (Available from your localindie, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Borders, or Book Depository!)

Seen the book trailer yet?

Want more POSSUMS ARE AWESOME blog tour tidbits? Go here and knock yourself out!