Gena Showalter's teen novels have been featured on MTV and in Seventeen magazine and have been praised as "unputdownable." Growing up, she always had her nose buried in a book. When it came time to buckle down and get a job, she knew writing was it for her. Her first Harlequin Teen book is Intertwined. She lives in Oklahoma with her family and three slobbery English bulldogs.
Favorite book when you were a child:
In junior high, I read Silver Angel by Johanna Lindsay, and it was my first romance. The heroine was 18, I believe, and living in Regency England. She was beautiful, sassy and drew the eye of the sexiest guy I'd ever read about. God, I loved that book. It had passion and danger and in the end, true love conquered all. I was hooked.
Your top five authors:
P.C. and Kristin Cast, Stephenie Meyer, Jill Monroe, Kresley Cole and J.R. Ward. I'm so amazed every time I read a book by these ladies. They draw me in, hold me captive and paint such a vivid world I feel like I'm there with the characters.
Book you're an evangelist for:
Twilight by Stephenie Meyer. I talk with anyone who will listen about how hot Edward is. And I have maybe kinda sorta thought of ways to win him from Bella. On the plus side, as old as he is, I wouldn't have to feel like a cougar for dating someone so young looking.
Book that changed your life:
I hated to read until I discovered the Sweet Valley High books. I had to know whom Jessica was dating and how her twin sister Elizabeth was going to save her from whatever mess she caused.
Favorite line from a book:
"But you, your scent, it's like a drug to me. Like my own personal brand of heroin."--Edward Cullen from Twilight.
I've asked my husband if I'm his own personal brand of heroin, and he says yes. That's one of the many reasons I love him. Another reason I love him: he doesn't mind my character crushes--and yes, I get them a lot. He bought me a poster of Edward and hung it in front of my treadmill.
Book you most want to read again for the first time:
A Hunger Like No Other by Kresley Cole. I could have cried when I finished because I wanted more, more, more of this amazing novel. The character growth is phenomenal. You see these people evolving and changing and you understand what drives them. It's powerful stuff.
Last book you read:
Perfect Chemistry by Simone Elkeles. I loved this book. I was hesitant to pick it up because I had never read alternating first person points of view before and feared I'd be confused, but I'm so glad I did. Two teens from two different lifestyles never should have liked each other, much less fallen in love, but they do and it's a beautiful thing to watch unfold.
What are you working on now:
Unraveled, the sequel to Intertwined. The stakes are higher and the romances between my leads are heating up. Aden still has the souls trapped inside him, knows his own death is closer than ever and has all manner of creatures hunting for him. I'm having a lot of fun with it.
