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WORK TITLE: Summer Constellations
WORK NOTES:
PSEUDONYM(S):
BIRTHDATE: 6-May
WEBSITE: http://www.alishasevigny.com/
CITY: Toronto
STATE: ON
COUNTRY: Canada
NATIONALITY: Canadian
RESEARCHER NOTES: Kissing frogs info from world cat–DP
| LC control no.: | no2018055068 |
|---|---|
| LCCN Permalink: | https://lccn.loc.gov/no2018055068 |
| HEADING: | Sevigny, Alisha |
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| 040 | __ |a ICrlF |b eng |e rda |c ICrlF |
| 100 | 1_ |a Sevigny, Alisha |
| 370 | __ |a Northwest, Pacific |e Toronto (Ont.) |2 naf |
| 372 | __ |a Young adult fiction |2 lcsh |
| 374 | __ |a Authors |2 lcsh |
| 375 | __ |a Females |2 lcsh |
| 377 | __ |a eng |
| 670 | __ |a Sevigny, Alisha. Summer constellations, 2018: |b title page (Alisha Sevigny) author bio. (Holds a degree in professional writing and sociology, is also a film school graduate and former literary agent, is a Toronto-based writer, grew up in the Pacific Northwest) |
PERSONAL
Born May 6, Kitimat, British Columbia; married.
EDUCATION:University of Victoria, B.A.; Victoria Motion Picture Film School, certificate in acting for the screen.
ADDRESS
CAREER
Writer, editor, and educator. University of Victoria, administration in Faculty of Law, 2005-06; The Rights Factor, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, literary agent, 2008-2012; ILAC, Toronto, Canada, social media and communications manager, 2012-15; Wildflower Literary Services, Toronto, Canada, freelance editor, 2012–; ILAC International College, Toronto, Canada, college instructor, 2017–.
Hot yoga.
WRITINGS
SIDELIGHTS
Alisha Sevigny has a degree in professional writing and sociology and is also a film school graduate. A former literary agent, Sevigny turned to writing her own young adult (YA) novels. Sevigny says she began writing in elementary school and noted in a Dark Readers website interview: “I also wrote a lot of hilarious (not intentionally) poetry about love and heartbreak when I was a teenager.” Sevigny went on in the same interview to note: “I’ve always loved writing but don’t actually give myself permission to be a writer until a few years ago.”
Kissing Frogs
Sevigny was inspired to write her first YA novel, Kissing Frogs, after a trip to Panama, where she became enamored with the country and its culture. She also was impressed by Panama’s national emblem, the Golden Frog. Growing up in British Columbia, Sevigny developed a strong interest in the environment and conservation. In Kissing Frogs, she tells the story about a popular high school senior Jessica Stone who joins a conservation group in Panama to save the golden frog. The novel “is a modern twist on ‘The Frog Prince’ fairy tale,” Sevigny told YA Bookshelf website contributor Melissa Montovani.
Although Jessica is part of the in-crowd in high school, she used to be a nerd but has kept this past self a secret from her friends. To change her image, Jessica redirected her academic talents towards becoming popular. Eventually, she became the queen of her school, with plenty of cool friends and a boyfriend who is considered the catch of the school. Jessica’s life, however, takes a drastic turn when her biology teacher tells her she is failing his class. Jessica had plans to head for the beach in Florida on spring break with her boyfriend, but her teacher tells her that to pass biology she has to go to Panama with the conservation club to save the golden frog.
Once Jessica arrive in Panama with the club, she immediately loses a beloved ring that belonged to her grandmother. Furthermore, also on the trip is Travis, who has transferred to Jessica’s school. It turns out that Jessica knows Travis from their old school. More important, Travis knows that Jessica used to be a nerd called “Messy Jesse.” When Travis, who once bullied Jessica, dives and retrieves the lost ring from the bottom of a natural pool, he goes on to asks her to go out with him in return, saying they are not really dates. Jessica agrees. Meanwhile, Jessica is bullied by two girls on the trip. Eventually, Jessica makes new friends and begins having fun, learning to surf and having adventures. As a result, she begins to realize that her life as a popular girl in school is not who she really wants to be. In addition, she helps rescue the endangered frogs.
“While the plot device of the conservation club trip to Panama is clearly meant to allow for educational exposition about the endangered golden frog, the information itself is included in an organic way that doesn’t take the reader out of the story,” wrote Canadian Review of Materials -University of Manitoba website contributor Suzie Wilson, who went on to call Kissing Frogs “a lighthearted, enjoyable read.” A Quill & Quire Online contributor remarked: “The story’s romance between Jess and Travis, a former bully from her nerd years, runs in a clever parallel to the conservation narrative.”
Summer Constellations
In her next book Summer Constellations, Sevigny once again combines a story about the environment combined with a summer romance. Julia Ducharme has just graduated from high school when her mothers tells her that she is considering selling the family’s campground to a real estate developer. To make matters worse, Julia’s best friend Paige is off to Japan and the boy she has had a crush, Dan, appears at the family campground with his new girlfriend.
Julia cannot imagine losing her longtime campground home. Her family, however, is finding it hard to meet the bills due to the costs of caring for Julia’s little brother, Caleb, who has Guillain-Barre syndrome. Then she meets Nick Constantine one day after she goes off to a nearby lake to ponder things and sees Nick playing guitar on the dock. She ends up telling Nick about all of her troubles. Julia is angry when she finds out that Nick is the son of the developer who wants to buy the campground. As Nick develops feelings for Julia, he also comes to love their family campground and decides to try and help them save it. Julia, however, is having a hard time trusting Nick, wondering if he really will go against his father’s plans.
“Sevigny’s … portrayal of the emotional and financial struggles that can accompany illness in America ring true,” wrote a Kirkus Reviews contributor, who went on to call Summer Constellations “a pleasant coming-of-age story.” Tabitha Nordby, writing for School Library Journal, remarked: “The relationship dynamics between Nick and Julia are immensely readable.”
BIOCRIT
PERIODICALS
Kirkus Reviews, March 1, 2018, review of Summer Constellations.
School Library Journal, March, 2018, Tabitha Nordby, review of Summer Constellation, p. 123.
ONLINE
Alisha Sevigny LinkedIn Page, https://www.linkedin.com/in/alisha-sevigny-b7b3b446/ (July 11, 2018).
Alisha Sevigny website, http://www.alishasevigny.com (July 11, 2018).
Canadian Review of Materials -University of Manitoba, https://www.umanitoba.ca/ (January 16, 2015), Susie Wilson, review of Kissing Frogs.
Dark Readers, http://www.dark-readers.com/ (May 1, 2015), “Author Interview: Alisha Sevigny – Kissing Frogs.”
Quill and Quire Online, https://quillandquire.com/ (June 20, 2018), Suzanne Gardner, review of Kissing Frogs.
YA Bookshelf, http://www.yabookshelf.com/ (November 16, 2014), Melissa Montovani, “Interview with Alisha Sevigny, Author of Kissing Frogs.”
Alisha Sevigny holds a degree in Sociology and Professional Writing from the University of Victoria, is a film school graduate and former literary agent.
A shameless romantic, Alisha and her husband have travelled the world together. On a trip to Panama, Alisha fell in love with the country, culture, and their national emblem, the Golden Frog. She was inspired to write her first Young Adult novel, KISSING FROGS.
Born and raised in Kitimat, British Columbia, Alisha has always had a strong connection to the environment and conservationist spirit. Her second book, SUMMER CONSTELLATIONS, about one woman's fight to save her family campground while trying not to fall for the land developer's son, comes out May 1st, 2018.
About Alisha Sevigny
Hi, thanks for stopping by. My name is Alisha and I’m a former literary agent turned author who knows the ins and outs of the writing game. I’m always looking for ways to share what I know, so whether you’d like me to speak to your group or help with a pitch, don’t hesitate to get in touch.
Alisha Sevigny holds a degree in Professional Writing and Sociology from the University of Victoria, is a film school graduate, former literary agent and hot yoga lover. A shameless romantic, Alisha and her husband have travelled the world together. On a trip to Panama she fell in love with the country, culture, and their national emblem, the Golden Frog and was inspired to write her first Young Adult novel, KISSING FROGS.
Her second book, SUMMER CONSTELLATIONS is about a young woman fighting to save her family campground while trying not to fall in love, comes out May 1, 2018 with KCP Loft.
Born and raised in Kitimat, British Columbia, Alisha has always had a strong connection to the environment and conservationist spirit. She now lives in Toronto with her family.
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Kissing Frogs
Alisha Sevigny
Author of SUMMER CONSTELLATIONS (KCP Loft, Spring 2018) & KISSING FROGS Freelance Editor at Wildflower Literary Services
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
ILAC International College
University of Victoria University of Victoria
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Experienced editor and former literary agent specializing in substantive editing of fiction and non-fiction manuscripts of all genres. Author of young adult novels and guest speaker on subjects such as writing, editing, getting an agent, marketing and publishing your book. Skilled in editing, writing, content creation, media relations, journalism, and publications. In-depth experience working in the education sector as a college instructor in the areas of English and international scholarship.
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Kissing Frogs
Kissing Frogs
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ILAC International College
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Dates Employed Nov 2017 – Present Employment Duration 8 mos
Location Toronto, Canada Area
Wildflower Literary Services
Freelance Editor
Company Name Wildflower Literary Services
Dates Employed 2012 – Present Employment Duration 6 yrs
Location Toronto, Canada Area
Looking for an honest and in-depth critique of your manuscript?
Need help writing a killer pitch or back cover blurb for your book?
As a literary agent for one of North America’s leading boutique agencies, I substantively edited clients’ works, transforming rough drafts into sellable prose, as well as wrote both fiction pitches and non-fiction proposals that resulted in book deals for many debut authors.
Whether your goal is to pursue an agent and traditional publishing deal or to self-publish, I can provide constructive feedback to help polish your novel and get the attention it deserves.
Substantive manuscript assessments generally include in-depth track changes throughout the entire manuscript as well as 2-3 pages of concise, direct commentary on various aspects of your manuscript (style, structure, and content, etc.) and some general suggestions on where you might want to go from here. The manuscript’s strengths and weaknesses are identified, as well as its suitability for market based on current industry trends. A one hour consult via phone or the web to discuss feedback is also included. MS turnaround time is typically 2-3 weeks.
Please email to tell me more about your project and request a quote.
Happy Writing!
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Location Toronto
Worked with many debut authors helping them to develop and edit their work. Wrote pitches, fiction and non-fiction book proposals. Submitted manuscripts to editors/publishers. Contract negotiation for clients, attending international book fairs, international/foreign rights experience.
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University of Victoria
Degree Name Bachelor of Arts (BA)
Field Of Study Sociology (Concentration in Social Justice) and Professional Writing
Grade Graduated with Distinction (In top 2% of Year / Awarded President's Scholarship)
Activities and Societies: Golden Key Honour Society
Victoria Motion Picture Film School
Victoria Motion Picture Film School
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Grade Graduated with Distinction
Activities and Societies: Film and Stage Actor with several roles in movies featuring stars such as Kristen Stewart, Bradley Cooper, Jason Statham, Burt Reynolds, Meg Ryan, Adam Brody, Jennifer Love Hewitt, Jason Priestly, etc. Won Best Actress at Canada's National Student Film Competition Courses in improv, onscreen camera, movement, voice, etc.
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Sevigny, Alisha: SUMMER CONSTELLATIONS
Kirkus Reviews.
(Mar. 1, 2018): From Book Review Index Plus. COPYRIGHT 2018 Kirkus Media LLC http://www.kirkusreviews.com/
Full Text:
Sevigny, Alisha SUMMER CONSTELLATIONS KCP Loft/Kids Can (Young Adult Fiction) $17.99 5, 1 ISBN: 978-1-77138-929-7
Recent high school graduate Julia Ducharme's summer is off to a rough start.
Her best friend, Paige, is traveling to Japan to visit relatives, her longtime crush has shown up with a gorgeous girlfriend, and her mom has announced that she is thinking of selling their family campground and home. Julia's little brother Caleb is recovering from Guillain-Barre syndrome and is old enough to realize--with distress--that their financial troubles are connected to his long illness. After receiving the terrible news that her home may be sold, Julia meets a beautiful black- haired, olive-skinned stranger on the docks and spills her guts to him. She is shocked and angry to discover that the young man is Nick Constantine, son of the property developer who is looking to buy their campground. Julia and Nick are thrown together, and Nick falls in love both with the campground and Julia, deciding to do all that he can to help them keep their place, or at least keep its integrity intact. Sevigny's (Kissing Frogs, 2014) portrayal of the emotional and financial struggles that can accompany illness in America ring true. Julia is a brave, independent, and competent female character who shows that you don't need to be a femme fatale to be lovable.
A pleasant coming-of-age story for fans of teen romance. (Fiction. 14-18)
Source Citation (MLA 8th Edition)
"Sevigny, Alisha: SUMMER CONSTELLATIONS." Kirkus Reviews, 1 Mar. 2018. Book Review
Index Plus, http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A528959807/GPS?u=schlager&sid=GPS& xid=59d59c9e. Accessed 19 June 2018.
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Gale Document Number: GALE|A528959807
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SEVIGNY, Alisha. Summer
Constellations
Tabitha Nordby
School Library Journal.
64.3 (Mar. 2018): p123. From Book Review Index Plus.
COPYRIGHT 2018 Library Journals, LLC. A wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/
Full Text:
SEVIGNY, Alisha. Summer Constellations. 264p. KCP Loft. May 2018. Tr $17.99. ISBN 9781771389297.
Gr 9 Up--Julia's summer has begun with two unexpected events: her mom wants to sell their family campground to a wealthy developer, and her crush, Dan shows up at the campground with a new girlfriend. When Julia retreats to the lake to agonize over her bad luck, she meets Nick playing guitar on the dock. Nick is handsome and takes her mind off Dan until she discovers that Nick is the developer's son. Julia has to decide if she can trust Nick to help her save her family campground, while Nick works to separate himself from his family's business, Meanwhile, they are both trying to guard their hearts. This is a fast-paced, humorous and romantic story, with realistic dialogue and a cast of interesting and relatable characters. The relationship dynamics between Nick and Julia are immensely readable, but teens will also be driven to keep reading to discover what happens to Julia and her family's campground. VERDICT Recommended for collections serving teens, especially where romance is in demand.--Tabitha Nordby, Red River College, Man.
Source Citation (MLA 8th Edition)
Nordby, Tabitha. "SEVIGNY, Alisha. Summer Constellations." School Library Journal, Mar.
2018, p. 123. Book Review Index Plus, http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A529863636 /GPS?u=schlager&sid=GPS&xid=b190f20b. Accessed 19 June 2018.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A529863636
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Kissing Frogs
by Alisha Sevigny
In this modern reimagining of The Frog Prince, debut author Alisha Sevigny turns a typical high-school drama on its head by setting it in tropical El Valle de Anton, Panama. Popular high-school senior Jess Stone used to be a straight-A student, but when she switched schools, she successfully used her smarts to imitate the social elite and shed her former geeky identity. But hanging out with the popular kids and her hot boyfriend leads to skipping a lot of classes, and soon Jess is failing biology. With her university dreams on the line, Jess’s teacher gives her one last chance to get a passing grade: join the school’s conservation club on a spring-break trip to Panama to help save the country’s endangered golden frog.
KissingFrogs_COVERThe environmentalist storyline runs throughout the novel, and the beautiful location is described in such vivid detail that it feels like another character in the story. But what’s most entertaining is how Sevigny balances an eco-conscious story about saving amphibians with a reminder that, sometimes, you have to kiss a lot of “frogs” before finding your prince. The story’s romance between Jess and Travis, a former bully from her nerd years, runs in a clever parallel to the conservation narrative.
Jess and Travis’s back-and-forth flirtation is predictable, but charming, and Sevigny captures the teen voice extremely well. The pair, as well as their friends Harp and Juan, are portrayed as average high school students. These are the kind of teen characters you want to root for and can identify with; they’re not heroes like The Hunger Games’ Katniss or wise beyond their years like Hazel Grace in The Fault in Our Stars. Their ordinariness is refreshing in a genre that is often fighting to make characters unnecessarily extraordinary.
Reviewer: Suzanne Gardner
Publisher: Fierce Ink Press
DETAILS
Price: $16.95
Page Count: 200 pp
Format: Paper
ISBN: 978-1-92774-666-0
Released: Nov.
Issue Date: December 2014
Categories: Children and YA Fiction
Age Range: 12+
Interview with Alisha Sevigny, Author of Kissing Frogs
by Melissa Montovani on November 6, 2014 in YA Novelist Interviews • 2 Comments
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interview with alisha sevigny author of kissing frogs1 Interview with Alisha Sevigny, Author of Kissing Frogs
Earlier this week, I reviewed Alisha Sevigny‘s debut YA novel, Kissing Frogs as part of the blog tour organized by the publisher Fierce Ink Press. Whether you’ve had a chance to read my review of Kissing Frogs yet or not, check out Alisha’s responses to the questions I posed. You never know, this interview may just peak your interest in reading this Canadian novel or recommending it for a tween or teen in your life.
YA Book Shelf: I thought Kissing Frogs was a very cute novel, but perhaps not all of my readers will have heard of it. Can you give us a brief description of what it’s about?
Alisha Sevigny: KF is a modern twist on “The Frog Prince” fairy tale. It’s about a girl who finds out she’s failing biology and in order to salvage her chance at getting into university, must go to Panama with her high school conservation club to work with endangered frogs. While on the trip she encounters someone from her past and begins to question if who she’s become is who she wants to be.
YABookShelf: Jess’ journey reminded me of the quotation by e.e. cummings, “It takes courage to grow up and become who you really are.” Why does Jess think that popularity and intelligence are mutually exclusive, and without giving away any spoilers, how does that change in Panama?
AS: That’s a great quote. Jess had a tough time after she skipped a grade, so in her case all being smart did was get her picked on. She chose to suppress that part of her, cutting off the circulation to it, so to speak. In Panama she realizes that she’s free to be herself among people — well, some of them anyway — who accept her for who she really is. It’s very freeing. Like taking off a pair of Spanx after a night out.
YABookshelf: Not only does Jess try to hide her true self from her peers, but also she seems either unable or unwilling to recognize what she wants out of life. Why does it seem easier to lie to herself about what she wants than to admit the truth and take the steps necessary to achieve it?
AS: I think it can be scary to admit when we really want something. If we don’t admit it, then we can’t fail at it, and that’s safe. It takes a lot of guts to pursue something you really want and to honour that.
YABookShelf: Other than Jess, who was your favourite character to write in Kissing Frogs?
AS: Probably the characters of Juan and Harp. To me, they just embodied goodness and people who were willing to take Jess in, no questions really asked. Some wonderful people did this for me in high school, which is always a difficult time to join a new group. They just had this kindness and generosity of spirit and they’re still dear friends to this day.
YABookShelf: One of the things that I loved about this book is that it presents middle school and high school bullying in complex and realistic ways, rather than presenting some students as only the bullies or the bullied. Why was it important to you to present bullying in a cyclical way with real life consequences that go beyond the intentions of the bullies?
AS: Bullying is a complex issue. I think most people are bullied at some point in their lives, myself included. Some bullies hurt others because of their own issues, and it can help the person being bullied to remember this. It might not fix everything, but it never hurts to have a little compassion for others, and in some ways it might even take away some of the bully’s power. The bullied might realize, “Hey, this isn’t even about me. There’s nothing wrong with me.”
YABookShelf: I’m a vegan, so one of the other things that I really appreciated was how a few of the characters liken true environmentalism with a pescetarian or vegetarian lifestyle. Are you a vegetarian, and whether the answer is yes or no, why did you feature this detail in Kissing Frogs?
AS: I was a vegan for a short time, and then a vegetarian for eight years for environmental and social reasons. (I’m currently a carnivore again, much to my dismay, but am working on it!). I believe that being a vegetarian/vegan or eating less meat is one of the best things we can do to help our planet. The impact of the amount of meat we eat is not only detrimental to our health, but degrades the earth. Rain forests are grazed, water is polluted from livestock runoff, cows contribute more to global warming than all motor vehicles combined. Not to mention the horrific conditions and suffering the animals go through AND the amount of resources given to animals that could be reallocated to people in less fortunate countries (I’m talking myself back into vegetarianism as I write this, lol). I don’t want to come across as preachy, so I encourage people to educate themselves. the Food Revolution by John Robbins is an oldie, but a goodie. You’d be amazed at what reducing the amount of animal products we consume can do for the planet (and ourselves).
YABookShelf: In a Q&A on the Fierce Ink Press website, you said that not only was this novel inspired by your travels in Panama, but also that you did many of the same things and visited many of the same places that Jess does on her trip. What was your favourite experience and place on your journey?
AS: I had so many great experiences in Panama, but I have to say El Valle, the little town in the mountains where the conservation centre is located. It’s a magical place, and we stayed in this beautiful bed and breakfast run by an elderly gentleman and his son that is very similar to the conservation group’s villa described in the book. Also the zip lining and learning to surf was pretty cool as well (the jellyfish stings — not so much!)
YABookShelf: Jess is interested in the mythology of the golden frog and interviews some of the local people for research for her biology assignment. When exploring environmental and conservation issues, why do you think it’s important for the developed world to understand and use local knowledge in forming solutions?
AS: I think involving the local people and their knowledge is extremely important because they may have a different perspective and valuable insight gleaned from the hundreds or even thousands of years that they’ve been a part of a particular environment. Plus things affect them directly, so it’s absolutely essential to give them not only a voice, but to listen to it.
YABookShelf: As part of the conservation club, many of the characters in Kissing Frogs are, obviously interested in environmentalism and animal conservation, while other characters, like Jess’ popular friends, couldn’t care less about these issues. What do you think sets someone who is interested in these issues apart from others? What can readers of your book do to change the minds of people they meet who are climate change deniers, who exploit resources or endangered species, or to help counteract these problems?
AS: For me personally, it was growing up at the edge of the world in a tiny community surrounded by temperate rain forest. It gives you an appreciation for nature and conservation. I think if people get to experience the natural world and the creatures in it, whether through traveling or education, they come to see the value of these things in themselves, and it goes from being an abstract concept to a tangible thing. I don’t know if people can change the minds of climate change deniers, but I have high hopes for current and future generations. One important thing we can all do is to consume less, whether it’s less meat, fewer clothes, less stuff in general. We have so much and others have so little. Do we really need the latest (INSERT ITEM HERE)? Will it make us happy long-term? (That being said, I know what it’s like to want a pretty pair of shoes). It’s about the choices we make.
YABookShelf: At the end of the novel, the conservation club starts talking about another animal they want to help and a trip they want to take. Should readers who loved Kissing Frogs hope to see the characters again in another book?
AS: I would love that! There are so many species that need our help before they’re gone forever. Juan refers to the orangutans that are going extinct in Indonesia due to habitat loss, among other things. I traveled through there and got to hang out with some of these animals in the wild. It was amazing. They’re just so human; you can see it in their eyes. The rain forest there is being decimated for palm oil plantations (palm oil is in everything — so make sure if you buy products with it, it’s from sustainable sources!). So yes, it would be great to follow up with some of the characters, perhaps when they’re a bit older, and see where they’re at.
Melissa, thank you for your amazingly thoughtful questions and for hosting me on your blog!
YABookShelf: I’m glad you liked them, Alisha. Thanks so much for taking time out of your busy schedule to answer my questions!
Tags:ARCs
UTHOR INTERVIEW: ALISHA SEVIGNY - KISSING FROGS
Hello guys! today we have one of our favourite authors Alisha Sevigny who has written an awesome romantic contemporary novel called Kissing Frogs. So without further ado lets get asking!
Tell us about your novel!
Kissing Frogs is a fun contemporary romance that’s a modern spin of The Frog Prince fairytale. The main character, Jess, finds out she’s failing biology and must travel to Panama with her school’s conservation club to help rescue endangered frogs. While there she encounters someone from her past who knows her secrets and has all sorts of (mis?) adventures amongst the backdrop of sand, surf, and palm trees. Fans of Stephanie Perkins will (I hope!) enjoy the book.
When did you first realise you wanted to be a writer?
I’ve always loved writing but don’t actually give myself permission to be a writer until a few years ago. I worked as a literary agent, which was loads of fun but realized that I had to listen to the voice inside me that said
to believe in myself and go for it. Also a random psychic gave me the go-ahead on my birthday a few years ago and I was like, “Well, if the PSYCHIC said sooo…”
What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?
Hmm. Nothing too interesting. I like to write outside at night if it’s warm out, preferably with Café del Mar playing in the background and a Chianti on my left. More often it’s my four-year-old yelling in the background, and my one-year old making a mess on my left. If you mean style-wise, I notice I qualify things too much. I’ll catch myself writing, “Casey was a bit put out,” or “a little angry,” instead of saying, “Casey was effing pissed.” All part of the polite Canadian thing I guess.
What do you think makes a good story?
I like stories that suck me in and keep me turning the page. I also like exotic locales, adventure, romance and writing that make me giggle out loud. And if I can learn something new, that’s a bonus. All things I hope the reader finds in KF
How many books have you written? Which is your favourite?
KF is my debut novel. I’m currently working on a second book and have a few other ideas whirling around up there.
What authors do you like to read? What book or books have had a strong influence on you or your writing?
I’m a huge Diana Gabaldon fan. I love her writing, her characters and the way she crosses so many genres. She’s probably had the most influence on me. I’m also a big non-fiction gal. I like David Suzuki and environmental and conservation themes he touches on. If he and Carrie Bradshaw had a baby, that would be me.
What’s the earliest memory you have of writing a story?
I think elementary school? I also wrote a lot of hilarious (not intentionally) poetry about love and heartbreak when I was a teenager. I had this epic on-again, off-again relationship, so again, a LOT of material to work with ;)
What is your least favorite part of the writing process?
Sometimes it can be hard to turn off the little editor on my shoulder that occasionally likes to screech, “This sucks, stop writing now!!!” My solution is usually to have another glass of wine so she gets slightly slurry, slings her arm around my neck and is like, “this is GENIUSSS!” Then edit.
(Note – The author doesn’t advocate excessive drinking. Unless you have small children).
Check out Alisha talking about "5 Ways to tell if he's a toad"
Kissing Frogs is a modern YA retelling of The Frog Prince and is available now -
http://amzn.to/1FZP1dU
FOLLOW ALISHA:
https://twitter.com/alisha7e
https://instagram.com/alisha7e/
http://www.alishasevigny.com
Posted by Dark Readers at 5/17/2015 07:38:00 pm
_ CM . . . . Volume XXI Number 18 . . . . January 16, 2015
cover
Kissing Frogs.
Alisha Sevigny.
Halifax, NS: Fierce Ink Press, 2014.
272 pp., trade pbk., EPUB & Kindle, $16.99 (pbk.), $7.99 (EPUB), $4.99 (Kindle).
ISBN 978-1-927746-66-0.
Grades 8 and up / Ages 13 and up.
Review by Susie Wilson.
*** /4
Reviewed from Advance Reading Copy.
excerpt:
I swoop down over the treetops at breathtaking speed. Opening my eyes, I don't take them off the landing area or stop screaming the entire time. When I get close to the end, I pull down on the cable to slow myself and put my feet up, bracing for impact. Hefty helps me brake and before I know it I'm touching solid ground again.
My stomach is in my chest. My heart is in my throat.
"You did it!" Travis grabs me and gives me a hug. "That wasn't so bad, was it?"
It wasn't.
In fact, it's the biggest rush I've ever had.
"Let's do the next one," I look up at him, eager to continue the tour.
He laughs, his eyes sparkling. "Knew you'd love it. This time try to look around and take in the scenery.
We do two more lines, each one steeper and longer than the last. It's exhilarating to soar through the canopy, over streams and trees, the wind rushing up in your face. It really is like flying.
"This is the last one," Travis says as we reach the fourth line. "It goes by the waterfall."
"Can I go first this time?" I ask, feeling brave.
"But of course, Princess" he says, one hand showing the way.
"Cut it out," I say, too euphoric to mind much.
Our other guide, who Travis introduces as Jose, goes first again. He flies down lightning fast until he's just a speck below.
I step up to the final wooden platform. It's scarier knowing Travis won't be waiting on the other side. I hear the waterfall to my right. This time I look down. And down. It's the steepest and longest cable yet.
"I can go first if you want." Travis senses my hesitation.
"No, I'm okay," I say, exhaling deeply.
Arturo hooks me up and steps back, holding the cables tight.
I walk off the edge of the world.
Kissing Frogs, by Alisha Sevigny, is a tale as old as books aimed at teenaged girls: smart girl gets a chance to start over, dumbs herself down and pretties herself up to get in with the 'popular' crowd, realizes the value in being true to herself, and lives happily ever after. In our case, we have Jessica, super-popular secret braniac who is currently in danger of failing biology because she has put her social status above her education. Her teacher, Mr. A, gives her one last chance to pull her grade up: skip her spring break adventure to Florida with her boyfriend and two best friends and accompany him and a group of other students on a conservation trip to Panama to learn about the endangered golden frog. Once on the trip, Jessica discovers an old 'enemy' of hers from her previous school, Travis, has also transferred to this new school. Travis, unfortunately, knows Jessica's secret: that she used to be "Messy Jesse", socially awkward nerd, a person that has been almost completely obliterated in favour of the new, popular Jessica.
Jessica loses a prized ring inherited from her grandmother on one of the first field trips, and once Travis retrieves it from the bottom of a natural pool, he asks for the chance to take Jessica on three 'non-dates' in return, something which she hesitantly agrees to. As the target of bullying from two of the girls on the trip, Jessica struggles to fit in with her new, forced peer group. She makes new friends along the way, goes on some successful and not-so-successful adventures, from zip-lining to learning how to surf to the whole group sneaking in to a resort bar, and comes to terms with the person she truly is versus the persona she created to get in with the popular crowd. In the end, she even makes a daringly stupid rescue of endangered gold frogs that were put at risk by two girls playing a prank on Jessica by hiding them in the resort, which was ablaze as a result of a nearby bush fire.
Kissing Frogs isn't particularly groundbreaking or exciting, but that doesn't make it a bad read. Sevigny initially seems to awkwardly grasp at the tone she wants for the book, making the first chapters sometimes cringe-inducing. Luckily, once she hits her stride, she settles comfortably into a quick, engaging tone. While the plot device of the conservation club trip to Panama is clearly meant to allow for educational exposition about the endangered golden frog, the information itself is included in an organic way that doesn't take the reader out of the story. It is a quick, light read, most definitely aimed at girls who are interested in more reality than fantasy fiction. The educational aspect isn't too overwhelming and definitely isn't something that will put anyone off. The descriptions of the setting, El Valle de Anton, are incredible. Even the most unimaginative person will have no trouble being completely taken in by Sevigny's incredibly detailed passages which not only convey the beauty of the area but the wonder it inspires.
The story, itself, leaves something to be desired, if only because it clings tightly enough to the tropes that no major plot point is unexpected. Jessica's "hottest-guy-in-school boyfriend" hooks up with her best friend basically as soon as Jessica has to back out of the spring break trip. Jessica realizes she is happier not having to hide her studious side and decides she wants to go back to pursuing her dream of attending Berkeley. We also learn that supposed "nerdy" girls can be either great friends or engage in typical "mean girl" bullying. It would have been far more surprising if Travis hadn't ended up wooing Jessica, but, of course, the boy who used to tease "Messy Jesse" only did it because he liked her, and, of course, they ended up happily together in the end. In the end, though, Kissing Frogs is a lighthearted, enjoyable read.
Recommended.
Susie Wilson is a graduate from SLIS at the University of Alberta. She reads, lives and works in Northern British Columbia.
To comment on this title or this review, send mail to cm@umanitoba.ca.
Copyright © the Manitoba Library Association. Reproduction for personal use is permitted only if this copyright notice is maintained. Any other reproduction is prohibited without permission.
Published by
The Manitoba Library Association
ISSN 1201-9364 Hosted by the University of Manitoba.
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