Okay, so everyone asks me what the characters look like and would like to know what actor would be a good representation of them. I’m going to take them one at a time as I come across people that I think would work.
So…for Nathan…I can see Alex Pettyfer or possibly Corey Sevier (but only in his blondish stage).
What do you guys think? I’d love recommendations too since I’m not nearly as up on hottie teen heartthrobs as I once was (*sigh* I feel old).
Okay! Here are the answers back from Taylor, the girl who’s “Mina” on the cover of Sucks to Be Me! Thanks to everyone who asked questions!
So, what’s it like to see your face on a bookcover?
Well, I guess the word to describe it would be “interesting”, haha. It’s a little bizarre to walk into Borders or Barnes & Noble and see my face on one of the shelves, but cool at the same time.
In what ways are you most like and not like Mina?
We are both very sarcastic, but Mina is a lot tougher than I am! If a girl like Raven came up to me and told her to stay away from someone, I would stay away from that person, haha. I’m not nearly as brave or outgoing as Mina. She’s a lot better at talking to people than I am. I’m a bit awkward in real life. :0
Can you tell us a little about yourself?
Sure! I guess my favorite thing to do is draw. I draw everywhere, all the time, even on my homework… which I doubt my teachers appreciate. I like normal stuff, like listening to music and hanging out with my friends. Other than that though, I’m kind of a hardcore nerd, haha. I read comics and I love science fiction and fantasy. Nerds are awesome, though!
How did you get the job of being the Sucks to Be Me cover model?
Well, the art director saw my picture and thought that I looked like Mina, and that was pretty much it!
Are you on any other book covers?
Nope! I’m not a professional model by any means. I’ve never really modeled for anything else; this was my fifteen minutes of fame, haha.
What did you think of the book?
I really liked it! I loved the characters (especially George… he was my favorite), and I loved how the vampires in the book are just normal people, as opposed to stereotypical freaky gothic bloodsuckers. I also loved the concept of a “blood bar”, where vampires just hang out and dance. The fact that people can choose whether they want to become a vampire or not is cool too. I loved everything, haha! I definitely think of vampires in a different way now. I can’t wait for the next book to come out!
Have you ever had someone say to you “you look a lot like the girl on the cover of this book” and not know its you? (sorry really want an answer to that one)
Actually, that’s never happened to me before! That would be kind of funny though.
If there were a movie of the book made, would you want to play Mina?
It would be awesome if the book were made into a movie, but no, I would not like to play Mina. I’m horrible at acting, so hopefully they would hire someone with a lot more skill than me!
What do you want to do when you grow up?
Wow… well, I’m not really sure. I really like science, and I hope that I can become some sort of biologist in the future. But I also love art, so I was hoping to combine the two into some crazy hybrid art/biology job. That would be very cool.
Thanks Taylor! And thanks for “being” Mina!
Okay, I gave in and finally set up a Twitter account. I have to admit I don’t really get it. But I did it. You know, the peer pressure and all.
If you are so inclined, you can follow me at http://twitter.com/kimberlyrpauley
Though honestly I’m on Facebook more. 
So…ever wonder who that girl is on the cover of Sucks to Be Me? Well, her name is Taylor. And she just got done with the photoshoot for book #2! (yay!) I thought it would be a fun time to interview her. I’ve got some questions, but how about you? Do you have anything you’d like to ask her? Post your questions here or email them to me directly!
This is totally unrelated to anything at all, but I have a friend (who is just the funniest guy you ever met…if Hardy ever decides to write a book, it’d be the funniest thing ever) who is in a competition and right now he’s coming in second with votes. If you are so inclined, please vote for Hardy. Note: you have to put in an email address and actually confirm the entry, though I understand that they will not spam you.
Thanks if you do!
Some new questions in that I thought would be fun to answer (and besides, I need a little break from writing…):
Do you have a Playlist for Sucks To Be Me?
No, not exactly. I mostly just either listened on random to my own collection (about 10,000 songs and counting) or to Pandora. There were some scenes that I listened to specific stuff (like Morcheeba when they were playing Truth & Dare in the pool). I like almost all kinds of music, except for whiny country (stuff like There’s a Tear in My Beer).
Have you Ever read the Mortal Instruments Books by Cassandra Clare?
Nope, but I’ve heard really great things about them and they look really, really interesting. I hope to read them someday.
Have you Ever Been To a Pow-wow?
You know, I’m not sure. I kind of vaguely think I might have when I was younger. But I’m not sure. On a related note, my family has some Arapaho blood. Though I’m mostly Chinese (50%).
Do you thinks These Questions are Random.
Nah. 
I was doing a bit of surfing around today and found a nice new review of Sucks to Be Me at Deep Thoughts. Always gives your day a boost to find a nice review out and about.
In writing-ish news, I’m nearly halfway through the sequel. I just modified the outline again since I thought of some cool new bits while I was writing up a synopsis for my editor. I had to write one up because the paperback version of Sucks to Be Me is going to come out later this year and they are going to include some kind of sneak preview of the sequel in the back of the book. So I’ve sent her a synopsis as well as some snippets (first chapter, a sample list, etc.). Not sure yet what will wind up in the paperback, but I’m looking forward to it!
In completely unrelated news, I’ve watched the first 3 parts of Lost in Austen (it’s a 4 parter, so only one more to go). It’s pretty good! If you are a Pride & Prejudice fan, you should check it out. It’s about a modern day London woman who kind of trades places with Elizabeth Bennett into the world of P&P and winds up mucking the story up (more or less).
Okay, so you know how Mina always nicknames people in the book(s)? Like calling Ms. Riley “Grandma Wolfington” or G.W.? Well, I need help choosing a nickname for a character. He’s a vampire historian and really ancient, though his outward appearance is probably late 50-ish. But he has an air about him like he’s really ancient. He’s very nosy (that’s his job). His name is Dr. Jonas. Here are some possible nicknames for him from Mina (tell me in a comment which you like or you can suggest another):
Dr. Mummy
Dr. Dusty
Dr. Musty
Dr. Snoopsalot
Dr. Ancient
Dr. Jo-nosey or Dr. Jo-nosy (suggested below; I looked it up and apparently, it can be spelled either way)
Dr. Millenium (suggested below)
Ok, so this is like the coolest thing ever, no? A fan (named Serina, kinda like in the book, but spelled differently) actually got a tattoo of the awesome blue bat from the book! Both versions, actually — happy bat and angry bat. Just take a look (this is an in-progress photo, without all the shading done, but you can definitely tell what it is going to look like!!):
Angry Bat
Happy Bat
She’s w-a-y braver than me. I’m not good with needles! Though if I got a tattoo, it would totally be Happy Bat! Thanks again to Emi Tanji for designing such an awesome batty!
A comment got me thinking about how people always pick out different things than I think they will for their fav part of the book (or what they think is the funniest or most romantic, etc.). So I’m asking you — please, post a comment and tell me what *you’re* favorite part of the book is. And what did you think was funniest? Or most whatever.
WARNING: if you haven’t read the book yet, don’t read the comments!!!
And don’t forget to enter this month’s contest to win either a STBM t-shirt or a signed copy!
I Love Your Blog Award
Diana was nice enough to nominate me for an I Love Your Blog Award (wasn’t that awesome of her??). The rules are:
1. Add the logo into your blog.
2. Add the link of the person who awarded you.
3. Nominate at least 7 other blogs. (Feel free to do more!)
4. Add those links to your blog.
5. And leave a message to your nominees that you have awarded them in their blog!
So here’s the really hard part — 7 blogs that I love. How can I just pick 7?? First I’ll say right off the bat that I really like the other blogs that Diana picked, but since she’s already picked them, I’m going to pick different ones. Of course, that doesn’t really help much, since there are so many AWESOME blogs out there. So I’m going to try doing this like a writing exercise and just put down the first ones that come to me, rather than over-analyzing it too much. If I do that, I’ll never finish the list!
Alan Gratz’s blog, (which he shares with his wife) because he always makes me laugh. Plus, what other guy do you know actually sews his own doll clothes as part of a paen to Project Runway???
The Swivet. Because Colleen cracks me up, listens to great music, and is, in her own words, an unrepentent nerd. She’s now an agent, though she worked on the publishing side before (when I first began reading her blog she still was — though I came across her blog while being a Google-freak looking for mentions of my book…she happened to like the title when it came across in Publisher’s Marketplace. I don’t know if she’s ever actually read my book or liked it beyond the title, but I like her. And if my agent wasn’t nice, I’d so be querying Colleen.)
Bookavore. She’s Laurie Halse Anderson’s daughter, but that’s not why I like her blog. And she liked my book, but that’s also not why I like her blog. I like it ’cause it’s full of awesomeness and is interesting and pertinent and about books. Enough said.
Lara M. Zeises LiveJournal. Mostly because every time I stop by to check it out, I wind up staying for a while.
Brent Hartinger’s Blog AKA Brent’s Brain. Brent also makes me laugh. He’s smart, he’s funny, he’s gay, and he’s a heckuva guy.
Cynsations – because in any list of blogs, you have to include at least one of Cynthia’s (there’re a few) because she is so awesome. And I learn something every time I visit her blog.
Notes from the Slush Pile. Another learning experience…I learn something new about children’s publishing every time I read this one. Smart blog with a bit of a wry sense of humor at times.
Okay…I made it to seven! Actually, I suppose I should say, Hey, I kept it to seven!
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