Welcome to APOOO, Paula!

In 140 words or less, tell us a little about you.–Paula Chase-Hyman doesn’t mind being known as a Jane of all trades, Queen of none. But a single theme has followed throughout her career in communications—keeping her finger on the pulse of teen culture. From starting her own mentoring group at Annapolis Senior High School in ‘94 to coaching her Green Hornet cheerleaders to Grand Champion (ahem, twice), Chase-Hyman refuses to squash her inner teen diva. Luckily, her long memory for all things young led to a career writing young adult novels.

In 140 words or less, tell readers why your latest young adult book would make a great addition to our personal library. –If your readers like their reality peppered with a dose of wish-fulfillment, my books are for them. The last book in the series deals with how homophobia impacts the clique. It’s the final monkey wrench in a friendship that’s been tested as the friends mature. If the readers have read the other four books, this one truly wraps things up. If they haven’t, I wouldn’t start here, with Flipping The Script because it’s definitely written as and meant as a finale.

When you write, do you develop the plot or the characters first?   Why? –I’m totally character-driven. Oddly enough, plotting is tough for me. Whenever I attempt to plot out a book things go horribly awry. I’m much better at seeing a character in my head and thinking – Okay what should I throw in their path. And then I let their personality and circumstances dictate how they’ll handle it. Along the way, my goal is for the character to mature or change, in some way. But nine times out of 10 I have no idea what’s going to happen to them until it does.

What’s the main message you want readers to take away from Flipping the Script?– I started to answer this, but the truth is, I never write these books with any message in mind. I write to entertain readers. I write so they can live vicariously through my characters and see how someone else might handle issues they themselves are or could possibly face. I want them to walk away with a better understanding of their own views based on how they feel about what the characters have experienced.

Autumn is here, when you think of this season, what’s one memory that stands out?– Going to college in the Shenandoah Valley. I went to James Madison University and it’s absolutely beautiful this time of year. There’s nothing more centering than being in the mountains and the school was surrounded by them. Whenever fall hits I long to go back and just be among the scenery of the orange, yellow and red leaves.

Complete this sentence, the best way to spend a beautiful, fall day is curled up with a book in a quiet house.

You have to be escorted to work by a mime, a marching band, or a color commentator… which would you prefer and why?–Ooh definitely the marching band. I love all types of music. So if I had a band who basically created my theme music for the day that would be incredibly cool.

If you could be a contestant on any game show, past or present, which show would you pick? Why?–What was the name of the old-school show where they had the “whammy’s?” The little creatures that took your money if you landed on them. I’d be on that show. It requires no skill whatsoever, just you hitting a button and hoping to land on a spot that gave you money and more spins. I love Jeopardy but let’s face it, when I play at home there’s always two or three categories I know NO answers to.  I’d get creamed.

If you were to choose any fictitious world in any piece of literature, which place or book would you live in and why? It’s funny. Two weekends ago, my family and I went to the Renaissance Festival. It was so much fun and I love the people that get really into and dress in costume. I decided then that I’d like to be nobility in medieval times. Ken Follett’s World Without End covers this period. And he spares no punches. He shows the brutality of that time as much as the excess. So I’m not glorifying it. Still, I think it would be sort of interesting to experience life without all of our modern day luxuries. I’m pretty certain that’s a sign of me getting older – wanting “easier” times.

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