Spotlight on Micol Ostow

Micol Ostow is the fabulous author of many books, including 30 Guys in 30 Days, Popular Vote, and GoldenGirl:  A Bradford Novel.  In addition to being a wonderful author, she is incredibly sweet and I am so honored to put the spotlight on her in my very first author interview!!!  

How did you come up with the idea for the Bradford Novels?

MO:  My publishers and I really wanted to do something that made us of all of the various online resources that permeate teens' lives daily.  Bradford seemed like the perfect response to that.

GoldenGirl is full of drama, which is always fun.  Which of the characters from GoldenGirl was the most fun to write?

MO:  They are ALL fun in their own way, but I really enjoy writing Paige because she is so nasty and uncensored--she just says whatever she is thinking.  It's cathartic, in a way, since most of us are a little more guarded (and tactful!).

Are any of the characters modeled after people you knew in high school?

MO:  Thankfully, no.  My friends were much more low-key.  And we didn't have the Internet when I was in high school (!), so privacy had different implications.  Although Jeremy's whole emo-artsy vibe is probably taken from my idea of the perfect guy.

Any hints on what readers can expect from upcoming Bradford Novels?

MO:  Well, I won't spoil you, but there is always lots of drama brewing.  Stay tuned...

What do you think is the most difficult part of the writing process?

MO:  ALL OF IT.  

Seriously, it's a difficult process.  I find outlining to be stressful, but invaluable.  And revisions can be mind-boggling, as well.  And the whole PR-marketing thing is just a constant machine.

I suppose the more succinct way of saying it would be that the one aspect that I find somewhat pleasing and that seems to come naturally is getting that first draft down.  That's the part I like.

What is a typical day in the life of Micol Ostow like?

MO:  EXTREMELY BORING, I promise you that.  No one is ever going to make a competitive reality show about writers.  Here's an approximate:

7:30:  alarm goes off.  I ignore it.

8:30:  get up

8:35:  change clothes, feed dog, think about going to the gym

9-12:00: coffee, coffee, coffee, email, errands, dishes (maybe), coffee, coffee, coffee, email, Facebook, Twitter, Google Reader, Television Without Pity, Go Fug Yourself, coffee, email, think about going to the gym

12-6:00:  type, type, type, procrastinate on the internet, email, type, procrastinate, coffee coffee coffee. think about lunch; decide I am too lazy to go out and pick something up, drink more coffee instead.

6:00:  finally go to the gym, pick something up to eat

8-10:00:  dinner, TV, catch up with the fiance, play with the dog.  Sometimes we go out and have lives with friends and things like that.

10-12:00:  either pass out watching reruns of REAL HOUSEWIVES OF OC, or actually get myself washed up and into bed to read for a bit

lather, rinse, repeat

Other than reading or writing, what do you do for fun?

MO:  You saw my schedule:  not much!

I guess the good news is that I managed to parlay my hobby into a career.  And being in NYC, I get to go out and see lots of author friends read and things like that.  But as far as non-book stuff goes, I love movies, and I do usually need to get in some kind of physical activity daily or else I get crabby.  A perfect night is probably dinner and some drinks with my good friends.  I'm pretty low-maintenance that way.  But I spend so much time on my own and at home that I do like the occasional party, too.

I'm also a sucker for spa treatments--one of my favorite ways to unwind after a manuscript goes in is with a massage, facial, etc...

What are you currently reading?

MO:  I usually have a few books going at once.  Right now I'm flipping back and forth between WHEREVER NINA LIES by Lynn Weingarten and THE WHITE DARKNESS by Catherine 

McCaughrean, both of which are very very very good.  READ THEM!

A very special thanks goes to Micol!  It's not too late to join in the fun on her Bradford Blog Bash which ends on Friday with a special grand finale.  See ya there!

*The cute pic of Micol is courtesy of her website.