BLOG TOUR: Interview with Jen Blom, author of POSSUM SUMMER

(My note: Jen Blom was one of the first writers I met on the blogosphere, and it's been three years since we decided to band together and create a critique group with several other wonderful writers. Since then, I've watched her write, query, get a fantastic agent, go through the painful process of submissions which ended inevitably perfectly for her, listened to her as she went through the process of edits and now, waiting with baited breath for her Middle Grade Novel POSSUM SUMMER to come out.

Jen is an amazing writer, with more stories in her than just about anyone I know. I've had the privilege of reading this one, and several others that will be published in the coming years, and am just so excited to have her here on this blog. I'm also honored to host her main character, P, for a few interesting questions as well. So, off we go...)

Welcome to the POSSUMS ARE AWESOME blog tour for the middle-grade book, POSSUM SUMMER, coming out in March! (Have you preordered yet?)

Today I'm taking over Heidi's blog today to post a couple awesome questions she asked me, and in return, P asked her a couple! And you won't believe what happened next...but you have to wait until the end of this little interview for that!

First off, about the book:

a lonely kid.

an orphaned baby possum.

a dad that says no way.

how do you keep that kind of secret?

and what happens when you’re found out?

So! On we go with the Thrilling Three questions!

HW: Jen, do you know the endings of your stories before you write them?

JKB: Sometimes. With P, I thought I did, but we actually cut the entire last chapter during copy-edits, which thankfully made the book just that much stronger! My editor is amazing for even considering it, but we both agreed it was the best thing to do and I'll love her forever for it.

HW: What makes you so attached to possums?

JKB: I had a possum when I was P's age. (And many other animals, but that's a story for another day.) And the first chapter was exactly the sequence of events that brought me my little possum friend - except there were TWO dogs that wouldn't listen to me, not just one!

HW: What surprised you most about the story as you wrote or revised it?

JKB: Just how much stronger it could be after continuous revisions. When I first got my edit letter, I almost had a heart attack! But my lovely editor was right on with every question she asked, and I could not believe I could cut so many words and still have a story! It was an excellent lesson to learn!

Princess: MY TURN!

JKB: Shuddap kid. I'm having an interview here!

P: No, I'm innerviewing this lady right now! Hi, Miss Heidi! First question *JKB IS PUZZLED* is What's your favrite food?

HW: Well, it's Mexican! Fish tacos, pulled pork burritoes, rice and black beans, tamales ... is it any wonder I set all my books in Texas?

P: You like fish tacos? Gross! What's your favrite activities? *JKB reaches for the spellcheck* *P bats her away* Stop it! You're not the boss of me! *JKB tries to chill*

HW: Reading. And skiing, but I don't get to do that nearly as often as I'd like.

P: I like reading too! But my teacher says I got problems with my silent consonants, which is why I'm doing this. NEXT: What's yer most inneresting body part about yourself?

HW: I have pretty big green eyes when I smile.

P: Ok! You smile great, I've just seen your picture! I've looked through all the Oklahoma animals I have a list of, and I borowed Jen's ency-ensyc-big information book and I've picked who you'd be as an Oklahoma animal and I drawed you! I hope you like it!

P: You're just like a deer! Get it? You've got big eyes, and Jen said you broke your foot recent, and I --

JKB: -- thanks so much for letting me hang out with you at your lovely blog, Heidi! *muscles P into submission* I'll be going now!

Jen K. Blom writes about animals, the land, and kids, not necessarily in that order. Her debut, POSSUM SUMMER, is available March 2011. Just the thing to give to a kid to start their summer of reading off right! (Available from your local indie, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Borders, or Book Depository!)