Happy Monday, book nerds! We’re at the start of the second week of Ah-MAY-zing Reads and we’ll be having Huntley Fitzpatrick for another slam book interview. What I Thought Was True was released a few weeks ago but if you have yet to pick it up or grab a copy, you can learn more about the book and the author behind it today. This has got to be my favourite interview thus far so I’m extremely excited to share it with y’all!
The Author
Writer loves
- Celebrity crush – Very hard to narrow down. I have six kids, five of which are girls, and we actually discuss this and argue all the time. “He’s mine.” “I saw him first.” It’s very mature. Right now, I’d have to admit to complete fondness for Zac Efron. His SNL appearances are brilliant—as are his lovely eyes. And he has that off-handed charm.
- Movie that made you cry – I always cry during BENJAMIN BUTTON, at the end, where he reads the letter to his daughter: the end goes like this: “I hope you live a life you’re proud of. If you find that you’re not, I hope you have the strength to start all over again.” Tearing up right now.
- Contemporary read – We Were Liars, by E. Lockhart. THAT book made me cry. Brilliant, beautiful, heartbreaking, and real.
Fill in the blanks
- One writing quirk of mine would be… This amazing blogger friend of mine sent me a mug called ‘The chicken mug’—it looks like a porcelain chicken. She told me it would ward off writer’s block and general stress. I am unable to start typing on the computer without the chicken mug nearby, filled with coffee or tea or water. When I run out of words, I stare at the mug and they always come to me.
- The coolest/funniest experience I’ve ever had with a reader was… a letter I got from a boy, after my first book was published. I didn’t expect to be read by boys, back then, (or anyone, really, beyond my immediate family). He wrote that he’d read MY LIFE NEXT DOOR, because he’d had a bad break-up, and wanted to learn how to be a better boyfriend, and the local librarian handed him my book and said “Study Jase.”
The Book
What I Thought Was True is set in summertime. Why do you think summer romances are so popular when it comes to YA novels?
So many reasons… Summer is the space between—and so is YA—between childhood and being a grown up, one school year and another, sometimes, if you travel, one place and another—a time of both memory and possibility. One summer can change everything about who you are and who you want to be.
Gwen sounds like a very interesting protagonist, dealing and figuring out a lot of stuff. What can you say about her struggles and her character development through out the story?
Gwen is a character I’m really fond of. She’s such a mix of hope and fear, bravery and insecurity. She has a sarcastic inner voice, but she’s all heart and optimism at her core. She comes from a background of people who think what has been is what will always be, and she’s struggling to believe that isn’t true. That she can begin again, with herself and the boy she loved and lost.
We want to know more about Cass, Gwen’s love interest! Could you describe him for us?
Cass was a pure pleasure to write. He’s both blunt and bold and also cautious. His hobby is drawing maps because he likes to imagine where the story will go. He’s loyal to people—his friend Spence, who can be a bit of a jerk; his family, even though they are disappointed in him; Gwen, whom he remembers from childhood and sees clearly, even though she puts up fronts. And Gwen’s mother always refers to him as “the polite one with the abs.”
Complexities, when it comes to love and families, seem to be very prominent in What I Thought Was True. How could you relate those complexities in your novel to those in real life?
I once heard a description of Noah’s Ark that went like this “We could never stand the struggle within if it weren’t for the storm without.” Families are like that, for me, full of complications and drama and conflict, but also full of peace, complete understanding, and acceptance. They are impossible, sometimes, no matter how wonderful, but they are also our safest place.
Dedication
Infinite thanks to Huntley for that wonderful interview! Cannot wait to read your ah-may-zing novel and meet Gwen and Cass! Book nerds, don’t forget to add What I Thought Was True to your to-read shelves! Looking to follow Huntley? Check out her website, Twitter, Facebook and Goodreads!
Wanna win WHAT I THOUGHT WAS TRUE? Enter the giveaway below:
51 Responses
I am LOVING Ah-MAY-xing Reads 2014! Thank you for sharing this awesome interview with us :) I want to read What I Thought Was True because I LOVE YA contemporary romance books, they make me so happy.
I really want to read What I Thought Was True because of the simple reason that it was written by THE HUNTLEY FITZPATRICK. I’d read anything written by her. <3
My only response: *grabby hands*
OMG she loved We Were Liars!!! I swear my excitement for that book just keeps increasing. And that story about the letter she got from a boy is just <333
I'm looking forward to reading What I Thought Was True because I haven't read any book from the author yet, and I've been told My Life Next Door had showcased the good relationships between the family. I want to see that element in this one too!
OMG BENJAMIN BUTTONS MADE ME CRY TOO :-(((((( THAT MOVIE IS JUST SO.…*SOBS*
Really awesome interview! I read her first book last year and yeah it was cute especially the George *squishes* I hope I could read her new book soon <3
I absolutely loved My Life Next Door so I can’t wait to read What I Thought Was True!
I really want to read “What I Thought Was True” because I LOVED Huntley’s first book “My Life Next Door”. I want to read all her books! :-)
Really enjoyed this interview! Great questions which made looking behind the scenes a pleasure. Thanks for sharing!
I was pleasantly surprised by how much I loved My Life Next Door & I’m very much anticipating anything Ms. Fitzpatrick puts out.
I love her characters they are real. I’ve enjoyed do much her first book that I’m sure I’m going to enjoy this one.
One of my favorite of all time authors! If you haven’t read her – run don’t walk and grab her books. She may only have a couple but that are a great couple.
I was excited for What I Thought Was True because I LOVED My Life Next Door! Huntley is now one of my favorite writers, her style just speaks to my heart. And now I can wait to go back with Tim’s story!
I’ve already read and reviewed this book. Huntley absolutely blew me away with My Life Next Door and I couldn’t help but fall for Gwen and Cass the dame way I did with Jase and Samantha.
Well, what I’m really excited about reading this novel is the fact that I’ve never read anything about surfers. So there’s that big secret! Plus, I’m trying to invest a lot on authors that are pretty new but are starting to gain a lot of attention! Good job Huntley!
The fact that a boy loved this book made me more excited about this one. It must have been really good! Thanks for this giveaway! :D
Oh, I love this interview so much! Definitely agree with Zac Efron for celebrity crush 100% and I love the story about the letter from the boy! That is so sweet and adorable!! I haven’t even read My Life Next Door yet but since it’s summer soon, I think I might marathon these two books. What I Thought Was True sounds fantastic and I’ve been hearing a lot about Gwen who I think sounds like such a strong character!
This is a fantastic interview! I love her answer about summer and YA being that middle state in life; that’s way deeper than I ever thought about.
I just finished reading My Life Next Door and I’m really looking forward to reading more of her works!
I actually have already read it and I loved it so much I need to have a signed copy, and with need I mean a PHYSICAL NEED! It was the best summer read ever and now I’m hopelessly in love with Cass and I want him so badly! *_*
I’ve heard a lot of great stuff about Huntley Fitzpatrick’s My Life Next Door which is why I’m really excited about What I Thought Was True.
I am dying to read What I Thought was True because I read My Life Next Door around this time last year and still think about it to this day. It was probably one of my favourite books of 2013! I love Huntley’s writing and the family dynamic is done so well. Thinking about her books just makes me happy!
This sounds like a promising, awesome summer romance. I love the cover. I am so stoked!
Because I read My Life Next Door and I loved it. And since What I Thought Was True is written by the same author, I’m definitely looking forward to reading it <3
Thank you!
I’ve had this on my TBR list since I saw the awesome cover.
Really excited to read this book because I seriously loved My Life Next Door and I’m pretty sure that I’ll love this one as well!! Hopefully even more :-) Miss Fitzpatrick’s way of writing is really nice esp the romantic scenes. Giddy feelssss <3
I really enjoyed My Life Next Door! I’m looking forward to reading more from her! I love summer romances!
Because I am such a huge fan of Huntley’s. I would most likely read her grocery list if she let me. The plot and the cover are beautiful. Just everything about it makes me excited. Thank you for the chance.
I really, really love this interview! Huntley was such a sweetheart when I met her (the year MLND released), and I’m very much looking forward to reading What I Thought Was True. Glad I was able to see this interview before that :D
huntley fitzpatrick’s books are awesome and it’s so riveting that i can’t get my hands of the book without finishing it!
I’m a sucker for summer romance or anything set during summer so definitely I’m looking forward to how the romance would play out in this novel.
I just loved, LOVED My Life Next Door! SO excited to read this one because I adore books like this!
I’m excited to read this because I love the cover and the title of the book. It has got high ratings, I must read it.
I want to read this because the author is fantastic! I love all her books, so i know i’ll love this one too
The better question is, why aren’t I excited for WITWT? I’ve had the pleasure of getting to know Huntley well and she’s lovely, plus I loved My Life Next Door.
I’m excited because I read My Life Next Door by her and I absolutely loved it.
I absolutely adored her first novel. It was one of my favorites of the year! I’m so very eager to read her next of course!
I’m so excited to read this book because oh my it was written by such a great author that just simply blows my mind on her creative writing and how everything is so free flowing. Also, the title itself and book cover is very intriguing and more on eye catching! It’s great! I love it!
I heard awesome things about books from Huntley Fitzpatrick! :)
Looking forward to read this book! :)
Thanks for the chance!
Sounds interesting
I honestly haven’t read MY LIFE NEXT DOOR but I’ve been hearing nothing but praises for that book so both are on my wishlist!
Huntley, I love Zac Efron too! From what I can tell, he’s a nice, well-rounded guy. And of course, let’s not forget those abs. I’d like to see if I’d end up liking What I Thought Was True as I did The Summer I Turned Pretty (another novel set in the summer).
I’m super excited to read this book because I’ve heard nothing but amazing things about My Life Next Door, so I’m really interested in reading a book by Huntley Fitzpatrick!
I loved MY LIFE NEXT DOOR and I can’t wait to read this book. I enjoy summertime romances set for a novel, definitely look forward to this book.
I totally adored Fitzpatrick’s My Life Next Door, so I put her on my authors to look at for, so it would be great if I win this copy. (And thanks for this giveaway!)
Ooops, to look out for*
TBH I haven’t read her first book, but I’ve heard a lot of good things about it. Anyhow, Gwen seems to have a lot going on in her life, and I’m curious to know more about her and Cass! Plus I enjoy reading about family issues.. I think this is a really beautiful interview, Huntley sounds like a very nice person :) I love the quote she mentioned at the end. Thanks for sharing!
YES! So excited to read this! Thank you for sharing x
I’d like to read this book because it sounds interesting, and I have heard great things about Huntley Fitzpatrick’s books.
This book looks amazing! Thank you so much for this giveaway!! :)
I’m pretty excited to read this because I think that the ending (based on the title) would be a breakup or something. And I’m into those kinds of endings haha
I love, love, love MY LIFE NEXT DOOR! I think her story about “study Jase” was very cute and absolutely true. He’s my forever book boyfriend. I also read WHAT I THOUGHT WAS TRUE. I also enjoyed it, but not as much as MLND. One of my friends likes Cass more than Jase. I will admit that Cass was rather smooth, but NO ONE is better than Jase. Four comes in as a close second though …