MARLENE PEREZ mini INTERVIEW!

For my first Literary Local Author spotlight, I have picked Marlene Perez who lives in Orange County, CA.

I nicely asked and received answers to two questions!

1. Your website biography mentions an elderly Chihuahua. Does your puppy participate in your writing in any way?

We go on walks and I sometimes get my best ideas away from my desk, so he contributes by getting me out of the house.

2. Your characters in the Dead series are all name after flowers (Daisy, Rose, Poppy). How did you name them?

I once read that the actor Poppy Montgomery comes from a family where the girls are all named after flowers and thought that would be a fabulous idea for a family of mostly women. Rose is the classic beauty, Poppy is the more flamboyant beauty, and Daisy is the natural kind of beauty. So for me, the characters match their floral counterparts.

I am just in love with the Dead Is series and there are 2 more book to come!

Look for new books in the DEAD IS series! DEAD IS JUST A RUMOR will be out in the fall of 2010 and DEAD IS NOT AN OPTION will be out in the spring of 2011.

You can also check out Marlene's Amazon page here.

Be sure to check out her latest release:

The Comeback

Sophie Donnelly is one half of the most popular and powerful couple in school, until new girl Angie Vogel shows up and compromises everything. Angie steals Sophie's starring role in the school play, and, worse, her super-popular boyfriend. Sophie has been quickly dispatched to social Siberia, but not for long--she'll do anything it takes to make a triumphant comeback.

Reading level: Young Adult
Mass Market Paperback: 208 pages
Publisher: Point (August 1, 2009)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0545088070
ISBN-13: 978-0545088077

I just ordered my copy!

Here is some background information from her web site:

I grew up in Story City, Iowa, which I think has to mean something. I am the youngest of twelve children, which means that I’m very familiar with the survival-of-the-fittest theory.
I now live in Southern California with my family, a psychotic cat, an elderly Chihuahua, and an albino corn snake. The corn snake and I have agreed to keep our distance.

Favorites
My favorite song in the entire world is either “We Close Our Eyes” by Oingo Boingo or “At Last” by Etta James, depending on what day of the week it is. I also like blues, anything from the ’80s, punk, emo, and cheesy ’70s disco.

I watch (too much) t.v. My favorites include Heroes, Dexter, Californication, Gossip Girls, Ugly Betty, Grey’s Anatomy, Men in Trees, Moonlight, Friday Night Lights, Reaper, Pushing Daisies...well, you get the idea. Thank goodness for dvrs. Old favorites include Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel, My So-Called Life, Freaks and Geeks, Roswell, and Veronica Mars.
My favorite movies include Grease, Sixteen Candles, The Princess Bride, Galaxy Quest, Raising Arizona, The Opposite of Sex, and Brick.

My favorite books (this could take all day!) include fairy tales, Anne of Green Gables, The Little Princess, Pride and Prejudice, I Capture the Castle, The Hobbit, Lord of the Rings, Forever, and Down a Dark Hall.

You can get two more chance to win my brand new copy of DEAD IS THE NEW BLACK by becoming a fan on Marlene's facebook page by clicking here. Just be sure to post a comment to let me know!