BooksChatter: ℚ♫ How To Keep Rolling After a Fall

Today we have the pleasure of meeting up with author Karole Cozzo to talk about How To Keep Rolling After a Fall (2 August 2016, Swoon Reads, 273 pages), a Contemporary Young Adult novel

"Cozzo has created a well-written YA novel featuring a main character with a disability. ... Pax and Nikki’s love story is natural and gradual and feels authentic to the teen experience. Recommended for readers who appreciate tales filled with redemption and forgiveness and positive portrayals of teens and young adults with disabilities." —School Library Journal

"I have read a lot of good books lately and I am not easy to please, but this book was simply fantastic. If you want a cute, emotional, romantic read with some great character development, you’ve found it." —Kookie Krysp Reads

Author Q&A | Synopsis | Teaser | About the Author | Giveaway & Tour Stops

A very warm welcome to Karole Cozzo; thank you for joining us on BooksChatter!

We like to begin with some music, and today Karole has shared with us her music playlist for How To Keep Rolling After a Fall - enjoy!

What was the inspiration for How To Keep Rolling After a Fall?

"Working as a school psychologist and as the mom of a young girl, I’d been giving a lot of thought to the whole “mean girl” culture and the sometimes traumatic impact of cyberbullying on the lives of others. It’s easy to examine the topic through a very narrow lens, but in truth, girl friendships are so complicated and influenced by so many factors. I wanted to examine the topic honestly, and hopefully reach readers and inspire some reflection and discussion in a non-preachy manner."

How much of yourself is reflected in this book, and how?

"As I noted above, I definitely believe my work as a school psychologist influenced and impacted my examination of the topics in this book and the characters included. And I always include random tidbits from my real life in my books. For example, Nikki references being a hot dog for Halloween when she was young. (I was totally a hot dog in fourth grade.)"

The first thing that draws me to a book is its cover. Can you tell us about your cover for How To Keep Rolling After a Fall - why you chose that concept and who the artist is.

"One of the coolest things about publishing a book through Swoon Reads is that members of the online community have a say in cover selection. The cover artists come up with four or five cover concepts, and then members of the community can vote for their favourites and comment on what’s working for them and what’s not.

I honestly loved all the cover concepts for this book and it was tough picking a favourite. But ultimately, I felt that the cover selected conveyed the most about the story and I loved some of the graphic elements, like the stars on the cover that sort of resemble a wheel in motion. "

Why should we read How To Keep Rolling After a Fall and what sets it apart from the rest? What makes your book unique?

"I think Pax is really special. I always tell people it never felt like I created his character; rather, his character just was and all I did was type his words and tell his story. He felt very authentic to me from the get-go, and I really, really hope he feels that way to readers, too. Pax is so much more than a token character in a wheelchair, and I feel confident readers will sense that right away.

Also, I think my book is fairly unique in that the story is told from the “mean girl’s” POV rather than the “victim/survivor’s.” I think in YA, often times, the mean girl characters are reduced to two-dimensional figures, and I think Nikki is an exception to that. She gives readers a chance to really consider why people make less-than-stellar decisions during adolescence and, I hope, some faith that people really can change. "

Can you tell us something quirky about How To Keep Rolling After a Fall, its story and characters?

"One of the scenes in this book takes place at a pig race. Yes, a pig race. It’s a real thing. :-) Tiny pigs wear numbered vests and race around the “track” and the winner gets the Oreos at the end. It may not sound romantic, but trust me, it is."

Who would you recommend How To Keep Rolling After a Fall to and what should readers be aware of (any warnings or disclaimers)?

"I truly believe that all teen girls, regardless of their place in the social framework of their schools, could benefit from reading this book and thinking about girl friendships. I also think it’s a good read for parents of teenagers and a gateway for further discussion about the implications and dangers of being part of the online community. However, if you’re someone who has had a negative experience with online or face-to-face bullying, some parts of this book could be challenging to read."

If you could / wished to turn How To Keep Rolling After a Fall into a movie, who would be your dream team?

"I always have the hardest time “casting” my female protagonists because in my mind; their faces tend to remain a blank slate. It’s been that way for every book! But Sabrina Carpenter would make a great Sam (Nikki’s best friend). And Pax? He was always a young Taylor Kitsch in my head. And it would need to be filmed in Ocean City, New Jersey, the beach town that was the inspiration for the setting."

What do you like to write and read about? Do you stick to a particular genre or do you like to explore different ones?

"It’s all about the romance for me. I don’t think I’d have the inherent motivation to complete a story that didn’t have a romantic element, or at least, it would be a huge challenge for me. And yes, I like to read within the romance genre as well, although my book club certainly inspires me to expand my horizons! My reading range is much broader as part of that group."

What is your writing process?

"I’m all about planning and outlining. Definitely not a fly by the seat of my pants kind of girl! I like to create tables that have a column for plot and a column for character development for each chapter. I also *try* to make myself write stories in sequential order. Sometimes there’s a chapter I’m just itching to write, but I try to think of it as a reward to getting that far! On the rare occasion, I cheat."

What is in store next?

"My third Swoon Reads novel, The Truth About Happily Ever After, which comes out in May 2017, is in the editing process. This book is less of an “issue” book than my other two, and overall is just a lot of fun. It’s set in a popular theme park and the main character plays Cinderella at the park. And I absolutely adore her love interest."