Interview With Kimberly Pauley

I gobbled up Kimberly Pauley's SUCKS TO BE ME (Click that link for FUN info.)in one sitting. Her writing is witty, warm, and engaging and her characters become people I feel I know as well as I know my own circle of friends. When I heard STILL SUCKS TO BE ME was hitting the bookstore shelves, I couldn't wait to introduce my blog readers to the awesomeness that is Kimberly Pauley and her stories. Here's the premise of STILL SUCKS TO BE ME:

With vampire boyfriend George and best friend Serena by her side, Mina thought she had her whole life—or rather afterlife—ahead of her. But then Mina’s parents drop a bomb. They’re moving. To Louisiana. And not somewhere cool like New Orleans, but some teeny, tiny town where cheerleaders and jocks rule the school. Mina has to fake her death, change her name, and leave everything behind, including George and Serena. Not even the Vampire Council’s shape-shifting classes can cheer her up. Then Serena shows up on Mina’s doorstep with some news that sends Mina reeling. Mina may look a lot better with fangs, but her afterlife isn’t any less complicated!

When I asked Kimberly for an interview, she was quick to accept, though I now suspect that had more to do with the savvy Captain Jack Sparrow than with me.

Captain Jack Sparrow



Kimberly Pauley



Now that you know who's who, it's time to dive into the interview and reveal the awesome cupcake my hubby made for Kimberly. Since Mina is a vampire and is toting a blue suitcase on the cover of SSTBM, my hubby made a vampire suitcase cupcake. Without further ado, I give you the cupcake and Kimberly's interview with the inimitable Captain Jack.



First off, Captain Jack, I just wanted to thank you for taking the time out of your busy schedule to chat with me. As a token of my appreciation, I’d like to present you with this bottle of scotch. I know it isn’t rum, but I made it myself at Whiskey School in Bladnoch, Scotland so I can attest to it’s potency. I hope you enjoy it.

Oh, and a note on the picture I sent you. It’s me in my Derby hat, since the Derby was two weekends ago. I thought you might appreciate the hat. Can I borrow yours next year?

1. *gingerly takes the bottle of scotch and examines it carefully* Well, it isn't rum, but far be it from me to turn down a free bottle of potent alcohol. However, hands off the hat, love. Would you classify yourself as a pirate or a member of Her Majesty’s Royal navy? Why?

Definitely a pirate, because I’m not much on formality or uniforms, for that matter. Besides, they tend to be insufferable prigs, don’t they?

2. Insufferable prigs? I might fall in love with you if you keep tossing phrases like that about. What’s your favorite thing to do in Tortuga?

Eating rum cake on the beach.

3. Darling, as delicious as that sounds, why sully the purity of rum with something as mundane as cake? I’m offering you free passage aboard my ship to anywhere in the world. Where shall we go, love?

Well, if I’m off with you, I’m not sure I really care where I go, but…hmmmm…how about Bora Bora? It’s fun to say and a perfect place to drink rum, right? Though next on my list is really probably France. I did just get back from China and so it’s back to Europe, I think. Or maybe Costa Rica. Hey, that’s kind of fun to say too and I bet they have rum…why can’t we just go on a worldwide cruise?

4. A worldwide cruise it is! Just don't get any ideas about my hat. Who is the hero of your story most like: me (savvy, debonair, and unquestionably smooth with the ladies), the insufferably honorable Will Turner, or that deceptive little minx Elizabeth?

Well, I’d have to say most like Will Turner. But in a good way. I’m afraid I don’t really write savvy, debonair characters, though I’d really like to run into such a person in real life (hint, hint).

5. Darling, feel free to run into me any time you like. Rum? Or more rum?

When life gives you rum…make mojitos! I know you’re more of a rum purist, but I have to admit that I like it doctored a bit.

6. I must admit, I fail to understand your obsession with adding things to a perfectly excellent jug of rum. Which leads me to the age old question: Why is the rum always gone?

Because you’ve drunk so much you’ve forgotten where you hid the rest?

7. *pauses* I believe you may be right. What’s the most piratish thing you’ve ever done?

Um…buried stuff in the backyard?

8. Darling ... if you spent less time mixing rum and cake and more time thinking in terms of pillage, you might have more to show for your pirating ways. Are they rules? Or more like guidelines?

What rules? There are rules? I don’t believe in rules. Guidelines? *snort*

9. *pushes Derby hat aside to stare into your eyes* You mix rum and cake, bury things in the backyard, but eschew both rules and guidelines? You little enigma, you. I might need to take you on that worldwide cruise just to figure out what makes you tick. *snags your wrists* But you still can't touch my hat. I understand you’re a story-teller. Any undead monkeys in your stories?

No, afraid not. Though my first book did feature a really ugly hairless cat in a walk-on role. And the second one has a cow. You ever watched a cow eat? They seem kind of like an undead shambling monster.

10. *shudders* I worry about you, my love. I really do. Any curses? Heartless monsters? Irritating women who insist on taking matters into their own hands?

Definitely the latter. But, you know, she’s the heroine of the story, so you have to cut her some slack. Besides, by the time the second book rolls around, she could kick your butt. Not that she would, because I’m sure she would find you quite charming. But she totally could.

11. Darling, as long as she brings more rum, she can do whatever she'd like. Except borrow my hat. One of my favorite words is “egregious.” Care to share one of yours, love?

Actually, that’s one of my favorites too! I like words in general, honestly. But I especially like precocious ones.

12. I believe you are the precocious one here, my dear. Parlay? Or draw your sword?

Sword. A fine-edged cutlass, though that’s probably too girly. Let’s make it a broadsword with a nice heft to it.

13. *raises brow* Unless you're simply planning to slice your rum cake with this sword, I may have underestimated you. You’ve got a crowd of cursed sailors and a nasty sea monster on your trail. How do you escape?

By convincing the sailors that the only way to remove their curse is to remove and eat the gullet of the nasty sea monster. And possibly some rum.

14. I like the way you think! But no, you still cannot borrow my hat. Romantic night in? Or adventure on the high seas?

Erm…both? An adventurous romantic night in the cabin of a ship on the high seas?

15. Your wish is my command. Unless your wish involves my hat. My personal motto is: Take what you want, give nothing back. What’s yours?

Mean people suck. Yes, I know I totally stole that from a bumper sticker. But it’s still true. And it’s a shorter version of one of my favorite quotes from the movie Harvey:

"Years ago, my mother used to say to me, she'd say: 'In this world, Elwood,' she always used to call me Elwood. 'In this world, Elwood, you must be oh, so smart or oh, so pleasant.' Well, for years I was smart. I recommend pleasant. And you can quote me." - Elwood P. Dowd (James Stewart)


Thank you, Kimberly, for such a fun interview! And for writing such captivating stories. To learn more about Kimberly and her books, please visit her website. Of course, the fun isn't over yet!

Kimberly's Giveaway:

One lucky commenter will win a set of signed, hardback SUCKS TO BE ME and STILL SUCKS TO BE ME! One runner up will win a fun package of STBM bookmarks and temporary tattoos! Here's how to enter:

1. Earn entries:

*Comment on this post = 1 entry

*Be a follower of this blog = 2 entries

*Tweet the link to this interview = 3 entries (Use @cjredwine or leave url to tweet in your comment so I can see it.)

*Post the contest on your blog = 3 entries (Include link in your comment.)


2. Tally it up: Please tally up your entries and leave the total in your comment.

3. Check back: The contest is open until 8 p.m. Thursday, May 13th. Please check back to see if you've won and to claim your prize!

Good luck to all, and happy reading!