A website dedicated to books in the Young Adult genre, featuring book reviews, author interviews contests and much more!


Sunday, December 6, 2009

Interview with Rhonda Stapleton, Author of Stupid Cupid & Giveaway!

Today I am thrilled to welcome author Rhonda Stapleton, whose debut novel, Stupid Cupid is scheduled for release December 22nd of this month!

Rhonda Stapleton started writing a few years ago to appease the voices in her head. She has a Master's degree in English and a Bachelor's degree in Creative Writing. In the twelve minutes of free time she has each day, Rhonda enjoys reading, photography, writing poetry, singing in the shower (and in the car, at work, or basically anywhere that provides oxygen), drinking chai tea, and playing on the Internet (AKA, connecting to the "mother ship").

Rhonda lives in northeast Ohio with her two kids, her manpanion, and their lazy dog.


Your upcoming novel, Stupid Cupid, is about a teenage girl who gets a job at a matchmaking company only to find out she isn’t just a matchmaker…she’s a real cupid! Do you have a favorite line, scene or passage in Stupid Cupid that you can tantalize us with?

Okay, here's one of my favorite scenes from Stupid Cupid, LOL. It doesn't relate to matchmaking, but it still made me giggle when writing it:

“Pull over!” a loud voice barked over the police car’s megaphone.

With shaky hands, I sucked in shallow breaths and did as instructed, parking on the side of the road. I dug into my purse to find my license, barely able to concentrate. I was in such deep sh—

The megaphone interrupted my thoughts. “Ma’am, we know you’re using the marijuana!”

I clenched my jaw. I’d know that irritating voice from anywhere.

Pissed off, I hopped out of the car, stomped to my brother’s cop car, and stood by his door, hands on hips. I cussed loudly, scaring an old lady crossing the street. She blinked at me and walked faster, trying to get away from me.

“Geez, Rob, you scared the piss out of me!” I yelled.” I thought I was in real trouble. You’re such a jerk.”

Rob and his partner were in the front seat, bent over laughing.

Rob straightened, then said through the megaphone, “Stop cussing at me or I’m going to have to take you in.”

I shot him the most evil glare I could muster. “Stop pulling me over!” I shouted at him through the window. “This is the second time now you’ve done this to me. It’s still not funny.”

He rolled down his window and stuck his head out. “Then, ma’am, stop driving in this city.”

“But I live here!” I turned on my heel and headed back to the car.

“And, ma’am,” Rob hollered to my back, his voice ringing loud and clear throughout all of Cleveland, no doubt, “lay off the spray tan! Your skin’s starting to look orange.”

I whirled back around and stomped toward him, unable to control my rage. “If you pull me over again,” I said, pointing my finger in his face, “I’ll tell Mom about the time I caught you making out with Cindy Masterson in Mom and Dad’s bed when you two were supposed to be studying.”

His jaw dropped. He tried to cover up his fear, but I could see it in his eyes. “You wouldn’t.”

I leaned close to his face, then widened my eyes and blinked rapidly, gasping. “Mom, it was awful! He was touching her under her shirt! I didn’t know
what to do!”

Rob stared at me for a long moment, then tipped his hat. “Have a nice day.” He drove off in a hurry.

How do you think you’d do at matchmaking if you were in Felicity’s shoes? Have you ever tried to set anyone up? If so, how did it turn out?

I totally try NOT to matchmake. I'm really horrible at stuff like that, so I leave it to the experts. LOL

Felicity Walker is the type of girl who believes in true love – what do you think? Is there that one special person destined for everyone in the world?

I absolutely believe in true love. I like to think there's someone special out there for everyone, that we're all part of some greater design. Know what I mean?

On your blog you always ask other writers what their favorite school cafeteria food was – so I just had to ask you- what was yours? (If you brown bagged it, what did you like to take instead?)

HAH I love talking about food. I loved eating pizza, or peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. I'm so lame. :D

If Stupid Cupid were to be made into a movie, who do you imagine playing Felicity – any specific actress in mind or do you think an unknown would be best?

Oooooooh good question! Seriously, I'd be honored if someone wanted to play Felicity! I don't have anyone special in mind, though I think a fun teen actress could really take the role and make it over-the-top. Like maybe Miranda Cosgrove, the chick from iCarly...?

If you had to use just three words to sum up your novel, what would they be?

Romantic, goofy, and exotic. Okay, it's not really exotic. Maybe semi-exotic. haha

What would you say is the best writing advice you’ve been given so far as a new author?

To treat it as a job. I'm getting paid to do this. It's a lot of responsibility, and I need to take it seriously, you know? That means respecting my writing time too, and making sure I do it as much as needed. But also finding balance between writing and life and STEP AWAY from the keyboard every once in a while. That's really important.

You have two more books in the trilogy that are scheduled to be released in 2010- Flirting with Disaster and Pucker Up. Can you tell us more about them ? Any other projects in the works we can look forward to?

Flirting With Disaster is book 2...in this one, Felicity decides she's going to get over her crush Derek once and for all by matching him up with someone. But she accidentally cc's the entire school on the email, so now everyone is in love with him. Fun! Book 3 is Pucker Up...and actually, I don't wanna give anything away yet for it. hehe. I am working on some new projects, but nothing is official yet. You'll definitely know something when I do!!

Thanks so much for interviewing me!! :D


Felicity’s no ordinary matchmaker…she’s a cupid!

Felicity Walker believes in true love. That’s why she applies for a gig at the matchmaking company Cupid’s Hollow. But when Felicity gets the job, she learns that she isn’t just a matchmaker…she’s a cupid! (There’s more than one of them, you know.)

Armed with a hot pink, tricked-out PDA infused with the latest in cupid magic (love arrows shot through email), Felicity works to meet her quota of successful matches. But when she bends the rules of cupidity by matching her best friend Maya with three different boys at once, disaster strikes. Felicity needs to come up with a plan to set it all right, pronto, before she gets fired…and before Maya ends up with her heart split in three.

Stupid Cupid is book one of a trilogy.

You can purchase Stupid Cupid HERE.
Read chapter one of Stupid Cupid HERE!

***CONTEST TIME!**

Rhonda has graciously offered to give away one copy of Stupid Cupid!

TO ENTER:
Leave a comment for her (easy as pie!)

BONUS ENTRIES:
For everyplace you link/post about this contest.

The Stupid Cupid contest is open to all U.S. & Canadian residents and will run through December 28th.

(Note: For those of you outside the U.S. and Canada, don't despair-you can still enter! If your name is selected as the winner, you will win a $10 online bookstore gift card instead (pretty cool, right?) So be sure to enter!


65 comments:

Cindi C said...

Rhonda I would love to read your new book! Thanks for sharing your gifts! cindi@inbox.com

Melissa (Books R Us) said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Melissa (Books R Us) said...

Rhonda your new book looks great!!
I cannot wait to read it.


melissa(at)gingerhigh(dot)com

Anonymous said...

This book looks fun. I loved the favorite scene. Very funny.

foltzsfantasticbooks at gmail.com

Unknown said...

I would love to read this. Thanks so much for the giveaway!

jennsicurella at verizon dot net

Annie said...

This seems like a really fun book! It's going to my wishlist!!

My e-mail is:
anniesbooks(at)hotmail(dot)es

I'm from Argentina.

I tweeted it here:
http://twitter.com/AnniesBooks/status/6454473107

Great contest!!

Rie said...

This sounds HILARIOUS!

I tweeted about the contest! http://twitter.com/rie_mcconnell/statuses/6455073208

And it's in my sidebar @ rie-mcconnell.blogspot.com

Melissa said...

Rhonda, I totally want to read this now...it sounds really great.

jjameli(at)cableone(dot)net

Alyssa Kirk said...

This sounds adorable. Great interview and I love the excerpt. Thanks for the fun!

Leona said...

This sounds like a fun read :)

I have a question for the host of the site. I have noticed a trend to ask all authors who they imagined playing character X. Why is this?

I don't recall this trend being so widespread before. Maybe because of the successes of Harry Potter and the Twilight Series?

Miss Eliza said...

Sign me up!

eliza.lefebvre[at]gmail.com

Tales of Whimsy said...

A. Kim you are the cutest! "Easy as pie" :)
B. I would love to be entered: suitejuju(at)gmail(dot)com

cait045 said...

I love books where I can't stop laughing. I can't wait to read this one.

usignolc(at)yahooDOTcom

Ellz said...

Fun interview. This book looks great.

tweeted http://twitter.com/EllzReadz/status/6465038145
zenfoxflowerATyahooDOTcom
Elie (Ellz Readz)

Stacey Brucale said...

This book looks so cute! I really want to read it.

Travis said...

I can't wait to read this!

Travis
spongyman1026@yahoo.com

Ella Preuss said...

LMAO! This books sounds so funny!
But being an int'l reader, I can't win it :(
So I'm entering to win the gift card instead :)

Great interview, very funny!

ella_press AT live.com.ar

Aubrey said...

How fun! Rhonda is a top notch gal! Love her! I'd love to win this book!

aubreyavalon@gmail.com

Anonymous said...

I can't wait to read this!

StephTheBookworm said...

Looks like such a fun book! Can't wait to read it.

stephaniet117@yahoo.com

ReaganStar said...

Rhonda this book looks fun and light, I can't wait to read it!!

Happy Holidays!

twolilstarz@gmail.com

JoanneR said...

Sounds like such a fun read!
joannereynolds@sbcglobal.net

Margay Leah Justice said...

Rhonda, I LOVED the excerpt! I can see why you must have been laughing when you wrote it. And love the title - Stupid Cupid for a book about a matchmaker, very clever.

Margay

Margay1122(at)aol(dot)com

Shelli (srjohannes) said...

oh cant wait!

BillSeese said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
BillSeese said...

Hey Rhonda, Greetings from Thundering Herd Country!!! Congrats on the book. I look forward to reading it! Love Ya

Bill Seese

Anonymous said...

sounds like a winner...please count me in...thanks

karenk
kmkuka(at)yahoo(dot)com

Darlene said...

All posted at Win a Book for you! No need to enter me.

Anonymous said...

I would love to be entered in your draw. Thanks.

wandanamgreb(at)gmail(dot)coom

Kaye said...

Hi Rhonda, sounds like you've got a winner there!

Please enter me in the drawing

florida982002[at]yahoo.com

Regina said...

OMGosh, this books sounds so funny!
rspiker@allconet.org

jpetroroy said...

Looks adorable!

jpetroroy at gmail dot com

+1 I tweeted at https://twitter.com/jpetroroy/status/6472598988

californiameaghan said...

this book sounds so fun! thanks for the interview!

meaghan_koci (at) yahoo (dot) com

brizmus said...

This book looks super fun!
It's interesting that she says that the best writing advice she's received was to treat it as a job. I almost can't help but wonder if that would only make it more difficult for me. But at the same time - she's right.

+1 in my sidebar under the contest list: http://brizmusblogsbooks.blogspot.com
tweeted it here: http://twitter.com/brizmus/statuses/6474789485

zedster.tbb(at)gmail(DOT)com

Pam said...

Love that scene - very funny!

melacan at hotmail dot com

Andrea said...

I would love to read this book...please enter me!

And I blogged about the contest here.

belle2211(at)yahoo(dot)com

Reading said...

Please count me in. Looks like a fun book.

lizzi0915 at aol dot com

justpeachy36 said...

justpeachy36@yahoo.com

I think this looks like a great book. Can't wait to read it...

Please enter me in the giveaway.

heatherzilla said...

Sounds like such a fun book. Please include me in the giveaway. Thanks!

heatherzilla(at)care2(dot)com

tetewa said...

Congrats on the release, count me in! tWarner419@aol.com

Jenny N. said...

Great interview. Stupid Cupid seems like it would be a very fun read.

Tweeted: http://twitter.com/Jullysay/status/6507739483

Added to sidebar: http://jennys-books.blogspot.com

jen4777[at]hotmail.com

GreenBeanTeenQueen said...

Great interview! I can't wait to read this book!:)

greenbeanteenqueen at gmail dot com

Marilu said...

This sounds like a great read! I hope to start the series in the New Year. Thanks for the giveaway!
lovemykidsandbooks AT gmail DOT com

nikniknik said...

omigod, i've been waiting for this!
(:

cookiedevil94@hotmail.com

Sab H. said...

Enter me please!

+1 Sidebar: http://crystalreviews.blogspot.com/

crystalreviews AT gmail DOt com

throuthehaze said...

This book sounds great! I would love to read it.

Raelena
throuthehaze at gmail dot com

Briana said...

Aww great interview!
And great contest- this book looks so cute! :)

Briana
randomlybree@att.net

Euphoria13 said...

Hello! Please enter me in this contest!

+1 I tweeted about this

http://twitter.com/Mevurah/status/6680183367

aqua_lily13@hotmail.com

Unknown said...

Rhonda, This books sounds adorable and I would love to read it! I bet the release of this book was an awesome Christmas present for you!

jtcallaway@yahoo.com

Anonymous said...

This book looks uber cute and funny! I can't wait to read it. =)

blah. blah. blah. said...

count me in

my.book.fetish@gmail.com

Nancye said...

This looks like a fun read.

Tweet! Tweet!
http://twitter.com/NancyeDavis/status/6791776162

nancyecdavis AT bellsouth DOT net

Jess Capelle said...

sounds like a very cute series! would enjoy reading it.

thanks for the contest!
jessicacapelle at gmail dot com

Justine said...

I would love to enter this contest! I've always wanted to read Stupid Cupid :) Count me in!

+1 tweeted: here
+1 sidebar: here

justeena_25(at)yahoo(dot)ca

Anonymous said...

Wonderful interview.

Tweet: http://twitter.com/eheinlen/statuses/6882011275

treerose at yahoo dot com

dsandyboy said...

Count me in.

dsandyboy@gmail.com

A Passion For Books said...

Great interview! I can't wait to read this book, it looks so cute.

Brittany said...

Now this is a cute little book!

beautifulxdisaster (@) gmail (dot) com

Unknown said...

wow. this is my kind of book. I am so excited because matchmaking and romance is the best storyline and i would love to read your book. I would absolutely jump up and down to win this book! thank you for the giveaway!

Ashley
arudd908@gmail.com

Sarah said...

That scene that she gave us was just too hilarious! Great job, Rhonda! Stupid Cupid sounds like a fabulous book.

And thank you, Kim, for the interview!

Sarah
two_of_hearts_101 at yahoo dot com

Debbie Mumford said...

Can't wait to read this one, Rhonda! Congrats on the release and a great interview.

Linda Henderson said...

I would love to read the book.

seriousreader at live dot com

DarcyO said...

Rhonda, I'd love to read Stupid Cupid, it sounds like a lot of fun.

dlodden at frontiernet dot net

FrankSandy said...

This books looks like it is a lot of fun. walkerd@primus.ca

Unknown said...

I have gone through your site information and it is the same oppertunity that i was looking for. The faclities ,the process that what you are offering, are perfeetly mathet to my expectation,& verysoon you will get responce from my side.

master degree hungary