Jen Bradbury’s SHIFT is one of my favorite books from last year. It’s a thriller, an adventure and a coming of age story about two boys on a summer bike trip that only one of them returns home from. In its starred review Booklist say, “Bradbury's keen details about the bike trip, the places, the weather, the food, the camping, and the locals add wonderful texture to this exciting first novel, as Chris remembers the trip and returns to find what really happened. Best of all is the friendship story; many teens will recognize how even between close buddies, there's rivalry, anger, and heartbreak.” I can attest that this is all true!
Jen’s next book sounds equally exciting and she was nice enough to take a break in her writing to go Toe to Toe and tell us about her favorite ways to procrastinate writing and the time she almost flashed a large group of guys:
What is your favorite ice cream flavor?Anything with coffee or mint (or both!) if we're talking real ice cream, but I always prefer really tangy gelato if I can get it.
What was your most embarrassing moment?I once got stuck on a blob—a giant pillow-like thing that sits in the middle of a lake. The idea is that one person jumps onto it, crawls out to the edge, and then another person jumps off and pops the first person into the air. At the camp where I used to work (a boys camp no less!), they had one of these, and one day before camp opened, I was hanging out at the lake with all these great guys I'd just met (including my future husband) and trying not to make a fool of myself. Instead, I got stuck on one of the carabineers anchoring the blob to the bottom of the lake when I slid off. And though I got stuck, the Speedo I was wearing at the time ripped from the seat all the way up to where it caught on the carabineer where the straps met between my shoulder blades.
I had to be lifted off the hook by one of those nice guys. Then I had to swim underwater really far to the dock where my towel was, and then hustle out of there before I gave everybody an unintended glimpse at my inner self.
What’s your favorite movie?
Rear Window will always be a favorite. Such an amazing bit of storytelling. I used to teach it during the film unit I taught in my English classes. Another I always recommend to friends is How to Steal a Million with Audrey Hepburn and Peter O'Toole. So fun, offbeat and with two of the most elegant people to ever walk the earth. I know that's two but I can't help it.
What is your favorite way to procrastinate writing?Watching old TV reruns on Fancast, followed closely by answering interview questions. ☺
Tell us about the very first story that you remember writing/illustrating when you were younger.
I remember something I wrote after I was inspired by a story my older sister wrote, illustrated and bound at school. Her story was called The Bubble that Lasted. And the title pretty much tells you everything you need to know. After her story, I began work on one called Zeal the Seal. I had no idea what "zeal" actually meant, but it rhymed and I could draw a seal. I don't think I ever finished it.
What's something very few people know about you?I make really good curry.
What's your favorite place on earth?Wherever I've been most recently, I think. I love West Virginia where my husband is from, and Western North Carolina around the camp where I worked. And I adore where I live now in the Northwest. But if I could click my heels and wish myself anywhere right now, I'd probably plant myself in Kerala in southern India. Warm, lazy, beautiful place.
What is the first car you ever drove?The very first car I every drove was a 1990 Nissan Sentra. It was a red two door, with a radio that only got AM, changed stations of its own accord (not that there was much worth listening to anyway!), and ate my REM Murmur tape the first time I tried to listen to it.
Jen, thanks for stopping by!
You can find Jen at her
website and buy your very own copy of SHIFT
here!
#daphne
