Nova Ren Suma plays Chocolate or Cheese?

Let me tell you about this book I read a few months ago. A book that blew my tiny mind. It crept and crawled its way inside me in a way I've never experienced before. It made my throat hurt and my skin itch, and believe it or not, these are good things. The book in question was IMAGINARY GIRLS, written by my dear friend, Nova Ren Suma. (I heartily recommend Nova's middle-grade novel, DANI NOIR. But do read IMAGINARY GIRLS first because it's all new and shiny.)

IMAGINARY GIRLS is Nova's debut YA novel and it's achingly beautiful. You must read it. And luckily for you, it's published one week from today! And oh my isn't the cover the most beautiful thing you've ever seen with your eyes?!


Here's the trailer...

And here's the description from the official IMAGINARY GIRLS website...


Chloe's older sister, Ruby, is the girl everyone looks to and longs for, who can't be captured or caged. When a night with Ruby's friends goes horribly wrong and Chloe discovers the dead body of her classmate London Hayes left floating in the reservoir, Chloe is sent away from town and away from Ruby.

But Ruby will do anything to get her sister back, and when Chloe returns to town two years later, deadly surprises await. As Chloe flirts with the truth that Ruby has hidden deeply away, the fragile line between life and death is redrawn by the complex bonds of sisterhood.


To celebrate One-Week-Till-Book-Birthday I had to get Nova on here. And, of course, instead of asking her lots of clever questions about her incredible book, I asked her to play Chocolate or Cheese? The rules are simple: you must choose between two options. The option you do not choose is off limits for the rest of your life, so you have to think very carefully before answering. It's a serious game for serious people. *cough*


Reading or writing?
Writing. (I'm on deadline... I have to say that, in case my agent or my editor sees this.)


Reading or listening to music?
Reading. A good book can be its own kind of music.


Facebook or Twitter?
Sadly, I say Twitter. It's an addiction. I wish I'd never had my first taste.


Mountains or ocean?
I grew up in the mountains, and I do think I am more myself there than anywhere else, but I also spent my childhood and teenage years feeling absolutely trapped in the middle of nowhere and begging to get the hell out. The ocean makes it seem like there's somewhere else to go... even if it's off in the far, unseen distance. So I'd pick ocean.


Korean food or Mexican food?
Korean! The first time I ever ate kimchi, my mother-in-law had to wash each piece off in water before I could swallow it, but I've gotten a bit better with spiciness. One of my favorite meals is dolsot bibimbap with tofu. That's the bibimbap served in the hot stone pot. I like when it comes out of the kitchen sizzling.


Muffins for hands or squirrels for feet?
WTF, Cat! I can visualize this all too well and it's a bit traumatizing. Obviously squirrels for feet. I can't type a novel with two muffins.


IMAGINARY GIRLS or DANI NOIR? (Mwahahahaha!)
You know what I'm going to say. IMAGINARY GIRLS. I started it before DANI NOIR, and picked it up again after, and, besides, I put my heart and soul and all my hopes and dreams and nightmares into it. It's pretty much the most true thing I've ever written.

And the most important question of all... Chocolate or cheese?
I hope you still like me after I answer this question, since I know how important cheese is to you. Chocolate. Forever and always chocolate.

Oh dear. Never mind. Is it too late to take back those things I said about your book? Sigh. I suppose I still like you... sort of. Mostly because you like Korean food as much as I do.

Anyway, people, go buy this book. You won't be disappointed.

You can follow Nova on Twitter here and check out her website here.