Fresh New Voice of YA- Interview with Rhonda Stapleton

1) How did you get the idea for Stupid Cupid and the overall trilogy?

I was trying to brainstorm what would be a fun, but crazy job for a teen. Being a cupid came to mind. My friends and I talked about it and decided it should involve technology too--that being a cupid in this day and age wouldn't be about bows and arrows, but love emails sent via PDAs. As far as being a trilogy, that was my editor's genius idea. :D


2) What are you working on now? Can you tell us anything about it?

I'm working on two VERY different stories. One is a romantic contemp comedy. The other is a futuristic--that one is really pushing me out of my comfort zone, and I am loving it so far.


3) Have you always been a fan of the YA genre, or are you pretty new to it all? What brought you to it?

I'm a huge fan of YA. Fellow author Erin McCarthy encouraged me to check it out--she gave me a YA to read. Once I did, I was hooked!! There's so much diversity in YA that really, really appeals to me.


4) What was The Call like? Tell us all about it!

Well, basically I cried. LOL. I got an email the day after Valentine's day (which was when my book went to acquisitions--very fortuitous!). I just turned around and sobbed into the manpanion's shirt. It was all very attractive. Then, I called every person I've ever known in my entire life and sobbed on the phone with them too. hahaha


5) What is your favorite Jelly Belly jelly bean flavor? Also, since you enjoy singing everywhere according to your bio, what's the song that's been stuck in your head recently?

I don't know if I have a favorite flavor...I'm not a huge jelly bean person. I do like fruit flavors--as long as it's not the buttery popcorn one. haha. Oooooh I've been listening to the Glee soundtracks and have had several of those songs stuck in my head--Somebody to Love, Endless Love, and Alone are the three I've been listening to over and over again. :D


6) What book(s) are you reading now, or are about to start?

I'm reading a book on Japanese folk tales. Also, an adult book called The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane (it's about witches). I'm also about to start The Ex Games by Jennifer Echols (I love her, so I'm stoked to read this one!).


7) From what I've heard around the blogosphere, you auditioned for American Idol a few years back. Tell us all about the experience.

OMG it was crazy! There had to be over 20k people auditioning too. I sang You're So Vain by Carly Simon. The audition itself was like 15 seconds...I waited 13 hours that day (actually, since noon the day before) to audition. I actually wrote a whole blog post on it here: http://rhondastapleton.blogspot.com/2009/06/my-american-idol-audition.html