Birthday Bonanza: Interview with Stasia Ward Kehoe and Giveaway

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Stasia Kehoe grew up dancing and performing on stages from New Hampshire to Washington, DC. She now writes books for young adults and choreographs the occasional musical.

Ballet is Sara's life when we begin the book, but during the course of the book we find her questioning her life goals. Are you a big planner or more of a go with the flow type girl?


I WISH I were mellow but, in terms of the day-to-day, I'm a planning type and can get pretty tense when there's lots to do.  However, I think that in the larger scheme of things, I am pretty open to changes and enjoy life's twists and turns.  Certainly becoming a published author has been a wild and surprising ride.

Audition is written in verse. How has this impacted your writing? Was it easier or harder to narrate?


Writing in verse is very challenging but I think it was a useful form for a story about dance and movement. I definitely think it posed a special set of challenges for the narrative.  You have to think hard about how to put dialogue in verse, for example, and how to approach ordinary things like eating breakfast from a more descriptive or metaphorical level.  I enjoy writing in verse and in prose--it just depends on what best serves the story.

The cover is gorgeous. Did you get much input?


I did send some photographs of dancers and a few written thoughts to my editor.  Largely, though, seeing the gorgeous models they shot for the cover and the beautiful way the lines of poetry kind of float behind the dancers was a wonderful surprise.

What is your current WIP (Work in Progress)? Can you tell me a little about it? 

I have a hard time talking about things I am still writing.  I'm superstitious, I guess.  I will say that the new book is about a teen actress and, while it is very contemporary and realistic, there is, um, what I'll call a supernatural feature. 

Do you have a favorite place to sit and write? Where is your favorite place to read? 

I prefer to write out of my house, usually at a coffee shop.  At home, I tend to move my desk around.  It's currently in the playroom next to my youngest son's train set.  Sounds weird but it's a big room with lots of windows, so it's sunny and bright and when he's at school, it's just me and the dog, so nice and quiet.  I have four kids so I do a lot of driving and I read books in car parking lots which is strangely relaxing!

As a reader do you write in the same genre as you write? What is your current paranormal obsession?

I love a well-written book in any genre.  Paranormal-wise, I'm currently reading The Jewel & the Key by Louise Spiegler.  It combines time-travel with theater and a war story.  Fascinating and full of beautiful language.

Thanks for having me stop by and HAPPY BIRTHDAY, RIE!!!


October 13th 2011, Viking Juvenile
464 pages, Hardcover
Young Adult

When high school junior Sara wins a coveted scholarship to study ballet, she must sacrifice everything for her new life as a professional dancer-in-training. Living in a strange city with a host family, she's deeply lonely-until she falls into the arms of Remington, a choreographer in his early twenties. At first, she loves being Rem's muse, but as she discovers a surprising passion for writing, she begins to question whether she's chosen the right path. Is Rem using her, or is it the other way around? And is dancing still her dream, or does she need something more? This debut novel in verse is as intense and romantic as it is eloquent.

Categories: Author Interviews, Birthday Bonanza