Heather Duffy-Stone is Here!

Today I have Heather Duffy-Stone on the blog! Heather is celebrating the release of her debut novel: THIS IS WHAT I WANT TO TELL YOU.

First. . . .

About This is What I Want to Tell You

The stories people tell are always about the things we left behind, and about the things we wish we could do again. The real story isn't about what you know; it's about what you wish you knew then. When my brother and my best friend fell in love—that was the end of everything I knew.

Fraternal twins Nadio and Noelle share a close connection—and as Noelle's best friend since they were five, Keeley Shipley fit perfectly into their world. But everything changes after Keeley spends the summer before junior year at Oxford. When Keeley returns, Nadio falls in love with her. Noelle, ripped apart by resentment, sees her as an ungrateful rich girl. But Keeley has a painful story that she can't tell yet. As Nadio and Keeley hide their romance, Noelle dives into something of her own—a destructive affair with an older boy.

Beautifully presented by dual narrators in a haunting stream of memories, this is the deeply moving story of how secrets can consume a friendship—and how love can heal it.

About Heather Duffy-Stone

Heather Duffy Stone writes stories and essays that are mostly inspired by high school—either her own or someone else’s. This Is What I Want to Tell You is her first novel. She has lived in Vermont, England, Los Angeles, rural New York and Rome, Italy. For now she cooks, sleeps, explores, writes and teaches in Brooklyn, New York.

On to the Interview!

Me: Without giving away too many spoilers, what is your favorite part of the novel/what was the part you had the most fun writing?

Heather: I absolutely love the very last scene—it was the first one I wrote. It’s where everything sort of comes together and falls apart. And I loved writing about the food and tattoos—those are at the heart of the book and the details were so much fun.

Me: What kind of writing projects are you currently working on? Or, if you aren't working on anything new, is there a different demographic/genre you wouldn't mind tackling in the future?

Heather: I’m working on a project right now about a girl who comes to spend the summer in New York with her father, who she’s never known. She meets someone—he’s a graffiti artist and a recent immigrant. He came to this country from a civil war and refugee camps and yet he can't be here legally. Over the course of the summer she learns many things about her father and about this boy—who ultimately creates his own identity and guides her through the city with his street art. It’s about their love story but its also about the immigration system and family and creating your own identity through your art. I’m really into it right now…

Me: That sounds amazing! And finally, who is your writing hero and why?

Heather: This question could have so many answers. My friends Hillery and Bianca are sisters and poets and writing infuses every aspect of their lives. I learned how to read growing up with them, and their mother who is a novelist, and how to let writing be a part of everything else that I do. I admire any writer who writes every day—I want to be able to do that. And actually, just this week I read with Eliot Schrefer, author of The School for Dangerous Girls—and he has such a range of voices, such a range of really successful projects and I really admire that.

Me: Awesome! Your friends sound fabulous!

Readers. . . .

You can visit Heather at her home on the web: http://www.heatherduffystone.com

And . . . THIS IS WHAT I WANT TO TELL YOU is officially on sale. You can buy it here: http://www.amazon.com/This-What-Want-Tell-You/dp/073871450X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1231340145&sr=8-1

Heather will be chatting with Sydney Salter tomorrow at: http://www.mybignose.blogspot.com

Thank you so much for stopping by, Heather!