BLOGTOUR: New Girl by Paige Harbison + Q & A

• Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: Mira Books (4 May 2012)
• Language English
• ISBN-10: 184845063X
• ISBN-13: 978-1848450639
• A contemporary young-adult retelling inspired by the classic 1938 romantic suspense bestseller Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier.
  
  They call me 'New Girl'...
  
  Ever since I arrived at exclusive, prestigious Manderly Academy, that’s who I am. New girl. Unknown. But not unnoticed—because of her.
  
  Becca Normandy—that’s the name on everyone’s lips. The girl whose picture I see everywhere. The girl I can’t compare to. I mean, her going missing is the only reason a spot opened up for me at the academy. And everyone stares at me like it’s my fault.
  
  Except for Max Holloway—the boy whose name shouldn’t be spoken. At least, not by me. Everyone thinks of him as Becca’s boyfriend…but she’s gone, and here I am, replacing her. I wish it were that easy. Sometimes, when I think of Max, I can imagine how Becca’s life was so much better than mine could ever be.
  
  And maybe she’s still out there, waiting to take it back.

Q & A

Erin:What was it about Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier that made you want to re-tell it?

Paige: New Girl is basically the story of a girl being overshadowed by the presence of a missing girl. I love the spooky mood of Rebecca, and wanted to retell it in a modern setting. In high school especially, tragedies become more than just that. They become obsessions. People want to figure out the mystery behind it; they want to understand it. Put that together when high schoolers’ ability to believe the It girl has it all? High school is a world where feelings and emotions run high and rampant at all times. I wanted to take Rebecca, a truly haunting story, and put it in the minds and hands of teenagers.

Erin: What inspired you to want to become a writer?

 Paige: My mom, Beth Harbison, is a New York Times Bestseller, so that should be the reason why—but really I never even thought about it. I just started writing one day, liked it, and now that’s what I do!

Erin: If you could collaborate with anyone who would it be and why?

Paige: In a world where it would ever be possible, Bill Bryson. I’d travel with him and write. He’s an absolutely brilliant author and I think he’s one of the few celebrity-types that would be a true pleasure to get to know.

Erin: Do you have any writing quirks or routines?

Paige: I write in my pajamas. When I’m stuck I find that I reload facebook and twitter about four times in a minute, forgetting each time that I just checked. I like to have snacks. Sometimes, when I’m doing a party or hookup scene, I put on the right music and mix myself a cocktail or three. I’ll have days where I sit down and make no progress at all, and other days where I pound out fifty pages. I guess what I’m saying is I am about the least consistent. Haha

Erin: Who is your dream cast for your book?

Paige: Saorise Ronan could do a very good job I think playing the new girl. She is sweet looking, but has a kick to her.

Chloe Grace Moretz would be a good Becca. She’s pretty and is capable of looking like she’s going to kill you in your sleep.

Logan Lerman can look very dark in the right light. He’d make a good Johnny.

Jeremy Sumpter is pretty boy enough to be Max.

Victoria Justice for Dana.