In 140 words or less, tell us a little about you.   I’m a Naïve New Yorker. I grew up surrounded by art, music, and books.  My sisters and I went to Broadway plays, off-Broadway plays, and Alvin Ailey Dance performances almost every week! I gather these influences helped mold my quirky, energetic, and fun-spirited personality. I’m quite the social butterfly. Although, I do have a quiet side to me, where I like to isolate myself from the world and read a good book, or write!!   

In 140 words or less, tell us why your  book would make a great addition to our personal library.  Summer Love, Pink Snowballs, and a Splash of Hater-aid is part of a five book teen series. The series is about a group of friends from diverse backgrounds who share their significant teen years growing and maturing together at Latimar High.  

 In Summer love, Pink Snowballs, and a Splash of Hater-aid, love is definitely in the air at Latimar High. But as the love bug bites Lauren and her friends, Lauren discovers that she has a nemesis-Lina, the new girl at school, and Lina wants much more than Lauren’s spot as editor of the school paper. However, Lina is not the only one sneaking around and plotting. Someone has wicked plans for Rosalyn, too. New love is put to the test, friendships are broken, and trust is hanging by a thread at Latimar High. 

 When you write, do you develop the plot or the characters first?  Why? I would say the plot because I usually get inspired by something, such as a song, that takes me back to a special place, or the weather, a thunderstorm or a foggy night. And then I visualize the concept, and then write it down. And believe it not, the characters start evolving as I write.  

 You are a young adult author.  Did you choose this genre or did it choose you?  Do you have a desire to write in any other genres?  If so, which ones?  As far back as I can remember, I’ve always delved into the tween and teen genre. I remember when I was about eleven-years-old I wrote a story called, “A girl name Celeste.” And then another story called “A room with a garbage view.” There’s a part of me that never grew up and because of this, I can draw from “my inner teen” and write young adult fiction. Another major influence in my YA writings is my son. Being a single mom, my son and I are very close. And I made it my business to know ALL of his friends and their idiosyncrasies. (Yep, my house was “The Club House” for my son’s friends all through high school. Even now, his buddies still come over. lol).

 As a writer, I consider myself to be creatively diverse. I have written three screen plays. In fact, one of my scripts was optioned in 1998.  I also write Adult fiction. There’s an unfinished manuscript that I need to finish-it’s a romance novel! Will I finish it? Yes, hopefully next year. This year my son and I are collaborating on a children’s book. Oh, my son, Thomas, is a very talented artist. He’s the illustrator of my book covers.  

 What’s the main message you want readers to take away from Summer Love, Pink Snowballs, and a Splash of Hater-aid?  Well, it’s written for the teen market. So, I would say for teens to realize that “growing pains,” are just part of that awkward transition to adulthood. So when you have problems, you may think, “Oh, my God, it’s the end of the world!” But it really isn’t. Things have a way of working out, and in the process, making you a stronger person.

 Describe a day in the life of Debbie Copeland.  I’m like an oxymoron. There are days that I wake up and my day is completely structured and organized:  Shower, coffee/breakfast, turn on laptop, check emails and Blogs, more coffee, water the plants, write three hours straight without a break, ignoring phone calls, IM’s until I full-fill my three hours of  “creative zone time.”  But some days I totally deviate from my own rules and find myself packing to go on a road trip to San Francisco with some friends, like right now! Lol…We’re leaving on Monday, hitting the road for some adventure and fun!

 If you had to name a smell that always makes you nostalgic, what would it be? What sorts of memories does the smell evoke?  The smell of the rain makes me nostalgic. It doesn’t rain much in California, but when it does, I stop everything I’m doing. I turn down the radio or TV, or I pull over in my car to watch it fall. The smell of rain takes me back to New York…my childhood, walking my dog, Tip, in the rain and singing, “Singing in the rain.”  (Yeah, I actually did that  lol)…But most of all, I remember sitting on the porch with my mother; she and I quietly watching the rain fall; it’s magical rhythm calming and soothing us.   

You have to be escorted to work by a mime, a marching band, or a color commentator… which would you prefer and why? LOL…What a great question! Definitely a marching band! Everyone knows when Debbie Copeland has entered a room. I’m very outgoing and sociable. My son told me once that I should have my own talk show because I can start a conversation about anything. Yeah, okay, I can admit it, I’m bubbly and boisterous. LOL 

   If you were to choose any fictitious world in any piece of literature, which place or book would you live in and why?  I would love to be zapped to Narnia.  C.S. Lewis captures a world where humans, mythical creatures, and animals that talk abound together. The land itself is breathtaking. I, for one, would love to wake up in a beautiful forest where trees talk amongst each other and tree fairies come to life and dance right before your eyes. Why would I want to live there? Well, it seems I’m always seeking beauty and peace amongst a decaying world that we live in.  

April is National Poetry Month.  Are you a poetry writer or lover?  If so, share with us one of your favorite poems or tell us who is one of your favorite poets and why.  I do write poetry. I wrote A LOT of poetry when I was a teenager. I haven’t written a poem in a long time, like four years! Mainly because I’ve been too busy writing books. But when the mood strikes me, I like to read E. E. Cummings or Robert Frost because I’m a total romantic and a nature lover. One of my favorite poems by E. E. Cumming is, “in Just.”  (Spelled just like that, by the way, no CAP on “in” Lol).    

Debbie, thanks so much for taking time out of your busy schedule to hang out with APOOO!