#BIR2011: Virtuosity by Jessica Martinez

VIRTUOSITY by Jessica Martinez

Now is not the time for Carmen to fall in love. And Jeremy is hands-down the wrong guy for her to fall for. He is infuriating, arrogant, and the only person who can stand in the way of Carmen getting the one thing she wants most: to win the prestigious Guarneri competition. Carmen's whole life is violin, and until she met Jeremy, her whole focus was winning. But what if Jeremy isn't just hot...what if Jeremy is better?

Carmen knows that kissing Jeremy can't end well, but she just can't stay away. Nobody else understands her--and riles her up--like he does. Still, she can't trust him with her biggest secret: She is so desperate to win she takes anti-anxiety drugs to perform, and what started as an easy fix has become a hungry addiction. Carmen is sick of not feeling anything on stage and even more sick of always doing what she’s told, doing what's expected.

Sometimes, being on top just means you have a long way to fall.... (From Goodreads)

You can read my review here.



~INTERVIEW~


I'm very excited to have Jessica Martinez here today as a feature for Best I've Read 2011. Her debut novel is definitely a whirlwind read and so very good! Please take a few minutes to learn more about this amazing author!


How would you describe Virtuosity in three words?

Music. Love. Lies.

Just like Carmen, you are a violinist. How much of what Carmen experiences was drawn from your life?

Carmen’s story is not my own, but everything she experiences is something I personally witnessed in the classical music world. I lived in that world. Stage moms, drug use, corruption—those are all things I saw happening around me.

Books about the arts seem to have become more popular as of late. Why do you think this is?

Good question. I’m not really sure. They certainly weren’t popular when I was writing it, but maybe we were all feeling some subliminal cultural turn towards the fine arts? Who knows? I'm just embracing it!

What are some little-known facts about you?

Ha! I don’t feel like anything is little-known about me anymore—I have been confessing to all manner of weirdness lately. Hmm. I’ll try: I’m an insomniac. I love waking up before everyone else. I’m not very good at decorating my house. I don’t like business or anything money related—I’d rather just create what I want to create and enjoy what I want to enjoy without economics (and bills!) screwing everything up. I'm in love with ice cream. I hate techy things--my cell phone is old school and I barely know how to use it. I can knit something fierce.

What was your favorite book as a child?

Whatever I was reading! I loved all of Roald Dahl’s books, but especially The Witches. I read the Babysitter’s Club series, Nancy Drew, The Narnia Chronicles, Anne of Green Gables—pretty much anything I could get my hands on.

Do you have any upcoming projects that you can tell us about?

My next novel (title still being decided) comes out next fall. It’s about two sisters with a terrible secret. They lie to the world and to each other, but their lies can't save them. That’s a little vague, but the best I can do right now. I should have a cover to show off soon, so be watching for that! Oh, and my good news: I just signed a deal with Simon Pulse for two more books in fall 2013 and 2014!



~GIVEAWAY~
I am very excited to have one copy of VIRTUOSITY to give away!

This contest is open to residents of the U.S. only. Must be 13 to enter. Please see my Contest Policy for more information.

This contest will close on Saturday, December 23 at 12:00 AM CST.

This contest is now closed.



Today the Best I've Read blog is featuring THE IRON QUEEN and THE IRON KNIGHT by Julie Kagawa! Please click here to learn more about this book and author!