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Runaway with Meg Cabot--And an Awesome Prize Pack!
Good news! Meg Cabot, author of the ever-so-popular Princess Diaries series, is coming out with a brand new book from her Airhead trilogy called Runaway, in stores April 20.
Gearing up for her latest release, we got Meg on the phone and, let’s just say, talking to her was like having a chat with our BFF—fun and laidback. Here, she dishes tips on how to write, and tells us why having self-confidence is so important. Check it out…
GL: The protagonist in Runaway is a model. Why will regular girls love this story?
Meg: She started as a regular girl in the first book of the series and had a horrible accident where she woke up in a model’s body because she had a brain transplant. In Runaway, she’s made this startling discovery about this [model], whoever they thought was dead, and she has to solve the mystery of why they tried to kill this girl and put her brain in her body. It’s this huge mystery.
What kind of idea about body image do you think Runaway reinforces?
This girl whose brain is put into this model is a horrible person. Even though this girl is beautiful, she is just mean. You could be the most beautiful girl in the world, which this girl was, but if you’re just not a nice person, people will hate you. It doesn’t matter that you have these great looks.
You’ve written so many other books for young adults and teenagers. What were you like when you were a teenager?
What’s your take on self-esteem?
[It] comes [from] within. It’s important that you have self-confidence. I think that’s why sometimes we see these girls who maybe aren’t the prettiest in school, but all the guys really like her and the reason is because she’s [comfortable] being herself. She’s laughing and has a good sense of humor. That’s something I try to address in my books because I hear so much from girls being so down on themselves.
What do you wish someone had told the teenage version of yourself?
I was so stressed out about getting into college. Kids are so worried about that today and if you don’t get into that Ivy League school or that “A” in Algebra, your life is going to be over. Parents are seriously hardcore about that and it is so not true. Your life is not going to be over if you don’t get into [the perfect college]. I did flunk algebra and my parents were so upset. I ended up [being] fine.
What would you tell girls who want to write, but don’t know what to write or where to begin?
The best thing to write about is something that you want to have happen. When I wrote the Princess Diaries series, I always wanted to turn out to be a princess. Or write about something you really hate because it’s important to be passionate about what you’re writing. Write about somebody you secretly have a crush on or something that you are really excited about. And then, write in your own voice. Don’t try to make it fancy. Just tell it the way you would tell it to your friends.
Be sure to grab Runaway when it lands on shelves April 20, then let us know your thoughts.
Win Big!
Can’t get enough of Meg’s books? GL’s got ya covered! We’re giving away all three books in Meg’s Airhead trilogy AND a $200 gift card to Sephora to ONE bookworm babe! TWO other winners will each receive a copy of Runaway.
CLICK HERE for your chance to enter. Contest ends APRIL 24.
By: Megan Parker
Gearing up for her latest release, we got Meg on the phone and, let’s just say, talking to her was like having a chat with our BFF—fun and laidback. Here, she dishes tips on how to write, and tells us why having self-confidence is so important. Check it out…
GL: The protagonist in Runaway is a model. Why will regular girls love this story?
Meg: She started as a regular girl in the first book of the series and had a horrible accident where she woke up in a model’s body because she had a brain transplant. In Runaway, she’s made this startling discovery about this [model], whoever they thought was dead, and she has to solve the mystery of why they tried to kill this girl and put her brain in her body. It’s this huge mystery.
What kind of idea about body image do you think Runaway reinforces?
This girl whose brain is put into this model is a horrible person. Even though this girl is beautiful, she is just mean. You could be the most beautiful girl in the world, which this girl was, but if you’re just not a nice person, people will hate you. It doesn’t matter that you have these great looks.
You’ve written so many other books for young adults and teenagers. What were you like when you were a teenager?
I did think that the girls in my school who were super into makeup and fashion were snobby. But I eventually started realizing that fashion is really fun and it does give you a boost of confidence when you have something cool that you look good in. It doesn’t have to be the newest, most expensive thing.
[It] comes [from] within. It’s important that you have self-confidence. I think that’s why sometimes we see these girls who maybe aren’t the prettiest in school, but all the guys really like her and the reason is because she’s [comfortable] being herself. She’s laughing and has a good sense of humor. That’s something I try to address in my books because I hear so much from girls being so down on themselves.
At what age were you allowed to date?
I wasn’t allowed to go out on a date until I was 15. My parents were fine with group dates, but I wasn’t allowed to go out until the boy had come to my house and met my parents.What do you wish someone had told the teenage version of yourself?
I was so stressed out about getting into college. Kids are so worried about that today and if you don’t get into that Ivy League school or that “A” in Algebra, your life is going to be over. Parents are seriously hardcore about that and it is so not true. Your life is not going to be over if you don’t get into [the perfect college]. I did flunk algebra and my parents were so upset. I ended up [being] fine.
What would you tell girls who want to write, but don’t know what to write or where to begin?
The best thing to write about is something that you want to have happen. When I wrote the Princess Diaries series, I always wanted to turn out to be a princess. Or write about something you really hate because it’s important to be passionate about what you’re writing. Write about somebody you secretly have a crush on or something that you are really excited about. And then, write in your own voice. Don’t try to make it fancy. Just tell it the way you would tell it to your friends.
Be sure to grab Runaway when it lands on shelves April 20, then let us know your thoughts.
Win Big!
Can’t get enough of Meg’s books? GL’s got ya covered! We’re giving away all three books in Meg’s Airhead trilogy AND a $200 gift card to Sephora to ONE bookworm babe! TWO other winners will each receive a copy of Runaway.
CLICK HERE for your chance to enter. Contest ends APRIL 24.
By: Megan Parker
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