Interview with Paige Harbison- Anything To Have You

Please welcome Paige Harbison celebrating her third published novel for Harlequin Teen. She's talking today about her latest release Anything To Have You!

• ISBN-13: 9780373210886
• Publisher: Harlequin
• Publication date: 1/28/2014
• Pages: 304

Overview

Nothing should come between best friends, not even boys. ESPECIALLY not boys.

Natalie and Brooke have had each other's backs forever. Natalie is the quiet one, college bound and happy to stay home and watch old movies. Brooke is the movie—the life of every party, the girl everyone wants to be.

Then it happens—one crazy night that Natalie can't remember and Brooke's boyfriend, Aiden, can't forget.

PRAISE FOR PAIGE'S WORK

"The dialogue is fast paced....The issues she presents are real and the consequences which occur are life-changing." -VOYA

"[An] entertaining and believable drama....Harbison makes it easy to sympathize with and understand both girls.....A realistic look at the difficulty of searching for a direction in life and pursuing one's desires honestly." -Publishers Weekly

"Harbison's good, solid prose displays real insight into the dynamics of the girls' friendship." -Kirkus Reviews

Paige Hi! Welcome back to The Reading Frenzy



You have a brand new novel coming in February called Anything To Have You. Tell us a little about this novel.
-Anything to Have You is an emotionally driven book, about what happens when one girl’s growth and happiness comes from something inherently wrong. Natalie, one of the main characters, has never come out of her shell. But the thing that makes her do it is something that goes against her morals. It explores the emotional complexities of this for Natalie, matched by the feelings of her best friend Brooke. Both Brooke and Natalie are used to Brooke being the one with questionable choices. It’s uncomfortable for both of them when this is reversed.


This is your third published novel for Harlequin Teen. How has your writing changed from your first novel to this one?
-Especially now, moving onto my fourth book, I feel like I am dying to turn every cliché on its ear. While in the beginning I was writing characters and situations I wanted to write and felt comfortable with, my next book is going to be something that really pushes everything for me. Anything to Have You was the first time I wrote with emotions and characters truly driving the plot, as opposed to this happening, then this, then this.



Paige your mom Beth is also a bestselling author. Was this more of an advantage or disadvantage to you when you first came into the business?
-It helped me avoid flying blind into a business I would otherwise know nothing about. And of course the only reason I was able to write books is because I grew up with them being so much of a part of my life.



Do you and your mom discuss the “biz” or do you keep your relationship a “career free zone”?
-No, we totally do. We talk all the time about plot, about waves in what is popular, and about what we want to do with our future projects. We also talk stuff out in specifics. Often one of us will be the one to say about the other’s plot, “Oh my god you know what would be awesome…?”


Do you think you’ll continue writing in the YA/Teen category or do you see yourself graduating to adult fiction in the future?
-I will not write YA forever. I think that it’s only fair to vacate the spot I hold once I grow too distant from the age I’m writing. I’m 23 now, and still feel like I remember it all well enough to write realistically, and I absolutely avoid trying to use new slang or use any dated references. I try to write timelessly so that my books won’t be gibberish in ten years. But I would love, after a bit, to move onto writing a different environment. You can only write fluorescently-lit high school hallways and nagging parents so many times, right?

Since this is the first of the New Year I have to ask. Do you make New Year’s resolutions?
If so what was this years?
-I don’t really make them because I fear breaking them. Haha. I do take it as a general starting point. In general I’m always willing to sacrifice rest or health for a good time. If the choice is between staying up late after bartending and hang out with my co-workers, I always choose the latter. This year I’m going to do my best to start acting a little more like an adult.


So Paige let’s get a little more personal. Is there anything else exciting happening in your personal life right now?
-I’m currently living at the beach in Naples, Florida, and considering a move. I’m young and have an entirely portable career, so the options are always endless. It’s a great freedom, but I also struggle with decisions! So I could be anywhere by this time next year!



What are you working on now?
-I’m getting together my proposal for my fourth book. I can’t say much, because it always evolves so much by the time it hits the shelves, but I think the next one is going to be a big step from the last three I’ve written.

Thanks Paige for letting us into your life a bit.


Will there be any events/signings for either Mean or Anything to Have You?
Not that I know of yet! But you can keep up to date with me at these places.


Connect with Paige Website – Blog – Facebook – Twitter