About Joanna
Joanna Karaplis is from Vancouver but now makes her home in Toronto with her husband and two cats. Fractured: Happily Never After? is her first published book. Besides writing, she also enjoys reading (both printed books and e-books), swing dancing, and stand-up comedy. She blogs sporadically at www.joannakaraplis.com.
About the Book
But what would happen if Snow White were around today? Would Cinderella still need a fairy godmother? And would the Little Mermaid show up on YouTube?
Joanna Karaplis has put an unexpected spin on Snow White, Cinderella, and The Little Mermaid; she’s quietly fractured the stories and then reassembled them for the 21st Century. So, while there may not be a whole lot of horse-drawn carriages and magic potions, you can be sure that there will be at least one evil witch and maybe even a handsome prince (or two)…
Published in November 2010 by McKellar & Martin Publishing Group Ltd. You can order online at Amazon.ca (support the publisher by using the link on their website!), Chapters Indigo, or McNally Robinson.
Read what bloggers and other reviewers have said about Fractured at http://www.joannakaraplis.com/reviews/
Get to Know Joanna Karaplis
JOANNA: I love Halloween, because I like dressing up and seeing everyone else's creative costumes, but my favourite holiday is Christmas. Lots of people complain about Christmas decorations going up as soon as Halloween is over, but I don't mind. It's one of the only things I enjoy about winter. I love seeing houses and trees decorated in lights, and hearing Christmas carols. I also enjoy that it's a nice long holiday and you can justify lounging around the house in your pjs for a few days. I'm less concerned with buying or receiving presents or hosting a big meal--perhaps that's why I find it relaxing rather than stressful!
MAUREEN: Cats or dogs?
JOANNA: My husband smugly insists that he turned me into a cat person, but I insist that I'm just a currently-dogless dog person who happens to have two cats. (Still following?) Luckily for me, my cats exhibit many fine dog-like qualities: they run to greet me when I come home, they like tummy rubs, and sometimes they play fetch. Once we have a dog lifestyle, I'll probably get a dog--nothing beats their devotion and enthusiasm!--but for now, I don't have the time to give a dog all the walks it deserves. The cats are far lazier, and thus lower maintenance.
MAUREEN: Did you belong to a clique in high school? Which one of the standard high school stereotypes did you best fit into?
JOANNA: I was a total nerd. Editor of the school paper, Star Trek fan, avid reader of science fiction, and completely uninterested in fashion. Initially, I tried to hide my nerd tendencies, but I don't think I ever fooled anyone, and by the time I was fifteen, I was proudly flying my geek flag by wearing Black Adder t-shirts and mismatched quirky socks, quoting Monty Python, and not being ashamed if anyone else thought the things I liked were weird or uncool. I'm still a huge nerd, but I think I dress better now. A little.
MAUREEN: Salsa or guacamole?
JOANNA: Tomatoes give me heartburn and I don't like avocados, so my original answer was "neither." However, when I started dating my husband, he made me guacamole and I tried it to be polite (ok, and because he was cute). Good thing I did, because it was delicious! I still don't like avocados, but now I love guacamole.
MAUREEN: What turns you off like nothing else?
JOANNA: Cruelty and hate. I'm not religious, but I think "do unto others as you would have them do unto you" is a great principle to live by.
MAUREEN: Where do you most like to read and how often?
JOANNA: My preferred spot is by the window at home. I read daily, at home and on my subway commute, and I generally finish a minimum of a book a week. In fact, I should probably read a little less so that I have more time to write instead! I especially love young adult fiction, both realistic stories and dystopian ones.
Gotta Ask, Gotta Answer
MAUREEN: What was your favorite book when you were twelve?
JOANNA: When I was twelve, I read The Call of the Wild by Jack London, and then I went looking for other tales of dogs and wolves in the wilderness. I began reading lots of books by Jim Kjelgaard--Big Red, Irish Red, Snow Dog. They were always about a young boy and his dog surviving in the wilderness together. A bit of a change from the Baby-Sitters Club books I'd read when I was a bit younger!
Joanna Asks Readers:
What do you like to know about your favourite authors, and does knowing more about them affect how you read their books?
Keep in Touch with Joanna Here:
Website: www.joannakaraplis.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Joanna-Karaplis/167972656568843
Twitter: www.twitter.com/JoKaraplis
Thanks so much for a great interview, Joanna! Readers, come back tomorrow for an interview with author Danielle Younge-Ullman.
Welcome to GLIAS, Joanna. I love fairy tells rewritten for the 21st century. How fun.
ReplyDeleteI think knowing more about authors gives me an additional connection to them when I read. And if I've spoken with them, well, I hear their voice and inflection when I read their work.
BEST OF LUCK!
~Angi
Hi Joanna,
ReplyDeleteLove the idea of fractured fairy tales!
I think when I read a book, I want to get lost in the story (ha!) and not think too much about the author. But I enjoy knowing something about all authors, because they are kindred spirits!