Interview With Author Brian Katcher

                                                  ALMOST PERFECT

I've had the funniest interview, I think I've done yet. Brian Katcher author of (Almost Perfect) writes with such feeling, you feel the hope,sadness, and passion in each one of his characters. (Almost Perfect) is a story to inspire and inform the ages. I'm lost for words, with reading this book, because it takes such a fragile situation and transitions it into a large lesson. Brain inspires people to accept, and love, or at least have an open mind. It's going on the favorites list

I was inspired to interview Brian about his book, because one of my greatest friends told me about (Almost Perfect). I read it and realized that it was a book that spoke words to any reader. I sent Brian A request for the interview, and two minutes later I get an e-mail telling me he would do the interview. I cried I was so excited.

I'm so glad that there are authors like Brian who takes situations and changes them into lessons for adults, young adults, and children. Thank you so much, Brian for the interview, and I can't wait for your new book!

                             Interview With Brian Katcher

1. Are you working on anything new?

My newest book, The Improbable Theory of Ana and Zak, comes out May 19th. It's the story of Ana, a straight laced, type A girl who lives in fear of her dictatorial parents, and Zak, a slacker sci-fi geek, who have to sneak into a comic book convention to find Ana's little brother Clayton, who snuck away from a school trip. Insanity results.

I'm currently working on a new book at the request of my editor. More on that soon.

2. What in your life inspired you to write Almost Perfect, and why did you write it?

I was utterly and completely shocked when my first book, Playing With Matches, was published. I wanted to write a second book while my editor was still interested in seeing a book from me.

3. Sage in Almost Perfect is a transgender character, why did you chose a transgender as a main character?

I wanted to write a boy meets girl story that hadn't been done a thousand times. When I hit upon the idea of a heterosexual boy falling for a transgender girl, I tried it out as a short story. My writers' group told me that if I was going to attempt something like this, I needed to do it as a novel or not bother. It was just too deep a subject.

I started interviewing transpeople via the internet. I was amazed at their incredible stories and struggles. The more I learned, the more I wanted to tell Sage's story. I was honored when the ALA awarded me the Stonewall Book Award in 2011 for Almost Perfect.  I hope the book helped people understand the difficulties faced by transpeople.

4. What inspired the ending of Almost Perfect?

I've caught hell for that ending. The whole time I was writing the book, I expected to end with Logan and Sage living happily ever after. But the thing is, Logan didn't deserve Sage, at least not yet. He let her down too many times. Maybe they'll meet again one day, but for now, Sage has to make her own way. My big regret about the ending is that I didn't make it clearer that Sage would stay female no matter what.

5. What message would you like to send your readers'?

Enjoy life to the fullest. Enjoy your friends while you can still see them every day. Listen to your parents, but make your own decisions. The extended warranty is usually a rip off. Saturday Night Live was always the funniest the year  you started watching it. Travel while you can. Houses are enormous money pits. Be the person people talk about. Stand up for those people like to pick on. The people who pick on you will grow up to be sad and lonely adults. Read. Pursue a hobby. 

I turned forty this week and I look back with few regrets. Most of my regrets are not asking out girls in high school who might have liked me in retrospect.  

Buy my books.

6. How do you define yourself, and why? 

your·self

yərˈself/

used to refer to the person being addressed as the object of a verb or preposition when they are also the subject of the clause.

why

[hwahy, wahy]

     for what? for what reason, cause, or purpose?

Summary of (Almost Perfect)...

Logan Witherspoon befriends Sage Hendricks at a time when he no longer trusts or believes in people. As time goes on, he finds himself drawn to Sage, pulled in by her deep, but sexy feminine voice and her constant smile. Eventually Logan’s feelings for Sage grow so strong that he can’t resist kissing her. Moments later, he wishes he never had. Sage finally discloses her big secret: she was born a boy. Enraged, frightened, and feeling betrayed, Logan lashes out at Sage. Once his anger has cooled, however, his regrets lead him to attempt to rekindle their friendship. But it’s hard to replace something that’s been broken—and it’s even harder to find your way back to friendship when you began with love.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5982474-almost-perfect

If you would like to purchase any of Brian Katcher's novels please visit these sites...

Books:

The Improbable Theory of Ana and Zak

Everyone Dies in the End

Almost Perfect

Playing With Matches

Sites:

http://www.amazon.com/Almost-Perfect-Brian-Katcher/dp/0385736657

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/almost-perfect-brian-katcher/1100291818?ean=9780385736657