Amy Brecount White
This week, we’re celebrating Amy Brecount White’s debut! From ages 0 to 9, Amy moved every two or three years all over the country, which she likes to think made her adaptable and open to new places, people, and ideas. She lived in San Francisco, Virginia Beach, Albuquerque, N.M., Lexington, K.Y., and Dayton, Ohio. The library was one of the first places she found anywhere she arrived. She’s always found a home in books.
It really never occurred to her that she could be a writer until she was in college. She always thought she’d do something more “practical,” with a guaranteed salary. (There are no guarantees in writing.) When she ditched the practical by majoring in Great Books at the University of Notre Dame, she began to think about writing as a sideline.
Her first paid writing job was for a health newsletter in Charlottesville, Va., where she was earning an M.A. in English at the University of Virginia. Her first published piece of writing was about … constipation. No kidding.
Along the way, she’s taught English literature and writing to middle and high school students and won a teacher of the year award. She’s written lots of articles – mainly for The Washington Post – about fun things to do in the greater Washington area. She had also written a lot of essays about things she cares about, such as reading aloud to children and protecting the environment.
FORGET-HER-NOTS by Amy Brecount White
Here’s a little bit about FORGET-HER-NOTS (Greenwillow Books).
When someone leaves three mystery flowers outside her dorm door, Laurel thinks that maybe the Avondale School isn’t so awful after all — until her own body starts to freak out. In the middle of her English presentation on the Victorian Language of Flowers, strange words pop into her head, and her body seems to tingle and hum. Impulsively, Laurel gives the love bouquet she made to demonstrate the language to her spinster English teacher. When that teacher unexpectedly and immediately finds romance, Laurel suspects that something — something magical — is up. With her new friend, Kate, she sets out to discover the origins and breadth of her powers by experimenting on herself and others. But she can’t seem to find any living experts in the field of flower powers to guide her. And her bouquets don’t always do her bidding, especially when it comes to her own crush, Justin. Rumors about Laurel and her flowers fly across campus, and she’s soon besieged by requests from girls — both friends and enemies — who want their lives magically transformed — just in time for prom.
If you had to give your book a movie rating: G through Rated R, which one would you give and why?
PG-12. Kids younger than twelve will be put off by some of the poetry throughout the novel and might not appreciate the romance. 
What topics, issues, or themes does your book address? What drove you to write about them?
Friendship, loss, memories, first love, and how to best use the gifts you’ve been given. My own life experiences mostly drove me. I wanted to write about things that I care about – but also have the book be a fun ride to take.
Name three examples of readers who would identify or like your book.
- Anyone ages 12 to 99 who loves flowers.
- Anyone ages 12 & up who likes literary fiction.
- Anyone ages 12 & up who likes an old-fashioned/ newfangled romance.
List a few statistically improbable phrases or sentences one might find in your book. These are phrases or sentences you might never find anywhere else.
- “Conservatories had always seemed like magical places to her.”
- “I feel like my whole body is humming when I’m with flowers.”
- “The honeyed fragrance swirled into her head and swept through her body, leaving a strange trail of lovely words she couldn’t help whispering to herself.”
How can your book be used in the classroom?
My novel explores the historical interaction of humans and flowers, including some Greek mythology, Shakespeare, and several poets. I use a variety of famous historical quotations about flowers as epigraphs for my chapters. I also highlight several historic flower ceremonies, such as a Maypole dance.
While it is fiction, the language of flowers was a real historic phenomenon, and many people still follow it in choosing what flowers or what color to send. Like my main character Laurel, who does a school project on the language of flowers, I think it would be fascinating for classes to explore how flowers are a part of our history and discuss why we include them at so many important and ceremonial occasions.
Now tell us about other already-published books that readers of your book might enjoy.
- Fans of Libba Bray’s Gemma Doyle series will enjoy FORGET-HER-NOTS.
- Fans of Elizabeth Bunce’s A CURSE AS DARK AS GOLD will enjoy the magic realism details of FORGET-HER-NOTS.
Now whet our appetites with a teaser.
A flash on the brown carpet caught Laurel’s eye, and she jumped mid-step to keep from crushing it. “What the –“
Three bright flowers tied with a shiny silver ribbon lay just outside her dormitory door. Her chest fluttered with excitement as she bent to pick them up. There were two small white ones, a red one with a yellow center, and some feathery leaves. She looked both ways, but the hall was dim and empty.
She bit the inside of her lip. Pranking – according to her sophomore cousin, Rose – was one of the more popular hobbies on the campus of the Avondale School, outside Charlottesville, Virginia. Laurel listened for tell-tale giggles to break the silence, but all was still. And there was no note with the flowers.
Could a guy have left them? she wondered.
Are you offering authors visits to schools, libraries, or other organizations?
Yes, I’d love to do school, library, conservatory, botanical garden, and book group visits live or by Skype.
Are you willing to speak nationally?
Yes!
List a few example titles of presentations, talks, or workshops you might give for an author visit.
- As a former freelance journalist with more than 75 articles and essays published in THE WASHINGTON POST, I can speak to how to many any piece of writing better, including non-fiction essays (what most kids write) and fictional works
- As a former high school English teacher, I’m comfortable speaking about anything to do with literature, poetry, and how to engage a literary work
- As an avid gardener and amateur language-of-flowers researcher, I’d love to speak about the relationships between human beings and flowers throughout human history.
This concludes our interview with our latest author, AMY BRECOUNT WHITE. We wish her much success with her debut novel FORGET-HER-NOTS. To see what Amy is up to these days, visit her website at http://www.amybrecountwhite.com or her twitter at http://www.twitter.com/amybrecountwhit.
*GIVEAWAY ALERT* Amy is giving away a signed copy of FORGET-HER-NOTS to a winner and a $10 gift card to Borders to two winners. Tell your friends and leave a comment for the author! Enter by March 9th, 2010 11:59 PM CST. (U.S. and Canadian residents only, please.)
Your email address will not be displayed publicly and will only be used to contact you if you win! And don’t forget to participate in our other AuthorsNow! giveaways.
Comments
1 Carol // Mar 2, 2010 at 7:29 am
What a lovely prize. I would spend it on a book and enjoy a cup of tea with it!
2 InABox // Mar 2, 2010 at 11:13 am
I’ve heard so many great things about Forget-Her-Nots. I hope I get a chance to read it soon!
3 AdrienneGordon // Mar 2, 2010 at 11:43 am
Having read the interview, I really want to read it now!
4 Jen // Mar 2, 2010 at 11:49 am
I, too, have heard great things about Forget-Her-Nots. Thank you for the great giveaway!
5 Nikki Boz // Mar 2, 2010 at 12:03 pm
I would really love to read this book. As a college student I’m short on cash, but would love a signed copy.
6 Linda Peters // Mar 2, 2010 at 12:05 pm
would love to read this, thanks
7 Jessy // Mar 2, 2010 at 1:15 pm
I would LOVE to win this book. I can’t wait to finally be able to read this. I think it sounds really original.
8 Ann F // Mar 2, 2010 at 2:38 pm
This sounds like an interesting book that I’d like to read. Please enter me in the giveaway.
9 Cherie J // Mar 2, 2010 at 3:20 pm
I have always been fascinated by the language of flowers and have a few books on my shelfs about it. What a terrific idea to base a story on it. Sounds like a book I would enjoy reading. Please enter me in this wonderful giveaway. Thank you!
10 Yan // Mar 2, 2010 at 3:28 pm
I find it interesting how I would know the meaning of a certain flower than discover that I was completely way off. Definitely intrigued on how the author incorporates the meaning of flowers here.
11 Joanne Schultz // Mar 2, 2010 at 4:13 pm
This book sounds great! I’ll have to put it on my to-read list.
Thanks for the giveaway!
12 Chloe // Mar 2, 2010 at 5:02 pm
This book sounds awesome.. and totally original concept! I’d love to be entered
Thanks for the giveaway!!
13 Kelly H. // Mar 2, 2010 at 6:58 pm
What a great interview. Amy, you have done so much in your career. Please enter me in the giveaway! Thanks so much!
14 susan wiener // Mar 2, 2010 at 7:08 pm
I’d luv to win this. Thx much. Book sounds great!
15 Shari D // Mar 2, 2010 at 7:16 pm
This sounds like a great book, that I would love to read!
16 Danielle Crown // Mar 2, 2010 at 7:28 pm
forget me knots are my birth flower – thank you for the opportunity
17 Betty N // Mar 2, 2010 at 8:24 pm
Great interview…I look forward to reading the book
18 Kristi C // Mar 3, 2010 at 5:54 am
Good interview. The book sound interesting. I like finding books I can share with my teenager.
19 Heather s // Mar 3, 2010 at 6:54 am
The book sounds great. It is on my new reading list.
20 deb c // Mar 3, 2010 at 8:22 am
Sounds great, would love to read.
21 david basile // Mar 3, 2010 at 10:29 am
book sounds great
22 Lori berman // Mar 3, 2010 at 12:44 pm
Looks like a great book
23 Linda Lansford // Mar 3, 2010 at 1:32 pm
I am ready to read
24 Monique Rizzo // Mar 3, 2010 at 2:30 pm
This book sounds like something right up my alley. Thanks for the chance.
mogrill@comcast.net
25 Mellissa C // Mar 3, 2010 at 2:37 pm
This book sounds great!
26 barbara wright // Mar 3, 2010 at 2:56 pm
I hadn’t heard of Forget-her-nots before. It sounds really good!
27 Amber // Mar 3, 2010 at 3:57 pm
I am looking forward to reading your book when it comes out. It sounds like it is going to be really good.
28 Amber H. // Mar 3, 2010 at 3:59 pm
I think the book sounds really awesome. Please enter me in the giveaway.
29 Lia // Mar 3, 2010 at 4:18 pm
I’m looking forward to read this book!
30 Andrea // Mar 3, 2010 at 8:09 pm
This book is on my WL and I would love the chance to read it!
31 Jill // Mar 3, 2010 at 9:27 pm
I love the cover of this book – very pretty. Thanks for the chance at it!
32 Briana (The Book Pixie) // Mar 4, 2010 at 2:48 pm
I would love to be entered to win this book. It is so beautiful and sounds like a great read. I actually have a reproduction paperback copy of The Language of Flowers by Kate Greenaway that I picked up at a library sale for $0.25. It is really interesting and I always carry it in my purse.
~Briana
33 Jeff // Mar 5, 2010 at 6:55 am
Great prize to encourage people to possibly read.
34 Katrina // Mar 5, 2010 at 11:16 am
sounds a little different but interesting…..great giveaway
35 Sarah // Mar 5, 2010 at 12:17 pm
Sounds like a good read. Hope I win!
36 angie // Mar 5, 2010 at 8:03 pm
the book sounds great and to win it would be wonderful
shopannies@yahoo.com
37 Terra Heck // Mar 6, 2010 at 1:13 am
This seems like an intriguing book I’d like to read. Thanks.
partymix25(at)hotmail(dot)com
38 Sandra Stiles // Mar 6, 2010 at 6:29 am
I love the idea of flowers working magic. Growing up in the country my sisters and I used wildflowers (weeds as my mother called them) in all of our play activity. They’ve always held magic for me. Sounds like a great book. It is now on my TBR list
39 Llehn // Mar 6, 2010 at 10:56 am
I’d love to play please!
40 julieh // Mar 6, 2010 at 2:33 pm
This book sounds really interesting!
41 Lindsey // Mar 6, 2010 at 3:36 pm
I love the premise of your book! I am very fond of flowers myself and would love to read it
42 Suzanne K // Mar 6, 2010 at 4:54 pm
I love flowers and am glad to see more of them in books!
43 JAMES LYNAM // Mar 6, 2010 at 5:36 pm
RETIRED NOT BY CHOICE.
SO WOULD LIKE TO WIN.
44 Annette E // Mar 6, 2010 at 6:06 pm
Sounds like a book that I would love.
45 Jenn S. // Mar 6, 2010 at 10:18 pm
Have read some great reviews of this book. Can’t wait to read it.
46 Ashley // Mar 7, 2010 at 1:19 pm
Hey, I can’t wait to read your book. Sounds SWEET!!! Love ya!
47 Kimberly R // Mar 7, 2010 at 5:27 pm
This sounds like a really interesting book.
48 Diane Baum // Mar 7, 2010 at 7:38 pm
The book sounds interesting
49 Carolyn // Mar 7, 2010 at 9:49 pm
I would love to read this book, i read about it on goodreads.com
50 Ani // Mar 7, 2010 at 10:24 pm
Sounds interesting, love to read it.
51 Linda Kish // Mar 7, 2010 at 10:37 pm
I would love to read this book.
lkish77123 at gmail dot com
52 Erica C. // Mar 8, 2010 at 6:55 am
I haven’t heard of anyone discussing the interactions of humans and flowers throughout history. It seems interesting.
53 Rachel G // Mar 8, 2010 at 7:34 am
The book sounds like such a great read
I also find the topic very original and different than any other books I have come across recently!
54 Rhonda Struthers // Mar 8, 2010 at 8:28 am
Great topic.
I would like to read this
rhondastruthers atyahoo dot ca
55 Marc // Mar 8, 2010 at 9:00 am
As a guy I had always shunned this kind of novel because it was “for women” but I was bored senseless one day and picked up one of my girlfriend’s novels and was pleasantly surprised. This novel looks like it could fall into that category.
56 carol y l // Mar 8, 2010 at 12:41 pm
Thank you to Amy for this! Looks like a good read that I would enjoy! Thanks Authors Now!
57 katie s. // Mar 8, 2010 at 1:02 pm
I would like to thank you for writing about happy things. Too much of the world today is focused on negatives and conflicts, its nice to read about romance, happy endings, flowers, poetry, and the like. Thanks for the giveaway too, free stuff is happy too
58 Amanda Baird // Mar 8, 2010 at 3:06 pm
I can’t wait to read this!!!
59 Sarah // Mar 8, 2010 at 3:53 pm
enter me!
60 Ed Nemmers // Mar 8, 2010 at 5:29 pm
I like the intriguing premise of this book!
61 Angela Winesburg // Mar 8, 2010 at 7:50 pm
I’d love to read this, thanks for the chance!
62 christopher h // Mar 9, 2010 at 3:17 am
a great prize – thanks for the chance
63 May Schultz // Mar 9, 2010 at 6:37 am
This book sounds SO interesting I would love to read it.
64 Adam Lipkin // Mar 9, 2010 at 7:01 am
I’d love a chance to win and read this.
65 Geoff K // Mar 9, 2010 at 7:03 am
“Forget-Her-Nots” sounds like a winner to me! I’m going to recommend it to my niece for sure – she’s a voracious reader, and the fact that she’s still adjusting at a new school probably means she’d get a lot from the book and the situation of the main character. Thanks!
66 Pamela S // Mar 9, 2010 at 10:55 am
Sounds like a very interesting book that my teen daughter and I could both read. Thanks for the interview!!
67 Trina // Mar 9, 2010 at 11:11 am
Sounds like it would be a fun read. Thanks for the chance to win one.
68 Megan // Mar 9, 2010 at 11:20 am
This sounds like an awesome book! Thanks for the giveaway!
69 Susan Smith // Mar 9, 2010 at 12:38 pm
Sounds like a great book
70 Francine Anchondo // Mar 9, 2010 at 4:40 pm
Sounds like a good book.
71 Gianna // Mar 9, 2010 at 5:40 pm
Please enter me
72 Annemarie // Mar 9, 2010 at 8:54 pm
Lovely article!
73 Melanei // Mar 9, 2010 at 9:21 pm
Im a HUGE fan of Libba Bray’s series, and was sad when it ended so Im excited to read this since it was recommended for Libba Bray fans!
74 Heather // Mar 9, 2010 at 9:27 pm
It sounds like such a good book!
75 vivian // Mar 9, 2010 at 10:26 pm
nice article ty
76 Chrysa // Mar 9, 2010 at 10:30 pm
Looks great! Thanks for the giveaway!
77 Lily Kwan // Mar 9, 2010 at 11:33 pm
This book sounds very interesting. I’ll definitely check it out!
78 Veronica Garrett // Mar 9, 2010 at 11:41 pm
It sounds like a great book. I would love to read it.
79 Pothi - Admin Assist - AuthorsNow! // Mar 10, 2010 at 8:21 am
Congratulations Kelly, Briana, and Kristi!
You’ve won this Spotlight!
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