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AUTHOR SPOTLIGHT: C.J. Omololu, DIRTY LITTLE SECRETS (GIVEAWAY ALERT NOW – 12/08/09)

Posted on December 1st, 2009 by Cynthia Jaynes Omololu · Email post Email post · Print Print

Cynthia Jaynes Omololu

Cynthia Jaynes Omololu

This week, we’re celebrating C.J. Omololu’s debut! Cynthia Jaynes Omololu majored in English at U.C. Santa Barbara because she liked to read, not because she liked to write. In fact, for years all of her journals ended on or about January 21st because writing about her life was well…boring. After her kids were born, she discovered that she did like to write about the lives of fictional people, and that the voices in her head often have interesting things to say.

Cynthia lives in Northern California with her Nigerian husband (hence the vowel-filled last name) and two sons.

Here’s a little bit about DIRTY LITTLE SECRETS (Walker).

From the outside, Lucy’s home looks normal. Inside the front door is where the secrets begin. Towering piles of newspaper and magazines. Bags of junk flooding every inch of open space. The line of mold creeping along the window frames. This is what she’s kept from everyone—that her mother’s compulsive hoarding has reduced their lives to garbage . . . literally.

With only two years until graduation, Lucy finally feels like a normal life is within her grasp, and her new best friend, Kaylie, and her longtime crush, Josh, make a future feel almost possible.

Then one morning Lucy comes home to find something she never expected, something that will change her life forever. And she must ask herself—how far can she really go to keep the family secrets safe?

DIRTY LITTLE SECRETS by C.J. Omololu

DIRTY LITTLE SECRETS by C.J. Omololu

If you had to give your book a movie rating: G through Rated R, which one would you give and why?

PG-13. No sex, but some kissing and a little swearing. Oh yeah, a dead mother. Like right-there dead, not in the abstract.

What topics, issues, or themes does your book address? What drove you to write about them?

DIRTY LITTLE SECRETS is about the mental disorder of compulsive hoarding and what it does to a family. It’s also about how keeping secrets gives them power over you, and that no matter how bad they are, someone can always help you.

I got the idea from a magazine article about a woman who had grown up in a hoarded home. I didn’t grow up in this situation, but I’ve known some hoarders and have seen what the disorder can do. Once you start talking about it, it’s amazing how common the problem really is – almost everyone has known someone with some degree of hoarding. There wasn’t as much media exposure when I started writing this book, but now there is even a series on A&E called Hoarders.

Name three examples of readers who would identify or like your book.

DIRTY LITTLE SECRETS is for anyone who has had hoarding touch their lives or who is interested in the disorder. I think it would also appeal to people who have felt they had a big secret that they had to keep. As depressing as the subject sounds, I find the book one of hope and survival, so it really has broad appeal to anyone over the age of 12 (that’s been my own benchmark so far). There’s also a romance thread, because what is a YA book without a romance thread?

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.

  • As it ripped away from the base, the pile of papers flipped into the air, and several of the maggots were flung off them and into my face like a larval rain shower.
  • Over the past couple of years, I’d told people that Mom had a brain tumor, multiple sclerosis, epilepsy, Alzheimer’s, kidney failure, and irritable bowel syndrome as reasons for why I couldn’t do something or have them over.
  • I reached out and curled my hand around her still, icy fingers. I held it there for a long time as I sat with my knees to my chest, wishing that just for a minute she could squeeze it back and tell me everything would be okay.

How can your book be used in the classroom?

DIRTY LITTLE SECRETS is a great springboard for discussion about how we all have secrets and how they affect our lives. A large portion of the book is written in flashbacks, so it is an unusual example of this writing style.

Now tell us about other already-published books that readers of your book might enjoy.

Kids who like edgy books by Laurie Halse Anderson or Ellen Hopkins would probably enjoy DIRTY LITTLE SECRETS. I love the new book The Mark by Jen Nadol (my sister in publishing) and think that readers who enjoy that would enjoy this.

Now whet our appetites with a teaser.

Everyone has secrets. Some are just bigger and dirtier than others.

At least that’s what I told myself whenever I stood in a crowd of normal-looking people and felt like I was the only one. The only person on the planet who had to hide practically everything that was real. It was soothing to look at all the unfamiliar faces and try to figure out the thing each person hid inside – true or not, it made me feel like less of a freak.

Are you offering authors visits to schools, libraries, or other organizations?

Yes.

Are you willing to speak nationally?

Yes.

List a few example titles of presentations, talks, or workshops you might give for an author visit.

  • How to write sympathetically about an unsympathetic subject.
  • Follow your “what ifs” into a great story.
  • Your DIRTY LITTLE SECRETS – how they can change your life.

This concludes our interview with our latest author, C.J. Omololu. We wish her much success with her debut novel DIRTY LITTLE SECRETS. To see what C.J.  is up to these days, visit her website at http://www.cjomololu.com or her blog at http://www.cynjay.blogspot.com.

*GIVEAWAY ALERT* C.J. is giving away a signed copy of DIRTY LITTLE SECRETS. Tell your friends and leave a comment for the author! Enter by December 8th, 2009 11:59 PM CST.

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.

Categories: Author Spotlight · Contests

About The Author

Cynthia Jaynes Omololu
Cynthia Jaynes Omololu majored in English at U.C. Santa Barbara because she liked to read, not because she liked to write. In fact, for years all of her journals ended on or about January 21st because writing about her life was well…boring. After her kids were born, she discovered that she did like to write about the lives of fictional people, and that the voices in her head often have interesting things to say.  Read more about Cynthia Jaynes Omololu.

Related posts:

  1. Dirty Little Secrets by C.J. Omololu
  2. Author Spotlight: Donna St. Cyr, THE SECRETS OF THE CHEESE SYNDICATE (Giveaway Alert Now – 10/27/09)
  3. CONNECT WITH CYNTHIA JAYNES OMOLOLU: How Important is Branding?
  4. Connect With Cynthia Jaynes Omololu: Boy Books
  5. Author Spotlight: J.A. Yang, EXCLUSIVELY CHLOE (Giveaway Alert Now – 11/17/09)

Comments

  • 1 Lauren // Dec 1, 2009 at 7:13 am

    I would love to enter, since your book looks so great! :)

  • 2 Jessica Kennedy // Dec 1, 2009 at 8:38 am

    Interesting topic! Sounds like an original book. I’d love to check it out!

  • 3 sbklinda // Dec 1, 2009 at 9:44 am

    I feel like I’ve been waiting for this book forever! Can’t wait to read it and would be super excited if I just happened to win.

  • 4 bunnyb // Dec 1, 2009 at 11:37 am

    Sounds like an interesting read! I would love to read this. Thanks! :)

  • 5 Jess // Dec 1, 2009 at 12:12 pm

    I’d love to be entered for this giveaway. I’ve heard great things about this book!

  • 6 Ann F // Dec 1, 2009 at 3:00 pm

    This sounds like an interesting book that I’d like to read. Please enter me in the giveaway.

  • 7 Yan // Dec 1, 2009 at 5:31 pm

    The second sentence–”Over the past couple of years, I’d told people that Mom had a brain tumor, multiple sclerosis, epilepsy, Alzheimer’s, kidney failure, and irritable bowel syndrome as reasons for why I couldn’t do something or have them over”–was definitely one that I have never read before lol

    Really interested in this book :)

  • 8 Jessy // Dec 1, 2009 at 5:45 pm

    I can’t believe people would live like this (maggots?). It sounds really interesting can’t wait to read it.

  • 9 Lindsey // Dec 1, 2009 at 6:07 pm

    Wow. I saw this book on GoodReads and cannot wait for it!

  • 10 danielle // Dec 1, 2009 at 8:21 pm

    Enter me, please!

  • 11 Andrea // Dec 1, 2009 at 9:00 pm

    I want to know what Lucy found! Please enter me!

  • 12 Denise // Dec 1, 2009 at 9:06 pm

    I got some really great goodies for this book I am really excite for it :)

  • 13 Candace // Dec 2, 2009 at 1:40 am

    This sounds so intriguing! Would love to be entered in the contest!

  • 14 Sasha // Dec 2, 2009 at 3:34 am

    Oh, I want to read this! Enter me. :)

  • 15 Mavie // Dec 2, 2009 at 4:27 am

    Great interview/spotlight! Dirty Little Secret looks amazing! Please enter me! =)

    Thank you!

  • 16 Wendy // Dec 2, 2009 at 7:14 am

    Hi, C.J.! Great interview, I can’t wait to read your book! Please enter me in the contest.

    Thanks! :)

  • 17 Vania // Dec 2, 2009 at 7:24 am

    I would love to be entered!! Looks like a great book!

  • 18 Mel // Dec 2, 2009 at 7:30 am

    Thanks for the great interview. This looks like a great read :) I’d love to be entered!

    Thanks,
    Mel

  • 19 Mike // Dec 2, 2009 at 7:35 am

    Great interview, and DIRTY LITTLE SECRETS sounds like a great read.

  • 20 CMinnich // Dec 2, 2009 at 7:39 am

    This looks wonderful – like something my students would fight over! I look forward to reading and book talking it with them!

  • 21 Thao // Dec 2, 2009 at 7:44 am

    Lovely interview! Im looking forward to reading DIRTY LITTLE SECRETS : )

  • 22 Rayna // Dec 2, 2009 at 7:45 am

    Sounds amazing–can’t wait to read it! Please enter me.

  • 23 david basile // Dec 2, 2009 at 7:49 am

    looks like a great read

  • 24 Amber G // Dec 2, 2009 at 7:52 am

    This book looks great – thanks for the interview and giveaway!

  • 25 Judith // Dec 2, 2009 at 8:01 am

    I’d love to win this book. I married into a family of hoarders. Please enter my name into the giveaway – if it’s available to international readers.

  • 26 Travis // Dec 2, 2009 at 8:28 am

    I JUST found out about this book and can’t wait to read it!

  • 27 Stephanie // Dec 2, 2009 at 8:55 am

    Oh this book looks awesome! I can’t wait to check it out. :)

  • 28 JenP // Dec 2, 2009 at 8:59 am

    I’d love to be entered. Looks interesting.

  • 29 Jasmine S // Dec 2, 2009 at 9:24 am

    Wow, this sounds like a fascinating book. I’d love to win a copy! :)

  • 30 BrittLit // Dec 2, 2009 at 9:34 am

    Great interview. I am so excited to read this. This line “As it ripped away from the base, the pile of papers flipped into the air, and several of the maggots were flung off them and into my face like a larval rain shower.” is disgusting. which means awesome. *laughs*

  • 31 Tess // Dec 2, 2009 at 10:26 am

    I heard about this book a few months ago, and I have been eagerly waiting for it to come out! I cannot wait to read it. I think some of my 8th grade readers would love it, too.

  • 32 meaghan // Dec 2, 2009 at 11:38 am

    this is such an interesting plot… i can’t wait to read this!

  • 33 Linda Peters // Dec 2, 2009 at 2:02 pm

    fantastic interview and sounds like a great book

  • 34 Kate // Dec 2, 2009 at 4:13 pm

    This is interesting, I recently watched a show about hoarders. Now I see a book about it…funny how things start showing up once you pay attention. This book sounds intriguing!

  • 35 JAMES LYNAM // Dec 2, 2009 at 4:52 pm

    SOUNDS LIKE A FANTASTIC READ!!!!!!

  • 36 Anne Taylor // Dec 2, 2009 at 4:53 pm

    Tres intriguing! Thanks for a great giveaway!
    :-)

  • 37 Shari D // Dec 2, 2009 at 5:52 pm

    This sounds like a great book on a very real problem for many.

  • 38 Jenn // Dec 2, 2009 at 6:54 pm

    Sounds like a great book with an amazing plot! :) I would love to read it!

  • 39 April // Dec 2, 2009 at 6:56 pm

    I really want to read this. It is really interesting that there is hoarding involved. I’m interested to see how it plays out.

  • 40 Katie // Dec 2, 2009 at 7:56 pm

    Enter me, please!
    Question for the author- Has anyone ever told you you couldn’t be an author or looked down on you for doing so? If so, you do you handle a situation like that?

  • 41 Cynthia Jaynes Omololu // Dec 2, 2009 at 10:16 pm

    Thanks for the great comments so far!
    Judith (and others) – if you’re interested, there is a page on hoarding resources on my website that has some great places to go for real-life information.
    Katie – No, luckily I have a really supportive family. Most people do treat it as a “hobby” for the most part, which can get frustrating. I didn’t realize how hard it was to get published, which was probably a good thing ;) Just put your head down, write what you love and ignore anyone who gets in your way.

  • 42 Sarah-GreenBeanTeenQueen // Dec 3, 2009 at 10:12 am

    I would love to be entered!

  • 43 Tarah // Dec 3, 2009 at 1:53 pm

    This sounds like an interesting plot line!

  • 44 mindy // Dec 3, 2009 at 3:05 pm

    sounds sensational thanks

  • 45 Jason // Dec 3, 2009 at 3:06 pm

    My sister is a big fan of hers. She would love to have a signed copy

    jason(at)allworldautomotive(dot)com

  • 46 Steph Su // Dec 3, 2009 at 9:55 pm

    This book sounds great, and is one of my most desired wishlist books. I’d love to have the chance to read this!

  • 47 Neville Thompson // Dec 4, 2009 at 1:22 am

    I have always be fascinated by Hoarders.

    Whether it be newspapers and junk or something more serious like animals (cats, dogs).

    These people really need help and I have yet to see or read any true articles on them being sucessfully helped.

    Please enter me in the drawing.

    Thank you.

  • 48 Inthehammockblog // Dec 4, 2009 at 11:27 am

    This books sounds great! I’m glad I found it here! I’d love to enter the contest! Thank you!

  • 49 Nycole // Dec 4, 2009 at 11:33 am

    The book looks really interesting

  • 50 Deedles // Dec 4, 2009 at 4:23 pm

    Great interview. Please add my name to the drawing.

  • 51 Rhonda Struthers // Dec 4, 2009 at 8:57 pm

    Please enter me. I promise to tell my friend.

    rhondastruther s at yahoo do t ca

  • 52 Kate at Read This Book! // Dec 5, 2009 at 9:44 am

    Thanks for a chance to win this book! I’m really looking forward to it! :D I enjoyed reading the interview!

    I have a question C.J.

    If someone told you 10 years ago that you would be an author, what would your reaction be? (It’s always interesting to read everyone’s replies)

  • 53 Cynthia Jaynes Omololu // Dec 5, 2009 at 8:14 pm

    Hi Kate,
    Let’s see…my answer would have to have been: “Of what- grocery lists?.”

  • 54 Dani // Dec 5, 2009 at 11:40 pm

    This book looks amazing! I want to read it oh so badly!

  • 55 Jennifer Barr // Dec 6, 2009 at 9:46 am

    This book sounds very interesting. I would love to read it.

  • 56 Gayle Morgan // Dec 6, 2009 at 7:48 pm

    I would love to win this book.

  • 57 Leslie // Dec 6, 2009 at 9:20 pm

    Oooh! On my wishlist…

  • 58 Sarah // Dec 7, 2009 at 9:39 am

    enter me!

  • 59 Lindsay // Dec 7, 2009 at 12:38 pm

    I would LOVE to win this!!
    Thankyou!! :D :D:D:D

  • 60 shawna // Dec 7, 2009 at 1:29 pm

    Would love to read this!

  • 61 Bookmac // Dec 7, 2009 at 1:48 pm

    Too funny, my parents were just raving about this show called “hoarders”, now there’s this awesome YA book on it. Thumbs up!

  • 62 Erma // Dec 7, 2009 at 2:32 pm

    This looks good.

  • 63 Ed Nemmers // Dec 7, 2009 at 3:53 pm

    I really like the photo on the book cover too!

  • 64 Ellie W // Dec 7, 2009 at 4:22 pm

    This sounds very interesting. I’d love to read it.

  • 65 Lauren S // Dec 7, 2009 at 5:55 pm

    A very intriguing cover…I hope the novel is just as lovely….

    mabelilly28 at yahoo dot com

  • 66 Angela Winesburg // Dec 7, 2009 at 11:33 pm

    Looks interesting, I’d love to read it, thanks for the chance!

  • 67 Maja Meza // Dec 8, 2009 at 9:47 am

    seems interesting.

  • 68 George Ferris // Dec 8, 2009 at 12:18 pm

    Please enter me. Your books sound so interesting.

  • 69 dorothy l // Dec 8, 2009 at 12:35 pm

    sounds like a wonderful book about hoarding

  • 70 Kate Fall // Dec 8, 2009 at 12:44 pm

    This novel sounds like a great read. I’d love to win it.

  • 71 Melanie // Dec 8, 2009 at 3:38 pm

    Wow, this book sounds great!
    Ive struggled from OCD all of my life, and hoarding is a type of that. Thankfully, hoarding hasn’t been one of the rituals I do, but I sympathize with people who feel the need to collect and collect, to fill up a whole in their life.

  • 72 Syed Ahsun Zafar // Dec 8, 2009 at 3:42 pm

    Looks really good, Hope I get it! Thanks for the oppurtunity!

  • 73 Tim Hughes // Dec 8, 2009 at 10:13 pm

    I am absolutely ADDICTED to the TV show ‘Hoarders’ and this book has me drooling to read it right now. Man am I glad I read this article. I now have a new thing for my Christmas list!

  • 74 Cheryl Bradley // Dec 8, 2009 at 10:22 pm

    I would love to enter. It looks like a wonderful book!

  • 75 Chrysa // Dec 8, 2009 at 11:15 pm

    Looks great! Thanks for the giveaway!

  • 76 Nancy S. // Dec 8, 2009 at 11:22 pm

    I really need this book. I am a bit of a hoarder myself.

  • 77 Holly // Dec 8, 2009 at 11:31 pm

    This title is actually on my wishlist, so I’d love to win a copy. Thanks :)

  • 78 Lily Kwan // Dec 8, 2009 at 11:38 pm

    This book sounds very interesting. I’ll definitely check it out!

  • 79 Veronica Garrett // Dec 8, 2009 at 11:43 pm

    I think your debut novel is great. It sounds very interesting.

  • 80 Gianna // Dec 8, 2009 at 11:55 pm

    Please enter me :)

  • 81 Pothi - Admin Assist - AuthorsNow! // Dec 9, 2009 at 12:03 pm

    Congratulations Lauren! You’ve won this Spotlight

  • 82 Cynthia Jaynes Omololu // Dec 9, 2009 at 1:08 pm

    Thanks for all of the interest! Lauren, I’ll get you the copy ASAP. For everyone else, there might be a few more giveaways (one will be on the Tenners) before the book hits the shelves February 2nd.

    Hope you all get to read Dirty Little Secrets and that it adds something to your day.

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