Hannah Moskowitz
This week, we’re celebrating Hannah Moskowitz’s debut! Hannah Moskowitz is an eighteen-year-old writer slumming around Washington D.C. She likes crème brulee, tattoos, and playing dress-up. She has never broken a bone.
Here’s a little bit about BREAK (Simon Pulse).
Jonah is on a mission to break every bone in his body. Everyone knows that broken bones grow back stronger than they were before. And Jonah wants to be stronger—needs to be stronger, because his family is falling apart, what with his bickering parents, his allergic-to-everything brother, and the screaming new baby. Maybe if he breaks and heals enough times, he’ll show his family how to pick itself up after a fall. But how does he keep from destroying himself in the process?
BREAK by Hannah Moskowitz
If you had to give your book a movie rating: G through Rated R, which one would you give and why?
It’d have to be R just for the language. Besides that, however, it’s fairly clean—no drugs, no sex. There is some semi-graphic violence and some alcohol/tobacco.
What topics, issues, or themes does your book address? What drove you to write about them?
I wanted to write a book about self-injury that wasn’t a self-injury book. Jonah isn’t depressed and isn’t suicidal; he’s a boy trying to feel a part of a family that’s crashing and burning. He’s trying to fix an unfixable situation.
I wanted to take a premise that was so out there, so unbelievable, and so much more than what was already out there and make it understandable. Generally the books I write are “coming-of-age with a twist.” Breaking his bones is definitely the twist, but at its heart this is a classic coming of age story with a heavy influence on brotherhood.
Name three examples of readers who would identify or like your book.
Teenage girls who are sick of reading about how hard it is to be a teenage girl. Readers who like their comedies dark a la Chuck Palahniuk or John Green. Any teenage boy who has—or whishes he had—a brother to worry about. .
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.
- “He’s like six-foot-five in high heels.”
- “I’m going to turn into Benadryl.”
- Ugly-ass combat boots
- Unbroken, imperfect hand
- orange orange orange hurt
How can your book be used in the classroom?
It would definitely be relevant in a lesson about the strain an ill family member puts on the rest of the family. A teacher could also use it in a discussion on personal responsibility and ownership of one’s own actions. Jonah’s heavily into Confucianism and mentions that family is the smallest possible unit of measure—that families can’t really be divided into individuals. BREAK would fit well into a discussion of families as a unit.
Now tell us about other already-published books that readers of your book might enjoy.
SPEAK by Laurie Halse Anderson, SOMEDAY THIS PAIN WILL BE USEFUL TO YOU by Peter Cameron, AN ABUNDANCE OF KATHERINES by John Green, FIGHT CLUB by Chuck Palahniuk.
Take an insightful narrator like SOMEDAY’s, add some of KATHERINES’ dialogue, and give it a messy conflict like SPEAK and a dash of FIGHT CLUB dark absurdity.
Now whet our appetites with a teaser.
The first feeling is exhilaration.
My arms hit the ground. The sound is like a mallet against a crab.
Pure f*cking exhilaration.
Are you offering authors visits to schools, libraries, or other organizations?
Definitely, if they’re local. I might have trouble with scheduling, since I start college this fall, but I’m willing to try.
Are you willing to speak nationally?
Also yes, if I can make it work.
List a few example titles of presentations, talks, or workshops you might give for an author visit.
The Explosion of Young Writers: How Teenagers are Shaping Teen Fiction
Communicating With A Teenage Audience
Relevant vs. Trendy: How to Craft a Contemporary Novel
How to Keep “Problem Novels” Fresh
This concludes our interview with our latest author, Hannah Moskowitz. We wish her much success with her debut novel BREAK. To see what Hannah is up to these days, visit her website at http://www.untilhannah.com or her blog at http://www.hannahmosk.blogspot.com.
*GIVEAWAY ALERT* Hannah is giving away a signed copy of BREAK to 5 winners. 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.
Comments
1 Jessica Kennedy // Dec 1, 2009 at 9:01 am
The premise to this debut novel is awesome. So original. I loved the teaser!
I’ll be putting this on my blog sidebar for sure!
2 Ann F // Dec 1, 2009 at 2:59 pm
This sounds like an interesting book that I’d like to read. Please enter me in the giveaway.
3 Jessy // Dec 1, 2009 at 5:40 pm
I will definitely be reading this if you compare it to Speak, I love that book. Break is not like anything else I’ve seen out right now so it should be an interesting read.
4 Lindsey // Dec 1, 2009 at 6:07 pm
This books looks so interesting
I would love to read it.
5 Andrea // Dec 1, 2009 at 8:59 pm
This book sounds really interesting…I would love a chance to read it!
6 Robyn Hawk // Dec 2, 2009 at 12:45 am
Sounds like some pretty strong content and emotion for an 18 year old author – thanks for taking this on!
This a huge subject and one that a lot of adults refuse to believe happens. I would really like to read this one – you are on my list for the 2010 Debut Author Challenge!!!
Robyn
@ReadingItAll
7 Marilyn Wons // Dec 2, 2009 at 4:42 am
I would love to read this – thank you for the chance
8 Wendy // Dec 2, 2009 at 7:16 am
BREAK sound awesome, can’t wait to read it!
9 Dovile // Dec 2, 2009 at 7:36 am
I’d like to read this, thanks for the chance!
10 david basile // Dec 2, 2009 at 7:47 am
thanks for the contest
11 Tess // Dec 2, 2009 at 10:23 am
The book sounds amazing! I cannot wait to read it!
12 Linda Peters // Dec 2, 2009 at 2:01 pm
would love to read this, thanks
13 JAMES LYNAM // Dec 2, 2009 at 4:50 pm
I WANT TO WIN THIS BIG TIME.
14 Claire // Dec 2, 2009 at 7:20 pm
It looks so good!
15 Amy Lukavics // Dec 2, 2009 at 7:25 pm
Erm… I want to win this. A lot. Woo Hannah!
16 Raven // Dec 2, 2009 at 9:23 pm
I really want to read this book.
17 mindy // Dec 3, 2009 at 3:04 pm
sounds wonderful thanks
18 Jason // Dec 3, 2009 at 3:04 pm
This sounds like a incredible book.
jason(at)allworldautomotive(dot)com
19 Jill // Dec 3, 2009 at 7:56 pm
Sounds really good. Glad you shared it.
20 Steph Su // Dec 3, 2009 at 9:52 pm
I’ve heard lots of good buzz about this book. Hoping I win and get the chance to read it!
21 Neville Thompson // Dec 4, 2009 at 1:17 am
This book certainly has a very unusual premise by the protagonist.
I would be very interested to see how the story is handled.
Please enter me in the drawing.
Thank you.
22 Deedles // Dec 4, 2009 at 4:22 pm
This sounds like a great read. Heard a lot of good things about it.
23 Becca // Dec 5, 2009 at 10:16 pm
This sounds really interesting, thanks!
24 Gayle Morgan // Dec 6, 2009 at 7:48 pm
I would love to win this book.
25 Sarah // Dec 7, 2009 at 9:39 am
enter me!
26 susan // Dec 7, 2009 at 11:39 am
Break sounds like a great book, I would love to win it.
27 shawna // Dec 7, 2009 at 1:28 pm
Sounds like a great book!!
28 Erma // Dec 7, 2009 at 2:31 pm
This looks like an awesome book.
29 Ed Nemmers // Dec 7, 2009 at 3:52 pm
What an intriguing premise!
30 Ellie W // Dec 7, 2009 at 4:20 pm
This is certainly different than any book I’ve read so far. I’d love the chance to read it.
31 Sherri B. // Dec 7, 2009 at 8:24 pm
What a great plot! Would love the chance to read it! Thanks!
sherri419 at gmail dot com
32 Angela Winesburg // Dec 7, 2009 at 11:32 pm
I’d love to read this, thanks for the chance!
33 Kathleen S. // Dec 8, 2009 at 1:30 am
This sounds really interesting, and I am a fan of writing with a dark/twisted sense of humor. Would love to read this, thanks!
34 Maja Meza // Dec 8, 2009 at 9:46 am
i’ d like to read it.
35 George Ferris // Dec 8, 2009 at 12:16 pm
I definitely would like to read this.
36 dorothy l // Dec 8, 2009 at 12:34 pm
I love the allergic to every thing brother he sounds interesting
37 Susan Smith // Dec 8, 2009 at 2:38 pm
Sounds like a good book
38 Melanie // Dec 8, 2009 at 3:39 pm
orange orange orange hurt
I have no idea what that means, but it stood out to me among the phrases, and I am so anxious to read this and find out!
39 Syed Ahsun Zafar // Dec 8, 2009 at 3:41 pm
This looks really interesting, I’m love reading about this kinda stuff.
40 vicky // Dec 8, 2009 at 4:49 pm
This looks like a book that I would love. I like books that make me think and laugh at the same time. Im a little strange thou
41 Steve M. // Dec 8, 2009 at 7:28 pm
I’ve never broken a bone, either.
42 Tim Hughes // Dec 8, 2009 at 10:10 pm
Sounds like an awesome book for my 16 year old daughter and the fact that the author is 18 years old is very inspiring, which I would hope would rub off on my daughter. Congrat’s to you Ms. Moskowitz!
43 Cheryl Bradley // Dec 8, 2009 at 10:21 pm
Looks like an interesting book.
44 Chrysa // Dec 8, 2009 at 11:15 pm
Thanks for the giveaway!
45 Charlene Kuser // Dec 8, 2009 at 11:20 pm
I have never heard of anyone breaking their bones
on purpose,this is truly interesting.A way for a
child to cope when his family is falling apart.
I would love to read the book “Break”Thanks
for the giveaway
46 Nancy S. // Dec 8, 2009 at 11:20 pm
Congratulations on your first book. It looks great.
47 Lily Kwan // Dec 8, 2009 at 11:38 pm
This book sounds very interesting. I’ll definitely check it out!
48 Veronica Garrett // Dec 8, 2009 at 11:41 pm
I think your debut novel is going to be a success. It sounds great.
49 Gianna // Dec 8, 2009 at 11:54 pm
Please enter me
50 Jessica // Dec 9, 2009 at 12:00 am
This book sounds interesting Thanks for the giveaway!
51 Pothi - Admin Assist - AuthorsNow! // Dec 9, 2009 at 12:18 pm
Congratulations Dovile, Syed Ahsun Zafar, Andrea, Lily Kwan and Angela Winesbur. You’ve won this Spotlight.
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