Publisher: Entangled Teen
Published: May 7, 2019
Genre: YA Contemporary
Blurb:
“Edgy and smart with a sweet and sexy core.” —Rachel Harris, New York Timesbestselling author of Eyes on Me
I should’ve kept my mouth shut.
But Wilmont Academy’s been living in the Dark Ages when it comes to sex ed, and someone had to take matters into her own hands. Well, I’m a kick-ass coder, so I created a totally anonymous, totally untraceable blog where teens can come to get real, honest, nothing-is-off-limits sex advice.
And holy hell, the site went viral—and we’re talking way beyond Wilmont—overnight. Who knew this town was so hard up?
Except now the school administration is trying to shut me down, and they’ve forced Dean—my coding crush, aka the hottest guy in school—to try to uncover who I am. If he discovers my secret, I’ll lose him forever. And thousands of teens who need real advice won’t have anyone to turn to.
Ask me anything…except how to make things right.
***INTERVIEW***
1. First and foremost, thank you for being here with us today! Please tell us a little bit about yourself.
Thank you so much for having me! I’m Molly E. Lee, author of the upcoming release Ask Me Anything. I’m also the author of the Love on the Edge series and the Grad Night Series! I write adventure driven romance and young adult contemporary featuring strong heroines who aren’t afraid to challenge their male counterparts but are still vulnerable enough to have love sneak up on them. I’m a military spouse with two beautiful children and a stubborn English bulldog. I’m a huge fan of Blue October, Loki, Rhys, Harry Potter…did I mention Loki??? And coffee J
2. I love the subject you’ve decided to write about in Ask Me Anything. I think sex-ed is detrimental to youth and we shouldn’t shy away from it. Where did you come up with a somewhat sensitive and at times, controversial subject matter?
Thanks so much for saying that! This was a collaboration between myself and my editor, Stacy Abrams. Given the current social climate, we were craving a strong female lead with some fire in her
veins. We went on to explore some ideas for the content and what we felt was important and relevant
in this modern world. And, speaking solely for myself, the idea of keeping sexual health education away from teenagers is a disservice to them. Having open communication between adults and teens is essential for creating a positive change in our world.
Digging deeper into the story, I found Amber—my main character who creates an anonymous blog where her peers can ask for sex health advice and beyond—liked to push boundaries and never shied away from a question that was controversial. Even when the stakes get high, Amber was there for people seeking help. In the end, there is nothing controversial about being there for someone who feels lost and alone in a sea of opinions on what is “right” and what is “wrong.” It’s in those times that we don’t turn away for fear of public opinion that we truly grow as human beings.
3. Amber seems like a well-rounded and awesome character. Where did your inspiration and what can we expect from her?
Thank you! She is a powerhouse and I’m so honored she took me on her journey. I know that sounds a little odd coming from the author, but it’s a true statement. She took the reins when I was writing and didn’t hesitate to tell me when she would never say that, when she’d never have that reaction, or when she absolutely needed a double-scoop of Nutella straight from the jar. My inspiration for her character was basically an exploration of a strong girl who has something dark happen to her that shakes her sense of self-worth. Because of what happened to her, she decides to reach out and offer help to others in need, and by doing so, she heals herself. You can definitely expect Amber to push those boundaries we were touching on earlier—she has a strong family foundation with an erotica author for a mom and a teen psychologist for a dad. Not only that, she’s an exceptionally talented hacker, so the combination creates this pretty much unstoppable force that I loved writing.
4. Creating a story is hard work full of blood, sweat, and tears. Or so I’ve heard. What routines or processes when writing a book?
You’ve heard right! There were several times I cried while writing Ask Me Anything. Some of the events that Amber goes through hit close to home and other times it was because of a topic she had
to tackle for her blog. A ton of emotion and heart and thought went into this book and it truly was
one of those books that wrung my soul.
For this book, it was a year in the making, one of the longest times I’ve ever worked on a novel before. From conception to when they sent me the final document ready to go to the printer…it was months of writing, researching, and sharpening. For me, one of the main elements of this novel was the research on the hacking culture. I needed it to be as authentic as possible because there is an entire community I’m representing with Amber and Dean’s characters. Lucky for me, I have a super-secret source who helped me with even the smallest details of this novel, ensuring I stayed as true to the culture as I could.
My routine is usually the same for each book, give or take a few starting points, but for Ask Me Anything after we had the concept down it was about diving deeper into Amber’s mind. Her character was the heart of the story, so I started with her sketch and then once I had a good grip on her, I plotted each chapter in the book. Then I wrote my heart out each day (in between snack requests and school runs, of course!) There were some chapters added that weren’t originally plotted because Amber needed to have her way, and there were some chapters cut because they weren’t essential to her storyline. And after many rounds of edits and additions and cuts and formatting…we finally landed on a book that I couldn’t be more proud of. It’s equally terrifying and exciting to know that the story I spent a year working on is now out of my hands, but it’s time to give it to the readers who will breathe the real life into the characters!
5. Favorite movie?
SUCH a hard question! I have such a wide range of movies that I love but a few that will always be on my favorite list are: The Last of the Mohicans (I mean, that score) and The Avengers (Loki gets more screen-time…hello!) Indiana Jones (then, now, always) Star Wars (mainly just then lol) And I also have a soft-sport for the most recent Tarzan—maybe it’s the romantic in me but there is something so incredibly swoon-worthy about a man tearing up a jungle to get his soulmate back. Le Sigh.
6. What makes Ask Me Anything unique to your other young adult novels?
Definitely the themes and content. With Amber’s character…nothing was off-limits and all of it was one-hundred percent raw. The emotions, the content, the darker elements, and the hacking culture…
all of it was new territory for me. It was an enlightening experience and one I put my entire being into. Amber’s character demanded I explore every inch of emotion I could, regardless if it would make people uncomfortable or not, and I’m truly happy with how it turned out.
7. If you were stranded on a desert island and could only take ONE book, which one:
Oh man…I know I should always say something like How to survive on an Island but I’ll just be honest and say A Court of Mist and Fury by Sara J. Maas. I’ve re-read that book a dozen times and each time I have a happy sigh at the end. It’s one of the best depictions of depression and emotional abuse I’ve ever seen. The author does it so well, in such delicate brushstrokes, that if you haven’t been in that situation or seen it happen to someone you may not even notice until the character has her awakening moment. And the way she heals herself…there is such a strength in it and it helps you find the value in your own self-worth as well.
8. Romance. Romance. Romance. Please give us all the swoony details (if you can) expect to see :)
YAS! Dean and Amber’s chemistry was electric and tension filled from the first page. I couldn’t put a damper on it even if I tried. Dean’s character is so important to me—he’s such a good guy, a mixture of rebel and respectful, and I can’t wait for everyone to meet him! Who doesn’t love a boy with an incredible brain, dreamy blue eyes, and the ability to recognize a strong girl when he sees her, and applaud her for it! The heat between them is unstoppable and I had no idea how vital the romance was going to be to the story until they demanded it happen J
I’m so grateful you had me over today to chat! I hope you’ll enjoy ASK ME ANYTHING when it releases on May 7th! Be sure to check out the EPIC giveaway I’m hosting in celebration of its release! Spoiler alert—there is a laptop up grabs!!! https://www.mollyelee.com/ask-me-anything-pre-order-giveaway.htmlThank you so much for having me! I’m Molly E. Lee, author of the upcoming release Ask Me Anything. I’m also the author of the Love on the Edge series and the Grad Night Series! I write adventure driven romance and young adult contemporary featuring strong heroines who aren’t afraid to challenge their male counterparts but are still vulnerable enough to have love sneak up on them. I’m a military spouse with two beautiful children and a stubborn English bulldog. I’m a huge fan of Blue October, Loki, Rhys, Harry Potter…did I mention Loki??? And coffee J
2. I love the subject you’ve decided to write about in Ask Me Anything. I think sex-ed detrimental to youth and we shouldn’t shy away from it. Where did you come up with a somewhat sensitive and at times, controversial subject matter?
Thanks so much for saying that! This was a collaboration between myself and my editor, Stacy Abrams. Given the current social climate, we were craving a strong female lead with some fire in her veins. We went on to explore some ideas for the content and what we felt was important and relevant in this modern world. And, speaking solely for myself, the idea of keeping sexual health education away from teenagers is a disservice to them. Having open communication between adults and teens is essential for creating a positive change in our world.
Digging deeper into the story, I found Amber—my main character who creates an anonymous blog where her peers can ask for sex health advice and beyond—liked to push boundaries and never shied away from a question that was controversial. Even when the stakes get high, Amber was there for people seeking help. In the end, there is nothing controversial about being there for someone who feels lost and alone in a sea of opinions on what is “right” and what is “wrong.” It’s in those times that we don’t turn away for fear of public opinion that we truly grow as human beings.
3. Amber seems like a well-rounded and awesome character. Where did your inspiration and what can we expect from her?
Thank you! She is a powerhouse and I’m so honored she took me on her journey. I know that sounds a little odd coming from the author, but it’s a true statement. She took the reins when I was writing and didn’t hesitate to tell me when she would never say that, when she’d never have that reaction, or when she absolutely needed a double-scoop of Nutella straight from the jar. My inspiration for her character was basically an exploration of a strong girl who has something dark happen to her that shakes her sense of self-worth. Because of what happened to her, she decides to reach out and offer help to others in need, and by doing so, she heals herself. You can definitely expect Amber to push those boundaries we were touching on earlier—she has a strong family foundation with an erotica author for a mom and a teen psychologist for a dad. Not only that, she’s an exceptionally talented hacker, so the combination creates this pretty much unstoppable force that I loved writing.
4. Creating a story is hard work full of blood, sweat, and tears. Or so I’ve heard. What routines or processes when writing a book?
You’ve heard right! There were several times I cried while writing Ask Me Anything. Some of the events that Amber goes through hit close to home and other times it was because of a topic she had to tackle for her blog. A ton of emotion and heart and thought went into this book and it truly was one of those books that wrung my soul.
For this book, it was a year in the making, one of the longest times I’ve ever worked on a novel before. From conception to when they sent me the final document ready to go to the printer…it was months of writing, researching, and sharpening. For me, one of the main elements of this novel was the research on the hacking culture. I needed it to be as authentic as possible because there is an entire community I’m representing with Amber and Dean’s characters. Lucky for me, I have a super-secret source who helped me with even the smallest details of this novel, ensuring I stayed as true to the culture as I could.
My routine is usually the same for each book, give or take a few starting points, but for Ask Me Anything after we had the concept down it was about diving deeper into Amber’s mind. Her character was the heart of the story, so I started with her sketch and then once I had a good grip on her, I plotted each chapter in the book. Then I wrote my heart out each day (in between snack requests and school runs, of course!) There were some chapters added that weren’t originally plotted because Amber needed to have her way, and there were some chapters cut because they weren’t essential to her storyline. And after many rounds of edits and additions and cuts and formatting…we finally landed on a book that I couldn’t be more proud of. It’s equally terrifying and exciting to know that the story I spent a year working on is now out of my hands, but it’s time to give it to the readers who will breathe the real life into the characters!
5. Favorite movie?
SUCH a hard question! I have such a wide range of movies that I love but a few that will always be on my favorite list are: The Last of the Mohicans (I mean, that score) and The Avengers (Loki gets more screen-time…hello!) Indiana Jones (then, now, always) Star Wars (mainly just then lol) And I also have a soft-sport for the most recent Tarzan—maybe it’s the romantic in me but there is something so incredibly swoon-worthy about a man tearing up a jungle to get his soulmate back. Le Sigh.
6. What makes Ask Me Anything unique to your other young adult novels?
Definitely the themes and content. With Amber’s character…nothing was off-limits and all of it was one-hundred percent raw. The emotions, the content, the darker elements, and the hacking culture…all of it was new territory for me. It was an enlightening experience and one I put my entire being into. Amber’s character demanded I explore every inch of emotion I could, regardless if it would make people uncomfortable or not, and I’m truly happy with how it turned out.
7. If you were stranded on a desert island and could only take ONE book, which one:
Oh man…I know I should always say something like How to survive on an Island but I’ll just be honest and say A Court of Mist and Fury by Sara J. Maas. I’ve re-read that book a dozen times and each time I have a happy sigh at the end. It’s one of the best depictions of depression and emotional abuse I’ve ever seen. The author does it so well, in such delicate brushstrokes, that if you haven’t been in that situation or seen it happen to someone you may not even notice until the character has her awakening moment. And the way she heals herself…there is such a strength in it and it helps you find the value in your own self-worth as well.
8. Romance. Romance. Romance. Please give us all the swoony details (if you can) expect to see :)
YAS! Dean and Amber’s chemistry was electric and tension filled from the first page. I couldn’t put a damper on it even if I tried. Dean’s character is so important to me—he’s such a good guy, a mixture of rebel and respectful, and I can’t wait for everyone to meet him! Who doesn’t love a boy with an incredible brain, dreamy blue eyes, and the ability to recognize a strong girl when he sees her, and applaud her for it! The heat between them is unstoppable and I had no idea how vital the romance was going to be to the story until they demanded it happen J
