Hush, Hush Interview

Hush, Hush

Sea Lion Books announced today the acquisition of the comic book and graphic novel rights to Becca Fitzpatrick's New York Times bestselling Young Adult novel Hush, Hush. A romance laced with intrigue, it is the story of a young girl torn between desire and suspicion in her love for a fallen angel. A true psychological thriller, Hush, Hush was the first book in a trilogy, with the story continuing in Crescendo and concluding with the forthcoming Silence, which is scheduled for release in October 2011. The series has a worldwide following, with sales of more than 1 million books in 35 countries.

"Becca Fitzpatrick is a huge bestselling author," said Kuo-Yu Liang VP Sales & Marketing for Diamond Book Distributors. "I think this series is a great addition to Sea Lion Books line up of projects and should be a major hit for them".

Hush, Hush is the story of Nora Grey, a studious sixteen-year-old girl from Coldwater, Maine. It has been a year since her father's murder and she is not interested in much other than her schoolwork. Then she meets Patch, a bad boy-and fallen angel. Though unwisely attracted to him, Nora finds herself caught in a battle between the fallen and the immortal. Choosing the wrong side could cost Nora her life.

Becca Fitzpatrick is delighted to have her book brought to graphic novel form. "Hush, Hush was my first book, and it's so thrilling that it has been embraced by so many readers. I'm delighted to be working with Sea Lion to tell Patch and Nora's story through graphic novel format!"

Sea Lion Books shares the delight in working alongside the bestselling author on the adaptation, and feels that Becca Fitzpatrick's Hush, Hush series is a fantastic addition to its graphic novel line.

Hush, Hush #1 is scheduled to debut in winter 2011. The creative team on the project will be announced at a later date.

Becca Fitzpatrick was born in Utah, and raised in the Midwest. After graduating as valedictorian of her high school class, she attended Brigham Young University where she earned a degree in Community Health. After her husband surprised her with a writing class as a present she began work on Hush, Hush. Becca Fitzpatrick is a #1 New York Times, Publishers Weekly, and USA Today Best-Selling author. Her novels have been awarded the prestigious: YALSA's Teens' Top Ten pick, included in the 2009 Association of Booksellers for Children Best Books for Children Catalog, Winter 2009 Indie Next List Top Ten pick, Spring 2011 Indie Next List pick, Barnes & Noble's Best Teen Books of 2009 selection, 2009 Barnes & Noble Dark Romance for Teens Holiday Gift Guide selection, CBC Favourite Children's Books Top Ten Pick, First YA title selected for Barnes & Noble's First Look Book Club, and Goodreads Choice Award Nominee for Young Adult Series. Becca Fitzpatrick lives in Colorado with her family. You can visit Becca on the Internet at http://beccafitzpatrick.com

Hush, Hush
Sea Lion Books
Author: Becca Fitzpatrick

Interview with Becca Fitzpatrick

Question: What inspired you to write Hush Hush?

Becca Fitzpatrick: I was inspired by an event that happened to me in my high school biology class. My teacher asked me, in front of the whole class, to name characteristics I'd want in a mate. The cute boy who sat next to me kept poking me with his pen, egging me on to answer. I was so humiliated! Those who've read Hush, Hush know the main character, Nora, endures a very similar experience. The more I wrote, the more the sexual tension playing out on every page between Patch and Nora filled me with innumerable questions and ideas. Is desire purely physical? What causes two people to have instant chemistry? What in our genetic makeup draws us to one person, and warns us to stay away from another? And what if it's the same person?


Question: What is the best thing about creating a character like Nora?

Becca Fitzpatrick: There are lots of best things, but recently, I've enjoyed watching her character come to life through the drawings in the Hush, Hush graphic novel. It's fascinating seeing how the illustrator interpreted her character. It's a bit like feeling like he's been poking around in my head. I can't wait to see what readers think of the graphic novel, and I hope they're as impressed with it as I am.


Question: How much of your inspiration comes from real life and real people?

Becca Fitzpatrick: I probably shouldn't admit this, but several of the characters were inspired by people I knew in high school, including Patch, Vee, and Marcie. All of the characters also contain little pieces of me. In the story, I tried to recapture what it feels like to fall in love for the first time, to feel that first sting of betrayal, and what it means to deal with complicated family situations. Readers tell me they can see the story unfold as they read-almost as if they were watching a movie. I think that's because the story and characters were very vivid and real in my mind as I wrote the book.


Question: What advice do you have for aspiring writers or artists?

Becca Fitzpatrick: I think it's important to keep a journal and try to write in it daily. Often, we think our lives aren't very interesting, but the truth is, our lives are mines of emotion, conflict and chemistry. When I started to keep a journal, I became vividly aware of the world around me. I often go back and reread the journals I kept during my high school years. You never know when your own life experiences will trigger a story idea!


Question: Finish this sentence; the best thing about books is . . .

Becca Fitzpatrick: matching the right book with the right individual. When people tell me they don't like to read, I tell them, "Then you haven't found the right book."


Interview by Brooke Hunter