Read This Book: MODELS DON'T EAT CHOCOLATE COOKIES

This year the Debutantes will be throwing each other virtual launch parties with blog tours. Today I'm putting out my best china for my first visitor: Erin Dionne . Grab your Oreos and rejoice, because her sweet and funny book MODELS DON'T EAT CHOCOLATE COOKIES is now available in bookstores everywhere (not to mention your favorite online outlets). Congratulations, Erin!

Here's a peek between the covers:

Thirteen-year-old Celeste Harris is no string bean, but comfy sweatpants and a daily chocolate cookie suit her just fine. Her under-the-radar lifestyle could have continued too, if her aunt hadn’t entered her in the HuskyPeach Modeling Challenge. To get out of it, she’s forced to launch Operation Skinny Celeste—because, after all, a thin girl can’t be a fat model! What Celeste never imagined was that losing weight would help her gain a backbone . . . or that all she needed to shine was a spotlight.

Erin graciously consented to answer a few questions from me:

I think teen books can, and should, be read by grown-ups. Tell my grandma Grace why she should read your book.
Grandma Grace--you should read MODELS because it'll make you laugh your socks off! Also, because no matter how old you are, I think any one can relate to feeling left out and losing a friendship.

What would your 16-year-old self say if she read your book?
"Dude--I can't believe you put the puking scene in there! Why would you do that?! SO embarassing!"

I am fascinated by writers' inspirations. Tell me about a real-life setting that found its way into your book.
Uh-oh...well, you asked for it! My main character, Celeste, makes a series of poor choices that lead her to, ummm, "toss her cookies" on her gym teacher's shoes. I, also, thew up on my gym teacher's footwear in junior high after running the mile. When it happened to me, I was legitimately sick with a stomach bug. Awesome, huh?


And here's a little more about Erin:

Erin Dionne has lived on two coasts and in four states. Her debut novel, MODELS DON’T EAT CHOCOLATE COOKIES, was inspired by events that occurred in seventh grade, when she wore a scary peach bridesmaid dress in her cousin’s wedding and threw up on her gym teacher’s shoes (not at the same event). Although humiliating at the time, these experiences are working for her now.

 

Erin lives outside of Boston with her husband and daughter, and a very insistent dog named Grafton. She roots for the Red Sox, teaches English at an art college, and sometimes eats chocolate cookies.

Want to hear more from Erin? Head over to her LiveJournal for a list of where she'll be stopping by next.