Interview With Allison Gutknecht!

Today on the blog I'm pleased to present an interview with Allison Gutknecht! Ms. Gutknecht is the author of multiple MG books, including her newest book, Sing Like Nobody's Listening.

The bold font are the questions I asked, the regular font are her answers, and the bold italic font are my comments about her answers.

1. Would you please tell us a little about Sing Like Nobody's Listening?

Wylie Tennyson and her best friend, Jada Emmett, have done everything as a pair for so long that when Jada joins the fall musical without her, Wylie feels lost (and a tad abandoned). Inspired by her favorite TV show, Non-Instrumental, Wylie, with the help of some new and unexpected friends, launches their middle school's first a cappella group. But just as her new squad is beginning to come together, Jada reappears, and Wylie feels herself being pulled between long-standing loyalties and brand new connections. Can Wylie find a way to meld the two sides of her life into something approaching perfect harmony?

2. Which character from the book was the hardest to write?

Wylie and Jada's friendship can be a bit "toxic," and their level of dysfunction was at times difficult to write. However, middle school can be a real transition time for many friendships, especially those that began in elementary school, and I wanted to explore the ways in which these bonds hold together -- or not -- as the girls grow up. 

3. Random question! What's your favorite song?

My favorite song is "Move On" from the musical Sunday in the Park with George, as sung by Bernadette Peters. Stephen Sondheim wrote a beautiful message for anyone pursuing creative work, such as, "Anything you do, let it come from you -- then it will be new. Give us more to see."

I've never heard this song, I need to look it up! :)

4. If you're able to talk about it, what are you currently working on?

I'm in the midst of outlining some new project ideas and deciding which one to tackle next!

5. What are some of your favorite MG books you've read? And what are some that you're looking forward to reading?

The Baby-Sitters Club has always been -- and will always be -- my favorite middle grade series, and it is the one that has most inspired my own books.

The Baby-Sitters Club were favorites of mine when I was younger! Really fun! :)

Thank you to Ms. Gutknecht for participating in this event! :)

Author bio: Allison Gutknecht is the author of multiple books for young readers, including Sing like Nobody's Listening, Spring Break Mistake, The Bling Queen, and the Mandy Berr series. After graduating from the University of Pennsylvania, she earned her master’s degree in Children’s Media and Literature from NYU. Allison grew up in Voorhees, NJ, and now lives in New York City with her rambunctious toy poodle, Gypsy, and her literate cat, Folly. 

Here are a few links:

Her Website

Her Twitter

Her Facebook

Her Instagram