Q&A with Simone Elkeles

Simone Elkeles on the Perfect Chemistry novels.

#1 For those readers who have yet to pick up Perfect Chemistry can you give them an overview of what the book is all about?

Perfect Chemistry is about Alex Fuentes, the boy who was born on the wrong side of the tracks, and Brittany Ellis, the rich popular pom-pom girl. Alex gets paired up With Brittany in chemistry class and can't help but try and rattle her since he thinks she's a bitch. When he makes a bet with his friends that he can get Brittany to sleep with him before Thanksgiving, he has no clue that the time he spends with her will change his view on who Brittany Ellis actually is underneath her fake facade she shows the world. Brittany knows that if she gives in to her desires and dates Alex, her entire life could crumble beneath her feet. It's an edgy, sexy, and sometimes funny young adult read that has gotten fans obsessed with the story - I even get teens (and adults!) who have gotten real tattoos inspired by Perfect Chemistry.

#2 What was your inspiration behind the book?

I love exploring multicultural relationships, especially because I lived with a man from a different country my entire life (Israel). Multicultural relationships fascinate me. I base Perfect Chemistry off of Highland Park High School, where there are two different cultures going to the same high school together. Multicultural differences = explosive romance!

#3 I know it's hard for some authors to pick a favorite character from their own book but if you can who would it be and why?

That is so hard. I guess it would be Alex Fuentes because he's such a good guy stuck in a bad situation. I admire his love of family and the fact that he'd sacrifice himself for the ones he loves - and the girl he loves. (My character Caleb Becker did this in my book Leaving Paradise).

#4 What was the easiest and hardest things to write about in Perfect Chemistry?

The easiest thing to write in Perfect Chemistry was the relationship between Alex and Brittany. They were great characters to write and their relationship came so naturally to me. The hardest thing to write was Alex's bad side - the scene where he collects drug money and the scene where he gets "jumped out" of the gang. I hated doing those things to Alex, but they needed to be done.

#5 What is the most question asked about Perfect Chemistry?

"Can Perfect Chemistry be made into a movie?" and "Where can I get me an Alex Fuentes?"

#6 What is the most challenging aspect of writing Perfect Chemistry?

Doing gang research and writing the Spanish. Because I don't know Spanish, I had to rely on others to help me with it. Looking back, I should have taken Spanish as my foreign language instead of French.

#7 What is the most interesting comment you have received concerning Perfect Chemistry?

It's from a male gang member who said that Perfect Chemistry changed his life and makes him want to be a better person and change his life like Alex did.

#8 On your website and discussion forum you have mentioned that there are going to be two other books in this series, the sequel, Rules Of Attraction, and a third not yet named. Can you tell us about them and maybe give us a little teaser?

If you go to the book trailer I created for Rules of Attraction (it was shot just like a movie trailer, with snippets of scenes acted out) you'll know what Rules of Attraction is about. Alexander F. Rodriguez (the groom from Katy Perry's Hot N Cold music video) plays Alex Fuentes and Giancarlo Vidrio plays Carlos Fuentes. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GhEx0kaUlrU

I wrote a little blurb about the third Perfect Chemistry book, although it's not written yet:

The third novel in the Perfect Chemistry series will be about Luis Fuentes, the youngest Fuentes brother. He’s such a good guy who doesn’t live with the angst that his big brothers have always lived with. Luis is smart, funny, and has big dreams. When he falls for the wrong girl, Luis enters a dark world he’s never known to try and save her from herself. Just when he thinks he’s got life all figured out, Luis learns some disturbing news about his family that destroys his positive outlook on life. Will that Fuentes bad boy streak come out with a vengeance and lure Luis to live on the edge like his new girlfriend and his own father?

#9 The two main characters, Alex and Brittany, have totally different back grounds and ethnicity. How much research did you do for these two characters?

I didn't have to do research for Brittany, because I understand Brittany's world. I did have to do a lot of research for Alex, because I wanted to showcase a realistic Mexican-American teen in his situation. I interviewed a lot of Latino teens and they really helped shape who Alex is in the book. (For example, I don't know what Alex would be eating for breakfast and I wanted to showcase an authentic Mexican wedding.)

#10 Is there any special news or information you would like to share about this series?

Perfect Chemistry is nominated for the prestigious RITA award - the ultimate award in romance fiction. I'm super excited to be nominated because it has been a dream of mine for over ten years to win that award. Rules of Attraction is in bookstores NOW and my fans love the continuation, so that's awesome news. The third book should be out in early 2011! For those fans who love Perfect Chemistry and Rules of Attraction, they might also like my novel Leaving Paradise - the sequel is coming out in September!

I have to say I'm so excited about the third novel of the PC series and also Return to Paradise the sequel to Leaving Paradise. Yee!! If you haven't read any of Simone's books yet all I have to ask is WHY NOT!! They are super good and you don't want to missing out on such great stories. So hurry and go pick up any copy of her books. I promise you will not regret it.

Here are my reviews on Perfect Chemistry and Leaving Paradise.
Rules of Attraction review coming soon!
You can click on any picture to purchase now!! Buy any of these books now until October and earn 5 entries for each purchase into the Grand Prize Pack #1.

 
 
  

And now I want to send a HUGE thank you to Simone Elkeles for taking the time to answer some of my questions. You totally rock! THANK YOU!