Interview with author Jody Gehrman

So today, we have a special guest. She is the author of Confession of a Triple Shot Betty, Triple Shot Bettys in Love and the soon to be  released Babe in Boyland. Jody Gehrman. *Applause*  

The lovely Jody has agreed to do an interview and a...giveaway. So today I bring you the interview. Enjoy!

Have you ever worked as a barista? 
No, I've never worked as a barista. My efforts in the food service industry have been very ill fated, for the most part. I did work as a cocktail waitress in a casino one summer. It was a kind of horrible job, but I thought it would give me lots of material to write about.

What is your favorite caffeinated beverage? 
Mmm, I love so many! At the moment I'm on a vanilla soy latte kick, though I love me a mocha on a cold, rainy day with lots of whipped cream.

Who, if anyone, were you named after?
Ah, bit of a long story. I was actually born with the name Jenny Jo, though neither of my parents liked it much and they always called me Jody (bizarre, right?) They officially changed my name to Jody Elizabeth when I was about four. Jody is for my father's middle name Joseph, and Elizabeth was my grandmother's middle name. At the time, though, I thought Elizabeth came from my favorite preschool teacher. Incidentally, this same preschool teacher recently took a class from me at the college where I teach English! I was very intimidated and honored to instruct her, since I idolized her as a child. 

Who do you wish you were named after?
I guess my preschool teacher! Though also it would be great to be named after an eccentric and brave literary character, like Portia maybe, or Antigone.

Have you ever had to go undercover (even a little)?
Ooh, that's a good question. When I was traveling in Europe with my best friend after college, we used to pretend to be various people; we'd make up elaborate personal histories. For some reason we often posed as flight attendants, though I can't recall why we chose that as our cover. My usual name during those operations was Jondi. I guess that was kind of like going undercover, even if it was just for our own entertainment.
 
Did you write for your high school newspaper?
No, I didn't. I was more into writing fiction than nonfiction, even back then. I was also into theatre. Later, though, in my twenties, I freelanced for some different publications in San Francisco--entertainment rags and magazines, mostly.
 
Who is your favorite character in your current books? Who is your least favorite?
Well, I do admire Natalie, just as I admired Geena in the Triple Shot Betty series. They're both plucky and resourceful. They're good friends, too, which I admire. I guess it will come as no surprise that their enemies are kind of my enemies; girls like Summer Sheers in Babe in Boyland, who is Natalie's rival and just generally loathsome. I have to say I do really enjoy writing these frenemy characters, though. There's something strangely exhilarating about gathering up the characteristics of people I've disliked over the years and packing them into one thoroughly detestable character.

Are you working on anything right now?
I'm toying with historical fiction and elements of magic. It's all new to me, but I'm excited about venturing into new territory.