Author Interview & Giveaway: Mitchell Kriegman
We're excited to welcome Mitchell Kriegman to Reading Lark today. He's here to answer a few questions and showcase his novel, Being Audrey Hepburn.
Credit: Cara Robbins
Andrea @ Reading Lark: Audrey Hepburn is one of those women who has a strong presence in American iconic culture. Why do you think people want to emulate her even now?
Mitchell Kriegman: She was the first modern movie actress who chose her own roles and created her own look. Most actresses at the time were a product of the studio system. Even their dresses were chosen for them. She also represented a different feminine form that was a departure from the women like Marilyn Monroe and Liz Taylor.
Andrea @ Reading Lark: In this story, the main character, gets to wear Audrey's little black dress. If you could have one item from your favorite celebrity, what would it be?
Mitchell Kriegman: I know this may sound strange but i don’t have a favorite celebrity. I would ’t know where to begin.
Andrea @ Reading Lark: What is your favorite Audrey Hepburn film?
Mitchell Kriegman: Personally, it’s Charade. I loved that when I was a kid.
Andrea @ Reading Lark: How did you come up with the idea for this novel?
Mitchell Kriegman: I’m always interested in self-Pygmalion or the Pygmalion Effect. And in the early days, as I created and produced Clarissa Explains It All in the 1990s, I had this idea about a girl in New Jersey who had a crummy life but watched Audrey Hepburn movies to make herself feel better. And that contrast between having a crummy life but being motivated to watch something so different fascinated me.
Andrea @ Reading Lark: It's a tradition to ask - What is your favorite bird?
Mitchell Kriegman: A hummingbird --- especially the ones that fly around outside my window as I write.
About the Book
Being Audrey Hepburn (St. Martin's Griffin, September 2014)
Sometimes all you need to stand out in the crowd is a little black dress, the right attitude, and a bit of help from one of the greatest movie stars the world has ever seen....
Lisbeth knows a lot about impossible. Between her alcoholic mother, her walked-out-on-everything father, her five-times-a-felony brother, and her sister Courtney whose major life plans include ragers and wet t-shirt contests, there’s not a lot of possible out there.
Obsessed with everything Audrey Hepburn (whose movies are an answer to any major crisis), Lisbeth is transformed when she secretly tries on Audrey’s iconic Givenchy black dress from Breakfast at Tiffany’s. Mistaken for a fashion icon at a party for the young and privileged Manhattan elite, Lisbeth’s identity shifts into ‘Lisbeth Dulac’. With the aid of her grandmother and her fashionista friend Jess, Miss Dulac has everybody fooled. Soon she’s faced with choices that she never imagined making – between who she’s become and who she once was.
Perfect for every Hepburn-obsessed fan, Being Audrey Hepburn is a coming of age Cinderella story, in the tradition of The Nanny Diaries and The Devil Wears Prada, and is sure to chase away all the ‘mean reds’.
Twitter: @mkfresh1
Goodreads
Amazon
Barnes & Noble
IndieBound
Goodreads
Amazon
Barnes & Noble
IndieBound
We have one copy of Being Audrey Hepburn to give to our lucky readers. This giveaway is open to those who live in the US or Canada and who are 14+ years of age. If you are under 18, you must have parental permission to enter. Reading Lark is not responsible for prize delivery.
The giveaway runs from November 6-13. Winner will be notified via email on November 14.
Audrey Hepburn is one of my idols, so anything associated with her is on my want list! This book looks good too, so that helps a lot. Thanks for the chance!
ReplyDeleteMary DeBorde
ReplyDeleteI just love these *Cinderella* type tales - and who doesn't love the timeless
chic of Audrey Hepburn?! This sounds like a fun, enjoyable read <3