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Can you tell us a little about yourself and your family?

It’s pretty much just me and mom, Melissa. People ask me all the time why I call her Melissa. Let’s just say that Melissa’s never been a typical mom, which is why calling her mom would just be weird. I used to when I was little. And then one day when I was about six, I got stung by a bee on my finger when I was playing outside, and I went running inside yelling Mommy as loudly as I could. Melissa was working on her first book at the time, and she came out of her office, and said very calmly, “I’m not much of a mother, and we both know that. I’m lucky you are so patient with me. Let’s just cut the traditional mother-daughter act and be friends or colleagues. There’s no sense pretending we are something we aren’t.”

So I just gaped at her, and then I said, “Uh, Melissa, I have a bee sting.” And she said, “There’s a first-aid kit in the bathroom.”

That’s pretty much the story of our relationship. She might not be a good mother, but I have to admit that she makes a pretty good “colleague.” At least I never have to worry about her reading my diary or giving me the sex talk like normal mothers. But it would be nice if she would let me in on her life sometimes.

I don’t know much about my father. Melissa doesn’t like to talk about it; she just says it didn’t work out between them. I think there’s something she’s not telling me. I’m going to find out that that is.

What are your thoughts about how your mother had such a great impact on creating PROFILE?

Well, at first I was pretty mad at Melissa. I mean, it’s her fault that a lot of this bad stuff happened at Quiet High. But sometimes people have good intentions. I think that counts for something, right? I’m not perfect either. Plus, it’s not her fault that everyone at QH just sort of jumped on the PROFILE bandwagon.

Do you think being 'predicted' could potentially make someone a criminal or are some people just inherently bad?

Hmmmm, I used to think one thing, but then something happened that made me change my mind. I guess you just have to read my story to find out what I think. I will tell you this, though: A lot of people at QH are pretty sure they know the answer.

What initially drew you to start liking Jesse?

His eyes. And maybe his glasses. I’ve always had a thing for guys with glasses. He doesn’t look like your typical jock. Jocks are a turn-off to me. He seemed kind of mysterious. Total cliché, right? But it’s true! I think there’s just something between us, you know? It’s electric, like nothing I’ve ever felt before. It’s hard to describe.

What do you think is the future of PROFILE?

If you want me to be totally honest, I’m scared. I don’t know what’s going to happen with PROFILE. All I know is that Quiet High will never be the same again. And neither will the rest of the world when this program extends across the country. I try not to think about it too much.

From Goodreads. Daphne is the new girl in town and is having trouble fitting in. At least she has Jesse... sort of. He wants to be

0 Comments on {Teen Book Scene} Character Interview: The Predicteds (Christine Seifert) as of 1/1/1900

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Hi. I’m Christine Seifert, author of The Predicteds. When I’m not writing, you’ll probably find me at my day job as a professor at Westminster College in Salt Lake City, Utah, where I teach classes in rhetoric and professional writing.

Here are eleven other things about me:

11. I have a PhD in English.
10. I’m terrified of bees.
9. I’m represented by Alyssa Eisner Henkin of Trident Media Group.
8. I’m from Fargo, North Dakota, and I used to have the tell-tale Fargo accent until people mocked me.
7. I’m on a bowling league, but I’m a terrible bowler.
6. I go nuts if I can’t read every single day for at least a few minutes.
5. I’ve published articles about both Twilight and the Jersey Shore.
4. Popcorn is my favorite food. I’d eat it every day if I could. (Let’s be honest: I do eat it almost every day).
3. I abhor large social events because I’m shy and fairly introverted. Having to go to a big party is the worst thing I can imagine.
2. I would walk everywhere if I could. I love to walk.
1. I think Saved by the Bell is an underrated show.

I’m glad to see the resurgence of dystopian novels lately. Who wants to read those pie-in-the-sky utopian novels, right? It’s much more fun to think of a totally messed-up future than to think about one filled with unicorns and rainbows. For whatever reason, we seem to be attracted to thinking about our potential dark sides.

One of the reasons I love dystopian narratives so much is that they remind me that things could always be a lot worse. So here’s my top ten favorite dystopians and the reasons why I wouldn’t want to live in those worlds (even though the books are terrific):

10. Wither by Lauren DeStefano—I’d make a rotten polygamist wife. As soon as I figured out how to get my sister wives to do all the cooking and cleaning, I’d willingly give up all rights to the husband in return.

9. The Leftovers by Tom Perrotta—This one’s a bit of a cheat because I haven’t read it yet, but it’s high on my list. Post-rapture living could be pretty depressing, especially when you’re among the ones left on Earth.

8. Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury—Any world where they burn books is not a world I want to live in.

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