THE NEED SERIES
Zara collects phobias the way other high school girls collect FaceBook friends. Little wonder, since she’s had a pretty rough life. Her father left when she was a baby, and her stepfather just died. Her mother’s pretty much checked out – in fact, Mom’s sent her to live with her grandmother in cold and sleepy Maine to “keep Zara safe.” Whatever that means. Zara doesn’t think she’s in danger; she thinks her mother just can’t deal.
Zara’s wrong. The man she sees everywhere – the tall creepy guy who points at her from the side of the road – yeah, he’s not a figment of her imagination. He’s a pixie. And not the cute, sweet kind with little wings. Maine’s got a whole assortment of unbelievable creatures, like pixies and were-people. And they seem to need something – something from Zara…
how need came about:
I was at the Common Ground Fair, which is this huge, cool fair in Maine that’s sponsored by Maine Organic Farmers and Growers Association (MOFGA). To get to the main part of the fair you have to walk through this sweet trail that curves through these tall spruce trees.
Right in front of me was this guy. He had a weird vibe. He was wearing all corduroy – blazer, pants. And sticking out from his blazer was this long tail-like appendage that was wrapped in different colored earth-toned cloth. I guess he could tell I was checking him out because he turned his head and looked at me. His eye was this startling silver color. How startling? So startling that I actually gasped and got creeped out.
Then when we were in line to pay we made eye contact again and his eyes were brown.
I know! I know! I probably imagined the silver eye color.
It doesn’t matter. That was one of the main things that got me started. Then, I just had this image of a man standing outside an airport pointing at an airplane this girl was on.
It also creeped me out.
So, I started writing.
other stuff
Michelle Nagler at Bloomsbury purchased NEED at the end of 2007. She is a genius and she has the most beautiful speaking voice I have ever heard. I am insanely jealous of her voice and her talent. She made NEED a much better book. I can not thank her enough. Caroline Abbey at Bloomsbury also babysat me through so much of the making of NEED that she deserves a medal. Seriously. She’s amazing.
what people said
Jones easily wins readers to Zara’s side, portraying her as a funny, globally conscious teen who also collect[s} fears like other people collect stamps (obscure phobias serve as chapter titles). Genre fans will enjoy the sizzle between Nick and Zara as well as the paranormal cast. – Publishers Weekly
Move over Edward Cullen (Twilight)—there’s a new boy in town. Carrie Jones’s terrific fantasy/romance/thriller (Bloomsbury, 2008) is sure to be a crowd pleaser. – School Library Journal
Where to Buy
You can buy all the NEED books at normal online places like Amazon, but if you want an autographed copy and want to support an independent bookstore, you can through the awesome Sherman’s Book Store in Bar Harbor, Maine or the amazing Briar Patch in Bangor, Maine.
Email barharbor (((@))) shermans.com for Sherman’s or email info((@))briarpatchbooks.com and let them know the titles in which you are interested. There is sometimes a waiting list, but they are the best option. Plus, you’re supporting an adorable local bookstore run by some really wonderful humans.