It’s May, which means it’s prom season and time to get ready for summer reading! Aimee Ferris, author of Will Work for Prom Dress—a story about two friends and their quest for the perfect prom (dates, dresses, and all) and a Scholastic Summer Reading pick!—was kind enough to answer a few questions about the book, summer reading, and proms.

Book Talk: Quigley tries a plethora of activities to earn money for her prom dress. Were any of these inspired by your own life?

Aimee Ferris: I proudly debuted as a “professional actress,” earning $50 in the same role as Quigley. I was kinder to my character though, as I not only spent the 45 minutes facedown in a salad plate but fell asleep in the process. It took a full minute of being tossed around the stage at the end to figure out where I was and why I had romaine stuck to my forehead.

BT: What was your favorite of Quigley’s odd jobs? Which was the most fun to write?

AF: I giggled throughout the parade scene. It wasn’t in my original manuscript but inspired by a surreal visit to a Providence puppet artist’s studio…and I could never pass up a bad good pun.

BT: Which of the characters, Anne or Quigley, were you most like in high school? Which do you wish you were more like?

AF: Oh my. Do I really have to admit to the strong strains of Anne-ness in my past? I wish I could say Quigley, she’s just so levelheaded and such a good friend. I think, er, hope, that I grew into more of a Quigley? Or at least a late-in-the-book Anne.

BT: Art plays such a large role throughout the story. What artists or philosophies on art do you believe are most important for teens to know?

AF: Whoever and whatever speaks to them. I find modern art clever and thought-provoking but the Impressionists comforting. Everyone has their taste. I’m also a travel writer, so local art always finds its way into my backpack (wrapped protectively in surf shorts and sarongs, of course).

BT: What was the inspiration for Quigley’s passion for art?

AF: I really wanted to be an artist and go to the Art Institute of Chicago when I was growing up. Someone talked me out of it, convinced me I should be more practical—I don’t even remember who, which is pretty telling. As it turned out, I pretty much dropped out of real life to be a world-wandering beach bum, shark diver, and dolphin trainer, so giving up art to follow someone else’s idea of what I should do didn’t pan out anyway.

BT: Although this book is about the quest for a prom dress, it also deals with serious issues—like the events surrounding Zander’s accident. What messages do you hope kids will take from the story?

AF: I didn’t write it thinking “Oh, here’s a teachable moment,” the story just flowed how it flowed, but “measure twice, cut once” is a good little nugget, isn’t it? I think Tim Gunn would approve.

BT: Were you a big reader as a kid? If so, what books were your favorites?

AF: My parents didn’t send me to my room or ground me, they took my books away. I think I would have been quite happy living on Prince Edward Island looking for kindred souls amongst the greenery, even if it meant the occasional Gilbert Blythe calling me “carrots.”

BT: On willworkforpromdress.com, you have a collection of prom pictures from authors. How fun was it to put together that?

AF: Hysterical. Just hysterical. Reconnecting with so many YA author buds (and being introduced to their author buds once the tidal wave of taffeta got rolling) in their teenage tragic fashion choices made every morning like Christmas. I mean, Libba Bray’s peach meringue Sleeves of Death and Arthur Slade’s Man Perm? Love.

BT: Your book was picked as part of Scholastic’s Summer Reading Challenge. Are you a summer reader? If so, where do you like to read during the summer?

AF: I am a four seasons reader. (That kind of answered both of those, now didn’t it.*As T-shirt would say, “He Who Laughs Last, Thinks Slowest.”) When not traveling, I lounge in my studio hammock to read. Everyone has a hammock in their office, don’t they?

BT: Have you ever seen Elvis on a pizza?

AF: No, but I did catch a glimpse of Prince burned into my rye toast, so I’m on the right track….

We’d like to thank Aimee Ferris again for taking the time to chat with us. You can find Will Work for Prom Dress on May and June’s TAB.

Tags: Authors, summer reading, Tab, Young Adult