Giveaway and character interview from Tell me a Secret by Holly Cupala

Tell Me A Secret by Holly Cupala

Character Interview: Rand's Mom

Holly told me this interesting tidbit about her mom: "Miranda’s mom was possibly the most difficult character to write—until I realized she had a secret, too, one that was driving all of her actions and attitudes. She kind of the parent you love to hate, but I hope readers will come to understand and maybe even sympathize with her. "

 Thank you Holly! And now we have Rand's Mom, who has graciously agreed to allow me to interview her!

You have a very big secret of your own. Why didn’t you feel like you could share it with Rand?

The last thing I would want would be for Miranda to make the same mistakes I did, or the same mistakes her sister made. My intention was always to protect her, even if it didn’t seem that way. She surprised me with her determination, which reminds me a little of myself at that age. I didn’t realize she understood so much, even without me saying a word.
 

How do you respond to the statement that you care more about appearances than your actual family?

We tend to judge ourselves by our intentions, and judge others by outward actions. I would say it would be very presumptuous for another person to judge what I care about when they don’t know my heart. I care about my family very much. I don’t want to see any of them hurt, especially by their own choices. I’ve paid a high price for mine. 
 

What were your parents like? Do you see yourself similar or different from them?

My parents punished me for my mistakes—they still do. Those kinds of words embed themselves in a person’s soul. I hoped I might help my girls avoid such harsh judgments in the world. Xanda’s life started with shame, and that can color an entire generation. It’s hopeful to me that Miranda and Lexi might have a different fate. 


How did you really see Xanda and what were your feelings inside, rather than what you portrayed.

No parent should go through the grief of losing a child, no matter how difficult the relationship. Perhaps those are even more painful, for the words said and the ones that should have been said. I wouldn’t wish that kind of heartache on anyone.


Do you think that anyone is at fault for Xanda’s death?

Even if I wanted Xanda to make different choices, I couldn’t change the person she was. We can blame our parents, and in so many ways we are shaped by our families and experiences, but we must choose what to do with them. For a long time I blamed Charles, and I blamed Andre. Much more deeply, I blamed myself. It was and still is painful to think about. I hope there is healing for all of us through what Miranda has gone through.
 

Thank you so much for being here, and I really appreciate your open and heartfelt answers! It is really hard to see outside of the box that Rand paints, and the pictures that she wants us to see. Things are much different from the actual perspective of a parent rather than a grieving teenager!

And for the giveaway- Holly has designed magnets inspired by Tell me a Secret!

To enter, please leave a comment about the interview or about the book (my review can be found here) and a way to contact you.

-Contest ends one week from today Dec 10th 11:59pm EST 

- I would love it if you spread the word and if you follow my blog, but neither is required. 

Here is a picture-- aren't they lovely?