CECIL CASTELLUCCI hen I saw the title of Cecil Castellucci's book, Queen of Cool, I thought, "Aww. How cute. Someone wrote a book about me." Hey, who snickered?! Anyways, a few things drew me to Queen of Cool: 1) the title, 2) the cute fresh pedi'd toenails with the little crown on the cover...'cause I really need one before I shoe off my feet for the winter and 3) the size of the book. It's a perfect purse-sized mini hard cover. I knew right away we'd have to get Cecil to hang with us in the Clique Lounge. And here she is. Cecil, what say you? TCL: So I totally thought your book was about me in my teen diva years. Except, my dad wasn't in Advertising, I never had any interest in Science...not even for pretend and I never hung out with a dude in a band. Okay, so maybe it's not at all like me. Who was your inspiration for the Q.O.C clique? CC: I was thinking this one day, about the idea of cool and how sometimes I feel like I'm the coolest girl in the room (and one quick glance around the room confirms it) and other times I feel like I'm the biggest loser (and one quick glance around the room confirms it). How is that possible?! How can you be cool and uncool at the same time?! I started asking my friends if they felt the same way. (They did!) After that it just takes some looking around and a bit of imagination to mix and stir up a clique of friends. (I love Perla) TCL: Seems like lots of YA books feature at least one or more characters that are from wealthy families (including my own). Who was the richest kid you knew in high school? And were you cool with that person or wanted to strangle them? CC: I guess the richest person I knew in High School was Chastity Bono. (You may know her mom: Cher) I thought it was cool that she could take trapeze classes and also order food in all the time. Also, we would go to Balducci's and get yummy things to snack on afterschool. There would be baskets full of cassette tapes of all the latest records in the house so we could listen to everything. We were the best of friends and I never wanted to strangle her. (Else how would I get those Balducci cheese sticks?) TCL: I used to work for a PR and Advertising agency. Expense accounts rock! Here's my ten second jingle about your book: "Queen of Cool. It is Cool. If you don't think so you're so uncool." I know, that's why I left advertising and went back to writing. Now, your turn. Ten second jingle about your book. CC: To be the Queen of all things cool is only cool if you know who you are! TCL: You're a West Coast chick, what are two pros and two cons to living on the Left Coast? CC: I love old Hollywood. So for me, who lives in a neighborhood where Mabel Normand, Fatty Arbuckle and The Keystone Cops made their movies, is thrilling. I may write books, but i have a black and white silent movie heart. Also, here in SoCal, the weather is fantastico! It is always kind of summery. My flowers are always in bloom. And pretty much I don't feel depressed because of the weather. I get bummed out when it's gray for too long. And now the cons... Seasons. I really miss the seasons. The weather is great, and the seasons are subtle, but there is something magical about the passionate East Coast seasons. I miss snow. I miss fall. I miss spring bursting into bloom. And lastly, I miss my friends and family. (I'm a New Yorker and a Montrealer). So it sucks that so many of the people who are the nearest and dearest to me are over on the East. TCL: Okay, seriously, I want the Brand Whore shirt that Perla wore obliviously. I loved it! Irony and all! Are you into fashion at all? What's the hottest brand you've ever rocked? CC: Sadly, I am no fashionista. I mean, not in the way that you'd think. People seem to think I have style. But it's just a vintage-y, hand me down, girl swapped, friend who is a stylist who gives me stuff from some shoot, style. That said, I love clogs. (Dansko and Sanitas) I adore Gama-Go. And I am loving Threadless T-shirts. (lately it's all about the perfect t-shirt) Also an H&M just opened in Los Angeles, and at last I can be sassy! Also, I have discovered Nordstroms. They even have shoes in my size. (4 1/2) TCL: We play a little game in the lounge called Word Association. Quick, what do you think when I say: Abercrombie & Fitch—blah Hollywood—silver screen Style Network—red carpet (p.s. I don't have broadcast or cable tv) Folk music—acoustic guitar TCL: If you were exiled to an island and could take two other authors with you, who would it be and why? CC: Dead Authors: Jane Austen and Charles Dickens, I think we'd have a great conversations! Alive Authors: Holly Black and Neil Gaiman, just think of the stories we'd tell around the campfire! TCL: Which one of you is most likely to turn cannibal once the food runs out? CC: Me. In both cases. I may be little, but I get hungry! TCL: If you were Queen for a day, what one thing would you change about your life? CC: I'd rip the carpet up in my office and put down a new hard wood floor. (that's not very Queenly, except that I'm obsessed with doing that) TCL: Shameless Self Promotion or SSP as we like to call it in my hood—what makes Queen of Cool readalicious? CC: It's from the point of view of the Mean Girl! Mean to Queen! What really makes the Queen! What's really cool? Deep down you know. * * * Well ya' heard it hear first, cliquesters. Add another one to your library, 'cause P said so.