The Star of Nova Rocks! Hits a High Note

Nova Talks About the First Star Sisterz Book

By Michael G. Ryan

If you haven't read Nova Rocks! yet, you're missing the beat! It's a wild summer ride for Nova, and it begins with a strange message that seems to be meant only for her . . . about her future. But Nova's future doesn't look all that awesome. It might take some amazing luck to make something good come of it. . . .

Wizards of the Coast: You had an amazing summer, and it all comes out in your new book, Nova Rocks! I don't want to give away too much, but did your summer go the way you thought it would when it started?

Nova: Absolutely no way. I thought I'd be doing my usual: ballet 24/7 and generally hanging out. Little did I know major life events were going to happen to me, changing me in a huge way!

Wizards: That super mysterious message you saw on the ATM machine, the one that told you to act like a rock star in front of a group of strangers . . . Where do you think that might have come from?

Nova: Hmm. Good question. I've thought about it and thought about it. I finally decided to just accept it, but if YOU ever find out -- I hope you'll clue me in!!

Wizards: I have to say, belching in front of a cute guy may not be the best way to impress him. But Joe Tsai was very cool about it. Is it something you can laugh about now?

Nova: That whole major burping episode falls into the category of "You gotta laugh; otherwise you'll just die!" I turned it into a funny story for my friends. Whenever they tell me how they've messed up, I say, "You think THAT's bad?? Well, one time I . . ." At least it makes them feel better, kind of like turning an evil (well, okay . . . just mortifying, but it sure felt evil) deed into a force for good.

Wizards: I'll say some words to you, and you say the first thing that comes into your mind, okay?

--Your sister, Venus

Nova: Perfection on a stick.

--Ballet

Nova: Puke, gag, choke.

--Your friend, Yumi

Nova: Self-confident, outspoken, friendly, knows what she wants.

--Joe

Nova: Not only gorgeous, but outrageously totally, utterly, and completely nice.

Sigh.

--Roxie, your guitar

Nova: Roxie is the true love of my life! I'll always adore you, Roxie!!!

Wizards: Tell me a little bit about Tea Emesse, the woman who helped you write Nova Rocks! What's she like?

Nova: Oh, HER (just joking). From what I understand, she's always got her nose in a book. She loves to write, spends a ton of time gardening and cooking, and is always going on (and ON -- ho hum) about her big black dog, Romeo. The worst thing is, she couldn't carry the tiniest tune in the world's biggest basket, and yet she's always singing (realllly badly) even in front of people! I'm like, get me OUT of here!!! You know?

Wizards: So, what do you think of ballet now? And more important, what do you think your future holds for you?

Nova: I admire ballerinas, even though ballet is totally NOT MY THING. Someday I might actually not hate going to the ballet and watching from the audience especially since that's my mom's idea of a perfect mom/daughter date. Which brings us to my future, in which I hope to persuade Mom into going to a rock concert with me . . . kind of my own personal "mission impossible."

Read more about Nova in her book Nova Rocks!