E.M. Kokie: PERSONAL EFFECTS

BIO: E.M. Kokie writes contemporary young adult novels and is represented by Chris Richman of Upstart Crow Literary. In high school she was a band geek, played field hockey, and was active in Model Youth in Government, Mock Trial and a slew of clubs. She was rarely invited to the cool parties, which left her plenty of time to read, and to create her own stories, even if she didn’t share them with anyone or think that she could actually be a writer. Now she shares her stories—specifically, novels for teens that explore identity and self-determination, about characters on the cusp of life-changing moments. She lives in Madison, Wisconsin, with her partner. She will debate nearly any subject, and likes to have the last word. She can be found online at http://www.emkokie.com/, on Twitter, on Facebook, and hanging around the Absolute Write Forums.

DEBUT: PERSONAL EFFECTS (Candlewick Press, September 2012)

Seventeen-year-old Matt Foster thought that if he could only get his hands on his brother’s stuff from Iraq, he'd be able to make sense of T.J.’s death. He wasn’t expecting T.J.’s personal effects to raise even more questions about his brother’s life.

Now, even if it means pushing his dad over the edge . . .

even if it means losing his best friend . . .

even if it means getting expelled from school . . .

Matt will do whatever it takes to find out the truth about his brother’s past.


FIVE LESSONS FOR THE APOCALYPSE (Or, “everything I know about surviving an apocalypse I learned from Buffy the Vampire Slayer.”):

1. “What's this? Sitting around watching the telly while there's evil still afoot. Not very industrious of you. I say we go out there and kick a little demon ass!” (Spike, “Doomed”, Episode 2:11);


2. “I have to believe in a better world.” (Giles, “The Wish”, Episode 3:9);


3. “…give my love to my friends. You have to take care of them now. You have to take care of each other… the hardest thing in this world… is to live in it. Be brave. Live…” (Buffy, “The Gift,” Episode 5:22);


4. “When it's something that really matters, they fight. I mean, they're lame morons for fighting, but they do! They never... they never quit. So I guess I'll keep fighting too.” (Anya, “End of Days”, Episode 7:21); and


5. Oz: “Guys. Take a moment to deal with all this. We survived.” Buffy: “It was a hell of a battle.” Oz: “Not the battle. High school.” (“Graduation Day, Part 2, Episode 3:22).