Artists, writers, musicians and creators of all kinds are needed in our society in ways we’ve never experienced before. Now, more than ever, the struggle to create is a worthy battle. In our quickly changing world, it is hard to concentrate on completing a manuscript and spending focused, uninterrupted time in my fictional worlds. Ironically, my own addiction to social media was a huge challenge in the creation process. What were the biggest challenges you faced, or surprises you encountered in completing this book? Visiting Paris and the Sorbonne was a dream come true, but the icing on the cake was having “Fake” published in France this past March. Bringing together teachers, researchers, practitioners and gaming specialists from six countries in the fields of medicine, literature, social sciences and humanities, my session, “A Game of Social Thrones: The Influence of Social Media on Young Adults’ Self Esteem,” addressed social media and the concern with growing social media addiction in teenagers. When “Fake” published in the United State last fall, I was honored to be invited to present in Paris at the international conference of the Groupement d’Intérêt Scientifique – or GIS – at the Sorbonne for the first interdisciplinary and international conference dedicated to the game and its stakes. The vocabulary and creation process of creating graphic stories was new for me, but I enjoyed exploring that world and reading some amazing titles in that medium.

I loved researching the world of comic book creators for this book. Maisie dreams of becoming a graphic artist and it was integral to the storyline. Tell us about creating this book: any research and travel you might have done, any other influences on which you drew? The section also captures how I envisioned Maisie thinking of transforming online much like a superhero might don their costume to battle evil. This excerpt captures her thinking and motivation-right or wrong.

I knew the main character, Maisie, was going to do something terrible and I wanted the reader to understand why she took such a drastic step. How does it fit into the book as a whole and why did you select it? I understood her anger and resentment, but I also admired her creativity.

I was an overweight teen who struggled with my own body image, so Maisie was a main character close to my own heart. In today’s world full of social media pressure, that search for our own unique identity becomes even more complex. Recognizing and appreciating our own personal potential is a struggle for teens and adults. In “Fake,” I wanted to explore identity in the online and real life world. Identifying with her protagonist, Donna Cooner explored a teen's struggle with body image - The Colorado Sun CloseĮach week, The Colorado Sun and Colorado Humanities & Center For The Book feature an excerpt from a Colorado book and an interview with the author.

Skinny by Donna Cooner