Between Two Lockers With Kandis

In case you missed the announcement, over the next few months, we’ll be running a Between Two Lockers special series featuring your fave FYA writers and contributors.

FIRST THINGS FIRST

What’s your name?

Kandis Seaver

Where are you from/located?

Austin

What do you do when you’re not writing for FYA?

I'm a former data analyst, currently pretending to be the perfect housewife, and chauffeur to an 8-year-old. But really, when I'm not reading or mainlining TV, I spend way too much time on twitter, and trying to talk friends into playing hooky and meeting me for lunch cocktails.

What do you look like?

Where can you be found on social media?

Twitter, Instagram

THE ACTUAL YA-RELATED QUESTIONS

How long have you been writing for FYA, and how did you start writing for the site?

I started writing for FYA nearly two years ago. I hadn't thought about writing for the site until I had a stress dream about having a book report due that I hadn't even started. Once I quit my job, it was finally time to answer that higher calling to start recapping CW shows.

How did you come to read YA as an adult?

I'm an online shopping addict, and Amazon kept recommending The Hunger Games and Twilight books so often, that it finally wore me down.

Why do you think YA is an important genre, for both actual Ys and those of us who are more A?

The young adult experience is universal, in as far as, we've all been young before. But the number of offerings is so much more diverse now than when I was a kid. When you're young, it can be so comforting to read characters that reflect your experience, to let you know that you're not the only one dealing with those issues. But as an adult, I find it fascinating to also read about characters from different backgrounds, and with different experiences from my own.

What are five of your favorite YA books?

Jellicoe Road
Fangirl
The Dream Thieves
The Coldest Girl in Coldtown
Unspoken

Do you have a favorite YA character or couple? If so, who are they, and why are they The Best?

Taylor Markham and Jonah Griggs forever and ever! Their story is epic and emotional, and I love how profanely honest they are with each other. And now I wish I were reading Jellicoe Road again!

THE YA QUESTIONS

If your real life adolescence was a YA book ... What would you, the main character, be like?

Half Eleanor Douglas (Eleanor and Park), half Regina George (Mean Girls). You know, just your typical shy chubby girl projecting bitchiness and narcissism.

Who is your secret crush?

One of my best guy friends that I will never, ever tell.

What is your number #1 source of angst?

Any and all high school theater productions.

At what point would the reader pump his/her fist in victory?

When I score the lead the high school musical. (Spoiler: This never happens. I am tone deaf.)

And who would play you in the film adaptation?

Hayley Hasselhoff, because everyone deserves to be played by a way more glam version of themselves.

THE SLUMBER PARTY QUESTIONS

What is your #1 favorite food?

QUESO.

Tell me about your area of expertise.

I'm an expert at pretending that I'm an expert on everything.

If you could assemble your own Ocean's 11 of fictional characters, who would you pick?

1. Katniss Everdeen: to do what needs to be done.
2. Hermione Granger: so that someone will have actually read the instructions.
3. Tony Stark: for engineering and gadget supplies.
4. Felicity Smoak: for hacking skillz and schematics.
5. Raven Reyes: to tell Tony when he's wrong.
6. Reagan (from Fangirl): for general snark and badass attitude.
7. Ronan Lynch: ditto. And to dream stuff up.
8. Buffy Summers: in case of vampires.
9. Veronica Mars: for sleuthing and fake IDs.
10. Effie Trinkett: to provide disguises.
11. Karou: in case anyone dies.

What is your best karaoke song?

"Material Girl" (which is not to say that it's GOOD).

Tell me something scandalous!

I've never been arrested for public drunkenness. I KNOW. I'm just as surprised as you are.

What is your favorite adult beverage?

Pinot grigio. Just put the crazy straw right in that box. But I'd also accept hard cider, champers, and various bourbon cocktails.

What is the most crucial snack food and/or movie/or anything you'd bring to an FYA slumber party?

Chips and dip + Chasing Liberty.

What book have you read the most number of times?

It's a tie between Diana Gabaldon's Outlander and Jennifer Cruisie's Bet Me.

YA authors are so cool. Who would you give a BFF charm to?

But why can't we ALL be besties?! I'd probably have to go with Rainbow Rowell. I always feel so connected to her characters, and plus? Her accessory game is FIERCE.

Out of all of the characters you’ve read, which one do you most wish you could be?

I would kill to be any one of the girls "stuck" at a Parisian boarding school in a Stephanie Perkins book.