Sunday, 24 July 2016

Girl Hearts Girl Blog Tour: Interview with Lucy Sutcliffe

I really loved Lucy Sutcliffe's memoir Girl Hearts Girl - a brilliant book about growing up,sexuality, and mental health issues which was a really lovely read. I was thrilled when Faye Rogers was able to arrange an interview for me!

1. When did you first start to think that your story would make a good book?

I think as our success on YouTube grew, I started thinking about how many people we’d managed to reach with just one click – and how many more I could reach if I found a different platform to tell my story. I’ve always loved to write, so I guess writing a book was a natural conclusion to that train of thought.


2. While the main focus of the book is on your acceptance of your sexuality, coming out, and your relationship with Kaelyn, I really appreciated how honest you were about your anxiety. How important do you think it is for teens to see that role models can suffer from mental health problems?

So, so important. Mental health has such a stigma surrounding it, and that makes it so much harder to deal with. I hate that mental health is still associated with shame. That’s why I was so honest about my experiences – I want people to know it’s okay to talk about it. I really hope we can one day get to a place where talking about our mental health is seen as normal and easy.


3. If you could give your 12-year-old self one piece of advice, what would it be?

Focus on the present. Panicking about the future and worrying about the past is such a waste of time.


4. You talk about how strange it was to see so many people following your videos - has that feeling gone away yet, or are you still surprised by the level of interest?

I don’t think the feeling is ever going to go away! It’s mind-blowing that people still watch them after all this time. All I can hope for is that people are always able to watch our videos and leave feeling better about themselves. 


5. What is your favourite thing about Kaelyn?

Her intelligence.


6. Do you have any plans for another book?

That’s a secret. 


7. If you had to describe your book in a tweet, what would you say?

An uplifting novel about the importance of love, respect and pride. Hashtag GAY.


8. Are you hoping to help inspire a younger generation?

Yes! In any way I can. Inspiration can change the world.




Summary:
An inspiring, uplifting and sympathetic story about sexuality and self-acceptance, Lucy Sutcliffe's debut memoir is a personal and moving coming out story. In 2010, at seventeen, Lucy Sutcliffe began an online friendship with Kaelyn, from Michigan. They began a long distance relationship, finally meeting in 2011. Lucy's video montage of their first week spent together was the first in a series of vlogs documenting their long-distance relationship. Now, for the first time, Lucy's writing about the incredible personal journey she's been on.


Information about the Book
Title: Girl Hearts Girl
Author: Lucy Sutcliffe
Release Date: 24th June 2016
Genre: YA Contemporary
Publisher: Scholastic
Format: Paperback

Author Information


Co-star of the popular YouTube channel Kaelyn and Lucy which documented the long distance relationship she had with Kaelyn Petras. She and Kaelyn finally came together in August of 2014, ending the long distance element of their relationship.

She graduated from Plymouth College of Art and Design in 2014 with a degree in Film Arts

She works as a freelance film editor and author. She and Kaelyn's channel mainly focuses on advice videos for LGBT youth.

She was born in Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire to parents Sharon and Roger Sutcliffe.


Giveaway
There is a tour-wide giveaway! 3 copies of Girl Hearts Girl for 3 lucky winners!
Participants must live in UK or IRL.

a Rafflecopter giveaway




                                  
Tour Schedule


     Monday 18th July

Tuesday 19th July

Wednesday 20th July

Thursday 21st July

Friday 22nd July

Saturday 23rd July

Sunday 24th July

Monday 25th July

Tuesday 26th July

Wednesday 27th July

Thursday 28th July


2 comments:

  1. This sounds like a really great book!

    ReplyDelete
  2. i love YA books. Im all grown up now but i never feel told old for YA books

    ReplyDelete