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This week’s Girlfriend from GCC is Kelly Parra, author of Graffiti Girl. Kelly Parra writes young adult fiction for MTV Books. When not at work on her current novel, she spends her free time roaming book stores, surfing the blogosphere, and watching reality TV.  Graffiti Girl is her debut novel.

Here’s a bit about the book:

Raised by her single mom (who's always dating the wrong kind of man) in a struggling California neighborhood, Angel Rodriguez is a headstrong, independent young woman who channels her hopes and dreams for the future into her painting. But when her entry for a community mural doesn't rate, she's heartbroken.  Even with the winning artist Nathan Ramos--a senior track start and Angel's secret crush--taking a sudden interest in Angel and her art, she's angry and hurt. She's determined to find her own place in the art world, her own way.

That's when Miguel Badalin--from the notorious graffiti crew Reyes del Norte--opens her eyes to an underground world of graf tags and turf wars. She's blown away by this bad boy's fantastic work and finds herself drawn to his dangerous charm. Soon she's running with Miguel's crew, pushing her skills to the limit and beginning to emerge as the artist

she always dreamed she could be. But Nathan and Miguel are bitter enemies with a shared past, and choosing between them and their wildly different approaches to life and art means that Angel must decide what matters most before the artist inside her can truly break free.

Kelly has answered our burning questions:

Dream vacation destination?

KP: I think it might be NY. I've never been and I hear it's just pulsing with city life.

You’ve just won the lottery. What’s the first thing you do/buy?

KP: I'm a very frugal person because I have to be and I have a book budget, so I know I would totally go on a mad book shopping spree. (That's a writer for you, huh?)

Favorite mystery/thriller movie?

KP: I am more of an action/suspense kind of a girl.  I really love the Die Hard & Lethal Weapon movies! 

Favorite junk food?

KP: Ugh. I'm on a healthy meal kick, so I've been really craving french fries. Yum!

What’s one food you absolutely can’t stand?

KP: Brussell sprouts! Just say no to brussel sprouts, people.

Paper or plastic?

Paper.

What’s one talent you wish you had?

KP: I love to listen to a good song, so it wouldn't hurt to be able to sing along without breaking glass.

M&Ms or Godiva?

KP: M&Ms - peanut M&Ms.

Favorite time of Day?

KP: About 9:00 am. I've already been up for a couple of hours and I'm ready to get writing for the rest of the morning.

Tell us a little about your book. Did an event or idea inspire the book?

KP: Graffiti Girl is about a high school Mexican-American artist named Angel.  Angel is drawn into the underground world of graffiti art, feeling this is the only method her artwork will be accepted and still allow her to stay true to her cultural identity. It's a story of finding where you belong and believing in your talent enough to be different.

The idea for Graffiti Girl came about because I was big on art during high school, and I had friends who were into graffiti art. I tried my hand at the style on paper with no success but I always admired the bold artistic style. So when I thought of the story line, I started research and began writing Graffiti Girl.

What’s your writing style? Outline or no outline?

KP: No outline, please. I like to make this stuff up as I go along. However, the reality is I have to outline to a certain extent if I want to sell on proposal.

What do you wish you’d known about either the craft of writing or the business of publishing when you first started writing?

KP: I wish I would have known that it would be really hard to keep coming up with book ideas that would interest editors. Not that it would have changed my mind to start a writing career, but I guess it would have prepared me more.

What’s up next for you? What are you working on now?

KP: I just sold my second YA novel about a girl who sees psychic images or signs on people and has to piece the clues together in order to save her peers from unfortunate fates. Adding a paranormal element to my writing is new for me and I'm really excited to be working on the project. 

Check out Kelly’s blog here.