Gotham High is a young adult graphic novel, written by Melissa De La Cruz and illustrated by Thomas Pitilli. I really enjoyed reading this story, which makes me even more excited to host this Q&A with Melissa De La Cruz.

Get insights on the creation of the high school version of our legendary and beloved heroes/villains: Batman, Catwoman, and The Joker.

Thank you so much, DC Comics and FFBC, for having me on this tour. Check out my review, get a peek at the awesome book trailer and imagery from the book (Courtesy of DC Comics).

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Q&A With Melissa De La Cruz.

How did you get involved in the project and what drew you to writing this story?

DC reached out to my agent and said they were starting a YA line of graphic novels and would love to have me involved. They said no one had chosen “Batman” yet and they would love my take on it. I said, I would love to do Batman for sure! Such an iconic character, and they were open to my re-telling of the story.

In addition to giving Bruce a Chinese American heritage, you also put a unique twist on Bruce’s classic relationships with Alfred and his parents. What went into that decision-making?

Alfred is traditionally Bruce’s mentor and the smoothest guy around – for me it seemed natural that he was Bruce’s suave uncle from Hong Kong instead of a British butler. And everyone knows the traditional Batman origin, but this was a re-imagining, and it was fun to play with those things that everyone knows and tell it a different way.

What is the most difficult aspect of writing for a teenage audience?

I think writers have a temptation to write in the latest slang or to keep it current thinking that’s what teens like, but things change so fast you can never capture it. It’s better to just tell the story straight and not worry about stuff like that.

What is your favorite place to write?

I love writing about New York, I’m a New Yorker, so any excuse to write about New York is fine by me. Which is why I love that Batman is from Gotham – he’s also a New Yorker.

If you could live in any of the worlds you’ve created so far, which one would you pick and why?

      Trying to think of the most luxurious place I have written about – with the easiest lifestyle. Possibly the Hamptons? We used to have a place on Shelter Island. It was magical. I miss it. Bruce Wayne definitely has the biggest house on Lily Pond Lane in East Hampton.

Thank you so much, Melissa De La Cruz, for answering these questions!

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DC debuted the official book trailer a few days ago, check it out!

Synopsis

From Melissa de la Cruz, the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Alex and Eliza and The Witches of East End comes a reimagining of Gotham for a new generation of readers.

After being kicked out of his boarding school, 17-year-old Bruce Wayne returns to Gotham City to find that nothing is as he left it. What once was his family home is now an empty husk, lonely but haunted by the memory of his parents’ murder. Selina Kyle, previously the innocent girl next door, now rules over Gotham High School with a dangerous flair, aided by the class clown, Jack Napier.

When a kidnapping rattles the school, Bruce seeks answers as the dark and troubled knight—or is he actually the pawn? Nothing is ever as it seems, especially at Gotham High, where the parties and romances are of the highest stakes … and where everyone is a suspect.

With evocative art by Thomas Pitilli, this new graphic novel is just as intoxicating as it is chilling, in which dearest friends turn into greatest enemies–all within the hallways of Gotham High!

Goodreads | Amazon | B&N | Bookdepository | Google Play

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About the author: Melissa De La Cruz

Melissa de la Cruz is the New York Times and USA Today best-selling author of many critically acclaimed and award-winning novels for teens including The Au Pairs series, the Blue Bloods series, the Ashleys series, the Angels on Sunset Boulevard series and the semi-autobiographical novel Fresh off the Boat.

Her books for adults include the novel Cat’s Meow, the anthology Girls Who Like Boys Who Like Boys and the tongue-in-chic handbooks How to Become Famous in Two Weeks or Less and The Fashionista Files: Adventures in Four-inch heels and Faux-Pas.

She has worked as a fashion and beauty editor and has written for many publications including The New York Times, Marie Claire, Harper’s Bazaar, Glamour, Cosmopolitan, Allure, The San Francisco Chronicle, McSweeney’s, Teen Vogue, CosmoGirl! and Seventeen. She has also appeared as an expert on fashion, trends and fame for CNN, E! and FoxNews.

Melissa grew up in Manila and moved to San Francisco with her family, where she graduated high school salutatorian from The Convent of the Sacred Heart. She majored in art history and English at Columbia University (and minored in nightclubs and shopping!).

She now divides her time between New York and Los Angeles, where she lives in the Hollywood Hills with her husband and daughter.

Website | Goodreads | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Tumblr

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US GIVEAWAY

Prize: Win a copy of GOTHAM HIGH by Melissa de la Cruz & Thomas Pitilli (US Only)

Starts: 7^th April 2020 – Ends: 21^st April 2020

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Tour Schedule – FFBC TOURS

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