Laura: Hi MK, Welcome to What to Read Next podcast.

MK Pagano: Hi, thank you so much for having me.

Laura: So happy to have you here. Tell us a little bit about yourself.

MK Pagano: I am an author, a former marketer, and a mother of two young children. I used to work in corporate America in New York City. I've since moved out to the New Jersey suburbs. I freelanced for a while, and now I am a full-time author and parent.

Laura: That's great. I worked in New York City for 14 years. Which neighborhood did you work in? I love talking about neighborhoods.

MK Pagano: I think my favorite neighborhood in New York City is Jersey City, which is not technically New York City, but...

Laura: Yes, I lived in Jersey City too!

MK Pagano: That's so funny. I used to live in Dixon Mills downtown.

Laura: I lived in Exchange Place on Essex Street, the last street by the water. I loved it. It felt like a small town.

MK Pagano: Yeah, I love Jersey City. We moved out right at the start of the pandemic because we were in a one-bedroom with a one-year-old, and we needed the space and a yard. But I miss it so much.

Laura: I moved out two weeks before the pandemic. It was a planned move, not because of the pandemic. I moved to Chicago, but Jersey City was my home away from home. It had everything I needed, the convenience of suburbia with the perks of city life.

MK Pagano: Exactly. I'm actually doing my book launch at Word bookstore in Jersey City.

Laura: Oh, that's so exciting! I'm glad we got to chat about it. So, in your pre-interview, you mentioned that if you won the lottery, you'd restore a château in France. Tell me about your experiences in France.

MK Pagano: In high school, they made us pick a language—French, Spanish, or Latin. Everyone said to pick Spanish because it was more useful, so I picked French to be contrary. I fell in love with Paris the first time I went there. I majored in French in college just to go back to Paris. I studied abroad in Paris and Dijon, and after college, I did a year as a teaching assistant in Normandy. I traveled all over and was completely immersed in the culture. I loved the pace of life, the language, the food, and the people. I wish I could have a home there too.

Laura: Maybe someday, with some generational wealth or a long-lost aunt with a château.

MK Pagano: That would be great! Though, I'm not actually French. My long-lost château would be in Italy, Ireland, or England.

Laura: Let's talk about "Girls Who Burn." What's the elevator pitch for it?

MK Pagano: It's the story of a girl named Addie. When the boy Addie accused of killing her sister is found dead in a similar manner, she must team up with her childhood frenemy to find out who's killing teens in their town before she, or someone they love, is next.

Laura: It sounds very atmospheric, engaging, and a real page-turner. What do you enjoy about writing for a young adult audience?

MK Pagano: I find the teenage experience to be so unique. It's a time when you're figuring things out, dealing with changes, and experiencing first loves and other firsts. Teenagers are prone to big emotions, and that makes for interesting storytelling. They don't always make rational decisions, which leads to more interesting outcomes.

Laura: Teenagers are perfect unreliable narrators because they're still figuring things out. It makes the stakes higher and the story more compelling. Adults often make rational decisions, which can lead to less interesting outcomes.

MK Pagano: Exactly. Writing from a teenage perspective allows for more dramatic and engaging storytelling.

Laura: Let's talk about some books you recommend. What have you read recently?

MK Pagano: I recently finished "Night Watching" by Tracy Sierra, a Jimmy Fallon book club pick. It's about a woman alone in her house with her two young children when an intruder breaks in. I also read "Perfect Little Monsters" by Cindy RxHu, a YA thriller with a great twist at the end. Another recent read is "The Husbands" by Holly Gramazio, which is a smart and funny commentary on modern dating culture.

Laura: Those sound great! I'll add them to my reading list. Where can our listeners find you online?

MK Pagano: You can find me at mkpagano.com and on Twitter, TikTok, and Instagram.

Laura: Thank you for being on the show, MK.

MK Pagano: Thank you so much for having me.