Kristi Wientge is one of my supercool CPs here at The Winged Pen, and her debut middle-grade novel KARMA KHULLAR’s MUSTACHE releases next summer. It reads like a contemporary Judy Blume novel, and I CANNOT wait to get my hands on it. Because I’m TOTALLY obsessed with Kristi and want to know MUCH MORE about her, I jumped on the chance to put her in the FELLOWSHIP OF THE WINGED PEN SPOTLIGHT! *cues ginormous spotlight

Yay! Thanks so much for doing this, Michelle.

What’s the best thing about where you live? You’re asking me this at a time I’m being grumpy about living all the way in Singapore so far away from family and friends, but usually I love the tropical climate, super easy and efficient public transport, the walking and THE FOOD! Singapore is actually a really great place to live. 

Last book you read: Our mutual CP, Rebecca Allen’s WIP: GEEK CAMP. 

Oh, yes! I’ve read Rebecca’s latest WIP too. It’s awesome!!! What’s a TV show you’re obsessed with currently: I usually catch on to shows a few years after their prime so this isn’t new, but I’ve been watching BBC’s Miranda and it makes me crack up. 

You’re packing a bag of books for a desert island, which 5 books make it in the bag? My Bible, an empty notebook, I’m going to cheat a bit (as if bringing an empty notebook wasn’t already pushing the limits) and say my Complete Collection of John Keats and my Portable Oscar Wilde both purchased from a used bookstore and both are just so gorgeous and for my last choice, I’d take a graphic novel. Hmm, I’m still loving ROLLER GIRL so much, so it’d probably be that. 

Keats and ROLLER GIRL!?! We are truly soulmates! What’s the last song you listened to on repeat: Origin of Love from Hedwig and the Angry Inch 

Dinner is on the stove, but the best first line for your WIP pops in your head and if you don’t write it down NOW, you’ll lose it forever…. What do you do? Yell at one of my girls to grab my phone and “take this down!” They’re actually kind of used to me asking them to type random things into my notes file on my phone. 

Your writing journey in numbers: 10 queries sent, 0 partials/fulls requested from any of those queries sent, but I got about 15 agent requests from my contest entries in Sun Vs Snow and Pitch Madness.  

Amazing! Your current WIP in five words: (bonus points if you can do it in less!) Pastries, Insecurities, Loyalties… 

What’s next for you? Well, this next book is really kicking my butt. I really thought I’d have it to my agent by now, but my progress has been so slow. Hopefully my editor loves it and I can have more news to share!? 

Readers, if you’re even 1/20^th as obsessed with Kristi as I am, follow her on Twitter @Kwientge, on her developing website kristiwientge.com, and go ahead and add her debut to your TBR list on Goodreads! 

It was fun getting to know you better, Kristi, and thanks for letting me hold the microphone for this FOWP SPOTLIGHT! I can’t wait to read your next FOWP SPOTLIGHT interview!

It was so much fun and I can’t wait to reciprocate! xoxo

Michelle Leonard is a Kristi Wientge fan, a chocolate biscotti baker, a math/science nerd, and a middle-grade fiction and nonfiction writer. Connect with her on Twitter:  @MGYABookJunkie.