Colleen: I’m here. So, what do you want? I know you’ve already talked to my parents, and grandma, and Uncle Frank—and even my boyfriend? Listen, I only have a tiny little microscopic pitiful role in your story, You Don’t Know Me, so I don’t know what the big deal is.
Susie: Yeah, well, you might think you have a tiny role, but the fact is, you play a huge part in this story. You’re the only daughter of Annalise and Nathan and the powerful motivation to why Annalise does everything she does, not to mention the catalyst for her decisions. And you give me a way to bring Tucker into the story.
Colleen: Tucker, Tucker, Tucker—everybody loves Tucker. Sheesh. I’m the volleyball star.
Susie: And the spoiled brat.
Colleen: Do I have to stay?
Susie: Sorry. But I pretty much thought you should have been grounded the entire story, so—
Colleen: I’m so misunderstood.
Susie: A little true, and you have a few redeeming qualities, so I didn’t kill you off.
Colleen: Should I be thanking you? Sheesh.
Susie: Colleen, help me and my reader friends love you—what do you want? Really want?
Colleen: (sigh) I want . . . I want less pressure. I want everyone to realize how hard it is to be a teenager today, and my mother expects me to be just like her: perfect. But I’m not perfect, I’m just . . . I’m just normal and confused and overwhelmed.
Susie: What if I told you that your mother wasn’t perfect?
Colleen: Have you met her? She’s the PTA mom, she attends every game, brings treats and never has a bad hair day. My mother is a superstar. No, she’s perfect. And I’m not. Period.
Susie: Colleen, I think you need to read the book. You might find a few surprises. And, by the end, you might even change into someone we all like.
Colleen: I’m not sure if that’s a compliment or not. I’m so confused.
Susie: Colleen Decker is played Rooney Mara. Check out her story in my new book, You Don’t Know Me, in stores October 1.
You can read my other character interview here (Annalise, Nathan, Frank, Helen, and Tucker). You can also enter my latest contest! I’ll be hosting an video chat party and giving away awesome prizes (like copies of You Don’t Know Me and a $200 weekend getaway)! More info can be found here.