Tuesday, August 2, 2011

Interview +Giveaway with Derek from Epic Fail



Why is talking about your parents such a sensitive subject?

Because people just get so weird about them.  No one talks about them normally.  For one thing, people think that they really know my parents just because they’ve seen them in lots of movies.  So they’ll say stuff like, “Must be great having a mom who’s so tough and kick-ass,” and it’s like, “Dude, my mother is so not tough or kick-ass.  That’s a character she plays.  In real life, she freaks out if she sneezes once.”  For another thing, most people are just waiting for me to spill some private information about them so they can tell other people—“Did you know that Kyle Edwards gargles with salt water four times a day?”  That kind of thing.  The stupidest stuff becomes gossip just because they’re so famous.  I hate that.
Everyone tries to act like it’s no big deal that my parents are who they are, but there’s a difference when they come up in the conversation.  You can just feel it.  Easier just to avoid the whole subject.

Do you ever wish you were a "normal" kid?

No one’s normal.  
That said, I wouldn’t mind not having famous parents for a while.  I mean, I don’t want my parents to not be who they are, I just wish other people didn’t recognize them or know their names.  Or my name.  I just want to be able to go out to a restaurant with my family once in a while and not have people trying to listen in on our conversation and take our picture.
But this is just the way things are, you know?  It’s okay.  I’m used to it.

What was your first impression of Elise?

I don’t know.  I guess I thought she was cute. But I really didn’t think about her all that much.  I figured what was the point?  Sooner or later everyone realizes who my parents are and that changes everything, so I’m not all that into meeting new people.  I’d rather just stick with the few friends I can trust and be normal around.
Turns out Elise was different.  But I didn’t know that during that first meeting.

You could probably have any girl in the school that you wanted. Why have you chosen to stay alone?

No one interested me that much.  Our school is full of rich, entitled princesses who care more about what kind of car you drive than whether you have a soul or not. I’d rather be alone than with someone like that.  Plus . . . I just get this vibe from most of the girls here.  Like they’re looking at me but they’re not seeing me, just my parents.  Maybe I’m overly sensitive to that kind of stuff, but it’s just never been worth it to take a chance.  
Until, you know, recently . . .

As old as you are why do you still have a nanny?

Jackie?  Jackie’s a member of the family.  It’s like saying, “As old as you are, why do you still have a mother?”  Family stays together.  Even if we wanted to fire her, she’d never leave us.  And we wouldn’t ever fire her.
Anyway, she still has plenty to do.  I mean, my parents don’t have time to, like, fill out school forms or make doctors’ appointments for me and George or help me get a tux for the prom or anything like that.  She takes care of all that stuff.  She’ll probably take me to college when the time comes.

Has your best friend Chase ever been to your real house?

Of course!  Chase is like a brother.  We’ve known each other forever.  He and I became friends in preK when we were like four or something—my parents weren’t even famous when we first started hanging out together.  So I know he’s my friend for all the right reasons. Plus . . . he’s Chase.  You can trust Chase with your life.

Anything else you'd like us to know?

Yeah.  If you’re out at a restaurant or something and you see someone famous just trying to have dinner or see a movie or whatever with their family--leave them alone, okay?  If they’re at a P.R. event, like a movie premiere or something, you can say hi and take your photo with them or whatever gets you going, but if they’re just trying to have some quiet family time, respect that.  

On to the Giveaway:

Win a copy of Epic Fail!

Rules: 
  • Open to US Residents only
  • Must be 13 and older to enter
  • Contest ends August 9th 12am EST
  • To enter leave a comment with your email address

Good Luck!!!