Interview with Breeana Shields + #DebBallGiveaway of POISON’S KISS

Today on the Debutante Ball, I had the pleasure of interviewing Breeana Shields, author of POISON’S KISS, coming from Random House on January 10th!

How awesome does this book sound? Poison’s Kiss is about an assassin who can kill with a single kiss, but when she receives orders to kill a boy she knows—a boy she’s sure doesn’t deserve to die—she starts to question who she’s really working for.

And you, lucky readers, can preorder POISON’S KISS and you can also enter to win a signed hardcover by retweeting:

Enter the #DebBallGiveaway to win @BreeanaShields‘ #PoisonsKiss! RT to Enter, Ends 12/23 https://t.co/kmjqtgOXy1

— The Debutante Ball (@DebutanteBall) December 17, 2016

You can also share the post on Facebook to enter.

We will select and contact the very lucky winner on Friday, December 23rd at noon (US Only).

Now, onto the interview!

What’s your secret or not-so-secret superpower?

I have a terrible singing voice, but I’m awesome at making up silly parody lyrics on the spot. I’m pretty sure I could give Weird Al a run for his money. I never use my superpower around anyone I’m not exceptionally close to, though, because my terrible voice is every bit as funny as my clever lyrics.

Jenni: Prove it in the comments! What’s a silly parody to align with your book?

Who is one of your favorite (fictional or non-fictional) characters?

Elizabeth Bennett hands down. I adore her. She’s strong, smart, independent, funny. She’s the kind of character who’s warm and fuzzy enough that you could trust her with your darkest secrets, but also tough enough to slay your enemies. (With witty words, of course. It’s hard to use weapons in a dress.)

Jenni: Great choice!! I especially love these witty words of hers (that fit your own assessment so well!): “I could easily forgive his pride, if he had not mortified mine.”

Share something that’s always guaranteed to make you laugh.

Whenever I’m having a bad day, I spend a few minutes watching babies laugh on YouTube. There’s something incredibly cathartic and hopeful about it. Babies laugh at the silliest things—dogs eating soap bubbles, paper being torn into pieces, older siblings saying the same word over and over. As adults, something is only funny once, but with babies, the more time something happens, the more hysterical it becomes. A few minutes of watching a baby laugh is all I need to turn my day around.

Jenni: I couldn’t agree with this more! 

What time of day do you love best?


You know when you wake up, glance at your alarm clock, and groan because you only have five more minutes before it’s time to get up? But then, you remember it’s Saturday and you don’t have to get out of bed at all? THAT is my favorite time of day. My second favorite time of day? Sunset.

Jenni: But… but… you have three kids. PLEASE tell me your secrets 😉

What’s the strangest job you’ve ever had?


The summer before I started college, I worked as a maid in a hotel. It was one of the grossest—I’ll let your imagination fill in the blanks—and most exhausting jobs I ever had. It also made me the best hotel guest ever. I always leave a tip and, on the last day of my stay, I always strip the sheets off the beds and leave them in a nice pile so they’re easy to scoop up and put in the hamper. I still remember the surge of affection I had for any hotel guest who did either of those things. It made a hard job just a little easier. Writing is a much better gig.

Jenni: had to laugh at this! And makes me inspire to be a better hotel guest!

Thanks so much for joining us, Breeana!! Both you and your book are truly a delight 🙂

Breeana Shields has a BA in English from Brigham Young University and is an active member of SCBWI. When she’s not writing, Breeana loves reading, traveling, and spending time with her husband, her three children, and an extremely spoiled miniature poodle.

For more information about Breeana and her book, she’s just a click away on Twitter, Facebook, Goodreads, Instagram, and at www.breeanashields.com.