Francine Pascal, the creator of the Sweet Valley High series, talks to Joseph Planta about her new book, which updates the series, Sweet Valley Confidential: Ten Years Later (St. Martin’s Press, 2011).

Sweet Valley Confidential: Ten Years Later by Francine Pascal. (St. Martin’s Press, 2011) Click to buy this book from Amazon.ca: Sweet Valley Confidential

Text of introduction by Joseph Planta:

I am Planta: On the Line, in Vancouver at THECOMMENTARY.CA.

I don’t know why it surprised me when people I’d ask about Sweet Valley High immediately recognised it and many loved the series. The popular series of novels for teens has from the 1980s to the early part of the last decade have been selling well as well as beloved. There were over 152 books as part of the series, as well as a spin-off series of novels, and a television show. The creator of the Sweet Valley series Francine Pascal joins me now. She takes us back to the idyllic Sweet Valley in a new book, Sweet Valley Confidential: Ten Years Later. The storyline is brought up-to-date as we see the iconic identical twins, Elizabeth and Jessica Wakefield all grown up now in their late 20s, dealing with seemingly adult issues of love, sisterhood, relationships, betrayal and careers. We’ll ask Ms. Pascal about the new book, the series and more. The book is published by St. Martin’s Press. The website for more is at www.sweetvalleytenyearslater.com. Francine Pascal other than creating the Sweet Valley series, has also written several best-selling books, as well as adult novels and a work of non-fiction, The Strange Case of Patty Hearst. She collaborated on the Broadway musical George M!, and has revised the musicals Carnival and Mack and Mabel. She sits on the advisory board of the American Theatre Wing. Please welcome to the Planta: On the Line program in New York City, Francine Pascal; Good morning, Ms. Pascal.

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