Q & A with Stacy Kramer and Valerie Thomas, authors of From What I Remember...

We have Valerie Thomas (right) & Stacy Kramer  (left) stopping by  the blog today to answer a few questions about their latest book FROM WHAT I REMEMBER...  

I (Pixie) cannot stop talking about this book! It's one of those books that as soon as you are finished, you want to pick it up and reread it - (which in my case doesn't happen a lot, and when it does it usually isn't a contemporary). This book really stood out with me, because of the content, the underlying issues in Kylie's life and because of the uniqueness in the way the book reads.

                                                                                                               

DID YOU ALWAYS PLAN ON KYLIE HAVING A SPECIAL NEEDS BROTHER OR WAS THIS SOMETHING THAT JUST HAPPENED WHILE WRITING THE BOOK?

We didn’t plan on Kylie having a special needs brother from the very beginning but as we started thinking about her character and the story, we knew we wanted to give her a family that felt real, and that was complicated by many factors, like most families are. At first we considered giving her a brother who was severely autistic, but we pulled back from that because we knew we wouldn’t be able to do his story justice in the time we had with him, and we wanted him to be able to communicate well with Kylie. Jake’s character formed pretty early on and we never turned back, once we created him. In fact, before we knew exactly how many voices we were going to use in the book, we knew Jake’s would be one of them, we knew his voice would be compelling and so different from everyone else’s in the book.

WAS WRITING ABOUT THE ISSUES KIDS WITH AUTISM HAVE FROM PERSONAL EXPERIENCE OR WAS ALL THAT FROM RESEARCH, OR A MIXTURE OF BOTH?

Both of us have friends who have children with Asperger’s and autism. Valerie has an uncle who has Asperger’s as well. We do not claim to be experts at all on Asperger’s, but we certainly drew from our personal experiences when we wrote Jake’s character. We also did a fair amount of research into the syndrome and a lot of that made it into the book. It was a little scary taking it on, because we knew that we would never get it exactly right – it’s just too big of a subject – and we didn’t want to misrepresent anyone, or anger anyone. One way we dealt with that is by thinking of Jake as a person, a fleshed out human being just like anyone else, rather than as an example of someone with Asperger’s, and that helped a lot.

DO YOU THINK KYLIE’S LITTLE BROTHER HAVING ASD PLAYED A ROLE IN DEVELOPING KYLIE’S MATURITY LEVEL AND HER DETERMINATION TO GET STUFF DONE?

Absolutely. The main effect Jake has on Kylie’s character, from our point of view at least, is that he allowed us to show a softer side of Kylie. Kylie’s pretty angry and a little shut down in the beginning of the book, but we wanted to show that she has a big heart, and the way she interacts with Jake allowed us to do that. And, because Jake demands so much attention from his parents, Kylie’s character was formed by that as well. She became the responsible one, the one who kept things together, not only out of necessity, but perhaps out of guilt too. So, when she finally lets loose in Mexico, it’s a real break for her, the first time she’s rebelled against her role in the family.

ANY DIFFERENCES OR SIMILARITIES BETWEEN WRITING MIDDLE GRADE AND YOUNG ADULT? WHICH ONE WAS MORE FUN?

In many ways, writing middle grade and writing young adult fiction entails many of the same things – you always need a compelling story, great characters, an interesting milieu, a captivating voice. Nothing really changes in those regards. But in middle grade the themes are different as it’s for younger kids who are going through phases that are specific to that age. Middle grade kids might be more preoccupied with how to make friends, or how to deal with an annoying teacher, or an irritating sibling. Everything is a little more simplistic. In young adult, the themes broaden out to issues of identity, falling in love, trying to forge a path through life that feels right. All of these things could be in a middle grade novel, but they wouldn’t be nearly as nuanced. We really loved writing for both age groups. Middle grade allows you to be a little more zany and kooky, while young adult allows you to take on weightier topics. We’ll probably stick to young adult for now (our next book is young adult), but it’s possible one day we’ll return to middle grade.

FAVORITE BOOK CHARACTER?

Valerie’s favorite character in a book (as of this writing) is Oscar Wao in THE BRIEF WONDROUS LIFE OF OSCAR WAO by Junot Diaz. He’s the most hilarious, vexing, outrageous, touching character that she’s come across in a long, long time.

Stacy’s favorite character is Judd Foxxman from Jonathan Tropper’s THIS IS WHERE I LEAVE YOU.

WHAT IS THE ONE THING YOU MUST HAVE BEFORE YOU CAN SIT DOWN AND WRITE?

Valerie must have a desk that is relatively clean and organized, and she must be warm, which usually means a nice sweater on and a pair of slippers (she sounds old here). To continue the old theme, she will have to get up occasionally and get herself a cup of tea and something to snack on.

Stacy must peruse several fashion blogs before writing – garancedore, manrepeller, becauseimaddicted, jakandjil.

SECOND CHANCES PLAY A HUGE ROLE IN FROM WHAT I REMEMBER, IS THAT SOMETHING YOU STRIVE TO LIVE BY IN YOUR DAILY LIFE?

We love how Kylie gets a huge second chance, as do all the characters, in FROM WHAT I REMEMBER. We do live by this idea in that we believe everyone not only deserves a second chance, but that you can create one for yourself. As with Kylie, it may not be a comfortable process, but stepping out of your comfort zone and pushing yourself to do things you’ve never done are exactly what bring about second chances. For both of us, writing YA novels is a bit of a second chance, in that we both had careers in the film industry before we began to write, and we both decided to take a chance and try writing…and now here we are. Everyone can and should think that way.

Debut Author Interview with Amy Carol Reeves

I adored Amy's dark London world and her paranormal twist on Jack the Ripper legend, so I jumped at the chance to ask her a few questions about the book. I promise you that there are no spoilers ahead.

PTB: Your London is full of dark alleys and secrets. What was the one surprising thing about London that you discovered in your research?

AMY: I was surprised to learn how incredibly close the very wealthy and the very poor lived in London--from Kensington to Whitechapel, it’s only a few miles. As I was plotting out Abbie’s chase scenes, I was amazed by how quickly she could go from carriages and whitewashed townhouses to impoverished slums—even while running in a steel corset and crinoline.

I discovered some of the most intriguing parts of London during my own wanderings in the city. Highgate Cemetery is one of my favorite places to explore. It’s just so mysterious, so haunting. That terrible, violent scene in Dracula, where the doomed Lucy is staked, takes place there. I just knew, as I walked around those quirky shadowy tombs, that it would be the perfect background for a Victorian novel.

PTB: Your research and exploration of London shows because I felt I was following Abbie around London's streets. I had no idea that the line between the poor and wealthy was only a few miles. It makes the differences even more jarring.  But I have to ask -- what is your favorite scene in the book?

AMY: I have two favorite scenes: I love the scene on the night of the double murders when the Ripper is playing a cat and mouse game with Abbie.

I love that she’s running through the streets, knowing that she’s running headfirst toward the killer, all in an attempt to save his victims. It’s just such an Abbie Sharp thing to do. She’s so much braver than I am!

Also, I’m fond of Abbie’s romantic scene with Simon in Lady Violet’s library of risqué materials. I love the idea of my heroine making out with a theologian with her head against a shelf of erotic books. There’s something so absurd and naughty about it.

The library itself was loosely based on the library of the Victorian Richard Monckton Milnes (Florence Nightingale’s longtime love interest). He was a distinguished politician with an extensive pornography collection in his home library.

PTB: Okay, without giving away ANY spoilers, I have to say that your Ripper is chilling and yet I can see why Abbie felt the need to chase after him. She's so brave and yet determined. I don't know what I would've done in her place. On the other hand, that scene with Simon in the library...yes, mhmmm, naughty. You captured it all with your writing -- the fast action scenes and then the romance. There was also some wonderful dialogue. What is your favorite line in the book?

AMY: Oh, that’s easy. I love Abbie’s love scene with William in Highgate Cemetery where she describes herself as being “frighteningly unbridled.” Her actions, indeed, would have been very frightening to people in that time period. I loved writing this scene mainly because I wanted it to be both very heated and very Victorian.

Since the love triangle is based on the love triangle in Jane Eyre, I wanted to allude to that work in this portion of the novel. My favorite scene in all of Victorian literature is when Jane hears Rochester’s voice calling her name after he is handicapped from the fire--she “hears” him calling for her, even though he’s far away. She just knows, on some intuitive level, that he needs her.

While alone in the Highgate mausoleum, Abbie hears William’s voice speak her name--and almost doesn’t believe he’s there. She wants him so badly that she thinks, at first, that her ears are deceiving her. But then he is there, and before reason can catch up with her feelings, she is, well…unbridled. 

PTB: I am not sighing. Nope, not I. I loved that moment and now that I know it's a nod to Jane Eyre, well, I love it all the more. Is there a deleted scene that you had to cut, but wished was still in there? Can you tell us a little bit about it?

AMY: Yes! In the original Ripper manuscript, I had a bit more backstory from Abbie’s working class Dublin years. She had a best friend, Roddy, a local blacksmith’s son. Roddy had an uncle in Stepney who had been a boxer. Because of this, Roddy was a bit obsessed with bare knuckle boxing—and it had been Roddy who taught Abbie how to survive on the Dublin streets. He taught her all of her knife-throwing and fighting skills. Her friendship with Roddy ends tragically--but this is overshadowed in Ripper with the mystery surrounding her mother’s death.

We had to cut the Roddy section in Ripper for length, and because it just wasn’t critical to what was going on with the Ripper murders.

However, in Renegade, the second book in the series, Abbie allows herself to think of Roddy, of her friendship with him, and of his fate. The reader finally gets to know him.

But this complicates her relationship with William—and she has to sort through her memories of Roddy as she puts together the mysterious pieces of her last day with him.

Although she solves the mystery of the Ripper murders in Ripper, she finds that she has only scratched the surface of the Conclave’s secrets. Understanding her own past is key to her moving forward, both emotionally and physically—it’s essential for her survival.

PTB: Ah, the Conclave. I won't add anything more to that because I'm afraid of spoiling things. But when you added that element, it all made sense to me, and yes, that's exactly where I felt I should stand up and clap. As for Abbie's past in Dublin, I wanted to know more about her childhood, so I'm excited that we'll get to read more about it. What has been your favorite part of your publishing journey so far?

AMY: I love getting e-mails from people who read Ripper and loved it. As a passionate reader, I love getting sucked into a world that I can connect with--and it’s such a pleasure to know that others can enjoy a world I’ve created.



Thanks so much for answering our questions, Amy. I am thrilled that there will be a continuation of Abbie's story in Renegade. She's become one of my favorite historical characters.

Don't forget to enter our RIPPER GIVEAWAY which ends on May 1st at midnight CST.

Amy Carol Reeves has a PhD in nineteenth-century British literature. She published academic articles before deciding that it would be much more fun to write about Jack the Ripper. When she is not writing or teaching college classes, she enjoys running around her neighborhood with her giant Labrador retriever and serial reading Jane Austen novels. She lives in Columbia, South Carolina with her husband and two children. Ripper is her debut novel.

172 Hours on the Moon Blog Tour & Giveaway!

We are excited to have Norwegian author Johan Harstad joining us on the blog today for an interview about his novel 172 Hours on the Moon. For more information check out the Official Facebook Page and Twitter!  You can also view the trailer HERE.




What kind of scientific research did you do to support the book's setting and premise?

I did extensive research for it, trying to achieve as much realism as possible, and make the rest blend in with that. I dug deep into NASA reports, books on space operations, manuals used for the Apollo missions, read up on subjects such as gravity, spacesuit operations, vacuum exposure, etc, and put together a huge archive of pictures and film from the moon landings and images of the moon so I could use them for later reference. Some of these, actual archive photos, are also used throughout the novel. Furthermore I trawled the internet and read a few feet of literature for information on … as I don't want to give it away here … the 'problem' encountered on the moon. While the novel in itself is fiction, an alarmingly high percentage of it is either confirmed real or at least very well documented from a chilling number of credible sources. And, finally, the code, or the signal that started it all, namely the 6EQUJ5 (wow! signal) is very much real ... So you might start to think, why did we suddenly stop going back to the moon in 1972? That people simply lost interest or a sudden lack of funding seems a bit … fishy, doesn't it? I'm no conspiracy theorist, but I do like the idea that we stopped going there for a good reason. Even though I would hate to be right about it.

How would you describe 172 hours on the Moon in 3 words?
Horror is multiplying.

I saw in one of your bios that you are also a playwright. How different is it for you when you're writing novel vs. writing a play?
Writing adult novels and short stories are closely related in terms of work and approach (both a mix between being impossibly hard and immensely rewarding) , while writing a plot driven novel like "172 Hours" (my only YA novel and my only sci-fi/horror so far) is easier in some ways, but more frustrating and complicated in others. You have to consider pacing in a whole different way and there's not as much room for 'playing literary jazz', if that makes any sense. The most frustrating, sometimes least rewarding - but at the same time still very fascinating and interesting form of writing is plays. I'm usually in a very bad mood when writing plays, as opposed to working on a novel, I guess it's because I have to put all I want to say in the dialogue instead of being able to use language as an art form describing the world the characters living in it feels, do, experience and thinks. And I'm constantly aware that a crap actor can ruin even the best line ...

If someone from the US was planning a trip to Norway, what attractions or locations would you suggest they visit?

Well, it all depends on what your looking for. I've put together a little collection of pictures for you (attached). Norway offers both interesting cities like Oslo, Stavanger, Bergen and Trondheim with populations from 150,000 to just under a million, here you'll find everything you need (and some thing you don't need as well) and breathtaking nature in pretty much every direction away from the cities. The great thing about Norway I think is its mix between high tech modernity and the wild nature and how they seem to have find a way to work together. I'm no great tourist guide, but should I make a five point to-do-list for Norway it would be:

1. Stavanger (incl. Pulpit Rock cliff and the Lysefjord)
2. Oslo (blow away your hard earned cash on pretty much everything from a cup of coffee to designer clothes…)
3. Ålesund and the surrounding area
4. Lofoten (including Svolvær and climbing the Svolværgeita if you have the nerves)
5. Tromsø (the greatest city in the weirdest place!

Bonus points: Climb Besseggen mountain in the Jotunheimen National Park (Jotunheimen means Home of The Gigants, a reference to earlier days when legends had it that enormous trolls lived in the mountains)
Or you could check out this site: www.visitnorway.com/us/Where-to-go-us/

You get to come to Comic-Con (sooo jealous!), what are you most looking forward to experiencing at the event?
Wow, I'm not sure, really, it's an amazing treat just to be able to go there. I've been a big Star Wars-buff ever since the early eighties and so I'm looking forward to navigating my way past Darth Vaders, imperial guards and Stormtroopers as well as hopefully checking out some vintage Star Wars merchandise and memorabilia. When I did a reading from one of my novels called "Hässelby" at a Norwegian literary festival a few years ago, I was provided protection by these guys from the 501st Legion Nordic Garrison (a part of the novel, though not crucial to the story, deals with the main character following a weird German guy to Hong Kong in 1986 in an attempt at buying up Star Wars toys from the factory so that he can profit by selling it again twenty years later…). I also keep an original, vintage, mint condition AT-AT from 1980 in my writing studio as sort of an inspirational thing. It's my Rosebud, I guess. Let's see, what else? Oh, I hope to experience something Alien-related, as I'm a big fan of that franchise and Fox had some great Weyland-Yutani gear there a couple of years ago. Maybe I'll run into a Xenomorph … I also wish I was at the SDCC a few years ago, while Lost was still running, as I loved that show. Would be great to have the opportunity to meet Hurley and Desmond, give them a hug and tell them it would all work out. What a great show that was… And, well, an overdose of superheroes, villains, Marvel comics and myriads of things I can't think of now, stuff I had completely forgotten about, new things I'll discover there, all of which will make me clap my hands in utter joy once I'm there, at the Comic-con, OD'ing on popular culture, taking a vacation from the world and entering Geekland, flashing in twenty thousand different colors. Will no doubt be great. So, to those of you going down there, be sure to stop by and say hello!

GIVEAWAY TIME!!!

We have 5 copies of 172 Hours on the Moon to giveaway!!!

• Open to individuals with US addresses only, No PO Boxes (the books will be coming directly from the publisher through UPS/Fedex so please put your street address in the form)
• Giveaway ends 4/27
• All of our other standard rules apply
• CLICK HERE TO ENTER

Author Debut Jill Hathaway Interview and Giveaway

Jill Hathaway

Author of Slide

I was super excited to be able to interview Jill for this weeks Author Debut.

Jill, Here are some questions for you...

 1. How did you come across the disease, nacoleptic, that Sylvia has?

 Actually, I came up with the book first. I wanted the protagonist to find herself standing over a dead body and have no idea how she got there. So then I had to figure out how to make that happen. From that, "sliding" was born. Vee isn't really narcoleptic; that's just what she tells everyone to explain why she passes out all the time. 

 2. Did you do a lot of research about it?

 I did a little research, but since she doesn't ACTUALLY have narcolepsy, I didn't worry too much about the details. 

 3. Sylvia keeps her secret about "the slide" throughout the whole story. Was it difficult for you to keep that secret for her? Even from Rollins?

 I think Vee is tempted to tell people about her condition, but she always remembers what happened when she tried to explain it to her father--he didn't believe her and made her go to a shrink. So she definitely thinks twice before opening up to anyone now.

 4. I loved the mystery to this story and how the clues finally fit together at the end. Did you have the whole plot planned out in the beginning or did it just flow together as you were writing it?

 I didn't have the WHOLE plot figured out, but I knew the killer's motive. The middle, I just had to figure out as I went. I rewrote it a LOT of times. 

 5. I got a chuckle out of the few University of Iowa comments in the story because I personally am close to the area. So, are you a Hawkeye fan?

 Awesome! I grew up a Hawkeye fan, but then I ended up going to Iowa State to get my MA, and my husband is a Cyclone fan, so I kind of switched. But I wouldn't say I'm a die hard fan.

 6. Are you planning on writing a sequel to Slide? Or have anything else in the works?

There is a sequel! It's called IMPOSTOR and will be out next March!

I am SO excited to learn that there is a Sequel!!!  WOOHOO!!!


 Lets do a few this or that Questions...
 Day or night

 Night 

 Stay in or Go out

Stay in

 hard book or E-book

 Hard book

 Classical or Rock

Definitely rock! 

 Thanks Jill so much for letting me interview you! I loved Slide!

Thanks for having me!!!

Here are some places that you can get in touch with Jill Hathaway!!

Facebook

Jill's Blog

So now for the giveaway.  I have a slightly used ARC copy of Slide and some Signed Bookmarks from Jill!
Please comment below for entry into the giveaway. Winner will have 48 hours to respond to email and  PageTurners giveaway policy apply.  Giveaway will End April 15th.  GOOD LUCK!!

Debut Author Interview with Aimee Agresti & Giveaway!

We are SUPER excited to have Aimee Agresti joining us today for an interview about her debut novel Illuminate.  We hope you enjoy learning a little more about Illuminate and Aimee!

Is Illuminate based angel or other mythology/story if so what drew you to this particular story?
Hi! Thanks for having me! ILLUMINATE is actually an update of one of my favorite books, The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde, with some extra twists and some angels and devils tossed in. I’ve always loved that story and I just kept thinking: what would you have given your soul for when you were in high school? So I took that premise and I added the extra layer of angels-vs.-devils fantasy.

Why did you choose Chicago and the history of the Chicago Mob as a setting for Illuminate?
I went to college in Chicago and I absolutely fell in love with the city’s history: that whole prohibition era was so exciting and I’ve always been so fascinated by those mysterious tunnels beneath the city that connected the speakeasies. I just always knew it would be the perfect place to set a mystery! I also loved the idea of grounding all the fantasy of my story with little bits of real history.

Illuminate is book is the first in a series, how many books will there be and can you give us a general over view of what we can expect in the next books?
Sure! ILLUMINATE is the first in the Gilded Wings Trilogy. Since my protagonist Haven is an angel-in-training working toward earning her wings, each book will represent one of the three tests she needs to complete in order to get there. I’m polishing up Book Two right now: for Haven’s next test, she and the gang head to New Orleans and….that’s all I’ll say!

You used to write for Us Weekly, did you always write books too? And how was it making the transition from journalistic writing to fiction?
I had such a blast during my years at Us Weekly and still love writing for magazines, but I had always dreamed of writing novels. I’m the daughter of a librarian and I grew up reading everything in sight. I wanted to be a combination of Nancy Drew and Jo from Little Women! Even while I was working in the magazine world, I always wrote short stories in my free time and though none were published, I know that all of that work helped make me a better writer when I sat down to write ILLUMINATE.

As for making the shift to fiction: it really is a change! When you’re used to being reined in by facts and then you get to create this new world, it’s incredibly exciting…and also a little daunting! The freedom can be overwhelming. But I love it!

I saw in your bio that you visit the Smithsonian Museums to get inspiration, whats your favorite museum and what exhibit fascinates you the most?
Oooh, that’s such a good question! I absolutely love museum-hopping and DC is such a great town for that. I’d have to say of all the Smithsonians, my favorite is the Portrait Gallery—I just love writing in the courtyard there, it’s beautiful and I’ve spent so much time there it really feels like home. And there’s this one room at that museum that has two of my favorite angel paintings by Abbott Handerson Thayer. I visit them all the time!

GIVEAWAY TIME!

We have an ARC of Illuminate to give away!  

• All of our standard rules apply.  
• Giveaway ends 4/6
• Click HERE to enter!

Debut Author Spotlight: Gina Damico Interview

Gina Damico grew up under four feet of snow in Syracuse, New York. She received a degree in theater and sociology from Boston College, where she was active with the Committee for Creative Enactments, a murder mystery improv comedy troupe, which may or may not have sparked an interest in wildly improbable bloodshed. She has since worked as a tour guide, transcriptionist, theater house manager, scenic artist, movie extra, office troll, retail monkey, yarn hawker and breadmonger. Croak is her first novel. Gina lives in Boston with her husband, two cats, and a closet full of black hoodies.

1. Tea or coffee?

For most of my life it was neither, because I hate the taste of both. However, a couple of months ago I started drinking coffee solely for the caffeine kick, even though I still think it's disgusting. But this way, I can run around like a spastic five-year-old and it's (relatively) socially acceptable.

2. Best place to eat in NYC?

You'll have to jump on over to Astoria for this one (that's where I used to live), because there's this southwestern restaurant called Mojave there that has the best chili in the known universe. Ever. Since the dawn of time. Its ingredients include meat, meat, more meat, and I'm pretty sure a heaping dose of crack. I'd hack off a finger or two for a lifetime supply.

3. Books on your "to-be-read" stack? What are you dying to read if you had a spare moment in the near future?

I've had A Monster Calls sitting on my stack for months now, and it's a federal crime that I haven't read it yet. I was fairly obsessed with Patrick Ness's Chaos Walking trilogy, so I don't know what the hell is wrong with me here. Maybe since it's so short, I figure I can just read it whenever I want? Except clearly this theory is flawed and I'm just an awful, awful person.

4. Describe the happy dance you did in the middle of Times Square when you got the phone call Houghton Mifflin Harcourt was offering you a 2-book deal...in detail, please and thank you.

Well, it involved some awkward kicking and a few alarming head throws. Maybe a thumbs up or two. Picture someone having a seizure, and that's a pretty good approximation. I'm surprised one of the Times Square cops didn't try to administer CPR.

5. So, one day while working at the bread store, you got bored and came up with the idea for a Grim Reaper to start teaching his niece the ins and outs of the job. Typical bad day at work or gift from the book gods?

Definite gift from the book gods. I was actually working at a different location than my normal one, so I didn't know the other employee and we had spent the majority of our shift just sort of awkwardly looking at each other and mumbling stilted pleasantries. Also, I remember I was mad because some friends were going to see the last performance of Shakespeare in the Common without me, because I had to work. So maybe I had murderous thoughts on the brain.

6. I seriously loved that you named the main character and her twin sister Lexington and Concord, and that you made their mother a history teacher. I laughed so hard! What made you even think of this quirk?

God, I don't even know! I think I liked the name Lex, and then wanted to expand it out to something a little quirkier than your average Alexis. Plus, Lexington and Concord are pounded into all of our little American heads from day one of history class. They're pretty memorable, and, like Lex and Cordy, also full of death.

7. The jellyfish and spiders are such cool characters. The other-worldliness of the jellyfish, especially multiple jellyfish together, somehow fit with the idea of what Croak and reaping was about. The spiders just freak me out. Especially when Driggs shows Lex the room full of them. I confess, I would have squealed like a girl. How did you think about using jellyfish and spiders?

Both came strictly from the visuals at first. The black widow spider has that cool red hourglass marking on its belly, which is so perfect you'd think someone ran around painting them on, just to be witty. And jellyfish can be so surreal and alien-looking that they add the perfect amount of creepiness to an already very creepy profession. Plus, what one of the characters says is true: they do live in every ocean, so they have that wide range that's needed to detect human deaths in every corner of the planet. Fun fact: There's also a certain species of jellyfish that's technically immortal - after reaching maturity, it can revert back to a younger stage of development, and switch back and forth as needed. Cool, huh? SCIENCE 4 LIFE

8. What plans do you have for Croak's release? Big shindig or small gathering?

A little from column A, a little from column B. I think I'm going to have a little party for my family and friends on the actual release day (most likely involving pizza, bowling, and/or sombreros), then a few weeks later I'm doing a big signing event at a local bookstore. I expect there to be shameless tomfoolery at both.

9. What can we expect in book two, Scorch, which comes out in Fall 2012?

The hard times aren't over for our gang, I'm afraid. You can expect high speed chases, way more death, a field trip to another Grim town, and a very compromising, flailing shower scene. Curtains will be ripped, pants will be lost.

10. Are you ready for your first book to be published?

I wear sneakers every day and own far too many stuffed animals, so I'm barely an adult by normal standards, let alone a published author. But what the hell! Let's do it! *rips off shirt and runs out of bookstore, shouting war cries, hurling copies at strangers*

Thanks for having me, and happy reaping reading!


Thanks so much, Gina!! Can't wait for Scorch! Don't forget the giveaway ending March 18th!

Debut Author Spotlight: Allison Rushby Interview and Giveaway

Today on PTB, author Allison Rushby is stopping by for an interview! Allison is the author of Shooting Stars, her YA debut in the US.

The plot of Shooting Stars revolves around the career of Josephine Foster, a young photographer -- a paparazza, in fact. Did you have any prior interest in photography before writing Shooting Stars?

I wasn't interested in photography so much as fame. As a writer, I've been interested in fame as a concept for keeping two romantic interests apart for some time (can you guess one of my favourite films is Notting Hill?!). After reading an article about a young paparazzo, I then did quite a bit of research into how the paparazzi operate (in LA, in particular) and delved into their thoughts on fame and how it operates in Hollywood. It was amazingly fascinating stuff. It's all quite parasitic -- the stars can't maintain their stardom without the paparazzi and the paparazzi have no work without the stars.

Have you ever seen actual paparazzi in action?

I have! In London, Sydney and NYC. I've only ever once seen the person they were trying to shoot, however. That was in NYC and it was Jim Parsons (Sheldon Cooper from The Big Bang Theory). These days, out in the Cambridgeshire countryside, I see more trainspotters with cameras than paparazzi, I'm afraid!

On the subject of photography: digital camera, or old-school film?

Oh, digital all the way. While my family has been travelling lately, there's been many a time my iPhone camera, or little digital camera has saved me when my kids are going slightly crazy. Although, there is a downside, people do tend to take thousands of photos on their holidays that they then hold you hostage viewing, don't they?

Some of my favorite scenes in the book were the group activity sessions. Have you ever played any games like they did?

I do remember some 'fun' hiking trips up mountains and abseiling adventures in high school. I've tried to block them out, but, sadly, they seem to remain. I'd love to have a go at VBall like Jo and Ned do, however!

This is your first US YA release, but not your first general release, correct? Has the publishing process been different, or is it pretty much the same?

I think Shooting Stars is my eleventh published book (I'm starting to get confused now!), but it is my first YA release in the US (I've had adult women's fiction out in the US before, however). The publishing process has been reasonably similar, though it's been nice to have an editor in-house editing my manuscript, rather than a freelancer. In Australia, the in-house editor usually co-ordinates the publishing process, using a freelance editor to edit the actual manuscript. It was nice to get to know my US editor and have her actually edit the manuscript as well. It was a little more personal!

What are you working on next?

I recently finished writing another YA novel tentatively titled Being Hartley. Since finishing that, I've moved on to writing something very different – a Downton Abbey-esque six episode e-serial for St Martin's Press, tentatively titled The Honourables, which will be published Summer 2012, with one episode being published per month. It's been a very steep learning curve learning all about writing serialized fiction, but I'm enjoying the writing very much, especially as the series is set in London in the 1920s. 

Thanks, Allison, for stopping by PTB! 

GIVEAWAY TIME!

One previously read copy of Shooting Stars

• To enter, leave us a comment telling us which celebrity YOU'D want to act as paparazzi for
•  Be sure to leave a way to contact you (e-mail, twitter, etc) 
• Contest Ends 3/3
• All regular contest rules apply

Embrace Blog Tour Stop: Jessica Shirvington Interview & Giveaway

We are ecstatic to have Jessica Shirvington stopping by the blog today. We loved her book Embrace and cannot wait until it is finally out so everyone else can read this fantastic story.

1. What changes –if any, did you make from the Australian version to the American version?

The changes were minimal on the whole. Obviously we changed around the Australian spelling to fit with American. Then there were some interesting changes to terminology that is different between countries - things like sneakers vs. trainers, or coffee machine vs. espresso machine, cookies vs. biscuits. The editors were very thorough in ensuring the terminology was correct for the US market.

We also changed around some of the school references so it correlated more with the American school year and vacation periods.

On top of that, I was given the opportunity to add a couple of lines here and there that I'd had enough time to reflect on and decide would better the story. It was fabulous to have that chance, and likewise, my editors highlighted one or two scenes that they wanted to have an additional line added or taken out.

2. Are there any differences between the way Australia and American promote books; and if so what do you like or dislike about them?

Actually, it is pretty similar. Books, on a worldwide level are in a state of constant development. Publishers and authors have the opportunity at the moment to be part of new and exciting projects that involve ebooks and digital advancements. I think the key to promoting any book is to embrace these new elements whilst respecting the tradition of books we all love, and go for it.

I've been really lucky to have amazing publishers and publicists within both countries. The difference is probably more to do with scale. Australian population vs. American population is quite different. Sourcebooks in the US have been absolutely incredible and since I am not physically there - we've had to work around that together. The solution has been to partake in a lot of online development - which is really where most of the YA focus is anyway - and to have author videos etc produced. I'll be over in the US later in the year and am looking forward to having a chance to visit as many cities as possible then!

3. Violet believes she has found the love of her life at 17- do you believe it’s possible to find your true love at a young age?

Given that I met the man I've now been married to for 11 years at the age of 17, I'd have to say ... absolutely. Age doesn't define our capacity to love.

4. How did Sourcebooks come across Embrace?

My publishers in Australia sent the manuscript to Sourcebooks to consider for US publication. Leah - my amazing editor - was on the hunt for YA potential and so took a look at it. She explained to me that the covering letter had gone missing, so when she started reading it she wasn't sure what it was all about. She started reading on her way home on the subway and ended up missing her stop. Not good for her at the time, but great for me!

5. What has been your favorite read this year?

I tend to steer clear of YA books that a on similar subject matter as my own, so I have been reading quite a lot of magic and dystopian. I thought Divergent, by Veronica Roth, lived up to the hype. Where She Went, by Gale Foreman, made me cry - it was beautiful. And, though it wasn't this year, I'll always be a fan of Maria V. Snyder's, Study Series.

6. Favorite place to write?

Serious work is always best achieved by locking myself into my office (which is actually the dining room at home), scene details can be more interesting to write out and about - I have a few local coffee shops I haunt. In truth, anywhere that coffee is plentiful and my mind is feeling cooperative!

GIVEAWAY TIME!

• We have one limited edition tri-fold ARC and one finished copy of Embrace to giveaway!
• US ONLY
• To enter fill out THIS FORM - you get 1extra point for leaving us a comment letting us know why you are excited about Embrace. 
• Contest Ends 2/24
• All regular contest rules apply

Debut Author Jessica Spotswood Interview & Giveaway

Stopping by PTB today is  debut author Jessica Spotswood. Born Wicked the first book in The Cahill Witch Chronicles was released yesterday. 

The cover has been getting a lot of attention – how did you react the first time you saw it?

I loved it. I had no input; my editor called me at my then-day job so we could look at it together, and I shrieked and got a little teary because it was my name! on a book! I think it has a really lush, sensuous feel that I hope fits BW well. And the girl on the cover looks very like I picture Maura, the middle Cahill sister. (Also, I love the way the book feels with that soft-touch cover. I pet it a lot.)

Born Wicked is the second 2012 debut, that I have read that alludes to The Daughters of Persephone; how much Greek Mythology is tied into your series?

Not much, actually. The Brotherhood preaches that the witches are evil because they derived their powers from Persephone’s marriage to the devil -- but they have a list of other reasons witches are evil, too. The witches think Persephone came back to earth with foreknowledge from her time in Hades and her oracles were blessed ever after. Personally, I’ve always enjoyed Greek and Latin mythology; I took five years of Latin in high school.

How did you come up with the idea of three sister’s prophecy and their distinct powers?

This is tricky to answer without spoilers! I wanted to force Cate to wrestle with her understanding of her own magic and magic’s place in their world. She’s been told all her life that it’s wicked and wrong, and part of her believes that. At the beginning of the book, if she could give up magic and be an ordinary girl, she would do it in a heartbeat. The prophecy is so potentially important that it forces her to give up the notion of ever being ordinary, and makes her think about what she really wants for herself and her sisters. Throughout the trilogy, we’ll see her come to terms with being a witch and perhaps even doing some good with her magic. She might be able to help change the world for girls like her – but at what awful price? That kind of change always has a price, I think.

What has been your favorite experience so far about being a 2012 Debut author?

Meeting so many other booklovers! From bloggers and readers who enjoyed BORN WICKED and have taken the time to tell me, to booksellers I’ve met in DC and Boston and NYC, to other debut authors – I really enjoy hearing what everyone else is reading and what they loved.

What other 2012 debut has been your favorite read so far?

Ooh, hard question! There have been several that I’ve really enjoyed, but UNDER THE NEVER SKY by Veronica Rossi is my favorite. It has wonderful world-building and fascinating dual points of view, and I love the way Aria and Perry grow past their initial misconceptions about each other.

Giveaway Time

One previously read ARC of Born Wicked and some Born Wicked Swag

• To enter just leave us a comment about what part of the trailer or interview made you want to read Born Wicked.
• Make sure you leave us a way to contact you(twitter, email - profile filled out or send us an email with the info)
• US Only - regular contest rules apply
• Contest ends 2/15

PTB Debut Author Spotlight Interview with Robin Bridges & Giveaway!

We're super excited to have Robin Bridges answering questions about her recently released debut The Gathering Storm.  You can read my review of it HERE.

The Gathering Storm is an amazing mix of historical fiction and paranormal romance. How did you decide to write such a story and how did you keep the story right on the edge of both genres creating a perfect mix?
I wanted to write a story with all of my favorite elements- a love story and a scary fairytale, set in a time period I’ve always been fascinated with. I’m so happy with the way it all came together!

I saw in your Library Thing list of research books that you did extensive research on the historical time period of Russia, did you do any research for the paranormal story line and how did you decide what paranormal creatures you'd use in the book?
Yes! For Russian myth and folklore, I read The Bathhouse at Midnight by W.F. Ryan. I also read as many books about necromancy as I could find!

What was the most interesting bit of research you came across?
That’s a hard decision! I found the diaries fascinating as well as the menus that still exist from some of the balls. When reading about the Montenegrin princesses I discovered Elena was a poet in her teenage years and actually published a book of poetry while attending Smolny under the pseudonym, “Blue Butterfly”!

Have you tried making any of the food discussed in The Gathering Storm?
Only Russian black bread and I’ve made it several times!

What was your favorite scene of The Gathering Storm to write?
When Katiya tries to take Count Chermenensky to the hospital and ends up being escorted by the grand duke. This is her chance to use some of the medical knowledge she’s already acquired.

What can you tell us about the next two books in the trilogy?
More magic and more monsters! Katerina is desperate to remove her blood tie to Danilo, but he may be the only one who can help her defeat the lich tsar Konstantin. Katerina must decide how far she will go to protect her loved ones, including George.

How cool was it to be on the cover of RT Book Reviews?
Very cool! I’ve been carrying my copy around in my purse for the past week!

If people want to learn more about 1880s Russia, what one book would you suggest they read?
Ooh, I’d suggest Paul Vasili’s BEHIND THE VEIL AT THE RUSSIAN COURT, or a biography of Empress Marie Feodorovna, like Coryne Hall’s LITTLE MOTHER OF RUSSIA.

GIVEAWAY TIME!

• We have 2 copies of The Gathering Storm to giveaway.
• US addresses only - No PO Boxes
• All other standard rules apply. 
• Giveaway ends 2/10
• CLICK HERE TO ENTER

2012 Debut Author Spotlight: Interview with Jess Rothenberg

Jess Rothenberg grew up in Charleston, South Carolina, graduated from Vassar College, and spent most of her twenties editing books for teens and middle grade readers. She lives in Brooklyn, New York, where she writes full-time, dances interpretively, and dreams of one day owning a sheepdog named Leo. The Catastrophic History of You and Me is her first novel. Visit http://www.jessrothenberg.com/ to find out more!

1. Dying of a broken heart - what a way for Brie to go! Why did you go with as the cause of death for your main character?

Brie’s death by heartbreak came about for a few reasons. The main one was that I was nursing a broken heart of my own when I first started experimenting with her voice. I didn’t know who she was, or even that she was speaking to me from the great beyond, but I did know she was hurting, just like me.

Then I happened upon an article in the Wall Street Journal all about a rare but potentially fatal condition called “Broken Heart Syndrome,” where it really is possible to die from the cardiac stress brought on by an intense emotional loss. And because first love tends to be all the more emotional and intense, I thought to myself, “What if that happened to a teenage girl?” And the story unfolded pretty quickly from there.

2. I seriously love the chapter titles. I was finishing the chapter "Take Another Piece of My Heart (Now Baby), when I realized what the chapter titles actually meant. I went through the whole book and read all of them first! What made you decide to give Brie the quirk of loving 80's music? I had them playing in my head as I read the book. Did you have the songs playing when you wrote the book?

Aw, thank you! I’m really glad you love them! : ) Yup, those are the songs I had playing on repeat for months and months as I wrote the book. Personally, I always prefer to write with music playing in the background because it helps me get into the true headspace of the characters and atmosphere of a story. The songs on the Catastrophic playlist (which you can stream here: http://jessrothenberg.com/playlist.html) are some of my all-time favorites from growing up and were such a big inspiration to me as I was writing the book—both in helping me get through my own heartache, and helping Brie figure out her own. She and I really did go through all five of those stages together, and the music was such a huge part of that journey.

3. Not to give too much of the novel away, but if like Brie, you were offered the chance to relive one day, would you do it? If so, what day would you choose and why? If not, why?

That’s a tough one. I think I’d have to relive two, because I’d want to spend one day with my Grandma Marjorie at her country house in the Berkshires in early October. She’d make her famous French onion soup and we would just talk and hold hands and laugh and tell stories, and the air would be cool and crisp and smell like autumn leaves. And I’d spend the other day with my grandparents (Mama and Papa) in Charleston, South Carolina—a warm summer afternoon where the three of us would head out in their cute little boat for a day of fishing along the Intracoastal Waterway. My grandpa would teach me how to ‘go shrimpin’ from right off the bow of the boat, and my grandmother would crisp quietly in the sun and— inevitably—catch the biggest fish of the day without any effort at all. (That really used to irk me and my grandpa,
haha.)

I miss my grandmothers every single day (they both passed away in 2006) and I dedicated Catastrophic History to them, along with my mom. And the poem at the end of the novel was written for me by my grandfather, Papa, when I was fifteen. So that’s what I would want. I would choose to relive a day with them.

4. Random shout outs for Hamloaf and the way you took Brie through the stages of grief. Hamloaf was one of my favorite little things you put in this book. He just added the right touch at just the right moment. Also, the irony of a dead girl go through the stages of grief usually associated the living dealing with the loss of a loved one was brilliant. Where did these two plot points come from?

Aww, Hamloaf. Such a good, sweet dog. I’ve always been a major animal lover, so it didn’t seem right that Brie and her family shouldn’t be too! The way I see it, EVERY family should have a dog—or at least a cat who thinks he’s a dog, like mine. ; ) *Fun fact: The real Hamloaf was actually not a dog, but a goldfish! He belonged to my friend and former editorial colleague Anne Heltzel (also a YA writer), and she was kind enough to let me use his name for the story. Hamloaf was hands down the most incredible goldfish I’ve ever met—he would literally wag his whole body like a golden retriever puppy every morning when we all got to work, and swim-dance aroundhis bowl for fish treats. Sadly, Hamloaf swam off to the Great Beyond a few years ago, but I like to think he’s found his eternal soul mate. Or should I say…Filet of Sole mate? Haha. (Sorry, couldn’t resist.)

As for the stages of grief—that’s an element of the book I was excited about right off the bat. The thing is, sometimes a bad breakup can feel like a death, and the grieving process for both can actually be quite similar. You might go through denial (it’s not over), anger (what a jerk!), bargaining (can’t we try again?), sadness (bawl-fest), and finally, acceptance (thank goodness I got rid of him!). Getting your heart trampled upon can be such an intense and, in Brie’s case, catastrophic emotional rollercoaster, and I couldn’t help thinking that the stages of grief perfectly applied to what she was going through—love-wise and death-wise. So even though she’s narrating from the other side, it made sense to me that she’d still be feeling all of those emotions, just like the people she left behind.

5. What is your favorite thing about The Catastrophic History of You and Me?

This book is very special to me for a lot of reasons. The most obvious is that it’s my first novel to be published, so that will always mean a great deal to me. But it’s also a very personal story, because Brie and I really did go through all the stages together as the story unfolded. When I first started writing the story two years ago, I had no idea how much it would change my life. I never dreamed it would lure me away from my job as a children’s book editor to test the waters of writing full-time, or that it would teach me just how much I still had to learn about love, loss, and letting go. I had to learn that sometimes the thing you want most is the thing you need the least. And, just like Brie, I had to learn that sometimes a broken heart isn’t the end of the road... it’s just the beginning!

My other favorite thing about Catastrophic? It brought me together with my fiancé, who also happens to be my literary agent. (I know, talk about a fun plot twist.) I guess you could say Brie and I both got our happy endings? : )

6. What is a typical "writing mode" day like for you when you are starting a new book? Is it different from when you know you are almost finished with it?

In the year since I quit my job to write full-time, I’ve learned that for me, there’s really no such thing as a typical writing day. 2011 was justa crazy year of changes (both personally and professionally) and I was literally all over the map through most of it. In general, I try to stick to writing a certain amount of words each day no matter where I am in a story, but with everything I had going on this year, I’ll admit that was much easier said than done. Writing tends to come faster for me at the beginning and end of the book—when narrative energy is super high and you can’t seem to get the words down fast enough. It’s almost like the characters are screaming at you to write, write, write! and you’re just trying to keep up with them. For me, it’s the mysterious middle section of a story that poses the biggest set of challenges… when you’ve got the great set up and you’ve got the great ending in mind, but now you need to figure out how all the pieces fit together.

7. How excited are you about you debut YA book? How did you find out your book was going to be published by Penguin? What are you doing to celebrate your book's birthday?

Oh my goodness, I am INCREDIBLY excited!! If you don’t believe me, just see for yourself. ; ) http://bit.ly/wXbbQJ

The day my book deal happened was, without a doubt, the most exciting day of my life, EVER. My book had only been on submission about 24 hours when I got the call letting me know that Penguin had made an offer. I was an editor at another imprint called Razorbill at the time, but the book was with a lot of people all over town and I had no idea if anyone would even like it, much less want to buy it. Then the deal happened and I was just so honored and over the moon to have Catastrophic History land at Penguin, because the house already felt like home to me on so many levels. It was (and still is) a complete and total dream come true.

To celebrate the release on 2/21, I’ll be throwing a fun party at a bookstore in NYC! Details still to come, but everyone’s invited! I’ll be posting more info on my website/blog in the coming weeks (http://www.jessrothenberg.com/), so check back soon for more, or follow me on twitter (@JessRothenberg) or on facebook (www.facebook.com/jessrothenberg).

8. Are you woking on any new novels?

I am! At the moment, I’m hard at work on a new YA novel which is set to be out in 2013. I can’t say anything about it just yet, except that it’s really funny. Or at least, I think it’s funny. I’m turning in a draft in a couple of weeks, so let’s hope my editor agrees. *Crosses fingers*


Big thanks to Jess for this 2012 Debut Author Spotlight Interview!


*Don't forget to enter to win an ARC of the awesome The Catastrophic History of You and Me. Just fill out this form. Giveaway ends 1/28/12.

US only & the usual contest rules apply!

2012 Debut Author Spotlight: Interview with Brodi Ashton

We are changing up the way we spotlight Debut Authors - this year we have decided to spotlight one author a week.  Each week we'll try to bring you an author post, a review and giveaway. This week our featured author is Brodi Ashton author of Everneath. Ever since Stacey and I heard about Everneath in a cupcake shop in NYC we have been waiting impatiently to spotlight this author and her book. 

1. This has been nagging me since reading the book – In Everneath there is a “secret society”. It appears to be just mothers and daughters – how is this possible? Are the daughters fathered by Everlivings or just one night stands and what happens if a son is born?

Good question! The Daughters of Persephone worship Persephone in particular, because they believe she had all the power, so that is why they are so girl-focused. They are similar to the myths about the Amazon women in that they don't really value the males, but they have 'relations' with them to further their ancestral line. This doesn't mean that they can't have families, but the women will be raising the daughters to be forfeits, and in the natural course sometimes this means that some men leave, and take the sons with them. Of course, there are other ways to get daughters, such as a one night stand as you mentioned. It's not like a Daughter of Persephone has never raised a son, though.

2. What inspired you to write a paranormal book based around Greek Mythology?

Actually, the original story came to me without any Greek Mythology or Paranormal aspects. I was struck with the idea of a girl returning to her high school after a long, mysterious absence. She is so changed that she is hardly recognizable, and it begs the question, what happened to this girl? Why did she leave in the first place? What does she face in the future? It wasn't until much later that I realized her story would be similar to Persephone's, in that she'd been somewhere dark, and no matter what she did, she would be in that dark place again.

3. What is your favorite Myth?

Oh, it's way too hard to pick one. But I grew up reading D'Aulaire's Book of Greek Myths, and I was obsessed with that book and all the pretty pictures. If you haven't read it, pick one up.

4. Do you have the same feelings toward Greek Mythology as your main character Nikki?

She's definitely more jaded when it comes to mythology, considering her fate is tied to those stories, and they are more real for her. It takes her a while to find hope in mythology.

5. What is the one thing (non writing utensil) that you HAVE to have while writing?

Diet Coke. Candy. Tea. It's a healthy existence.

6. What has been your favorite experience as a debut author?

Definitely getting fan mail from young readers. I could read those letters over and over.

Interview with Shatter Me author Tahereh Mafi & Shatter Me Giveaway

Oops, this is going up a few weeks late - the holidays and my hand injury sort of slowed us down last month. Hope you enjoy learning a little bit more about Tahereh Mafi & SHATTER ME. You can read our SHATTER ME interview here. 

In book one we learn there are other "gifted" people - Do you have a list of the all the “gifted people” and their gifts or do you make up their gift once they are introduced into the storyline?

I do have a list, actually, yes. :D And you'll learn a lot more about this in book 2.

Juliette’s touch causes some problems for her, can you explain what her power does? Is it draining people’s “life force” or is she absorbing it? Or is this something we learn more about in future books?

Ahhh.. I can't really answer this question without spoiling the second book. Suffice it to say that even Juliette doesn't know what she's capable of in SHATTER ME; the depth of her ability will absolutely be explored and explained in the sequel.

A lot of people are describing SHATTER ME as Hunger Games meets X-Men; how would you describe it? Give us your best “elevator description” of Shatter Me.

SHATTER ME is a young adult dystopian novel about a girl with a lethal touch and the government that wants to use her as a weapon in their war. She has to make a choice: Be a weapon? Or fight back for the first time in her life and be a warrior.

How many books are in the series and can you give us any hints/glimpses into the future of Juliette’s life?

SHATTER ME is the first in a trilogy, so 3 books altogether. And all I can tell you about the sequel is that you'll learn a ton more about the characters as well as the world Juliette is living in. There are a lot of deliberately unanswered questions at the end of SHATTER ME, and the second book answers almost all of them. Though it then raises a bunch more, which will in turn be addressed in the third installment.

Which is more frightening; being a debut author or writing a sequel hoping for the same WOW factor as the debut?

Both are fairly terrifying, I think.

You’ve gotten to experience some amazing things over the last few months. What have been some of the things you’ve gotten to do that’s making you think “wow, this is happening to me, how did I get so lucky?”

All of it has been astounding and amazing. All the foreign deals blow my mind; meeting with people at Fox to talk about the film option has been surreal; getting to hang out with readers and being on panels and doing signings has been way too much fun. But ultimately, all of this has been one of the most humbling experiences of my life. I've barely even begun a career in the publishing world; every single day I'm reminded of just how little I know and just how far I have to go. If anything, it's a been comforting to remember that at the end of the day, my job is to keep my head down and write books, not to be a fancy person of any kind. I make an effort to try and remember that.

SHATTER ME uses a unique story telling method with the strike outs. Why did you choose to go that direction and will this format continue throughout the series?

The strikethroughs serve to convey the inner turmoil and chaos of Juliette's mind. She's been isolated for 264 days with no human contact whatsoever. She's been left alone with nothing but a journal and a pen and her own broken thoughts. She's in denial about who she is and who she might be and she's struggling to find a balance between the spoken and the written word. The strikethroughs are a form of self-censorship; a method of indicating the instability she feels every day. Everything she experiences is in extremes — she's over the top or down too low because she's feeling everything for the first time; everything is so new and unfamiliar. But as the novel progresses – and Juliette becomes stronger as a person — the strikethroughs lessen and her voice begins to find a middle ground. The strikethroughs and the style of the novel are all reflective of Juliette's mental well-being. All of this evolves with her as she continues to grow and change throughout the series.

GIVEAWAY TIME

• 1 Hardback copy of Shatter Me
• To enter fill out the entry form
• US ONLY
• Contest Ends 12/30
• Regular Contest Rules Apply

CLICK HERE TO ENTER

Christopher Paolini Interview

We had a the amazing privilege to interview Christopher Paolini shortly after the release of the last book in the Inheritance Cycle, Inheritance, came out.  We hope you enjoy the interview and if you'd like a signed copy of any or all of Christopher's books, check out Anderson's Bookshop, they were hosting the event and had signed copies the last time I was in the store!

a Huge thank you to Anderson's Bookshop for allowing us to do the interview before the event, to Random House for helping us set it up and to the Tivoli Theatre for hosting the event!

Red Blog Tour Stop: Interview with author Kait Nolan

Red author Kait Nolan is stopping by the blog today, we had a few questions about her new book.  Unfortunately we have not had a chance to read Red - yet, but it's coming up on our TBR pile soon. We've heard wonderful things about the story!

• The tagline is intriguing – would you describe Red as a fairytale spinoff?

Yes and no. I don’t want to give anybody the impression that it’s a modern day retelling of Red Riding Hood, because it isn’t. What it is, is the answer to what would happen if Red fell in love with the wolf. That is the distant backstory of our present day heroine, Elodie. It was her great, great—some number of greats—grandmother who inspired the original Red Riding Hood myth, and as I say, her love affair ended badly. For her and everyone who came after.

• Red is your YA Debut , do you plan on continuing the storyline or is it a stand alone?

At present, I don’t have any plans for another book centering on Elodie and Sawyer. But I’ve learned to never say never with my characters. They tend to have minds of their own! I do absolutely have plans for more YA in the future, though. It’s a lot of fun to write!

• What was your favorite scene to write?

My favorite scene to write was probably Elodie’s first real confrontation with the head Barbie—the Mean Girl who’s had it in for E since the eighth grade. I confess I absolutely worked out some of my own lingering issues from high school bullies on Amber!

• Can you tell us a little bit about your wolves – are they werewolves/shape shifters?

In Red they’re werewolves. I wanted to do something to set them apart from the wolf-shifters in my Mirus series (adult PR/UF). They’re very dominant, generally not pack creatures, and live in small family groups of parents and child/ren. It’s not transmissible, as in many legends. It’s just a genetic condition. Once they hit transition (kind of like werewolf puberty), they can shift at will and don’t have any ties to the moon or allergies to silver. They have extremely deep ties to their mate, and their driving instinct is to protect that mate at all costs.

• What is your current favorite YA?

What? I have to choose? Eyes the 60-odd YA novels I’ve read over the last couple of years: Of course, I am a member of the Jace Wayland fan club with Cassandra Clare’s Mortal Instruments series. And I’m absolutely on Team Ash with Julie Kagawa’s Iron Fey series. But I suppose my current favorite is the Caster Chronicles. I just picked up Beautiful Creatures, and I’m absolutely loving it.

• What new author has grasped your interest?

Well Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl, of course. And up and comer Claire Legrand, whose MG debut The Cavendish Home For Boys and Girls comes out next year. She’s got this amazing mind that’s like Tim Burton meets Laini Taylor. Oh and Laini Taylor is another new one I’m totally in love with. Daughter of Smoke and Bone was just, so…OMG, amazing. And Susan Bischoff, whose Talent Chronicles totally sates my desire for YA superhero romance.

• What do you do when you are not writing?

What is this “not writing” you speak of?  The rest of my life is, sadly, not all that interesting. When I’m not writing, I’m up to my eyeballs working two day jobs, wrangling my two dogs and my spouse, and trying to make sure our house can’t be certified as a FEMA disaster area. Oh and cooking. A LOT. I’m on a quest to prove to people that homemade does not include meals from a box and is not actually hard.

• Who or what has influenced your writing the most?

Honestly, probably the long string of “practical” jobs I’ve held and positively hated. I did the alleged smart thing and got the responsible degrees and had the backup plan, even though I’ve known since I was twelve that I was meant to write. I did the sensible thing, am still doing the sensible thing, but all the “sensible” jobs were awful enough to my creative spirit that I finally began treating the writing as a job itself, taking it seriously, and putting in the work needed to actually build a career out of it. One of these days, that’s going to allow me to say adios to all the sensible jobs.

• Favorite revising snack?

The correct answer would be tea. By the gallon. Hot tea, the blacker the better. With sugar and half and half.

About the Author: 
Kait Nolan is stuck in an office all day, sometimes juggling all three of her jobs at once with the skill of a trained bear—sometimes with a similar temperament. After hours, she uses her powers for good, creating escapist fiction. The work of this Mississippi native is packed with action, romance, and the kinds of imaginative paranormal creatures you’d want to sweep you off your feet…or eat your boss. When she’s not working or writing, she’s in her kitchen, heading up a revolution to Retake Homemade from her cooking blog, Pots and Plots.

You can catch up with her at her blog, Twitter, Facebook, and Goodreads.

Her debut YA paranormal, Red, is currently available from Smashwords, Amazon, Amazon UK, Amazon DE, Barnes and Noble, the iBookstore, and All Romance EBooks.

About the book:

Every fairy tale has a dark side...

Elodie Rose has a secret. Any day, she’ll become a wolf and succumb to the violence that’s cursed her family for centuries. For seventeen years she’s hidden who and what she is. But now someone knows the truth and is determined to exterminate her family line. Living on borrowed time in the midst of this dangerous game of hide and seek, the last thing Elodie needs to do is fall in love. But Sawyer is determined to protect her, and the brooding, angry boy is more than what he seems. Can they outsmart a madman? And if they survive, will they find a way to beat the curse for good?