Monday YA Author Interview With Alethea Kontis

 

 

Where are you from?
I was born in Vermont and raised in South Carolina. After graduating college I lived in
Tennessee for ten years, and I currently live in Northern Virginia.

When and why did you begin writing?
I was a very dramatic child from a family of storytellers, and I loved reading books more
than anything else in the world. Somewhere around eight years old, when we started
doing poetry exercises in school, I just *knew* I was a writer. I haven't stopped since.

What books have most influenced your life most?
It's such a wide range of titles I can' even begin to describe them! But I did write
a post about my "21 Most Influential Books" which you can still find here: http://
aletheakontis.com/2009/06/my-21-most-influential-books/

If you had to choose, which writer would you consider a mentor?
The best teachers of my writing life have been Sherrilyn Kenyon, Orson Scott Card, and
Andre Norton.

What book are you reading now?
Witchstruck, by Victoria Lamb

Are there any new authors that have grasped your interest?
I wish! I don't read nearly as much as I used to, and I miss it. It's one of the toughest
trade-offs about being a full-time author. I actually feel more pressure to go back and
read the classics I missed than to find new authors, which surprises me.

Who is your favorite author and what is it that really strikes you about their work?
Oh, man...I have too many favorite authors for different reasons. Jude Deveraux
and William Goldman for dialogue. Sharon Shinn & Meredith Ann Pierce & Anne
McCaffrey for world building. Robin McKinley & Tamora Pierce & L. Frank Baum for
kick-butt heroines. Diana Wynne Jones and Neil Gaiman for plain-old magic.

What was the hardest part of writing your book?

The actual "sitting down and writing" is the hardest part. Coming up with the story is
amazing, living in it while I struggle to get words on the page is magical, meeting fans
who have read it and loved it is one of the most wonderful feelings in the world. But
putting my butt in the chair every day is just like doing my homework in high school all
over again. Good thing I loved high school!

Have you been an avid reader your entire life? (since you could read)
Yes! My father read books to me every night from the time I was a baby, and I was
reading by the age of three. It was such a young age that I can't actually remember a time
in my life when I couldn't read...which is kind of awesome.

What character in your books do you relate to most?

 It sounds cliché to say, but I'm closest to whatever character I'm writing at the time. Each
one of my characters has such a significant amount of my own personal feelings and
experiences that it's almost difficult pulling away to write from another point of view.

Ok now some fun questions:
What is your favorite sport to watch and or play?
I was a big gymnast & figure skater as a kid (not anymore!) so I've always enjoyed those.
I'm a big fan of the Olympics. Saturday Woodcutter got a lot of her strength from the
women of the London Olympic Games.

Favorite Movie?
Toss up between The Princess Bride and The Hunt for Red October.

Chocolate or Vanilla?
Vanilla. Ben & Jerry's. With Heath Bars.

Puppies or Kittens?
I'm definitely a dog person.

Beach or Mountains?
Beach, though I'm a big tree lover so I'll probably end up living in a forest somewhere
with the fairies.

If you could be a color, what color would you be?
Green.

Favorite Dessert?
Homemade tiramisu. I've only ever had it once, and I we were all tipsy afterwards. It was
amazing.

If you could be a book character, what character would you be?
Aeriel from Meredith Ann Pierce's The Darkangel Trilogy.




Enchanted (goodreads link)
Published May 8th 2012 by Harcourt Children's Books            

It isn't easy being the rather overlooked and unhappy youngest sibling to sisters named for the other six days of the week. Sunday’s only comfort is writing stories, although what she writes has a terrible tendency to come true.

When Sunday meets an enchanted frog who asks about her stories, the two become friends. Soon that friendship deepens into something magical. One night Sunday kisses her frog goodbye and leaves, not realizing that her love has transformed him back into Rumbold, the crown prince of Arilland—and a man Sunday’s family despises.

The prince returns to his castle, intent on making Sunday fall in love with him as the man he is, not the frog he was. But Sunday is not so easy to woo. How can she feel such a strange, strong attraction for this prince she barely knows? And what twisted secrets lie hidden in his past - and hers?





Hero (goodreads link)
Published October 1st 2013 by Harcourt Books


Rough and tumble Saturday Woodcutter thinks she's the only one of her sisters without any magic—until the day she accidentally conjures an ocean in the backyard. With her sword in tow, Saturday sets sail on a pirate ship, only to find herself kidnapped and whisked off to the top of the world. Is Saturday powerful enough to kill the mountain witch who holds her captive and save the world from sure destruction? And, as she wonders grumpily, "Did romance have to be part of the adventure?" As in Enchanted, readers will revel in the fragments of fairy tales that embellish this action-packed story of adventure and, yes, romance.

Monday YA Author Interview With Jessica O'Gorek

Where are you from?
I was born in Chesapeake, VA
When and why did you begin writing?
I began writing poems when I was around 6 or 7 and then I began writing
2000 page hand written novels when I was around 12. They were hideous,
of course, but you gotta start somewhere!
What books have most influenced your life most?
Twilight and the Host. I know, I know, they aren’t that great of an example,
but because of their mediocrity, I decided I could write better than
Stephanie and send a deeper, more important message to teens. I wanted
to leave out the shy, awkward and codependent Bella and replace her with
someone more intuitive and emotional. Yes, Onyx has many characteristics
that are similar to Edward as far as angst and inward turmoil, but at
least you get in to Onyx’s head! I hate that nothing was ever written from
Edward’s POV, except for Midnight Sun, which was shelved. And the
deeper concept is of course, the earth and what we are doing to it. I wanted
to make teens and adults think about what the consequences could be.
If you had to choose, which writer would you consider a mentor?
Stephen King, John Saul, Dean Koontz and James Patterson. These
guys are who I grew up reading. I was able to learn metaphors and
creative writing form Stephen, horror from Koontz and Saul and then good
storytelling from Patterson.
What book are you reading now?
City of Lost Souls Mortal Instruments #5
Are there any new authors that have grasped your interest?
Define new. I really tend not to focus on the authors as much as I do the
cover of the book and storyline. Is that bad to admit? I know I like to read
series of books and that Twilight got me hooked on the idea that 2500
pages of a book is good when you love the characters enough.
Who is your favorite author and what is it that really strikes you about their
work?
I guess my all-time favorite has to be Stephen King. He is the one that
can take me through the spectrum of emotions the fastest and most
consistently. Fear, anger, sadness, he can hit them all. He really expands
my imagination as well and the pictures he can paint in my mind are so
vivid!
What was the hardest part of writing your book?
Believe it or not, it was creating the 2-3 paragraph synopsis and then
condensing that down to one blurb for the back of the book to suck people
in.
Have you been an avid reader your entire life? (since you could read)
Nope. I did not start seriously reading until I was 12. Before that I hated
books because they took my parent’s attention away from me.
Ok now some fun questions:
What is your favorite sport to watch and or play?
Play- Bad Mitten Watch-
None
Favorite Movie?
Twilight
Chocolate or Vanilla?
Vanilla
Puppy's or Kittens?
Kittens
Beach or Mountains?
Mountains
If you could be a color, what color would you be?
Green
Favorite Dessert?
Tres Leches Cake
If you could be a book character, what character would you be?
Bella Swan, but only so I could be with Edward Cullen… he he


Gemini Rising: Goodreads


Angry at the human race and its methodical destruction of her resources, Mother Earth recruits souls who have just left their bodies to serve Her, and turns them against humanity. Gemini, a clan of paranormal beings, picked from these possessed humans, emerges. A powerful, rising force proceeds to carry out Mother Nature’s plan to systematically destroy towns, cities, states… and eventually, the world. Amidst the chaos, a forbidden relationship between a human girl, Violette, and Onyx, a lead Gemini, begins. They will both find themselves in the middle of a revolutionary war that will either save, or destroy our world.

Monday YA Author Interview With Jill Daugherty

Where are you from?
I’ve lived in Denver, Colorado for the past 35 years. When I was very young, we lived in Peoria, Illinois.

When and why did you begin writing?

I started writing when I was about 3. I have very vivid memories of pestering my mom non-stop to tell me which letters made which sounds and which sounds made different words. I’d write down the letters to each of the words she told me and was fascinated with the patterns in each word. When I was 8, my teacher sent a poem I wrote in class to a local newspaper to be published. It was a very proud moment! That same year, I wrote a short story about a baby who was kidnapped from her crib. A gum wrapper found in her crib led the police to her kidnapper. It was a horrible story. I had the good sense to keep that one to myself. :-)
I write because I get really grumpy if I don’t. Over the summer I was getting frustrated with my writing and forced myself to take a two-week break. By the end of the two-week period, I was really itching to get back to it. Writing is a creative outlet for me, and when I’m not writing books or research papers, my friends have to suffer through really long emails from me.

What books have most influenced your life most?

Every book I’ve read has influenced me in one way or another. Some of them really make me think. Some of them show me how to write. Some of them show me how NOT to write. Even the bad books I’ve read have left me with something to think about.

If you had to choose, which writer would you consider a mentor?

Janet Evanovich. I love the humor of the Stephanie Plum series. They are never going to win a Pulitzer, but they are very entertaining, and that’s what I strive for with my own writing. It’s great when a book can make you grow or make you see the world in another way, but it’s also great when a book is nothing more than fun.

What book are you reading now?

Abraham Lincoln, Vampire Hunter, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix and Les Miserables. I’m finding that Les Miserables is very wordy and sometimes tedious, so when I get to the point where I can’t resist poking my eyes out with a fork, I put it away and pick up one of the other two.

Are there any new authors that have grasped your interest?

Yann Martel and Jonathan Safer Foer. Talk about books that make you think!

Who is your favorite author and what is it that really strikes you about their work?

Just one?! I have so many favorites! If someone put a gun to my head and told me I had to pick books from just one author to pack in a trunk for a ten-year solo trip to a deserted island, I’d probably pick Charles Dickens. His stories have stood the test of time for a reason. They have love and betrayal and heartache and humor and I think they’d do a decent job of keeping me entertained until I was rescued by a cruise ship with a massive library.

What was the hardest part of writing your book?

Learning to develop a tough skin. Writing is easy compared to dealing with rejection. In the beginning, it was really hard for me to read anything negative about my books. Then I read two reviews on Goodreads that put reviews into perspective for me. One of the reviews said that the reader really didn’t like the first half of the book, but loved the second half. Another review said the reader loved the first half, but didn’t like the second half. I realized that it wasn’t possible to write a book that everyone loved and I’ve been able to put reviews into perspective since then.

 
Have you been an avid reader your entire life? (since you could read)

Yes! When I was as young as six, I would make the 30-minute walk from our house to the local library to check out books and listen to the library employees who would read stories for children. Even now, it is a very rare occasion when I don’t have something checked out from the library.

 
Ok now some fun questions:
What is your favorite sport to watch and or play?

I love to watch the Denver Broncos play. I don’t play any team sports on a regular basis, but I do bike, hike and swim.
Favorite Movie?
Love Actually. Don’t judge me. I know it’s several sappy love stories rolled into one movie, but it’s hard to not feel good after watching it. I challenge anyone to watch the moment when the little boy runs into his step-dad’s arms in the airport without a huge smile.
Chocolate or Vanilla?
 Vanilla – it has more possibilities because you can add any flavor to it and make it even better. And, you can turn vanilla into chocolate if the mood strikes you, but you can’t turn chocolate into vanilla
Puppy's or Kittens?
Puppies! Kittens are cute enough, but I’m allergic to them, so they make me itchy. Puppies are all the fun, with none of the itch.
Beach or Mountains?
 I live in Colorado, so definitely the Mountains.

If you could be a color, what color would you be?

 Blue. It’s such a calming color.
Favorite Dessert?
 Tiramisu. I don't drink coffee, but love just about anything with coffee flavor.

If you could be a book character, what character would you be?

Hermione Granger. We both are very practical and use research as a coping mechanism, but she can do magic and I can’t think of anything cooler than that!



I’ll take on Balor—I’ve resigned myself to that fate—but I can’t take these girls anymore.”
“So, just to clarify: Most evil faery known to all of faery-dome—no problem. A bunch of snide and petty girls—that you’re not up to?”
“Bingo.”
“Seriously, cushla macree, we need to have a discussion about your ranking system.”
Maggie O’Neill had a rough junior year… She fell in love with Simon. She found out Simon was a faery. She spent some time with her dead ancestors. An evil faery with control issues came after her and brought his groupies to kill her. …but that was nothing compared to what’s in store for senior year. She’s the new girl at faery boarding school and is subjected to something she never thought she’d have to deal with in her entire life—mean girls. To make matters worse, she’s seeing less and less of Simon, her faery guard is smothering her in their efforts to protect her, and the evil faery is still stalking her, determined to kill her before she can kill him. She starts to wonder if she’ll make it to graduation. Then the unthinkable happens and she wonders if she’ll be able to survive even one more day.

Monday YA Author Interview With Melanie Dickerson

I am super excited for this interview. I first read Melanie Dickerson in 2010 when The Healer's Apprentice first came out, and have fallen in love with her fairy tale retellings since then!

Goodreads Links:
The Healer's Apprentice (Sleeping Beauty)
The Merchant's Daughter (Beauty And The Beast)
 The Fairest Beauty (Snow White)
 The Captive Maiden (Cinderella) (coming November 2013)




Where are you from?
I am from a tiny town in “Lower Alabama,” McKenzie, about 30 miles from Monroeville, where Harper Lee grew up. And my maiden name is Lee, so I always wondered if she and I were related.

When and why did you begin writing?
I think I started writing when I was in about the sixth grade. I actually don’t remember. But around that time I started writing stories in spiral notebooks and passing them around to let my friends read them.



What books have most influenced your life most?
The Bible influenced my life the most. I started reading a chapter of the Bible every night when I was about 13 years old, and I loved the Psalms. I also really loved Jane Austen’s books, which I discovered in junior high or high school. When I was 13, I also read Jane Eyre for the first time, and Gone With the Wind, which I read 6 times in the next 3 years. Since I now write historical romance, I think it’s safe to say I was influenced by those books, since they were all period romances. I think you could also validly argue that the Bible is also a romance—God’s romance of us.


If you had to choose, which writer would you consider a mentor?
Mary Connealy has been my mentor since 2005, and I have lots of wonderful writer friends who have helped and encouraged me.


What book are you reading now?
I have lots of research books right now that I got from my library. I’m always researching some time period or another, and I’m actually re-reading Siri Mitchell’s Kissing Adrien. It’s a few years old, but so much fun to read.


Are there any new authors that have grasped your interest?
I am really behind on my reading! I hate to say it but I haven’t actually read the new authors that are out there right now. I need to rectify that.


Who is your favorite author and what is it that really strikes you about their work?
My favorite author is probably Kate DiCamillo. I love the simplicity of her writing style. But she can still make me cry with the way she puts things so poignantly. I just love her stories, especially Because of Winn-Dixie and The Tale of Despereaux. I also enjoy Mary Connealy’s and Ruth Axtell’s books.


What was the hardest part of writing your book?
Every aspect of writing a book, from research to plotting to writing the first draft to editing, is hard and also enjoyable. I love every step, but it’s also hard work. Not sure what I would consider the hardest. Writing the first draft is probably the most time consuming and intense, and research is possibly my least favorite.


Have you been an avid reader your entire life? (since you could read)
Yes, I’ve always loved to read, as long as I can remember.

 

Ok now some fun questions:

What is your favorite sport to watch and or play?
I like watching my daughters play volleyball, and I grew up watching Alabama football with my dad, who was an avid fan, and I sometimes enjoy watching the games now with my husband. I used to love playing softball as a kid, but my school didn’t have a girls team, so I didn’t get to play very long. To be honest, I’m not much of a sports fan anymore. I do like to take naps on Saturday afternoons. That’s my idea of a fun activity! Ha!



Favorite Movie?
Do I have to pick just one? It’s a Wonderful Life. Or National Velvet. Or the long version of Pride and Prejudice.



Chocolate or Vanilla?
If it’s ice cream, vanilla. Everything else, chocolate.



Puppy's or Kittens?
Puppies

 

Beach or Mountains?
Beach is great any time except summer. Mountains are great any time except winter. (Can you tell I don’t like extreme temperatures?)



If you could be a color, what color would you be?
Red!



Favorite Dessert?
Chocolate pie, chocolate cake, chocolate cookies, anything chocolate.



If you could be a book character, what character would you be?
Elizabeth Bennet, because she gets Mr. Darcy.

Monday YA Author Interview With Danielle Sibarium and Cover Reveal and Giveaway

First of all I have a cover reveal for Danielle's new book titled Waves of Love (scroll down past the interview to check out its cover)






Where are you from?
I was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York, but I’ve spent most of my adult life in New Jersey, where I
currently reside.
When and why did you begin writing?
I fell in love with writing literally as I learned to write. I remember the day I learned about
brainstorming in first grade. I went to a birthday party later that day and lost a game of Hot
Potato because my mind was preoccupied with the idea of brainstorming. I envisioned a topic
with a brain spitting out all sorts of words related to it. It was an actual storm of ideas. How
cool! Right then and there I was hooked. In the sixth grade we were required to write one
creative writing every month. My teacher would often read my stories out loud to the class,
and my classmates enjoyed them. I knew then whatever my future held; writing would be a
part of it.
What books have most influenced your life most?
I think in some way all the books I’ve read have influenced me. For example, the Thoughtless
series by S.C. Stephens convinced me to let one of my characters, (Tyler from the Heart
Waves series) have much more influence over his role than I originally planned. Stolen by Lucy
Christopher convinced me that Carly’s story from To My Hero: A Blog of Our Journey Together,
should be told in second person point of view. They’ve all helped me decide to add something
or take something away from my own books.
If you had to choose, which writer would you consider a mentor?
That’s so difficult. I think the authors of all the books I’ve read have had a part in that, but there are
too many to name. But Harvey Flaxman, my college advisor is probably the only person that taught
me about writing. The biggest thing he taught me was character depth through the use of a character
history, which probably played the biggest part in the character of Ryan from To My Hero.
What book are you reading now?
Mind Static by Jen Naumann. I was lucky enough to get an ARC of one of her other books, Cheating
Death and really enjoyed it.
Are there any new authors that have grasped your interest?
There are many of them. I think many of the indie authors are worth looking at. One thing has become
clear, readers want to hear voices other than the few the traditional publishers think are worthy. I love
plenty of traditionally published authors, too, I just think many of the indies have something to prove
and they have a raw and emotional voice that should be heard.
Who is your favorite author and what is it that really strikes you about their work?
There are so many that I enjoy, John Saul, Nicholas Sparks, Jennifer Echols, JK Rowling, and Stephanie
Meyers. What I like about them is their ability to tell stories that touch the reader, and make you part of
the book.
What was the hardest part of writing your book?
Since I just finished writing Waves of Love, the final book of the Heart Waves Series, I’ll base this
question on that book. Saying goodbye was the hardest part. I’ve actually had these characters running
around in my head for over a decade before I ever attempted to get them on paper.
Have you been an avid reader your entire life? (since you could read)
YES!! yes and yes. I always loved reading.
Ok now some fun questions:
What is your favorite sport to watch and or play?
Baseball/Softball
Favorite TV Show?
I’d have to say my favorite comedy is Big Bang Theory. My favorite Drama is Twisted. And my favorite
show to watch is reruns of Friends!
Chocolate or Vanilla?
Vanilla. I try to put a lot of emotion into my books, so I need something to be plain and simple.
Puppy's or Kittens?
They are both so adorable. I love babies of every kind, but definitely am biased towards puppies.
Beach or Mountains?
Beach for sure!
If you could be a color, what color would you be?
Red. It’s bold, powerful and passionate. You know it’s there, even if you sometimes want to turn away
from it.
Favorite Dessert?
Berry foster.
If you could be a book character, what character would you be?
My husband says I’m most like Dracula. I try to avoid sunlight. I’m definitely a night person, as I suffer
from insomnia and often find myself awake and writing at night and my great grandmother was born
outside of Transylvania.
Once again thank you so much for having me. I had a blast!

So here is the cover reveal for Waves Of Love (Heart Waves #3):

Jenna knew Reece would break her heart, when he did Tyler stepped in to pick up the pieces.

 

As she’s ready to take the next step with Tyler, Jenna finds herself face to face with Reece. Lies and secrets are discovered from the two boys she trusted the most. And now it’s more than just her heart on the line, it’s her life as well. 

 

Torn between two amazing guys Jenna’s certain of only one thing, this is the most important decision of her life. One almost destroyed her. The other brought her back to life. The time has come to choose. Can Jenna move forward with Tyler or will she be stuck in the past with Reece?

 

Heart Waves

Jenna Kingsley has a gift. She knows things. With a simple touch she can pick up personal information from jewelry or objects. While at a neighbor's party, a voice mesmerizes her. Jenna is momentarily frozen as a ring is placed in her hand. White electricity surges through her and a dire prediction is made. "It's like Romeo and Juliet. You're going to break my heart." From the moment they meet, Jenna is enchanted and entranced with Reece Walton. She's thrilled to learn he's spending the summer two houses away from hers. Every moment they spend together is magical. But she can't get the prediction out of her mind. As the summer draws to a close and secrets are revealed, can Jenna get past the fear of being left with a broken heart to live in the moment with Reece or will her fear of being hurt fulfill the prophecy?





Breaking Waves (Heart Waves 2)
From the moment they met, Jenna knew Reece would break her heart, but she never dreamed it would happen like this. Jenna is left shattered and broken. When life becomes too painful to deal with and she feels completely alone, there’s only one person to help her pick up the pieces and move on. The one person she doesn’t want to turn to. The one person she promised to stay away from. Tyler.

Can Jenna put aside everything she knows about him and let Tyler help heal her broken heart?

Giveaway

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Monday YA Author Interview With Rita Arens

Where are you from?
 I'm originally from small-town Iowa, just like my characters in THE OBVIOUS GAME.

When and why did you begin writing?
My first memory of writing was poetry and short stories in probably fifth or sixth grade.
What books have most influenced your life most?
THE STRANGER by Camus; CATCH-22 by Joseph Heller; anything by Ray Bradbury, George Orwell, Tom Robbins or John Irving; the A WRINKLE IN TIME trilogy by Madeleine L'Engle; THE CHRONICLES OF NARNIA by C.S. Lewis; LORD OF THE FLIES by William Golding, and the young adult novels of Judy Blume and Paula Danzinger. Among my contemporaries, I like the work of John Green, Coert Voorhees, A.S. King, Gayle Forman, and CJ Omololu in the realistic young adult space.

If you had to choose, which writer would you consider a mentor?
 I've been mentored by Jean Kwok, who wrote GIRL IN TRANSLATION, and Michael Pritchett, author of THE MELANCHOLY FATE OF CAPT. LEWIS.

What book are you reading now?
 I just finished Hugh Howey's WOOL trilogy (it was amazing) and now I'm reading SOULBOUND by Heather Brewer.

Are there any new authors that have grasped your interest?
I've really enjoyed getting to know new authors by reading a ton of YA to see what's out there. The authors I listed earlier aren't necessarily new, but they were new to me.

Who is your favorite author and what is it that really strikes you about their work?
My absolute favorite author is John Irving, even though my favorite book is CATCH-22. A close second would be A PRAYER FOR OWEN MEANY. The reason John Irving edges ahead of Joseph Heller is consistency. I haven't loved every one of his novels, but I've loved more than half. That's pretty incredible, since they are all so different.

What was the hardest part of writing your book?
 It's very humbling to write a novel, especially when you don't know what you're doing. The learning curve was very steep for me with this novel. I'm working on a new novel now, and it hasn't felt nearly as painful.

Have you been an avid reader your entire life? (since you could read)
 Oh, for sure. My sister actually thought that's why my parents named me Rita.


Ok now some fun questions:

What is your favorite sport to watch and or play?
 I like to watch major league soccer, thanks to my husband's new obsession. I like to be at baseball games, but I don't like watching them on TV. I like to listen to football on the radio, but only if I'm outside. I don't play sports, never have, never will. I work out a lot, but not in a sporty way.

Favorite TV Show?
 LOST
Chocolate or Vanilla?
 Chocolate

Puppy's or Kittens?
 Kittens

Beach or Mountains?
Beach -- I got married on a beach.

If you could be a color, what color would you be?
 Blue

Favorite Dessert?
Apple pie

If you could be a book character, what character would you be?

That's tough, because all the books I love are really hard on their characters. Probably Meg in A WRINKLE IN TIME. I named my main character in my new novel after her.


“Everyone trusted me back then. Good old, dependable Diana. Which is why most people didn’t notice at first.”

"Your shirt is yellow."
"Your eyes are blue."
"You have to stop running away from your problems."
"You're too skinny."

Fifteen-year-old Diana Keller accidentally begins teaching The Obvious Game to new kid Jesse on his sixteenth birthday. As their relationship deepens, Diana avoids Jesse's past with her own secrets -- which she'll protect at any cost

Monday YA Author Interview With Elisa Freilich

Where are you from?
 I grew up in Monsey, New York which is less than an hour north of Manhattan.

When and why did you begin writing?
 I began writing when I was little - usually poems and satirical newspapers poking fun at family and friends.  I've always loved writing and have been an avid reader all my life.  The novel just seemed like a natural progression for me.

What books have most influenced your life most?
Angela's Ashes by Frank McCourt, The Elegance of the Hedgehog by Muriel Barbery, Cat's Eye by Margaret Atwood.

If you had to choose, which writer would you consider a mentor?
Gregory Maguire, for sure! I have always loved the way he would spin further fiction off of widely known fiction.  In Silent Echo: A Siren's Tale, I took a similar liberty with Greek Mythology.  I figured if Maguire can expand on the lives of the Wizard of Oz's characters, then I can do the same with the Greek Gods...

What book are you reading now?
The Interestings by Meg Wolitzer

Are there any new authors that have grasped your interest?
 I think Marisha Pessl is a genius and absolutely adored her first novel, Special Topics in Calamity Physics.  (I just downloaded her newest, Night Film.)  I also absolutely adore John Green and am thoroughly intrigued by Lionel Shriver.

Who is your favorite author and what is it that really strikes you about their work?
I think I'd have to go with Pat Conroy.  I know that his writing might a bit more flowery than what is out there today, but he was the author of my youth.  I devoured everything he ever wrote and still remember all of his story lines and descriptions so vividly.  I heard that he has something new coming out soon and I can't wait!

What was the hardest part of writing your book?
 Editing.  I went through so many rounds of it, shaving and weeding until I (and my agent) felt it was tip-top.  This editing process was far more arduous than writing the original story.
 
Have you been an avid reader your entire life? (since you could read) 
 Yes!  I was that kid that had to be told to shut the lights and go to sleep already.  I had a bathroom connected to my room and I convinced my mom that I needed that light to be on or else I'd be too scared to go to sleep.  Truth was, though, that I used to lie down on the carpet in front of the bathroom light so I could just read, read, read - Mom - Sorry for the white lie...

 
 
Ok now some fun questions:

What is your favorite sport to watch and or play?
 Ugghh ... Really?  Not a big sports fan.  But I guess I'd go with ice hockey because I get to watch my son (and occasionally my husband) play.
 
Favorite TV Show?
Downton Abbey
 
Chocolate or Vanilla?
Vanilla
 
Puppy's or Kittens?
Puppies!  Preferably English Bulldog.
 
Beach or Mountains?
Poolside?
 
If you could be a color, what color would you be?
Purple just like Dionysus's robes in Silent Echo.
 
Favorite Dessert?
Not really a dessert person because I'm always too full after a meal!  I like to have some salted chocolates or caramel, though, before bed.
 
If you could be a book character, what character would you be?
Thing 1, with my husband being Thing 2, of course.  We always have so much fun together!


Haunted by silence, a mute teenage girl is mysteriously given back her voice ... and it is divine.

Rendered mute at birth, Portia Griffin has been silent for 16 years. Music is her constant companion, along with Felix, her deaf best friend who couldn’t care less whether or not she can speak. If only he were as nonchalant about her newfound interest in the musically gifted Max Hunter.

But Portia’s silence is about to be broken with the abrupt discovery of her voice, unparalleled in its purity and the power it affords to control those around her. Able to persuade, seduce and destroy using only her voice, Portia embarks on a search for answers about who she really is, and what she is destined to become.

Inspired by Homer’s Odyssey, SILENT ECHO: A Siren's Tale is an epic story filled with fantasy, romance and original music

 

Monday YA Author Interview With Romily Bernard (Amazing Author Of Find Me)

 

My questions are in black, her answers in purple.


Where are you from?
Charleston, South Carolina, but we’ve been living in Atlanta for years now.

When and why did you begin writing?
I started pretty young. Seven, I think? I never really thought about it. Writing stories is just the
way my brain is wired.

What books have most influenced your life most?
Oh, wow!! This is a GREAT question!! There have been so many. On the YA side, LOOKING FOR
ALASKA, THE SCORPIO RACES, HUNGER GAMES, THIRTEEN REASONS WHY, and THIS IS NOT A TEST. On
the adult side, THE BRIDE STRIPPED BARE, ROMOLA, REBECCA, HIGH FIDELITY, MYSTIC RIVER, and GONE,

If you had to choose, which writer would you consider a mentor?
Oh, man, another good question. Probably LeHane for mysteries. He is jaw-droppingly amazing.
But, honestly, Maggie Stiefvater and Jay Asher are pretty much my YA gold standard.

What book are you reading now?
An ARC of THE DREAM THIEVES!! Brad at YA Book Reviews was kind of enough to send it to me.

Are there any new authors that have grasped your interest?
Always. I think April Genevieve Tucholke and Katy Karyus Quinn are astonishingly talented
writers. I can’t WAIT for their next books.

Who is your favorite author and what is it that really strikes you about their work?
Courtney Summers in THIS IS NOT A TEST. Hold on. I always have to sit down for a minute when
I talk about that book. It’s so raw and emotional and terrifying and perfect. Summers is beyond perfect.
Her use of language and emotion is brilliant.

What was the hardest part of writing your book?
All of it. Kidding!! Sort of. I really focused on getting FIND ME down to the absolute bare bones. I
wanted speed, speed, speed. At times, my editors and I were scanning paragraphs to see how much we
could skim off. It was hard to balance the emotion with the pacing. You want enough of the first, but not
so much that it bogs down the second, you know?

Have you been an avid reader your entire life? (since you could read)
Oh, yes. I’d rather read than do anything. I’ve even been known to smuggle books into work and
read them on the sly. Good way to get fired, no?

Ok now some fun questions:
Chocolate or Vanilla? Chocolate

Puppy\'s or Kittens? Puppies

Beach or Mountains? Beach

If you could be a color, what color would you be? Grass green

Favorite Dessert? At moment, it’s Lemonade Cake, but I also really love Sea Salt Caramel Brownies

If you could be a book character, what character would you be? Katiniss Everdeen!!

I also want to thank you, Em, for having me on The YA Book Butterfly. I am incredibly lucky to
have your support. Thanks to everyone for reading! I hope you enjoyed the post and I hope you enjoy
FIND ME!

Don't forget to pick up a copy of Find Me! It's coming out on September 24th! And since I was lucky enough to borrow an advance copy from a friend, you can trust me IT IS INCREDIBLE!
And be sure to check back! Because on the release date I will be publishing a playlist written by Romily!




Find Me.”

These are the words written on Tessa Waye’s diary. The diary that ends up with Wick Tate. But Tessa’s just been found . . . dead.

Wick has the right computer-hacking skills for the job, but little interest in this perverse game of hide-and-seek. Until her sister Lily is the next target.

Then Griff, trailer-park boy next door and fellow hacker, shows up, intent on helping Wick. Is a happy ending possible with the threat of Wick’s deadbeat dad returning, the detective hunting him sniffing around Wick instead, and a killer taunting her at every step?

Foster child. Daughter of a felon. Loner hacker girl. Wick has a bad attitude and sarcasm to spare.

But she’s going to find this killer no matter what.

Because it just got personal.

Interview With Author Alison F Prince

 
This week I have Alison F Prince author of In Shadows Of Magic which is only 2.99 for kindle Here!

Where are you from?   I was born in Brooklyn, NYC. I was raised an hour outside of NYC in Rockland County. I currently live in Hoboken, NJ. When and why did you begin writing?   I began writing when I was in elementary school. It was always something I really enjoyed. What books have most influenced your life most?   As a kid, I read all of the R.L Stine Fear Street books. I also loved Caroline B. Cooney, Lois Duncan, Sweet Valley High, L.J. Smith, and the Sweet Dreams series. What book are you reading now?   I'm currently reading Shatter Me and it's fantastic so far! Who is your favorite author and what is it that really strikes you about their work?   I really love Marjorie M. Liu's poetic writing style. What was the hardest part of writing your book?   Editing. I love the writing process, but editing can be brutal! Have you been an avid reader your entire life? (since you could read) Yes! Ok now some fun questions: Chocolate or Vanilla? Chocolate with chocolate sprinkles and hot fudge! Puppy's or Kittens? Kittens! Growing up, my mother bred Siamese cats, so there was always kittens running around my house. It was the highlight of my childhood. Beach or Mountains?  I like both, but if I have to choose, beach. If you could be a color, what color would you be? Sky blue Favorite Dessert?  Brownie sundae If you could be a book character, what character would you be? Kaitlin from Dark Visions If you are an author with a published book message me Here and you could be next :P Please comment and follow!