Interview with Gwen Hayes

Today, I have the immense pleasure of hosting an interview with Gwen Hayes--the author of Falling Under. I posted that review yesterday in case you missed it. I love the book and Gwen. It hits shelves on March 1 so grab a copy! 

A bit about Gwen: 

Gwen Hayes lives in the Pacific Northwest with her real life hero, their children, and the pets that own them. She writes books for teen readers about love, angst, and saving the world. 

Baffled by the fact that not everyone has people talking to each other in their head all the time, Gwen decided maybe she should start writing down what they say. She told her family she wanted to be a writer in 2007, they all nodded, and the adventures began. 

You can also find Gwen every other Friday at The Fictionistas, the coolest YA blog in the whole universe, and just about every day she's tweeting something nonsensical on her Twitter page. She also keeps her blog updated with the latest news.

Thirteen Thursday with Daisy Whitney

Today is another round of Thirteen Thursday. I think this is one of the best interviews I've had---but maybe I'm biased because I love The Mockingbirds and Daisy Whitney even more. She's a great woman with lots of insight and encouragement; she's also a bazillion car loads of fun and has great shoes. 


So, let's carry on now....Welcome Daisy to Thirteen Thursday!

The world is about to be destroyed by evil yellow alien monkeys. You are the only one who can save it and you have at your disposal: a hanger, duct tape, a hammer, hairspray and a pair of 8-inch stilettos. What would you do? 
Duct tape them all together and call the authorities. Then I'd style my hair and spray it in place. Next, I'd use the hammer to turn the 8-inch stilettos into four-inchers and head out for a date with my husband to celebrate the world being saved and fashion living on!

You have one minute to save something out of your closet. What would you grab?
A box of memories I keep of a lost loved one.
   
 You have a lot of jobs: creator/host of “New Media Minute," host of “This Week in Media”, Advertising Age and The Hollywood Reporter contributor, and ad:tech and iMedia conference programmer. Oh, and that writing thing. Are you trying to take over world? But really, how do you find the balance to do it all?
I'm a big proponent of all things being possible with effective time management! I'm very good at segmenting my schedule and allocating time for my different clients, jobs and responsibilities, so that I have time for the most important things -- being with my family. As for fitting in writing, there is always time to do what you love and that often means  making the most of your time. I bring my computer with me to many places, so I can snag writing time in between appointments and meetings, during my kids' swim lessons, while on planes and trains and ferries!
 
When you look at what you have done, what are the thing that stick out for you as the most memorable or most life-changing moments?
I am most proud of my children, my marriage, my writing and of completing the Death Ride, a 129-mile one-day bike ride over five mountain passes with 16,000 feet of climbing -- I am not an athlete and I finished this ride on sheer determination alone.

Everyone has a different story. Tell us what your journey to writing has been like.

I've been a journalist for 15 years, so writing has been a natural fixture of my professional life. I've made my living as a writer since I was 23, so by the time I was ready to write novels I already had the daily discipline from reporting in place!
   
 I really want to talk about The Mockingbirds because I love it. A huge theme in this book is To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee. How did this connection happen?   
To Kill a Mockingbird is the canonical story of justice, honor and doing the right thing. When looking for a name for the secret society in my book -- they are a student-run, underground justice system that rights the wrongs of their peers -- To Kill a Mockingbird was the natural fit for their name, inspiration and tactics.
   
 Alex’s voice is strong in this story, even when she’s not sure what’s going on with herself or what's happening around her. Where did she come from and how did you develop her voice?  
Alex clicked for me from the very first chapter. She is a natural observer and sees people and possibilities unspooling in front of her. When she describes events, situations and people, she very much sees them as images unfolding into various options. Knowing this about her, it was relatively easy for me to then see how she would regard and react to different circumstances.
 
This book is based somewhat off of a personal experience. What was it like connecting to a character who went through similar things as you? Was it easier or harder to write?

Like Alex, I was date-raped when I was a teenager. I was 18 and a freshman in college. I wrote this book nearly 18 years after that experience and my distance from it as well as the necessary and vital healing I went through made it possible for me to tap into what Alex would be feeling, without the writing of it feeling like a blood-letting for me. So, time, in effect was my best friend -- giving me the lens through which to look back and understand everything Alex was going through, but the emotional space so I didn't feel like I was reliving it. 

The Mockingbirds tackles a topic that doesn’t get discussed a lot in YA and is almost taboo in society. Why did you want to tell this story?

I believe in the power of speaking up and I wanted to show that speaking up for yourself can occur in many different ways. The prevalence of date rape is astounding too. According to RAINN (Rape, Abuse and Incest 
National Network), 1 in 6 women will be a victim of sexual assault during her lifetime and girls ages 16-19 are 4 times more likely than the general population to be victims of rape, attempted rape, or sexual assault. Also, half of the reported date rapes occur among teenagers, according to the California Coalition Against Sexual Assault. BUT, while adults want to believe a teen would come to them for help, teens are more likely to turn to a peer. According to a study conducted by The Northern Westchester Shelter, with Pace Women’s Justice Center, about 83% of 10th graders said they would sooner turn to a friend for help with dating abuse than a teacher, counselor, parent or other caring adult.

Thirteen Thursday with Tricia Rayburn

Today, I am lucky to have the Tricia Rayburn, author of the Maggie Bean series and Siren, which was released earlier this year with Egmont. Siren is the first in a series for Rayburn and the sequel will be released next year. Without more rambling, welcome to Thirteen Thursday!

If you were an item on a Mexican restaurant menu, what would you be and why?

Fresh guacamole!  Because it makes everything else on the menu taste even better.  :) 

You are on a desert island and you stumble upon an unlocked chest. You open it. What three things do you want to see inside?

A map, sunblock, and a key to a lovely, air-conditioned, nearby bungalow!

What is your favorite place to be and why?

Home.  It's where my friends and family are.

What are the last five songs played on your i-pod?

Wild Horses by The Rolling Stones

Harvest Moon by Neil Young

Rabbit Heart by Florence + The Machine

I and Love and You by The Avett Brothers

Ready to Start by Arcade Fire  

What are your six favorite books—and why?

 I'll give you 131: the entire Baby-Sitters Club series!  I LOVED these books growing up, and without them, I don't think I'd have ever found my way to this amazing profession. 

What is your writing process?

 I usually know four things before beginning any new project: the first and last scenes, the climax, and the title.  After that it varies; sometimes I outline ahead a few chapters at a time, other times I take it page by page. 

Tell us your journey to writing.

I've always loved to write, but for some strange reason, it didn't occur to me to do so for 'tweens and teens until I took a graduate school course called Reading and Writing Children's Literature.  The final assignment in that class was to write the first 30 pages of a young adult novel, which was such fun I wrote another 200 pages!  That became my thesis, and the thesis eventually became The Melting of Maggie Bean, my first published book.  But I was pretty much hooked the first day of that class.

What is the worst advice you’ve ever been given—personally or professionally?

You know, I can't think of any terrible advice I've been given!  The worst advice I could've been given was to pursue something more practical than creative writing, but fortunately—and perhaps amazingly!—no one ever suggested that.
What is one thing you have learned through your time as a published author?

That while seeing your story on a bookstore shelf is super exciting, it doesn't compare to the feeling you get when a reader writes to tell you your story helped him or her through a tough time.  

Siren isn’t your first book because you have the Maggie Bean books. Was it difficult making that audience transition to a new genre?

To be honest, not really!  What was a bit difficult was the transition from realistic fiction to supernatural fiction.  Writing about characters with special powers was definitely a new experience! It's not a difference so much as it is a realization that fiction knows no bounds! 

Where did Siren and Vanessa come from?

Siren was inspired by my recently developed fear of all creatures of the deep.  Sharks, jellyfish, crabs, you name it—if it lives underwater, I'm not a fan!  This fear made me think about what else might be lurking beneath the surface, and the rest grew from there.

The sequel comes out next summer. What can we expect in to see in that? More Simon!?

Yes, you'll definitely see more Simon!  You'll also see Vanessa return to Boston for her senior year, struggle with her body's new abilities and challenges, and try to make sense of everything she learned over the summer.  AND there just might be a little love triangle in there to mix it all up! 

What is one piece of advice that you were given as a writer that is important enough to pass on to other writers?

 One of the most important tips I can pass on to other writers is one I learned firsthand, and that's to do your best to write your story first and worry about publishing later.  This is SO hard, I know, but the publication process can be trying long before it's rewarding, so the more fun you have, the better!

Thanks so much Tricia for the interview! If you've never read Siren you should go get it right now. It's a really great read. 

Also, things are still in the works but I'm SO excited that I wanted to share with this AWESOME piece of the future. It's two part.

Part 1: Khelsea. 

Part 2:  Tales from under the grave. Bam:

That's all I'm saying right now. Stay tuned.

Thirteen Thursday with Georgia McBride

Today, I'm really excited to have Georgia McBride. Georgia is a YA author and the creator/founder of YAlitchat, an online community of YA authors, bloggers, readers, lovers. She's a great lady and really inspiring with all that she has done and is doing. So, without more delay, welcome to Thirteen Thursday!


If you were an item on a Mexican restaurant menu, what would you be and why?
Nachos with cheese. My favorite thing to order.

You are a NYC/NC transplant! What do you miss most about city life? And what do you love about country-life?
I miss the city that never sleeps. Everything but Walmart and McDonalds closes by 9PM here. I also miss being able to dress in leather pants 7 days/week. I’m not much for country life but I do enjoy the quiet now and again.

What did you think of that Grey's Anatomy season finale??? (I only ask b/c the premiere is tonight!) 
I love Grey’s. Absolutely love it. I must admit however that I was so hyped over the LOST series finale that Grey’s had less of an impact on me last year. Looking forward to the season premiere. I can’t wait to see about Derek. I love that Chief had a role in bringing things to a successful close.

You are a huge JJ Abrams fan. Have you ever met him? What are your favorite things that he has done?
 I’ve never met him. I still hate that Alias is no longer on the air. I thought Star Trek was BRILLIANT. Cannot wait to see his film with Steven Spielberg. Of course anything he does is amazing. Mission Impossible. Cloverfield. He could bake bread and I would think it was the greatest bread ever.


Tell us a secret that no one else knows. 
One of my legs is slightly shorter than the other. A few people know that and now lots.


You had a lot of really random/awesome careers before writing Praefatio. What are some things that you learned from those positions that have stuck with you? (And, during your time in the music industry, did you meet the Backstreet Boys? Because I was in love with them.)
I learned to listen to people and really engage them successfully. True engagement is fifty percent listening. As for the BSB, I have never met them but have seen them perform. Sorry the marriage did not work out; I was going to marry Rick Springfield.

What do you think writers should look for when writing their story? What are things that new (and old) writers seem to miss?
The thing that always seem to trip writers I work with up is pacing, authentic experience of the teenage life and tension. Writers also need to look out for cause and effect and action/reaction. I find a lot of writers don’t take into account how their characters actions impact other characters, story line or setting in many cases. When you change something in a story no matter how small--you are most likely going to need to change something else. Also think about WHY. Why is my character doing or saying this? I could go on.

What is your favorite part of the writing industry? 
Meeting readers, teens and tweens. I love doing school visits. Kids energize me. I love talking to them about whatever. They are so smart, fun and full of life. They tell you exactly what they think. You never have to guess.

What advice would you give to a writer starting queries and agent hunting?
Be professional, do your homework and never give up.

Can you explain to everyone who doesn't know what #YAlitchat is and how they can be involved?  
YALITCHAT is a young adult book publishing industry non-profit organization for the advancement of young adult literature around the world. What started as a weekly chat on twitter has grown into a world-wide organization of like-minded individuals with one goal. Click here to join the membership organization of young adult book industry professionals.  Visit http://yalitchat.com or http://yalitchat.org for more details. 

How have you seen #YAlitchat grow and develop over it's existence? 
We have over 1700 members from 22+ countries. Our members are NY Times and USA Today bestselling authors, pre-published writers, agents, editors, students, teachers, librarians, book bloggers, parents and readers.


When you look back in 50 years at all the things you have been part of and accomplished, what are the things that you will remember as the most rewarding? 
Being a mom to my kids and dogs.

Thanks Georgia! Check out the trailer for her book Praefatio. It looks so good!

More quick facts about YAlitchat:

• Join  #YAlitchat every Wednesday night on Twitter. Just follow the #YAlitchat hashtag & join in the fun.
• Join the Query Kick-Around Contest: where you can share your story with top agents. OR you can vote on a winner. Check out the page for ALL the details.
• Members of #YAlitchat have many opportunities and places for community. Be a part of it if you are a writer or a blogger or even a reader! (I met my CP here!) 

Thirteen Thursday with Alexandra Bracken

Today on Thirteen Thursday I have the lovely and talented (and fun!) Alex Bracken. She is the author of Brightly Woven which came out earlier this year with Egmont. This is one of my favorite books of this year and if you've not read it then you need to!

Alex has taken a different approach to the interview. She did a vlog! So, that is fun. You have to watch the whole thing because if you do, you'll be able to enter the giveaway.

Here are the questions I asked. 

• If you were an item on a Mexican restaurant, what you be and why? 
• Pogs or Silly Bandz or some other pointless fad? 
• You have $12.80. What do you buy with it? 
• If you could have dinner with one person—dead or alive—who would it be and why? 
• How did you end up living in New York City and what’s your favorite thing about it and least favorite thing? 
• What are your 6 favorite books and why? 
• What is your writing process like? 
• How did you develop it and how do you keep focused? 
• Tell us the story of Brightly Woven. It was written for a friend but why? 
• How did the idea of the story come about and (the question I wonder the most,) how in the world did you do that and manage to graduate?  
• Recently, fans have rallied in support of a sequel to Brightly Woven. What are your thoughts about this petition? 
• Fans love North. I mean, really love North. What do you think makes a good love interest in a story? And why is North so compelling/awesome? 
• Who was your favorite character to write in BW and if there’s never a sequel, will you give us a sentence to ease our curious minds? 
• What do you think you learned from writing BW? 
• What are you working on now?

Watch the video to get her answers!




Thank you Alex for a great interview!

If you want to sign the Brightly Woven petition, click here.

It's giveaway time! Alex has so gracious offered to give a lucky winner a signed copy of Brightly Woven and some other winners are going to get bookmarks! So, if you watched the vlog and want to win, follow all the rules below. (This form has questions about the vlog. Each question you get correct is an additional entry. They are required for entry) The contest runs until midnight EST tomorrow--which is Friday.

You must: 

Fill out the form to completely to be enter
 and have US or Canada address.

To gain extra entries you can:
Comment on this post (+1)
Tweet this contest (+1)
Follow this blog (New follower +2,  Old follower +3)

Click HERE to enter!

Thirteen Thursday with Natalie Whipple

 Today, I'm really excited to have Natalie Whipple, YA author and blogger. If you follow this blog often, then you'll know that I like to link her because the things she says about writing...spot on. It was fun to get to interview her and I hope you enjoy it.  Welcome to Thirteen Thursday!

If you were an item on a Mexican restaurant menu, what would you be and 

Wow, I can honestly say no one has ever asked me that before. Can I just be the whole menu? I haven't met a type of Mexican food I didn't like, and I suppose I'm kind of like that. I try to find the good in eerything. 

What is the scariest thing you have experienced?
I won't go into details, but probably the birth of my son. His heart rate began to drop at one point, and the thought of losing him was pretty terrifying. Luckily, things worked out okay. I took most of the damage instead, and it was a pretty rough recovery

If you could have dinner with one person—dead or alive—who would it be and why?

Honestly, I'd kill to just go out to dinner with my husband more often. I really like hanging out with him, and it seems like we can never get away enough. Of course, I guess that's not a bad thing, to feel like you still don't get enough of the person you love. 

If you were writing a book about your life, what would the title be?

9 Ways To Walk The Line Between Sanity And Certifiable

What are your six favorite books and why?

 Six? Man, it always depends on my mood. I guess I'll go with The Giver, Catherine Called Birdy, Emma, Into The Wild Nerd Yonder, The Absolute True Diary of a Part-time Indian, and Paranormalcy. 

I love your blog. It has been so helpful and sometimes, I read something that is so relevant to where I am. I even have a post somewhere begging you to be my friend. (don’t look!) Why did you start blogging?

Ha, you're funny. (And now of course I have to look...) I started blogging to keep myself accountable to writing (that, and writing was taking over my family blog and I felt bad). For some reason, when I wrote out my goals and struggles it helped me get through them. Of course, the reason I blog now has changed some, but I still enjoy it. I wouldn't do it otherwise!

Tell us your journey to writing. 

Wow, I don't know. It's wasn't some huge moment or whatever. I've always liked to write, and one day I decided I'd really try. And not only really try, but keep trying even when it got hard. I decided I should at least see what happens, that I wouldn't be happy with my life if I didn't try to make that dream come true. 

So I try. I don't know what'll happen or when, but I try.

What has been the “best” part of this life as a writer?

Friends, hands down. I never really belonged anywhere. I always had a few friends, but mostly they'd move on to other friends when our activities changed or whatever. I never fought with friends...they just kind of left me. And I suppose I let them leave because I didn't feel like I belonged with their new friends, etc.

But now I feel like I have friends I could potentially have for the rest of my life. No matter how hard this journey is, that's something I try to remember. 

What question have you always wanted to be asked in an interview? How would you answer that question?

Ha, you ask as if I sit around imagining how I'll answer Matt Lauer's interview questions when I'm on the Today Show...no, I've never fantasized over that...

I can't really think of anything now that you ask though! Why is that? Maybe because I'm way over that fantasy. I've lowered my standards a lot. I'd be happy for the day when someone asks:

"When is your book coming out?" And I can actually give them a real answer, an actual date. That would be super nice.

 Do you have a writing process? If so, what is it like.
 Basically, I write some stuff. I try to write every weekday until the book is finished. Then I give it to people, who tell me how to fix it. Then I fix it. Then more people tell me what's wrong with it. Rinse and repeat. 

You are a really great artist! Does the affect the way you write? (like being able to draw your characters…)
 I think it does affect my stories in ways. Anime (and even RPG video games like Final Fantasy) has probably had more influence on my stories than, say, traditional books (hmm, maybe I should be writing that instead...). When I think of my childhood, sure, I think of Narnia and Little House on the Prairie and such. But I also think of Sailor Moon, Dragonball Z, Escaflowne, Evangelion, Fushigi Yuugi, Utena, etc. There's no way anime hasn't influenced my writing.

I'm not sure if it's a good or bad thing, though. Anime tends to be more accepting of "out there" stuff, of blending comedy and drama, action and romance. Sometimes I feel like my fiction doesn't fit in the right boxes because of that. 

You are a big supporter/promoter of crit groups. How does a crit group differ from a beta reader?
They don't! A crit group is just what I call all my betas combined (like Captain Planet!). Actually, not all my betas even read for each other—they kind of have their own groups. I'm just one part of theirs, and they are one part of mine. 

You dole it out daily on your blog, but what is the biggest piece of advice that you would give to aspiring writers?
If you really want it, keep trying. The game isn't easy, but it doesn't end until you put down the controller.

Thanks Natalie. She's so great! Make sure you are connected with her blog, where she talks about all things writing and revision, publishing, anime and shares some great pictures.

Thirteen *Wednesday* with Kody Keplinger

Welcome to another segment of Thirteen Thursday Wednesday. Today, I have debut author Kody Keplinger. Her book The DUFF (Designated Ugly Fat Friend) comes out on September 7th but some places have it out now! I'm excited to have her here because she is so sweet. Welcome to Thirteen Wednesday!

If you were an item on a Mexican restaurant, what you be and why?

I'd be salsa! Because I can be spicy, but, at the same time, not to spicy to scare you away. Just spicy enough to keep you coming back and enjoying.  (I hope - this is a weird anology, lol) 

Have you ever played two truths and a lie? Let’s do it now. Two truths and a lie. Maybe some readers can figure out the lie….

I have never ridden a horse.

I made Fs in reading when I was in fourth grade.

I like tacos. 

What is your favorite Paramore song and kind of cupcake?

I'm listening to Paramore RIGHT NOW.  Weird!

Favorite is a tie-- torn between "The Only Exception" (which is on my DUFF soundtrack) and "When It Rains" which I just love.

Cupcakes? Chocolate all the way, babe. 

If you weren’t a writer, what would you be?

Something in film. I LOVE TV and movies, and I still hope to work with one of them some day. Even just for a short time. 

You've said before you read all different genres. What would you say are your top 6 can’t-live-without books?

OH, fun!

1. Pride and Prejudice - Jane Austen

2. Harry Potter series - JK Rowling (yes, I count all 7 as one here!)

3. To Kill A Mockingbird - Harper Lee

4. Are You There, God? It's Me, Margaret - Judy Blume

5. Ballads of Suburbia - Stephanie Kuehnert

6. Perfect You - Elizabeth Scott 

What is your favorite or worst high school memory?

Favorite - driving around town with 5 of my friends until 2am just doing nothing but talking.  Simple, but wonderful. 

What is one thing that you have learned about the industry that you wish you would’ve known when you got started?

Deadlines - they really exist!  They aren't just things on TV, they happen, and you have to meet them and it isnt' always easy. It takes time and casues stress, but its worth it in the end.

You published at 18, a rare thing. Do you think that it’s changed you or your future goals?

I hope not as far as changing me. I hope I'm the same girl I was.  I think I am.

AS for goals - yes, it has changed those.  Because getting published was a distant "probably won't happen" goal for me.  Now, it's real, and my goals have to adjust. My primary goals are to write a few more books worthy of publication and finish college with my sanity in tact! 

How do you manage to balance life, college, writing and interviews like these? (Thanks, again!)

Sometimes, I don't.  Sometimes I forget to do the homework assignment or I miss a night of writing or I totally blank on an interview.  I just hold on and hope for the best - I'm really no superhero. Doing it all is hard, but I do my best and that's all anyone can expect, I think. 

Where did you get the inspiration for Bianca and The Duff?

The first thing was GOSSIP GIRL. I was obsessed with Chuck and Blair and thought that "Hey, I wanna write a love/hate kind of romance."

Then I heard the word "DUFF" and joked that that would be the title of a book I wrote one day.  I didn't really MEAN it, but a week or two later, when I heard the song "I Can't Stay Away" by the Veronicas, I realized that my love/hate romance and DUFF may just go together.  From there, Bianca nad Wesley just kind of appeared.  It all fell into place. 

What would you say to anyone who feels like Bianca?

One thing:

You are not alone.

We all feel insecure sometimes.  It's normal. It sucks, but its kind of a uniter.  Just remember you aren't alone. 

There are a lot of lessons and themes that can be pulled out of this book. What is the one that sticks out as the most important one?

To me, its that you can't escape from you problems.  Be they self esteem issues or family drama - you can't just run away and pretend it isn't happening.  It's better to confront your troubles head on instead of letting them fester. Bianca learns that the hard way. 

What is one thing you want people to know about The Duff if that’s all they ever get to know?

It was probably the most fun and yet challenging thing I've ever written, and I hope it is an equally fun and challenging read.

Thanks Kody!!

We also have a giveaway! Do you want a signed copy of "The Duff"?? Yes, I know you do. Well, you can get one. You have until 2pm on Thursday! (tomorrow)

You must: 

Fill out the form to enter and have US or Canada address only

Gain extra entries you can:
Comment on the post (+1)
Tweet this contest (+1)
Follow the blog (New follower +2,  Old follower +3)

Thirteen Thursday with Kiersten White and Lauren Hammond

Today there's two authors visiting us again. First, we have Lauren Hammond, debut author of Love Sucks, which was released earlier this month. I love promoting new authors so without further delay, welcome Lauren!

If you were an item on a Mexican restaurant, what you be and why?

Salsa, because I'm spicy!

What question have you always wanted to be asked in an interview and how would you answer that question?
Why did you choose to be a writer? Because if you are given the gift to be able to write, you might as well use it and I think creativity should be shared among everyone.

What’s your brain food? You know, the thing that you eat or drink to get the creative juices flowing…I like cupcakes and Mountain Dew.
Coffee and Cream of Wheat. Yup, I'm obsessed with lumpy Cream of Wheat.

I know that you’ve been writing since you were young and are also a poet and screenwriter. I love movies. What are some projects you have done that still stand out in your memory? Anything random or funny to share from behind the screen?
I wrote a screenplay called Remember Me My Love based on a true story about my grandparents and how they met and fell in love. Do you know they have been married for almost 60 years? They really only knew each other for a short time but, my grandfather wrote my grandmother beautifully scripted love letters while he was overseas during the war. Perhaps I get my writing skills from him. I like to think so.

What was the journey you went on to get Love Sucks published?
It wasn't any easy journey in the beginning. I first wrote Love Sucks as a screenplay actually. A year later I went back to it. There was so much more to the story that needed to be told. When I first completed it, some agents were interested in it. But alas, they thought it wasn't different enough. I mean I read A LOT and honestly I've never read a vampire book like it so I was a little puzzled by this. So I let Love Sucks sit on my desktop for about six months when I saw that Punkin House Press was taking manuscripts. I said what do I have to lose? So I sent it and THEY WANTED IT. Naturally I was over the moon excited and it makes me believe to this day, if you never give up on something you are meant to do, you will get there someday.

What would you say to the statement that this book is “another vampire story”?
No. It's not ! Read the reviews... It is not your typical vampire story. Most of all because it's told through a vampires eye's. It's written so you would know what it's like to be in her shoes, to feel her love, pain, and heartbreak. It also begins in the 1700's which most people question me about. Why a period piece, they ask? I think in any great novel, it needs to be established how the character came to be and for Cara, her journey begins in the early 1700's.

Cara is a strong female character, despite her confusion with her new self. Where did you pull the inspiration for her character?
Maybe a little from myself and a little from friends and family. I didn't want to create a weak, feeble, main character. I mean who wants to create a weak character and expect their readers to relate to her or him. I didn't. Strong, well developed characters are what pulls you into a great novel in my opinion.

This is only part one of the story. What can we expect to see Cara learn and do as move forward in the series?
Well, I haven't decided to go further than the sequel yet. So far there will only be two books, Love Sucks and A Sucker For Love. And I can't really spill too much about this because I don't want spoil it for the readers but, I will say, that in the back of Love Sucks is a little teaser on what a Sucker For Love is going to be like.

 Thanks Lauren!  We also have the hilarious Kiersten White, author of Paranormalcy, which comes out on Tuesday. Welcome Kiersten! 

 If you were an item on a Mexican restaurant menu, what would you be and why?

Fried ice cream.  Sweet, different, and probably really bad for you, but you don't even care because it's yummy!

You recently went to Romania. What was your favorite place/thing there? 

Romania is definitely the most interesting place I have ever been! It was my first time out of North America.  I really enjoyed the history there.  It was traditionally three different countries, so every area we went had its own historical architecture and religious traditions.  It's interesting going to a country like that where they have a priceless, 550-year-old church/fortress in nearly every small town, so much so that they can't begin to afford to keep all of them up.  Quite a difference from the USA, where if something is 150 years old it's a tourist attraction!  The countryside was also amazingly beautiful.
 

Evie is a riot and from your blog & Twitter it seems like you share the same quick wit. What other characteristics do you think you share--and would a pink taser be your weapon of choice? 

You know, I've never been a fan of the color pink.  Which is odd, considering my MC is obsessed with it, but what can I say--to each her own!  So I'd probably go for a sparkly forest green, or sleek silver. Other than that, I would say Evie is far braver than I am, but we're both willing to speak our mind and stand up for the people we care about.

This whole story is so different and refreshing and funny. How did you come up with idea and with Lend's unusual power? 

You're going to hate this answer, but it really just came to me.  It started out as a question--what would you do with vampires if you didn't want to kill them?  That led to the International Paranormal Containment Agency, that led to a snarky sixteen-year-old girl working for them, that led to the question of why she would be working for them.  Once Evie's voice started going, I couldn't get her to shut up.

Lend--and I'm not going to spoil anything here--just came like that.  I knew why he could do the things he did, but when he showed up in the very beginning even I didn't know just what he was going to turn out to be like.  Evie and I got to know him together!

If someone asked you why they should read Paranormalcy, what would you say?

Because I'll be your best friend?  Because it's not your average YA paranormal?  Because IPCA needs the funds to continue to protect average, innocent people from rampaging vampires and hags?

Nah.  Because I have a sneaking suspicion (and a very big hope) that it will make you laugh, that it will make you nervous, and that you will have fun for however long it takes you to read it. 

Thanks Kiersten. 

Come back next week for an interview with another awesome author AND a special book tour. :)

Thirteen Thursday with Jackson Pearce and Jordan Deen

Today on Thirteen Thursday, we get to hear from TWO authors. Get excited.

First up is Jackson Pearce, who's amazing storytelling ability always leaves me breathless. Her most recent novel, Sisters Red, is a re-telling of Little Red Riding Hood....only not because it's so much more. It's pretty brilliant and you should read it if you haven't. Check out her website for more information about her and all her books.

And as always, welcome to Thirteen Thursday! (or just for today fourteen...)

If you were an item on a Mexican restaurant, what would you be and why?

The dessert. Because Mexican desserts are delicious. Now I want flan...

What are your 6 favorite books —and why?

Five classics always make my favorites list-- To Kill A Mockingbird, The Great Gatsby, Little Women, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, and Fahrenheit 451. Of more modern books, I'd have to say the Harry Potter series is my favorite. I love all of these, I think, because they tell an excellent, powerful story-- yet still manage to drive home important, life-changing themes.

Let’s talk about Sisters Red. Which scene was the hardest one to write?

The hardest scene to write in SISTERS RED was one of Rosie's final scenes in the book (I hate to say what it is since it'll give the story away, but it involves Plato, for those of you who have read it!). I didn't have a CLUE how that scene would work out when I started the book. I wrote several different versions, asked dozens of people what to do there, and finally, out of nowhere, it all clicked together.

Rosie and Scarlett are two very different characters. How did you transition from one voice to the other while you were writing?

After a while, transitioning between the two became very second nature. I would sometimes have trouble the first few paragraphs into writing one's perspective after having just finished a chapter in the other, but they're so wildly different that it felt almost like I was simply working on a different book.

The companion, Sweetly, comes out soon. What are some things we can expect from that?

SWEETLY is a retelling of Hansel & Gretel, about a girl trying to overcome some lifelong fears in a South Carolina chocolatier-- where, unfortunately, her fears show up in full force. SWEETLY is set in the same world as SISTERS RED, but it's a companion book, not a direct sequel.

What has been the most memorable advice that you've heard in your career that you would want to pass on to other writers?

Don't give up. Ever. It seems almost trite to say that, but it's true-- if you want to be a writer, don't give up on yourself. Don't let yourself be convinced you have to give up (and by give up, I don't necessarily mean on writing-- if your dream is to be on the NYT list, don't give up until you're there!).

Thanks Jackson for taking the time to answer those questions!
 

 Next up we have some questions with Jordan Deen, author of The Cresent. Welcome Jordan!

If you were an item on a Mexican restaurant, what you be and why?

This is an excellent question! I'd be the chips and salsa. Because it's a little spice with a few cracked and broken pieces thrown in.

What is your favorite childhood memory?
 I grew up in O'fallon Illinois (VERY small town). We had an A-frame house that had a basement and the roof went all the way to the ground. My brothers, who are 10 and 15 years older than me, used to slide down the sides of the house everytime it snowed. It was by far the coolest thing I'd ever seen. You never get to have that wonderment any other time of your life than when you are a kid. I was only six then and I still cherish those memories.

Everyone’s journey into writing is different. Tell us about yours. Was it something you’ve always wanted to do or did it just happen?

I think everyone wants to have that unique, different, I woke up one day and found myself story. Mine, isn't quiet like that. I've always loved telling stories and writing. However, I come from a traditional family and writing isn't a 9 to 5 job. So, it got pushed to the side and I only did it as a hobby. It wasn't until I turned 30 that I had this dream that would not stop haunting me about a small town girl that is uprooted by her family because their house burns down. When she arrives in their new place she starts trying to live the life she had in the small town-- but it doesn't work out so well for her. I ended up writing the first edition of Benches in a little under two weeks. It is the first full length novel I've written and first series as it's currently done. However, it's also in it's sixth round of edits and the story continues to grow and improve. I will never forget that story and those characters still live in my head.  One day, I will get that novel published to share with the world!

The Crescent was an International Book Award Finalist! What does that mean for those who don’t know and what does that experience mean to you? 
The International Book Awards (IBA) and Best Book Awards (BBA) are hosted by the JPX Media Group in Los Angeles. Their organization is focused on bringing gems from small, mid sized and medium sized presses into the spotlight. Like all awards, the IBA are beneficial in promotional opportunity, as well as exposure. The winners and finalists this year were represented at the International Book Convention.

When I found out that my debut novel was an IBA Finalist, my first thought was: It has to be a typo. :) Then, after I woke up and realized it really was a finalist, I was over the moon. It really helped me get exposure on a grander level and I've met a lot of fantastic people from that affiliation and organization. It's also (overall) a huge honor for someone to recognize and appreciate the hard work that goes into your story and your characters. I think that was the biggest reward for me.

There are some interesting questions was raised in The Crescent of fate, verses choice. How did that theme develop for this story and what do you want your readers to take away from this book? 

 I think overall the main point I wanted to get at with The Crescent is that we all have those life altering decisions that we make. We can let our heart lead us, or our head, and usually the two are not in concert with each other. With The Crescent, I wanted readers to feel the strong pull to both Alex and Brandon because I wanted them to really feel like that choice was theirs to make. I want readers to see Lacey's decision as near as their own and feel the heartbreaking pain that Lacey is faced with, but also feel the love and connection with her and be sympathetic towards her plight. Overall, I want readers to realize that all of us, no matter how young or old, are faced with questions of the mind and heart daily. No one is ever alone in that.

Do you have a writing process? If so, what does that look like for you?  

Yes, try to keep the five year olds (one human and one four legged) out of my hair and laptop wires long enough to get at least 1000 words down in one sitting. Sometimes, that is a tall order. But, in all seriousness, I write everyday. If I don't I feel like there is something missing. Even if I weren't working on something for publishing, I'd be writing. I thoroughly enjoy the overall craft of storytelling and make believe. It's nice to get off of my "day job" and come home to my computer and some old friends. Plus, it's nice having control over something exclusively. :)

What have you learned in all of this (writing, publishing, etc) that you wish you would’ve known before? What do you think has challenged you most personally and professionally?

 I think the biggest thing that I've learned is about myself and who I am as a person. Writing can be quiet empowering and quiet a let down. I've developed friendships through all of this that I never imagined I've had--and I've developed a large respect for the publishing world and other writers as a whole. In the beginning, I was so "green" to the whole process that I thought, "Ooooh I wrote this wonderful book- now BASK IN MY GLORY!" Yeah. I've definitely taken it down a notch since then, however, I still get that high when I read a great review and I still marvel at the tremendous (and plentiful) amount of reviewers and bloggers that reach out and talk to me everyday. I'm still just a human, but somedays I feel like Supergirl.

*Peeks around the corner * What are you working on now?  

Currently, I just finished the edits to Half Moon (releasing 1/13/11) the sequel to The Crescent. I've started on a new novel, Mystified that is being optioned through another publisher and I'm working on edits to Benches as it is on submission with agents for representation. I'm always working on something new, though. Tomorrow, the crazy characters in my head will be onto something else and I'll start a new novel. I love my characters, but sometimes they won't leave me alone! (Amen, from me.)

Jordan is going to give yall some swag, too!! All you have to do is comment and fill out the form to be entered into the contest. The contest will close at midnight on Friday. Then, sometime on Saturday, Random.com will help me pick a winner. Just follow these rules below.

1. You must comment AND fill out the entry form.

2. US or Canada address only

**For 2 extra entries, tweet this blog with @daniellebunner in the tweet**

See? Easy. Just do that and you will be entered to win a signed copy of The Cresent....or maybe a bookmark. ;)

Thursday Thirteen w/Kim Harrington and Sheela Chari

 In a trendy and chic Mexican restaurant in an undisclosed location filled with margaritas and loud music, sat five book-passionate women. They chatted. They laughed. They demanded the Enchiladas be released with powerful voices. They talked about books and writing. 

In the end, after handfuls of chips, one of them pulled out a little notebook and asked thirteen random questions to two of the women. These women? Kim Harrington and Sheela Chari, Elevensies (authors debuting in 2011, in case you wondered.)

Since we are in a Mexican restaurant, it's only fitting that I ask what item on the menu you would be and why?

Kim: Enchilada because I'm cheesy. (laughs)

Sheela: Nachos because I'm a bit of everything. 

(We ordered both of these items.) 

What were you listening to on the way here?

Kim: 101.7 WFNX. You can listen online, too.

Sheela: My GPS. 

Where is your favorite place to be?

Kim: Disneyworld. It's the happiest place on earth!

Sheela: San Diego. I like the beaches, California, the food--the avocados.

What is a something that always makes you laugh? 

Kim: Family Guy

Sheela: Laurel & Hardy 
(If you don't know what that is...click here.)
 

What do you eat when you are sick?

Sheela: Apples and toast.

Kim: Pasta

Sheela: Wait! Soup. I'm allergic to apples.

*blank stares all around*

Sheela: I forgot. I wasn't as a kid....

Tell us two truths and a lie...

Kim: I was a DJ in college. I'm in Mensa. I have one brother.

Sheela: I fell off a horse. I fell off a deck. I fell off a subway. 

Where is one place you want to go that you haven't been?

Kim: California

Sheela: Italy

Will you tell us a secret?

Kim: When I was little I was obsessed with sharks. You could name one and I'd list all the facts about that species. I even collected shark teeth...wait, don't put that on your blog.

Sheela: I wanted to marry Michael Jackson when I was little.

What is the first book you remember reading yourself?

Kim: Rocky and Bullwinkle

Sheela: Ribsy by Beverly Cleary

What is a book you want to read again for the first time? 

Sheela: A Wrinkle in Time

Kim: Hunger Games

What are 3 words you hate? 

Kim: Q-tip. Mucus. Moist.

Sheela: Fascinating. Secrete. Membrane.

How long have you been writing?

Kim: Since I had crayons! I used to write poems about my dog. (She also mentioned something about creepy houses but we missed it in the laughter.)

Sheela: I knew I wanted to be a writer in 3rd grade. My mother said, "No, why?"(kidding. ish.) 

What is your writing process?

Kim: Butt in chair.

Sheela: 500 words a day....on the days that I write. 

What advice do you have for aspiring writers?

Kim: Read and write a lot.

Sheela: Get off the internet. 

Kim: Don't be afraid to write crap. Go with that. Crap can be fixed. You can't fix a blank page. 

Sheela: Revise.

Also, as motivation, if you  comment on this, I'll give you something awesome. AND if you follow the blog, YOU can get something awesome next week. Really. Don't miss Thursday. :)

Kim's book Clarity will be released in March 2011. 

Clarity "Clare" Fern sees things. Things no one else can see. Things like stolen kisses and long-buried secrets. All she has to do is touch an object and the visions come to her. It's a gift.

And a curse.

When a teenage girl is found murdered, Clare's ex-boyfriend wants her to help solve the case — but Clare is still furious at the cheating jerk. Then Clare's brother — who has supernatural gifts of his own — becomes the prime suspect, and Clare can no longer look away. Teaming up with Gabriel, the smoldering son of the new detective, Clare must venture into the depths of fear, revenge, and lust in order to track the killer. But will her sight fail her just when she needs it most?

Sheela's book Vanished comes out July 2011. 

How does a beloved Indian instrument vanish from the hands of a late, renowned musician and end up in the possession of a potato-chip eating, perpetually tardy, eleven-year old girl?

This is what Neela Krishnan, Arlington's budding veena player, must figure out if she wants her instrument back after it vanishes one day from a church. What she soon discovers is that her veena's "vanishing" is no accident but part of a bizarre chain of disappearances involving a missing, retired minister, a kooky church sextant guarding a dragon teakettle, and Lynne, the new girl at school with a huge wad of cash and a mysterious connection to the dead musician. Hot on the trail of the lost veena, Neela winds up in India, where her success depends largely on her wits, her speed, and unlikeliest of all, a pack of baseball cards.

Thirteen Thursday with Rebecca Maizel

How excited are you? Because I'm excited. Today is the first segment of Thirteen Thursday and debut author Rebecca Maizel is going answer thirteen questions! (If you have questions for future interviews, please share them. I'm always looking for good ones and there are some GREAT interviews coming up. I promise) Reecca's novel, Infinite Days, was released on Tuesday.

On sale NOW. Go, get it! It's awesome!

The book: After centuries of terrorizing Europe, Lenah Beaudonte, with the help of the handsome Rhode, has been able to realize the dream of all vampires--to be human again. Now, as a raven-haired sixteen-year-old, Lenah believes her greatest challenge is fitting in at her new school. But the challenges have only begun. The vicious coven Lenah once ruled is threatening the new-found pleasures of her human life, including the one guy who makes her feel most alive, Justin. Can this ex-vamp survive in an alien time and place or will her past come back to haunt her...forever?

Rebecca's Bio: Rebecca Maizel graduated from Boston University and the Rhode Island College master’s program. She teaches community college in Rhode Island and is studying to receive her MFA from Vermont College.

Now, time for Thirteen Thursday! 


If you were an item on a Mexican restaurant menu, what would you be and why?

Oh boy. This is a fun question. I think I would be guacamole! It's paired well with a lot of things - chips, quesadillas...it takes a lot of ingredients to make guacamole really, really good. I like to think of myself as made up of a lot of ingredients. Am I putting too much thought into this? Probably. 

Everyone’s journey into writing is different. Tell us about yours. Was it something you always wanted to do or did it just happen?

Well, I think I was always a writer. As a kid I wrote stories in my free time. I loved it, I was a very creative kid. As I got older, I followed my instinct, I was a bartender at night for a decade so I could write during the day. I thought I wanted to be a screenwriter for a long time. But that's the thing, I've always had a love affair with words. You have to find your own path to writing but I think if language has always been a heartbeat in your world, it'll find a way to be a part of your every day life. 

What’s your favorite place to be and why?

Chatham, Cape Cod. One of the best places on earth. The water, the way it makes me feel. I can't explain it - it's a place that has a lot of sentimental meaning in my life. My family vacationed on the Cape, I fell in love a hundred times as a teenager on the cape. It means the world to me. 

What are your 6 favorite books —and why?
1. The Collected Stories of Amy Hempel - She is a genius. Pure freakin' genius.
2. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban - JK Rowling (duh). **Spoilers ahead*** Best ending ever. When I got to the time turner, I freaked out.
3. Beating Heart - AM Jenkins - A mix of verse and prose. UNREAL. You have to read it if you enjoy verse novels. It completely changed the way I look at verse.
4. Bird by Bird - Anne Lamott - One of the best writing books ever written.
5. There's a Boy in the Girls Bathroom - Louis Sachar. Meant a lot to me as a kid.
6. Looking For Alaska - John Green - He makes me wish I could write even better.

You are on a desert island and you stumble upon an unlocked chest. You open it. What three things do you want to see inside?
1. Sun Tan Lotion
2. 10,000 disposable toothbrushes with toothpaste
3. Solar powered lap top with internet (books, music)

Tell us a secret that you’ve never told anyone else.
I have a huge crush on James Van Der Beek.

What’s the worst or best advice you’ve been given? (Personally and/or professionally--you can choose!)
The best? "You have to have a drive...and it has to consume you." - Oliver Stone when I was in college and waited in line after a lecture he gave in Boston. I do not know him personally except for this 2 minute exchange.

What advice would you give aspiring writers?
Never ever ever give up. Believe in your writing, be humble, take criticism well and keep at it until you bleed through your fingers onto your keyboard. Never burn your bridges.

What question have you always wanted to be asked in an interview? How would you answer that question?
Interviewer: Can I get you a date with James Van Der Beek, Rebecca?
Me: Yes.

If you could work with any author who would it be?
Alice Hoffman. But I would be too busy freaking out.

Let’s talk about Infinite Days. How did you come up with that story, angle, idea? What were the best/hardest things about the story? What was your writing process for this novel?
People ask me this a lot and all I can tell you is that I started free writing one day, and BOOM there she was. I really wish I had lied when originally asked this question and said, I was walking down a flight of stairs, fell, hit my head, and BOOM there was this book, I HAD TO WRITE. No.

I was sitting in a library, free writing, drinking COFFFFEEEEE (I love coffee) and there was Lenah!

Did you learn anything from writing your book and what was it?
Revision is key - let the characters drive the story. Don't let plot overtake your characters and their incredible desires.

What is one thing you want people to know about you and/or Infinite Days if that’s all they ever get to know?
This is a story about coming back to life - about coming out of the darkness. If you've ever done something in your past that you regret - you will understand Lenah. And hopefully, you'll fall a little bit in love with all the hot men in the book.



Thanks Rebecca for a great interview! You will, fall in love with the hot men. And the awesome, awesome book.


Now, comes the fun part. We have something to give away! Yay! What is it? A signed copy of Infinite Days! You have until 4 pm EST tomorrow (Friday) to enter the contest. I will announce the winner sometime tomorrow via email and a comment.  You MUST fill out the form below to be entered.

1. You must be a follower of my blog 

2. You must have a mailing address in the US or Canada

3. You must fill out the form below

- New followers who fill out the contest form will get one (1) entry.

- Old followers who fill out the contest form will get two (2) entries

For EXTRA entries:

- If you leave a comment on today's post you get one (1) extra entry 

- If you tweet a link to the contest you get two (2) additional entries.

- If you direct readers on your blog to this Thirteen Thursday entry you get four (4) additional entries.