Author Interview: Chloe Neill

I have Chloe Neill here with me today for an interview, as well as a teaser to the live chat scheduled on my book forum tonight from 8-9 PM CST. Head over to my forum to get registered- the chat box is located at the bottom of the main page once you're logged in. Then there's a log in button at the top right of the chat box... So snarky, I know, but it will be totally worth it!

Thanks again for this Chloe!

1. Describe Firespell in one sentence.

Sixteen-year-old moves to Chicago, discovers magic.


2. Is there any particular character you have a soft spot for over the others?

Merit, heroine of my Chicagoland Vampires books, will always be my first love, so to speak. After all, I knew her first! And I love her bravery, her sarcasm, and her lust for all things bacon.


3. One thing that stood out in Firespell for me was the sarcasm, humor and banter. How easily does this aspect of the book come for you?

Thanks! Dialogue is probably the easiest thing for me to write. I imagine how the characters might actually have a conversation--grammatical errors and all--and I write it down. My sense of humor is pretty sarcastic, so my characters usually are, as well.


4. What was the biggest hurdle you hit in trying to develop the Firespell universe?

There are LOTS of rules when writing about teenagers. Driving restrictions, curfews, and the fact that school has to be accounted for. Those can make plotting and writing interesting scenes very tricky.


5. Did you have to make any major adjustments to your writing style to switch from adult writing over to YA?

I probably had to dial back my tendency to use big words. I like big words--they allow a writer to be very precise.


6. Does music play any role in your writing process?

I go back and forth between listening to music and having television on in the background while I write. I recently posted a list of the music that I listened to while writing FIRESPELL and TWICE BITTEN on my web site: http://chloeneill.com/extras.htm


7. I am pretty sure Firespell is the only book I have read that references Man vs. Wild and how hot Bear is. Are you a closet Man vs. Wild fan- and maybe even some Buffy and X-files or did the inspiration for those pop culture references come from somewhere else?

I LOVE Man v. Wild. If there's a pop culture reference in the book, it's probably because I was thinking about it (or watching it . . . or listening to it . . . while I was writing the book). I also love Buffy, but I never watched much X-Files.


8. Is there anything else you'd like to say, add, etc?

I hope folks have a chance to check out FIRESPELL, the first book in my Dark Elite series, and SOME GIRLS BITE and FRIDAY NIGHT BITES, the first two books in my Chicagoland Vampires series. And thanks for having me today!


Thanks again Chloe, and we'll see you tonight in the live chat, found at my forum.