Author Interview: Kiersten White

As the release date for Kiersten White's Paranormalcy closes in on us (Are you excited? You should be. I've read it and I'm excited!), I figured now was as good a time as any to share my interview with this fantastic author. If you follow her on Twitter, you'd already know takes a few minutes each day to subtle- and comically- push people to preorder her book with her #everytimeyoupreorderparanormalcy hashtag which quite frankly, I'm amazed she's still coming up with things nor has she reverted to lame things like a pig finally flew. So what can you expect from an author who can keep something like this going, plus maintain her own quite comical blog? Great things, my dear readers. Great. Things.


If you were a paranormal in Evie's world, what kind would you be?

A hag. But seriously...well, no, probably a hag. If I had a choice of what I'd be, it'd be kinda fun to be a selkie or a huldra. Less pulling children under the water to eat them, more being in tune with nature and beautiful and interesting. Definitely better than a hag.

Of the entire world you created for Paranormalcy, what was the most challenging aspect?

Evie's mythology. Everything else I could play with within an existing historical framework, but I had to figure out the rules for how Evie fit into that world. It was definitely difficult, but always fun.

Is there anything that didn't make it into Paranormalcy that you're willing to share?

Ack...see, everything I was going to share would make perfect sense to someone who had read it, but would be a potential spoiler. I did have an extended scene where Evie meets with The Supervisors, the head honchos of IPCA, but like everything else I cut from the first draft it didn't move the plot forward and so was cut.

Here's a bit of trivia for you, though. Steve the vampire is actually named after someone I know in real life whom I like very much. In the first draft he didn't meet the same fate he did in later drafts...

Sorry, friend in real life.

Though there is very little of yourself in Evie, did you find that parts of you showed up in other characters? Or maybe a little bit of Hot Stuff in Lend?

This is my big secret: all of my love interest draw very, very heavily from my husband. There you have it. What can I say? He's perfect. I totally stole Lend's sketching ability from Hot Stuff. Lend is, however, my first love interest not to have dark hair and big blue eyes. Hot Stuff got off the hook for physical descriptions this time.

If you could pair Evie and Lend with any character from any book, what would be your picks for them?

You mean to hang out with, or to date? Probably for Lend a balrog, because I'd be filled with righteous anger over him seeing someone other than Evie and would not feel bad that he got incinerated.

Just kidding, Lend. I'd totally feel bad.

But I'd love to send them on a double date with Anna and Etienne from Stephanie Perkins' Anna and the French Kiss. I also think they'd be very good friends with Sophie from Rachel Hawkins' Hex Hall. Evie and Sophie would totally sit at the same lunch table.

What is the most private thing you're willing to share here?

My social security number. Ready? It's-- Wait. Hmm. I'm rather fond of my credit score. How about this. The last two years have been an absolute whirlwind of good and bad. It all started with losing a pregnancy. Some people have remarked that if I hadn't lost that pregnancy (and had to have emergency surgery so I wouldn't bleed to death) I wouldn't have written Paranormalcy and none of this would have happened. I'm thankful every single day for my book deal and for the dream of being an author coming true, but I'd give it all up if it meant having that baby.

Alas, much as I continue to argue my case, the universe keeps informing me that I'm not in charge. So I'm grateful for the things I have and try not to dwell too much on the things I still don't. And I think that's about all any of us can do in this crazy life.

What kind of cake/confection would you describe your self?

Chocolate chip cookies. Preferably the dough--it could make you sick, but odds are against it, and the sweet with just a hint of salt and a dash of semi-sweet chocolate so as not to overwhelm--what's not to love?

Thanks so much, Kiersten! Make sure you guys go out and preorder Paranormalcy now! It is definitely a book you want, trust me!

Ladies and Their Tramps

If you regularly follow my blog and read my author interviews, you'll know that one of my favorite questions asks the author to pair their romantic couple with characters from other books. Mostly, I like watching them squirm- and seeing what they come up with and why. It seemed only fair, however, to do my own version of this... which is why I now bring you the first edition of Ladies and Their Tramps.

Katniss and Adrian (The Hunger Games and Vampire Academy): You laugh. And laugh harder. And roll your eyes. I know. But now that that’s over…take a minute and think about it. Katniss is a supreme badass. She knows how to survive, she doesn’t take much crap, and she doesn’t expect a man to take care of her. Adrian has his own moments of reliability—when it matters—and he is certainly entertaining and will get her mind off a constant survival mode kind of thing…and they’d pretty much just be all kinds of right together. They have so many differences but enough things to link them.

Ridley and Patch (Beautiful Creatures and Hush, Hush): I’m not sure an explanation is needed on this one. If there was ever a hot, dirty couple, well, this is it. Ridley knows how to turn guys on and twist them to her will and Patch…well, he’s horny. Apart from that, their personalities definitely would work together…though the rest of the world might suffer.

Dru and Astley (Strange Angels and Need): She’s badass but awkward. He’s trying hard to be top of the pyramid but awkward. Together, they can be…more awkward. I imagine their first meeting would be a mix of blushing, shoes scuffed on the ground, and lame waves. I also imagine they’d decide to take charge at the same time, blush brighter, and fall back into silence. Once they get past that though—well, there’d still be awkwardness but it’s the cute kind at the all the right places.

Lea and Sam (Prophecy of the Sisters and Shiver): Lea is intelligent, pretty, strong hearted, and determined. Sam is quiet, musical, and devoted. This would be a relationship that is tender, filled with walks along the river and afternoons spent reading. When Lea needed something, Sam would be there. They’d protect each other with an easy balance between them.

Meg and Owen (Going Too Far and Crash Into Me): Meg is carefree to the point of not caring, outgoing and snarky, and does things her own way. Owen is intensely shy, incredibly quiet, and all around, likely forgettable. If these two were to pair up…I am pretty sure it would tame Meg some but Owen would benefit more. He’d be the boyfriend that tags along, smiling at what she does and loving her for it. He’d still be quiet overall, and just go with it.

Valerie and Derek (Hate List and The Darkest Powers): She’s tormented, torn up by events that have happened, and pretty much without a friend in the world. He’s a loner apart from Simon, used to being ignored and feared, and has kind of crappy people skills. Derek wouldn’t care that Valerie’s written things she hates in a book, or that her ex snapped and shot up the school. He’d still protect her and walk down the halls, giving a mean glare to anyone who tried to harm her. Valerie would get more comfortable, gain confidence, and figure out that she can have some good times and a good boyfriend.

Waiting on Wednesday

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Breaking the Spine.

This week's pick is Daniel Kraus' 2011 release Rotters, coming April 5 from Delacorte.

Summary (From amazon): Grave-robbing. What kind of monster would do such a thing? It's true that Leonardo da Vinci did it, Shakespeare wrote about it, and the resurrection men of nineteenth-century Scotland practically made it an art. But none of this matters to Joey Crouch, a sixteen-year-old straight-A student living in Chicago with his single mom. For the most part, Joey's life is about playing the trumpet and avoiding the daily humiliations of high school.

Everything changes when Joey's mother dies in a tragic accident and he is sent to rural Iowa to live with the father he has never known, a strange, solitary man with unimaginable secrets. At first, Joey's father wants nothing to do with him, but once father and son come to terms with each other, Joey's life takes a turn both macabre and exhilarating.

Daniel Kraus's masterful plotting and unforgettable characters make Rotters a moving, terrifying, and unconventional epic about fathers and sons, complex family ties, taboos, and the ever-present specter of mortality.


My Thoughts: A book centered around grave robbing screams awesome to me. No, not a zombie doing it. But people. Or so the premise leads us to believe. Yep. Awesome. I also love the father/son focus of this one. Not only do I adore books with a male MC, but I like that things aren't perfect here but the summary hints that they will bond...even if its over robbing graves. I am definitely curious to see what Kraus has planned with this one!

Book Review: Cross My Heart and Hope to Spy by Ally Carter

SUMMARY (From Goodreads):

After staking out, obtaining, and then being forced to give up her first boyfriend, Josh, all Cammie Morgan wants is a peaceful semester. But that's e...more After staking out, obtaining, and then being forced to give up her first boyfriend, Josh, all Cammie Morgan wants is a peaceful semester. But that's easier said than done when you're a CIA legacy and go to the premier school in the world... for spies.

Cammie Morgan may have a genius IQ and attend the best school in the country, but as she starts the spring semester of her sophomore year there are a lot of things she doesn't know. Like will her ex-boyfriend even remember she exists? And how much trouble did she really get in last semester? And, most of all, exactly why is her mother acting so strangely?

All Cammie wants is a nice, normal semester, but she's about to learn her greatest lesson yet—that when you go to a school for spies, nothing is ever as it seems


OPINION: 4 STARS

Picking up not long after book 1 leaves off, Cross My Heart and Hope to Spy slips the reader back into Cammie's world smoothly. With small reminders about events from book 1 and easy tie ins to book 2, the action picks back up quickly. A new semester brings new classes and challenges and Carter adds in plenty of twists to this one to keep interest.

Cammie's character is similar to the girl we meet in book 1 though she is noticeably changed at having lost Josh. She still misses him and her thoughts drift to him often, keeping with a girl of her age and situation. Though she can understand the necessity, it still pains her to know she couldn't have him. As the plot progresses, Josh gets pushed to the side often in her mind, only to be thrust back in either in person or from a jarring reminder and this is played out smoothly. Her character continues to grow, both in her spy abilities and her overall mental state.

Zack is a new character, introduced in a fantastic way with a strong presence throughout. He has his own air of mystery, his multiple sides, and his own motivations and background. His interactions with Cammie are great to read and add a spark to an already intriguing plot. Carter pitches him in a perfect light for the reader to question many things about him before exposing the truth at the end.

As with book 1, this plot moves at a steady place, gives plenty of focus on both the school/world, the characters, and the current events, and ties everything up at the end. The reader is left in a good place overall. Because of her spy upbringing and education, Cammie questions things others wouldn't and has interesting views on things. This plays out well, and Carter does a fantastic job continuing to build the world she's created and the missions posed to the girls.

The writing gives Cammie the same strong, distinct voice seen in book 1, blending her spy aspects with her teenage girl aspects. Humor, emotion and action all tie together to make Cross My Heart and Hope to Spy a great, quick, light read.

Details:
Source: Purchased
Reading level: Young Adult
Hardcover: 240 pages
Publisher: Hyperion; 1 edition (October 2, 2007)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1423100050

Author Interview: Angie Frazier

She's created a great historical novel. She's given us a sexy Irish Sailor. She's even brought to life a strong heroine. Now, she's stopping by my little blog to answer some questions. Welcome the awesome Angie Frazier, author of Everlasting.


Although a large part of Camille's love for the sea came from being raised by a captain father, do you think, in that time period, you'd be as willing to spend months as the only girl on a boat?

I don’t think I could have swung months at sea, but not because I’d be the only girl on a ship filled with men. **waggles eyebrows deviously** The true conditions of ship life would never have suited me. Terrible food, scary storms, cramped cabins. I prefer to live vicariously through Camille!

You're boat just sunk and you managed to survive. In two opposite directions, you see your father and the boy you love even if you aren't engaged to him. Which do you save first?

I would save my father first. It would be a terrible decision to have to make, but family always comes first for me.

As you know, I really appreciated the range of characters you included, along with how much depth they had even if a side character. Which character, apart from Oscar and Camille, was the most interesting for you to develop and write?

For Everlasting, I had the most fun with Ira Beam, their Australian sidekick. He was charming and funny and very rough around the edges. For the second book (no official title just yet!) there were two characters I very much enjoyed exploring more deeply. Samuel becomes a complex character who I both love and detest. And the other character shall remain a surprise!!

If you could pair Camille and Oscar with any character from any book, who would you pick for them?

Oooh, so tough!! I think Oscar would adore Mary Quinn from Y.S. Lee’s A SPY IN THE HOUSE. She has a sketchy background (as Oscar does) and she’s stubborn and brave (which he seems to take to!).

For Camille, I’d love to see her try and tame Gabriel St. John, the libertine Marquess of Ralston from Sarah MacLean’s adult romance, NINE RULES TO BREAK WHEN ROMANCING A RAKE! Now that would be fun!

What songs would you correlate to Camille, Oscar, Ira and Lucius?

Music is so not my forte. I think this should be a contest question! Whoever can come up with the best “theme music” for each character will win something!

What is the most private thing you're willing to share here?

When I first wrote Oscar’s character, he was much older than 19. He was in his early 30s, actually and he had a completely different history than what I rewrote for the final version of the book. That Oscar is still the Oscar in my head and I have a very hard time thinking of him as a 19-year-old. So I feel like I have my own Oscar, and everyone else has another. Very odd!

What kind of cake or confection would you describe yourself as?

Mmmmm, pastries! I don’t have any reasoning behind this, but I see myself as an apple Danish. Simply because I love them and that’s what I’d want to be if I was going to be a pastry.


Thanks so much, Angie! I'll have to consider your contest pitch there.... and your own Oscar? Sexy... but not fair. Though I admit, I am rather fond of the one you've given us... *swoons*

Make sure you guys check this book out if you haven't yet! Even for those of you who tend to shy away from historical fiction, this one is great!

Author Interview + Giveaway: J.T. Dutton

J.T. Dutton is the author of Stranded, a great coming of age book with a few different themes playing through it. You can check out my review here.

Do you think you'd react similarly to Kelly Louise if you found out the truth behind Baby Grace (without giving away any spoilers of course)?

Like Kelly Louise, I tend to absorb other people’s guilt. When I was in second grade, a kid in my class stole five dollars from the teacher’s desk. The teacher held us in at recess in the hopes that one of us would confess. I became so anxious that I had to go to the nurse. Even though I had nothing to do with incident and didn’t know who the guilty person was, I couldn’t contain my anxiety. That kind of stress for me, always leads to an embarrassing moment, just as the stress of knowing too much leads Kelly Louise to act rashly here and there throughout the novel.

I do think I might have had more to say directly to a friend or loved one who I saw doing something I didn’t agree with than Kelly did. But Kelly’s family patterns of secrecy mean she has more pressure to remain silent. In the end, Kelly Louise behaves bravely. She’s courageous. I always hope that I’ll be that kind of person.

Apart from Kelly Louise, which of the characters presented throughout the book did you have the most fun writing about and developing?

I love Kenny Stockhausen. His scenes kept threatening to take over the book. I am working on a spin off novel to Stranded in which he takes a job at a summer camp for wealthy girls.

When she takes her city ways into school in the small town of Heaven, Kelly Louise stands out from the start and not in a friendly way. How do you think you would have coped in her situation and why did you choose to have her remain an outsider rather than everyone falling for her instantly?

The story in Stranded came in part from my thoughts about an incident in which a girl in Iowa abandoned a baby. People kept saying “how could this happen here?” as if some places were except from social troubles that lead to teen pregnancy.

The same people who believe small towns are perfect wonderful crime free places, also tend to distrust urban life and the people who oversell their cosmopolitan superiority. It seemed natural to me that Kelly’s classmates would reject her. People from large cities also misunderstand rural values and frequently label small towns as backward and provincial when they aren’t.

Kelly Louise only thinks she is more sophisticated than the people she meets in Heaven. But Des Moines isn’t such a big place that she has the right to see herself as worldly as she does. Kelly Louise is the kind of person who will only change once she has opened her mind and left her comfort zone behind. That’s where most stories of transformation take place and why I chose to make her an outsider rather than an insider.

If you could pair Kelly Louise with any character from any book, who would you pick for her?

Oh, wow, this is a hard question. I couldn’t see her with Harry Potter because I don’t think he and she share the same sense of humor. Plus, I’m not sure Kelly Louise cares for owls. I’d place her with Edward from Twilight except I think he would get annoyed with her potentially immature silliness and try to eat her. Still, I think her sarcasm is very enduring. I could see her palling around with Emma Woodhouse, maybe, and having the kind of best friend fun she has with Katy.

What is the most private thing you're willing to share here?

Um. OK. This is hard to talk about. I don’t much like Glee. I know. I know. I know. Everyone loves Glee. What is wrong with me?

What is one illegal thing you've fantasized about doing even though you know you'd never do it?

I think it would be fun to steal a painting from the Louvre in a high tech heist,. I haven’t actually ruled it out as a life goal. Maybe one day. I'd probably have to learn some stealth skills first.

What kind of cookie would you describe yourself as?

Oh, I’m a macroon. No question.

Thanks so much, J.T.! For your chance to win a signed copy of Stranded, fill out this form. Contest is US/Canada only and will end Sunday, September 5.