Author Interview: Keary Taylor (Eden)

Today stopping by the blog is the amazing Keary Taylor, author of Fall of Angels series, Ever Burning and Eden! I had the opportunity of asking her some questions about Eden and here is what she had to say!

Do the names of your characters have any special meaning?

I don’t know that they really have special meaning; it’s more just that a certain name felt right for a character. West was originally name Tyler and it sooo was not working! I couldn’t get into his character and eventually I realized that he just had the wrong name! As soon as I figured out his name was West, he sorted himself out.

What traits does Eve have in common with you? Different?

We both can be really stubborn and tend to think we’re right. We get confused by emotion and aren’t always sure what we’re feeling. Different? Well Eve kicks some major @$$ and I’m kind of a wimp, lol! Sometimes I wish I was as tough as her!

What was the hardest part of Eden to write?

There is a scene where a certain character dies and I was really surprised at how emotional I got over killing them! I had debated killing them off earlier in the book but decided to hold off and when I finally did it I just felt so terrible!

What was your favorite scene to write?

That’s got to be the scene when Eve finally decides who it is that she really loves. The whole book had been building up to it and the scene is also very violent and action packed. My heart was pounding as I typed the words out!

Is there a reason why you named the place Eden?

Well the Garden of Eden was supposed to be this really peaceful, perfect place, and even though my Eden wasn’t that way, it was a refuge for those still left in this Fallen world. It just seemed fitting.

What was the hardest part of creating the world of Eden?

Creating the world actually wasn’t that difficult to me. I always had this clear picture of exactly what had become of the world. I suppose the most difficult thing involved though would be keeping the timeline straight. There’s a lot of events that have happened in 6+ years prior to where Eden starts and so it was sometimes hard to keep track of when things happened, who they happened to, how old people where when it happened, etc.

What was your first thought after you finished Eden?

HOLY CRAP! IT’S FINALLY DONE! Haha! It’s always a great feeling to finish a book. My heart starts beating really fast and I just feel plain awesome!

Where you can find Keary:

Website

Blog
Goodreads
Twitter

Author Cover Interview: Arlaina Tibensky (And Then Things Fall Apart)

Today stopping by the blog is Arlaina Tibensky, author of And Then Things Fall Apart which comes out on July 26! I got to ask her some questions about her cover and this is what she said.

What were you're first thought when you first saw the cover?

“This is it!” was my first thought, or something just like that. This is my very first book and you have your whole life to write your first book but I never got as far as imagining the cover. And this cover is the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen. I mean really-- If the cover of my book was a person, I take it on a carriage ride around Central Park and then go for a late night espresso and slice of cheesecake and then ask it to move in with me.

What is so amazing about the cover is that And Then Things Fall Apart is about lots of things: first love, literature, poetry, vintage clothes, family, figuring out who you are, books, friendship, fathers, mothers. This cover says it all in a glance. Jessica Handler, the cover designer is a genius!

When you first started writing the book did you ever think that it would have the cover that it has now?
I had this ridiculous idea that it would be an alternative version of a classic The Bell Jar cover so that Sylvia Plath fans would fall in love with it immediately. But as my editor and even Kirkus reviews keep saying- it is not ABOUT Sylvia Plath. The cover puts the book firmly in Keek’s world, where it belongs. I feel like the cover “gets” my book, which is why I love it so…

If you could change one thing about it what would it be?

I wish it were available in poster size so I could wallpaper my office with it.

Was there anything in particular that you wanted the cover to have?

I just knew what I DIDN’T want. I didn’t want any people on the cover, random teenagers kissing or weeping or leaning against cars/lockers/brick walls. No sunsets. No “quirky alternative” girl in striped tights drinking orange juice through a straw.

Who was the first person you showed the cover to and what did you tell them?

My mom. I said something like “Well, there it is…” I was still in shock at its magnificence. And she said “”…and it’s gorgeous!”

You can find Arlaina at these places:
Blog
Goodreads
Twitter

Author Interview: Jennifer Archer (Through Her Eyes)

Today we have Jennifer Archer. She's the author of several books and her most recent book, Through Her Eyes, which comes out on April 5th! Jennifer is also hosting a huge giveaway for pre-ordering her book between March 1, 2011 and April 4, 2011! For more information just click here!

Having lived in different places, did you ever have a favorite place were you stayed? Why?

The majority of my moving occurred between the time I was one year of age until I was eleven. I did move once more the summer after my sophomore year of high school. I liked different places my family and I lived for different reasons, but Emporia, Kansas is the town that holds my best memories. The school I attended, Maynard Elementary, was mostly responsible for that. The teachers and the curriculum were wonderful, with lots of fun and interesting field trips, extracurricular school events, and programs. I grew more self-conscious as I became older, but back then, I loved being on stage in front of a microphone. I tried out for all the programs offered, and as a result of that, I was in a few plays and even sang a couple of solos. Believe me, no program director would choose me to sing a solo now! I lost my decent singing voice when I grew up, along with my love of performing!

How do you think your writing has changed from when you first started to how you write now?

I hope it’s gotten better! I do know that it’s become a bit darker in tone. Most of my earlier published works were more lighthearted and humorous than what I’m currently writing. Those books all had somewhat emotional undertones, or dealt with underlying serious issues in a lighthearted way. THROUGH HER EYES and my second YA novel, THE SHADOW GIRL, that will be released next winter, take the opposite approach. These stories are primarily darker or more serious, with moments of humor.

What made you decide to write a book for teens after writing books for adults?

I’ve always enjoyed reading teen fiction, but stopped reading as much of it during the early years of my career, when I was mainly focused on adult fiction because I was writing it. I was substitute teaching one day during this time, and the teacher had a copy of the classic novel A WRINKLE IN TIME on her desk. I recalled reading it and enjoying it when I was in school, and I picked it up and started reading it while the students were working on a paper. I was instantly drawn in – and blown away – by the story, the characters, and the writing. A few days later, I was talking to my agent and mentioned it, as well as my interest in trying to write a novel for young people. She encouraged me, and the next morning, I literally woke up with Tansy’s character and the bare bones of the plotline for what would become THROUGH HER EYES in my mind.

Do you think that if you hadn't lived in all those places you would still have had the idea of becoming a writer?

That’s hard to say. I have noticed that there seem to be a lot of writers who grew up moving a lot. That makes me wonder if constantly being transplanted to places where you don’t know many people, or anyone at all, during the formative years, encourages a child to turn to books for companionship and comfort, thereby developing an unusually healthy imagination and active fantasy life. Books certainly became my cherished friends and a great escape during lonely times. Whatever the case, even though moving so much was difficult in many ways, I don’t regret my upbringing. I was exposed to many different types of landscapes and weather conditions, cultures, customs and mindsets because of my family’s migratory lifestyle, and that certainly hasn’t hurt my writing, because I can draw from those many different experiences.

What kind of research did you have to do to write Through Her Eyes?

My personal photography experience equates to ‘point and snap.’ I don’t have a fancy camera with a lot of different lenses, and I’ve never developed photographs in a darkroom. So I read up quite a bit on photography, and also turned to my sister-in-law, who is a wonderful photographer, to clarify a few things for me. It’s also been quite awhile since I was a high school student, so I spent a day sitting in on classes in a high school located in a small Texas town similar to Cedar Canyon, the fictional town in THROUGH HER EYES. I spent time browsing the businesses and neighborhoods in that town and another small Texas town nearby where I live. A seventeen year old girl I was mentoring through a program at her school was also a great help to me with current teen language and trends. I remember one fun and funny afternoon when Summer explained the difference between nerds and geeks, and Emos and Goths! It was a very educational meeting!

Thanks for having me on your wonderful blog, Diana! I would love to hear from readers on Facebook, Twitter, my blog, and/or my website. Links to all of the above are on my site: http://www.jenniferarcher.net/

The book trailer:


Through Her Eyes - Book Trailer from Emily Greaser on Vimeo.

Author Interview: Steve Cushman + Giveaway

We have Steve Cushman, author of Heart with Joy stopping by the blog today! If you haven't read his book you need to do it now! I highly recommend it! You can read my review of it here!

Describe yourself in one sentence.

I may not always succeed, but I’m always trying.

What are five things most people don’t know about you?

I don’t have a middle name.
I once owned a Ferret named Molly.
I never went to my high school prom.
I have acted in a couple student films.
I have a street named after me in a trailer park my grandfather used to own.

What is your favorite memory while growing up?

Growing up in Florida, I always loved to visit my grandparents’ house in Massachusetts. They had all sorts of cool toys—old Army jeeps and mopeds—and all the junk food any chunky kid could ever want.

What are some of the books that have influenced you?

Raymond Carver’s short stories
Larry Brown “Father & Son”
Anne Tyler “Accidental Tourist”
Richard Russo “Nobody’s Fool”
Amy Tan “Joy Luck Club”

Did you always know you wanted to write a book?

Nope. I didn’t start reading seriously until I was in the my early twenties and didn’t start writing until my mid-twenties. Before that, I wanted to be a baseball player, then a musician, then a rock band roadie, and then somehow through music, and working in a record store, I discovered books.

How would you describe your book in one sentence?

Heart With Joy is a novel about following your heart and trusting that it will take where you need to go.

How does it feel to know that there are people reading your book?

It’s wonderful to hear what people have to say. This is my third book but still I’m amazed that people want to read what I’ve dreamed up. Very cool indeed.

What do you think is the easiest and hardest thing about writing a book?

The easiest thing about writing about a book is coming up with ideas. The hardest part is sitting your butt in that chair for the three or four years it takes to finish.

Anything else you would like to say?

Thanks again for taking the time to read my work.
 

Goodreads Summary: In Heart With Joy, fifteen-year-old Julian Hale’s life is turned upside down when his mother suddenly moves from North Carolina to Venice, Florida under the pretense of running her parents’ motel and finishing the novel she has been working on for years. While Julian has always been closer to his mother and wants to go with her, she tells him he has to stay with his father until the end of the school year.
 
Six weeks after his mother leaves, Julian’s father decides to run a marathon. This surprises Julian because he has never seen his father exercise, but once he agrees to help him train the two develop the sort of close relationship they’ve never had before. Also, with the help of an elderly neighbor, Julian learns that the most important thing in life is to follow your heart. And Julian’s heart leads him to a passion for cooking and a young cashier at the local grocery store. By the end of the novel, Julian is forced to choose between staying with his father and going to live with his mother.

Heart With Joy is an uplifting coming of age novel about cooking and bird watching, about writing and pottery, and about falling in love and the sacrifices we all make. But ultimately, it’s about the importance of following your heart and trusting that it will take you where you need to go.

The Details

-There will be 1 lucky winner.

-This giveaway is international.

-You don't have to be a follower but it would be nice if you were! =)

-Deadline is Friday 18th at 11:59pm Pacific time.

-Winner will be announced on the 19th and will have 48 hours to respond to my email.

Just fill out the form!

Author Interview: Laura Kreitzer (Timeless Series)

Today we have Laura Kreitzer! She's the author of the Timeless series and her most recent series, Summer Chronicles.

Is there a reason that you decided to name your characters the way you did?

Yes, actually! I researched meanings, origins, and decided based on how it rolled off the tongue. If a character’s name is hard to pronounce, it can deter from the story. I didn’t want that to happen. Some of the names are friends and family who wanted to be in the books.

What were some of the hardest things when writing the books?

Having an off day is the hardest thing—you write and write and write, and you know it’s awful. It’s boring, and when you compare it to your other writing, you cringe. I’d like to say that writing a book is easy, but it isn’t. Only dedicated authors actually sit down and write a whole manuscript. Then there’s the editing. . . .

What made you decide to write about a main character who is an adult and with a career when most have teenagers as their main characters?

Here’s my gripe about YA. Young adult=young adult, not teenagers. My main character, Gabriella, is someone that young adults can look up to. She’s intelligent, has her own house, her own life, and her own career. If anything, maybe more teens should read about characters that aren’t teenagers. Gabriella is a young adult that is successful. It irks me how the publishing industry has turned YA into TEENS. Because it’s not just about kids in high school, it’s also about young adults. I like being the proverbial thorn in the publishing industries side. Hehe.

How did the idea for the series come to you?

Pulled it from thin air. Honestly. My mind is a playground.

What are some of the authors that have influenced your writing?

J.K. Rowling, Stephenie Meyer, and Suzanne Collins have influenced my writing greatly—especially J.K. Rowling. There are newer authors who continue to inspire me today. Those are Jennifer DeLucy and Julie Kagawa. They are fantastical authors and sweetie pies.

Did you always want to be an author or did you ever want to be something else?

I studied geography, geology, and mapping in college. For eight years, I worked in a dye-tracing laboratory where I was the senior lab and field technician at a non-profit environmental institute (Hoffman Environmental Research Institute). I’ve been to China to teach students and professors at South West University China, worked on classified projects with the government, and studied and explored the world’s longest cave. I also mapped underground water routes, wrote reports, guides, manuals, and had one of them translated into Chinese. My passion was working with the environment—I wanted to save the world. Then I started to write . . . now I’m a full time author, edit freelance at Obsidian Mountain Publishing, review books for publishers, and am the Program Manager for the Writing Collective at Fictionista Workshop.

How do you feel now that you know others are reading your books?

Nervous. Terrified. Delighted! I’ve had fantastic feedback and am thrilled that I could bring someone into my world. Reading my books is like reading my soul. I put everything into my titles.

The covers of the books are beautiful and would grab a reader’s attention. Did you ever imagine they would turn out like they did?

Yes and no. My graphic designer already impressed me with his portfolio, but when he sent me his first “update,” I was worried sick it would be awful. Instead, he impressed the hell out of me.

I love the covers! There's so many details in them amd if you look closely at them you can see them!

Author Interview: Brian Yansky

Today we have Brian Yansky, author of Alien Invasion & Other Inconveniences, stopping by!

Having lived in many places, which has been your favorite and why?

Austin is my favorite. This is a big town or a small city. About a million people live here now, but it’s still relatively easy to get around. There’s always something going on, usually many somethings. The atmosphere is laid back, but at the same time cool. There’s great music and a great literary scene. It’s a town with a distinct personality. You have to love a town whose motto is “Keep Austin Weird.”

How did the idea of writing a book about aliens come to you?

How any idea for any book comes to me is a mystery. I think most writers feel that way. Sometimes it feels as if they just fall out of the sky (Hmm. Alien telepathy?) and other times I feel like I really have to work to get them to fall out of the sky. I will say that I wanted to write an alien story that was not about the invasion itself but about what happened after the invasion. And, as I’ve mentioned elsewhere, aliens are seriously underrepresented in the fictional landscape. I have nothing against vampires, zombies, wizards, unicorns, and so on but I want to give aliens a voice. LET THE ALIENS SPEAK.

Were there any authors who have influenced you other than Kurt Vonnegut?

Hundreds. Philip Pullman, Michael Chabon, John Steinbeck, John Green, Ursula LeGuin, Gabrielle Zevin, Gabriel Garcia Marquez, J.D. Salinger, Anne Tyler, Pete Hautman, M.T. Anderson, Jonathan Stroud, Jane Austen, Nick Hornby, Flannery O’Conner, John Gardner, J.K. Rowling, Raymond Carver and on and on. Sometimes it’s just one novel by an author that gets me going and sometimes it’s every novel the author has written.

Do you have any must-haves when writing?

Time and coffee.

What is the most interesting or unique thing a reader has ever said to you?

People have been asking me if I believe in aliens a lot lately—oddly enough. One reader asked me if I was an alien. That was kind of interesting. What was my answer? I’ll only say this much: I was adopted by a very nice human couple.

When you were little did you ever think of becoming anything other than a writer?

Sure. I wanted to be a garbage man for a long time. You get to be outside all day and ride on the back of a truck. Then there was fireman and astronaut and mailman. I went through a period when I thought it might be nice to be President of the United States. I’m really glad I got over that. Long hours.

How did you feel when you found out you were going to be a published author?

Like my feet weren’t touching the ground. Like I was ten times larger than before I got the news. Like I wanted to say “I love you” to the world about a dozen times. It was spectacular.

What was the last book you read and loved?

I’ve really, really liked many books I’ve read this year but the last one I fell in love with was MARCELO IN THE REAL WORLD by Francisco X. Stork. It is a great novel.

What do you think is the most challenging thing about writing and the easiest?

The most challenging is getting a first draft out. Those are always toughest for me. Writing a novel is a messy business. Everything is so unclear and imperfect in the first telling. It’s ugly in a way. It has no real shape and it oozes out in strange places. It’s hard to get through that first draft. The easiest thing about writing is that you get to do it at home in your pajamas. I love that.

Are there any goals you hope to accomplish in the next year?

I have a sequel to Alien Invasion & Other Inconveniences or perhaps the second novel of a trilogy—I haven’t decided. I would like to get that in good shape by the end of the year.

Where you can find more about Brian Yanksy and his book:

His website.

His blog.