Interview with author Julie Berry

Julie Berry, author

I'm thrilled to have Julie Berry here on the site today. Julie is the author of many books for young adults and children, including The Amaranth Enchantment, The Secondhand Charm, and the Splurch Academy series. I recently read and reviewed The Secondhand Charm, and loved it! 

Christy:  Have you always wanted to be a writer?

Julie:  I think so, but for much of my life I wanted to be many things, of which “writer” was one. Only recently have I resigned myself to the idea that it’s probably too late for me to become an Olympic gymnast, pop singer, or professional dancer if I really, really try.

Christy:  What inspires you to write about magic and fantasy?

Julie:  I don’t think I start out wanting to write a fantasy, per se. I start with a story I want to tell, a character I want to follow, and as I do so, often I discover established reality is too confining for what I want to do. And life continues to suggest established reality is not quite so well established as we think. My upcoming novel, All the Truth that’s In Me (September 2013 Viking), is set in what I call an alternate colonial reality, but aside from the non-specific place, there’s nothing impossible about the story. I don’t always write about magic and fantasy.

Christy:  What do you hope readers will learn or take with them after reading your books?

Julie:  I hope readers will be engrossed, absorbed, swept away, pulled in to my stories – whatever complete possession feels like to them. It’s greedy of me, I suppose, but that’s my number one job as a storyteller. I need to spin a good yarn. I don’t have much more of a conscious objective in mind, but if I had to identify one hope, it would be that young readers, and young women in particular, come to more deeply appreciate their worth, potential, and dignity, and that they find the courage (and the joy) it takes to expect the world to treat them as they deserve to be treated.

Christy:  I notice that you also write books for young readers ( a difficult market to get into). Can you give advice to others who are seeking to be published for the younger crowd?

Secondhand Charm by Julie Berry 

Julie:  My advice is the same for anyone wishing to be published in any market. It sounds simplistic, but it’s the gold standard. Read, read, read. Write, write, write. Until that has become a regular rhythm, no other advice about agents, blogs, publishers, or marketing, etc., has much to offer. Aspiring authors need to be entirely focused on craft and on finding their voice. Critique groups and writing programs can be very helpful there. I chose to pursue a master’s degree from Vermont College of the Fine Arts, which was a transformative experience for me. As hopeful writers grow a body of publication-worthy work, thoughts about the marketplace and agents begin to make sense, and organizations like SCBWI (the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators) are an invaluable resource for the transition from apprentice to published writer. It takes patience, resiliency, and humor to navigate the path to authorship. I also suggest adopting a good cat or two.

Christy:  Are you working on any books or projects right now? Can you tell us about it?

Julie:  I’m very excited about All the Truth that’s In Me. I just finished two picture book manuscripts and sent them to my sister, Sally Faye Gardner, to consider illustrating. We worked as a sister act on our comic novel series, Splurch Academy for Disruptive Boys, and that was tons of fun. I’m also finishing up a middle grade fantasy adventure story, and musing on some YA project thoughts.

Christy:  What do you eat while you are reading/writing?

Julie:  I love anything that fits on a cracker. I think if I lived alone, I would never cook meals. All my meals would be dippable, spreadable, and utensil-free. Sometimes I get together with writer friends to write for the day, and I’ll prepare a little spread of cheese slices, apple slices, celery, hummus, peanut butter, maybe some other kind of yummy dip, and together we nibble and scribble. My current obsession is Trader Joe’s Mediterranean Yogurt Dip on rice crackers. For those of you who don’t have a Trader Joe’s store nearby, my heart bleeds for you.

Thanks Julie, and good luck on future projects!

Interview with David Farland

David Farland author of Nightingale

Today I am pleased to welcome David Farland, a friend and mentor of mine and many others in the writing world.  Thank you, David, for stopping by.

Read my review of David's new release Nightingale. 

Nightingale focuses on a different audience than most of the stories  you write.  What made you decide to focus on young adult?

I've actually dabbled with a number of young adult and middle-grade novels.  I did one Star Wars young adult novel, four more tied to the Mummy series, another dozen middle-grad pieces for Star Wars, and of course my own middle-grade fantasy series.  Most of those were written back when I was writing science fiction under the name Dave Wolverton.

Over the years, a number of my students have had a lot of success in young adult--people like Brandon Sanderson, Brandon Mull, James Dashner, and Stephenie Meyer.

I finally decided that it was time for me to get serious about it.

Setting plays a large role in Nightingale--what research did you do  in St. George to provide such a sense of place?

For years I used to go to Saint George on writing retreats, and in 2003 we moved there.  My daughter attended Tuacahn, the school I use in the story.  So I went with a teacher and took a tour of the school.  Then I had my daughter read through the book and make more suggestions.  I also traveled to other locations, like the small town where Bron lived, and took pictures of the houses that I use as locations.  Even the swamps in Louisiana and hills in North Carolina are all based on places I've been.  But I took it one step further.  When I wrote about scenes, I wrote about them on the days that the scene occurred, in many places, in order to get the details right.  For example, when Bron goes out to watch a meteor shower, it happens on a day when I went out and looked at one.  If I talk about a storm one night, and smoke from wildfires the next, it's because those were prevalent on that night.

You have a police officer in your book named Rick Walton.  Is there any connection to the children's book author?

I love Rick, so I thought that I'd immortalize him.  But then he turned out to be such a nasty cop.  Guess we all have our dark sides. Rick Walton is an old friend, and when I was writing the character of Sheriff Walton, I had just been reading an email from him.  I decided that Rick needed to be immortalized, and since he's one of the nicest guys I know, it only seemed appropriate to turn him into a scoundrel.  Seriously, as I began writing about Officer Walton, I didn't realize just how nasty he'd turn out to be!

What are you hoping that readers will take away from Nightingale?

This is a novel that deals with a lot of things--feelings of abandonment, the pain of being a teen, the anxiety of dating, the struggle to be human.  My hope is that as people read my stories, they see themselves in my characters, and that at the end of the novel, they feel like they're better, stronger, more enlightened individuals for having read my work.

At the same time, I don't write books that very sweet.  I like books that make you "live" through them, where you laugh one minutes, are shocked another, and find yourself crying the next.

Somewhere along the way, I try to "discover" the deeper meaning of the story.  I don't set out to preach, simply to ponder facets of life that I might not have otherwise considered.

Tell me about your new publishing company. What is unique about it?

At East India Press, we're trying something that I haven't seen anyone else do.

Most publishing companies in the past have made their money selling books in hardcover and paperback.  In the past twenty years, audiobooks have come to make up a significant portion of the market.  In the past four years, electronic books have grown to the point that, if the last figures that I heard were accurate, more than 50 percent of all book sales are now electronic.

But the exciting new thing that's coming is "enhanced novels," books with color illustrations, animations, video clips, soundtracks, and annotations, along with possible videogames.  These books are interactive to a degree, more like a movie than a novel.  Such novels can be "updated" instantly, so that we can correct typos or add new features to the book, such as the ads for an upcoming movie.  So the enhanced novel is a sort of living document.

A few companies have started up with the idea of doing these, but we thought, "Hey, why not publish the book in all of those formats?"  My partner, Miles Romney, has a background in illustration, acting, singing and writing.  I've worked as a screenwriter, videogame designer, and novelist.

So we're doing enhanced books, e-books, audiobooks, a hardcover book, and a soundtrack--all based upon this one novel.  We're pulling the entire line of companies under one roof.

It's fun.  In some ways, we're the stodgy old publishers trying to make sure that we've got the highest quality hardcover available for book collectors, and on the other hand we're creating cutting-edge content.

Are you accepting submissions?

In the very near future.  I'm thinking that by the first on November, East India Press will be ready to take on its next project.

I see that you are having a writing contest.  What is the purpose of  the contest?

The East India Press Short Story Contest will do a couple of things.  First, it will help promote writing.  It may very well bring to our attention some young new writers who are immensely talented.  And last of all, we're hoping that it will create some name recognition for the newest publishers on the block.

What do you eat while writing/reading?

I drink diet Mountain Dew or water.  I find that if I eat, it makes me tired.

Interview with Amber Argyle, author of Witch Song

Amber Argyle, author of Witch Song

Amber Argyle is the author of Witch Song, released September 1, 2011.

Read my review here. 

The world in which you wrote Witch Song has many characters and races. Can you tell us what the inspiration was behind such people as Tartans and creatures like Pogg?

I wanted to take full advantage of the America’s resonance with witches—the most famous being the Salem Witch Trials. So Nefalie (my character’s home country) is very New England in setting with similar technology to what you might find in 17^th century America (muskets/Spanish galleon sailing ships).

As far as the Tartens (the enemy nation), my brother-in-law works for the US embassy program. He’s been in a few South American countries where there is almost no middle class. Just a few very wealthy and many very poor. I also loved the idea of adding a tropical flavor to the novel, as most high fantasy is strictly castles and knights.

As for Pogg (my frog person), my main character grew up landlocked, so I needed a character that could help her make the connection to the sea creatures and also serve as a guide.

What makes Brusenna the perfect heroine for your novel?

I’ve read so many sarcastic, masculine heroines that I wanted to showcase a different kind of woman—one with a quiet strength. Brusenna is shy and unsure of herself. She’s slow to trust anyone, including herself. People and large groups terrify her. She has to learn to overcome all of her fears in order to save the people she loves.

How does it feel to have a debut novel in print?

It’s wonderful! There’s a strong sense of accomplishment ,and I’ve learned so much. Although I think I’ll need a solid year worth of sleep and a gallon of hot chocolate to return to normal. ;)

What do you want readers to take away from Witch Song?

Trust yourself. Love yourself. Honor yourself. Because if you don’t, no one else will.

Have you always wanted to be a writer?  What inspires you?

Yes. Whenever teachers would ask what we wanted to be when we grew up, I always answered a writer or a ballerina. Since I have the grace of a one-legged zombie, I think I chose well.

Are you working on any future books?  Can you share with us?

I have another novel, Daughter of Winter that will hopefully be released sometime next year. Here’s the cover blurb: 

"Mortally wounded during a raid, seventeen-year old Ilyenna is healed by Winter Faeries who present her with a seductive offer: become one of them and share their power over Winter. But that power comes with a price. If she accepts, she will become a force of nature, lose her humanity, and abandon her family.

Unwilling to forsake humanity or family, Ilyenna is enslaved by the raiders. While in captivity, she learns that the attack wasn’t just a simple raid but part of a larger plot to overthrow her entire nation. In order to save her people, Ilyenna risks her life to warn her people. Her captor, the traitor Darrien, proves his cunning by convincing their people she is lying.

Only Ilyenna knows the truth.

With the invaders stealing over the mountains and Darrien coming to take her to his bed, she’ll have to decide whether to resurrect the power the faeries left behind. Doing so will allow her to defeat Darrien and the invaders; but if she embraces Winter, she’ll lose herself to that destroying power—forever."

What do you eat while reading/writing?

A handful of chocolate or a cup of hot chocolate (sometimes with marshmallows). 

Interview with Jana Richman, author of The Last Cowgirl

Author Jana Richman

Welcome to Jana Richman, author of The Last Cowgirl and Riding in the Shadow of the Saints.  I was able to interview Jana for an article for The Syracuse Islander and I'm pleased to share our conversation with you.

What inspires you to write?

That’s a difficult question to answer. Life, in general, I suppose is what inspires me to write—my persistent state of bewilderment in regard to the actions of humans both individually and collectively. Through my writing, I’m trying to understand why we do what we do, how we interact with one another and with our geography, how our past influences our present, how our wounds heal or don’t heal, what makes good people act in bad ways, how do people live with devastating choices they’ve made in the past, etc. It all fascinates me and keeps me writing

It's been said that your book reads like a memoir.  What inspired you to write a novel this way?

I didn’t intend to write a novel that reads like a memoir, but I’m flattered by the comment. It means that I’ve succeeded in making the first-person narrator “real” to readers. My first book, Riding in the Shadows of Saints, was a memoir, and I was excited to turn to fiction in the second book, to be freed-up to follow my characters wherever they led me—and they led me to some surprising places. I don’t write from an outline; I begin with a general idea of where the story will end up and a few of the scenes that will take me there. But the story never ends up where I think it will, and the characters never conform to the imagined scenes in my head. Once the characters are fully formed, they decide on the story they will tell, and if I try to manipulate them too much, the story doesn’t feel right—I guess you could say that the character is acting “out of character” when I try to force a preconceived scene.

The Last Cowgirl  by Jana Richman

Is any of the book autobiographical in nature?

Yes, some of it is, but readers are usually surprised to find out that much of it is not. The family in the story is based upon my family, and my experience of my father’s desire to be a rancher when I was a child. But as I wrote, the characters morphed away from the people they were originally based upon, and the scenes did the same. I’ve been asked by many readers who the character of Bev was based upon. She’s a strong, good character—the kind of woman everyone wants as a friend—but she came entirely from my imagination. And maybe that’s why she’s such a strong character—she’s a combination of a woman I would love to have as a friend and the woman I would like to be. But in my life, I know no women like her.

The book is also based on an historical event—the 1968 nerve gas incident in Tooele County that killed more than 6,000 sheep. I grew up in Tooele, and I was 12 at the time it happened. Mostly what stuck with me was the lid of silence that fell upon the town as the federal government lied about their part in it, tried to cover their actions, and tried to blame the deaths on a “poisonous plant” in Skull Valley. It was a time of cognitive dissonance. The federal government employed most everyone in Tooele at the time, we were in the middle of a war, patriotism ran high in town, so it was difficult for residents to come to terms with the idea that their government would lie to them and betray them in this way. And those are the times that are fascinating to write about—lots of ambiguity, lots of complexity, nothing can be explained away easily. I wanted to plop characters into that incongruity and see what they would do with it, and The Last Cowgirl is the book that came out of it.

What do you hope readers will take away with them when they read your book?

I don’t write with a “take away” in mind. There’s no moral to the story, there’s no message I’m trying to convey. What I hope readers take away is simply a good reading experience. I hope every reader finds something that resonates with him/her. I write about the west because it is what I know, but I’ve heard from readers in Florida, readers in the mid-west, even one reader in Peru who found resonance with the book. That’s my job as a writer—to write specifically about universal ideas, to set the collective human consciousness into a particular story.

Are you working on another book?  Can you share with us what it is?

I just finished another novel and sent it to my agent. It’s set in Nevada, and the backdrop for it is the proposed Las Vegas pipeline and the impact the pipeline will have on the people in the valleys that Las Vegas proposes to drain.

Please list any awards The Last Cowgirl has received.

The Last Cowgirl won the 2009 Willa Award for Contemporary Fiction, the Salt Lake Weekly Arty Award, and was a finalist for the Utah Book Award.

How did you get your start as a writer and how did you end up with an agent and a publisher? 

I wrote from a young age, but never took it seriously until I was in my 40s. I went about getting an agent and publisher the old-fashioned way. I went back to school at the University of Arizona and studied my butt off—got an M.A. in journalism, and then freelanced as a journalist to pay my way through the creative writing program where I got an M.F.A in creative non-fiction. Then I just wrote and wrote and wrote until I really understood the craft of writing and developed the instincts to know when my own work was good and when it was not. I worked to publish short pieces in literary magazines, worked on a book proposal for more than a year for my first book, Riding in the Shadows of Saints, attended writers’ conferences, and eventually got the attention of an agent. He sold both books—the first to Crown, an imprint of Random House, and the second to William Morrow, an imprint of HarperCollins. 

What do you like to eat while reading/writing?

Excellent question. In any state other than Utah, I think the question would be “what do you like to drink while you write,” because writers are notoriously good drinkers. The answer is anything I can get my hands on. It’s an interesting question—there does seems to be a relationship between writing/reading and oral gratification—but I’ve never considered the question before. My husband, who is a transpersonal therapist, loves to bake, and he’s perfected crusty breads, so that’s usually what’s sitting next to me as I write.

Interview Lisa Mangum

I am pleased to host Lisa Mangum, author of The Hourglass Door Trilogy.

Read my reviews of her books here and here.

An article I wrote for the Syracuse Islander can be found here.

Lisa Mangum has loved and worked with books ever since elementary school, when she volunteered at the school library during recess. Her first paying job was shelving books at the Sandy Library. She worked for five years at Waldenbooks while she attended the University of Utah, graduating with honors with a degree in English. An avid reader of all genres, she has worked in the publishing department for Deseret Book since 1997. Besides books, Lisa loves movies, sunsets, spending time with her family, trips to Disneyland, and vanilla ice cream topped with fresh raspberries. She lives in Taylorsville with her husband, Tracy.

What are your emotions now that the trilogy is finished and in stores?

I’m really feeling a mix of joy and sadness now that the trilogy is finished. Writing The Forgotten Locket was the most difficult of the three books to write, and it really stretched me as an author to make that book all that I wanted it to be. When I finished it, I was, “Yay, I’m done!” followed closely by, “Wait—I’m done?” I’d spent years thinking about and writing about and dreaming about Abby and Dante—I couldn’t quite believe I was done. That I wasn’t going to wake up in the morning and go play in that story anymore. Now that the book is available and I’ve started receiving feedback from readers, I’m overjoyed that the response has been so positive.

What do you hope readers will take away from the trilogy?

Two things, really. One, I hope readers can appreciate Abby’s example of being a strong, independent person. A person who makes decisions that matter. Decisions that change things. Because, really, when you think about it, all of our decisions should matter. Our decisions should change the world around us—or the world inside of us—and, I hope, make that world a more beautiful place to live. The other thing I hope readers take away from the series is a desire to write their own story. I’ve heard from several readers who have been inspired to start writing, or to pick it up again, and I think that is wonderful! One reason why I started writing in the first place was because I had been inspired by my favorite authors, so to now be a part of that process—however small it might be—is an honor.

Did the trilogy end as you had envisioned it at the beginning of the series? Were there surprises?

Yes and no. From the beginning I knew the story would have a “happily ever after” ending, but there were certainly a lot of surprises along the way. Zo, in particular, did not want to play by the outline I had drafted, and his character arc ended up being very different than what I had planned. Even Abby and Dante had some specific things they wanted to do in the book that I had not planned on. That’s part of what makes writing so much fun—when you can relinquish control to the character and see what happens next

What next?  Do you have plans for future books?

I do. Up next, I want to work on a stand-alone, contemporary YA novel about Sam and Sara. The story will cover just a single day—the first day they meet. I’m interested in doing a lot of deep character work as well as lots of dialogue. They’re all ready chattering in my ear about the story; I just need to find the time to write it all down.

What do you like to eat while reading/writing?

Oh, I don’t eat while I’m reading or writing. Food just gets in the way, and I don’t want crumbs to fall in my laptop. But I love to celebrate a good writing day with a delicious steak for dinner and perhaps some chocolate for dessert.

Thanks Lisa!

I'd love to know, (please comment below) what authors have inspired you?

Interview-Elana Johnson

Elana Johnson is the author of Possession, published June 7th 2011 by Simon & Schuster.


Read my review here.


Can you tell me, briefly, about your journey to publication?


My journey has been filled with twists and turns, but surprisingly hasn’t been that long. I think this is because of my pitbull nature: Once I sink my teeth into something, I don’t let go until I get what I want. This is both a blessing and a curse.

I began writing in December 2007. I wrote the first draft of POSSESSION (my third novel) in April 2008, in only 17 days. I proceeded to query literary agents with a different novel—and everyone said no. Well over 150 people said no.

Rejection is just part of the publishing business.

So I cleaned up POSSESSION over the course of many months, and began querying literary agents with it. 188 rejections later, I got an offer of representation from my agent. Two months later, we submitted the book to 12 editors. My first response was a yes, so I can say that I’ve never had an editor reject me—which is a good thing, because I had over 300 literary agents do that!

Since the sale of POSSESSION, the journey has been nothing short of a white-knuckled ride on the biggest roller coaster you can imagine. And I’ve loved every minute of it.

What inspired you to write Vi’s story?

I’d just finished a dystopian novel, though I had no idea that was even a genre. I did a bit of research, and found this type of futuristic, oppressive-society, fight against the man type of novel fascinating. Now, I just needed a world for mine.

So I played the “What If?” game a lot of authors play with themselves. And I asked, “What if people had no free will?” My brainwashing society evolved from that.

And from that, emerged Vi, a girl who would give almost anything to be able to make her own choices.

Why do you write for young adults?

Writing is like free therapy for me. It’s a way to empty myself of any and all emotion. And who feels emotion more powerfully than teenagers? Uh, no one. So that age group became the perfect place for my emotional dumping ground.

I love the cover of your book. How do you think the image on the cover fits the theme of your book?

I love the cover too! I think it’s haunting, because it’s taken this iconic butterfly—a symbol of happiness and freedom—and trapped it in ice. But, there’s a drop at the bottom, and it’s cracked. So the image give the impression that the beautiful thing inside can fight back—and win.

Now the big question: Does Possession have a sequel?

Not really. Once you read the book, I think you’ll understand why a sequel wouldn’t really work.

You recently sold a second book. Can you tell us anything about it?

I did just sell another book. It’s a companion novel to POSSESSION. A companion is just a little bit different from a sequel. The second book will take place in the same story world as POSSESSION, but there will be a new narrating character, with a new story all their own. I will say that the companion novel does have some sequential elements, and you will see some characters in the companion that you see in POSSESSION. I will not say who…

Will there be more than one companion book to Possession?

The goal is to develop POSSESSION into a trilogy, so I think it’s a safe bet to say that yes, there will be a third companion novel to POSSESSION. Again, a companion, not a sequel. If you’ve read Carrie Ryan’s companion trilogy (THE FOREST OF HANDS AND TEETH, Random House), my series will evolve in much the same way.

What is the best thing about being published?

The best thing about being published is seeing my name on the front cover of my book, and knowing that I worked really hard to get to that point.

What is your favorite food to eat while reading/writing?

Chocolate. If I can’t have that, I want sour patch kids.

Interview with Eilis O'Neal

Today we are talking with Eilis O'Neal (pronounced A-lish), author of the fantasy novel The False Princess, published by EgmontUSA January 25, 2011.  On a side note, I just love Eilis' name-it's Gaelic. To see my review of this fabulous book, click here. 

Why write? What fuels your writing?


I think the most basic answer to why I write is that I love to read. I'm one of those people who takes a book everywhere—and I've been that way since I was a little kid. I remember going to visit my grandparents as a pre-schooler with a bag full of books over my shoulder. I love stories, and I started making up my own at an early age. So that impulse has always been part of me—I literally can't remember when it wasn't. When I'm not writing, I feel wrong somehow.
What books have had the greatest impact on you and your writing?

If I had to pick just one set of books, it would be Tamora Pierce's Song of the Lioness books. I first read those when I was twelve, and they had an enormous impact on how I saw myself as a young person. But close followers would have to be Diane Duane's Young Wizards series, which has as a great, smart heroine in Nita, Robin McKinley's The Hero and the Crown, and Lloyd Alexander's Westmark series. All of them have such strong female characters, and that's really important to me as a writer.

What prompted you to write in your genre and age of audience?

I read all the books I mentioned above—and many more—between the ages of about 11 and 16. But they weren't just a way to pass the time; they changed the way that I looked at the world and at myself. They made me feel stronger, more sure of myself. If I could do that for even a few teens or preteens, that would make me feel like I'd done something worthwhile with my life. On a less heavy note, writing for young people is just more fun than writing for adults, at least for me. Younger readers really connect to the characters they care about, and they really get into good stories. As for why fantasy, honestly, it's the world I wish I lived in. Since I can't, I write about it.

Are the characters or story of The False Princess based on experiences or people in your life?

The character in the book who's most closely based on a real person is Sinda, and she's most closely based on me as a teenager. As soon as I started writing Sinda, I knew that she wouldn't be a typical princess. She's shy and quiet, a huge reader, and someone who sometimes isn't sure of herself yet. Which is basically me as a young person. It was very easy to tap into Sinda's insecurities, because a lot of them mirrored my own. Happily for her, she comes into her own a little quicker than I did—I was in college before I really felt sure of myself!

Can you tell us about your current project(s)?

I do have a new project, but I'm going to punt on this question, as it's still early days in it. I do a lot of my writing by feel, instead of major outlining, and anything I say about it is liable to change before it's finished!

What advice do you have for those of us who are struggling through writing our first novel?

My biggest advice is to keep writing. Write every day if you can. Just the act of sitting down every day and writing will get you into a groove that will make the days when inspiration seems far off a bit easier. Also, read everything you can in the genre you're writing, and then a lot that is outside it. If you don't like a book, figure out the reason you don't like it. Find people whose opinion you trust and ask them to read your work and offer an honest opinion, then learn how to take their critiques and use them to make your book stronger. Remember that rejection is something every writer goes through, and that perseverance and a thick skin are key to being a writer.

What do you like to eat while reading/writing?

Honestly, I do a lot of my writing in the early morning, so I don't do a whole lot of snacking while writing. But sometimes I'll snag a few peanut M&Ms or other small bits of chocolate if I need a pick-me-up.

Thanks Eilis!  Good luck with your next project.

Interview with Laura Bingham

If you enjoy fantasy books for young people, like the Fablehaven series by Brandon Mull, I highly suggest that you read Laura Bingham's series that begins with the book Alvor.  The second book in the series is Wings of Light, which comes out in April of 2011.  Both are adventurous, imaginative and unpredictable. I'll be reviewing Wings of Light for Laura's blog tour later on this month.

What made you want to be an author?

I never set out to be an author.  I read a lot after my kids were born and the YA books were phenomanol.  Eventually it occurred to me that writing a book might be just as much fun as reading one.  That was how Alvor was born.

 

Where do you get your inspiration?

Each book I write is different in the way it comes into my head and heart.  There is no one answer to this. 

 

Are Erin and Bain based on your own twin children?

No way.  The only thing that my twins have in common is the magical relationship that so many twins share.  It's so unique that it's not hard to take two completely different characters and bond them in the same way my kids are in relationship to each other.

 

What are some of your favorite books of all time?

Ooh, this is a hard one.  The problem is, I'm always falling in love with new books.  It all depends on my mood.  Sometimes I like a good mystery, while other times I have to read the whole Harry Potter, Hunger Games, Twilight or Uglies series all over again just because I feel like it.  I know, cliche, but I don't have one single favorite. 

 

Are you working on any other books? Can you tell us about them?

I have a dystopian YA novel that my agent is pitching.  Right now, my work in progress is a contemporary love story with a tiny twist of science fiction.  Of course, the final book in the Alvor series is next up on my docket.

 

When will the sequel to Alvor be released?

WINGS OF LIGHT will be released April 8, 2011

 

Interview with Sonia Gensler, author of The Revenant

Please welcome Sonia Gensler, author of The Revenant.  The Revenant will be available through Alfred A. Knopf on June 14, 2011. 
Read my review of this great read here.

What inspired the story of The Revenant?

I’ve always had a thing for girls’ schools – particularly19th century finishing schools that were daring to rival boys’ schools in the their level of academic sophistication. During a summer gathering in Tahlequah, OK, one of my critique buddies pointed out Seminary Hall (now part of Northeastern State University) and explained that it once was a Cherokee boarding school. I hadn’t known the Cherokee Nation built such a sophisticated school for their girls, and I had to know more. (You can learn more here.) Turns out there is a ghost story associated with the school – NSU graduate students conduct ghost tours every October – but I wanted something a little sexier and more shocking than the ghost of a former principal wandering around the school.

Tell us about your journey to publication.
It took me a few years to finish my first novel. When I was teaching high school English I just never seemed to have the time or energy to get a lot of writing done. But after I pitched my unfinished novel to a few agents at a writing conference (eeek!), I knew it was time to wrap that story up. Fortunately I had an excellent student teacher at the time – a young man who was ready to handle my classes on his own after a short time – so while he taught I went to the library and typed my brains out. That novel generated a little interest, but ultimately it was my second novel that got me an agent. When that novel didn’t sell, I panicked and wrote another novel entitled The Revenant. It was a November 2008 NaNoWriMo novel that sold in May 2009.

Do you have any current writing projects? Can you tell us what they are?
I’m working on a couple of gothic mysteries – one set in the early 20th century and the other set in the 30s. We’ll see which one my editor likes best!

Does your family enjoy your writing?
The only member of my family who reads my writing is my husband, and he enjoys it. However, when he’s not enjoying a particular scene, he’ll let me know. He’s been great about giving constructive feedback, and he’s amazing when it comes to bouncing ideas around. If I need some help untangling a snarled plotline, I go to him.

What is your favorite food to eat while writing/reading?
Does tea count? I really like to have a cup of steaming black tea (with milk and sugar) when I sit down to read or write. Maybe a ginger cookie to go along with it?

Interview with Bree Despain

Photo: Chauntelle Janzer of OpieFoto

I had a chance to ask Bree Despain a few questions about her book The Lost Saint. You can win a copy of her book here. 

1.       The Lost Saint is the second book in your The Dark Divine series.  Was it harder or easier to write the middle book?

Bree:  Writing the second book was definitely harder.  Even though I’d written a few “first” books before, I’d never written a sequel.  I found that many of the rules of a first book don’t necessarily apply to a sequel—and nobody offers any sequel writing classes!  Time was also an issue.  It took me four years to write the first book (in my own spare time) while I was only given about four months to write the first draft of the second book.  However, what was easier about writing the second book was that I had an editor to rely upon for input during every step of the process.

2.       Talbot is a new character in The Lost Saint.  Can you tell us about him?

Bree:  Talbot was a fun character to write because on the outside he looks like a dimple-cheeked farmboy but underneath his vast collection of flannel shirts, is a guy with a pretty intense past and some secret abilities.  I kept thinking “Clark Kent with a dangerous side” whenever I was writing about Talbot.

3.       On your website you keep hinting at a TOP SECRET project for the series.  Any clues as to what that might be? 

Bree:  The top secret project will be revealed this week.  It’s a writing project I’ve been working on for fans of the Dark Divine series (check out the secret project on Bree's site).

4.       You have mentioned that The Dark Divine series is a prodigal son story.  Why did you chose that theme to tell a story?

Bree:  When I started writing a story about someone who had disappeared for a few years and then suddenly returned, looking to put his life back together—I was reminded of the parable of the prodigal son.  I’ve always been intrigued by this story because essentially it doesn’t have an ending.  We never find out if the “prodigal son” was ever really able to change and reclaim his old life, and we never know if the “good son” was able to forgive his brother.  I really wanted to explore what might happen to these two people—and the person who loves them both—if their story was to continue.

Thanks Bree and good luck with The Lost Saint.  

Interview with Annette Lyon

How much fun is a cookbook that is dedicated solely to chocolate?  Annette answered some of the questions I had about her book, Chocolate Never Faileth.  I think you will find it interesting.

Your other books are fiction, what inspired you to make a cookbook?


I've always been a bit of a chocolate nut, but when I began working as assistant director for the Utah Chocolate Show in 2004, my interest spiked. I learned a lot about melting, storing, using, and baking with chocolate. I'm a writer, so making a cookbook was a logical step.

Who will enjoy this cookbook?

Any chocoholic, for sure. But also anyone who might be a little scared of the kitchen or of baking with chocolate. I made a point of having delicious recipes that were also doable. You don't need a culinary degree to make tasty treats.

Where did the recipes, quotes and cute stories come from?

I already had quite a few recipes, but I did a lot of research for more, seeking out inspiration from a lot of sources. For example, I found a couple of recipes that called themselves "chocolate pecan pie," but the only way they differed from regular pecan pie was the addition of chocolate chips. So I used my novelist curiosity to take it a step further by asking "what if . . ." In this case, that meant, what if the pie's syrup was chocolate based? So I experimented and came up with a great-tasting recipe.

While working for the Utah Chocolate Show, one of my jobs was writing the weekly e-letter, which required me to find fun chocolate quotes and anecdotes. I was able to use a lot of those in the book. And it helps that I have chocoholic friends and family; many of the stories are from them.

Can you tell us what it was like to test all of the recipes for the book? Did you have any disasters when you tested the recipes?

It was five intense months. Some recipes worked great right out of the gate, while others . . . didn't. Several recipes required multiple tries to get right. One recipe in particular gave me hair-pulling fits. I almost gave up on it but tried one more time--and it turned out beautifully. I literally danced around the kitchen after that one!

Did you take the photos that are featured in the book? If so, how did the process go?

The photos were all taken for the book--there's not a single stock image in there. Covenant hired a photographer, and we had something like 2-3 shoots a week for 6 weeks. It was crazy trying to make foods all over again (pretty this time!) plus round up dishes that matched the color scheme of the layout and more. It was a stressful patch, but the end result was worth it! The photos are gorgeous, and it's fun to look at them and be able to point out my cousin's mug here, that dish I own there, and so on.

Were there any challenges that you didn’t foresee in making a cookbook?

It was more time-consuming than I expected. I assumed I could successfully test two or three recipes a day--but while I could make that many things, there was no guarantee the I'd have two or three successes every day! The photo shoots were also a surprise, and a new kind of challenge, having to think of food in visual terms was something I'd never done before.

How did you get the cookbook published-did you query the publisher with the idea first or compile the recipes and stories and then submit it?

I was in an unusual position in that I already had a publisher with seven prior novels, so I could approach them in advance. Before I tested a single recipe, we talked about the idea, so I knew ahead of time that they had an interest in the project. Their excitement about it helped keep me going!

Do you have plans for any future cookbooks?

I have a couple of possible ideas clattering around the back of my mind for other cookbooks, but I'm a novelist first, so I don't know what the future will bring!

What is your favorite chocolate recipe?

That really depends on the day and my mood. Sometimes I crave my Jumbo Rocky Road cookies, other times a simple brownie. Lately it's been French Silk Pie. I'm game for almost any form of chocolate!

Thanks Annette!

Interview with Rachel Ann Nunes

"I love learning new things. I love dreaming. Combine the two and you have a novel." -Rachel Ann Nunes

Rachel Ann Nunes so kindly answered some of my questions regarding her book, Imprints and the sequel, Shades of Gray that will come out in 2011.  Thank you Rachel for allowing us to go "behind the scenes" and take a peek into the mind of an author.  

You can read my review of this wonderful book here.



Q: What inspired you to write your first book?

A: I simply knew from a very young age that I wanted to be an author. For as long as I can remember, writing novels is what I planned to do. I was an avid reader and always made up what I thought were wonderful stories in my mind. When I was in France for six months as an eleven-year-old, the seed for my first published novel, Ariana, began to grow, and two years in Portugal added to the European flavor of the novel.

Q: Does your family enjoy your books?

A: My daughters read them, and one particular daughter, Catia, is my biggest supporter. She pre-reads all my books for me.

Q:Is there a message in Imprints that you want readers to grasp?

A: If there's a message in Imprints, it's that you don't have to include a lot of raunchy sex scenes, child sacrifice, and swear words every page like all the national paranormal novels for adults out there. I believe the reason why young adult paranormal novels are so popular is that because they don't waste time with that sort of thing. There seems to be a real disconnect between publishers and readers these days in regards to what readers really want.

Q:Where did the idea for the ability to imprint come from?

A: It's one of those things that just happened. In fact, before the idea came to me, I didn't even realize there was a scientific name for the ability. I think on some level I sort of imagined those old handheld credit card imprint devices and how you'd slide the card and the number would appear magically on the paper. I figured an emotion would be a similar thing, only invisible to the eye.

Q: I love the covers for this series, did you have any input on them?

A: On the first mocked up of this cover, they had a girl in coat and boots who looked like she was walking around in a forest. There were fingerprints and sort of an old mystery look to the whole thing. In fact, you can still see that cover on Amazon. Not a bad cover, but the character doesn't look or feel like mine (who never wears shoes). When I suggested a change, my product manager thought we ought to use the Portland skyline as well, and this is what we ended up with http://rachelannnunes.com/Imprints_book.php. It fits the book a lot better. So, yes, my publisher is good to listen to my input about covers. I think they do a fabulous job.

Q:What kind of research did you do for this series?

A: I researched pychometry, which is the scientific name for the paranormal ability my character has, but most of my research involved cults, antiques, and the two cities in Oregon where my novel takes place. As the child of an herb store owner, I've always been interested in herbs and how people feel about them, so that's always fun to play into.

Q: What are you working on now?

A: I've just finished Shades of Gray, An Autumn Rain Imprints Novel, which as you can tell from the title, is the sequel to Imprints. My pre-readers were very positive about the book, and I'm excited for people to read it. The release date is likely in May 2011, give or take a month, and if you check on my website in April, I should have a sample chapter and the week of the release. In fact, I have sample chapters of most of my novels there: www.RachelAnnNunes.com. Currently, I'm working on a novel called Before I Say Goodbye, which is still in the early stages so I'm not ready to share much about yet. I do have to give my publisher a summary soon, and I'll put a bit of that up on my website in a few weeks. I plan to have it finished by the end of January for an August 2011 release.

Q: Do you have any advice for other writers?

My best advice is to read, read, read, and read some more. And then write, write, write, and pass your work around to other aspiring authors, and then rewrite again and send it out to editors or agents. Keep writing new novels or revising older ones and continue sending them out. Keep reading all the time (novels, grammar books, books about writing). If you don't give up, you will eventually make it.

Q: Are there any new books that have grabbed your interest?

A: I'm reading all the time, and right now I'm reading extensively in the urban fantasy market, which I'm writing on the side when I'm caught up on my current publisher deadlines. It's a fascinating genre, but I really only enjoy a few of those authors because of what I mentioned above about content. For my own writing in that genre, I may have to end up using younger characters just to avoid this. I'm not at all into the high school teen angst scene, but there is a newer genre of novels with twenty-something characters that are a mix of young adult and adult that I've found interesting.

Q: What inspires you to write and why?

A: I simply feel that I must write. When I do, I'm happier and my life and my relationships are smoother. It's like eating. If I'm away from it too long, I'm cranky and easily irritated. I believe we are all given gifts for a reason, and if we're not using them and stretching ourselves, we don't grow and progress, which makes the core of who we are unhappy. Also, writing is a unique profession in that you learn a little about many subjects. I love learning new things. I love dreaming. Combine the two and you have a novel.