Interview & #Giveaway: The Window by Amelia Brunskill

Amelia Brunskill was born in Melbourne, Australia, but she grew up mostly in Washington state where she picked a lot of blackberries, read a lot of books, and failed to properly appreciate the epic beauty of the mountains and the Pacific ocean. 

She earned her bachelors degrees in psychology and art from the University of Washington and her master in information studies from the University of Texas at Austin. She now lives in Chicago, where she eats as much Thai food as possible and works as a librarian. 

The Window is her debut novel. 

WEBSITE | TWITTER | INSTAGRAM

Tell us something fun about you?
For a little while, I had an Etsy shop where I sold ceramic animals that I’d made. Unfortunately, they were extremely heavy so I ended up having to charge almost as much for shipping as for the items themselves!

What do you feel is the most important aspect of story development for you?
Good pacing and well-developed characters are the most important aspects of story development for me. Without good pacing, mysteries just don’t work right, but, as a reader, if characters aren’t well-developed then I simply won’t care what happens to them, good or bad.

What books have most influenced your life most?
Cynthia Voigt’s Izzy, Willy-Nilly and The Runner both really stuck with me. How the main characters responded to, and processed, the events in their lives continues to influence how I try to advocate for both myself and others. 

How much of your time do you spend on research?
While, as a librarian, I love helping other people conduct their research, I actually don’t really enjoy doing it on my own behalf—for some reason the second I switch from causally reading for interest to doing directed research, I get a little twitchy. So I do some research, but not a ton—I’m definitely not someone who is at any risk of spending more time researching than writing!

How much input do you have in the cover art process?
Random House has a questionnaire on cover design that it gives its authors, so I filled that out, and I also made a document with covers that I loved and notes about what I loved about them, so that they could get a sense of my aesthetic. One of the covers I loved was Suicide Notes from Beautiful Girls, so I was thrilled when my editor told me that the same artist, Regina Flath, would be working on my cover. When they sent me the cover she’d made, I absolutely loved it, and it basically didn’t change from that point.

Who was the hardest character for you to write about?
I really struggled with Sarah. For a long time, she didn’t have much personality—she was just a nice, kind of bland, person that Jess became friends with. I had a lot of false starts before I found my groove with her, but now she is one of my favorites characters.

What do you like to do when you’re not writing?
I really enjoy watching movie trailers. I can watch ones that I like a ridiculous number of times, and I love how good ones can tell a story while at the same time not giving too much away. 

I also like going on long walks through the park—I feel like fresh air and trees are good for my brain.

Favorite quote?
I have a million favorites, and here is one of them:

A book is a dream you hold in your hands. —Neil Gaiman

The Window
by Amelia Brunskill
Publisher: Delacorte Press
Release Date: April 3, 2018
Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary, Mystery, Thriller
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Synopsis:
Anna is everything her identical twin is not. Outgoing and athletic, she is the oppo-site of quiet introvert Jess. The same on the outside, yet so completely different in-side--it's hard to believe the girls are sisters, let alone twins. But they are. And they tell each other everything.

Or so Jess thought.

After Anna falls to her death while sneaking out her bedroom window, Jess's life begins to unravel. Everyone says it was an accident, but to Jess, that doesn't add up. Where was Anna going? Who was she meeting? And how long had Anna been lying to her?

Jess is compelled to learn everything she can about the sister she thought she knew. At first it's a way to stay busy and find closure . . . but Jess soon discovers that her twin kept a lot of secrets. And as she digs deeper, she learns that the an-swers she's looking for may be truths that no one wants her to uncover.

Because Anna wasn't the only one with secrets.

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Interview & Giveaways: This Tiny Perfect World by Lauren Gibaldi

Interview with Author Lauren Gibaldi

Lauren Gibaldi is a public librarian who’s been, among other things, a magazine editor, high school English teacher, bookseller, and circus aerialist (seriously). She has a BA in Literature and Master’s in Library and Information Studies. She lives in Orlando, Florida with her husband and daughter. Her books include THE NIGHT WE SAID YES, AUTOFOCUS, and the forthcoming THIS TINY PERFECT WORLD.

What’s more fun to write?
the world or the characters?: For me the characters. I love learning about them, finding out their little likes and dislikes, and what makes them...them. 

Do you plan everything or just let the story flow? 
Mostly let the story flow. This is the first book I’ve written that was fully plotted (as I had to prepare a synopsis for my editor). It made writing a little harder, because I had to stick to the original outline, but also easier because I knew what would happen next. Obviously things did change in the process, but for the better. I hope!

Do your characters ever want to take over the story? 
No, not really. 

What is your favourite food? 
Pasta!

Do you listen to music while writing? 
I can’t listen to music while writing--I’ll end up singing along. 

What are three words that describe you? 
Ummm short, happy, librarian 

What is your favorite quote from This Tiny Perfect World? 
“I want to make millions of decisions and revisions.” I won’t mention context.

About the Book
This Tiny Perfect World
by Lauren Gibaldi
Publisher: HarperTeen
Release Date: February 27, 2018
Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary

Synopsis:
Penny loves her small-town Florida life, and she has her future mapped out. She’s going to community college after graduation to stay close to home and her best friend, Faye. She’ll take over the family diner that her dad has been managing since her mother died. And one day, she’ll marry her high school sweetheart, Lo-gan. 

But when she unexpectedly lands a scholarship to a prestigious summer theater camp, she is thrust into a world of competition and self-doubt. And suddenly, her future gets a little hazy. As she meets new friends, including Chase, a talented young actor with big-city dreams, she begins to realize that maybe the life every-one (including her) expects her to lead is not the one she was meant to have.

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Interview & Giveaway: Of Jenny and the Aliens by Ryan Gebhart

Of Jenny and the Aliens

by Ryan Gebhart
Publisher: Candlewick Press
Release Date: August 1, 2017

Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary, Sci-Fi

Synopsis:
When boy meets girl meets alien, the angst of first love gets an extraterrestrial intervention in a tale both outrageously funny and full of heart.

Ten years after Earth sent messages out into deep space, there has beenan answer. Music from a distant planet has reached the world’s radios. Are aliens about to invade? No one knows, and almost-eighteen-year-old Derek doesn’t really care, because at a wild end-of-the-world party, Jennifer Novak invited him to play beer pong, and things, well, progressed from there. Derek isin love. Deeply, hopelessly in love. He wants it all — marriage, kids, growing old on a beach in Costa Rica. For him, Jenny is the One. But Jenny has other plans, which may or may not include Derek. So Derek will try anything towin her —even soliciting advice from an alien who shows upin his hometown. This alien may just be the answer to Derek’s problem, but is Derek prepared to risk starting an interstellar war to get his girl? Just how far ishewilling to travel to discover the mysteries of the universe —and the enigma of love?

What are the three words that best describe you? 

Awkward, anxious, and genuine (or at the very least, I try to be genuine).

What books have most influenced you? 

Pretty much anything by Michael Crichton and Stephen King. The fact that Michael Crichton was able to make the most absurd concept—a theme park with actual dinosaurs—sound like the most realistic and plausible thing, it just blew me away. I was convinced that some day, maybe I could do that too. And Stephen King. He writes with such ease you can tell he wouldn't want to be doing anything else. If I could have as much fun with writing as King does, then I know I've made it. Currently it's a struggle, as I am still learning the essentials of good storytelling.

Favorite quote from your book? “Love is not a shape. There is no love triangle, no love square. Love is a network. It's a form of communication.”

What's more fun to write – the world or the characters? 

Man, this has got to be a fifty-fifty split for me. The characters populate the world, but the world shapes the characters. Writing both has their challenges as well as their joys.

Has a character ever taken over a story you were writing? Or done something that surprised you? 

Yes. I think all of my characters have surprised me to some degree at one point or another. If a character doesn't surprise you as you're writing them, then they're likely not as fleshed out as they need to be to satisfy the reader. I've never met a human that didn't surprise me with their actions at one point or another, no matter how set in their ways they seem. Fictional characters should reflect this. 

What do you like to do when you're not writing? 

I'm also a portrait artist. And I play the piano . . . and I pretty much hang out with my pups whenever possible.

Ryan Gebhart is the author of the middle-grade novel There Will Be Bears, about which Publishers Weekly said in a starred review, “ Fully developed characters, complex and realistic relationships . . . and a spot-on narrative voice . . . make this story stand out. About Of Jenny and the Aliens, the author says, “ This book is about first love and discovering that we're notalone in the universe, and how maybe those two things aren't that different from each other.” Ryan Gebhart lives in Ohio.


His debut young adult Of Jenny and the Aliens, about first love and discovering that we're not alone in the universe, willbe released Spring 2017 with Candlewick Press.

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Interview: Author Ingrid Seymour

Ingrid Seymour is the author of Ignite The Shadows (Harper Voyager, April 23, 2015). When she’s not writing books, she spends her time working as a software engineer, cooking exotic recipes, hanging out with her family and working out. She writes young adult and new adult fiction in a variety of genres, including Sci-Fi, urban fantasy, romance, paranormal and horror.

Her favorite outings involve a trip to the library or bookstore where she immediately gravitates toward the YA section. She’s an avid reader and fangirl of many amazing books. She is a dreamer and a fighter who believes perseverance and hard work can make dreams come true.

She lives in Birmingham, AL with her husband, two kids and a cat named Mimi.

Website | Facebook | Twitter

What are three words that best describe you?
Determined. Passionate. Opinionated :)

What book are you reading now?
Currently I am reading Blue Lily, Lily Blue by Maggie Stiefvater and Endless Knight by Kresley Cole. Both series are amazing, especially the first. YA at its best, though I would argue that the latter is actually more New Adult due to some mature content.

What books have most influenced your life? 
The Harry Potter series got me interested in YA. It inspired me and made me think: “I could write this stuff and I would really enjoy doing it.” But the book that really got me motivated and gave me the advice I needed to get moving and actually finish a book was “On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft” by Stephen King. I recommend it to any aspiring author.

Favorite quote from your book or one of you've read and loved?
My series The Morphid Chronicles deals with teens who go through a metamorphosis and, in the process, lose their free will. There are some philosophical discussions around the topic and all the characters have a different perspective on free will. I like this quote, which is from the protagonist Greg Papilio:
“Free will hurt...free will tore his heart in two...free will was a lie.”

What’s more fun to write – the world or the characters?
This is hard for me to answer, since I enjoy both very much. But forced to pick, I would say the characters. Stories are about people. As a reader, I can’t truly enjoy a book if I don’t connect with its characters at some level—no matter how beautifully drawn the world around them. So I have a lot fun getting to know my characters and fleshing them out. 

Has a character ever taken over a story you were writing? or done anything that surprised you?
This is a resounding YES! It happens to me often, but the worst (best, really) was Marci Guerrero from my YA Sci-Fi IGNITE THE SHADOWS. She is a very strong girl, both mentally and physically. She is self-sufficient and fiercely independent. Half the time I would say go right and she’d go left. The most interesting occasion was when she decided to intervene and save one of the characters. I had to rewrite some stuff around the setting to let her do that, ‘cause she wasn’t taking “no” for an answer :)

What do you like to do when you're not writing?
I like spending time with my family. I have a loving husband and two precocious kids that keep me on my toes and fill my life with joy. I also love reading and do a Goodreads challenge every year (find me there? ;) I love watching book-to-movie adaptations and working out—if there is time and energy.

Are there any new projects in the works?
Yes! Writing is a year-‘round affair for me. I love doing it, so I’m always working on something. At the moment, I’m working on the final touches of RIPPER, book 2 of The Morphid Chronicles. Also I’m plotting a novella for the IGNITE THE SHADOWS’ world that I plan to complete during NaNoWriMo. I’m also waiting on editorial notes from my editor for ECLIPSE THE FLAME. Very exciting times for me!

What is the question that you wish interviewers would ask, and the answer to that question? 
How did you come up with the idea for IGNITE THE SHADOWS?
Ignite the Shadows began as a short story. The idea for the it occurred to me as someone I know was going through a battery of in vitro fertilization treatments. My crazy brain started wondering: “What if the embryos belong to alien creatures or are infected with something?” I wrote the short story from the point of view of the mother. IGNITE THE SHADOWS is written from the perspective of the resulting child after the treatment. It’s kind of creepy, really. But loads of fun. 

About Ignite The Shadows 
All her life, Marci Guerrero has kept a secret. Her mind is ravaged by shadows that cloak her thoughts and override her. They induce outrageous behavior that humiliates her mother and have Xave, the boy she likes, convinced she’s a stunt-addicted brat. To cope, she Karate-kicks in a dojo every day, while at night she earns her reputation as the best teen hacker in Seattle.

Still, Marci is restless, always getting into trouble as she looks for release from the tormenting shadows inside her head. During one of her stunts, she lands in the path of tenacious James McCray, the leader of a clandestine group known as IgNiTe. His presence stirs Marci’s brain into a maddening frenzy. Her symptoms and ability to control them don’t go unnoticed by James, who soon recruits her and reveals the awful truth . . .

A large number of the world’s population is infected by sentient parasites. They bind to the human brain and rewire the pathways for all thoughts and actions. Once there, the creatures morph their hosts into grotesque monsters with extraordinary strengths. Winged, clawed, fanged half-humans become living nightmares. Worst of all, the creatures plan to infect all humans in a vicious attempt to take over the world.

Soon Marci wishes she was crazy, because the truth is worse. It turns out she’s one of them. She’s infected.

Determined to stop this evil race, Marci fights alongside IgNiTe and others who, like her, can resist the infection. She battles for the world, herself, and to keep the truth from Xave. He must never learn she’s a monster.

Ingrid will be at the Tuscaloosa Public Library on November 14, 2015 for the Yomucon: Cosplay at the Library Convention.

Interview with Author E.G. Glover

 Chat with Author E.G. Glover

Author Bio:
E G Glover began his independent author career as co-writer of Fear the Beast Within: The Fear Series, Book One (Paranormal Romance), in early 2012. This series has continued and will conclude with Book Four.

One year later, Glover released his firstsolo work, A Twist In Time: Mystery Hill Series, Book One (Gothic/Time Travel Romance), which has sold in several countries around the world and currently published by Relative Term Press. Times Not Traveled: Mystery Hill Series, Book Two, also available.

Glover flirted with idea of writing in high school by authoring various poems and short stories, but it wasn't until late 2011 that his dream of writing a novel finally began to take shape.

Born and raised in northwest Alabama, Glover hopes his writing will prove a romantic story can be told with a male's point of view entwined and still hold the romanticism that readers enjoy.

Social media link:  https://www.facebook.com/EGGlover1976

Tell us about Times Not Traveled?  
Times Not Traveled is the second book in the Mystery Hill Series. Mystery Hill, an ancient stone circle in New Hampshire, is a place of legend and its true purpose has all but been lost with the passage of time. The location's caretaker, Richard Adahy, and his peculiar pet crow, Percy, guard the true secret of the stones. The circle can be used as a way to travel backward and forth, but only at certain times of the year. 

This chapter of the book series follows Abby Morris, who has recently moved to New Hampshire to pursue a new job. Her new home has led her to Thomas Collier, an editor for a local newspaper, the sort of man she always yearned to find. There are just a couple of problems standing in the way of her new found happiness: Thom’s ex-girlfriend, Sarah, and restless nights where she is bombarded with otherworldly dreams of a black bird watching her every move. 

Sarah Wisdom’s road to happiness had taken an unexpected turn when her boyfriend took an exit out of her life. With Thom gone, she has to make a new road to contentment, or fight her way up an old path fueled by the desperation to be with the man she loves. Armed with nothing but her cell phone and a head full of tormenting visions of a malevolent crow, Sarah embarks on a trip to reclaim what she knows is rightfully hers. It’s a journey that will lead her to an ancient stone circle known as Mystery Hill.

How did you get interested in writing mystery fiction? 
This series actually came about after I caught an episode of 'In Search of...', hosted by Leonard Nimoy. The show discussed the real location of New Hampshire's stone circle, now commonly known as America's Stonehenge. With all the mystery surrounding the location, I figured it would be a wonderful setting for my series.

What are three words that best describe you? 
curious, fanatic, researcher 

What book are you reading now?
Recently I've been doing a lot of research on the possible purposes of stone circles across the globe. So, most of my reading has not been of a fictional nature. However, the last work of fiction that I read and thoroughly enjoyed was Moon Called, by Patricia Briggs.

What have you learned about writing and publishing since you first started? 
The one big thing that I've learned is, you have to find your audience. If there is something that you enjoy, then there are probably other people in the world that enjoy it too. I've always loved science fiction and in particular, time travel. Ever since I was a child I have wondered what it would be like to visit a place that I have known my whole life, but at an earlier time in history. I would love to see what had changed over time and what had stayed the same. Once you find your audience, encourage them to pass your work on to others. Word-of-mouth is a powerful thing!

Are you a morning person or a night owl? 
Oh, definitely a night owl! When I am writing, my best work seems to show up between the hours of one and three AM.

What's your favorite book or writer?
That is a tough question. It depends on the genre. I would have to say that Ray Bradbury would have to be my all time favorite author. His ability to tell a story, even a fanciful one, has always intrigued my imagination. 


What’s more fun to write – the world or the characters?
I enjoy creating the world that my character's live in. If their world is properly developed, the characters basically 'tell me' what they would do in that type of setting. They become their own person within the story.


Do your characters ever want to take over the story?
Oh yes! Very often they do! That is one way that I know I'm on a roll with a story. There have been times I have deleted several pages of a story because the character keeps 'telling me', "I wouldn't do that!"

Is there any question that you wish interviewers would ask? Not that I can think of, I just enjoy being able to share my little tales AND see people enjoy them.   


Thanks so much for your time and I look forward to meeting you in November. E G. Glover will be at the Tuscaloosa Public Library on November 14, 2015 for the Yomucon: Cosplay at the Library Convention.

Book description: 
Times Not Traveled, Mystery Hill Series Book #2

Abby Morris’ life has finally made a change for the better, and not a moment too soon. A recent move to New Hampshire to pursue a new job has led to more than a simple change of scenery. Her new home has led her to Thomas Collier, an editor for a local newspaper, the sort of man she always yearned to find. There are just a couple of problems standing in the way of her new found happiness: Thom’s ex-girlfriend, Sarah, and restless nights where she is bombarded with otherworldly dreams of a blackbird watching her every move.

For nearly a year, Sarah Wisdom’s life had been everything she had ever wanted, but her road to happiness had taken an unexpected turn when her boyfriend took an exit out of her life. With Thom gone, she has to make a new road to contentment, or fight her way up an old path fueled by the desperation to be with the man she loves. Armed with nothing but her cell phone and a head full of tormenting visions of a malevolent crow, Sarah embarks on a trip to reclaim what she knows is rightfully hers. It’s a journey that will lead her to an ancient stone circle known as Mystery Hill.

Places to purchase my books: http://egglover.wix.com/books#!booksbyegglover/cnec

Interview: Allen Wyler Author of Deadly Odds

Interview with Author Allen Wyler 
Website
Author of Deadly Odds

Q:  How did you come up with the idea of the story?
A:  The first novel I ever wrote was based on this story’s kernel: a geek who develops a strategy to successfully gamble draws unwanted attention to himself. But that novel turned out to be disaster and was rejected by every agent I queried. However, the idea of being able to beat the odds remained intriguing yet elusive. Then one day I read about Nate Silver and his uncannily ability to accurately predict various phenomenon based on statistics. After all, this was what the 2011 Brad Pitt movie Moneyball was based on. Once I read about Silver, I knew the plot was much more believable.
        
Q: What influenced you to create a computer hacker protagonist than the usual medical professional?
A: There are several reasons. First, I don’t like being pigeonholed into the subgenre of “medical thriller.” In addition, it’s unbelievable to believe that a healthcare professional would have the computer expertise—or time—to pull off something like Arnold Gold does. More importantly, in doing my research for this story, I became fascinated with the Darknet and Internet security. I really wanted a way to weave this interesting information into a compelling story. So... a likeable computer hacker seemed to be a much more interesting character to develop than another neurosurgeon. I love Arnold Gold’s character and a really glad I settled on him.

Q:  Why Vegas? Have you always wanted to write a book with Sin City as the setting?
A:  When first developing the story I didn’t have any city in mind other than I knew Arnold lived in Seattle. (I love the city as a backdrop to stories.) I also knew Arnold wanted to get laid but was so uneasy about seeing an “escort” for this purpose, that it made sense for him to go someplace far from home where he’d be unlikely to run into anyone he knew. Given the reputation of Sin City, it just felt right to send him there.

Q:  Do you plan on writing more thriller books outside of the medical thriller genre?
A:  You bet. I like exploring topics dealing with computers and the Internet. I’m especially intrigued with hacking and the Darknet. My next book, Cutter’s Trial, however, is not a thriller and lands me right back in the medical arena because it explores the issue of physician assisted suicide. Having been involved in a couple start-up companies, I’m also toying with using that subject as a basis for a book, but I have nothing in development along these lines at the present time. We’ll see what happens.

Q:  Would you ever consider a sequel to this book?
A:  Glad you asked the question. Both Arnold Gold and Palmer Davidson are such wonderfully rich characters that Robert Astle (my agent) and I agree they are well-suited for a sequel. At the moment I’m busy writing Deadly Odds 2.0.

Q:  Do you think this book could be a movie? Who could you picture playing Arnold?
A:  Of all my prior thrillers, I think this one has the most cinematic potential. I’m lousy at casting, so if it were ever made into a movie (my wildest dream), I’d leave that choice to the producers.

About the Author
Allen Wyler is a renowned neurosurgeon who earned an international reputation for pioneering surgical techniques to record brain activity.  He has served on the faculties of the University of Washington and the University of Tennessee, as well as the Swedish Medical Center to develop a neuroscience institute.
Allen has since retired and devoted himself to fiction writing full time, and has written five novels, including his latest, Deadly Odds, which is his first in the techno-thriller genre.

About the Book 
Twenty-three year old Arnold Gold is a local computer genius in his native Seattle, described as a “part-time hacker and full-time virgin” by his friends. When the awkward young shut-in decides to take matters in his own hands, and venture to Vegas “to get lucky,” little does he know that his hacking skill will make him  a bull’s-eye target for terrorists and the FBI.

A major terrorist group wants Arnold’s “Dark Net Hacking” system to help hatch their latest plot, and they’ll stop at nothing to claim it—even killing Arnold’s friends. Now, with murderous terrorists, the FBI, and the local cops on his tail, Arnold finds himself trapped in a high-stakes game with the odds of survival slim to none. It will take every last bit of his genius intellect and legendary hacking skill to stay one step ahead of the deadly game, and foil the plot that will turn Sin City into the scene of the deadliest terror attacks since 9/11.


Written in Allen Wyler’s break neck style and attention to expert detail, Deadly Odds is as terrifyingly plausible as it is darkly humorous and enjoyable. The riveting story of a young man who lives life through his computer and discovers its dark side is sure to win him legions of new fans. Filled with suspenseful twists and enough technological detail to keep both techno-thriller and classic suspense fans on the edge of their seats, Deadly Odds is the ultimate thrill ride for the emerging tech-savvy generation.

Purchase Links
Amazon:  http://amzn.to/1xU0TeM
B&N: http://bit.ly/1sZrIy1
Apple:  http://bit.ly/1xU0YiA
Kobo:  http://bit.ly/1vo7n6Y

Interview with Author Jill Knapp

Tell us about yourself? I am a coffee and ice cream obsessed, writer who loved dogs and the beach 

What inspired you to write What Happens To Men When They Move To Manhattan? I wanted to write a story that reflected the way I felt while living in New York. I wanted to write something with a realistic ending and create a series of characters that people would end up loving.

What book are you reading now or the last book you've read? I just finished reading The Selection by Kiera Cass and it was absolutely fantastic. I already ordered the next two!

What do you feel is the hardest part about writing? Being sure that what you wrote isn’t terrible. It’s a constant battle between thinking you wrote something amazing and though provoking one minute, and then looking at it and thinking it’s terrible the next.

Who is your favorite character from your book and why? Amalia is my favorite character. She is so full of life. She’s a loveable mess who although makes a lot of mistakes, she has a good heart.

What is the most rewarding experience you've had since being signed by Harper Impulse? My cover reveal. It was when it all started to feel real. I am absolutely in love with my new cover.

Favorite song right now? Long Live, by Taylor Swift

Are there any upcoming projects that you'd like to tell us about? I just finished my first draft of the second installment in the “What Happens To Men?..” series. That will most likely be available this fall.

Is there a question you wish interviewers would ask and the answer to that question? Or if you'd like to, share a fun fact about yourself? I wish people would ask about my dogs more because they just mean the world to me! I have a Pekingese named Brownie and a Japanese Chin named Cupcake.

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#GirlsGoneSciFi Interview & Giveaway with Jessica Brody, Lauren Miller, Jessica Khoury & Tamara Ireland Stone

From L to R: Jessica Khoury, Lauren Miller, Me, Jessica Brody, Tamara Ireland Stone & Jade(cousin)

Author Websites

Jessica Brody | Lauren Miller | Tamara Ireland Stone | Jessica Khoury

I was chosen as the featured blogger for this stop on the #GirlsGoneSciFi Tour at Books-A-Million in Brookwood Village, Birmingham, AL on  March 27, 2014. I got the chance to meet with and chat with these awesome authors and I hope you see how great they are as you watch the interview. This time around I decided not to transcribe the interview and did a video instead, it's about 30 minutes, enjoy! Also, I want to thank my cousin, Jade for being my camera girl, she did a good job! 

I also will post snippets of the Q&A session soon!



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What’s up for grabs?
Prize#1 Signed copies of Parallel(Hardback) & Free to Fall (ARC) by Lauren Miller
Prize #2 Signed copies of Unrembered (Paperback) & Unforgotten by Jessica Brody
Prize #3 Signed copy of Time Between Us & Time After Time by Tamara Ireland Stone
Prize #4 Copy of Vitro by Jessica Khoury
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Interview: Author Danielle Jensen of Stolen Songbird

Describe yourself in three words?

Quiet, stubborn, ambitious.

Tell us about Stolen Songbird and it's main character Cécile?

Here is what is on the back cover of the book sitting next to me!

For five centuries, a witch’s curse has bound the trolls to their city beneath the mountain. When Cécile de Troyes is kidnapped and taken beneath the mountain, she realizes that the trolls are relying on her to break the curse.

Cécile has only one thing on her mind: escape. But the trolls are clever, fast, and inhumanly strong. She will have to bide her time…

But the more time she spends with the trolls, the more she understands their plight. There is a rebellion brewing. And she just might be the one the trolls were looking for…

Cécile’s an ordinary girl who finds herself in an extraordinary situation. She’s feisty and determined, and she goes after what she wants.

What do you feel is the most important aspect of story development; setting, characters, plot...? What makes a good story?

Character development. If you don’t care about the characters, it won’t matter how great everything else is.

What do you believe are the key elements to writing realistic love interests/romance in young adult fiction?

Hmmm, I’m not sure Tristan is a realistic love interest – he is quite fantastical!

I’m going to limit my answer to romance in YA fantasy, because I think contemporary novels are quite different. In my humble opinion, the relationships of YA fantasy are quite idealized – everything is better and worse than real life. The idea is not to make them realistic by our standards, but to make them compelling and believable in the world the author has created.

If you could be any animal, what would you be? Why?

A tiger, because I would strike fear into the hearts of all who crossed my path. Alternatively, a house cat.

If you could be a character in a book, which book and what character?

I would be Isabelle in The Mortal Instruments.

Any new projects in the works?

The sequel to Stolen Songbird. It is a time-sucking vortex.

What is the question that you wish interviewers would ask, and the answer to that question? 

Are you really excited to see the Divergent movie? Hell ya! I will probably have seen it by the time this interview is posted. So excited for Four.