Interview & Giveaway with Gwen Hayes, author of Falling Under!

Today I'd like to extend a warm welcome to Gwen Hayes, author of the Young Adult paranormal romance novel,  FALLING UNDER. Gwen stopped by to discuss her new book which recently released this month AND she brought along a finished copy for one lucky winner. See details below.

In

  

Gwen Hayes lives in the Pacific Northwest with her real life hero, their children, and the pets that own them. She writes books for teen readers about love, angst, and saving the world. Her debut novel, FALLING UNDER, will be released in March of 2011 by NAL. Baffled by the fact that not everyone has people talking to each other in their head all the time, Gwen decided maybe she should start writing down what they say. She told her family she wanted to be a writer in 2007, they all nodded, and the adventures began. Official Website

           1. In FALLING UNDER, Theia Alderson begins leading a double life- during the day she's a sheltered teenager in the small town of Serendipity Falls. Everything changes when she meets Haden Black – soon she begins joining him in eerie dreams that feel all too real.  Can you tell us a little bit more about your book and share with us a favorite line, scene or passage?

Picking a favorite line is difficult. I think I’d rather let the readers pick their favorite lines and tell me which ones they liked.  http://gwenhayes.com/contact.asp

My favorite scenes to write were the romantic ones.  I think it’s because Haden made them so easy—he’s very comfortable in the leading man role.  He’s dashing and charismatic and swoonworthy. Poor Theia is so unprepared for him.

2.     2. What three words best describe FALLING UNDER?

Great Question.  Eerie. Fantastical. Romantical.

Wait, romantical isn’t a word. 

3.    3. FALLING UNDER appears to draw from Greek Mythology, particularly the Persephone myth. Can you discuss this further with us?

I didn’t set out to draw from any particular mythos. The fun part of writing paranormal is that I get to play with a lot of different legends and retell t hem, mix them up, spin them around, and put boys in black nail polish and a cravat.

I actually didn’t know what Haden was when I began writing this story.  I knew he was from an underworld type place, and because of that, the name Haden seemed to fit because it we similar to Hades.  I didn’t set out to retell Persephone, though.

 I tend to think the subconscious mind drinks from a collective well of contribution, and that is why Greek mythology and modern day stories  (and everything in between) have similar themes.

4.     4. If you had to attach a musical score to your novel, what songs do you imagine playing during prominent scenes?

I do have a musical score! I put a bit of my playlist here: http://iLike.com/p/uN1reM:16wwte

#1 Crush by Garbage is what I imagine playing during the club scene for sure, and every song by Neverending White Lights evokes the  mood of Falling Under and the sequel I’m currently working on.

5.    5. If you could inhabit the life of one literary character and dive into their world for just one day, who would you choose and why?

I would LOVE to be Claire Danvers from Rachel Caine’s Morganville Vampires for a day. Only a day, though. I’d want to be safely home before dark. That’s when the vampires come out.

 I think it would just be fun to hang out with Shane, Eve, and Michael for a day. Though, I’d also like to hang out with Claire too, so maybe I could be the sentient house instead.

6.     6.You've mentioned that you are an avid reader. What is your favorite book and fictional crush to date?

I absolutely refuse to pick one book. You can’t make me.  J As for crushes, I think Shane from Rachel Caine’s Morganville Vampire books is adorable. And Barrons from Karen Marie Moning’s Fever series is amazing. *fans self*

7.     7. If someone wrote the biography of your life, what would the title be and why?

I am positive nobody will want a biography of my life. I lead a very boring existence off the page. If they did manage to trick a publisher into buying it, maybe…The Girl with the Butterfly Tattoo. 

8.     8. What were you like as a teenager and did you have any books in particular that were your favorites? If your teenage self was to read FALLING UNDER, what do you think she’d say?

I think I pretty much tapped the teenage Gwen while writing Falling Under.  She was pretty big on big angsty love stories (still is).  Also, when I was a teen, we didn’t have the kind of YA choices available now, so I read a lot of adult fiction. 

9.     9. What would you say is the best advice you've been given as an author?

Keep reading—inside and outside of the genre you write.  Read, read, read.

1   10. Will FALLING UNDER be part of a new series? What other projects do you have in the works for us to look forward to?

There is a sequel to Falling Under, currently untitled (though I’m calling it After the Fall right now), that will likely be done when this interview is posted. I think the goal is to release at the beginning of 2012.  I have another series set in Serendipity Falls that I hope will be next,  but I also have some things on the backburner that are completely different—no paranormal elements at all.  I like to mix things up a bit.

Thanks for inviting me to your blog!

****GIVEAWAY****

1 FINISHED COPY 

of FALLING UNDER by 

GWEN HAYES 

Theia Alderson has always led a sheltered life in the small California town of Serendipity Falls. But when a devastatingly handsome boy appears in the halls of her school, Theia knows she's seen Haden before- not around town, but in her dreams.

As the Haden of both the night and the day beckons her closer one moment and pushes her away the next, the only thing Theia knows for sure is that the incredible pull she feels towards him is stronger than her fear.

And when she discovers what Haden truly is, Theia's not sure if she wants to resist him, even if the cost is her soul.

Official Rules:

1.You must be 13 year or older to enter

2. U.S & CANADIAN Entrants Welcome!

3. Entries must be received by Midnight EST on March 25th 2011

4.To enter to win, simply fill out the form below. Good luck!  

FORM

Ten Tantalizing Questions & Giveaway with Kelly Keaton, author of Darkness Becomes Her!

Today I'd like to extend a warm welcome to Kelly Keaton, author of Darkness Becomes Her. Kelly stopped by to discuss her book which releases this week on February 22nd! She brought along a signed copy to giveaway to one lucky winner too (see details below). Let's get started!

Kelly loves ancient history, fantasy, and mythology. She dreams of one day attaining magical powers, discovering the secret to immortality, ridding her home of pet hair, and being crowned Mardi-Gras queen. She likes pre-Raphaelite art, moonlight on snow, and MMORPGs. She lives in North Carolina with her family, one Great Dane, and two incredibly hairy cats.
Kelly’s alter ego, Kelly Gay, is a 2010 double RITA finalist and a recipient of North Carolina’s Art Council fellowship grant in literature. She writes the Charlie Madigan series for Pocket Books. Official Website | Twitter | Facebook

1.       Darkness Becomes Her is a dark urban fantasy novel set in New Orleans.  Ari, a girl who always has been different finds herself amongst the city’s deadly creatures, all which seem afraid of her. Can you tell us a little more about the book and share with us a favorite line, scene or passage?

 I like to think of the book as this slightly futuristic, edgy, teen clash of the titans in this haunting post apocalyptic-like setting, only everything is twisted and things you thought you knew about Greek mythology are no where near the truth, and Ari is at the center of it all. One of my favorite passages takes place between the little girl, Violet, and Ari in Lafayette Cemetery. (This would be an example of why I love Violet so much!):

       Goose bumps sprouted along my cold thighs and arms. Drizzle had forced a low mist to the ground, a thin gray shroud upon the grass. The sky above was lost in a sea of thick clouds, and the gnarled branches of the oak tree nearby spread out like dark lighting against the sky.

        "She'll be back soon," Violet said. "What are you going to do?"

        I glanced at the tomb where [name ommitted] had appeared. "I don't know."

        "You should kill her."      

2.       What three words would you say best describe Darkness Becomes Her?

Creepy. Lush. Forsaken.

3.       What do you love most about the main characters in your book?

I love that Ari doesn't fit in, that she's on this journey to find her place in the world. I love that she's practical and not overly angsty. She knows how to fight and how to take care of herself. Life has hardened her; she hasn't been brought up like your typical teen. And I like that she plays by her own rules and runs her own life. She's a warrior at heart, a hero. I have a special place in my heart for dark little Violet and the mystery that surrounds her as well as for Sebastian and the other lost kids of the Garden District.

4.       If Darkness Becomes Her was to be made into a movie, do you have certain actors you envision in the lead roles, or do you think unknowns would be best suited to play them?

I've never linked an actress to Ari, and no one pops into my head at the moment. I do think, after seeing Ben Barnes in Dorian Gray, that he really (with some minor alterations) resembles the vision in my mind of Sebastian. *fans self*

 
5.       If you had to pick a theme song for Ari, which one would you pick and why?

Ari kind of goes through a progression of themes. Bring me to Life by Evanescence is a nod to opening her heart to the possibility of romance and the unfolding of her curse. Untitled by Simple Plan is that initial realization of what she is, that utter defeat and heartbreak (and it's also a nod to her difficult past as well). And then at the very end of the book (don't want to give it away), but the chorus to Fighter by Christina Aquilera is a little thrown-down (the middle finger, if you will) to a certain goddess. :D    
 
6.       What were you like as a teenager and did you have any books in particular that were your favorites? If your teenage self was to read Darkness Becomes Her, what do you think she’d say?

As a teen, I had a good group of friends and did well in school and sports (played field hockey and some soccer), but I always felt like an observer, an introvert, and I was more comfortable and at ease when I was alone and with thoughts. I daydreamed - a lot. I had horses and loved to just jump on bareback and go off by myself for hours. There's something magical and natural about daydreaming on the back of a horse! And since I couldn't time travel or jump into an alternate reality, I read. I adored Egyptian, Greek, Celtic, and Arthurian mythology and read everything I could get my hands on. Anne Rice's Interview With The Vampire was a huge favorite as a teen. It's what first drew me to New Orleans and started my obssession with the city. I think my teenage self would really respond to DBH. I drew from a lot of dark emotions, as well as my own hopes and fears when I was a teen. This is the kind of book I like to read, that I'd get excited over. All the things I love -- darkness, beauty, edge, romance, a fierce heroine, gods, powers, magic, heartbreak... It's all there. I think the teenage Kelly would like. :-) 

7.       If you could inhabit the life of one literary character and dive into their world for just one day, who would you choose and why?

Oh gosh, this is so hard to pick just one! I think my answer would change every day, but today I pick: Merlin. :D Then, I'd get to work magic, converse with dragons, see Arthur and Camelot and all the knights of the round table. I'd be able to communicate with the Lady of the Lake, the priestesses of Avalon and learn all about the worlds of the fae and the Celtic gods...   

8.       What would you say is the best advice you’ve been given as an author?

To not forget to live in the present. As an author I spend most of my days in other worlds. I'm working on books that don't come out for another year or so and my thoughts are often crammed with not only my fictional worlds, but future things (deadlines releases, etc). It's so easy to get lost in that and have it take up my attention even when I'm done writing. Sometimes I have to remind myself to stop. To enjoy the day I'm actually in. To pull myself out of the imaginary and the future to enjoy the present.
 
9.       When you have a free day with no responsibilities looming overhead, and your only mission is to enjoy yourself, what do you like to do for fun?

 Well, if I can manage to get thoughts of work out of my head (see above answer, LOL), I like to get outside and into the fresh air. Spend time with my family. Or recharge my creative batteries by reading or watching a movie. And if I'm really needing some 'me' time, I go shopping. I can spend hours at Kohl's!
 
 10.    Darkness Becomes Her, your debut YA novel releases in February 2011. What can we look forward to from you next? Any new series or other upcoming projects in the works?

I have an adult novel coming out in August (the 3rd in my Charlie Madigan (urban fantasy) series that I write as Kelly Gay), then next February brings the sequel to Darkness Becomes Her. And when I have free time, I work on Violet's story -- that strange little kid has an amazing tale to tell! :-) 

Want more? Be sure to check out Once Upon a Twilight for more tour stop information!

1. Larissa's Bookish Life - Guest post/Giveaway - February 18th 2011
2. The Bookish Type - Interview/Giveaway - February 20th 2011
3. The Book Butterfly - Interview/Giveaway - February 21st 2011
4. Paper Cut Reviews - Interview/Giveaway - February 22nd 2011 
5. Fantastic Book Review - Book Summary/Excerpt/Interview/Review/Giveaway - February 21st-24th 2011
6. Dark Faerie Tales - Interview - February 23rd 2011
7. Wicked Awesome Books - Interview - February 25th 2011
8. Lauren's Crammed Bookshelf - Interview - February 25th 2011
9. Girl about Books - Interview - February 26th 2011
10. Good Choice Reading - Guest post/Giveaway - February 27th 2011
11. Once Upon a Twilight - Top Ten/Grand-prize Giveaway - February 28th 2011

****GIVEAWAY****

1 SIGNED copy of 

DARKNESS BECOMES HER & SWAG by 

KELLY KEATON

Ari can’t help feeling lost and alone. With teal eyes and freakish silver hair that can’t be changed or destroyed, Ari has always stood out. And after growing up in foster care, she longs for some understanding of where she came from and who she is. 

Her search for answers uncovers just one message from her long dead mother: Run. Ari can sense that someone, or something, is getting closer than they should. But it’s impossible to protect herself when she doesn’t know what she’s running from or why she is being pursued.

She knows only one thing: she must return to her birthplace of New 2, the lush rebuilt city of New Orleans. Upon arriving, she discovers that New 2 is very...different. Here, Ari is seemingly normal. But every creature she encounters, no matter how deadly or horrifying, is afraid of her.

Ari won’t stop until she knows why. But some truths are too haunting, too terrifying, to ever be revealed.

Official Rules:

1.You must be 13 year or older to enter.

2. INTERNATIONAL Entrants Welcome!

3. Entries must be received by Midnight EST on March 15th 2011

4.To enter to win, simply fill out the form below. Good luck!  

FORM

Ten Tantalizing Questions for Leah Clifford, Author of A Touch Mortal!

I'd like to extend a warm welcome to Leah Clifford, author of A Touch Mortal which releases March 1, 2011. Leah stopped by today to talk about the book- check out our interview where we discussed death, angels, writing for teens and much more. See below for details on how you can win a SIGNED copy of the book. Let's get started!

Leah Clifford has been an extreme-cave-tour guide, a camp counselor, a flight attendant, a pizza delivery girl, a waitress, and a grocery store clerk. Now she adds author to that list. She lives near Cleveland, Ohio. This is her first book. Official Website of Leah Clifford

1.  A Touch Mortal, is a story about Eden a girl who gave her heart to a Fallen angel and now finds herself caught in the struggle between heaven and hell. Can you tell us a little more about the book and share with us a favorite line, scene or passage?

The story of Eden and Az is pretty complicated.  I mean, he finally finds a girl he loves that he can be with and in trying to protect her, betrays her big time.  Eden meanwhile, is struggling to come to terms with her new (un)life, and powers she didn't ask for and doesn't understand.  Worse, it turnsout being dead doesn't keep her safe from the Fallen after all. 

Since you started off with the Eden and Az aspect, I'll go with that for a snippet! 

The blond one was in a dark green polo, the color setting off his hazel eyes.  With the short sleeves and his tattered-to-be-trendy jeans he had to have been freezing.  Suffering just to pander to underage cheerleaders.  Clearly a winner, she thought, and then second guessed herself.  Something about him set her gaydar screaming.  Lover’s stroll? She eyed the other one.  Brown curls, dark sweater, paired with cargo pants.  Be gay.  Be gay and keep walking.  He noticed her giving him the once over and smiled in a way no gay boy in history had ever smiled at a girl.  She shifted her eyes back to the water, but they stopped next to her.  Perfect. 
     
When she turned toward them, the one who had smiled at her brushed his hair back from his face. 

“Your eyes are blue, like the ocean.”  She raised an eyebrow in annoyance, unable to believe he went with a line so pathetic.  Slightly behind him, the other’s mouth cocked an apologetic half smile.  At least he knew his friend was an idiot.  “I think I'm lost at sea,” Lover boy continued, his voice sincere.  A snort of laughter burst from somewhere between her throat and nose.

 “You can’t be serious.”  She stood, brushing the sand from her black leggings. 

“Damn. Gabriel, did you hear that?  That was the sound of my heart shattering.”  His face twisted in mock pain as he gripped divots into the sweater.  Next to him, Gabriel rolled his eyes. 

“Come on, Az.” 

“Fuck off,” Eden enunciated each word, trying not to sound as amused as she was.  “The water’s not even blue, jackass.” 

            She turned toward the stairs to the Boardwalk and the guy grabbed her arm.  Even through the material of her thermal top his fingers were frigid.  He offered up another smile and shrugged.  “Storm-tossed seemed a bit cliché.”

2.        What three words would you say best describe A Touch Mortal?

 Dark twisty treachery!

3.        There seems to be an ever increasing demand for books centering on angel themes in Young Adult Fiction. As a writer, why do you think this genre is so appealing to so many readers right now?

 Oh gosh there are so many ways to answer this question. I mean, there's the theory of the impending nervousness about 2012 and the world ending and such.  My theory though?  Paranormal elements in books, like werewolves and vampires and fallen angels are fun because the mortal characters who know about them are special, and as a reader, it makes us feel special too, knowing their secrets, even if only through the written word.  But most people believe werewolves and vampires don't exist in the real world.  "It's just a book."  It IS however, socially acceptable, because of religion, to believe in angels.  And if it's acceptable to believe in angels, well, then it's acceptable to believe in fallen angels, and everyone knows all fallen angels are hot bad boys! They're like, ALLLLMMOOSSST obtainable! ;)

4.        What do you love most about the main characters of A Touch Mortal? 

They're loyalty to each other.  They try so hard to do what they think is the right thing, and they don't always have the same ideas of what the 'right thing' is.  

5.        If A Touch Mortal was to be made into a movie, do you have certain actors you envision in the lead roles of Eden and Az, or do you think unknowns would be best suited to play them?

  Oddly enough, I don't have actors picked out for Eden and Az.  There is a model who looks VERY much like Gabriel, and I have someone in mind for Kristen and Libby, acting-wise. 

6.        If you had to pick a theme song for Eden which one would you pick and why?

Glittering Cloud by Imogen Heap has always been one of Eden's two theme songs.  In A Touch Mortal, there is a confrontation scene the morning after they go to a rave.  That scene is there because of lyrics to this song!  The whole feel of the song, being out of control, and mentions of domino motions started by touch (Touch).  It's just too perfect. Plus, I freaking love Imogen.

7.        What were you like as a teenager and did you have any books in particular that were your favorites? If your teenage self was to read A Touch Mortal, what do you think she’d say?

Oh god, me as a teenager...I just never really had a group that I clearly fit into.  I wasn't goth enough to be Goth, I didn't play sports or do any clubs, I wasn't in band, I hung out with the burnouts, but didn't do enough of that kind of thing to actually BE one of them.  I was a fringe girl, always on the outside edge of everything, and never fully a part of any of it.  But books were different.  I could get lost in books.  I read so many, constantly.  Everything I could get my hands on.  I loved anything by Anne Rice or Stephen King, or anything scary that seemed like it COULD happen.  I had someone describe A Touch Mortal as a contemporary novel with some fantasy in it.  I've always wondered about the worlds we don't know about.  To me, growing up, books were an escape from life, so I really want to make my books with worlds that seem real enough to BE real somewhere we just don't know about.

8.        If you could inhabit the life of one literary character (your own included) and dive into their world for just one day, who would you choose and why? 

 I've spent so long staring at this question! lol There are just SO many possibilities! Okay, I'm gonna force myself to choose.  I'm gonna go with Emily Black from I Wanna Be Your Joey Ramone by Stephanie Kuehnert. Emily's a rockstar, literally, and she's rough and unapologetic and a bad ass lead singer.  

9.        What would you say is the best advice you’ve been given as an author?

When stuck, "Have something come through the window."

10.     A Touch Mortal, your debut YA novel releases in February 2011. What can we look forward to from you next? Any new series or other upcoming projects in the works?

I'm just finishing up book 2 in the trilogy, so that will be the next project out.  There are some old and some new points of view and it picks up just a few weeks after A Touch Mortal ends.  Other than that, I have a few ideas playing around in my brainparts.  One of them involved going to a 30 Seconds to Mars concert as research...but I never know what will pan out, and I can't write on them until I finish book 3.  They are QUITE shiny though!

ing in on the third book as soon as that’s wrapped up. So I have a lot of projects in the pipeline!

****GIVEAWAY****

1 SIGNED copy of 

A TOUCH MORTAL by 

LEAH CLIFFORD

Eden didn't expect Az.

Not his saunter down the beach toward her. Not his unbelievable pick-up line. Not the instant, undeniable connection. And not his wings.

Yeah.

So long, happily-ever-after.

Now trapped between life and death, cursed to spread chaos with her every touch, Eden could be the key in the eternal struggle between heaven and hell. All because she gave her heart to one of the Fallen, an angel cast out of heaven.

She may lose everything she ever had. She may be betrayed by those she loves most. But Eden will not be a pawn in anyone else's game. Her heart is her own.

And that's only the beginning of the end.

Official Rules:

1.You must be 13 year or older to enter.

2. Open to entrants with a valid U.S. mailing address only. 

3. Entries must be received by Midnight EST on February 28th 2011

4.To enter to win, simply fill out the form below. Good luck!  

FORM

Ten Tantalizing Questions for Lauren Oliver & Giveaway!

I'd like to extend a warm welcome to Lauren Oliver, who took the time out to stop by and discuss her sophomore novel, Delirium which recently released on February 1st of this month. See details below for your chance to win a signed copy of Delirium. Let's get started!

Lauren Oliver is the author of Before I Fall, which ALA Booklist called a "compelling book with a powerful message should not be missed." A graduate of the University of Chicago and the MFA program at New York University, Lauren is now a full-time writer and lives in Brooklyn, New York. Delirium is her second novel.  Official Website

Delirium is a dystopian thriller about a world where people are cured of love. Can you tell us a little more about the book and share with us a favorite line, scene or passage?

Well, I don’t want to give away TOO much about the book! But it takes place in Portland, at an unspecified time; it is, essentially, an alternate history of the United States, so this technology of the era is not so different from our own, with one major exception: the scientists in this society have figured out a neurological procedure that can cure love. Since love in this world is viewed as a kind of disease, various personal and cultural forms of expression have changed: many books have been banned, “flirting” is considered a dirty word, and even friends and family members are discouraged from touching too much.

I think one of my favorite passages comes from the very start of the book, at the end of the first chapter:

They say that in the old days, love drove people to madness. That's bad enough. The Book of Shhh also tells stories of those who died because of love lost or never found, which is what terrifies me the most. The deadliest of all deadly things: it kills you both when you have it, and when you don't.

What three words would you say best describe Delirium?

Romantic and suspenseful.

When comparing Delirium to Before I Fall, would you say that Delirium was more challenging to write than your first novel?  What was your favorite aspect of constructing Delirium?

I think they were both challenging in different ways. BEFORE I FALL was structurally very complex, but DELIRIUM was a challenge simply because I have never written dystopian fiction before, and it requires the establishment of a whole alternate world and society, with different attitudes, rules, and habits. So I had to imagine a whole world before I could even begin writing. Ultimately, however, that—the imaginative freedom dystopian fiction not only permits, but requires—was also my favorite part of the process.

What do you love most about the main characters of Delirium?

I love Lena because I think she represents a radicalized version of some very common anxieties: fear of being hurt; insecurity about being worthy of attention and love; ambivalence about safety/security vs. passion/potential pain. In her world, these fears have just become institutionalized. I love Hana because…well, Hana is the best friend all of us have had or wish we had, the one who can make the whole world seem bigger, brighter, and more expansive. And I love Alex because he is my kind of romantic hero: brave, loyal, down-to-earth, with a strong sense of integrity and a capacity to give openly to others.

If A Delirium was to be made into a movie, do you have certain actors you envision in the lead roles of Lena and Alex, or do you think unknowns would be best suited to play them?

Sadly, I am so out of the loop when it comes to the Hollywood scene. I see about one movie a year! (I’m much more of a reader—shocker.) But if DELIRIUM becomes a movie, I’ll make an exception. 

If you had to pick a theme song for Lena which one would you pick and why?

Resistance, by Muse, which was first introduced to me by the fabulous blogger Lenore (of PresentingLenore.blogspot.com); or Run, Baby, Run by Garbage. For the latter part of the book (the final chapter or so), perhaps Bring Me To Life, by Evanescence. Lena’s emergent understanding of music actually figures fairly heavily into the book.

What were you like as a teenager and did you have any books in particular that were your favorites? If your teenage self was to read Delirium, what do you think she’d say?

I had tons of favorites as a teen, although I have a weirdly hard time trying to remember what I read, when. I know that just before high school I had a Jane Austen phase, and in my senior year I (along with the rest of the world) became obsessed with Harry Potter. I have a hard time remembering my literary obsessions in between. But I have no doubt that had my teenage self read DELIRIUM, she would have bawled like a baby. I get very worked up over books, and always have.

If you could inhabit the life of one literary character (your own included) and dive into their world for just one day, who would you choose and why? 

For just one day? Um, Hermione Granger, please! For a lifetime? Definitely Elizabeth Bennet. It’s a cliché, but Pride and Prejudice really is the most incredibly satisfying romance, and Mr. Darcy the most swoon-worthy romantic lead, of all time.

 What would you say is the best advice you’ve been given as an author?

Talking about writing is not writing. Reading about writing is not writing. Thinking about writing is not writing. So,write! (But you should read a lot, too.)

Delirium recently released this month. What can we look forward to from you next? Any new series or other upcoming projects in the works?

Oh, yeah. I’m not going anywhere. J In the Fall of 2011, my first middle-grade book, LIESL AND PO, will be released, and the following spring (February 2012), I’ll be releasing the DELIRIUM sequel, tentatively titled TEMPEST. I’m working on that now. And since DELIRIUM is actually the first book in a trilogy, I’ll be starting in on the third book as soon as that’s wrapped up. So I have a lot of projects in the pipeline!

****GIVEAWAY****

1 SIGNED copy of 

DELIRIUM by Lauren Oliver

Before scientists found the cure, people thought love was a good thing. They didn’t understand that once love -- the deliria -- blooms in your blood, there is no escaping its hold. Things are different now. Scientists are able to eradicate love, and the governments demands that all citizens receive the cure upon turning eighteen. Lena Holoway has always looked forward to the day when she’ll be cured. A life without love is a life without pain: safe, measured, predictable, and happy.

But with ninety-five days left until her treatment, Lena does the unthinkable: She falls in love.

Official Rules:

1.You must be 13 year or older to enter.

2. Open to entrants with a valid U.S. mailing address only. 

3. Entries must be received by Midnight EST on February 28th 2011

4.To enter to win, simply fill out the form below. Good luck!  

FORM

Ten Tantalizing Questions for Jeff Sampson, Author of Vesper!

Today I'd like to welcome Jeff Sampson. Jeff is the author of VESPER, which releases in just a couple of days (January 25th)! Jeff stopped by to give us a little more insight into the murky, dangerous world of Emily Webb, writing for teens and much, much more!

Jeff Sampson is a pop-culture fanatic with an abiding love of TV and movies, much like his main character, Emily. Vesper is his first novel for young adults. Jeff lives in Tukwila, Washington. You can visit him online at www.jeffsampsonbooks.com.

1. Vesper: A Deviant’s Novel is a story about Emily Webb, a girl who finds she is changing into something that just might not be human. Can you tell us a little more about the book and share with us a favorite line, scene or passage?

Vesper is hard to explain without giving too much away because as you read the book, it takes you down avenues I hope you don't expect. But in the beginning it's essentially a Jekyll and Hyde tale about a shy and geeky teen girl who doesn't quite know who she is or how to fit into everyday life at school. She finds her refuge in books and movies and TV, escapist entertainment where she can imagine she's a girl who's confident and kick-ass. Except, one night, the same night another girl at school is murdered, Emily finds herself becoming that kind of super-girl. Only this alternate, "nighttime" personality is brazenly sexual, flagrantly disregards rules, and makes scenes daytime Emily would never dare to do.

At first, Emily can't help but feel a bit freed by this weird personality shift -- but then the consequences of her nighttime actions, and the secrets they uncover, take the whole alternate personality thing to places she never could have imagined . . . and into the sights of someone who wants her dead.

As for favorite line/passage/scene, I have a hard time picking anything that isn't, like, a whole chapter. So I'll just share one of my favorite one liners. To set the scene, Nighttime Emily has just met her best friend's brother's band -- which consists solely of him and one other guy. Both are blond; one is on the pale side:

Rounding the drum set, I sat on the stool he’d just vacated. “A gentleman and a drummer, huh? So does this band only have the two of you?”

“You got it. We’re the Bubonic Teutonics.”

“So, what, you’re like an albino White Stripes or something?”

What can I say? Sometimes I crack myself up.

2. What three words would you say best describe Vesper?

Blubber. Oddment. Tweak.

No, wait.

Geeky. Surprising. Fierce.

3. When comparing Vesper to books such as Remnants, the sci-fi series about the end of the world or Monster Slayers, an action-packed monsters and magic novel, would you say that Vesper was more challenging to write than your other books? What was your favorite aspect of constructing your book?

Well, to clarify, Remnants wasn't my series, I just created the stories for two of the books that someone else then wrote. So I couldn't say how easy it was to write. But compared to Monster Slayers or any of the Dragonlance books, it was actually much easier to write. Mostly because Vesper is the type of book I always wanted to be writing -- something genre and action-packed but with a modern, relatable character story. Not to knock the fantasy books I wrote, but having to conjure up fantasy worlds or write within an existing fantasy setting is a lot more difficult than just basing the location on where I live and renaming it Skopamish, WA. Plus, Emily Webb is the first character I got to write about that I felt truly connected to.

My favorite aspect of creating Vesper and the entire Deviants series was just getting to take everything I loved reading and watching and blending it together into a big, insane sci-fi/paranormal story. It's like the series I always wanted to write, finally come to fruition. And I'm excited people will soon be able to read it!
 
4. If Vesper was to be made into a movie, do you have certain actors you envision in the lead roles or do you think unknowns would be best suited to play them?

I don't, actually. Though I did scour sites like Model Mayhem to find visual references for all the characters, so I do have photos of these made up people. Weirdly enough, even though I have a clear mental image of Emily Webb, she was the hardest to find a reference photo for -- and I still don't think the ones I have quite fit. Anyway, I'd be perfectly happy with unknowns inhabiting the roles -- that way we can see them all as these characters without any baggage from their previous parts.

(A friend of mine did cast Julian Morris as a character named Patrick, even though he's a bit too old to be playing a teenager. Otherwise, not a bad choice.)

5. If you had to pick a theme song for Emily, which one would you pick and why?

Well, let me open my mostly-not-at-all-hip iTunes playlist, wade through the pop music and musical soundtracks, and see what I can find! I actually write in silence, so I don't already have anything picked out. Let's see....

I'm gonna go with "Wake Up Exhausted" by Tegan & Sara. I always loved this song, and it just seems to fit.

6. What were you like as a teenager and did you have any books in particular that were your favorites? If your teenage self was to read Vesper, what do you think he’d say?

I too was a recluse geek who escaped into books and TV as a teen, just like Emily! Though I promise I didn't entirely base her on myself. But the similarities are definitely there. I actually went to this strange alternative school where I only had to go for a few hours a week and then essentially taught myself everything at home, except for my senior year where I took classes at a community college. All of my friends were from my job at a movie theater, so I got a weird truncated high school experience and ultimately spent a lot of time at home just devouring genre media.

When I was a teen I was all up ons the Animorphs series by K.A. Applegate, and even ran a fan site for it for years and years (which, btw, led me to eventually write for Remnants, also created by Applegate). Aside from indulging in that mid-grade series, I also read a lot of YA sci-fi and fantasy. It's hard to remember off the top of my head when I read what, since I still read a lot of YA today, but I remember loving books like Neal Shusterman's Star Shards trilogy and all the stuff by William Sleator. I had a big fetish for kids with Brain Powers and stories involving Other Dimensions and such. (In fact I remember some book about a kid who went between dimensions and it made ketchup taste like chocolate. Also, one about a bunch of telepathic kids with leaf-shaped birthmarks. I can't remember what either book is called so if anyone knows, let me know!) But I think the book I loved the most at the time was Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card. I just remember hitting the middle, reading a certain revelation, and sitting there DEVASTATED. It is my goal in life to have readers respond as strongly to what I write as I did to that scene.

I think teen me would have loved Vesper. I basically wrote it for teen me, who was obsessed with Buffy the Vampire Slayer and all those crazy sci-fi books. 

7. If you could inhabit the life of one literary character (your own included) and dive into their world for just one day, who would you choose and why?

I'm gonna say one of the side characters in Harry Potter, anyone who Voldemort wasn't always trying to kill. Because I would love to wave a wand and make my house clean. So handy! Plus, those stylish robes.

8. When you have a free day with no responsibilities looming overhead, and your only mission is to enjoy yourself, what do you like to do for fun?

I never don't have responsibilities looming over me. I am drowning in a sea of responsibilities ohhhh noooo! Actually, when I'm pretending I don't have work to do and am procrastinating, I break out video games, books, and TV and just veg. I have lots of TV series especially that I need to marathon through, I am so behind. Since my only job is writing, I do this most of the time, but when friends are available we like to live it up by going out to eat or to movies or having a viewing party of a so-bad-it's-good movie, ala Troll 2 or The Room. I'm such a geek, but I swear I'm cooler now than I was as a teen! I swear!

9. What would you say is the best advice you’ve been given as an author?

"Don't worry about writing THE book. Write A book." This helped immensely when it came to just powering through the first book I ever wrote. Once you free yourself from the stress of trying to write the best book EVAH and just worry about writing a book, it becomes easier to do. At least, it did for me.

Also, "write every day." I don't actually follow this advice, but I constantly wish I did. So, any aspiring writers out there, take heed!

10. Vesper is the first book in an exciting new series. Can you give us any insider scoop on what we can look forward to next? Any other upcoming projects in the works?

Yes, Vesper is the first book of a three-book series called Deviants. The first book is very close to Emily Webb throughout, it's a more personal and perhaps smaller book than the other two will be. That's because as Emily uncovers more about her situation, the scope of the story becomes bigger and bigger. People who seemed like offhand side characters in book 1 are in fact major players. The stakes get raised like woah. I won't say TOO much at this point, since book 1 isn't even out yet, but just expect the sci-fi/paranormal craziness to reach new heights . . . and also know that my focus will still always be on creating relatable emotional journeys for the characters. What's the point of all the thrills and action if you don't care about the characters whose lives are at stake?

At the moment I'm also writing the sequel to Monster Slayers, under the pen name Lukas Ritter, and a secret project that I can't really talk about. And, of course, Deviants book 2.


VESPER BY JEFF SAMPSON 

Emily Webb is a geek. And she’s happy that way. Content hiding under hoodies and curling up to watch old horror flicks, she’s never been the kind of girl who sneaks out for midnight parties. And she’s definitely not the kind of girl who starts fights or flirts with other girls’ boyfriends. Until one night Emily finds herself doing exactly that . . . the same night one of her classmates—also named Emily—is found mysteriously murdered.

The thing is, Emily doesn’t know why she’s doing any of this. By day, she’s the same old boring Emily, but by night, she turns into a thrill seeker. With every nightfall, Emily gets wilder until it’s no longer just her personality that changes. Her body can do things it never could before: Emily is now strong, fast, and utterly fearless. And soon Emily realizes that she’s not just coming out of her shell . . . there’s something much bigger going on. Is she bewitched by the soul of the other, murdered Emily? Or is Emily Webb becoming something else entirely— something not human?

As Emily hunts for answers, she finds out that she’s not the only one this is happening to—some of her classmates are changing as well. Who is turning these teens into monsters—and how many people will they kill to get what they want?

Interview with Joy Preble and Giveaway: Win Dreaming Anastasia and Haunted!

Today I'd like to extend a very warm welcome to Joy Preble. Joy is the author of the books Dreaming Anastasia and the sequel, Haunted which releases February 1st. Joy stopped by to discuss this exciting series and gave up some inside scoop on Ethan, Anne and Baba Yaga, as well as that mysterious Russian Rusalka who makes her first appearance in Haunted.  See below for details regarding a fantastic prize pack up for grabs.

Joy Preble grew up in Chicago, though she moved to Texas and inexplicably began listening to country music, which she claims she didn't like until then. She has an English degree from Northwestern University, and she teaches high school English. Dreaming Anastasia is her first novel. She can be found online at www.joypreble.com

1. HAUNTED (Dreaming Anastasia 2) continues the story of Ethan and Anne from the first novel, while incorporating some new surprises, such as the presence of a malevolent rusalka. Can you tell us a little more about the book and share with us a favorite line, scene or passage?

This is a tough one because there are so many secrets that get revealed and I don’t want to give anything crucial away. But since we all know that Ethan does indeed return in this book, I’ll treat you to what Anne thinks when she first sees him here:

            “He’s wearing jeans and a short-sleeved black T-shirt. His eyes are very blue, and his thick brown hair is just a bit too long. When he sees me, his face breaks into a smile that’s a little less sweet and a lot more ironic than Ben’s. Even from here, I can see that he’s got a day’s worth of stubble on his very strong chin. It looks good on him. He’s also clearly a little bit older than the last time I saw him. This looks good on him, too. I’d wondered about that. After all, immortal hotties don’t become mortal hotties every day.”

2. What three words would you say best describe HAUNTED?

Romantic, spooky, fast-paced.

3. What is the meaning behind the title HAUNTED for this installment in the DREAMING ANASTASIA series?

You know, what’s interesting, is that HAUNTED has always been the title in my head for book 2. And that’s because everyone in the story is haunted in some way by past events – both from Dreaming Anastasia as well as events that occurred long before that. And all of those events start to collide in book 2.

4. With her disembodied hands and that rickety house on moving chicken feet, Baba Yaga was a fascinating character in DREAMING ANASTASIA. Can you discuss her appearance in Russian folk tales and how you drew from them when constructing her character? Also, can you reveal whether we’ll see more of her in HAUNTED?

Baba Yaga is a fascinating old witch! In Russian fairy tales, she is always unpredictable. She might help you or she might eat you, depending on her mood rather than on anything you do or don’t do. I really love that about her! She’s definitely the embodiment of the crone – old, clever, and impossible to categorize. Fairy tales and folklore in most cultures tend to reflect society’s fear of older women and have a tendency to pigeonhole them as ugly and sort of sexless.  But Baba Yaga as I use her in the Dreaming Anastasia books is a force of nature. She’s definitely a major character in Haunted – in fact she narrates some of the novel. We find out about her past and about what’s been happening since she grabbed Viktor at the end of Dreaming Anastasia and spirited him back to her hut in the forest. Remember – no one ever leaves Baba Yaga’s forest the same as they entered. So Baba Yaga’s presence reflects that transformational quality. Of course, this means that Anne will probably take another trip to the forest in this book...

5. Can we look forward to more of the romance between Anne and Ethan in this installment?

Oh yes! Haunted does up the stakes for the Anne and Ethan romance. In Ethan’s absence, Anne’s acquired a new boyfriend – lifeguard Ben Logan – and there’s definitely a little love triangle developing here. Plus as the mystery of the rusalka unfolds and our characters find themselves in perilous situations, Anne and Ethan’s relationship gets some interesting twists and turns in this installment. And peril. There’s lots of peril. Cause I love putting my characters in danger. Brings out who they truly are. That’s all I’m going to say for now.

6. If HAUNTED was to be made into a movie, do you have certain actors you envision in the lead roles or do you think unknowns would be best suited to play them?

I’ve probably thought about this more than I’d like to admit (okay, who doesn’t want her novel to be made into a movie?), and the conclusion I’ve come to is that I’d prefer relative unknowns. I wouldn’t want viewers to be distracted thinking, ‘Oh look. It’s Leighton Meester or Minka Kelly playing Anne.’

7. What were you like as a teenager and did you have any books in particular that were your favorites? If your teenage self was to read your books, what do you think she’d say?

Ah, my teenage self. Honestly? I was a geek girl. Possibly this surprises no one. Geek as in I wrote Star Trek fan fiction, played the viola, actually constructed more than one model of the USS Enterprise and for a while dated the bassoon player in our high school band. Did I really just tell you this? Seems I did. So if I read my books, I’d have found them fabulous. Truthfully, I still write for that geek girl most days – she’s responsible for my love of all things Whedonesque and is why I faithfully recorded every ep of Buffy from season 2 on and labeled the VHS tapes w/the ep titles. As for what I read when I was a teenager, I was all over the place. I’ve always been a binge reader – I’ll find an author I like and then read just about everything by that person. I did that with Ray Bradbury starting when I was about thirteen. I was into horror for awhile – Stephen King’s stuff, for example. Loved, loved The Shining and later The Stand. Lots of romance, too. I also loved reading stuff from my mother’s bookshelves, so there I was reading all her old paperbacks like Couples by John Updike; Valley of the Dolls by Jacqueline Suzanne… I think I got a pretty warped view of adulthood and love! Seriously – my parents never censored my reading, so there I was at thirteen reading Couples where everyone in this suburban town is having all these rampant affairs…

8. If you could inhabit the life of just one literary character (your own included) and dive into their world for just one day, who would you choose and why?

I’m such a voracious reader that this is a hard question! But right now, I think I’m going to have to say Meg in A Wrinkle in Time. Because I have absolutely always wanted to know how to tesseract!

9. When you have a free day with no responsibilities looming overhead, and your only mission is to enjoy yourself, what do you like to do for fun?

Depends on the weather, but I love having breakfast out – that to me is always the beginning of a great relaxing day. When I teach, I’m at school by 6:45, so getting to linger over eggs or waffles or breakfast tacos or even a really good bowl of steel cut Irish oatmeal plus lots of coffee and bacon always says happy! Beyond that – I like going to the movies and hanging with friends. I’m not an obsessed shopper, but I can definitely hit the mall for a few hours. Time to read is good, too. If I have a full day and no time commitments, a trip to Austin is another thing you might find me doing. If you’ve never been to Austin, Texas, you absolutely must go!

10. HAUNTED is the second book in the Dreaming Anastasia series. Can you give us any insider scoop on potential future novels? Any other upcoming projects in the works?

I’m very excited to announce that I just sold the third in the Dreaming Anastasia trilogy! The Publisher’s Marketplace blurb reads:  Joy Preble’s Again and Again, the final book in the Dreaming Anastasia series, in which Anne, having survived Baba Yaga’s forest twice, finds herself bound by the witch to undertake a journey into past present, and future that will determine her destiny – and that of everyone she loves, to Leah Hultenschmidt at Sourcebooks for publication in Spring 2012, by Jennifer Rofe at Andrea Brown Literary Agency.

Beyond that, I’ve got a novel set in Texas that I’m still working on and hope to finally get revised sometime in the summer.

****GIVEAWAY****

Prize Pack including: 

1 finished paperback of DREAMING ANASTASIA 

1 finished paperback of HAUNTED

DREAMING ANASTASIA 

BY JOY PREBLE

What really happened to Anastasia Romanov?

Anastasia Romanov thought she would never feel more alone than when the gunfire started and her family began to fall around her. Surely the bullets would come for her next. But they didn't. Instead, two gnarled old hands reached for her. When she wakes up she discovers that she is in the ancient hut of the witch Baba Yaga, and that some things are worse than being dead.

In modern-day Chicago, Anne doesn't know much about Russian history. She is more concerned about getting into a good college—until the dreams start. She is somewhere else. She is someone else. And she is sharing a small room with a very old woman. The vivid dreams startle her, but not until a handsome stranger offers to explain them does she realize her life is going to change forever. She is the only one who can save Anastasia. But, Anastasia is having her own dreams…

  

HAUNTED

BY JOY PREBLE

Anne Michaelson’s world turned upside down last fall when a handsome, blue-eyed and temporarily immortal Russian named Ethan informed her that she had a destiny to save the Grand Duchess Anastasia Romanov, held captive for decades by the witch Baba Yaga. But Anastasia had her own thoughts about destiny. And Anne and Ethan discovered that some things aren’t so easily undone. Now, six months later, the craziness in Anne’s world hasn’t gone away. Neither have her feelings for Ethan. Anne still has powers she doesn’t fully understand. She’s still dreaming about Baba Yaga’s forest. And she’s got a new boyfriend – very normal and very sweet lifeguard, Ben Logan. As for Ethan, well, he hasn’t quite gotten over the events of last fall, either. And he definitely hasn’t gotten over Anne. In short, everyone’s haunted by something – or someone.

Enter the rusalka – a Russian folklore mermaid with a malevolent streak - and a particular interest in Anne. When Ethan suddenly returns from Europe, Anne’s world collides with the paranormal once again. Her heart torn between Ben and Ethan, Anne’s search for the rusalka’s identity reveals deep and startling secrets - including the true source of Anne’s powers.

Like Dreaming Anastasia, HAUNTED is a wild adventure of a tale, a genre blend of fantasy, folklore and romance alternately narrated by both Anne and Ethan. As lives and fates intertwine and the romance heats up, so does the danger. “Stories within stories,” the rusalka tells Anne. “Secrets within secrets.” And as Baba Yaga frequently observes, nothing is as simple as it seems.

Official Rules:

1.You must be 13 year or older to enter.

2. Open to entrants with a valid U.S. mailing address only. 

3. Entries must be received by Midnight EST on January 30th 2011. 

4. Once contacted, winners have 48 hours to respond with their mailing address.

5. To enter to win, simply fill out the form below. Good luck!  

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