Monday, March 31, 2014
Friday, March 28, 2014
Feature Friday: Lynne Matson
Interview:
A.L.:
What piece of advice would you give to a budding author?
Lynne:
Read widely, write daily, be positive and persistent.:) Seriously, reading across all genres really helps develop a feel for rhythm and cadence in prose, not to mention an inherent sense of good pacing. And writing? Oh gosh, sometimes it’s HARD, but the more you write, the better writer you become. And through it all, be positive believe in yourself and your writing, and if you stay positive, it will give you the strength to keep going when the publishing road gets bumpy. You can do it!!!
A.L.:
What's your favorite book and why?
Lynne:
Amanda, you know I can't pick just one, right?! IT'S IMPOSSIBLE.:) I love SO many books, but books I LOVE and have re-read multiple times? The Dragonriders of PERN series by Anne McCaffrey is one of my all-time favorites; they’re BRILLIANT. More recent books? The HARRY POTTER series by J.K. Rowling, IF I STAY and WHERE SHE WENT by Gayle Forman, The JENNA FOX Chronicles by Mary Pearson, GRACELING by Kristen Cashore, THE ART OF LAINEY by Paula Stokes, and BENEATH THESE BROKEN STARS by Aime Kaufman and Meagan Spooner. I'll stop now.:)
A.L.:
Where did you get the idea for Nil?
Lynne:
I adore this question, because the entire idea of NIL came to me in one clear moment I can pinpoint to this day. NIL was born in Hawaii, on the big island. It was our first real getaway from our four boys, EVER. As we left the airport after landing on our first day, we drove through miles of ancient lava fields. Broken red rock stretched endlessly on each side, gorgeous and desolate. No roads, no buildings, no people–just the eerie sound of wind blowing over the barren rocks. I remember thinking how much it all looked like an alien planet, and thinking how creepy it would be to wake up there, alone. And I remember thinking how scary it would be as a teenager, to wake up by yourself, not having a clue where you were or how you how got there, and what if–because isn’t this every person’s worst nightmare?!–you woke up naked? NIL was born in that moment. That barren-red-rock visual locked in my head, and that's what Charley sees when she first wakes up in Nil.
A.L.:
Did you hit any snags while writing Nil? What were they and how did you fix them?
Lynne:
Snags?! *nervous laughter* Actually, yes! There was one point where I realized the tension had faded, because the threat had lessened. To fix it, I ended up killing off a character I really liked because it felt it necessary…even though it made another character hurt immensely.:(
A.L.:
Which one of the characters in Nil is your favorite and why?
Lynne:
Oh my gosh, hard question Amanda. It’s like asking to pick among my children..:) I LOVE THEM ALL! Thad! Charley! There's a BIG cast of characters on NIL because of the "revolving door" feel of the island, but two of my favorites (besides my MC's Charley & Thad) are Dex (love him! And his Nil bling...) and Rives. Rives fascinates me still. If there were to be a sequel, it will be from Rives's point of view. :) *runs away before I spill NIL sekrits* ;)
A.L.:
Can you tell us a little bit about your journey as an author?
Lynne:
Sure! I actually wrote an entire post on this subject which can be found here: http://lynnematson.blogspot.com/2012/07/power-of-three-or-how-i-found-my-agent.html. But the short version is that I never stopped writing, never stopped working on my craft, and never stopped believing. And never stopped dreaming. If you don’t believe in your work, who will?
A.L.:
What are you working on now? Sequel? Something new?
Lynne:
Ahhhhh!!! I can’t say. BUT I HOPE TO HAVE NEWS REALLY SOON.:)
A.L.:
Do you ever wish you had a daughter?
Lynne:
This is a GREAT question. Actually, no. I ADORE my 4 boys, and I think I'm a good boy mom. I've been paintballing, surfing, trail biking, paddleboarding, and skiing with them, coached soccer and basketball teams, and can host a killer Nerf birthday party with epic washer/dryer box barriers. I'm sure if I had a daughter, it would be awesome, but I've never once wished for one. I think I have the family that God intended for me to have, and that makes me SO happy. And so many of my best friends have girls that they feel like my daughters too.:)
A.L.:
If you were stranded on an island, what one thing would you need more than anything else to survive?
Lynne:
Something to catch fresh water. Lack of fresh water would be a death sentence for sure.
A.L.:
If you had to battle for the last Thin Mint in existence, what weapon would you choose for your opponent and why?
Lynne:
BEST. QUESTION. EVER. After careful thought, I'm going with a glass of milk. I'd place it nearby, and when my opponent's attention is distracted by the glass of milk, I'd stealthily snatch the box of Thin Mints out of their hand. Diversion . . . the perfect weapon.:)
The Giveaway:
A signed copy of NIL plus swag. (US)
Seventeen-year-old Charley doesn’t know the rules. She doesn’t even know where she is. The last thing she remembers is blacking out, and when she wakes up, she’s lying naked in an empty rock field.
Lost and alone, Charley finds no sign of other people until she meets Thad, the gorgeous leader of a clan of teenage refugees. Soon Charley learns that leaving the island is harder than she thought . . . and so is falling in love. With Thad’s time running out, Charley realizes that to save their future, Charley must first save him. And on an island rife with dangers, their greatest threat is time.
Read Goodreads reviews.
Buy on Amazon.
Buy on Barnes and Noble.
How to Enter:
Enter the giveaway using Rafflecopter. Hit the arrow buttons, follow the prompts, and hit the enter buttons when you're done. (You may have to log in using Facebook to do this). There will be one winner (selected by Rafflecopter). US. I will contact the winner via email.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Tuesday, March 25, 2014
Kick it into gear!
Monday, March 24, 2014
Monday Muse: Iggy Azalea -- Fancy
Clueless and a crazy adorable rapper girl (x2)? Uh, yes. Just as an FYI, I'm totally an Iggy Azalea fangirl. *shrugs* Who knew?
Friday, March 21, 2014
Feature Friday: Leah Cypess
Regulars: There's a change in entry requirements, make sure you read them!
Leah Cypess used to be an attorney living in New York City, and is now a writer living in Boston. She much prefers her current situation. When she is not writing or chasing her kids around (or doing both simultaneously), she is usually... well, let's be honest; sleeping. But in her rare moments of spare time, she enjoys reading, biking, hiking, and drawing.
Interview:
A.L.:
What piece of advice would you give to a budding author?
Leah:
Primarily, to read and write. A lot. I know that's old, standard advice, but it's standard for a reason! Also: don't allow your hopes and ambitions to get too tied up in any one manuscript. As soon as you're sending a book out for publication, start something new.
A.L.:
What's your favorite book and why?
Leah:
I can't say I have a favorite book, but if I was going to pick the favorite book I've read recently, it would be Tandem by Anna Jarzab, a really original parallel-worlds story with both a high fantasy and a science fictional feel. I can't wait for the next book in the trilogy!
A.L.:
Where did you get the idea for Death Sworn?
Leah:
I got it while reading The Elenium by David Eddings, which featured a sorceress who served as tutor to a military order. I started wondering what would happen if the sorceress and the knights didn't get along as well as they did in Edding's book, and several twists or turns later, I had the basic idea for Death Sworn.
A.L.:
Did you hit any snags while writing Death Sworn? What were they and how did you fix them?
Leah:
Several! Writing the master, in particular, was very difficult - it was hard for me to get the right balance of omniscient plotter, charismatic leader, and utterly terrifying puppet-master. I ended up asking my facebook friends to recommend books and movies with terrifying villains, and that - along with my editor's insightful comments - helped me finally get the character onto the page.
A.L.:
Which one of the characters in Death Sworn is your favorite and why?
Leah:
Ileni is absolutely my favorite! (Which isn't always the case - sometimes, a secondary character is more interesting - but in this case, I really felt for Ileni every step of the way in writing this book.)
A.L.:
Can you tell us a little bit about your journey as an author?
Leah:
I've always known I wanted to be an author - I have it on record that I informed my grandmother of this fact when I was 8 years old. I got my first short story professionally published when I was 15 (in a long-gone magazine called Marion Zimmer Bradley's Fantasy Magazine). But it wasn't until 15 years after I sent my first book to a publisher that I managed to get a book deal. My first book, Mistwood, was actually the fifth manuscript I had completed and submitted to publishers.
A.L.:
What are you working on now? Sequel? Something new?
Leah:
Primarily on the sequel to Death Sworn, yes! Though in between revision deadlines, I do have a few secret projects I'm really excited about. :)
A.L.:
Why do you chose to write fantasy over other genres?
Leah:
I don't think I've made that choice, actually - I am completely open to writing other genres. But the ideas that appeal to me, and that stick with me long enough for me to turn them into books, have so far all been fantasy ideas.
A.L.:
If you could only pick one of your main female protags to be your best friend would it be Isabel, Derri, or Ileni?
Leah:
Interesting question! I'd have to go with Isabel - she'd be a fantastic person to have in your corner. As long as there was no potential for a friend-breakup, which would be terrifying.
A.L.:
If you had to be an ice cream cone, what flavor ice cream and what kind of cone would you be?
Leah:
In my household, I think I'd have to be pistachio... that way I would never get eaten. (My husband and I like vanilla, and my kids would never touch green ice cream!)
The Giveaway:
Leah is giving away a personalized hardcover of DEATH SWORN to one lucky winner (US).
Death Sworn: When Ileni lost her
magic, she lost everything: her place in society, her purpose in life,
and the man she had expected to spend her life with. So when the Elders
sent her to be magic tutor to a secret sect of assassins, she went
willingly, even though the last two tutors had died under mysterious
circumstances.
But beneath the assassins’ caves, Ileni will discover a new place and a new purpose… and a new and dangerous love. She will struggle to keep her lost magic a secret while teaching it to her deadly students, and to find out what happened to the two tutors who preceded her. But what she discovers will change not only her future, but the future of her people, the assassins… and possibly the entire world.
Read Goodreads reviews.
Buy on Barnes and Noble.
Buy on Amazon.
How to Enter:
Enter the giveaway using Rafflecopter. Hit the arrow buttons, follow the prompts, and hit the enter buttons when you're done. (You may have to log in using Facebook to do this). There will be one winner (selected by Rafflecopter). US. I will contact the winner via email.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Interview:
A.L.:
What piece of advice would you give to a budding author?
Leah:
Primarily, to read and write. A lot. I know that's old, standard advice, but it's standard for a reason! Also: don't allow your hopes and ambitions to get too tied up in any one manuscript. As soon as you're sending a book out for publication, start something new.
A.L.:
What's your favorite book and why?
Leah:
I can't say I have a favorite book, but if I was going to pick the favorite book I've read recently, it would be Tandem by Anna Jarzab, a really original parallel-worlds story with both a high fantasy and a science fictional feel. I can't wait for the next book in the trilogy!
A.L.:
Where did you get the idea for Death Sworn?
Leah:
I got it while reading The Elenium by David Eddings, which featured a sorceress who served as tutor to a military order. I started wondering what would happen if the sorceress and the knights didn't get along as well as they did in Edding's book, and several twists or turns later, I had the basic idea for Death Sworn.
A.L.:
Did you hit any snags while writing Death Sworn? What were they and how did you fix them?
Leah:
Several! Writing the master, in particular, was very difficult - it was hard for me to get the right balance of omniscient plotter, charismatic leader, and utterly terrifying puppet-master. I ended up asking my facebook friends to recommend books and movies with terrifying villains, and that - along with my editor's insightful comments - helped me finally get the character onto the page.
A.L.:
Which one of the characters in Death Sworn is your favorite and why?
Leah:
Ileni is absolutely my favorite! (Which isn't always the case - sometimes, a secondary character is more interesting - but in this case, I really felt for Ileni every step of the way in writing this book.)
A.L.:
Can you tell us a little bit about your journey as an author?
Leah:
I've always known I wanted to be an author - I have it on record that I informed my grandmother of this fact when I was 8 years old. I got my first short story professionally published when I was 15 (in a long-gone magazine called Marion Zimmer Bradley's Fantasy Magazine). But it wasn't until 15 years after I sent my first book to a publisher that I managed to get a book deal. My first book, Mistwood, was actually the fifth manuscript I had completed and submitted to publishers.
A.L.:
What are you working on now? Sequel? Something new?
Leah:
Primarily on the sequel to Death Sworn, yes! Though in between revision deadlines, I do have a few secret projects I'm really excited about. :)
A.L.:
Why do you chose to write fantasy over other genres?
Leah:
I don't think I've made that choice, actually - I am completely open to writing other genres. But the ideas that appeal to me, and that stick with me long enough for me to turn them into books, have so far all been fantasy ideas.
A.L.:
If you could only pick one of your main female protags to be your best friend would it be Isabel, Derri, or Ileni?
Leah:
Interesting question! I'd have to go with Isabel - she'd be a fantastic person to have in your corner. As long as there was no potential for a friend-breakup, which would be terrifying.
A.L.:
If you had to be an ice cream cone, what flavor ice cream and what kind of cone would you be?
Leah:
In my household, I think I'd have to be pistachio... that way I would never get eaten. (My husband and I like vanilla, and my kids would never touch green ice cream!)
The Giveaway:
Leah is giving away a personalized hardcover of DEATH SWORN to one lucky winner (US).
But beneath the assassins’ caves, Ileni will discover a new place and a new purpose… and a new and dangerous love. She will struggle to keep her lost magic a secret while teaching it to her deadly students, and to find out what happened to the two tutors who preceded her. But what she discovers will change not only her future, but the future of her people, the assassins… and possibly the entire world.
Read Goodreads reviews.
Buy on Barnes and Noble.
Buy on Amazon.
How to Enter:
Enter the giveaway using Rafflecopter. Hit the arrow buttons, follow the prompts, and hit the enter buttons when you're done. (You may have to log in using Facebook to do this). There will be one winner (selected by Rafflecopter). US. I will contact the winner via email.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Monday, March 17, 2014
I GOT A BOOK DEAL!!!!
I'm sorry if you've already seen this in like a million places, but I'M JUST SO EXCITED!!!!!!
This book is, by far, my absolute favorite that I've written so far. I'm beyond ecstatic that I finally get to share it with you! I've already got the Goodreads page up, so if you want to add it, please do! (I know there's no description yet, I'm waiting for my new publishing company to provide that for you guys. But, here's a general idea of what I wrote for the summary when I pitched it to my agent:
The year is 231. The world as we know it has been destroyed in the Bio-Nuclear War. The survivors have been divided into the Aristocrats who live in the domed cities and the Disfavored who live in the Wastelands beyond the cities. Ellani (Ella) Drexel is a Natural-born Aristocrat who lives in the domed city of Evanescence.
Yesterday, Ellani's problems consisted of trying to fit in among the Custom (genetically engineered) Aristocrats, catching the eye of her high school crush, trying to become a Designer instead of the Programmer she was born to be, and convincing her father to let her do what all the other kids are doing.
Today, Ella woke up and found that she'd been in a terrible accident. Her father died in that accident and both of Ella’s legs have been amputated. Her guardian, Katrina, will not pay for the surgery Ella needs to restore her legs, places Ella under house-arrest -- lest she shame the family -- and just might be trying to kill Ella for her late father's fortune.
At the urging of her android companion, Meems, Ella begins playing Nexis -- a virtual reality game that her father created. In the game, Ella has the use of both of her legs and is able to experience many worlds and people. She befriends a senior gamer named, Guster, who recruits her as a member of The Tricksters, a group on a quest to infiltrate the Anansi Chamber in the Central Dominion.
Despite the troubles The Tricksters encounter throughout their journey, Nexis becomes a haven where Ella learns the true worth of life and natural beauty. Through her joint experiences in Nexis and in captivity, Ella finds love, friendship, and a reason to live; however, she’s now able to see the faults in her own society and she begins to use her talent as a Programmer to stand up for what she believes in.
The lines between real and virtual life begin to blur for Ella and in the end...
Well, I guess you'll have to read that for yourselves! :D
Until then, check out Nexis Pinterest love and Anansi Chamber music.
March 13, 2014 - NEXIS by A.L. Davroe
Children's: Young Adult
A.L.
Davroe's NEXIS, about a teenager living among genetically engineered
Aristocrats who loses her legs and discovers she can walk in a
virtual-reality game called Nexis, and must accept help from her android
companion before the virtual world seeps into reality and the
consequences become deadly, to Liz Pelletier at Entangled Teen, in a nice deal, by Louise Fury at The Bent Agency (World).
This book is, by far, my absolute favorite that I've written so far. I'm beyond ecstatic that I finally get to share it with you! I've already got the Goodreads page up, so if you want to add it, please do! (I know there's no description yet, I'm waiting for my new publishing company to provide that for you guys. But, here's a general idea of what I wrote for the summary when I pitched it to my agent:
The year is 231. The world as we know it has been destroyed in the Bio-Nuclear War. The survivors have been divided into the Aristocrats who live in the domed cities and the Disfavored who live in the Wastelands beyond the cities. Ellani (Ella) Drexel is a Natural-born Aristocrat who lives in the domed city of Evanescence.
Yesterday, Ellani's problems consisted of trying to fit in among the Custom (genetically engineered) Aristocrats, catching the eye of her high school crush, trying to become a Designer instead of the Programmer she was born to be, and convincing her father to let her do what all the other kids are doing.
Today, Ella woke up and found that she'd been in a terrible accident. Her father died in that accident and both of Ella’s legs have been amputated. Her guardian, Katrina, will not pay for the surgery Ella needs to restore her legs, places Ella under house-arrest -- lest she shame the family -- and just might be trying to kill Ella for her late father's fortune.
At the urging of her android companion, Meems, Ella begins playing Nexis -- a virtual reality game that her father created. In the game, Ella has the use of both of her legs and is able to experience many worlds and people. She befriends a senior gamer named, Guster, who recruits her as a member of The Tricksters, a group on a quest to infiltrate the Anansi Chamber in the Central Dominion.
Despite the troubles The Tricksters encounter throughout their journey, Nexis becomes a haven where Ella learns the true worth of life and natural beauty. Through her joint experiences in Nexis and in captivity, Ella finds love, friendship, and a reason to live; however, she’s now able to see the faults in her own society and she begins to use her talent as a Programmer to stand up for what she believes in.
The lines between real and virtual life begin to blur for Ella and in the end...
Well, I guess you'll have to read that for yourselves! :D
Until then, check out Nexis Pinterest love and Anansi Chamber music.
Monday Muse: 331Erock -- Let It Go (metal version)
Yes, there is a metal head somewhere inside of me and she is totally headbanging with the five-year-old inside of me who is die-hard in love with Frozen.
Friday, March 14, 2014
Feature Friday: Jane Nickerson
Interview:
A.L.:
What piece of advice would you give to a budding author?
Jane:
Remember that being published is not the end all/be all for a writer. Some of the joy goes out of the creative process when you’re trying to please other people, worry about contracts, worry about critics, etc. Write because you love to write, and write what you love writing. Then, maybe submit it for publication, maybe not. Also, even if you do submit and NEVER get published, that does not mean that you’re not a wonderful writer; it simply means that maybe your style is not what is currently popular and sellable. Enjoy it anyway, because it’s yours.
A.L.:
What's your favorite book and why?
Jane:
I have so many favorites it’s hard to pick one. So…ONE of my favorites is A WIZARD OF EARTHSEA, by Ursula K. LeGuin. I love her simple, beautiful writing style, the atmosphere of her books, and her amazing world building. I’m a big fan of fantasy.
A.L.:
Where did you get the idea for The Mirk and Midnight Hour?
Jane:
I’ve always liked the “Ballad of Tam Lin.” It’s terribly romantic and quite beautiful. In order to adapt it to Civil War era Mississippi, I needed to turn the fairies into a type of local southern workers of magic—hence, voodoo practitioners. The captured knight evolved into a captured, wounded Union soldier—a story that I’ve played around with in my head for years.
A.L.:
Did you hit any snags while writing The Mirk and Midnight Hour? What were they and how did you fix them?
Jane:
As I was writing, and the story took off by itself as good stories tend to do, I discovered that there were really two big plots going on, and that neither was small enough to be considered a subplot. I could not bear to abandon either one, so I decided, To heck with it, I’ll have co-plots. I wove the two plots together, and so MIRK has more than one villain and more than one climax. Also, as in STRANDS, because of the time period and setting, I had to address the institution of slavery. A very tough thing. I did my best to deal with it using both realism and sensitivity.
A.L.:
Which one of the characters in The Mirk and Midnight Hour is your favorite and why?
Jane:
I’m rather fond of villains. (In books, of course. Not in real life.) So, I really like Dorian, in spite of all his failings. He’s an amusing, fun-loving kind of guy who is not afraid to laugh at himself.
A.L.:
Can you tell us a little bit about your journey as an author?
Jane:
I’ve written fiction since I first learned to read and write. My first book, written at age eight, was called BEN ORTHO, and the title character was a witch’s broom. I’ve written stories ever since, but didn’t try to get anything published until all my five kids were in school. Then I submitted lots of children’s stories to magazines and sold many of them. I wrote a couple of middle grade novels and tried to submit them to publishers without an agent. A few publishers expressed some interest, but then I entered a crisis time with some of my kids, and, because my family is of the greatest importance, I quit writing for years because I needed to concentrate on it. Then, in 2010, my kids were all grown up, I moved to Canada and could not find a job, and I decided the time had finally come to take my writing seriously. I wrote STRANDS OF BRONZE AND GOLD, was taken on by Wendy Schmalz, my agent, and she sold both STRANDS and THE MIRK AND MIDNIGHT HOUR to Knopf. These last four years have been very interesting and fulfilling ones for me.
A.L.:
What are you working on now? Sequel? Something new?
Jane:
I wrote a sequel to STRANDS which has not been accepted for publication as yet for various reasons. I still hope to do something with it because I think it’s really good. So, it’s on a back burner. This time I decided to go for some high fantasy because that’s always been my favorite genre. I’m half way through a novel I’ve titled “Winged Things.”
A.L.:
Why did you decide to write a Tam Lin retelling set in Civil War era? Likewise (since I'm also an author of a Tam Lin retelling) I'm curious to know why you picked Tam Lin over other stories to retell.
Jane:
Ahh, I will have to look up yours! I’ve read a few Tam Lin retellings and enjoyed them. As I said, Tam Lin is a charming story and I love the romance in it. So…romantic. The hero is fascinating, but helpless, and it’s up to the brave, resourceful heroine to rescue him. I set it in Civil War era because that setting and time period has always interested me. It’s tragic in so many layers and so many ways, and that touch of pathos lends a great deal of atmosphere. I lived in Mississippi for many years, and am living there again now, after five years in Canada.
A.L.:
In your opinion, what's the most hauntingly beautiful place to visit in all of Mississippi?
Jane:
There is an 1800’s cemetery in my town, which never fails to captivate me. The beautiful towering trees, marble stones, the old, old griefs… “Here lies the soldier boy.” “Here lies buried many hopes and dreams.” Pathos again.
A.L.:
If your life were a fairy tale retelling, whose story would it be?
Jane:
Maybe “Snow White and Rose Red.” The heroines are kind, family-oriented, resourceful girls, who live happily ever after. I hope I am leading that kind of life.
The Giveaway:
Jane is giving away one copy (INT) of THE MIRK AND MIDNIGHT HOUR.
All collide at night’s darkest hour.
Seventeen-year-old Violet Dancey has been left at home in Mississippi with a laudanum-addicted stepmother and love-crazed stepsister while her father fights in the war—a war that has already claimed her twin brother.
When she comes across a severely injured Union soldier lying in an abandoned lodge deep in the woods, things begin to change. Thomas is the enemy—one of the men who might have killed her own brother—and yet she's drawn to him. But Violet isn't Thomas's only visitor; someone has been tending to his wounds—keeping him alive—and it becomes chillingly clear that this care hasn't been out of compassion.
Against the dangers of war and ominous powers of voodoo, Violet must fight to protect her home and the people she loves.
From the author of Strands of Bronze and Gold comes a haunting love story and suspenseful thriller based on the ancient fairy tale of “Tam Lin.”
Read Goodreads reviews.
Buy on Amazon.
Buy on Barnes and Noble.
How to Enter:
Enter the giveaway using Rafflecopter. Hit the arrow buttons, follow the prompts, and hit the enter buttons when you're done. (You may have to log in using Facebook to do this). There will be one winner (selected by Rafflecopter). INTERNATIONAL. I will contact the winner via email.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Monday, March 10, 2014
Monday Muse: Grimes -- Genesis
So, you know how authors talk about characters just hyjacking their work? Well, this song is hyjacking Monday Muse. It keeps showing up whenever I look for new music, so I assume it wants to be played for all of you. I'll tell you right now, I hate the video and I'm torn on the song itself...But, in the hopes that it leaves me alone, I'm playing it for you. XD
Friday, March 7, 2014
Feature Friday: Lauren Oliver
Interview:
A.L.:
What piece of advice would you give to a budding author?
Lauren:
Read and write as much as you can!
A.L.:
What's your favorite book and why?
Lauren:
I could never choose a favorite book, there's too many amazing ones in the world!
A.L.:
Where did you get the idea for Panic?
Lauren:
The original kernel of inspiration comes from “The Story of the Boy Who Went Forth to Learn What Fear Was,” a little known fairy tale by Brothers Grimm. Not the catchiest of titles! But of course, like all source material, the story and its meaning for me and my book morphed and changed over time.
A.L.:
Did you hit any snags while writing Panic? What were they and how did you fix them?
Lauren:
Totally! I hated PANIC for a while. I couldn’t figure out how to move the plot forward, how to make the stories intersect, and how I would achieve resolution. I spent months complaining about the book, agonizing over it, talking it over with friends and family, trying different things and then cutting them. Eventually, I managed to find my way..
A.L.:
Which one of the characters in Panic is your favorite and why?
Lauren:
I really love Dodge. Maybe it’s his name, maybe it’s because he was my first POV guy character, or maybe it’s because of his deeply skewed sense of loyalty and desire to defend and protect the people he loves, but if I were an 18-year-old girl in Carp, I’d definitely be head over heels in love with Dodge.
A.L.:
Can you tell us a little bit about your journey as an author?
Lauren:
I’ve really been writing my whole life. That isn’t an exaggeration. I started writing stories when I was probably six or seven, and began seriously writing—i.e., working on something every day—when I was probably ten! So this career has been a loooong time in the making. I have my ups and downs, as every author does. I’ve had novels rejected by agents and publishers. I have my moments of doubt and self-pity. But that comes with the territory; part of the job of an author is learning how to work and create through all that.
A.L.:
What are you working on now? Sequel? Something new?
Lauren:
I’m working on something totally new. It’s another stand-alone, it’s realistic, and it’s the story of two sisters and their unraveling relationship, among other things. But that’s all I can say for now!
A.L.:
If you could be awesome at something other than writing, what would you be awesome at?
Lauren:
Singing. Truly, mind-blowingly, ear-shatteringly awesome, Mariah-Carey-style.
A.L.:
What's your favorite thing to wear?
Lauren:
Expensive jeans, cheap tank tops, and very high heels!
A.L.:
What kind of readers do you think will love Panic?
Lauren:
Hopefully all of them! I think this book will appeal equally to boys and girls, and I’m certainly hoping it will cross over to an adult readership too. Basically, it’s a great book for anyone who likes tension, romance, friendship, and stories of hope. And tigers. Yup, tigers.
No Giveaway?
No goodies from Lauren this week, but don't forget that this was a double feature week, so we have a giveaway from our Wednesday guest author: Kimber Leigh Weaton!
Heather never thought she would compete in Panic, a legendary game played by graduating seniors, where the stakes are high and the payoff is even higher. She’d never thought of herself as fearless, the kind of person who would fight to stand out. But when she finds something, and someone, to fight for, she will discover that she is braver than she ever thought.
Dodge has never been afraid of Panic. His secret will fuel him, and get him all the way through the game, he’s sure of it. But what he doesn't know is that he’s not the only one with a secret. Everyone has something to play for.
For Heather and Dodge, the game will bring new alliances, unexpected revelations, and the possibility of first love for each of them—and the knowledge that sometimes the very things we fear are those we need the most
Read Goodreads reviews.
Buy on Amazon.
Buy on Barnes and Noble.
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