QoTD Week: Author Interview with Stacey Kade II + teaser + giveaway!

So far in Queen of the Dead week, we have heard from Alona (twice) and Will and met Mina Blackwell. Today we continue with the interviews, but slightly different this time - I have the one and only, Stacey Kade! 

We discuss QoTD, the Ghost and the Goth series, and perhaps - book three? Check out our interview below -

As you spent more time with your characters in writing QoTD, what of Alona, Will and the other characters did you learn more about?

Oh, you always learn a little more about everyone. For me, I think I learned more about Will's dad and uh, without getting too spoilery, other people's family members. :) It was also interesting to learn how Will and Alona handled Mina being around. So many things NOT said, you know? Makes it kind of complicated!

QoTD readers would never have seen the big twist coming - was that on your part planned, or was it simply something that came abut as the story progressed?

Planned from the get-go. :)

If you can describe Will and Alona's relationship in one word - what would it be and why?

Balanced, I think. Not necessarily in the "gee this is healthy" kind of way but in the "they need each other" way. Kind of like two people on a see-saw. Each needs the other to keep things level. :)

You know I looove the blossoming romance between our ghost and goth - but would you rather read a book about forbidden romance, the-more-you-hate-the-more-you-love romance or a best-friend-turned-boyfriend romance?

I'm all about the forbidden romance! I think there's always an inherent vulnerability to falling in love and when it's forbidden, it just kind of ups the ante. You don't know whether it'll be just your heart that's destroyed or, you know, your whole life. I was a HUGE fan of Buffy and Angel. :)

Were there any particular challenges in writing QoTD that you had to overcome?

Oh, I was definitely my own worst enemy on this one. It was so hard trying to find a way to tell a story that was similar enough to the first book so as to be recognizable as part of the series but also different enough that people didn't feel it was repetitive. I kind of made myself crazy on this one, overthinking it. Lots of rewriting went on, but in the end, it is definitely a better book because of it.

Was there more pressure on you in writing this book in comparison to writing G&G?

I want fans and readers to love the story, obviously! :) But that can get kind of crazy because not everyone wants the same thing from a particular book. So, instead, I always try to focus on doing my best for the characters, trying to hear them as clearly as I can and tell their story truthfully. So from a pressure standpoint, I think it was more about wanting to make sure I got it right for Alona and Will.

Were there researches that you had to do for QoTD?

I did some digging to learn about the worst fires in U.S. and Illinois history, more for context than anything that would make it into the book.

In retrospect, was there any part of the book you wished you have written differently?

Actually, I think I'm pretty happy with how it turned out. :)

Is the 3rd book going to be the last in the series or are we readers granted more?

Third book is, as far as I know, the last in the series.

(Dwayne: NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!)

Are there any deets you can share with us about book 3? Because I know I am not the only one desperately waiting to know what happens next!

I'm afraid I'm still sworn to secrecy for the moment. Actually, because we're still working on the book now, some things may yet change. :) But I loved writing the third book!

So not much info about book three for now, as it turns out. Be sure to catch up with Stacey for more news and information at her website, www.staceykade.com or on twitter (@staceykade).  You can also check out my first interview with the lovely Stacey here.

Here's our QoTD teaser for the day!

Alona: There's always that one thing, right? A particular action that is your own personal line in the sand. The nuclear threat you keep in your back pocket, never even mentioning it because it will escalate any conflict beyond the chance of reconciliation.

And yet, here I was, declaring war, turning that line in the sand into a mere dot in the distance behind me.

Giveaway, Day 4.

We have several copies of Queen of the Dead and The Ghost and the Goth up for grabs this week, so if you want your hands on this awesome series, post a comment below and check back in tomorrow for more! For more information on how the giveaway runs, check it out HERE.

RULES.

• Open worldwide.
• You do NOT have to be a follower to enter - everyone is welcome!
• You DO have to comment on this post - because the giveaway is comment-based, use the same username to comment throughout the week.
• Extra entries welcome!
• Deadline for entries will be on 1st June 2011, 12MN BST.
• Winners will be drawn through random.org.
• Winners will be contacted via e-mail, and will be given 48 hours to respond. Otherwise a new name will be drawn.
• Any details will be deleted after use and will never be passed on to any third party.
• Fill out the form below!

Author Interview: Ivy Devlin!

Today I am very pleased to welcome Ivy Devlin, to talk about her fabulous, romantic, heart-stopping novel Low Red Moon - welcome Ivy!

1. Low Red Moon is your paranormal debut. What made you venture into paranormal YA?

Dumb luck, really--I was thinking about the fairy tale Little Red Riding Hood one day (I adore fairy tales) and thought--what if? And that's how Low Red Moon got its start!

2. Can you tell us a little bit more about 'Low Red Moon' as a title?

I had originally called the book Red, but my editor wanted me to change the title. I had no ideas (NONE!) but then, when I got my revision letter, my editor had sent along a CD of songs she'd listened to when she was editing the book. And one of them was Belly's Low Red Moon--which is--well, you can see why the title ended up becoming Low Red Moon :-)

3. While writing Low Red Moon, were there any particular habits or quirks you have developed?

Not really--although I did draw a map of the town so I knew where everything was not just in my head but on paper too.

4. As I wrote in my review, Avery narrates the book with a voice with genuine grief. What was your main inspiration in channeling these emotions into your writing?

First, thank you for your amazingly kind review--it totally made my day when I read it! As for writing about Avery's grief, it was part of her story, so I felt I had to write about it. It was so true for her, so how could I not have it there, you know?

5. If you can describe Avery and Ben's relationship in one word - what would it be and why?

Explosive! These are two people who connect right away and it's scary for both of them--but they can't deny how they feel.

6. Would you rather read a book about forbidden romance, the-more-you-hate-the-more-you-love romance or a best-friend-turned-boyfriend romance?

ooooh! Forbidden, I think.

7. In retrospect, was there any part of the book you wished you have written differently?

I can't read my own writing--you know how some authors can't read reviews? I can read those, but I can't read my own book! Go figure :-)

8. Can you give us a little hint on what to expect next following Low Red Moon?

There is going to be a sequel--I've turned it in, but I haven't heard when it will be published yet. I'll let people know as soon as I find out, though!

*

Thank you Ivy! To Emma also, for making this interview possible.

If you haven't read Low Red Moon yet, folks, then you should. It's one of the best paranormal YA novels out there! Not to mention its mystery and romance being just as superb :) Check out my review HERE if you need further convincing!

I can hardly wait for the sequel - pretty certain it would be worth the wait!

Author Interview: Maria V. Snyder

Maria V. Snyder, lovely author of one of the most intriguing dystopian books I have ever read - Inside Out (soon to be followed by Outside In) is gracing us with an author interview today! After indulging in Inside Out, I of course bombarded her with several questions and here's what she has to say!

Welcome Maria!

1. Inside Out has a very claustrophobic feel - Inside, the pipes, the air shafts. Was there any particular reason why you chose such a setting?

The story idea came to me in a dream, but I think the idea took root when I was little and used to help my father. He was an air conditioning and heating repair man, and I used to tag along when he had a call on the weekend. I'd help him, and, at some of the industrial sites, I have memories of climbing though tight spaces for him.

2. Our heroine, Trella, is cynical and a bit of a recluse, but also independent, reliable and brave. In what ways are you similar and different to her?

We're similar in a couple ways. I've always been independent and quite capable of doing things on my own. I frequently travel all over for book events and have no problem finding my way on my own. It is nicer when my husband is with me, two sets of eyes and all that, but I'm not going to stay at home because he can't come along. I believe I'm reliable as well – at least I try to follow up on things I've promised and readers will always get an email reply from me...eventually :)

As far as differences, I'm not as brave as her. I don't like heights and I'm not comfortable breaking rules. But I do enjoy being around other people and I think I'm more of a glass half full type of person.

3. Who is your favourite literary heroine?

I have to admit, I'm a big Buffy the Vampire Slayer fan (the TV show – not the movie). She could hold her own against the big bad, while making some snarky comment at the same time. Gotto love Buffy!

4. Which of the characters are you most similar to?

I wish I was more like Yelena and Trella, but I'm more like Opal. Especially when I was in middle and high school – I had no self-confidence, and I worried too much about what other's thought.

5. In retrospect, is there part of the book, plot or characters you wish you wrote differently?

No. I'm pretty happy with how they turned out. I'm not one to lament over what's in the past – no point in wasting the energy or time because you can't go back and fix things :)

6. Was there any research you had to do before you wrote Inside Out?

Yes. Research for Inside Out wasn't as exciting as for my other books – I read about waste-water treatment plants, recycling, hydroponics – all of it found either in a book or online. I did climb a rock wall to get an idea for how my leg and arms muscles would feel to climb up an air shaft – like jelly!

7. Did you in any way aim for the structure of Inside to reflect our society's?

No. As I said before, the idea came to me in a dream—the plot, the characters, the world, and the twists so it was all my unconsciousness' doing :) In general, I never aim for any theme or moral or comment on society when I write. I focus on the characters and what they want or need and everything else just falls into place.

8. What was the most difficult part of writing this novel?

Keeping track of time! I had so much going on and Trella still needed to sleep and work her shifts, that I had a big time line hanging over my computer so I could keep track. Also the base 10 numbering system with 100 hours per week and 100 weeks per year was another aspect I had to stay on top of.

9. Outside In, the sequel is out April 2011. Was Inside Out initially written as a stand-alone or was it designed to be a part of a series?

I only dreamt about Inside Out, so I had been thinking stand alone. However, like my other books, it expanded into another.

10. What can we expect from Outside In? Any extracts you can perhaps share with us?

Another wonderful book ;) Outside In begins about twelve weeks after the events in Inside Out. The world is trying to recover from all the changes that has happened and not everyone is happy about the new state of affairs. Trouble starts soon after and Trella has to deal with a whole laundry list of problems: sabotage, the new Committee, and her mother. If that wasn't bad enough, there is something from Outside and it wants in! I do have the first chapter of the book up on my website, but I would strongly suggest you DO NOT read it unless you finished Inside Out. Here's the link: http://www.mariavsnyder.com/books/OutsideIn.php

Thank you Maria! I can hardly wait for Outside In, truly! :)

Thanks so much for inviting me onto your blog! If your readers would like more info about me and my books, I have the first chapter of all my books on my website as well as a number of free short stories they can read. I also have a page full of writing advice for any aspiring writers out there :) Here’s the link: http://www.mariavsnyder.com And my blog is: http://officialmariavsnyder.blogspot.com

Author Interview: Janet Fox

Today I'm very happy to have Janet Fox - the brilliant author of the equally brilliant novel Faithful - for an author interview! I asked her a few questions about her book, about writing and Forgiven, sequel to Faithful - and here's what she has to say.

1. Setting in Faithful is obviously a very important part of the book - was there any particular reason for setting the book at Yellowstone National Park?

Yes – setting is hugely important to me as a writer. I believe that we are defined by our surroundings in life and in fiction. That said, Yellowstone has a special significance for me. My husband and I fell in love when we came west together to Montana, and I experienced the Park for the first time. And I feel that Yellowstone is a magical place. Geysers, hot springs, magnificent animals all coexist in the same amazing landscape. I wanted to set a story there, and Maggie’s story seemed perfect – setting a story about life and death in a place where life and death stand in balance at every turn. And, selfishly, I could go there again and again and do research. I never get tired of Yellowstone.

2. Similarly, why did you choose to set the book at the turn of the century?

Once I decided on my character (my first priority in story) and setting, I decided that 1904 would be a wonderful year to write about because the Old Faithful Inn was opened in June of that year. Then I began my research, and discovered all of the nuances of the period – first flight, first motion pictures, women’s suffrage – especially the changes that were happening for young women, and I discovered that they fit Maggie’s growth. Young women of that period had little say in their lives and future and I wanted to explore a character who rebelled against the constraints of society.

3. How did the title come about?

This was one of the easiest titles I’ve invented! It was such a natural – Old Faithful, to begin with, is the most well known geyser in the Park. And then I thought about my character’s relationship with her mother and how she was faithful to trying to uncover the mystery of her mother’s disappearance. And how her mother may or may not have been faithful to her family. And finally how being true to oneself – being faithful to one’s dreams – is so important to teens today as it was for Maggie.

4. In writing Faithful, what form(s) of research(es) did you do beforehand?

I did quite a bit of research. I spent a lot of time in the Park. There’s a new Research Center just on the edge of the Park and they were extremely helpful. And there are a handful of smaller museums and historic buildings in the area and the people there were wonderful. I used to live near Newport so I knew that area; and I read countless books and articles about the period. One of my favorite research tools is reading books written in the time period I’m writing about – they provide me with voice and language and the poetry of the language, the cadence and syntax.

5. Was Maggie a resemblance of a particular character or person you know?

No, actually. None of my characters comes directly from life. I borrow bits and pieces from people I know, but my characters all have distinct voices and come from somewhere deep inside, once I know what they want.

6. Maggie's emotions and struggle against social restraints are hugely realistic in this book. How were you able to manage such a realistic portrayal of her feelings?

I thought about how I might feel or how a teen today might feel under similar circumstances. How it would feel to be told who you could love, whom you could marry. How it would feel to be dragged around from place to place with no ability to say “no.” How it would feel to have to suppress love in the face of obligation. Those emotions don’t change with time and place.

7. Who among the characters is the closest in personality to you?

I like to think I’m a combination of several of them. Maggie’s intellect and desire, Mrs. Gale’s patience and generosity, Kula’s fierce determination. Put together, I’d like to think I have at least some of those traits.

8. Who or what is your greatest inspiration?

My mother. She started me on this path and gave me the tools and the encouragement. And, since she is gone, my husband and son who inspire me every day with their faith in me.

9. Name one book you wish you wrote. Why so?

The Lord of the Rings. I love how Tolkien blends terrific characters with agonizingly riveting plot with gorgeous description. Epic, universal, and beloved. Sigh. How I wish I could write something even a fraction as wonderful!

The beautiful cover for Forgiven!
Don't you just love it? I looove
the splash of red!

10. Can you give us a brief hint of what we can expect from the sequel to Faithful?

I can’t say too much or I might spoil some of the mystery in Faithful…but I will say that Forgiven (which is out May 2011) follows Kula, a secondary character in Faithful, to San Francisco in 1906 during the time of the Great Earthquake and subsequent fires. So you can see that setting is once again paramount to my story. But there is also a romance – and more importantly to me, I tackle a serious issue in a subplot that still has relevance today – but I will leave that to the reader to discover!

Thank you, Janet!

For more information about Janet and/or her books, visit her website at http://www.janetsfox.com. 

You can also say hi and follow her on twitter @janetsfox and on her blog, http://kidswriterjfox.blogspot.com.

Author Interview: Stacey Kade + Giveaway!

I love The Ghost and the Goth. I do, I do!
Today I have the fabulous Stacey Kade, author of The Ghost and the Goth, for an interview!

Welcome Stacey!

1. In terms of writing, are you a plunger or a planner?

Interesting! I've never heard the term plunger before, but I'm pretty sure that's what I am. :) I don't like to plan too much advance. When I'm writing, I prefer it to be similar to the experience of reading, where I don't know what's going to happen next exactly. :) Of course, these days, with deadlines, I have to do a little more planning. But left to my own devices, I would probably only figure out the end of a story when I came to it!

2. How did you come up with the title for The Ghost and the Goth?

You know, I'm not really sure. When I'm writing, if I don't have a title pretty near the beginning, I've always got some part of my brain thinking about possibilities. With The Ghost and the Goth, what I liked about it was that Will and Alona might be called those things (a goth, a ghost) by people who didn't know them. But, in fact, they don't see themselves that way. So, it sort of fit with the whole theme of people judging by what they see on the outside without knowing what's really going on inside. :)

3. How do you choose your character names?

It kind of depends. Sometimes I name them. Sometimes they show up with a name! :) I knew Will's last name was Killian from the beginning and that people might call him by that sometimes. Figuring out his first name was a little harder. Sometimes names sound okay spoken aloud, but when you put them on the page, they don't look right.

Alona is named for the fabulous actress Alona Tal. Plus, it just sounded like who she was. She *sounds* like an Alona, to me.

I use baby name books and websites for inspiration, usually searching by meaning first.

4. Which character was more difficult for you to write, Will or Alona?

Alona, actually. Don't get me wrong--she's fun to write and there's nothing like hearing her nasty/funny comments come rolling through my head. :) But Will's experience in high school was more like mine. Not that I can see ghosts or anything, but I certainly wasn't Homecoming Queen, either!

5. The Ghost and the Goth has a motif of High school hierarchy. Was this based on a personal experience?

I was frequently the "new kid" in school and shy, so observing and trying to figure out how the system worked was the only way I knew how to survive. :) I did move to a new school in the middle of 8th grade and therefore started high school only knowing a few people. And there was definitely a hierarchy, though perhaps not one quite as strictly defined as the one at Will and Alona's high school. We did have a cafetorium, though! And where you sat said a lot about who you were--or who people thought you were.

6. Who/What is your greatest inspiration?

I just love the experience of meeting new characters. I never know who is going to show up or what they're going to be like, and they continually delight and surprise me. And that, I think, is the best inspiration and motivation for telling stories! :)

7. What is by far the greatest advice given to you?

Write a crappy first draft. It's from the book Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott. If you focus too much on trying to make something perfect, it'll never get written and you'll drive yourself crazy. Better to write a crappy first draft and know that you can fix it.

8. Book you wish you wrote? Why?

Oh, boy. I admire many, many books and authors, and I love learning from them. But I think the joy of doing this is getting to see a story you tell yourself in your head come to life. So, I'm not sure the experience would be the same because many of the books I love and admire, I NEVER would have come up with myself! :)

9. Have you any ghostly encounter at all?

Not really, and what most people find strange is that I don't really want to! :) They say we write about things that scare and fascinate us, and I'd say that's true. I love thinking about ghosts, the afterlife, all of that. I would prefer, though, never to see a spirit personally. I'd probably faint!

10. What can we expect from the sequel, Queen of the Dead?

More trouble for Will and Alona, more bickering, more kissing...
Specifically, there is a new person in town who is likely going to cause some strife between them.

11. And, if it isn't too much, can I also ask if Alona can change clothes in the afterlife? I'm sure she hates being stuck in Gym clothes and seriously, this question has been intriguing me! :D

Ha, yes, she TOTALLY hates it. As far as I know, spirits of people who died violently and/or suddenly are generally stuck in the clothes they died in. However...well, I can't say more without spoiling, so I'm going to have to let that go for now! :)

Thank you, Dwayne, for having me here today!

You're very welcome Stacey! Thanks you for being such a star! I cannot wait for Queen of the Dead. I already miss Alona and Will's antics! :)

Visit Stacey's webpage at www.staceykade.com and don't forget to follow her on twitter @StaceyKade.

Haven't read The Ghost and the Goth yet? Lucky for you, I'm giving one away! Enter the giveaway below for a chance to win one brand spanking new copy of this ultra fabulous title!

Rules.

• Open to wherever Book Depository ships. 
• You do not have to be a follower to enter - but of course, extra entries to my lovely followers!
• Deadline for entries will be on 30th September, 12MN BST.
• Winners will be drawn by random.org
• Winners will be contacted via e-mail, and will be given 48 hours to response. Otherwise, a new winner will be drawn.
• Any details will be deleted after use and will not be passed on to any third party.

P.S. The winners for my The Sequels Giveaway will be announced later tonight. Check back to see if you've won! G'luck! :)

Author Interview: L.A. Weatherly (part I)

Today I'm very pleased to have the author of ANGEL, one my favourite books, for an interview! This woman is a genius.

Watch out for part deux tomorrow - For the rest of you lot who haven't read ANGEL yet, I'm giving away two copies (pre-ordered) with the next installment, so watch out for it!

Shall we start?

1. How did the idea for Angel come about?

I've known the characters of Alex and Willow for a long time; they were both originally characters in a fantasy novel of mine which was never published. But they refused to go away, and I began to play with the idea of putting them in a contemporary setting, with a totally different storyline. I knew early on that Willow was psychic, and that Alex had been hired to kill her - and that instead, they fall in love - but for a long time, that was all I knew. Then about a year ago, I was looking at a non-fiction display of angel books in a bookshop, and thinking about the fact that all of these titles seemed to be about angels as friendly human helpers, rather than the more religious aspects that we historically identify with angels. And I started wondering...what if angels aren't really good and kind, like we think? What if they have their own agenda - and are really beings to be feared? Suddenly the two story ideas came together, and I knew that I had my novel. Angel wrote itself very quickly after that!

2. Name a book that you wish you'd written:

Well, the obvious answer is Harry Potter, so that I could live in a castle with an indoor swimming pool and have a fleet of cars and swan about wearing loads of bling, etc, etc. ;-) But presumably you mean a book that I wish I'd written for more than just greedy reasons! (And I do love Harry Potter, actually, but I wouldn't quite put it in that category.) One that comes instantly to mind is Tabitha Suzuma's new book, Forbidden, which I thought was amazing - she turns all of your ideas about a very taboo subject completely upside down as you find yourself falling in love with the main characters, and longing for them to be able to be together. Really, really beautifully done - I imagine that this is the one that's finally going to win Tabitha some major awards. (I should mention, though, that it's not for younger readers - and be warned, it's a real tearjerker!). Another is Philip Reeve's Mortal Engines, which I think must be one of the most brilliant concepts ever - the sort that when you hear it, you immediately think, oh, I WISH I had thought of that!

You greedy... I agree, I wish I wrote the HP books and pocketed all the royalties. :D

3. If you were not a writer, what would you be?

I would want to work in film in some way - I think I'd be great in the editing room! But as to what I might actually be doing, that's a different story. I'd probably be a teacher. I teach a lot of writing courses, and really enjoy getting concepts across to people.

4. Why did you choose to have teenage protagonists rather than adult ones?

Well, I'm a children's writer, so for better or for worse, the story ideas that come to me are almost exclusively ones for children's or teenage fiction - somehow, it's just the way that my mind works (not to mention that I love reading children's fiction!). It never really even occured to me to have adult protagonists in Angel. In a way, I think it's a very teenage story in its themes and issues, simply because of that sense of isolation that many teenagers feel. This is heightened in Angel, whose protagonists really are incredibly isolated from the rest of the world - Willow because of what she is, and Alex because of how he was raised. In a very real sense, they're perfect for each other in a way that nobody else could ever be - and because of their age, you also get that great, all-encompassing love; the kind that just sweeps you away and devours you when you're young. So the age of the protagonists probably gives Angel a greater sense of passion and romance than might have been possible otherwise. (Which is never a bad thing!)

5. What is the best and most difficult aspect of developing the plot?

I tend to work my storylines out before I start to write, so I suppose the best aspect is that feeling of 'Ha! I've got it nailed before I've even started!' And then, of course, the most difficult aspect is getting 70,000 words into the story and realising that despite all your planning, the mid-section isn't even remotely working and is all going to have to be redone (as happened with the first draft of Angel). A lot of my career has been spent doing series fiction for younger children - titles of around 15,000 words - and it's possible to plan those out pretty precisely, with little deviation from your plan once you write it. So when Angel refused to play the game at first, that was a bit of a shock! What I learned is that such a long novel (Angel is over 100K) is really totally different from shorter stories. You can plan all you like, but you're just not going to know everything before you start; it's a process of discovery, and of letting the characters lead you. So with book 2, Angel Fire, although I've planned out the rough spine and know the general events and how the story ends, I haven't tried to control it as much as I did Angel - I'm just going to trust that the characters will lead me in the right direction when the time comes.

Isn't she a darling? I adore her. Watch out for part II tomorrow!

Excited about Angel? You can find out more about Angel on Angel Fever, where you can read the first 45 pages of this amazing book, listen to the playlist, follow Alex and Willow in their road trip, win a signed advance copy and so much more!

You can add Lee at twitter (@LA_Weatherly) and Angel Book (@Angel_book) too!

Thank you Lee :)

Author Guestpost: Angela Morrison

I laughed with and cried over Sing Me to Sleep and Taken by Storm, and to spread my love of her beautiful novels, today I hand over this post to an author who has touched my heart, Angela Morrison!

First, Dwayne and Hanna, I must tell you how much I love your blog title. I kind of know how you feel. When we moved to Arizona from Singapore, I left five of my bookcases behind. I brought two black-laquered Chinese ones that I love, but I'm still down a lot of shelf space. My bookcases are crammed full, and I have baskets and bins of books all over the place.

(I *love* Singapore! And yes, such a pain to see my books crammed under the bed. Grr.)

My husband and I just got back from Scotland where we toured the Highlands. He's a Morrison, so we made it all the way up to the Isle of Lewis where the clan is from. What a wild adventure. Wind. Rain. One-lane roads. Miles of peat bogs, and a few lonely sheep.

Angela's overflowing bookshelf (I envy...).
Spot a few of your favourites?

Guess what I brought back? A whole suitcase full of books. I drug my husband through every black house museum we could find and emptied their gift shops. I want to write a historical romance set during the Highland Clearances, but I got the greatest idea for a modern romance when we happened on sheep dog trials on the Isle of Skye. (Don't you think Skye just oozes romance?) I roughed out the whole plot as we flew home.


Can you tell I love to visit the UK? We lived in Switzerland for four years, and the UK was our favorite destination. It was such a delight to speak English and not feel guilty.

My ancestors emigrated from Birmingham, Kilmarnock, and somewhere in Whales. My historical YA, MY ONLY LOVE, follows the Glovers of Kilmarnock to Nova Scotia. When I lived in Switzerland, I spent more time studying Scots than French. I own the "Complete Songs of Robert Burns" on CD. I made the Glovers' oldest son, William, into the most romantic collier you'll ever meet. He has to leave the lass he loves behind in 
Scotland. As you so adeptly noted in the lovely reviews you wrote of TAKEN BY STORM and SING ME TO SLEEP, I'm drawn to young adult stories full of heart-ache. And love. I hope to find a publisher for MY ONLY LOVE soon.

The novel I'm in the middle of revising, SLIPPED, also has a UK connection. It's set in medieval Switzerland (yeah, before it was actually Switzerland) and stars Jag, a time traveling assassin from a post nuclear winter future, and Margaret, a Bronte-esque heroine who accidentally gets mixed up in Jag's plot. Think Jane Eyre meets the Terminator--but my assassin is way hotter than a robot. I had to throw in a Highland mercenary, too. Couldn't help myself. Every novel needs a man in a kilt. I even gave Lord Byron a cameo (but not a kilt).

Right now, I'm taking a break from SLIPPED to get UNBROKEN CONNECTION, the sequel to TAKEN BY STORM, ready for publication. A new ebook publisher, Top Shelf Books, is releasing it in August. The print edition will follow soon after. I'm excited that readers will finally get to continue Michael and Leesie's journey.

This fall I'm writing CAYMAN SUMMER--the final episode in Leesie and Michael's saga. I'm going to try something kind of crazy--but I think it will be a fantastic experience.

I'm so grateful for readers and bloggers (like Dwayne and Hanna!) who stood by me when Penguin rejected UNBROKEN CONNECTION. I want to do something that will actively involve all of you in my creative process. I've decided to post CAYMAN SUMMER's chapters on a blog as I write them and ask my readers from all over the world to comment and critique. I'll post three different endings to keep you guessing. I love my blogger and reader reviewers. I think they'll make great editors, too. I'll use the feedback to revise and release CAYMAN SUMMER early in 2011!

*

Thanks very much Angela! I'll have you know I'm super excited for My Only Love - I love Scotland, YA and tearfully beautiful stories and damn it has everything! Not to mention Unbroken Connection (out in August. Yess!), Cayman Summer and Slipped. Readers, we have a lot to look forward to!

I have gushed over Sing Me to Sleep here and Taken by Storm here, both I truly love.

Why don't you drop by and say hello to Angela on her website? As a bonus, you get to read the epilogue of Sing Me to Sleep (stop! Massive spoilers ahead, hence for readers only :D), the first chapter of Unbroken Connection (stop! Spoilers again) and be the first to know about developments on her upcoming works! As a bonus, you can also listen to Beth's Song. You'll know in Sing Me to Sleep :)

Author Interview: Artist Arthur

Instead of the usual one-to-one interview, Artist and Lisa held a community interview where more bloggers were able to contribute than usual! Here's an extract of said interview - check out the listed bloggers too!

1. Do you feel being able to Manifest is blessing or a curse? -Cleverly Inked

I think that any type of growth can only improve who and what you are, thus a blessing.

2. Why did you decide to write a YA novel, and why in the fantasy genre? - Once Upon a Bookcase

I was encouraged by a lot of people in my life to write something interesting for our youth. I’m a believer in signs so I figured with so many people saying the same thing, I owed it to myself to give it a try. I love paranormal and so far my romance has been contemporary so this was my opportunity to do something totally different.

3. Who are some YA authors that inspire you? Can you name any YA novels that you read and loved recently? - YA Addict

I’m so in love with Rachel Vincent’s Soul Screamers. I really enjoy Laura Halse Anderson and Alyson Noel as well. Just recently I read Fallen by Lauren Kate and enjoyed her voice.

5. Of all the paranormal creatures currently "sweeping the YA nation" why choose ghost over vampires, werewolves and faeries, oh my? - Black and Blue Ink

Because everybody seems to be choosing vampires, werewolves and faeries and I wanted to tell a different story, give readers another entity to consider when they think of the paranormal.

6.Is the character of Krystal based on yourself or someone that you know? I'd like to know where you got the inspiration for such a headstrong, but young character. - Diva's Bookcase

Krystal is a combination of myself and my daughter. We are extremely moody and stubborn, but once you get to know us you can’t help but love us. Ok, that might be exaggerating, but yeah, I drew a lot of my own experiences and feelings as a teenager and then on some moods I’ve seen my daughter in to create Krystal.

7. Why did you decide to not only make Krystal African American, but also one fourth Native American? - Miss Attitude

I wanted all the characters to be unique in their backgrounds and upbringing. My family has some Native American (Cherokee) so it was a natural mixture for me.

8. My question is really for Krystal Bentley rather than Artist: Of all the spirits that have come to you, who evoked in you the most emotion? What emotion? Why? - Amusing Reviews

Carolyn Jamison, she was the lady in room 319, right beside my grandfather who was in 320. Carolyn said I reminded her of her granddaughter that she hadn’t seen in years because she couldn’t find her. I didn’t know where her granddaughter was either, but Carolyn said it was okay, visiting with me was like being given another granddaughter. That’s the sweetest thing anybody has ever said to me.

9. How did you come up with the amazing idea for the base for this book and the Mystyx group/powers? - Star Shadow

I love watching the weather channel. I kept thinking that something has to be left behind after all these storms and natural disasters. My daughter came up with the names of the Mystyx characters and I gave them powers. I wanted different powers, ones that would fit each character specifically.

10. What sort of research did you need to do for your novel? - Lu Ann

I had to find books on the weather that would back up what I’d seen on the weather channel. Books on Greek mythology that I already had because I love the subject in general. Then, I just wanted to spend time with teenagers to get a real feel for their lives, loves, issues, dreams.

11. If Manifest became a movie who would you like to see play the main characters? - Lady Storm

I’ve actually been asked this a lot in the past month so I’ve been thinking about it. I like Selina Gomez for Sasha. Zac Efron would be great for Jake but I think he might be too old. Kiki Palmer for Krystal.

12. As a writer are you a "plotter" (with detailed outlines) or are you a "plunger" (plunge into the story and see where it takes you)? - Liz B

I’m a plotter definitely. As I begin to write the characters take on their own life but with my outline I know where I need them to end up. Most of the time they work with me.

13. Since Manifest is infused with paranormal mystery, do you have a personal paranormal experience that you can share with us? - Girls Without a Bookshelf

Sometimes I’ll be in a room by myself and think I see shadow or feel like someone or something has moved past me. It’s weird and doesn’t happen all the time, but each time it does, I wonder…

Thanks very much to Lisa, who organised this author interview, to all the book bloggers who participated and to Artist for being patient with all of us! :D

You can visit Artist's website HERE for more information about the author and Manifest.

Author Interview: Simone Elkeles

My second interview for the day is with Simone Elkeles, author of Perfect Chemistry, Rules of Attraction and Leaving Paradise, all of which are my favourite books! The sequel to Leaving Paradise, Return to Paradise is due to be published on November - do watch out for it!

1. We know how much you love bad boys, and we can't agree more. Who is your favourite bad boy character?

I can’t choose. I love all of my "bad boy" characters. In Perfect Chemistry, Alex has a heart of gold and is so dedicated to his family and the ones he loves. I love him. On the other hand is Carlos, who loves to live his life on the edge and loves adventures and challenges. And on the third hand, Caleb is so self-sacrificing that he changes his life just to protect his sister while at the same time helping Maggie discover her true strength. I’m sorry, I can’t pick. I’ll take them all.

2. Personally, what do you feel is the most fulfilling part of being a writer?

My fans! They are passionate and the emails I receive definitely inspires me to write more books. When I get an email saying a teen hated to read but because of my books now loves to read is amazing and surreal. When readers say that reading one of my books has inspired them to write their own book, it’s the coolest feeling! When someone says they look at people differently and don’t judge them because my books taught them you can’t judge someone by the color of their skin or their social status, I love that!

3. Say you're trapped in a deserted island. Which of your characters will you most likely pick as a companion?

I'm going to cheat a little bit and take two: Alex and Carlos. Now, I'm going to cheat a little more and take my vision for the movie version of Ales and Carlos: Alexander F. Rodriguez and Giancarlo Vidrio (the boys who played my heroes in my book trailer for Rules of Attraction) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GhEx0kaUlrU 

(I have to agree, Simone. They're irresistible!)

4. Are any of your (wonderful, endearing and extremely lovable) characters based on anyone in your life?

Let's just say that I'm very observant of people around me and I have a great memory. Many of my characters have personality traits and quirks that belong to people I like (and those I didn't like) who have been in my life past and present. Also, there is definitely a part of me in every character I write. To be honest, I have a sarcastic attitude and connect more with the snarky and sarcastic side of my characters more than anything else. Amy from the How to Ruin books is more like me than any other character.

5. Your male characters have very 'creative' ways of proclaiming their love. Where do you get the inspiration to write such romantic scenes and lines?

I have a very romantic imagination and I love to daydream. I think most women feel that way. . . We know how we wish to be treated. I just try and capture those daydreams and put them into my novels.

6. If, for instance, Perfect Chemistry is going to be made into a film. And you get to choose the cast. Who would you choose to play Brittany and Alex? (Oh, and I looove Alexander Rodriguez as Alex - you have such a good choice there, Simone!)

You are absolutely right about Alexander F. Rodriguez! He is the ONLY person I can imagine playing Alex. I know you didn't ask, but I would really love for Giancarlo Vidrio to play to play Carlos. He was perfect in my book trailer! I don't know that I have my heart set on a Brittany. . .

7. And how about Caleb and Maggie?

I don't have my heart sent on anyone for these two either. . . I guess I'm not doing much to hide my crushes on Alexander and Giancarlo, am I!?

8. Now Rules of Attraction has been released, can you share your plans for the next book in the series?

The third novel in the Perfect Chemistry series will be about Luis Fuentes, the youngest Fuentes brother. He’s such a good guy who doesn’t live with the angst that his big brothers have always lived with. Luis is smart, funny, and has big dreams. When he falls for the wrong girl, Luis enters a dark world he’s never known to try and save her from herself. Just when he thinks he’s got life all figured out, Luis learns some disturbing news about his family that destroys his positive outlook on life. Will that Fuentes bad boy streak come out with a vengeance and lure Luis to live on the edge like his new girlfriend and his own father?

8. Finally... (I'm excited for this!) Can you tell us what's in store for us in Return to Paradise? 

I'm happy to say I have finished my first draft of Return to Paradise! Caleb thought he was leaving Paradise and Maggie behind for good, but he was wrong! After having some time to grow up and find their own strength, Maggie and Caleb's paths with cross again. I don't want to give away too much, but I will say that this will be the conclusion of Maggie and Caleb's story and I don't think my readers will disappointed with the "ending" I have in store for them!

(I'll try not to hyperventilate - but ohmygod this might just be the death of me! I'm so terribly excited!)

Thanks so much for interviewing me! It was a pleasure.

Thanks so much, Simone! You can find out more about Simone and her books on www.simoneelkeles.net. Why don't you pass by and show her some love, eh? :)

Just for reference, I gushed over Perfect Chemistry here and Rules of Attraction here.

Of course, this interview will not be complete without the epic win that is the Rules of Attraction book trailer! Oohlala Alexander and Giancarlo <3

Author Interview: Sean McCartney

Today I have a two lovely authors for interview! Firstly let me welcome Sean McCartney, author of the upcoming Middle Grade book, The Treasure Hunters Club: Secrets of the Magical Medallions to Girls Without a Bookshelf! Sean's debut novel will be out 6th July so watch out for it! (I will post more information at the end of the post.) I have asked Sean a few questions and here's what he has to say.

1. In ten words or so, what can we expect The Treasure Hunters Club: The Secrets of the Magical Medallions?

A fun filled read of action and adventure.

2. What was the inspiration behind The Treasure Hunters Club: The Secrets of the Magical Medallions? 

I wanted a series that I would have liked as a kid. I really enjoyed the mystery of the Hardy Boys and I love the magic from Harry Potter. So I tried to add them together and drop in some of Indiana Jones and National Treasure and you've got The Treasure Hunters Club

3. What were the major challenges of writing this book?

The major challenge are when the words don't come. Some days it just is so hard to find the right words that flow and tell a good story. The best part is it usually doesn't last because you push through.

4. ...And the most fulfilling part?

The most fulfilling was the creation of the characters and the research for the story. In all the books I want the treasure to be real and working through the history of those treasures really gives you great insight. The characters were great fun to work with because they were very much like the kids I grew up with.

5. Who do you look up to as a writer?

I look up to a lot of writers from every genre. Rick Riordan does a really good job incorporating history into his books and John Grisham's longevity and ability to tell a story are great. J.A. Konrath really seems to have his hand on the pulse of publishing as he sees what is coming down the pike. I must say, however, that Mark Twain was always a great read. He had such ability to find the right word. He was someone I really do look up to.

6. Let's talk about your characters. Can you introduce us to your protagonists?

13-year-old Tommy Reed is the leader of the treasure Hunters Club and his three friends make up the rest. Shannon McDougal, even as the girl of the group, provides the muscle and no fear attitude; Jackson Miller is super smart and sometimes too smart for his own good; Chris Henderson is the big, lovable teddy bear whose size belies his rather timid image. The one character who I think is the most interesting is "Diamond" Jack Reed. He is a very famous treasure hunter and is also Tommy's uncle and his hero. Jack is the inspiration to the club but in this story we find Jack's inspiration waning as he searches for it while helping Tommy.

7. Can you give us a taste of what these characters will face in The Treasure Hunters Club: The Secrets of the Magical Medallions?

The club longs for adventure. They are restless and are getting tired of talking about treasure and want to find some. When Tommy's uncle, the famous treasure hunter "Diamond" Jack Reed, sends him a medallion, adventure finds Tommy and his cub. Now they are pursued by an evil treasure collector named Manuel de la ernesto who will stop at nothing to get the medallion back. It's up to Tommy and the club to find out why this medallion is so special before Manuel runs them down.

8. What is the best and most difficult aspect of framing these characters?

The best part about these characters are they remind me of people I grew up with as a kid. They also have similar traits to students I have had in the past. The most difficult part about the characters was staying true to who they were and what they are about. I have to remember they are on their first adventure and that can be scary.

9. Any tours or book signing where readers may meet you in person?

I am in the middle of planning all of that now. This interview is a nice start. I am also planning on doing more blogs and I hope to do several signings in the future. I will have a calendar on my website (www.treasurehuntersclubbook.com )in the next week were people can check out where I am going to be.

10. What can we expect next from Sean McCartney?

My hope is with the success of the first book will lead to the second and so on. I have great plans for this series with future stories as the club gets older and their adventures become more dangerous and exciting.

Thanks again for having me and I can't wait to hear what people think.

Thanks Sean!

To find out more about The Treasure Hunters Club and about Sean, you can visit either
www.treasurehuntersclubbook.com or www.sean-mccartney.com. Don't forget, the book is out 6th July!

And I shall leave you with the trailer:


An interview with Simone Elkeles later! :D

Author Interview: Jennifer Echols

You know how much I adore Jennifer and her novels Going Too Far and Forget You, and today in celebration of the release of Endless Summer today, I'm very pleased to host an interview with Jennifer! I have listed a few questions for her and here is what she has to say.

1. Can you tell us what inspired Forget You?

First I had an idea about a girl who is always having car trouble in a town where there’s no public transportation and teenagers really need a car to get around. This idea needed something, obviously. Then I read the Smart Bitches’ review of a Sweet Valley High book from the 1980s. They were making fun of this terrible book in which the good twin has a wreck and wakes up thinking she’s the evil twin. I agreed the book sounded bad, but something about that amnesia plot really resonates with me. Remember the Gilligan’s Island episode in which Mary Ann gets hit in the head and wakes up thinking she’s Ginger? I LOVED that episode. I know I’m not the only one. There’s a reason the amnesia plot is taken up over and over. So I decided to write my own amnesia book.

2. The cover (of Forget You) speaks a thousand words. How did you come up with such beautiful cover?

I don’t come up with my covers, and I definitely don’t have the final say! The art department comes up with them, and the editorial board at Simon & Schuster and the MTV network have to approve them. A cover can make or break sales of a novel, and the author usually has no control over this—so I am extremely grateful that I have always been very cover-lucky.

3. What research did you do, if any, in order to accurately write about partial amnesia?

I talked to several people who’d experienced this, and to my brother, who is an emergency room doctor, and my sister-in-law, a nurse practitioner. I’ve trained them to answer very strange medical questions without asking why.

3. If Meg and Doug were to hang out, what do you suppose will happen?

Meg and Doug would be great friends and would probably date for a while, but they would make each other very angry and would eventually break up because they are too much alike.

4. How about...if Officer After and Zoey get together?

John and Zoey are too nice to make it together long. John needs a bad girl, and Zoey needs a bad boy, for the sparks to fly.

5. And I just have to ask this...John After and Douglas Fox?

John would not get along with Doug. He would think Doug was like Eric, the villain from Going Too Far. Of course, everyone thinks Doug is like Eric, which is a big part of Doug’s problem.

6. Which of your characters are you most similar to? In what ways?

All my characters are little parts of me. They have to be, so I can understand their motivations. Doug is the no-nonsense part of me that can’t stand hypocrisy or other people’s arbitrary rules. Zoey is the meticulous part of me that thinks if I just get my desk neat enough and make my family happy enough, all my problems will disappear.

7. If you were to be trapped on an isolated island, which among your characters would you choose as your sole companion?

Doug. He is very entertaining. And he’s creative and resourceful, so he could probably save us both from starvation, as long as there was no boat motor or crashed airplane motor to fix for our escape. Doug is not mechanically inclined.

(I must admit one of my fave Doug moments in Forget You was when he thought Mike's Miata was gonna explode. Gotta love Doug!)

8. Who do admire most as a writer?

Jane Austen. I adore her hilarious and sexy novels. I love that each one is very different from the others, yet if you like one, you’ll probably like the rest. I think that’s what readers look for in a writer who produces multiple novels, and I hope I am doing that for my own readers.

(I agree! Pride and Prejudice is my heart and soul and Emma is absolutely stunning!)

9. Are you currently working on another novel? If so, what should we be expecting?

I’m writing a new novel that will be published by MTV Books in July 2011. I really don’t like to talk about my books until they’re done, but I can tell you that it’s another romantic drama like Going Too Far and Forget You, and I’m incredibly excited about it!

July 2011 hurry now! In the mean time however, why don't you lot check out Endless Summer (if you haven't already been waiting for it)? If you haven't read Boys Next Door yet, don't worry, it actually comes with it! I haven't ordered mine yet but hopefully after exams, and if you've enjoyed Going Too Far and Forget You you're sure to enjoy this one too!

Thank you Jenn for your time :)

You can head to Jennifer's website HERE or her blog HERE to know more about her books and to say Hi!

Author Interview: Keris Stainton

Today I'm pleased to have the very sweet, very wonderful Keris Stainton for interview! Her debut novel, Della Says: OMG! was published 6th May. I asked her several questions and this is what she has to say!

1. What inspired Della Says: OMG! ?

My sister had a party when I was a teenager and the next day I found that my diary was missing. It did eventually turn up - shoved under my mattress - but while it was missing, I was terrified someone was going to use it to humiliate me. I started thinking about how much worse that would be now, with Facebook and mobile phones.

2. Who would most likely steal your diary?

Well these days I pretty much put all my most personal thoughts/secrets on the internet anyway so no one would need to! When I was a teenager I was much more embarrassed about pretty much everything I was thinking and feeling, now I'm much more open and honest. I find that the more honest and open I get, the easier life becomes.

3. If there was one person in the world whose diary you could steal and read, whose would it be?

Oh my goodness. Great question. My brain seems to be stuck on Oprah. Not sure why since I'm not sure how interesting her diary would be - "Worked. Worked more." - but maybe it would give me an insight into how she stays so completely awesome and inspirational.

4. My favourite character is Della's dad - which character is your favourite?

Oh good, I love Della's dad too! I think Della's probably my favourite character though. I feel very protective of her.

5. What were the biggest challenges in writing your debut novel?

Dealing with self-doubt, I think. It started when I sent three chapters over to my editor. They were nothing like the first three chapters now - one was from Della's point of view, another from Jamie's and then Maddy's chapter was diary-style. I then worried that my editor absolutely hated them, but didn't know how to tell me. My brain would come up with things like, "She's probably looking into how difficult it would be to cancel your contract..." Excruciating. Then she said that she loved them, but liked Della the best and asked if I could write the whole book from Della's point of view and the worry started again. And now I've got to do it all again with another book! *cries* (I do know how lucky I am though, honestly.)

6. Who do you admire most as a writer?

Meg Cabot, Meg Cabot, Meg Cabot. I love her books and she's a huge inspiration to me. I love how prolific she is and that she's able to write for different ages and in different genres. So you can imagine how excited I was when she agreed to read Della and gave me a cover quote? I happy-danced all over the house!

7. What in your opinion is the most fulfilling aspect of being a writer?

For me, it's just so wonderful to be able to work from home and fit what I do around my children. I love the fact that my sons get to see me doing something that I love and that makes me happy - that was always really important to me. I also really love reading back something I've written and not remembering writing it - I sometimes think "Ooh! That's actually quite good!" - but that's peculiar rather than fulfilling... I'm going to have to cop-out and say it's ALL fulfilling. It's the best job in the world and I still can't believe I'm doing it!

8. Are you currently working on another novel? A sequel to Della Says: OMG! perhaps?

I am working on another novel (you can read about it here: http://novelista-michele.blogspot.com/2010/05/guest-blog-keris-stainton.html), but it's not a sequel. I am definitely thinking about a sequel to Della. Or maybe even two - I'd quite like to write Maddy's book and also Jamie's, but not sure when that will be (or if they'll be published!)

Thank you Keris! :) I'm sure I'm not the only one looking forward to Keris' next books. You can visit Keris at her website, http://dellasays.wordpress.com/ to find out more about our lovely author!

This interview is part of Keris' blog tour. You can view the list of blog stops (as opposed to bus stops - love it) HERE. Don't forget to head over to The View from My Garret tomorrow for more interview questions!

Author Interview: Allan Richard Shickman

This week, I have interviewed Allan Richard Shickman, author of the fabulous Zan Gah series! He has very kindly answered a few of my questions. Check it out below!

1. What inspired the Zan Gah series?

 The Zan-Gah stories begin with geography. I have always maintained that a change in geography is good for an artist or author. He sees things with "fresh eyes," and what might be ignored by a long-time resident can be dramatically new to a visitor. That's the way it was with me when I left the city of St. Louis to travel across the American West by automobile to California. Most of the territory I crossed is relatively arid and largely unoccupied. It raised in my mind the question: how did people survive here before air-conditioned cars and water faucets? It was over a year before I started typing Zan-Gah, but that is how the idea came about. The first book is largely a tale of survival in a bleak and arid land.

2. Did you have to do any form of research in order to make Zan Gah an accurate depiction of prehistoric life?

 I wish I could say that the Zan-Gah stories are completely accurate, but my approach was not primarily archaeological; it was humanistic. Zan-Gah is about courage, brotherhood, and compassion, among other things. Were prehistoric people compassionate? I doubt it. Nevertheless, I tried to be accurate where it counted. I researched slings and hand fishing. I researched prehistoric twins, discovering that in some early societies twins were terribly frightening and killed immediately—and so was the mother (not the father). That information was important in the development of my plot. I had never actually been inside a cave, so I visited Onondaga, one of the world's great caves (my state of Missouri is famous for them), and was overwhelmed by the experience. I took notes furiously. I was the only guy in the whole cave who was taking notes. Some of them appear almost verbatim in the first book.

3. You have depicted such vivid landscapes in the Zan Gah series. Were they inspired by any particular place(s)?

 Yes, they were, but I have to stress that although I was inspired by my travels in the West, I had no intention of copying the geography literally, or setting my stories specifically there. If I wanted a mountain or a gulch in my story, I put it where I needed it. But I did see a great, profound gulch (in New Mexico), red rocks (in Colorado), and stone arches (Utah). There were indeed rainstorms where the water ran red. Still, I insist that the stories could take place in many places: Turkey, Africa, Asia, Europe. You may remember how Zan confronted a snake. Well, it was a rattlesnake until I realized that that species only lives in North America; so I took it out, and turned it into a hissing variety. I didn't want to glue myself to North America. Too bad, really. I liked Zan being frightened by the sound of a rattle because he immediately knew what it was.

4. Which of all your characters do you think you're most like? In what ways?

 It is said that Dickens was Scrooge, and that Dostoyevsky was old Fyodor Karamazov. I'm sure there is some truth to that. Some authors model their characters after people they have known, but I believe that most of us dredge them out of our own secret psyches. Dostoyevsky was Ivan, Dmitri, and Alyosha too—and most certainly the axe-murderer Raskolnikov. As that great author shows, people are deep wells springing from, and containing, many complex and contradictory currents. We hardly know what is half-formed inside of our minds, but I believe that every one of my characters is a part of myself—either what I am or what I want to be. In my dream life, I can be clever, thoughtful, and resourceful like Zan. And sometimes I am angry, bitter, depressed and violent like Dael—or awkward and "different" like Chul. (I hate that word, "different.") (Dwayne: I'll react to that - I totally admire Chul!)


5. How and when did you decide to become a writer?

I have always been interested in writing well, and used to record my nightmares in vigorous descriptive prose. When I became an art history professor, I was expected to publish scholarly articles, which I have done in both art history and English literature journals. Only when I retired did I get interested in writing fiction, or have the time to do it.

6. As a writer, who do you look up to and admire most?

I like the great classic novelists mostly of the 19th century. I have already mentioned Dostoyevsky, my favorite author. His stories have profundity, and cut to basic human dilemmas. His characters are magnificently believable, and have been rightly compared to Rembrandt's. One cares about the people in his books, and one wants to read the books again and again. Those are my tests for an author. I don't care a hang for a book that doesn't elicit a tear or a hearty laugh, or both. I love Thomas Hardy's novels, Austen's Pride and Prejudice, Scott's Ivanhoe, and laughed my head off at Fielding's Tom Jones and Thackeray's Vanity Fair. Huckleberry Finn is one of my favorites, and Catcher in the Rye, and......and Shakespeare. Maybe you found in Zan-Gah an echo of Othello's "antres [caves] vast and deserts idle, rough quarries, rocks, and hills whose heads touch heaven," not to mention the Anthropophagi! Do you have Anthropophagi in England? (Dwayne: Plenty!)

7. Are you currently working on another book (maybe the third book in the Zan Gah series)? If so, can you give us a little information about it? :)

My experience is that if you talk too much about a projected book, you are much less likely to actually write it. Still, I will tell you this much: I am working on a third Zan-Gah book. It is in the dreaming stage right now. Whenever I get an idea, small or large, I write it down on a card. I will arrange the cards later. The story continues with Dael's self-imposed exile, as he seeks some sort of redemption or resolution of his life. He will go to live with the crimson people (introduced already in Zan-Gah and the Beautiful Country). I think I will call it Dael and the Painted People. But first I have to write it.


Yes! There is a third book! :) Good luck with the writing process, Allan - I do hope we get to read more of Dael's journey soon! I enjoyed this series a lot and am excited to read more, so do check them out! If you haven't yet, you can read my review of Zan-Gah: A Prehistoric Adventure HERE. My review of the outstanding sequel is found HERE.

Thank you ever so much to Allan and Bonnie for being so patient with me and for agreeing to this interview! I hugely enjoyed reading through Allan's answers - I hope you did too! For more information about the Zan Gah series, visit the official site.