Author Interview with Amanda Ashby

Happy Halloween everyone!!!

(Man, Blogger has such a weak orange color)

Anyway, today concludes the Crossroads Blog Tour!  Have a safe and wonderful night everyone, whether you're out with the munchkins, or out partying.  And send me some of your costume pics!  I love seeing what everyone gets dressed up as :)

Don't forget to check out the Wolfy Chicks blog for the final research question!  You need all 16 correct answers in order to be entered in the grand prize giveaway.

I'm the author of Zombie Queen of Newbury High, which is the story of what happens when a teenage girl tries to do a love spell, but instead she accidentally turns her entire senior year into zombies and then has to find a cure before she becomes next on their new flesh-only diet. But honestly, it could've happened to anyone...


Zombie Queen of Newbury High is now in its third print run and not only did it make the New York Public Library's Stuff of the Teen Age 2010, but it has also been nominated for the YALSA popular paperback of 2011.

Connect with Amanda:

Website | Blog | Goodreads

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Can you tell readers one unique thing about yourself?

I was in the opening ceremony of the Commonwealth Games when it was in Brisbane, Australia in 1984. We had to wear the most hideous terry towelling tracksuits that have ever been invented. All photographs have since been burnt!!!

What inspired you to write a zombie story?

Vampires inspired me to write about zombies!!!! Seriously though, there were so many vampire books on the market, and I’m such a big Buffy fan that I didn’t want to even think about vampires that didn’t look like Angel, so I started to think about some other cool paranormal creatures! At the time I hadn’t seen any YA zombie books at all and the more I thought of it, the funnier it became. Plus, I had just watched Shaun of the Dead and how can you not want to write about zombies after watching that movie???

Out of all your books (released now, and coming soon) which is your favorite?
This sounds ironic since I swear that I complained non stop while I was writing Fairy Bad Day, but now that it’s finished, I sort of love that book. It’s actually a fusion of all the themes I had in my first two books, plus of course there are invisible killer fairies in it!!!! Plus, I’ve just had a sneak peek at the cover and it’s awesome!!

What kind of music do you listen to when you write?

Sometimes I shuffle, sometimes I do a playlist and sometimes I only listen to music when I’m walking, but it’s always a weird mix! Right now I’m obsessed with Florence and the Machine! I also tend to listen to Muse, The Killers, David Bowie (who seriously has written a song for every book idea I’ve ever had, the man is a freaking genius!!!!!), Nirvana, Michael Jackson and just about everything else in between!!!!

Is there one question you wish bloggers would ask you about but don't? What is it, and how would you answer?

Yes there is actually!!!!!!!! My husband is English and I lived there for a long time so I often wish that someone would ask me who my favorite Premiership team is. The answer, of course would be Liverpool Football Club, because they are the greatest team in the whole entire world!!!! Unfortunately, I don’t think English football is super popular in the US (though perhaps the world cup has changed that since the US team did pretty darn good!!!!) so I’m not really surprised that I don’t get asked that question!!!!!

Tori's Review: Pegasus by Robin McKinley

Hardcover - 400 pages
Price: $18.99
ISBN 10: 0399246770
ISBN 13: 978-0399246777
Released: November 2, 2010

Robin's Website
Buy it via the Publisher
Buy it via Amazon

Obtained: Publisher
Genre: Young Adult - Fantasy
Series: 
1. Pegasus

A gorgeously-written fantasy about the friendship between a princess and her pegasus

Because of a thousand-year-old alliance between humans and pegasi, Princess Sylviianel is ceremonially bound to Ebon, her own pegasus, on her twelfth birthday. The two species coexist peacefully, despite the language barriers separating them. Humans and pegasi both rely on specially-trained Speaker magicians as the only means of real communication.

But it’s different for Sylvi and Ebon. They can understand each other. They quickly grow close—so close that their bond becomes a threat to the status quo—and possibly to the future safety of their two nations.

My Rating:

  
My Opinion:
I was so excited to receive a copy of PEGASUS before the release date! Not only is the cover of this book breathtaking, but it also sounded like such an interesting and unique premise. And, to make things even better, I was getting a break from all the YA romances out there.
The first 50 or so pages of this book bored me to tears. It pretty much consisted of a huge info dump that I could not appreciate due to my unfamiliarity with the world and its inhabitants. The book also reminded me of all those history books I had to read back in high school. Not a great start because of that.

The shift from memories, the journal entries, and present encounters is too subtle to the point of being jarring. So much, in fact, that I found myself continually rereading paragraphs and pages in a failed attempt to regain my bearings. That, of course, distracted me enough from the actual story, which made this more of a chore than something I would enjoy. If one thing frustrated me most about this book, it was that. I prefer knowing when I'm reading about the past, the present, or something that indirectly influences the story arc. I also wish that ALL of Sylvie's thoughts were italicized so that it did not blend in with the rest of the text, though this could have been addressed in the final copy (I was reading an ARC).

And example of the shift: within the first 200 pages, Sylvie went from being 12, to 15, back to 12, then back to 15 again. There was no warning when the memories would shift back to her being 12, nor were there any warnings of when she suddenly skipped a few years ahead in age.

Everything that dealt with Sylvie's life minus Ebon, her unicorn companion, bored me. I don't mind reading about politics, but I felt the politics in this book was overkill. The friendship between a girl and her pegasus was what intrigued me about this story, and I loved the sections that focused on their friendship. Everything else? I was so incredibly tempted to skip sections.

Our villain does not play much of a role in the middle of the book, nor did he truly invoke any sort of apprehension in me. Basically, I viewed him as a joke and I feel the story would have been just as good without him (though there would not be a sequel, if that was the case).

Once Ebon and Sylvie meet, however, the story transforms from a dull history lesson into the story I was anticipating. I loved their first meeting, and the encounters that followed. Like I said earlier, it was their friendship that truly made me appreciate this book. If there was no friendship, if there was no focus on the clash of the two cultures and the consequences of their friendship, this book would have been a DNF.

McKinley definitely knows how to create beautiful worlds, but I do not believe world building is enough to make a successful story. I would have enjoyed more showing over telling, also. Alas, it was difficult to connect with Sylvi due to being told about everything that happened. I felt like I was witnessing this story through a kaleidoscope with lots of static.

PEGASUS was the first title by McKinley I've read. If her other works are like this book, I am unsure of whether or not I'd want to read any of them. Due to how scattered this book was, I spent twice the time reading, and rereading, this story. It also gave me a headache at one point because I felt like all the information was just a tornado of mass confusion within my brain.

As for any future books in this series, I would like to know what happens to Ebon and Sylvi, however, I will not be buying them. Library copies for me. I suggest reading this if you can overlook a bit of the dryness due to the politics. If you love romances, or if you wanted to read more about Sylvie/Ebon, I think you're going to be somewhat disappointed. That is not to say I do not think people should read it. As it is seen, lots of people have enjoyed this story. As for me, it was an okay read.

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Author Interview with Joy Preble

As per usual, don't forget to check out the Wolfy Chicks blog for today's research question!  You need all 16 correct answers in order to be entered in the grand prize giveaway.

So what�s there to know about me? I�m the kid who loved reading and science and history, and even math, although I was always dreadful at it. I didn�t so much read as I consumed books. Vats of them. Buckets full. Baskets. Well, you get the idea. Although at first I was surprised that my very first published novel has turned out to be a young adult contemporary fantasy with a kick- ass teen girl heroine, a mysterious handsome guy and a famous Russian witch, all inspired by Anastasia Romanov�s disappearance, I suppose I really shouldn�t be surprised at all. After all, I read Madeline L�Engel�s A Wrinkle in Time a zillion times. I wallowed in Edgar Eager�s Half Magic. I stormed my way through all the Nancy Drew�s and the first really big (ooh, an adult size book) history account I sucked in was Nicholas and Alexandra. I liked my tv heroines strong and feisty, and my maternal grandmother really was a crazy Russian lady who had been one of � wait for it� here it comes� twenty children. Yes, that�s twenty as in 20. I doubt highly if anyone noticed when she ran off to America at sixteen with her tales of the Bolsheviks, married badly, raised four children on her own and was the least grandmotherly of grandmothers a girl could ever hope for. Seriously � no warm and fuzzies there, only admonitions to eat my vegetables so I would be strong enough to survive any impending pogroms. So why I was surprised that I wasn�t writing classic romance is only a product of my own personal idiocy.

Connect with Joy:

Website | Blog | Goodreads

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Can you tell readers one unique thing about yourself?

I once coached the JV volleyball team for a year. I was not particularly good at it, even though I love the game and played on winning intramural teams in college. But I needed a job and this particular teaching position was attached to a coaching assignment as well. Honestly? I hated every single second of it.

Could you give readers--who may be unfamiliar with your work--a quick summary of Haunted and Dreaming Anastasia?

Sure!

DREAMING ANASTASIA: Sixteen year old Anne thinks her life is pretty ordinary – until she smacks into handsome, mysterious, and okay, annoying Ethan on her way to chemistry class. Now Anne has powers she doesn’t understand, a history altering mission she may not want, and a growing attraction to this blue-eyed stranger. And Ethan- who at eighteen made some choices he’s starting to regret – realizes that Anne is the girl for whom he’s been searching – for a very, very long time. Stir in doomed Russian Grand Duchess Anastasia – who is definitely not quite as dead as the history books say – and Baba Yaga, the legendary witch from Russian folklore, and you’ve got DREAMING ANASTASIA, a contemporary YA fantasy that alternates between the voices of Anne, Ethan, and Anastasia as Anne and Ethan join forces to battle the bad guys and save Anastasia. Only problem is – no one’s quite sure who’s really bad and who’s good. And everyone has some secrets.

HAUNTED : Anne Michaelson’s world turned upside down last year when handsome, blue-eyed and temporarily immortal Russian Ethan Kozninsky showed up. Now six months later, Anne still has powers she doesn’t fully understand. She’s still dreaming about Baba Yaga’s forest. And she’s definitely still got feelings for Ethan, even though she’s got a new boyfriend—the very normal and very sweet lifeguard Ben Logan. But things are about to get even more complicated. There’s a wicked Russian folklore mermaid stalking Anne. With her heart torn between Ben and Ethan, Anne’s search for the rusalka’s identity reveals deep and startling secrets -- including the true source of Anne’s powers. As the romance heats up, so does the danger. Will Anne’s powers be enough to help the rusalka get what she wants? Or will the longings of her own heart get in the way?

The covers for both your books are beautiful. Did you have any say in the creation process?

I love my covers, too! They’re both done by the fabulous Cathleen Elliott, who lives in NYC and is an amazing artist, among other things. As for input – most authors, myself included, aren’t really involved in the process. That said, I was actually shown the HAUNTED cover very early on – we were working on a very fast track and my publisher really did want to make sure that the cover was meshing with what I was writing. Turns out it was absolutely perfect. In fact, Cathleen only did that one cover for this project. Normally she submits a variety of drafts. But after reading the 1st three chapters she got this amazingly accurate sense of both the story and my vision. We all said, yes! This is the HAUNTED cover.

Is there one question you wish bloggers would ask you about but don't? What is it, and how would you answer?

After my Blog Tour that Ate the World last fall – over 70 stops or something wildly crazy like that – I do think I’ve been asked just about everything. But one question I don’t get asked that often is whether or not writing and being a public person has impacted me as a classroom teacher. The answer is yes. I am quite shy by nature, but writing YA and having to be so public about so much has finally pulled me up and out and taken the filter off the funny “real” me more often. I think it’s made me kinder and gentler as well – I’m a better listener these days, I think. And it has had an impact in other ways; I’m proof that if you keep on trying, your dream can come true – even if your life gets hectic, you have to have surgery for thyroid cancer in the middle of things, and finish writing a sequel even before you can fully turn your head to the left… I’m a different, more humble human than I ever was. And profoundly grateful for everything – good and bad - that’s happened to me in the past year. I think it rubs off on my students in a good way.

What's your favorite TV show?

Currently, it’s Friday Night Lights. Absolutely brilliant television!!

Author Interview with Linda Joy Singleton

As usual, don't forget to check out the Wolfy Chicks blog for today's research question!  You need all 16 correct answers in order to be entered in the grand prize giveaway.

Linda Joy Singleton has written YA & MG series about Goths, psychics, mermaids, aliens, cheerleaders, clones, parallel worlds and ghosts.


Her YA series, THE SEER and DEAD GIRL, were honored as YALSA Popular Paperback/Quick Picks. Younger readers enjoy her midgrade series STRANGE ENCOUNTERS about a family that solves paranormal weirdness on vacations.


Linda has loved writing and reading for as long as she can remember. Her first completed novel was written in pencil on blue-lined paper when she was eleven. Three years later, she stepped up to a typewriter and spent a two-week Christmas vacation writing a 200-page mystery about a girl sleuth named Kerry Blue. She also submitted short stories to American Girl Magazine and received encouraging rejections which fired up to her determination to become published series author.


When Linda isn't writing, she enjoys reading, movies, country walks, camping, bowling, watching reality shows and Farmville. She also collects vintage girl series books like Nancy Drew, Judy Bolton and Trixie Belden.


She lives with her husband, David in Northern California , in a country home where she’s surrounded by horses, peacocks, dogs, wild turkeys and demanding cats.


When asked why she loves writing for teens, Linda says, “Everything is a first for teens: having a BFF (best friends forever), going to school, planning for college, getting a job, driving a car and falling in love. Writing for teens is a gift, a responsibility, and an honor.”

Connect with Linda:
Website | Blog | Twitter | Goodreads

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Can you tell readers one unique thing about yourself?
When I was 17, I was a member of the Silhouettes; the only teenage round dance exhibition group in the country. Round dancing is like ballroom dancing only everyone does the same steps in a circle. I performed at conventions and had a great time.

What is your heroine's (from any book) favorite food?
Amber from DEAD GIRL loves chocolate (like me!).

What's your favorite color?
Pink. I even named a cat Pinky when I was a child – a boy cat!

What's the writing process typically like for you?
In the morning I write creatively for about 4-5 hours. When I have a book deadline I don’ t allow myself to leave until I’ ve added a few new pages.

Is there one question you wish bloggers would ask you about but don't? What is it, and how would you answer?

Probably a question about my book collection, since I have a library devoted to girl series books like Nancy Drew, Trixie Belden, Anne of Green Gables, and hundreds more. The old dust jackets have such beautiful, amazing art. It’ s a shame, really, that e-books are becoming so popular because paper books are fun and interesting to collect. I give talks on old books and show a power point of some great covers.

Author Interview with Kitty Keswick

Don't forget to check out the Wolfy Chicks blog for today's research question!  You need all 16 correct answers in order to be entered in the grand prize giveaway.

Connect with Kitty:

Website | Goodreads

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Can you tell readers one unique thing about yourself?

I’m afraid of spiders. Anything that spins its own hotel creeps me out.

Could you give a quick summary of Freaksville for those of us who may be unfamiliar with your work?

Every woman in the Maxwell family has the gift of sight. A talent sixteen-year-old Kasey would gladly give up. Until Kasey has a vision about Josh Johnstone, the foreign exchange student from England. The vision leads her into deep waters...a lead in a play and into the arms of Josh. But Josh, too, has a secret. Something that could put them all in danger. To solve a mystery of a supernatural haunting, they must uncover the secrets of the haunted theater when they are trapped on the night of the full moon.

Reviews:

"A modern day Romeo and Juliet with a wicked twist. An action-packed debut!" ---New York Times Best-selling author, Maria V. Snyder of Fire Study, Magic Study, and Poison Study, as well as the Glass Series.

"If you like a sharp, snappy female protagonist embroiled in danger, mystery and action, Freaksville is for you."

---Teens Read and Write

What inspired you to write your story through the heroine's blog?

It seemed to fit the story. People tend to tell, more, share more, on blogs. Which some find odd, but just read blogs they are windows into our souls... People spill secrets they normally would. Blogging feels safe. (Kasey felt safe blogging, it was a way to confess her burdens and feel less like a freak. Love ones no matter how close tend to judge you, it’s in our nature. We are more accepting of strangers. We don’t have anything invested in them. I don’t think Kasey ever really believed people would read it and connect it to her.) We tell bloggers things we would share with someone we just met on the street. For example I just shared that I’m afraid of spiders. Only family and friends know that about me, well now you do, too.

But, in book two, FURRY & FREAKED will have much less blogging. It’s because it doesn’t fit with where Kasey is in the story. She doesn’t have the luxury of a computer or time to vent...

Is there one question you wish bloggers would ask you about but don't? What is it, and how would you answer?

I’ve been asked so many interesting questions. I find it hard to talk about myself, so answering bloggers is a challenge. I want to be interesting, true, but mostly I want to be true to myself. I am what I am, I don’t hide it. “To thine own self be true” is my motto and the major thread in FREAKSVILLE. If you’re not true to yourself, nobody else will be. Kasey learns this lesson in FREAKSVILLE and I hope that it’s one thing I can impart on my readers more than anything, girls need to respect themselves. We are our hardest critic.

What's your favorite color?

To decorate with, green, to wear black or red, to be around blue.

Author Interview with Jordan Deen

Don't forget to check out the Wolfy Chicks blog for today's research question!  You need all 16 correct answers in order to be entered in the grand prize giveaway.

I grew up in a small town 45 minutes outside of East St. Louis, Illinois. I discovered my talent for wordsmithing at the age of seven when my family home burnt down. Of course losing my family home wasn't exciting enough! So, aliens did it. The dogs wanted revenge against the cats becuase they could be inside... you get the idea.

At twelve, my family relocated to California and I've continued to concentrate on my love of all things reading, writing and story-telling.

My reading taste hovers towards the YA audience as there is just something authentic and magical about first loves and building friendships that will last a lifetime (or not).

Even though 'The Crescent' is a YA Urban Fantasy, I tend to write a bit of everything. I have a few edgy YA novels in process, a book about witches, a Sci-Fi novel and several others that I'm not sure where they are going yet. Again, I write what I feel, when I'm feeling it.

Connect with Jordan:
Website | Blog | Twitter | Goodreads

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Can you tell readers one unique thing about yourself?

Hi Tori! Thanks for hosting the Crossroads Tour! One very unique thing about me is I waited until I was 32 to get my first tattoo because I’m terrified of needles. My first tattoo is a memorial for my brother who passed away in July 2003; I got it in August of 2009. Since then, I’ve gotten two more in dedication to my love of reading and writing. I have a “reader fairy” on my upper left shoulder and the “tree of life” down my whole right side/back. Yes, it hurt and no, I won’t be getting anymore.

Why werewolves?

Actually, I had no interest in writing a werewolf book until my dog wouldn’t let me in the house one night. I freaked out and my imagination took over. After the initial scare that the dog could sense something was wrong, I started to think about what type of book I would write about a dog that was a werewolf. The story just morphed from there.

How long did it take you to write the first draft of The Crescent?

I was addicted to working on ‘The Crescent’. The story wouldn’t stop coming to me in waves and there would be two or three days at a time that I would write ten thousand words at a time of the story. Overall, the first draft took less than a month. ‘Half Moon’, the sequel, was a nine-month labor of love. It didn’t come nearly as easily because the story is so much more in depth and has so many more elements to their world.

Who's your favorite character from the series?

Alex is my favorite boy from the series, however, Lily was my favorite character to write. She is a seriously fun, untapped resource that will start to evolve more and become a larger part of the story over all.

Author Interview with Shannon Delany

Don't forget to check out the Wolfy Chicks blog for today's research question!  You need all 16 correct answers in order to be entered in the grand prize giveaway.

Shannon Delany has written stories since she was a child. She began writing in earnest when her grandmother fell unexpectedly ill during a family vacation. In 2008 her greatly abbreviated version of 13 to Life (written in just five weeks) won the grand prize in the first-ever cell phone novel contest in the western world through Textnovel.com.


Shannon was thrilled when St. Martin’s Press offered her a contract for a series about her 13 to Life characters. She expanded on the cell phone novel version, adding the subplots and characters she didn’t have time to during the contest. As paranormal as werewolves seem, the grief Shannon used to build Jess’s character is something she personally experienced with the loss of her own mother. Focusing on Jess and Pietr’s story of loss, love and dramatic and dangerous changes, Shannon came to better grips with her own struggle. The resulting novel has earned her blurbs from authors she respects most.

Connect with Shannon:

Website | Blog | Twitter | Goodreads

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Have you read 13 TO LIFE yet?  Whether you have, or haven't, Shannon's going to give us a bit of background information about both her story and characters!

1. Heroine's name, age, occupation: Jessica Alice Gillmansen, 16-17, high school student

2. Hero's name, age, occupation: Pietr Andreiovich Rusakova, 16-17, high school student

3. Heroine's favorite food: Not chocolate.

4. One thing the hero would never be caught dead doing: Precisely what he feels forced to do in Bargains and Betrayals, book 3 of the series

5. Subgenre: YA Paranormal

6. What do you think readers will like best about this book? Readers seem to really like the characters and that it keeps them turning pages long after they should have gone to sleep.


Thanks for stopping by, Shannon!

Something strange is stalking the small town of Junction…

When junior Jess Gillmansen gets called out of class by Guidance, she can only presume it’s for one of two reasons. Either they’ve finally figured out who wrote the scathing anti-jock editorial in the school newspaper or they’re hosting yet another intervention for her about her mom. Although far from expecting it, she’s relieved to discover Guidance just wants her to show a new student around—but he comes with issues of his own including a police escort.

The newest member of Junction High, Pietr Rusakova has secrets to hide--secrets that will bring big trouble to the small town of Junction—secrets including dramatic changes he’s undergoing that will surely end his life early.

Purchase 13 TO LIFE
Amazon ~ B&N ~ Borders ~ Book Depot

Author Interview with Judith Graves

Don't forget to check out the Wolfy Chicks blog for today's research question!  You need all 16 correct answers in order to be entered in the grand prize giveaway.

Judith Graves loves tragic romance, werewolves, vampires, magick and all things a bit creepy. Thankfully, her sidekick, and lick-the-boogy-man- to-death labrador retriever, Weeping Willow, is always nearby.

Connect with Judith:
Website | Twitter | Goodreads

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Can you tell readers one unique thing about yourself?

I’ m a singer/songwriter as well as a YA paranormal fiction author. You can listen to some of my tunes on my band’ s old Myspace page…hasn’ t been updated forever, but the tunes are still there: http://www.myspace.com/rusticcharm 

What is your Skinned series about?
I’ ve always been keen on the folklore from different regions. I enjoyed discovering the similarities, and the variations, between our cultural / mythological gods and monsters. After reading about the Windigo, a shapeshifter creature from First Nations lore – one that was once human, turned cannibal, and can be destroyed with silver to the heart – I marveled at this alternate version of a werewolf. What would happen, I began to speculate, if these beasties from around the world were to battle over one last bit of unclaimed territory? What then? And from that, UMS (and the Skinned series) developed.

What kind of music would Eryn be most likely caught listening to?

Anything, and I mean ANYTHING, but country.

Is there one question you wish bloggers would ask you about but don't? What is it, and how would you answer?

Q: Can we send you chocolate?
A: Yes, please!

What inspired you to write about a shifter?
Shapeshifters, especially half human ones, have so much inherent inner conflict. Do they deny their instincts and live as humans? Or do they embrace their inner beasts? How could I NOT write about such metaphors for our own dark sides lurking under our skin?


Thanks for stopping by, Judith!

All her parents wanted was for Eryn to live a normal life...

Redgrave had its share of monsters before Eryn moved to town. Mauled pets, missing children. The Delacroix family is taking the blame, but Eryn knows the truth. Something stalks the night. Wade, the police chief's son and Redgrave High's resident hottie, warns her the Delacroix are dangerous. But then so is Eryn--in fact, she's lethal.

But she can't help falling for one of the Delacroix boys, dark, brooding--human Alec. And then her world falls apart.

A normal life? Now that's the real fairytale.

Purchase UNDER MY SKIN

Amazon ~ B&N ~ Book Depot

Author Interview with Tonya Hurley + Giveaway!

Don't forget to check out the Wolfy Chicks blog for today's research question!  You need all 16 correct answers in order to be entered in the grand prize giveaway.

Tonya Hurley is the New York Times best-selling author of the highly acclaimed “ghostgirl” book series; creator, writer and producer of animated and live action hit television series; writer and director of independent films; writer and director of commercials for Playstation, Gameboy and Warner Home Video; and creator of groundbreaking videogames.

She has written and directed several acclaimed independent films, which have been selected for film festivals around the world including the LA Independent, TriBeca and Edinburgh and have also been broadcast on ABC, PBS and IFC.

Come and vote for the ghostgirl Lovesick trailer for the SLJ trailee awards:

http://reg.accelacomm.com/servlet/Frs.frs?Script=/LP/51148056/reg&Context=START

Connect with Tonya:
Website | Ghostgirl | Twitter | Goodreads

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Can you tell readers one unique thing about yourself?
My dad was a boxer. He was a twin and so am I.

Is there one question you wish bloggers would ask you about but don't? What is it, and how would you answer?
This one. How I would answer? Why hasn’t anyone ever asked me that before.

What inspired you to write the Ghost Girl series?
My high school experience. I wrote the books that I would have wanted in high school.

Do you usually listen to music while you write?
Sometimes. It depends what I’m writing.

What is one thing your heroine would never be caught dead doing?
Being caught dead.

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Want to win a copy of GHOSTGIRL plus some cool swag?

Leave a comment with your email address.  US-only.  This giveaway will end on October 31st and I will announce the winner a few days after that.

Extra Entries:
+1 Tweet about this giveaway (include link in comment);
+1 For each comment you leave on the other interview posts

Now I lay me down to sleep,
I pray the Lord my soul to keep.
And if I should die before I awake,
I pray the popular attend my wake.

Charlotte Usher feels practically invisible at school, and then one day she really is invisible. Even worse: she's dead. And all because she choked on a gummy bear. But being dead doesn't stop Charlotte from wanting to be popular; it just makes her more creative about achieving her goal.

If you thought high school was a matter of life or death, wait till you see just how true that is. In this satirical, yet heartfelt novel, Hurley explores the invisibility we all feel at some times and the lengths we'll go to be seen.

Purchase
Amazon ~ B&N ~ Borders ~ Book Depot

When one should be a professional...

I hate drama.  Absolutely detest it.  I hate encouraging drama.  I hate acknowledging it (especially on the blog, though some instances of stupidity truly get me fired up, as you've seen in the past).  And yet despite my aversion to encouraging such pettiness, I find myself craving to step up and post about this since it pertains to both readers and writers (published and unpublished too).  I think we can all learn from this situation and walk away as better people from it.

When I think of authors interacting with fans, I always get this warm and fuzzy feeling inside.  It's so nice when one is granted the opportunity to connect with her/her favorite author whether it be via Twitter, email, or in person.  Usually, they're so sweet and kind and you want nothing more than to give them a HUGE hug for making you, the reader, feel like you mean something (even though you're usually both complete strangers).  For those of you who do that, please continue!  Your attitude definitely affects whether or not I buy your next book.  Being nice to me means I might even buy your book if the most recent was not as enjoyable for me.

...Then there are instances like today that make me hate interacting with authors.  These sorts of interactions make me see red.  Smoke streams out of my nostrils as I begin breathing fire.  If I could, I would probably turn into a chupacabra or a kraken and eat some unsuspecting sailor or animal in an attempt to calm my rage.  Fortunately for humanity, I cannot.  But I would if I could, damn it.

Authors are, contrary to popular belief, human.  They have wants and needs and get mad, just like the rest of us.  They are also particularly vulnerable to the comments people make about their books, which is what I will be discussing today.

So yeah, it happens.  An author receives a not so happy review and/or comment from a reader.  Sometimes the reader means harm.  Sometimes they're simply providing some constructive criticism.  And sometimes, they don't mean anything at all by the random, flippant side comment they made along with all the praise they showered upon the author. 

Whatever it is the reader did, the author has a few different ways to react: A) Ignore it and bottle it up; B) Ignore it and rant to a trusted friend or two (which is what most sane authors do); and C) Confront the reader about it (DON'T DO IT).

Earlier today, I was lurking on Twitter, procrastinating from reading a not-so-great book I'll eventually need to review.  That's when I saw Aly (blueicefiesta) make a comment about drama.  So, curious, I investigated.

Apparently Cassandra Clare decided to confront a fan pertaining to her flippant comment about Clary being a bitch.  I won't post the entire conversation here, but from what I read, CC was extremely unprofessional in the way she approached the situation.  Granted, it IS hard to discern the tone most people have while online, but the way she phrased her response definitely came off as -- *gasp* oh the irony -- bitchy.

Basically, CC decided to make a general statement about people labeling heroines as bitches and whores.  Okay, fine, I can understand why she would do that.  I have a problem with the ease most people -- myself included -- use those terms and phrases when describing a female, whether she be real or imaginary.  I hate how the male characters in the stories can act the same way and go relatively unscathed when analyzed by readers.  I truly believe where authors are coming from when they complain about that.

What I was not okay with was how she then proceeded to publicly confront the reader who decided to make a comment.  Not only that, but she responded in a snooty fashion (check her Twitter page here) to her FAN.  So snooty, in fact, that she upset her fan.  She then proceeded to be rude to her friend who decided to stick up for the first reader, all while claiming that she should not be silent about this sort of topic because she needs to set an example.

How honorable.

That's what pisses me off.  If you have a problem with something someone says, suck it up.  You're an author.  You're expected to receive the bad with the good.  And if you feel the undeniable urge to discuss this with said reader, the best approach would be to not publicly humiliate him/her, but to contact them privately.  But really, ignoring the situation or venting to a trusted friend is the best approach.

I do not think people understand the repercussions of being rude online.  EVERYONE will hear about it... whether or not you're famous or infamous.  You're particularly vulnerable when you are famous.  Crap like this can ruin one's career, though I don't think it will hurt CC much considering how popular she is.

What makes me even angrier is the fact that CC is a YA author.  She has so many fans and most of them are teenagers... teenagers who bought HER BOOKS and made her as famous as she is today via word of mouth and such praise.  She should be setting an example by being the better person in this situation.  And, if she wants to discuss such a topic (such as heroines = bitches), then she should do so generally instead of honing in on one or two people.  She claims that's what she was doing, but it's clear that the reader's comment about Clary is what sparked her drama llama fest.  At least, that's how I interpreted the entire conversation. 

In my eyes, she was being a cyber bully.  It's not right to make anyone feel that way.... which happens to be the point of this post.  When confronted with a negative statement about your work, be professional about it.  Either ignore it, or, if you're a glutton for punishment, politely ask the negative nancy why they felt that way.  By being so rude, you're alienating your readers and turning potential readers away from your work.


To those of you who have dealt with an author reacting in such an immature fashion, I just wanted to tell you this one thing (which happens to be what an author friend, who shall remain anonymous, stated):

"Not all authors are douchebags about negative comments." 

And it's the truth.  I hate when authors do something like this and make the rest look bad.  Just ignore the ones who are; they're not worth your time or money.

As for me, I was never truly a huge fan of Cassandra Clare's work.  I was going to give her new series a shot, but I'm not even interested in reading that now.

Author Interview with Lucienne Diver

Don't forget to check out the Wolfy Chicks blog for today's research question!  You need all 16 correct answers in order to be entered in the grand prize giveaway.

Lucienne Diver is a literary agent by day, a writer and journeyman jeweler by night. She started writing in her teens because talking back to the voices in her head wasn't socially acceptable—and she already had enough to deal with being a drama and AP English geek.


Her credits include short stories and a romantic comedy written under the pseudonym Kit Daniels. With her young adult novel Vamped, she's taking off the mask and stepping into the full glare of ... indirect sunlight. Because as her heroine would tell you, anything else is hazardous to your health, especially once you've been Vamped.

Connect with Lucienne:
Website | Blog | Goodreads | Twitter

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Can you tell readers one unique thing about yourself?

I very nearly went to graduate school for forensic anthropology (think Dr. Brennan from Bones). See, I’ve always been fascinated with skulls and death. But I’m squeamish, so the death I deal with has to be long past…no wet stuff. Unfortunately, as I discovered, you don’t always get remains fully skeletonised. Then there’s the insect factor…. No, I’m way better off writing about the (un)dead than interacting with them on a daily basis.

What's life like as an agent and author?

Busy! I’m pretty sure I had a life at some point, but I can’t remember where I left it. Maybe buried under all the pages of revisions. I keep thinking that if I just get a little ahead, I can dig it out of the pile, but, of course, that never happens! I work pretty much twenty-four/seven. If I weren’t writing and agenting, I’d be making jewelry and agenting, which I’ve done, or acting and agenting, which I’ve also done, or…. You get the idea. I don’t know how to relax. Never have.

Do you ever feel that being an agent distracts you from writing?

No more than my writing distracts from my agenting. Actually, they both use two completely different parts of my brain. When I write, I have to wake up before my inner editor (usually about 6 a.m.). No one else in publishing is up at that hour…or if they are, they’re not verbal. Neither am I, for that matter. But my characters, they can talk through me, because I’m not awake enough to get in my own way, if that makes any sense. So, I write until the words stop flowing, go back to sleep, wake up, shower, have a couple cups of coffee and say hello to my inner agent. She’s generally up by that time, and the concerns of my client and the constraints of the schedule constantly running through my head (I’m such a classic Type A personality) don’t leave time for my author-self. That’s one of the many reasons I have an agent of my own to represent me during the day.

What is your favorite food?

Anything fattening. Pizza, probably, hands down. Or chocolate lava cake.

Is there one question you wish bloggers would ask you about but don't? What is it, and how would you answer?

Well, I wish people’d ask me things like, “How is it you’re so fabulous?” But, I think I’d actually have to be fabulous first, so…. Nope, I’m good.


Thanks for stopping by Lucienne!

Gina's Rules for Surviving Super Spy Club Training:

1. First, the dirt and sweat are just too horrible to contemplate.

2. Unless you enjoy cold showers, be the first one to the bathroom in the morning.

3. Cargo pants make you look hip-py.

4. Making out on missions, unless it's part of your cover, is totally grounds for extra push-ups.

5. When going goth, you've totally got to strike words like totally, awesome, and phat from your vocabulary.

6. Who's actually running the Super Spy Club, you ask? I could tell you, but then I'd have to kill you.

Purchase REVAMPED
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Author Interview with Amy Brecount White

Don't forget to check out the Wolfy Chicks blog for today's research question!  You need all 16 correct answers in order to be entered in the grand prize giveaway.

My first paid writing job was for a health newsletter in Charlottesville, Va., where I was earning my M.A. in English at the University of Virginia.  My first published piece of writing was about … uh … constipation.   No kidding.  I like to think I’ve come a long, long way.

Along that way, I’ve taught English literature and writing to middle and high school students and won a teacher of the year award.  I’ve written lots of articles – mainly for The Washington Post – about fun things to do in the greater Washington area.  I’ve also written a lot of essays about things I care about, such as my faith, reading aloud to children, and protecting the environment.

Now I live with my husband and three kids and Jessie the wonder dog near some woods and a stream in Arlington, Virginia, which is the inspiration for my second novel tentatively titled, String Theories.

Connect with Amy:
Website | Blog | Twitter | Goodreads

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Can you tell readers one unique thing about yourself?

I really love to make pumpkin muffins for Halloween. I’m pretty good at banana bread too. Sometimes I make butternut squash soup too. Orange foods!!

Is there one question you wish bloggers would ask you about but don't? What is it, and how would you answer?

Someone may have asked me this, but I’d like to answer it: How hard is it to write a
novel that gets published?

Very. You have to want it with your whole heart and be willing to sacrifice for it,
while you write and while you promote. It’s great fun, also.

What was the most exciting part about writing Forget-Her-Nots?

Two things: Getting fan mail/email from (mostly) girls who got it and loved it

And seeing it on the shelf in a bookstore for the first time.

Did you have any scene in the book that made you want to rip your hair out while writing it?

I wrote and rewrote the opening scene about 20 times. It took me a few drafts to decide exactly when in the story to start the novel. (Authors should always know what happens before and after.)

What's your favorite color? Blue.

White bellflowers and pansies for having me, Tori!


Thanks for stopping by, Amy!

When someone leaves three mystery flowers outside her dorm door, Laurel thinks that maybe the Avondale School isn't so awful after all — until her own body starts to freak out. In the middle of her English presentation on the Victorian Language of Flowers, strange words pop into her head, and her body seems to tingle and hum. Impulsively, Laurel gives the love bouquet she made to demonstrate the language to her spinster English teacher. When that teacher unexpectedly and immediately finds romance, Laurel suspects that something — something magical — is up. With her new friend, Kate, she sets out to discover the origins and breadth of her powers by experimenting on herself and others. But she can’t seem to find any living experts in the field of flower powers to guide her. And her bouquets don't always do her bidding, especially when it comes to her own crush, Justin. Rumors about Laurel and her flowers fly across campus, and she's soon besieged by requests from girls — both friends and enemies — who want their lives magically transformed — just in time for prom.

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Author Interview with Angie Frazier

Don't forget to check out the Wolfy Chicks blog for today's research question!  You need all 16 correct answers in order to be entered in the grand prize giveaway.

Angie lives in New Hampshire with her husband and two daughters, their big black lab, and a pair of highly destructive cats. Her debut young adult novel, EVERLASTING, is the result of an overactive imagination, an addiction to historical research, and dozens of vintage travel posters plastered to the ceilings of a cottage she rented one long, snowbound winter.

Connect with Angie:
Website | Twitter | Goodreads

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Want to learn a little bit more about EVERLASTING?  Angie's going to give us some background information!

1 . Heroine's name, age, occupation: Camille Rowen, 17, intended wife & wannabe adventurer.

2 . Hero's name, age, occupation: Oscar Kildare, 19, first mate aboard the Christina.

3 . Heroine's favorite food: Grapes.

4 . One thing the hero would never be caught dead doing: Being forced to share a bunk with his Australian guide, Ira because there isn’t enough money for two bunks!

5 . Subgenre: romance and fantasy.

6 . What do you think readers will like best about this book? I think they’ll love the adventurous setting and the romance between Camille and Oscar.


Thanks for stopping by Angie!

Sailing aboard her father’s trade ship is all seventeen-year-old Camille Rowen has ever wanted. But as a girl of society in 1855 San Francisco, her future is set: marry a man she doesn’t love, or condemn herself and her father to poverty.

On her final voyage before the wedding, the stormy arms of the Tasman Sea claim her father, and a terrible family secret is revealed. A secret intertwined with a fabled map, the mother Camille has long believed dead, and an ancient stone that wields a dangerous—and alluring—magic.

The only person Camille can depend on is Oscar, a handsome young sailor whom she is undeniably drawn to. Torn between trusting her instincts and keeping her promises to her father, Camille embarks on a perilous quest into the Australian wilderness to find the enchanted stone. As she and Oscar elude murderous bushrangers and unravel Camille’s father’s lies, they come closer to making the ultimate decision of who—and what—matters most.

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Author Interview with Rosemary Clement-Moore

Don't forget to check out the Wolfy Chicks blog for today's research question!  You need all 16 correct answers in order to be entered in the grand prize giveaway.

I’ve been writing stories all my life, even when I should have been doing other things, like studying Algebra. My first paying job was as Chuck E. Cheese. I worked in theatre for years, and now I’m writing full time, which is my dream job, because I get to work in my pajamas and take a break every afternoon to play Guitar Hero.

Connect with Rosemary:

Website | Blog | Twitter | Goodreads

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Can you tell readers one unique thing about yourself?

I have a ridiculous love of bags. Not expensive bags (though I like those, too) but any type of bag, from backpacks to luggage to those little bags ‘gift with purchase’ bags you get at the cosmetic counter. I have more bags than I will ever be able to use, but I can’t resist them!

What is one thing your heroine would never be caught dead doing?Spending as much money on purses as I do.

What is the premise of Maggie Quinn: Girl vs Evil?

Maggie is a plucky girl detective who solves supernatural mysteries. If you mix Nancy Drew or Veronica Mars with the show “Supernatural” you’d have the Maggie Quinn series. (I wrote the first book in the series before Supernatural came on, but I could TOTALLY see a crossover! That would be so awesome, even if it only ever happens in my head.)

If you could suggest any book you've written to a new reader, which would it be?

If they love a quick read, then Prom Dates From Hell, the first book in the Maggie Quinn series would be a great place to start. It’s funny and quick, with a lot of zippy action and a ton of snarky dialogue. The Splendor Falls, my latest book, is a stand-alone novel, and it’s a longer book, with a spooky story that unfolds along with a lot of mystery and romance. If someone likes a book that you really sink into, and likes more romance with their spooky stuff, that’s the book for them.


Thanks for stopping by Rosemary!

Sylvie Davis is a ballerina who can’t dance. A broken leg ended her career, but Sylvie’s pain runs deeper. What broke her heart was her father’s death, and what’s breaking her spirit is her mother’s remarriage—a union that’s only driven an even deeper wedge into their already tenuous relationship.

Uprooting her from her Manhattan apartment and shipping her to Alabama is her mother’s solution for Sylvie’s unhappiness. Her father’s cousin is restoring a family home in a town rich with her family’s history. And that’s where things start to get shady. As it turns out, her family has a lot more history than Sylvie ever knew. More unnerving, though, are the two guys that she can’t stop thinking about. Shawn Maddox, the resident golden boy, seems to be perfect in every way. But Rhys—a handsome, mysterious foreign guest of her cousin’s—has a hold on her that she doesn’t quite understand.

Then she starts seeing things. Sylvie’s lost nearly everything—is she starting to lose her mind as well?

Purchase THE SPLENDOR FALLS
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Tori's Review: Crescendo by Becca Fitzpatrick

Obtained: Publisher / Big Honcho Media
Genre: Young Adult
Series:
1. Hush, Hush (book review)
2. Crescendo
3. Tempest (book review)

Becca's Website
Buy it via the Publisher
Buy it via Amazon

Hardcover - 432 pages
Price: $18.99
ISBN 10: 1416989439
ISBN 13: 978-1416989431
Released: October 19, 2010

Nora should have known her life was far from perfect. Despite starting a relationship with her guardian angel, Patch (who, title aside, can be described anything but angelic), and surviving an attempt on her life, things are not looking up. Patch is starting to pull away and Nora can't figure out if it's for her best interest or if his interest has shifted to her arch-enemy Marcie Millar. Not to mention that Nora is haunted by images of her father and she becomes obsessed with finding out what really happened to him that night he left for Portland and never came home.

The farther Nora delves into the mystery of her father's death, the more she comes to question if her Nephilim blood line has something to do with it as well as why she seems to be in danger more than the average girl. Since Patch isn't answering her questions and seems to be standing in her way, she has to start finding the answers on her own. Relying too heavily on the fact that she has a guardian angel puts Nora at risk again and again. But can she really count on Patch or is he hiding secrets darker than she can even imagine?

My Rating:

My Opinion:
I've decided to take a different approach with the start of this review. Instead of summing up all my thoughts, I figured I would give a play-by-play of different sections of the story (or whenever I needed to walk away from this book, which has happened quite a few times, I'm afraid).

If you've read CRESCENDO already, this might make you laugh. Looking back and reading this, I did. If you haven't, please skip down to my consensus so you don't run the risk of any "potential" spoilers.


Walk Away Moment #1 (pg 58 in the ARC)
GR Status Update: "Uh. what?!?!?! Hormones and/or PMS = bad way to make decisions, Nora..."

I cannot believe I just read what I read. Fight #1 in this book made my eye twitch in annoyance. (What? You thought everything was going to be lovey-dovey-unicorns-shitting-out-rainbows now that the two were together? This is a book, for heaven's sake. I didn't spoil anything.)

Nora seemed way too out of character with how she reacted, hence the hormones/PMS comment. That's the only logical explanation for such an illogical argument on her part. I am disappointed in your logic, Nora. Surprised to say this, but, I'm siding with the dudes for this one.

~*~*~*~

Walk Away Moment #2 (pg 110 in the ARC)
GR Status Update: "Nora, you IDIOT! *head desk*

Did I really just read what I thought I read?

Really?

...what?

This doesn't even deserve a comment. I am speechless right now because of how stupid Nora is being. Out of character when compared to HUSH, HUSH Nora. I'm not liking the CRESCENDO Nora so far.

She even admitted to not thinking during that scene... SHUT UP WOMAN.

~*~*~*~

Walk Away Moment #3 (pg 120 in the ARC)

I was wrong, I wasn't emotionally stable enough to continue reading this so soon after WAM #2.

NORA YOU SUCK.

~*~*~*~

Walk Away Moment #4 (pg 262 in the ARC)

I can't handle this emotional roller coaster. I'm going to bed.

~*~*~*~

Walk Away Moment #5 (pg 309 in the ARC)
GR Status Update: I keep flip-flopping between siding with Nora and hating her guts because of how irrational she is.

Day 2 of reading this book. I am so glad my love life is not this dramatic. As for my status, I'm fifty-fifty with Nora. Some moments I forget that she was being dumb and truly feel sorry for her (and I mentally curse Patch for what he's doing). Then I remember that she's the one who started all this drama between the two in the first place... and I don't feel so bad anymore.


Consensus: Nora went from the respectable YA heroine I loved in the first book to someone I wish I could strangle on multiple multiple occasions. Nevertheless, she did have a few redeeming moments after the third time I walked away. Instead of being PATCH PATCH PATCH, there were some moments of clarity when she realized she needed to do something to distract herself. At these points -- though they were few and far in between -- I could relate with Nora. If Becca did not include these snippets of clarity into CRESCENDO, I would have grown way too frustrated with the book and Nora's character.

Vee was a huge improvement. Instead of being somewhat brainless, she was actually quite funny and enjoyable this time around. The scenes she was in were laugh out loud funny. I could just not imagine EVER finding myself in the situations the duo were in.

I felt bad for Nora during her moments with Marcie. That girl is one nasty piece of work. A part of me is convinced that girls like that do not exist in the world. But then another part of me, after listening to all of these bullying suicides, isn't so surprised that someone could be like that. Then there's another part of me that's shocked Nora would even let the snide comments affect her so profoundly.

On the bright side, Patch is still sexy as hell. Totally loved the start of the book with him and his badass self. The middle made me somewhat wary of him... because of the scenes with Marcie. But then end ending... Oh sweet baby Jesus. The ending is was what made this book for me. This had the HUGEST twist ever. I'm still stunned by the sheer brilliance of that twist. Then the scene with the key made my heart melt. Be warned, there is a huge cliffhanger. I kind of screamed after I read the last page/line.

I knocked off half a star because this book was a little too emotional and dramatic for me. Nora seemed way out of character in my eyes, and the beginning was incredibly frustrating for me (as you can see). HIGHLY suggest checking this series out. And I also suggest reading CRESCENDO when you're not particularly... stressed out.

Author Interview with Stacey Kade

Don't forget to check out the Wolfy Chicks blog for today's research question!  You need all 16 correct answers in order to be entered in the grand prize giveaway.

As an award-winning corporate copywriter, Stacey Kade has written about everything from backhoe loaders to breast pumps. But she prefers to make things up instead.

From her first childhood scribbles about a magical necklace that would turn people into cats, Stacey has long been fascinated with what happens when the “ordinary” bumps up against “out of this world.” What if aliens landed on Earth? What if the afterlife is really just another dimension?

She lives in the Chicago suburbs with her husband, Greg, and their three retired racing greyhounds, Joezooka (Joe), Tall Walker (Walker) and SheWearsThePants (Pansy). When she’s not reading or writing, you’ll likely find her parked in front of the television with her Roswell DVDs, staring rapturously at Jason Behr.

Connect with Stacey:
Website | Blog | Twitter | Goodreads

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Want to learn more about THE GHOST AND THE GOTH'S characters?  Well you're in luck!  Stacey's going to give us some inside info on these wonderful teens.

1 . Heroine's name, age, occupation: Alona Dare, 18 (at age of death), spirit

2 . Hero's name, age, occupation: Will Killian, 18, busboy and ghost-talker

3 . Heroine's favorite food: Well, she’s dead, so no more eating. But the way she talks about Krispy Kreme makes me think that would be her choice. : )

4 . One thing the hero would never be caught dead doing: openly declaring himself as a ghost-talker.

5 . Subgenre: YA paranormal romance

6 . What do you think readers will like best about this book? I hope they find it funny and entertaining, an escape from regular life.


Thanks for stopping by Stacey!

After a close encounter with the front end of a school bus, Alona Dare goes from Homecoming Queen to Queen of the Dead. Now she’s stuck here in spirit form with no sign of the big, bright light coming to take her away. To make matters worse, the only person who might be able to help her is Will Killian, a total loser/outcast type who hates the social elite. He alone can see and hear her, but he wants nothing to do with the former mean girl of Groundsboro High.

Can they get over their mutual distrust—and this weird attraction between them—to work together before Alona vanishes for good and Will is locked up for seeing things that don’t exist?

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Author Interview with Jackie Morse Kessler

Don't forget to check out the Wolfy Chicks blog for today's research question!  You need all 16 correct answers in order to be entered in the grand prize giveaway.

Jackie Morse Kessler grew up in Brooklyn, NY, with a cranky cat and overflowing shelves filled with dolls and books. Now she’s in Upstate NY with another cranky cat, a loving husband, two sons, and overflowing shelves filled with dragons and books (except when her sons steal her dragons). She has a bachelor’s degree in English and American Literature, and yet she’s never read any Jane Austen (with or without zombies). She also has a master’s degree in media ecology. (The living study of technology and culture. Which is cool, but she still can’t figure out how to use Tweetdeck.)

Jackie spends a lot of time writing, reading, and getting distracted by bright and shiny new ideas. (She just came up with a new idea right now.) She has a weakness for chocolate and a tendency to let her cat take over her office chair.

Connect with Jackie:

Website | Blog | Twitter | Goodreads

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Welcome to Book Faery, Jackie!  Can you tell readers one unique thing about yourself?
My husband thinks my sibilant S is sexy. (He told me to write that!) Yes, I have a sibilant S and a funky New York accent in which I can’t pronounce S-T-R words correctly. I always add an H in there. So “street” is “shtreet.” I don’t know why. Can I blame Elmo? (Actually, no, I can’t; Elmo was after my time. God, I’m old.)

You currently have three series (Hell on Earth, The Icarus Project, & The Riders). Could you give a quick summary of what each is about, and what genres they all are?
Ah, my pseudo-secret identity has been revealed!

Hell on Earth (HELL’S BELLES; THE ROAD TO HELL; HOTTER THAN HELL; HELL TO PAY) focuses on a runaway succubus who hides on Earth as an exotic dancer and learns the hard way about true love. Not aimed at teens (i.e., rated NC-17). Even though these books were marketed as paranormal romance, they’re really urban fantasy.

The Icarus Project (BLACK AND WHITE; SHADES OF GRAY) is a dystopian superhero duology coauthored by me and Caitlin Kittredge. The books focus on Jet and Iridium: two superpowered women, once best friends, now on opposite sides of the law, who must once again work together to defeat the Big Bad Evil. (Bwahahahahahahaha!) The Icarus Project is aimed at adults and older teens.

Those two series are written under the byline “Jackie Kessler.”

The Riders’ Quartet (also known as The Horsemen of the Apocalypse books) focuses on one Horseman of the Apocalypse and the very human teenager who comes into contact with these eternal powers. HUNGER is about an anorexic teenage girl who becomes the new Famine. RAGE (April 2011) is about a teen self-injurer who becomes the new War. These books, aimed at teens, are written as “Jackie Morse Kessler.”

What inspired you to write about the Horsemen of the Apocalypse?
Not so much writing about the Horsemen as it is writing about the people who become the Horsemen. In HUNGER, if you take out the Horsemen aspect, there’d still be a story there—a completely different story, but still a story. If you took out the anorexia, there would be no story at all. The Horsemen are how I tackle the issues raised in the books.

Is there one question you wish bloggers would ask you about but don't? What is it, and how would you answer?
“Is it true that Neil Gaiman kissed you?”

Yup. Uh huh. Sure is! It was at the Fantasy Matters conference in November 2007, and Neil was the keynote speaker. After his keynote, he signed autographs. I gave him a copy of the first two Hell books and told him he was my single biggest inspiration to become an author (very true; he is my god of writing). He thanked me and kissed my cheek. (Swoon!)

If you could choose one book (or series) to turn into a movie, which would it be? Who would be your dream actors and actresses?
Wow. I can’t answer “All of them”??? Okay… I think HUNGER could be an amazing movie, but because so much of the book is internally focused, the movie would have to do more with external scenes. If Alan Ball is interested, I’d be happy to have my agent contact his office. J I’m not sure who should play the role of Lisa, the anorexic teenage protagonist. But Death looks and sounds exactly like Kurt Cobain, so Ewan McGregor (who’s going to play Kurt in the biopic) should play the role of Death. (Or Matt Damon. Man, I adore Matt Damon.)


Thanks for stopping by, Jackie!

“Thou art the Black Rider. Go thee out unto the world.”

Lisabeth Lewis has a black steed, a set of scales, and a new job: she’s been appointed Famine. How will an anorexic seventeen-year-old girl from the suburbs fare as one of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse?

Traveling the world on her steed gives Lisa freedom from her troubles at home: her constant battle with hunger, and her struggle to hide it from the people who care about her. But being Famine forces her to go places where hunger is a painful part of everyday life, and to face the horrifying effects of her phenomenal power. Can Lisa find a way to harness that power — and the courage to battle her own inner demons?

Check out my review of HUNGER!

Purchase HUNGER
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