Ultimate YA

7. How do you deal with writer’s block or any other frustrations you run into?

I’m very fortunate in that I rarely run into writer’s block. If anything, my greatest problem is having enough time to write everything that I want to. As for frustrations, I just remind myself that I’ve got the best job in the world, and that there’s nothing I’d rather be doing. That tends to get me thinking positively again pretty quickly!

8. This being your third novel, would you say that writing books gets easier or harder as you go on? Was *Thou Shalt Not Road Trip* easier or harder for a particular reason?

Hmmm, interesting question. In general, every project is entirely new, and each book presents a unique set of challenges. But there’s no doubt that with experience comes a certain confidence in one’s writing, and an ability to identify (and address) potential issues quicker. That being said, Thou Shalt Not Road Trip was actually a little harder than Five Flavors of Dumb, I think. The story of Dumb had been playing around in my head for quite a while by the time I wrote it, whereas Road Trip was more spontaneous (though not unplanned, by any means). Because of this, Road Trip required more tweaking to get it just right.

9. It is rather unique, especially in young adult fiction, that there is no perfect romantic arrangement in the end. Was this a conscious decision as you wrote the book? Or did it just happen?

Ah, another excellent question! Definitely conscious. I’m all for resolution and happy endings (see: Five Flavors of Dumb), but in Thou Shalt Not Road Trip, I felt that Luke and Fran had been through a little too much for a reader to believe they could just wipe the slate clean. A couple readers have written to me about that, saying that the ending disappointed them, but I think that an author’s job is first and foremost to stay true to the characters and story. And so that’s what I did.

10. As the book progresses, Luke learns more and more about what he has not seen in people and situations. There are quite a few points of realization, but is there one particular message that the reader should take away from Luke’s wild week of life lessons?

Actually, at its heart, Thou Shalt Not Road Trip covers the same ground as Five Flavors of Dumb. I think both books are about the importance of communication, and the need to listen before judging others. This is something that I think about a lot, and which I see becoming a far greater issue for the current generation (with their various mobile means of communication) than it even was for mine.

11. What is your own craziest anecdote from a book tour?

It’s not exactly crazy, but I did once have a two-hour signing event in which NO ONE showed up, and when I tried to chat to customers, they almost ran away. It was for my debut novel, Busted, and quickly taught me the importance of humility (and the need to promote one’s books!).

12. Do you have any advice for readers and aspiring writers?

As well as reading and writing (obviously), and trying to write every day (also fairly obvious), I’d say the single most important thing is to keep the writing process fresh and fun. Allow yourself to explore ideas that captivate you, because (a) those same ideas will probably captivate others, and (b) if you don’t love the writing process, then you should probably find something else to do instead! 

1. Where did you get the idea for Thou Shalt Not Road Trip? 

First off, as a Brit, I’m obsessed with road trips. In England, there’s not enough space to road trip, so this is a really American thing for me. I wanted to write a road trip novel, and I figured a good backdrop for that would be a teen boy who has written a bestseller and is on tour to promote it. The questions was: What kind of book did he write?

Well, I used to sing in a church choir when I was younger, and although the congregation was religious, the older singers were not. This meant that I’d be simultaneously assailed by Christian and atheist messages, which was a little confusing. I thought it might be cool to have the narrator, Luke, write a book of modern-day parables. Road trips tend to be fraught with drama, and I figured Luke might find that his travels cause him to question some of his beliefs at the very moment that everyone else is really getting behind them. But the book isn’t really about religion as much as finding yourself. 

2. Have you ever travelled the route that Luke, Matt, Alex, and Fran take in the book? 

Some of it. I’d like to say that I did a month-long tour along Route 66 as research for the novel, but as a full-time stay-at-home dad, that simply wasn’t possible. All the same, I’ve driven some parts, and also read a lot of books, watched documentaries, etc. So I feel like I know the whole route well. 

3. You mention in your fun facts that you have a brother. Does your relationship with your brother relate in any way to the relationship between Luke and Matt?

While Matt is nothing like my real-life brother, Luke’s relationship with him has a grain of truth to it. I think that younger siblings are inclined to let older siblings dictate the course of events, and Luke definitely allows that to happen in ROAD TRIP. On the whole though, I’d say that my brother is way cooler (and more reliable) than Matt, and we communicate much better than Luke and Matt (who both have things they’d prefer to keep hidden).

4. Do you have a favorite character in this novel? Why?

I think it’d have to be Fran, because I think she’s a smart, devoted girl who’s wise beyond her years in some ways, and silly in others. She sees through the nonsense way quicker than Luke, and isn’t willing to buy into it just to make life easier. Luke learns this too, but it takes him a long time. I guess I’m also more naturally sympathetic towards girls than boys, because I know how stupid teen boys can be (you know, having been one myself!).

5. We only get to see Luke’s parents in the very beginning, but it’s apparent that they’re nervous about their teenage son going on a road trip without their supervision. How would you feel or react if you were in their place?

Interesting question. On the one hand, I’d never have let Luke go alone. But on the other, they truly trust both Luke AND Matt. At the start of the novel, we have no reason to believe that Matt won’t be able to hold up his end of the deal, but that’s because we don’t realize how much he has changed during freshman year of college. And Luke has always behaved responsibly, so there’s nothing to fear there, either. But if it were me, I’d have gone too. Book tours can be kind of stressful.

6. What is your favorite part about writing? Your least favorite part?

Favorite part: The feeling that I’m so into a book that I can’t stop writing, and everything feels like I’m in the middle of a 3D IMAX movie. That’s an incredible rush. (Also, I love it when I hear from readers - that’s a rush too.)

Least favorite part: Publicity and promotion take up an hour or two of every day, and I don’t
particularly love that part of being a writer. Having said that, it’s an honor that people actually care about me and my books, so I won’t complain!

7. What is the hardest part of writing for you? What do you love most about it?

Honestly, plot is very hard.  I have so many wonderful characters in my head and I can hear their voices and I know just where they live and what they do - but then I don’t know what to do with them!  Sometimes having unlimited options is overwhelming.

I love creating characters. I have met so many fascinating people who inhabit various parts of my life and they inspire me to invent fictional versions of themselves. And I love hearing from readers when they “get” my characters.  So many people identified with Meg in LOVE, MEG and Veronica in FAT GIRLS IN LA that I knew I had created two very realistic characters. I hope people will feel the same about Lila.  

8. Was it easy, hard, or interesting to write about the paparazzi in a more dynamic way than the two-dimensional way they are typically portrayed and viewed? Did you learn anything from exploring that angle? 

My initial research involved watching a lot of TMZ!  Ha!  Seriously, though, it was helpful to watch the show from the point of view of the cameramen who are out there.  It’s tough, physically demanding and highly competitive!  Beyond that, I researched the beginnings of paparazzi (did you know the word is derived from the Italian for “mosquito”? That’s because they were considered annoying like mosquitoes) and the many different kinds of celebrity photographers. Some are very sophisticated and are invited by publicists to be on the red carpet - those are the ones who don’t ambush celebrities when they’re at the hair salon. 

9. Lila goes through a lot of hardships, especially for someone her age, first with her mother dying of cancer and then with her new life with her father who has his own set of problems—all important topics to address to readers who may be able to relate. Did you find these sensitive topics and intense scenes a challenge to write, particularly within the genre of young adult fiction? 

As I mentioned before, the mother-daughter relationship is a pretty easy one for me to write but the father-daughter one is far harder.  While I don’t have any direct experience with either parental death or alcoholism (thank goodness!) I did have to dig deep into my own relationships with my parents and pull out some of the harder conversations we’ve had, in order to feel like I was really writing in the moment. Readers know when a scene is not written from a pure place; they can tell if someone is faking it.  Much like actors need to find a real moment in their lives to tap into when they are on stage, writers must do the same or else it won’t feel authentic. 

10. What do you hope your readers will take away from Chasing the Falls? 

Forgiveness is so important to any relationship, whether it’s forgiving yourself for things you’re not proud of or forgiving others for disappointing you.  I think it’s crucial that we step into other people’s shoes and see things the way they see them.  

11. You have a few novel already published and it looks like a few more on the way. Do you ever have trouble with writer’s block? How do you deal with it? 

I have way too many ideas to ever have writer’s block.  There is always something for me to think about or work on.  But I’ve been stymied by plot development, and I can easily see how a writer could allow that frustration to build into a huge obstacle to productivity.  Some writers also point to fear of failing the story as a block to writing. You can only write the best you can *at that time in your life.* Tomorrow or a year from now you might write a scene differently. I know that I will rewrite - I must! - so I will write a scene the best I can and see what develops from there.  If it doesn’t work, I’ll change it.  That’s a very liberating concept but if you absorb it, you’ll never have writer’s block. 

12. Do you have any advice for aspiring authors or advice for your readers in general? 

Don’t ever follow trends in writing.  Only write a story about vampires if you simply have to tell that story.  It takes a long time to write a novel.  Even if you write it quickly, you will spend a lot of time rewriting.  When you get an agent for it, you will rewrite it again.  When you get an editor for it, you will rewrite some more. That’s a lot of time to spend with characters and setting.  If you don’t truly love it, you will quickly lose your passion and the writing will suffer.  Why waste your time on anything you don’t love?

1. Where did you get the idea for CHASING THE FALLS? 

First, it began with the relationship between Lila and her father.  I’d been writing YA and my stories were primarily concerned with a daughter’s relationship to her mother, whether she was living (as in LOVE, MEG) or deceased (as in FAT GIRLS IN LA).  And then, because I love writing (and reading about) fish-out-of-water stories and stories about people who travel from one coast to the other, I added the move from Massachusetts to LA. And finally, the celebrity photographer angle came from my fascination with paparazzi, those men and women who chase down celebrities.  Is what they’re doing in any way artistic?  Were they artists at some point and just needed to pay the bills?  That’s Lila’s dad. 

2. Who is your favorite character in this novel and why? 

Although I do like my main character, Lila, I think I love Dax.  I had so much fun writing him - I love the way he talks and his quirky sense of humor.  One of my favorite scenes to write was the one in the cafeteria where Dax uses his lunch items to explain the different jobs on a movie set to Lila.  Their interactions were so much fun and flirty.  I would have loved having a Dax in my life when I was in high school.

3. Do you relate to any of your characters, whether in terms of personality or experiences or both? 

Absolutely, I relate to Lila.  I loved living in Western Massachusetts when I went to college: small town, idyllic. I actually moved from NYC to LA but I still felt like that Massachusetts girl.  I wore hiking boots and wool sweaters for a very long time!  I didn’t know any other way to dress.  And I always felt awkward in this glamorous city, much like Lila does.  It’s hard to find your place - and your real friends - in a city like LA. 

4. Have you ever run into or spotted the celebrities that Lila does in the book? 

Not those specific celebrities but I have seen many, many famous people in this town.  Without giving away too much, there is a scene in the book where Lila is at a movie theater and she sees an actress who is *in* the movie they’re watching.  This actually happened to me but with a different actress, of course. 

5. There were lots of details about photography. Did those come from research or do you have an interest or background in photography like Lila? 

I got my Master’s degree in Film Production which has a lot in common with still photography.  Composition, lighting, and even some of the equipment are very similar.  For the camera and editing specifics, I did have to do some research. I remember taking a photography course in my undergrad and developing actual film in the chemical baths.  Now everything is digital! 

6. Every time the characters were eating I would get so hungry from your food descriptions! Are the dishes you described, like the tacos, sushi, and sandwiches, favorites of yours? 

I love sushi!  Just reading about *you* reading about those scenes makes me hungry!  As for “The King’s” sandwiches - grilled peanut butter and banana - I was first introduced to them at The King’s castle itself, Graceland in Memphis.  They are delicious and so easy to make. But I don’t eat tacos. Those I had to research.

7. Did you ever run into challenges or writer’s block when it came to writing the more intense scenes of Katana, like the ultimate fight scene near the end? 

It’s so funny that you would ask that because endings are the hardest part for me to write. Despite being an outliner, I usually don’t have a clear idea on how to end my books until I’m actually writing the scene, allowing it to unfold to me as it happens. With this said, in order to keep from getting writer’s block, I use the Write or Die software on my laptop to keep me plugging away. 

8. Rileigh struggles a lot with her identity. Is there a particular idea about identity that you hope your readers will take away? Or any other messages? 

I struggled a lot with my own identity when I was a teenager. There was a negative influence in my life who loved to tell me how stupid I was and how I would never amount to anything. At one point, I started to believe it. But after venturing out on my own, I realized how wrong that person was about me. I think it’s important for teens to realize that just because someone says, “This is who you are. This is what you’ll do,” that doesn’t make it true. The only one who can choose your path is you, because you’re the one who has to walk it. 

9. What do you find to be the hardest part of writing? 

For me, the hardest part of writing is overcoming my own self doubt. I have a pretty negative internal editor who loves to tell me that I’m writing crap. The hard part is tuning that editor out so I can write uninterrupted. 

10. What do you like most about writing? 

Again—and this is just me—writing is incredibly therapeutic. I can’t imagine what I’d be like if I couldn’t let the voices out of my head. 

11. What are your writing plans for the future? 

I just turned in KATANA’s sequel to my editor which leaves me free to work on a brand new shiny idea. *rubs hands together eagerly* 

12. Do you have any advice for aspiring writers? 

The most important thing is to finish your book. When writing a first draft the important thing to keep in mind is quantity over quality. Don’t worry about editing until after the book is finished, otherwise you might find yourself getting discouraged and not finishing your book. 

1. When did you know you wanted to write? 

I’ve been writing for as long as I can remember. It started out in grade school as Little Mermaid fanfic. In high school I penned some really atrocious poetry. But it wasn’t until my twenties that I attempted my first novel. I think I put it off for so long because not only am I dyslexic, but I had a pretty negative person in my life while I was growing up, and I was convinced I wasn’t smart enough to write a novel. It wasn’t until my business went under and, faced with unemployment, I decided to pursue my dream. 

2. Do you relate to any of your characters? How? If not, who is your favorite character and why? 

I do. Braden—while not a main character—is my favorite because I based him off of my husband. He’s funny, goofy, and at times a little oblivious. (Authors note: If you’re reading this, Babe, I love you!!!) 

3. Do you have any martial arts experience? 

Yes! I haven’t taken classes since I was pregnant, but before I’ve dabbled in karate, tae chi, taekwondo, and (my absolute favorite) kickboxing. 

4. There are a lot of fight scenes in Katana. Did you have to any research to learn about samurais and martial arts in order to write those scenes? 

I did. I read so many books and watched so many documentaries to better understand the history of samurai. And, because KATANA is a fantasy, what I learned I used to flavor the building of my own unique world. But because I wanted the fight scenes to be accurate, I enlisted the help of one of my husband’s friends who is a martial arts instructor. He and my husband choreographed several of the fight scenes in KATANA. There’s a video of him helping me the squeegee scene here: http://youtube./1NjszcnCZPM 

5. I noticed that in your fun facts you say you bumped into Quentin Tarantino, and in your book Rileigh’s best friend is named Quentin. Coincidence? Do you ever pull elements from your own life and put them in your writing?

Ha! You caught me. I love to sneak in funny conversations that I’ve had with my friends as well as some of the funny situations I’ve found myself in. 

6. Rileigh and Quentin, or Ri-Ri and Q, have a very close friendship. Do you have a best friend like Q?

Quentin was inspired by a friend of mine who is a mail carrier by day and a gorgeous diva drag queen at night. While we’re friends, I based Rileigh and Quentin’s relationship of my friend’s relationship with his sister. Their relationship and closeness is something I’ve always envied and I thought, if Rileigh isn’t going to have a lot of friends, she should at least have one amazing one.  

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7. What is the best part about being a writer? The most challenging?

The most challenging part for me is always the first draft. At that point, I don’t trust what I’m writing at all, and I live in fear that it won’t add up to anything.

The best part of the actual writing is when things really click and I can feel the direction that I should go in with a project. Also, I love revising. The best part of being an author is connecting with readers. I love doing school visits and hearing from folks.


9. Any book recommendations for our readers?

Some of my YA faves include THE BOOK THIEF, everything by Matt de la Peña (his debut BALL DON’T LIE will always be special to me), MADAPPLE by Christina Ledlum, IMANI ALL MINE by Connie Porter, HOW I LIVE NOW by Meg Rosoff, and of course the amazing works by my fellow Carolrhoda Lab authors.

If you want to read something totally different, check out Ana Castillo’s brilliant THE MIXQUIAHUALA LETTERS, a book that offers you multiple ways of reading the chapters, with each path totally changing the ending. I also love THE GOD OF SMALL THINGS by Arundhati Roi. It gives me chills every time I read it.

10. What message would you like people to take away from THE KNIFE AND THE BUTTERFLY?

I hope it will make them think about how lucky each of us is when we get a chance to fix something we’ve screwed up. Also, I’d like people to discover another side of what being a teen can mean for some kids out there. One of my readers (who lives in Houston) recently wrote to me about how, after reading THE KNIFE AND THE BUTTERFLY, she couldn’t stop thinking about “the other Houston.” I liked that very much.

11. Any advice for our aspiring writers?

Actually do it. Write, I mean. Every day if you can, even if it’s only for a few minutes. I wrote my first novel in fifteen-minute chunks, and I have a supremely dorky way of making sure I write at least this much every day (it involves colored markers and a calendar, and I explain it here).

For more ideas on making writing work, check out this post on my blog or just explore any of the entries under the “writing advice” tag. And don’t be afraid to comment or send questions. I occasionally do a “reader’s question” feature on my blog where I respond to questions that have been sent to me.

12. What’s next on the writing front after the February release of THE KNIFE AND THE BUTTERFLY?

I’m smack-dab in the middle of writing my third novel. I’m very superstitious about discussing unfinished work, so I will only say that it’s set in the 1930s (but please don’t even THINK about sticking it with that hideously boring-sounding label, “historical fiction”) and that it involves an explosion, an interracial romance, twins, a shoe, and a tree. I won’t know until I finish it when you can expect to see it on shelves, but the latest news is always on my website, and if you follow my blog, or follow me on twitter (@ashleyhopeperez) you are sure to find out about it!

Thanks for the wonderful questions—and for letting me hang out with all of you. Hope to hear from you soon!

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1. Who was your favorite character to write in THE KNIFE AND THE BUTTERFLY?

Writers, like parents, are probably not supposed to have favorites. This hasn’t been an issue for me yet as a mom because I only have one little boy. But as a writer, I definitely have favorites. In THE KNIFE AND THE BUTTERFLY Azael was my favorite from the beginning, in part because I felt that—in the news coverage of the event that sparked my novel—the guy got a lot less attention than the girl who was the starting point for my other main character, Lexi.

I still wanted to grab Azael sometimes and just shake some sense into him, especially when he was making bad choices. There were also plenty of things that I didn’t want to think about (like Azael’s, ahem, private thoughts about his girlfriend). But to capture the mind of my 15-year-old protagonist, I had to get over myself. In the end, Azael lived up to his status as “favorite” most of all in his good intentions regarding  his little sister, Regina. Azael and his brother Eddie don’t have a lot of resources, but they do their absolute best to make up for their dad’s lack of warmth toward her. And when things get too bad, they get her out of the home and into a safer place.

2. Which do you enjoy more: teaching or writing? Or do you love them equally?

I think I need them both—working in tandem—to do my best in each domain. For me, writing is generally very draining, although in a good way. Teaching is hard work, but when it’s going well, it’s energizing for me. I use a lot of classroom structures that help students to become active contributors to each other’s understanding, and along the way I learn A LOT. After being inside my head all morning to write (if I’m lucky enough to have a whole morning), it feels great to head to campus, change gears, and dig into texts with my awesome students.

3. How many languages do you know?

(Picture me staring at my feet, wishing you had asked something easier to answer, like how many toenails still have at least some nail polish from that pedicure five months ago.)

It all depends on how you define “know.” If you are very generous, I know four languages.

Of course my English is decent. I speak Spanish fluently, although there are gaps in my vocabulary. Like, I could never explain to you how to change a tire in Spanish, although I could talk about literature or cooking all day long.

Things get dicier from there. I can read in Portuguese, but beyond one graduate class, I’ve never spent much time speaking it. As for French… I read well, but my speaking is pretty pathetic. We live in Paris at the moment, and my French is good enough to get around, but I’m sad to say that it has not improved much. I teach all day in English, and then I come home and speak Spanish with my husband and our son. So French is pretty much reserved for buying fruits and veggies in the market, ordering in restaurants, and greeting our neighbors when we cross paths in the apartment building.

4. Of your two published novels, WHAT CAN’T WAIT and THE KNIFE AND THE BUTTERFLY, which was your favorite to write?

You keep hitting me with the questions about favorites! Are you a middle child? I ask because, in my experience, middle children are obsessed with favoritism. :)

Seriously, now… these novels—and my experiences writing them—are so different it’s hard to compare them, so I’ll just tell you what I loved about writing each.

My students in Houston read the first draft of WHAT CAN’T WAIT as I was writing it, and it was very exciting to have real readers clambering for the next installment of the novel. They also covered the manuscript with sticky notes and annotations, many of which I revisited when I was revising the novel.

THE KNIFE AND THE BUTTERFLY is more complex in its narrative structure, and I loved learning to be the writer who could do the story in my head justice.

5. Which character (from any of your novels) do you related to the most? And why?

There is a kernel of me and my experiences in every character I write. Often, giving a character some of my own flaws (which I can relate to) helps me to understand him or her. That’s why, for example, Lexi in THE KNIFE AND THE BUTTERFLY has a terrible sweet tooth. At the same time, none of the characters is “me.” I actually answer the question, “Is Marisa me?” on my blog here.

If I had to pick one character from my books who is most based on my own experiences, it would be Ms. Ford, Marisa’s calculus teacher in WHAT CAN’T WAIT. She is as well intentioned and clueless as I was as a first-year teacher, and sometimes her desire to help her students to achieve academically makes her overlook the challenges of their lives outside of school.

6. How did you concoct the idea for your novel THE KNIFE AND THE BUTTERFLY?

The gang fight that opens the novel was directly inspired by an event that actually took place in Houston. It was covered by THE HOUSTON CHRONICLE, which did a series on two teens involved in the conflict. Out of that initial seed grew the gritty world of the novel, but I also break the rules just a little to make certain second chances possible. I’ll let you check out the novel to find out exactly what I mean!

6. Would you like to be crowned Pumpkin Princess? If so, why?
Sure! I’ve never been crowned anything. Everyone should be crowned once in their life. =D

7. I loved the book cover! But the only thing that I felt was missing were the pumpkins. How do you feel about the book cover?
Haha! Yeah, I noticed that too. It was a super cute cover though! I think they left the pumpkins off so it would have a longer shelf life and not just be faced out for October.

8. What advice do you have for aspiring authors?
To write as often as you can and find solid critique partners who will read your work honestly and give good feedback.

9. What are you working on now and what can we expect from you in the future?
Right now my newest YA book, THE PAPARAZZI PROJECT, is on submission. This was a super fun book to write and I think any tabloid loving teen will love it.

10. Do you have any book recommendations for our avid readers?
Anything Meg Cabot or Lauren Myracle. Rhonda Stapleton’s Struck just came out (it’s her fun rom-com three-book series wrapped up in one book) and Kristin Walker’s A Match Made in High School is still one of the funniest books I’ve ever read. Her newest, Seven Clues to Winning You, comes out in April.

1. How did you concoct the idea for Just Your Average Princess?
I love pumpkin anything—candles, bread, you name it. I was staring at my pumpkin colored kitchen walls and the idea of a pumpkin patch setting popped into my mind. Then I thought what if you were a teen girl who grew up on an awesome touristy pumpkin patch. And I was off from there.

2. What is the main message or theme you want your readers to take from the book?
When I write I don’t start out thinking of messages to go into a book, but looking back at it, I guess it would be to not judge a book by its cover. Both Milan and Jamie have ideas about each other and treat each other a certain way based on how they appear.

3. What is the best thing about being an author? What is the most challenging?
There are so many wonderful things about being an author but my very favorite is when a teen stops me or sends me an e-mail telling me how much they like one of my books. The most challenging part for me is promotion. It’s a whole other giant part of being an author that falls mostly on our shoulders and there is definitely a learning curve as to what does and doesn’t work.

4. Did you ever have your own pumpkin patch like Jamie?
I wish! I adore all thing pumpkins. But, no. I do live down the street from a pretty cool one.

5. While researching about your previous books, I realized how the design of your website is centered around The Espressologist. For your curious fans, would you ever decide to re-design the website to center around Just Your Average Princess?
Nah, I love the current design. I actually didn’t design it around my first book but around my love of coffee and writing in coffee shops.

6. Which character (in any of your novels) do you connect most with? And Why?

The characters in SOLSTICE are created from my imagination solely and don’t match people I know in real life. Sure, I use bits and pieces of so many people to create so many different parts of characters, but with SOLSTICE, there are not definite matches. As for which character I relate to the most, I’d go with Chloe. She’s fun but smart and looks out for her best friend. Plus she likes to walk on the wild side just a bit J

7. What are some of your favorite novels and/or authors?

As a teen, I read all the time. That said, mostly what I enjoyed was adult science fiction or fantasy, or classics like The Odyssey, Oedipus Rex, and Beowulf. As for my adult SFF favorite authors, there are so many. I loved Tolkien, David Eddings, Roger Zelazny, Terry Brooks, and Isaac Asimov, just to name a few. The list could go on and on, and I could talk all day about it, but I’ll keep it at this. I read tons of current YA fantasy stories also, and it’s hard to name any here because I’m always finding new stuff I like.

8. You probably get this question a lot, but why Austin?
Well, I live here. It’s hotter than blazes during the summer. And it’s a fun, eclectic city that uses the phrase “Keep Austin Weird” as its tagline. Combine that with Greek gods and global warming, and there was just no other choice. And I love that it’s set in my home base. It makes the novel that much more special!

9. For our aspiring writers, what is the easiest part of writing a book? The hardest?

The easiest part is coming up with ideas. I have gazillions of new ideas. So many I have a hard time catching up. The hardest part is the soggy middle of the story. I’m all excited to write a story at the beginning, but by the time the middle comes, things get harder and new ideas sound so much better. They try to tempt me away to write them.

10. What are you working on next? Any new releases in the future?

I’m working on a middle grade and a young adult novel, both fantasy. I never talk much about unpublished works, but I am managing to keep myself busy. And there are definite

plans for a sequel to SOLSTICE!

Thank you again for letting me be here!

1. How did you come up with the idea for your novel, Solstice?

Well, I adore mythology. And I always wanted to write a myth retelling. And so that is what I set out to do. But I surprised myself with the final result, because SOLSTICE is not really a retelling at all, but more a what happens after the myth. Kind of like a sequel to Mythology 101.

2. When did you first know you wanted to be a writer?

I grew up reading and writing fantasy and science fiction. Not long after my second child, Lola, was born, I was deep in a Tolkien stage. I reread all the books and immersed myself into the world of Middle Earth. And then, one day, it occurred to me that rather than reading and learning so much about the worlds other people created, why not create my own world. I started writing that evening and never stopped.

3. Who was your favorite character to write about in Solstice?

Overall, I’ve determined writing evil characters is the most fun. The great thing about evil characters is the struggle they have within themselves. Take Tantalus, for example. He’s crazy because he can’t eat or drink, and this craziness drives all his actions. It’s so much fun to see what will come of that kind of mental state.

4. What was your first reaction to finding out that the Brazilian rights for Solstice had been sold?

Excitement that my words would actually be important enough to translate to another language. I think that’s just cool!

5. Which novels did you enjoy writing more: Solstice or The Forgotten Worlds
Trilogy? And Why?

As much as I loved writing Solstice, The Forgotten Worlds books were my first, and they hold a very special place in my heart. When I go back and read them, I find they have so many things I just adore tucked inside their pages. I love the characters, the interplay, the story, and the world.

7. The first few chapters start with a fact about dolphins from The Magic and Mystery of Dolphins. What fact interested you the most? 

How about if I give you a fact that was cut during revision.  When you get into the water with a dolphin, they use their echolocation to give you a quick MRI.  Dolphins often discover illnesses or tumors or even pregnancies when the people are unaware of the condition.  That fact was originally included to tie into something different that happened with Desiree.  But when those scenes ended up on the cutting room floor, so did that very cool fact.  By the way, The Magic and Mystery of Dolphins does not exist.  It’s as fictional as the rest of the story even if the facts about dolphins are real.

8. All types of cliques can be found in high school. What is your opinion about how young adults should associate themselves during their transition to adulthood? 

I’ve never, ever been a fan of cliques even though they’ve probably existed since the beginning of time. Here’s what I believe:  It’s always more comfortable to associate with people who are like you, but it’s always more interesting to associate with those who aren’t.  Hey!  That’s pretty good!  I might have to use that in a book someday.

9. Do students still pass notes in class? I always thought they just texted.

Hard for me to say cause it’s been a while since I’ve been in high school. =P But, I gotta say phones are not allowed in my son’s during class time.  They aren’t even allowed to get into their backpacks and look for pencils ‘cause the teachers are pretty wise to the texting thing.

10. List the top 5 songs you can think of that can go on Jane’s character playlist.  Her playlist is a really eclectic with a mix of rock songs that span from the early 70s to today.  Here goes: “Numb” by Linkin’ Park, “You Belong with Me” by Taylor Swift, “Born to be Wild” by Steppenwolf, “Raise your Glass” by P!NK, “Drive” by Incubus

11. For our aspiring writers, what is the easiest and hardest part of writing a book?
Oh my!  For aspiring writers huh?  I think the mileage on this varies quite a bit, but I can tell you what was easy and hard for me. 
Easy:  Doing the work.  I really enjoy every part of the process first drafts, revision, editing.  Um, okay on second thought, maybe not proofreading for the twenty-fifth time, but almost every part of the process.
Hard:  Knowing when it’s done. I’ve already admitted to being a perfectionist, so I have a bad habit of tweaking, tweaking, tweaking, tweaking.  See the proofreading note above? I’m supposed to be fixing a misspelling and I make a small change and of course that can lead to a small mistake.  Argh!  I really need Jane’s mom to take over at this point and to stay entirely focused. 
For me, this is actually the scariest part of self-pubbing. The fear that I might be putting out a work that is half-baked. For authors using legacy publishing, that is one of the nice things, someone tells you it’s done.  Anyone who has been around this industry for a while knows that there are plenty of books that are done, that do not get acquired for one reason or another.  But, and this is huge, it is capital H Hard to make that call about your own work.

12. What are you working on next? Any new releases coming up in the future?
Yes, I’m planning on having at least one new book—and hopefully two or three—released in 2012. But I’d like to keep the details under wraps.  They’re all quite a bit different from Dolphin Girl, but I can tell you this much—all my books have independent, flawed girls as the main character and a little bit of fantasy/magical realism woven into the story. =D

1. How/where did you concoct the idea for Dolphin Girl?
The where question is much easier to answer than the how one. 
Okay, where. I was in the car six years ago driving my middle boy to hockey practice when Jane showed up in my head and started telling me what she did and didn’t like.  This is probably gonna sound certifiable, but she told me she liked Sam’s chipped tooth and that she was really picky about how teeth looked.  I know, that’s a little…unusual, right? At first, I thought maybe I was going crazy, but then I met other writers and, well, we all are. Ha!
As for how, I definitely attribute most of my ideas and writing to a muse whispering in my ear or landing in the zone or digging into my very, very deep sub-conscious. While there are times I create a frame for the plot, or consciously add small character details later, most of it develops on its own.  Sorry. I know that’s kinda lame and I wish I had a better answer for you! 

2. What is the main message or theme that you want your readers to take from the book?
Don’t let external forces or fear hold you back from what you want.  Use both your heart and head when making a decision, then take action. Because doing something is better than doing nothing!  
In Dolphin Girl, Jane lets so many outside things, like the cliques in high school, determine how she acts or who she hangs with. She wants freedom but what she thinks of as “free” is again based on something external.  It’s not until she changes on the inside—using her heart and head—that she can feel free. And that’s when mistakes, both hers and everybody else’s don’t matter so much. 

3. Give us a brief explanation of what it is like to be published for the first time.
It’s very rollercoaster-y. Is that a word?  I don’t think so, but it should be. 
What I mean about the ups and downs and all arounds is that it was exciting to see it for sale on Amazon (it’s for sale in other places, but that’s where it showed up first) and thrilling to hold the paperback for the first time.  But then, five minutes later, I still have to do a load of laundry or need to play chauffeur for a soccer practice.  Those types of important responsibilities are a humbling reminder that being published is not life changing.  It’s just being published. 
The privilege, I mean the real honor of being published, comes from the people who read my work, not only spending their money but also spending their precious time to read Dolphin Girl.  That is absolutely incredible!! And, I am so grateful for every single reader!

4. You and two other wonderful ladies manage Whatcha’ Reading Now?. How did that begin?
For years, and I do mean years, Kerry Cerra and I talked about doing something like WRN? but we always felt like, “Who are we to review or recommend books?” Finally, we decided that we didn’t need some special degree or accreditation to say what books we liked.  At that point, Jill MacKenzie was part of our critique group and she was interested in being involved, too. While the three of us do a lot of work on the site/community, we could never do it without all the other people who contribute articles and interviews and the like. The one and only Ultimate YA’er ChinLin has been one of our teen contributors since the very, very beginning!  So her opinions, along with other contributors have helped to give WRN? its flavor and ultimately they make it so much more interesting than if it was just the three of us spouting off. =D

5. I loved how you began the book with Jane getting a dolphin tattoo. It provided your readers Jane’s background story in a narrative form. If you don’t mind me asking, did you ever get a tattoo? Or did you know someone who got one? 
No, no no! I don’t have a tattoo and will never have one.  On this, I’m definitely more like Jane’s mom—worried about how they might turn colors or morph into a weird design as they stretch with age.  Plus, um, needle phobia. *Shudders* But, of course, many people have them these days, so it’s really not a huge deal.  The last word (or rather my last word) is that while I wouldn’t want my kids to ever get one – are you listening, boys? – it’s not the most important thing about any character or person.  And even Jane’s mom knows that!  

6. Would you consider yourself more like Jane or her mom (personality-wise)?
I know I have a little bit of both, but hmmm…who am I more like?  When I’m writing, I’m more like Jane.  That must be why I love it!  And, I have to say, after writing this book, I try to keep my perfectionist tendencies in check.  While order is better than chaos, Jane’s mom is so annoying!

9.)    What is the best thing about being an author? What’s the most challenging?  The best thing about being an author is hearing from readers. At my book signing the other day a teen came up to me and said she wanted to be me when she grew up. That was awesome. The most challenging thing is helping to make sure that our bookstores stay in business, especially our indies.  

10.) While researching Pure Red, I came to discover that you are really great at using the internet to connect to readers. You have a website, a blog, a twitter account, a facebook, myspace, etc. As an author, what role does the internet play in your profession? How do feel the internet has changed the bookindustry?  I think being connected is very important for authors, not only to reach our readers but also to stay tuned in with what’s going on around us. The internet has provided people with so many resources, and allowed readers to obtain books with a simple click. I love technology but nothing beats holding a real book in your hand.

11.) Disney Chanel will soon be airing Radio Rebel (based on Shrinking Violet). Can you tell us what the experience of having your book adapted was like? And what can fans of the book expect from this adaptation? It has been an amazing experience and I feel very blessed to have a dream come true. I’m a huge movie fan so this is definitely a meeting of my two loves. There are some changes to the story but I was very happy with the script. The movie is definitely for all ages and you will be amazed by the talented cast.

12.) I love your book covers (I think Shrinking Violet may be my favorite though)! How much input did you get to have in choosing a cover?  Thanks! I did not have any input for Shrinking Violet but was asked for some input for Indigo Blues and Pure Red. I can honestly say that I am very happy with all my book covers.  

13.) I was reading about how you worked at different radio stations. Do you feel like your experience with radio has influenced or aided you in any way? Well, working at a radio station definitely helped me to write Shrinking Violet since Tere aspires to be a DJ. I also conducted a lot of interviews as a DJ and that is a very important skill to have, whether you are on either side of the interview table.

14.) Do you have any advice for aspiring authors? Yes, never give up. Follow your heart, join a critique group so you can build upon your writing and read tons. It may sound corny but luck will only take you so far, the rest has to be passion!  

15.) Do you have any book recommendations for our readers? There are so many books to recommend but some of my favorite authors as a young adult were Judy Blume, Lois Duncan and Robert Cormier.  

16.) What are you working on now and what can we expect from you in the future? I am working on another young adult contemporary fiction novel with a color title and also a quirky middle grade.