Ultimate YA
Ultimate YA is an organization that promotes young adult (YA) literature and reading. We feature one young adult author every month. Each feature includes a short biography of the author, as well as fun facts and an interview. If you would like to be featured, please send an email inquiry to ultiamteyareadinggroup@gmail.com.
In addition to our features, we post quotes and memes of the week that relate to books, writing, and/or reading on Tuesdays and Thursdays, respectively. We also post anything else that we find interesting regarding reading and writing.
If you like this, you can also join our Facebook group, 'like' us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter.
ChinLin
(Remy Starr)
Publisher and fabulous creator of this *ultimate* group
~You can also follow ChinLin's blog
Liz
(Suzannah 'Suze' Simon)
Co-publisher and creator of this tumble-log
~You can also follow Liz's blog
Brittney
(Taylor Markham)
Staff
~You can also follow Brittney's blog
Katy
(Katniss Everdeen)
Staff
~You can also follow Katy's blog
That’s it for December! But no worries, P.J. Hoover is more than happy to have you contact her!
Author website: http://www.pjhoover.com
Link to Book Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fkWezTGdTkg
Blog: http://pjhoover.blogspot.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pj.hoover1
Twitter: http://twitter.com/pj_hoover
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.
1) I collect Smurfs, Bicentennial quarters, Star Trek Christmas ornaments, and antique bricks. If you find an old brick with words on it, please let me know!
2) Favorite consumables include Brie Cheese, Red Wine, and Strong Coffee. And of course chocolate, but that goes without saying, doesn’t it?
3) I can solve a Rubik’s Cube in under 2 minutes. And I have a black belt* in Kung Fu. The first took 2 weeks to achieve. The second took 2 years. Both make for good party tricks.
4) I plan to hike on the Great Wall of China someday. And of course drag the family on an archaeological dig.
5) Jobs I’ve had include Donut Seller, Car Assessor, Dorm Security Monitor, and of course, Chip Designer.
6) I got the inspiration for my first story, THE EMERALD TABLET, from two places (mainly): The Powers of Matthew Star, and the Star Trek episode Who Mourns For Adonis? You’ll have to read the book and watch the shows to figure out why.
7) I take pictures everywhere I go, and I go lots of cool places: sewage treatment plant, recycling plant, junkyard. Everywhere is “research” and there are always cool things to be discovered.
*Actually, now, I have a 2nd degree black belt in Kung Fu, but who’s keeping track?
P. J. Hoover first fell in love with Greek mythology in sixth grade thanks to the book Mythology by Edith Hamilton. After a fifteen year bout as an electrical engineer designing computer chips for a living, P. J. decided to take her own stab at mythology and started writing books for kids and teens. P. J. is also a member of THE TEXAS SWEETHEARTS & SCOUNDRELS. When not writing, P. J. spends time with her husband and two kids and enjoys practicing Kung Fu, solving Rubik’s cubes, and watching Star Trek. Her first novel for teens, Solstice, takes place in a Global Warming future and explores the parallel world of mythology beside our own. Her middle grade fantasy novels, The Emerald Tablet, The Navel of the World, and The Necropolis, chronicle the adventures of a boy who discovers he’s part of two feuding worlds hidden beneath the sea.
Where Mythology and Dystopia meet…
Piper’s world is dying. Global warming kills every living thing on Earth, and each day brings hotter temperatures and heat bubbles which threaten to destroy humanity. Amid this Global Heating Crisis, Piper lives with her mother who suffocates her more than the chaotic climate. When her mother is called away to meet the father Piper has been running from her entire life, Piper seizes an opportunity for freedom. But when Piper discovers a world of mythology she never knew existed, she realizes, in P.J. Hoover (Featured Author of December 2011)’s, Solstice, that her world is not the only one in crisis.
How to get a copy:
