Interview and Giveaway! Bree Despain

So when I was reading my ARC of THE SAVAGE GRACE I knew I had to do an interview with Bree for all of you. I was just loving this book so much and wanted to ask her some questions about her whole experience with it. So, here's the interview, and at the end a FABULOUS giveaway!

1) How was it writing the end of Grace and Daniel's story? How was it different from writing the other books?

I was surprised at how hard it was to write the end of the story. In fact, I kept turning in the manuscript without the last two chapters--because I couldn't bring myself to write "the end." I have to admit that I teared up a bit when I did, but it also feels really good to have brought the story full circle. Third books in a trilogy are challenging to write because there is SO MUCH going on that needs to finally be pulled together in a satisfactory way. I didn't want to drop the ball on the third book and leave a bad taste in readers mouths about the series as a whole. That's pressure!


2) The end of the book is complete, but of course the characters will go on with their lives. Are there any plans for another book or short story in the future?

I heard a famous author say once that the end of the book should feel like "just the beginning" for your readers to imagine in their own heads what happens to the characters after that. I really wanted to capture that feeling with the ending of this series. Right now, I have no plans for more books in the TDD world--but I'm not going to say "never." I do see myself possibly doing a couple of short stories just for fun.


3) The Savage Grace is my favorite book in the series. Do you have a favorite?

I love all the books for different reasons, but I think the first one, THE DARK DIVINE, will always have a very special place in my heart. It's the one that I wrote for myself and poured so much my heart into--without knowing if it would ever be published or if anyone other than my family would ever read it. However, I think TSG is probably the most fun for me to read--it really pushed my plotting and action-writing skills to the limit.


4) Is there anything about your writing process that is an absolute must for you? A quiet location? A certain snack?

Chocolate! I always have a little bowl of dark chocolate chips at my side while I write. Over the summer, I went on a really strict diet that didn't allow me any sugar (or chocolate!) for about a month. I was surprised that my writing productivity went way up during that month. But when I got my revisions back from my editor, I ended up having to rewrite almost every single sentence I'd written during my choclate-free-month. It may not be a very scientific conclusion, but that was enough for me to never try writing without chocolate again!


5) What is your favorite read lately?

My three favorite reads as of late: WHITE CAT by Holly Back, EVERNEATH by Brodi Ashton, and UNDER THE NEVER SKY by Veronica Rossi.


6) What are you working on now?

I'm working on a new book that is slated for publication in Fall 2013. I don't know what I'm allowed to say about it yet, but I can tell you that it's a story I started before THE DARK DIVINE was published, and I am so excited to be working on it again!

and for my own knowledge... 7) How do you pronounce Sirhan?

I pronounce it Sir-han. Like "Sir" (as in, "Yes, Sir!") and "Han" (as in, "Han Solo" or "rhymes with "on"). But really, any way you want to pronounce it is fine by me.

Totally random tidbit about how I came up with that name: I found an old Life Magazine from 1969 in my Grandmother's house. The cover story was about a man named "Sirhan Sirhan" who had just been convicted for assassinating Senator Robert F. Kennedy. The article said that "Sirhan" means "wolf" and I decided to use it for the name of the formidable leader of the largest werewolf pack. The character's full name "Sirhan Etlu" means "Wolf Warrior."


Thanks so much Bree! It was a blast as always! NOW it's giveaway time! I am so ridiculously excited about this! The publisher has offered to give not just ONE but TWO of you the ENTIRE Dark Divine Trilogy!!!!!!

Just comment about Bree's interview, and fill out the form below! It's that easy!

Contest will be open just until Wed, March 21, 11:59 pm EST. So get on it!

Oh and P.S. Happy St. Patrick's day!

**The contest is USA mailing addresses only. Sorry for the inconvenience. I should have specified earlier.

Author Interview: Brodi Ashton!

Okay not only is debut author Brodi Ashton's novel EVERNEATH one of my favorite books, she is one of my favorite people. She is gorgeous and made of awesome.

Since I have the hook-up I did this little interview with her to run with my review of EVERNEATH. Enjoy!

MPB: Your twist on a well known Greek myth (Persephone and Hades) is very unique. How did you come up with the idea?

BA: The story came first, before the mythology. I never really sat down and thought to myself, "How about I retell the story of Persephone, but make it totally unique." I'd been developing Nikki's story for a long time before I fully recognized the similarities between her plight and that of Persephone. So it was more a matter of making the myth fit with the story, than making the story fit with the myth.


MPB: If you had to choose, who would you choose to be with Cole or Jack?

BA: I'd be with Jack. But I'd go to Cole's concerts.

MPB: What has been the most important ingredient in your success?

BA: Perseverance. And some luck. But without the perseverance, the luck wouldn't have mattered.

MPB: Is there a writing snack that is indispensable to your writing?

BA: Diet Coke. Hands down, cups full.

MPB: How is book two going/What are you working on now?

BA: I am revising the sequel to Everneath, and I really love where book 2 takes us. If you've read book 1, you probably have a good idea of where book 2 takes us.

For more about Brodi and Everneath visit her at http://www.brodiashton.blogspot.com/ It is a great wesite for readers and writers too. Love her posts!

Author Interview: Janette Rallison!

I was very excited to snag this interview with the totally awesome Janette Rallison. I have been lucky to be acquainted with this amazing author for a few years now. She is uplifting, supportive and inspirational to be around! Not to mention she's just made of awesome. So enjoy!


1) How was writing this story different from writing the first "My Fair Godmother"?

JR: Writing My Unfair Godmother had a big built-in stresser: I’d set the bar high with My Fair Godmother. MFG had action, humor, romance, fantasy, time travel, quirky characters, twisted fairy tales, family problems, social commentary, a mystery, and a twist at the end. I didn’t know how I was going to be able to duplicate all of that and at the same time have a story that was different and original. I knew I wanted to have the Rumpelstiltskin fairy tale as one of the fairy tales but I had no idea what else to do with the story or how Tansy was going to use her wishes. I gave myself writers’ block for a long time worrying that the story wouldn’t be good enough. Finally I just had to make myself write it. I was surprised that I had so much fun with the story and equally surprised when so many reviewers said they liked My Unfair Godmother even better than My Fair Godmother.


2) Tansy seemed different than some of your other teenage characters, she was more rebellious in many ways. How did you come up with Tansy's character and voice?

JR: I got the idea for a rebellious teen girl at a plot workshop I was doing at a school. The character had moved into a new school and wanted friends but was going about it in all the wrong ways. I liked the character so I decided to use her and her ill fated vandalism date in my story.


3) Are there plans for another "Godmother" book?

JR: Yes, there are plans, but I haven’t actually started writing the book. You see, there’s this built in stresser with a third book: I’ve set the bar high with MFG and MUG and so how am I going to come up with a story that has all the elements and is just as good as the first two? Also, I have contracts for other books I’ve got to write first.


4) What are you working on now?

JR: I’m revising a time travel dystopia that’s coming out with Harper Sept 2012 and I just sent a paranormal romance to my agent. I have a dragon slayer book (present day, dragons are coming back and some kids have super powers to fight them) which will be out in October 2011. I need to start the sequel to that book. And I have about three other books that I’m dying to start working on. If I just had about five extra hours a day, I think I could accomplish everything I want to do. Well, maybe.


5) What is your key to being a successful author with multiple books published?

JR: Don’t stop learning the craft. Read a lot and write a lot. All of those things are absolutely necessary.


6) What is your indulgence food that you have to have on hand when writing?

JR: Chocolate. I could live on Almond Joys.

Thanks so much Janette! Be sure to come back soon as I will be doing another blogiversary giveaway, including a SIGNED ARC copy of MY UNFAIR GODMOTHER!

Oh and I have to give credit where credit is due, since I know the awesome photographer who took that author photo for Janette. http://erinsummerillphotography.com/blog/

Author Interview: Elana Johnson!

The beautiful and fabulous Elana Johnson agreed to answer these questions for us regarding her new release (officially out today!) POSSESSION!

MPB: Can you briefly tell us a little about your publishing story?

EJ: Okay, so I’ve never wanted to be a writer. Let’s get that out of the way first. In fact, in high school I took the AP English test as a junior so I could skip language arts completely as a senior. In college I majored in chemistry and math before settling into elementary education. No lie.

Fast-forward a few years. Or a decade. Whatever. I was about to turn thirty, and I’d recently been through a very dark time in my life.

Writing became my flashlight. I wrote my personal history, and realized that writing could remove some of the negative emotions that were festering inside me.

When I finished the personal history, I wrote a novel. And it was completely natural to pour that angst and depression into a teenage girl. (Ha!)

Anyway, then the pitbull in me emerged. See, I’m a little OCD, and when I do something, I DO IT.

So, of course, the next step was to figure out how to publish a book. Here’s a timeline for that.

December 2007: Begin writing. Write first novel.
April 2008: Write POSSESSION
April – November 2008: Query a different book. Not a good one. My first one. Write a few more novels. Okay, maybe like 8 more.
December 2008: Shelve said book. Decide which book to revise and query next. Chose POSSESSION.
January – April 2009: Revise POSSESSION.
April – November 2009: Query POSSESSION while writing new books, blogging, etc. After a few phone calls, a few rounds of agent-requested revisions, I finally…
November 2009: Get an offer of representation!
December 2009 – January 2010: Revise some more.
February 2010: Sell POSSESSION to Simon & Schuster
March 2010 – Current day: Freak out. Blog. Tweet. Write some more. Blog. Tweet. Facebook. Manage websites. Freak out.
MPB: How did you come up with the idea for how your dystopian society is set up?

After I decided I wanted to write a dystopian novel, I knew I needed a society. So I played the “What if?” game that some authors are fond of. I came up with “What if there was no free will?” and my society evolved from there. I needed a way to remove the free will; I needed a character who wanted her free will; I needed a place where there was some free will to balance the place where there is none.

I needed rules. I needed tech. I needed it all. I just sort of shoved it all in and cleaned it up later.

MPB: Possession deals with the theme of "choice". How important do you think our choices are?

Ah, excellent question. I think choices are everything. It’s through our choices that we become the way we are. Choice is everything.

MPB: What are some of your favorite reads from the last 6 months?

DIVERGENT by Veronica Roth
ACROSS THE UNIVERSE by Beth Revis
MEMENTO NORA by Angie Smibert
THE LIAR SOCIETY by Lisa and Laura Roecker
CLARITY by Kim Harrington
BLOOD MAGIC by Tessa Gratton
THE NEAR WITCH by Victoria Schwab
I DON’T WANT TO KILL YOU by Dan Wells
A NEED SO BEAUTIFUL by Suzanne Young
THE DAY BEFORE by Lisa Schroeder

MPB: What are you working on now? / How is book 2 going?

I am not working on anything! Launching a book is like building an arc. There’s only time for one or the other. I have written and turned in (and sold!) my second book. Edits are due to get to me in July, and I plan on chillaxing until then.

MPB: What is the one thing that keeps you writing when it gets hard to be committed?

Well, now that I’m writing for publication—instead of just for fun—I have deadlines. Those keep me on track. And if I don’t have a deadline, I make one for myself so that I’ll actually get something done. Otherwise, it’s so easy to burn five hours on twitter or Facebook or blogs or TV or reading. You know?

MPB: What is your favorite snack to eat while writing?

I don’t snack while writing. I only snack during the revisions, and those require a big honking bag of sour patch kids.

MPB: See folks! I told you she was made of awesome! Thank you so much Elana! I hope POSSESSION does fabulously well, and I am very excited to see what happens next!

Author Interview: Sara B. Larson

Hi all! Today I have a special treat for you! My good friend Sara B. Larson is an upcoming author and she is doing some blog touring! Since she got her agent I was looking forward to the day when I could feature her!

I think this is a rare treat! How often do you get to hear from an up and coming author before thier book is published? Sara is so close it is inevitably happening and I am very excited (having been one of her beta readers for YEARS!).

Here is a little bit about Sara:
I have been writing since I was in second grade, and have the notebooks full of misspelled stories to prove it. Over the intervening years, my love of writing has grown even stronger, and luckily my spelling has improved as well. I almost got a “marketable degree” as a nurse at BYU, but turned back to writing when that didn’t work out. I live in Utah with my husband, two young sons, and a Maltese named Charlie. I've learned to write during naptime and the hours when most people are sleeping. When I'm not writing, getting shot with nerf guns, or tripping over soccer balls, I can be found wakeboarding at the lake, hiking in the mountains, cooking, or working out at the gym. If all else fails, you can probably find me hiding in a bubble bath with a book and some Swedish Fish. I am represented by the fabulous Hannah Brown Gordon at Foundry Literary + Media.

And now for your enjoyment, my Q&A with her!

1) Why did you want to write books for Young Adults?

SBL: It's what I've always written--as a teen I naturally wrote about other teens. Usually ones that were older than me. When I decided to start writing again as an adult, I tried to write a "grown-up" book my mom would be proud of, something deep, and emotional, and more literary. First of all, it wasn't that great (I could have made it better with some good editing), but secondly--I started experiencing some of the scenes in my book in real life. And not the good ones. The crying in the doctor's office, having to call my husband to tell him bad news ones. I decided I was done with "deep, emotional, grown-up books." I decided to write about things that could never ACTUALLY happen in real life, and turned back to my true love--YA, with a fantastical or paranormal element or twist.

2) What is the number one mistake you made in the process of getting published that you want others to learn from?

SBL: Wow, that's a tough question. So, hmmm, my number one mistake? Not getting enough feedback/critiques done from qualified, knowledgeable people when I finished the first I book I started querying. Even with how much editing/work it needed (and trust me, it needed A LOT of work--I just didn't realize it), I got interest from my so-called "top agent." (I was so naive.) She ended up passing on it, and I'm sure that was in large part to so many beginner mistakes I'd made in my writing. The thing is though, I decided to get more help because of that rejection. I am the writer I am today because of the lessons I learned and the writing advice I got after that experience. So I can't really regret it. But yes, I would definitely say to other aspiring authors--find really good CPs and beta readers who will give you honest, accurate, and supportive critiques. No one writes a publishable book by themselves. At least no one I know.

3) What kinds of books do you write?

SBL: Well, as I said before, I write YA, usually with a fantastical or paranormal element. (Remember how it has to not be able to happen in real life!)

4) What books inspire you?

SBL: I know it's cliche, but the books that inspired me to start writing again, with the real intent of getting published were the Harry Potter books. I think Jo Rowling is a genius. As a teen, one of my favorite books was THE POISONWOOD BIBLE by Barbara Kingsolver. It's still one of my favorites today. Especially if you want to learn how to cultivate voice. That book has five different narrators and each one has a completely unique and believable voice. But there are so many others, I don't even know where to start. Anything that can grab my attention, and force me to keep reading is a book that inspires me. I want to write books that will do that for other people. Some of the most recent ones I've read that did that were DELIRIUM, ACROSS THE UNIVERSE, PARANORMALCY, NIGHTSHADE, MATCHED, SECONDHAND CHARM, and wow, this list could just keep going and going and I know I'm forgetting some, so I'll stop.

5) What is the best thing about being an author?

SBL: Doing what I love! I have always loved writing, ever since I was a very young child. Sitting down to create something that you have complete control over, that you can make beautiful or scary or powerful or triumphant or ANYTHING YOU WANT... that is an amazing feeling. If I can ever see or hear of a reader who loved MY book, and is telling someone else about how much they loved it? That would be the most incredible feeling.

6) What is your writing routine like? Do you have a favorite snack you keep on hand when you're writing?

SBL: I have to cue up my music first and foremost, I must have music to write. I can do it without, but not as well. Music inspires me and helps me hone my emotions into my writing. Then I get cracking! I will usually start a few pages back, rereading what I've written, doing a few minor edits, to get back into the emotion of the scene I'm at and then I just go for it! I usually don't snack while I write. I know, I'm weird! I actually often forget to eat at all. My husband will have to make me stop and eat a meal. But I do LOVE Swedish fish for those times that I do want something on hand.

7) What are your goals as an author?

SBL: I kind of answered this already, but to go into more depth, my goal (and hope) is to see my books on the shelves of a bookstore. Not just because I want to have it be my career (which I do), but more importantly because I want to see someone taking it off of a shelf, and telling their friend how much they loved it. I want to hear people talking about my characters as if they're real people. I would love nothing more than to know that readers love my characters as much as I do. That they crush on my guys, and root for my protagonists, and yeah. That will make everything worth it--all the rejection, all the doubt, and hard work, and more rejection. To witness that is my ultimate goal. Is that asking too much? Maybe. We'll see!

Thank you for having me! I love your blog. :)

Author Interview: Carol Lynch Williams

Carol Lynch Williams is an absolute delight. I have loved e-mailing with her and seeing her at writer's conferences. She is honestly one of the most inspiring people I know.

For more about her, and writing advice check out her awesome blog with Ann Dee Ellis www.throwingupwords.wordpress.com

Now on to the interview!

1) GLIMPSE is your first book in verse (which I believe you called "not really verse, but broken up sentences"). Why did you choose this format?

CLW: Good question. The truth is, I worked on this book for a long, long, LONG time. Years. I had many editors interested, but they thought the book was too dark. Well, it IS pretty dark. Anyway. One day it just came to me to try the book in the short, choppy line. The main character, Hope, is looking at her world that way--in just glimpses. So maybe if the word on the page looked the way she felt . . . Then i happened to find a publisher who has had success in publishing these kinds of books! I was so lucky!

2) You have mentioned to me how much this book means to you. Can you explain a little bit why this was such an important book for you to write?

CLW: I just read a local review about my book, The Chosen One, where the reviewer said she was so disturbed about the dunking of the baby in ice water that she couldn't appreciate the rest of the book. Then she said something like, "I know kids have it rough. But I don't think they see this kind of stuff." Here's what I think: Kids DO see awful stuff. And they experience it, too. I know of a boy (he knows one of my daughters) who's father came into a fast food restaurant, shot and killed the boy's mother, then kicked her teeth in. I know of another boy who's mother and sisters went missing--and they finally found the car--with their bodies in it--submerged in a river. Foul play was suspected. Already I am getting emails from people saying things like, "I understand what Hope and Lizzie went through." Girls (and women) are already telling me this. Life is hard. And when we hand a book to a kid who may need what you have written (travel the country and meet with kids, you'll see them everywhere), you can feel some relief that you didn't shy away from something. There are tough books out there and there are happy books out there. Kids can pick and choose what they want. I want all the Lizzie's of the world to know they can get free. They can fight and make it. And BTW, that dunking of the baby IS the way some people discipline their kids. The scene ALWAYS gets the mothers. (It doesn't bother younger readers as much, believe it or not!)

3) What is the reason you chose to write YA novels in the first place?

CLW: My books have always been edgy. I have always written upper middle grade, lower YA, with a couple of exceptions. That's the place my real voice is. Right now, I have some dark stories going on in my head, so I'm getting them out. And the books I have ALWAYS liked the best are young adult novels.
4) I have an idea in my head, but I am wondering if there was an era/date for the setting of the book? (Is that even a question? I need an editor.)

CLW: Glimpse is contemporary.
*Note: This is what I thought, I just wondered because some of the reviews I read thought that it might be a bit earlier in time period.

5) The mother in this novel is a hard character to understand. She just seems so, broken. But as a mother myself, I can't imagine behaving the way she did in many instances. What are the mother's feelings/motivations that we don't get to see from Hope's perspective?

CLW: I know you love that baby girl of yours. Aren't you so glad you can't imagine treating anyone the way Hope's mom does? She is a broken, sad, sick woman. As far as her feelings and motivations--she knows what she does is wrong, but I think she feels justified. Really, I don't know why anyone acts the way s/he does. I'm always surprised to hear of horrible people doing horrible things. Are they all sick? Are they evil? What I know is, this kinda stuff happens. A lot. Once is too much, but this happens a LOT.
6) Your book does not shirk from hard topics that can be hard and sad to read about, yet it is empowering at the same time. What do you hope people take from these themes?

CLW: I do hope people 'enjoy' the read as much as they can. I hope they love the language and the unwinding of the story. I hope good moms show their daughters the book and say, "See, we are okay." I hope teachers see kids who are struggling and let them see characters survive. I hope mostly I have told the story in an honest way. And I think I have.

7) What is your favorite book of all time?

CLW: The one you are going to publish.

*Note: Oh Carol! I laughed so hard at this and am completely flattered. Can you see why she is such a great teacher for young authors? Seriously people check her blog!

8) What are you reading right now?

CLW: I just started LIPS TOUCH THREE TIMES by Laini Taylor (A wow! so far!) and I just finished our own Matthew Kirby's novel THE CLOCKWORK THREE (he has some amazing word choices in this book). And I have a pile of books to be read!

9) What are you working on currently?

CLW: I am working on three books. One is my Damned Dystopian. I am making some real progress on it. Something funny has happened as I have wrestled with this novel. I have noticed that if I want to get anything written I need to sit down and write. I'm also working on another book in the short, choppy line. It's the story of a girl who has had something awful happen and now the seams of her life are starting to come undone and she can't hold it together any more. And I am doing a rewrite of a true middle grade novel.

Thank you so much Carol! You know I love you tons, and loved GLIMPSE!

Author Interview: Susanne Dunlap

First I'd like to thank Susanne for taking the time to answer my questions. I read and reviewed Susanne's first YA novel The Musician's Daughter, back when I was blogging over at My Favorite Author.

I was thrilled to get a copy of ANASTASIA'S SECRET which I wanted to read ever since she first mentioned she was working on a book about the Grand Duchess in our last interview! I hope that this little Q&A will get you even more excited about reading this book, for I truly did enjoy it!

My Pile Of Books: You obviously put a lot of research into your work. Which do you prefer more, the research or writing fiction?

Susanne Dunlap: Definitely the writing, but the research inspires me. When I'm researching, I'm itching to start putting the story together, to bring the characters to life.

MPB: ANASTASIA'S SECRET is more than just a fantasy version of what might have been. What do you hope your teenage readers take from a more true to life story of what happened to the Romanovs?

SD: I know some people will wish that I had done it differently, but what inspired me about her story is that she wasn't a little girl while all those awful things were happening to her family, she was a teenager. I wanted to explore what it must have been like to come of age in the midst of all that, through the contrast between unimaginable luxury and the horrifying prospect of a terrible end.

MPB: Why were you drawn to Anastasia as a narrator?

SD: She's a shadowy character in history, described as the "clown" of the family, and as the youngest (and unwanted) fourth daughter of an imperial couple who yearned for a son. I felt she must have had some pain in her life, some feeling for her second-class status, and that the conflicts in her heart—between being a loving sister and perhaps envying the position her two older sisters and younger brother had in her parents' affections—deserved to have a voice. I also wanted to give her more of an independent life than she is portrayed as having in history.

MPB: Besides Anastasia who in this novel was your favorite character to research and write about?

SD: Hmmm. I think possibly there isn't an individual one, but discovering the roles of the members of the household and the servants, and what they sacrificed to stay with the family, was quite a revelation.

MPB: Can you tell us about what you are working on now?

SD: My next novel is about a young parlor maid from the East End of London who stows away to go with Florence Nightingale's nurses to the Crimea.

MPB: What have you read in the last few months that has blown you away?

SD: I've read an unpublished manuscript by a dear friend that has really blown me away, and the soon-to-be published novel Claude and Camille, by Stephanie Cowell. It's the story of Claude Monet and his lover Camille, set in that incredible time for the art world in Paris. It's a very tender love story, and an evocative setting. As for teen books, the novel I Am Rembrandt's Daughter by Lynn Cullen was fabulous.

*Thank you again Susanne for being part of our blog!

Author Interview: Carrie Jones!

I am thrilled to share with you this short and to the point interview I did with Carrie Jones! I have SO many more questions I could ask her about CAPTIVATE, but they would all be spoilery! So I went for some fun ones! Enjoy!

MPB: NEED was a wonderful book! What new aspects of your paranormal world are brought in in CAPTIVATE?

Carrie Jones: That is so nice of you to say! Thank you so much. Sigh. I get soooo nervous about my books.

I think the paranormal world is expanded in CAPTIVATE as Zara learns more about how pixie hierarchy works and the depth of the paranormal influence in the world.

MPB: If you could eat anything you wanted right this very minute, what would it be?

CJ: Fried potatoes with guacamole or maybe strudel or maybe brownies or maybe just white grape juice. Can you tell I'm hungry?

MPB: If you had a whole day to do whatever you wanted what would it be?

CJ: I am no allowed to say because my mom reads this blog and she still thinks I am a nice girl.
*MPB Note: Your mom reads the blog! Cool! Hi Carrie's mom! ;)

MPB: Can you tell us anything about the next book in the series?

CJ: Well, I am writing it RIGHT NOW! And it is totally kicking my butt. It's very much a continuation of what happened in CAPTIVATE. It's crazy but I think I like it. I don't know how to tell any more without spoiling everything in CAPTIVATE.

MPB: If you met a hot young Pixie King, would you trust him?

CJ: As my best friend who is a police sgt would say, "Yes." I trust everyone. It is a really big problem for me. Like if you are standing in front of me with a knife and frothing at the mouth? I'd totally be all, "Hey honey, are you okay? Do you need some food? Want to talk?"
And after you lunged at me? I'd still probably invite you over for strudel.

Thanks so much Carrie! Now everyone save some of that Christmas money, or giftcards you get this year and go buy CAPTIVATE!

NEED by Carrie Jones

This post isn't a full review, but as I will be reviewing the second book in the series I thought I would bring you up to date with this first book.



NEED is one of my favorite YA paranormal romances that I read this year. As an added bonus, it just came out in paperback with a preview for the second book included! It's a great book to add to your Christmas list to prep you for the fabulous sequel CAPTIVATE (which I will review tomorrow!)

HERE is the link back to my review when I was blogging over at MyFavoriteAuthor. And HERE and HERE are links to my two part interview with the ever hilarious and wonderful Carrie Jones!

Author Interview: Janette Rallison

I thought you might be done reading what we have to say about the fabulous Janetter...so I thought I'd let Janette say something about herself! She was gracious enough to take time out of her current writing schedule in order to answer some questions for our readers! Enjoy!

Q: How old were you when you started writing?
JR: I've been writing since I was old enough to hold a pencil and misspell my way through a story. (My plots have improved even if my spelling hasn't.) I have notebooks and computer files full of my early writing. I tended to get 70% of the way through a story and then start something else, which is not the best way to go about getting published. I finally got serious about my writing in my late twenties. My first book was published when I was thirty.

Q: And what was your very first book about?
JR: My first book was a young adult romantic comedy for the LDS market called Deep Blue Eyes and Other Lies. It's the prequel to All's Fair in Love, War, and High School which was published in the national market. Like a lot of my books, it's about love, friendship, and those way-too-many awkward moments that plague teenagers.

Q: Have you ever been star struck by another author? If so, who was it?
JR: Jane Austen. I was so excited to tour her house in England. I have a picture of me sitting at the table she wrote at. Sometimes when I'm at home writing, the oddness of canonizing authors strikes me, and I try to imagine some futuristic tour guide showing tourists around my house:

"This is where Janette typed, kept stacks of research, and basically ignored the laundry."

The crowd lets out a simultaneous, "Ohhh!" and snaps dozens of pictures.

Q: What inspires your stories?
JR: My distaste of housework. When I can clean the kitchen or write, I always write. I also take ideas from my own life and from my kids. Kids are just a neverending supply of story ideas.

Q: Your novels have a lot of humor. Why do you think humor is important?
JR: Researches have done multiple studies that prove humor not only makes you feel better, it makes you healthier. It lowers blood pressure and increases your T-cell function. It increases your memory too.

But besides that, if people don't learn to laugh at themselves and their problems, they'll be miserable. Bad situations can often be turned around if you just apply a little humor.

Q: If you had to become one of your characters, who would you pick?
JR: Good question. (I'm suddenly wondering why I haven't given any of my characters magical powers, because then it would be an easy choice.) I love Annika from Just One Wish because she's so focused, smart, and goes for whatever she wants--but she has a little brother with cancer, and I wouldn't want that. It would be cool to be Savannah from My Fair Godmother and get to have adventures in the Middle Ages, but when it comes right down to it, I like indoor plumbing and electricity more than adventure. Probably I'd choose to be Alexia in My Double Life because she gets to go to Hollywood and hang out with famous people including her hot rock star boyfriend. Look for that book next May.

Q: Do you re-read your books once they've been published?
JR: I don't plan to reread them. By the time they come out I'm sick of them. But usually a few years later I'll be flipping through one of my books looking for some paragraph to use for a writing workshop and I end up reading the whole book. I'm always surprised that I like the book again.

Q: What are your top five favorite YA books (other than your own, of course)?
JR: Not in any particular order:
The Princess Bride
Hunger Games (note from Aubrey: one of my faves too!)
The Doomsday Book
The Phantom Tollbooth
Lord of the Rings

Q: What is your favorite food?
JR: Chocolate, which I could gladly live on. Bacon is a close second with guacamole coming in third.

Love it! Thanks so much Janette. I am excited to read more of your stuff! Good luck on your current project! And here's to hoping your male protagonist looks like Ben. ;)

Interview and Author Info : James Dashner

Hi all!

I am pleased to provide for you some fun questions I asked James Dashner! I was lucky enough to attend his mini-class at a writer's conference. He is hilarious and very talented. (If you ever have a chance to hear him speak, do it!)

Q:If you were a character in The Maze Runner who would you be and why?
JD:I would definitely be Thomas, because he's kind of based on me, which means I'm actually already him. Whoa. I just blew my mind.

Q:Your name pops up in a Janette Rallison book! How do you feel about that?
JD:I can't believe Janette had the gall to put my name in her book without paying me some kind of royalty. It also offends me on so many levels. Namely that I'm not the main character. Ha! Just kidding - I love Janette!

Q:What is your favorite thing to eat before or while you're writing?
JD:Hmm. My favorite thing to eat... I would have to say some kind of nuts, especially cashews. Or pizzeria flavored Combos. Yum!

Thanks James!

For more information on James, check out his website at www.jamesdashner.com . James is great at updating his blog. I don't know how he has time for it all! There are some great links on his publishing history, and answers to some FAQs from people wondering about how to get into the writing world.

Here I have embedded a great interview that makes me SO curious for the next books in the series of THE MAZE RUNNER world! Plus he answers a lot of the questions I would have asked had I done an interview with him anyway.


This is from the official The Maze Runner Website at http://themazerunner.com where you can also play an EVIL game where you can run through the Maze. Took me like 20 times to get past level 2!

I hope you enjoy this stuff as much as I did! Be sure to come back tomorrow! You won't want to miss it!