Author Interview: H. L. LeRoy

Terra Vonn is fighting to survive in a destroyed world,

surrounded by unspeakable horror . . .

and things are about to get much worse.

Title: The Fountain of the Earth
Author: H. L. LeRoy
Description: The first in a planned series, The Fountain of the Earth is set on the West Coast following a catastrophic solar flare that has destroyed civilization, leaving only a few people struggling to survive. After witnessing the vicious murder of her mother, Terra Vonn (15) has a singular focus—exacting revenge on the killers. But before she can complete her plans, savagery intervenes and she is cast alone into a brutal post-apocalyptic world. As she trails the men south through a land filled with cannibalistic criminals, slave traders, and lunatics, the hunter becomes the hunted. Terra quickly learns that she is neither as tough nor as brave as she thinks she is. Worse, she may be the only one who stands between what little remains of civilization and destruction.

~~~

Hello my lovely readers! I have temporarily crawled out of my hole to present to you a new author interview with H. L. LeRoy of the dystopian novel, The Fountain of the Earth! As you probably know, updating this blog with YA novel reviews likely won't happen for another while. Possibly after I graduate university (next year...). However, if you would like to see more of my reviews (not books unfortunately) and are in Toronto (or planning to visit soon), you can check me out at The Toronto Cafe Blog and on Facebook: www.facebook.com/TheTorontoCafeBlog. Oh and my Twitter @torontocafeblog. :) 

Now, back to the interview. If you would like to learn more about H. L. LeRoy, The Fountain of the Earth or his other novels, you can visit at www.hlleroy.blogspot.com.

1. What inspired you to write The Fountain of the Earth?

I wrote a 250 word piece of flash fiction about a young girl alone in a post-apocalyptic world, entitled I Am Called Faith. Several who read it wanted to know more about the girl and the world. The Fountain of the Earth grew from there. The essence of I Am Called Faith can be found in chapter three.

2. What would you say is the easiest part of writing the novel? And the hardest part?

Creating the characters, and letting them run away with the story. The hardest was making sure that I never resorted to contrived solutions to problems. I wanted this novel to be plausible.

3. Describe The Fountain of the Earth in one sentence.

Fifteen-year-old Terra Vonn, cast alone into a brutal and savage post-apocalyptic world, is the only one who can save can save what remains of civilization from destruction.

4. Do you have any favourite authors and novels? If so, who and which novels?

Not in any particular order, Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern, The Art of Fielding by Chad Harbach, House of Leaves by Mark Danielewski, Fight Club by Chuck Palahniuk, Music for Torching by A.M. Homes, Hunger Games, Dystopia, The Mind Readers by Lori Brighton, Open Minds by Susan Kaye Quinn.

5. Finally, do you have any other novels in progress? If so, what are they going to be about?

I’m working on book two of the Fountain of the Earth series, tentatively titled The Heralds of Juno, as well as a mystery/thriller, Hollow Point, featuring Jillian Varela, a tough as nails female private eye.

Author Interview: Travis Heermann

Title: The Wild Boys
Author: Travis Heerman
Description: When three younger boys show up on the doorstep of Mia's everyday suburban existence, naked and on the run, she is drawn into a shadow world where a series of strange disappearances heralds a slowly spreading plague of bioengineered lycanthropy. Mia must save the three orphaned boys from their brutal Alpha, a man-beast who believes normal humans are food.

A war is brewing for the top of the food chain. Mia doesn’t know it yet, but she holds the key to the future of the human race.

~~~

I was contacted by Travis Heermann, the author of a recently released YA paranormal novel called The Wild Boys. However, due to my schedule, I was unable to review it. I decided that an interview would be best, especially since I haven't done one in awhile!

If you would like to know more about Travis, The Wild Boys, or his other novels, you can check out his website here: www.travisheermann.com

1. What inspired you to write The Wild Boys?

The initial idea came from a dream that my wife at the time had about encountering three young boys on a bicycle path. There were terrified, on the run, and while they looked normal, somehow she knew they were werewolves. We discussed the dream, and then she told me, "You need to write this story." I agreed with her. So over the next year or so, concurrent with other projects, I developed the story further, along with the main character, Mia.

2. What distinguishes The Wild Boys from other young adult novels based around werewolves?

 This book treats lycanthropy as a science-based disease, a virus, rather than a mystical curse. The problem with diseases is that they can spread. In genre fiction and movies, we've seen the Zombie Apocalypse over and over, but what about a werewolf apocalypse. I started asked "what if?" questions. What if this plague spread out of control and turned an increasing percentage of the human population into werewolves? What would happen to society? How far could this go?

3. Describe what your progress is like when writing a new novel.

I've written eight novels so far, four of which have been published with the fifth coming out this summer. I can't say definitively what my process is like because so far it's been different every time. My most recently completed novel is a horror-western, which came about as an adaptation of a screenplay I wrote with my friend Jim Pinto. Fleshing out a screenplay into a full-fledged novel required a lot of research, but the research led to some inspirations that really added depth to the original story. In the case of The Wild Boys, there were at least five drafts, mainly because Mia's character kept evolving, and I would go back through the manuscript and add more depth to her character, which created some interesting resonances within the story.

In the case of Rogues of the Black Fury, my swashbuckling fantasy novel that came out last year, the main character stormed out of my subconscious and said, "Write about me, you #*&^@!" So I developed a story around that character.

4. Do you have any authors you look up to that inspire you to write?

Absolutely, but there are many. Shakespeare is a tremendous inspiration. If I could write dialogue half that good, with characters that still resonate after 400 years, I would never have to worry about a paycheck. As for contemporary writers, Stephen King was one of my early inspirations. And along the way, other writers have set me on fire, most importantly Ray Bradbury, whose novel Fahrenheit 451 changed my life. I am a walking example of how books can change people's lives. The writer I most want to emulate, someone I look up to, is Joe R. Lansdale. From an artistic standpoint, his stories and books are often like a punch in the gut, and nobody writes redneck stupidity and rural darkness with a sharper eye for truth and detail. From a professional standpoint, I admire Lansdale because he has not allowed himself to be pigeon-holed, and he makes a living writing what he wants, short stories, novels, comics, and screenplays. His work often bends and mashes up genres so he's difficult to pin down.

5. Are you currently working on a new novel? If so, what is it going to be about?

Right now, I am between novels. The project I finished most recently is the second book in my historical fantasy Ronin Trilogy, which will be coming out in June. I'm going to spend a few months concentrating on short fiction, but after that I have a number of directions I could go with novels. A Wild Boys sequel perhaps, the final volume of the Ronin Trilogy, or a hard sci-fi novel I've been percolating for about a year. 

Author Interview: Hannah Harrington

So it has been ages since my last author interview! For those who likes to read the author interviews, I apologize! During the school year, I totally forgot about it altogether and just focused on trying to get a post up every week as much as possible. If you guys want to see an author interview with an author I have reviewed a novel of, please comment below! (Either click the author interview hashtag or search on the side bar to see).

Three weeks ago, I reviewed a contemporary novel called Saving June about a girl who goes on a road trip to California in order to spread her sister's ashes (click here for review). Originally, the novel was supposed to be coming out this May. Unfortunately for those who are anticipating it, the release date got pushed to December 2011.

So while waiting, you can read the interview with Saving June's author, Hannah Harrington! (Apparently I'm the first to interview her, haha!)

What inspired you to write Saving June?

There wasn't really one singular event that inspired the book-- I actually wrote a bit of it while I was still in high school. I had the characters in my head, I just wasn't sure what to do with them at first. About two years after I graduated, it all sort of coalesced into a fully formed idea that I decided to write out. Some of it was inspired by my own teenage experience, either people I'd known or things I'd gone through personally, and some of it just came while I was writing.

Have you ever gone on a road trip before? If so, what was the experience like?

I've been on a lot of road trips! When I was seventeen I drove in a van with some friends from Michigan to New York for a political protest. I've also done the drive up Highway 1 along the California coast that Harper, Jake, and Laney take in the book-- it's a breathtaking drive. The most recent road trip I took was from Illinois to Atlantic City with two friends; we did both ways within less than 48 hours, which was completely ridiculous, but also a blast. We stopped in Philadelphia on the way back, where I'd never been, and I ended up accidentally wandering around five blocks out of my way trying to meet up with my friends to get cheese steaks-- it would've been annoying, except it was kind of nice to get a look at the city. There was also a lot of off-key car singing and good conversation involved, the kind that can only happen when you've been trapped in a car with someone for over ten hours and lost all sense of shame.

Where else would you like to travel to, road trip or not?

I've never been to Europe, and I'm dying to go at some point. The one city in the U.S. that I haven't ever visited but would love to is New Orleans. The whole culture there is so interesting to me.

What would you recommend someone to bring or do before going on a road trip?

Well, good music is definitely a must! I have an iPod, but I tend to go with burning mix CDs; my car is full of them. And a lot of people have GPS systems now, but I always print out online directions as a backup since those things can go a little haywire in my experience.

What are your personal thoughts on suicide?

It's complex and painful in about a million different ways. What I hope people take away from SAVING JUNE is that, like much else in life, when it comes to that, you can't always draw straight lines to find easy answers.

Do you have any other stories in progress? If so, please give us a brief description of it.

My second book will also be published with Harlequin Teen-- it's called SPEECHLESS, and it's about a girl named Chelsea Knot who takes a vow of silence after her gossip-mongering ways yield unexpected consequences. It has some romance too, of course!

To close off, please give us an interesting fact about yourself that most people don’t know of!

My favorite song to play on guitar is U2's "With Or Without You." Probably because it's one of the few I can play that is halfway passable!

Author Interview: Will Hartzell-Baird

Will Hartzell-Baird is the author of the delightfully hilarious adult novel, Death Mill: A Lighthearted Comedy. I highly recommend the novel for those who want some awesome comedy and supernatural. You can see my review of it here.

If you would like to learn more about the author or his novel, check out at: www.hartzellbaird.com.

Firstly, what inspired you to write Death Mill Mansion: A Lighthearted Comedy?

It was actually a novelization of that movie “Twilight.” Then, when I realized that the movie was already based on a novel, I replaced all the angsty parts with lizards and robots.

There are many characters and many events that occurred throughout the novel. With so many, which character and scene/event would be your favourite?

The Sliv lizards. And, since the Slivs are the very first thing to occur in the book, it’s obvious that I haven’t read the whole thing.

If Death Mill Mansion: A Lighthearted Comedy was a show, which actors and actresses would you like to play your characters?

It would be a one man show, starring William Shatner, with the small exception of the voice of Pearl, which would be portrayed by Alec Baldwin. I would also have Woody Allen standing awkwardly in the background, complaining about the dialogue.

How long do you think you will survive in the mansion? And if you were to die, how would you die?

Through a mix of boldness and cunning, I would manage to survive the first 300 pages, but would ultimately be brought down by a severe upper respiratory infection while posing dramatically on the front porch and loudly yelling, “I’ve made it! What could possibly go wrong now?”

What do you find is the hardest aspect in writing? And the easiest?

The easiest part is the spaces. The hardest part is the words. Especially the word “Pearl.” I kept typing “Peral.” I’ve done that four times in this interview already, and I’ve only said her name twice. Typing “Robbie” was pretty easy, though.

Do you have any novels you are working on at the moment or will be releasing soon? If so, can you please give us a brief summary about them?

I recently finished the first draft of my second novel. I’m a little hazy on the details so far, but the main character’s name is “Wesley.”

Lastly, please give us an interesting fact about yourself that not many people know of!

Shadow puppet ninja. I won’t bore you with the details.

Author Interview: Kristin Walker

Kristin Walker debuted with her laugh-out-loud novel, A Match Made in High School, earlier this year. I got the chance to read the novel and it was a delightful, fun piece. You can read my review of it here.

If you would like to learn more about Kristin or her novel, visit her at: http://www.kristin-walker.com/.

Firstly, what inspired you to write A Match Made in High School?

I was inspired by my obsession to get published, to tell the truth. I'd tried for years to sell a book, and I kept moving up in age range until I finally accepted the fact that I'd have to write a young adult novel. From there, I decided to write a funny one. And then I got the idea for MATCH and it seemed like it could be pretty hilarious. Then I was off!

Out of all of your characters, who would you say you favour the most?

Hmm...I really like Fiona and Todd of course, but my favourite (I spelled it ala Canada!) is Johnny. He's just so endearing and funny to me.

If A Match Made in High School becomes a movie or show, which actors/actresses do you want to play your characters?

I get asked this question a lot, and it seems crazy to even think about that. Usually, I say I want unknown actors to play the leads. But I have to say that Eden Sher ("The Middle") could totally rock the role of Fiona.

What do you find is the hardest aspect in writing? And the easiest?

For me, the writing the first draft is the hardest. It's difficult not to get overwhelmed by the amount of work ahead of me. Sustaining momentum is a challenge. The easiest aspect for me is creating characters. I struggle with plot, but my characters come to me fairly easily.

What genres or story plots do you still want to try out that you have not done yet?

Wow, good question. I don't know! I think I might try something in adult romance.

Do you have any novels you are working on at the moment or will be releasing soon? If so, can you please give us a brief summary about them?

I have another young adult novel in the works for Razorbill, and I'm working on a middle grade paranormal about a group of kids who start a business dealing with the town's ghosts.

Lastly, please give us an interesting fact about yourself that not many people know of!

I'd love to be an extra in a zombie movie. How fun would that be?

Author Interview: Robin Wasserman

I have received the opportunity to interview one of my favourite authors, Robin Wasserman! You may know her popular dystopian series, The Skinned Trilogy, which I highly recommend! (Click tags below to check out my reviews for the first two novels).

You get to read some cool insider information regarding one of her books becoming a movie and her new upcoming series! Hope you enjoy the interview!

If you would like to learn more about Robin and her books, please visit her at www.robinwasserman.com.

Firstly, what inspired you to write the Skinned Trilogy?

When I was in grad school, I spent a lot of time studying the history of automata (ie the history of mechanical replicas of human life). I got totally fascinated by the idea of humans that acted like machines and machines that acted like humans, especially when it came to the subject of emotion. If it were possible for a machine to feel, I wondered, what would it feel *like*? That's how I stumbled onto the character of Lia, a girl who thinks like a human and feels like a machine. Who is neither one nor the other, and has to figure out what that means for herself and who--and what--she really is.

If Skinned became a movie, which actors/actresses would you like to see playing your characters?

I always love answering this kind of question about my books, difficult as it is! (And actually, one of my other projects -- the Seven Deadly Sins series -- is going to be a Lifetime movie next month, and it's been ridiculously cool to see who they actually cast in the parts. Especially since some of them are exactly as I'd always envisioned the characters and some could not be more opposite than the image I had in my head. But back to your actual question...) My dream pick for Lia used to be Kristen Bell, but now that she's a little old for the part, I've settled on Leighton Meester, of Gossip Girl fame, who I actually think would be even more perfect than Bell. She's got this delicate, brittle, perfect beauty and can somehow pull off being hard and fragile, all at the same time, which is exactly what this character would need. I haven't thought much about who should play the other characters, but if anyone's got any suggestions, please let me know, because I LOVE THIS GAME.

Out of all of your published books, which one (or series) do you say you favour most? And why?

Ouch--that's a tough one. You want me to play favorites? Well, if I absolutely HAVE to, I guess I'd say that I'm proudest of the Skinned trilogy, because I think it's probably the best thing I've written so far. (That's the plan, at least -- you always want your next book to be better than the previous one.) But Hacking Harvard remains a sentimental favorite, because it's so autobiographical. Going back to it is like flipping through an old high school/college photo album.

What do you find is the easiest part in writing? And the hardest?

If there's an easy part of writing, no one's told me!

But if I had to pick one, I guess I would say that it's writing the last page or so of a book. Usually by the time I'm midway through the book, I know exactly how it's going to end -- not always the last sentence, but at least the last image, the last visceral emotion, and writing last few chapters of the book is like rolling down a hill toward that final point. The closer I get, the faster I go and the more wild a trip it is. So that when I'm finally there, I just blow right through the finish line. And then I do a little dance of joy.

The hardest part, on the other hand, is *getting* to the last page of a book. At some point about 100 pages into any novel, I become convinced that I'm never going to be able to finish it. That it's going to be the worst book ever written, and I was crazy to even start it. Forcing myself past that point and moving forward, page by painful page, is torture. But it's the only way through to the good stuff.

What kind of stories or genres do you still have yet to try out?

My next book is a murder mystery thriller with some historical components, all of which is new for me, so I'm pretty excited about that. I'd love to write a horror novel someday, as that was one of my favorite genres when I was a teenager. And I'll admit I'd like to write something with aliens in it. Someday!

Do you have any novels you are working on at the moment or will be releasing soon? If so, can you please give us a brief summary about them?

I just sold my new book! It'll be out in late 2011 or early 2012, and it's called The Book of Blood and Shadow. Here's the official description:

THE BOOK OF BLOOD AND SHADOW, about a girl who, upon discovering her best friend murdered and her boyfriend the apparent killer, is caught up in a dangerous world of competing secret societies, all searching for the Luminus Dei, an ancient device that will supposedly allow direct communication with God,

And in fact, as soon as I finish this interview, I have to start writing it -- so wish me luck!

Lastly, give us an interesting fact about yourself that not many know of!

I was once, sort of, on the Jerry Springer show. (One of the trashiest of trashy 90s talk shows.) I went to visit a friend of mine in college and she dragged me to go watch this show. At some point, someone in the audience near us stood up to ask a question, and the cameras swiveled around to point in our direction. I did my best to get out of their way. But when I watched the episode, there I was in the audience, wiggling around in my seat looking like I was doing my best to get *on* camera. Thus far, those have been my only 15 seconds of fame.

Author Interview: Kelly Parra

Kelly Parra is the author of Graffiti Girl and Invisible Touch, both with a Latino protagonist. I highly enjoyed Invisible Touch, which I definitely recommend for you to read.

Enjoy the interview!

Q: Firstly, what inspired you to write Invisible Touch?

Hi Diana, thanks so much for inviting me for an interview! Let’s see, I’ve had an interest in the paranormal since I was younger, and the television show Ghostwhisperer inspired me to write about a young girl with a psychic ability. I thought wouldn’t it be great to write about a teenager that could see signs and have to piece them together in order to solve mysteries? And that’s how the concept was formed.

Q: If Invisible Touch becomes a movie, which actors/actresses do you want to play your characters?

Oh, tough one. Hmm…someone asked me this before but it was hard for me to come up with people because I imagine what my characters look like in my head. I’ll go with Selena Gomez for Kara and maybe Jesse Metcalf for Anthony. They both have similar looks to the faces I envision. :)

Q: What do you find is the hardest aspect in writing? And the easiest?

The hardest aspect of writing is weaving the plot with themes and goals/conflicts. Having to stay on my toes with many aspects of a book can be daunting! The easiest is the fun part, creating characters from my imagination.

Q: What genres or story plots do you still want to try out that you have not done yet?

I’d love to write an adventure story. I have always loved watching movies with lots of action and adventure and I think one day I’d like to give it a try.

Q: What is your advice to those who wants to become published authors?

Keep reading and writing, learn the craft by taking classes and on- line workshops, and don’t give up. If you love your characters and your story, you’ll keep rewriting and learning until you see them published.

Q: Do you have any novels you are working on at the moment or will be releasing soon? If so, can you please give us a brief summary about them?

I am actually branching out into adult romantic suspense writing under the pen name Kelly Lynn Parra so I do not have a young adult book releasing soon. You can learn more about my books at my website: www.kellyparra.com.

Q: Lastly, please give us an interesting fact about yourself that not many people know of!

How about that I feel that I’m not all that interesting at all? LOL. Okay, my parents have 13 siblings each, for a grand total of 26 aunts and uncles around me while I was growing up. It was definitely entertaining at family gatherings. :)

Bio: Kelly Parra’s earliest stories were told with paintbrushes, but upon discovering the drama, forbidden love, and danger of romance and suspense novels, those paintbrushes were replaced with a keyboard. Now a multi-published author, she has created memorable characters such as a graffiti artist, a psychic teen, and a tough undercover narc. A two-time RITA finalist, she divides her time between her novels, freelance writing, and the adventures of motherhood, where she juggles her home life with two children, a tattooed husband, a sweet poodle, and a stealth turtle. Learn more about Kelly at her website, www.kellyparra.com.

Author Interview: Dan Elconin

Recently reviewed, Never After is a great young adult novel retelling of Peter Pan, which is a much darker story than the original version. Today, we have the one and only creator of Never After, Dan Elconin, for an author interview!

If you would like to learn more about the author or Never After, check out at www.danelconin.com.

Out of all fairy tales to retell, why Peter Pan?

- The notion of a weird little boy breaking into kids’ rooms and luring them away has always struck me as really creepy. I wanted to explore that creepiness. Also, JM Barrie’s original novel is hilarious as well as dark, and I liked that contrast so much I wanted to recreate it.

How long did you work on Never After?

- About five years. Way too long. Stephen King could have written dozens of books in that amount of time.

If trapped on an island (considering you can survive off the food and creatures that exist there and find or create your own shelter), what one item is a must have for you?

- A computer, so I can write. Or perhaps an assault rifle, since “deserted” islands always seem to be inhabited by various things that want to kill you.

What is your favourite retelling, be it film or book?

- Probably CASINO ROYALE, the 2006 James Bond film.

What kind of stories or genres do you still want to try writing?

- Right now I can’t say I have any desire to go outside the teen genre. I’d love to try my hand at screenwriting though.

Do you have any novels you are working on at the moment or will be releasing soon? If so, can you please give us a brief summary about them?

- I am working on another novel (and trying my best to finish it in less than five years!). The working title is AFAX and it’s inspired in large part by ENDER’S GAME by Orson Scott Card, one of my favorite books. That’s about all I can say at the moment. =)

Lastly, give us an interesting fact about yourself that not many people know of!

- I like to juggle a soccer ball on my feet when I’m bored, and my current record is 2,429. (I was really bored.)

Author Interview: LM Preston + CONTEST

LM Preston sci-fi novel debut, Explorer X-Alpha, was recently released earlier this month! She's here at Stop, Drop, and Read! for an author interview. Scroll down to the bottom of the interview and you will have the chance to win the novel for yourself!

If you want to learn more about LM Preston or her books, check out at www.lmpreston.com.

Firstly, what inspired you to write Explorer X-Alpha?

It all started on a long car trip to Florida . My husband, kids and I were on our way to my ‘ Happy Place ’. Ok, I’ll admit it. I am still a big kid. I love to play, and imagine.

Anyway, while on this long drive, my husband turns to me and says, “You should write a book. You loved to write when we were younger and you haven’t written since.”

I thought about what his said and replied,” Well, I did try to write that one book, but it was boring and didn’t keep my interest.”

Then he told me,” You should write science fiction. You like it, and you work in the IT field. That way you have no boundaries, you create your own.”

When it came to creating the future in your novel, did you already have an idea of what kind of world you wanted? Or did you create it along the way as you wrote it?

World building is my favorite part of writing sci-fi. I usually spend a few weeks cutting and pasting aspects of the world I am creating on construction paper, and in a file I put all the pictures that I grab from the internet to describe this new world. As I write, I make changes on the fly while I get caught up in the experience of that new world.

What do you find is the easiest part in writing? And the hardest?

For me the easiest part is writing. I tend to write obsessively until the story is dumped out of my head. I also enjoy editing because I feel like an artist chipping away at stone to fine tune every aspect of my story. Each time I do it, the story improves and I grow as a writer.

The hardest part of writing is creating an outline.

What kind of stories or genres do you still have yet to try out?

I would like to write a horror or mystery novel.

Do you have any authors that you were influenced by?

I love Dean Koontz, James Patterson, Dave Meadows, and James Campbell.

Do you have any novels you are working on at the moment or will be releasing soon? If so, can you please give us a brief summary about them?

The Pack releases this August. It's an adventurous upper YA novel about a blind vigilante who sets out to save her brother and the missing kids on Mars (check out the book trailer @ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P_u2eq_RDgk) . Explorer X - Beta comes out next year. I just finished writing Bandits which is an upper YA novel about a boy named Daniel's quest to find his father's killer and treasure.

Lastly, give us an interesting fact about yourself that not many know of!

I love, love, love karoke. Every chance I get I sing on stage. Now, at the moment I am on stage - I feel like a star. Too bad I can't hold a tune.

~~~

Now that you have learned more about LM, you can win a copy of Explorer X-Alpha (including poster and magnet)!

To enter: (Please have everything in one comment in the post)
+1 comment
+2 new follower through Google Friend Connect
+3 old follower through Google Friend Connect
+2 add Stop, Drop, and Read! to your blog list (link)
+2 for every time you link the contest (link)

This contest is open to international. Contest will end on March 31/10.

Author Interview: Sarah Ockler

I totally adore Twenty Boy Summer, a 2009 debut by Sarah Ockler! I was able to get an interview with her; however, this interview was sent back at the end of 2009 (which is why there is a question on New Year's Resolutions).

If you would like to learn more about Sarah, please visit: www.sarahockler.com.

Firstly, what inspired you to write Twenty Boy Summer?

I was inspired to write Twenty Boy Summer by the teens I met through my work with the National Donor Family Council, an organization that supports families whose loved ones died and donated organs or tissues. My brother is a liver transplant recipient, so this cause is very important to me. When I began work on Twenty Boy Summer, I wanted to tell a story that honored the families I met through the Council while showing a very intimate picture of some of the things teens go through when the suffer such a horrible tragedy. At the same time, just as Anna and Frankie learn in the book, life goes on, whether we want it to or not. I wanted to show that side as well -- all of the "typical" life things that happen between best girlfriends and first loves on a summer vacation.

What do you find is the easiest part of writing? And the hardest?

For me, the easiest part of writing is coming up with new ideas. That part is so refreshing and exciting, full of possibilities. The hardest part is revising, because it's so difficult to know what to keep, what to add, where to expand, how to make it the best story possible. But even though it's challenging, I love revising. That's where the story really comes to life.

Do you have any authors that you were influenced by?

I was influenced early on by some of my favorite YA authors, including Sarah Dessen, Deb Caletti, and Laurie Halse Anderson. I was also inspired by adult authors like Jack Kerouac and Anais Nin -- two of my top faves of all time! Now, I find sparks of inspiration in almost anything I read. Writers are great motivators!

Did you always wanted to be an author? If not, what led you to where you are today?

I started writing stories and poems almost as soon as I learned how to read. Back then, I didn't know what to call it, or even that you *could* make a career out of writing in that way. By the time I figured it out, I was knee-deep in corporate life, hating almost every minute of it, writing on my lunch hour and weekends and whenever I could sneak in the time. Somewhere in the middle of writing TWENTY BOY SUMMER, my husband helped me see the truth: that I am a writer, and that becoming an author is my dream, and the only one who can stop me from achieving it is me. Once I figured that part out, everything else happened really quickly. I finished the book. Found an agent. Sold it. And now I'm incredible fortunate to be able to write full time.

Do you have any novels you are working on at the moment or will be releasing soon? If so, can you please give us a brief summary about them?

My next novel, FIXING DELILAH HANNAFORD, comes out in November. Here's a quick summary:

Stuck in Vermont all summer with her workaholic mother, a Tarot-card-reading aunt, and a childhood friend who thinks he can fix anything, sixteen-year-old Delilah Hannaford confronts her elusive family history to expose the secrets that have defined and divided the Hannafords for three generations.

You can learn more about Delilah here:
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7074259-fixing-delilah-hannaford

Also, TWENTY BOY SUMMER will be out in paperback on May 1st this year.

What are your New Year resolutions?

I don't usually make resolutions, but I do try to look back on the last year of my life and my career to see what worked, what didn't work, where I want to spend more time, that sort of thing. This year, I'm trying to simplify things and create more space in my life, both online and off. I actually just did a blog post about this and I'd love to hear how other people make this kind of space in their lives! http://sarahockler.com/2010/01/27/making-space-online-offline-inside-out/

Lastly, please give us an interesting fact about yourself that not many know of!

I feel like since I became a published author, I don't have many secrets left! :-) But here's something that until now, only my husband knew. I have an irrational fear of choking if anyone touches me while I'm eating. My poor husband isn't allowed to kiss me on the cheek or even pat my back as long as I'm chewing! That's probably the dumbest thing you've ever heard, but it's true. So if you ever see me in a restaurant, wait until I'm done chewing before trying to give me a group hug. :-)

Thank you so much for hosting me on your blog, Diana! I hope you and all of your readers are having a wonderful 2010!

Author Interview: Cindy Pon + CONTEST

Cindy Pon debuted with her amazing novel, Silver Phoenix, in 2009. I got the chance to interview her, excited for the sequel. At the end of the interview, you can enter to win a signed copy of Silver Phoenix for yourself!

If you want to learn more about Cindy or Silver Phoenix, please check out at www.cindypon.com. Enjoy!

Firstly, what inspired you to write Silver Phoenix?

although i've been writing since before i was a teen,
i stopped all through my 20's. it was only after i had my
bubs back to back that i rediscovered my love for writing.
i began taking some creative writing classes through the
local universities and thought, why don't i write a novel!
at the time, i had just begun taking classes in chinese brush
painting and reading more about chinese culture and history.
fantasy was and always will be my favorite reading genre, so
i thought i'd combine the two interests. Silver Phoenix was the result!

Can you please give us a little more information on the era in which the novel takes place for those who are unfamiliar with the Chinese culture and history?

i'd like to say that Silver Phoenix is inspired by ancient china
because it actually doesn't take place in china or any time period
within it. i drew inspiration from mainly the qing dynasty but also took
elements from others, researching in architecture, clothing as well
as other social and cultural elements. when i started to write Silver Phoenix,
i realized i wasn't writing a true historical, it was too limiting to my story.
ai ling, as a daughter within the scholarly class, would have had her
feet bound.

Are the magical beings in Silver Phoenix mythical creatures within the Chinese culture or did you create them yourself?

the creatures are a combination of actual chinese myths
and folklore and my own imagination!

What should readers expect of the sequel for Silver Phoenix?

the sequel is planned to be released in fall 2010! i think
that while Silver Phoenix was a very fantastic journey, this
one will be much more personal on many levels.

Are you working on any other writing projects aside the sequel to Silver Phoenix? If so, can you please give us a brief description of them?

i am! i believe ai ling's story is finished with the sequel.
but i have another fantasy YA novel planned in xia. it is only at the very
beginning stages so i won't say more about it, as i don't know
much myself yet right now! i also have a children's picture book
featuring my chinese brush art slated to release in 2011!

What do you find is the easiest part in writing? And the hardest?

the easiest part is definitely revising and polishing a novel.
the hardest part is writing the rough draft (the initial draft) of
any novel for me. the unknown can be very scary to me. i
liken to starting a new novel like jumping of a cliff. ha!

Lastly, please give us an interesting fact about yourself that not many know of!

i wrote a letter "to my future husband" when i was 16.
when i married, i never gave him the letter, because it's
so embarrassing. ha!

~~~

Now that you got to learn more about Cindy, here is a chance for you to win her novel!

To enter: (Make sure to have everything in one comment in the post or it will not be counted)
+1 comment
+2 follower through Google Friend Connect (MANDATORY or no entry, new or old)
+2 comment on the review here
+2 add Stop, Drop, and Read! to your blog list (link)
+2 for every time you link the contest (link)

This contest is open to Canadian and U.S. addresses only. (Sorry international friends!) Contest will end on February 28/10.

Author Interview: Heather Beck

Heather Beck is a Canadian author who writes stories for all ages. Today, I had a chance to interview her. If you would like to learn about her or her books, visit www.heatherbeck.tripod.com.

What age group do you say you enjoy writing for the most?

That’s a hard question to answer because I really enjoy writing for all ages. When I write for kids the most important aspects are fantastical plots and characters. For young adults, I’m more concerned about the style of my writing and creating relatable characters. When I write for adults, I’m interested in portraying emancipation almost always physically but sometimes even mentally.

What are your favourite genres to write about?

I love writing literary coming-of-age fiction for young adults that pushes the boundaries of genre expectation. I also love to write multifaceted romances. However, right now my favourite genre is scary stories for kids. These stories, which are filled with creepy characters and many plots twists, are actually appropriate for all ages. They are even in development for the small screen!

What kind of stories or genres do you still have yet to try out?

I want to write an epic historical romance that takes place in an exotic location. It would be a tale of forbidden love and ultimate dangers.

I’d also love to write a wilderness adventure rooted within the man vs. nature theme. Jack London’s work, as well as my love for nature, inspires my interest in this genre.

Do you have any authors that had inspired you?

As I’ve mentioned, Jack London is an inspiration to me. Concerned with surviving in nature, his raw and empowering work explores a theme that has always intrigued me.

I also greatly appreciate Tennessee Williams’ plays. His forthright honesty about the human condition first piqued my interests when I was fifteen and still does to this day.

What are your favourite books?

My favourite books are, not surprisingly, anything by Jack London and Tennessee Williams. I also like John Milton’s Paradise Lost. It’s a dream of mine to adapt Milton’s epic for the big screen.

Are you currently writing any projects or have any books releasing soon? If so, can you please give a brief description about it?

Haunted is my latest anthology of scary stories for kids and will be released this summer. Below are the descriptions of the stories which comprise this unique collection.

Ghost Park

Chase discovers a century-old playground in the woods that’s occupied by a group of pale children who say very odd things and take an unnatural interest in her.

A Haunting Past

Truce’s class trip to an old native reserve turns deadly when Bear, an infamous chief who died two hundred years ago, blames him for the tribe’s extinction.

The Manor

Upon The Rocks Grey, damp, and situated on top of a steep hill surrounded by jagged rocks, Calla Lily’s new home isn’t only unpleasant, it’s also haunted by the world’s most evil boy.

A Medieval Nightmare

When Ellie and Brandon get trapped in a medieval museum that’s a bit too real, they fall under a spell and become pivotal players in a ghostly regime.

A Watery Grave

A camping trip becomes a heart-pounding race for survival when Justine meets a ghost who’s determined to change her ill fate by trading bodies with a living entity.

Lastly, please tell us an interesting fact about yourself that most don't know about!

Readers may not know about my desire for travelling. I’ve been to different places in North America and even Europe. However, I fantasize about visiting Egypt and seeing the pyramids. I’d also love to visit Hawaii and Australia.

Author Interview: Elizabeth Scott

Elizabeth Scott is a popular YA author so there is no doubt you have heard of her or her novels if you follow close in the YA book blogosphere. I've sadly only read one of her books, Something, Maybe, and is dying for more. However, my schedule is tight so hopefully in the future I will be able to.

Instead, I managed to grab a quick interview with Elizabeth. You can check her or her books out at www.elizabethwrites.com. Enjoy the interview!

Firstly, what inspires you to write a new story?

I get ideas from everywhere--in the shower, out driving, cleaning the bathroom, seeing or hearing something when I'm out, reading something in the paper--in short, all kinds of things!

Out of all the novels you wrote, which one would you say you take the most pride in?

I actually can't read any of my novels, so I have no idea!

If you could turn any of your novels into a movie, which one would it be and which actors/actresses would you want to play your characters?

I wouldn't mind seeing Living Dead Girl as a movie. I think Joseph Gordon-Levitt would make an amazing Ray, and Dakota Fanning would be great as Alice. Oh! Or Abigail Breslin. She's phenomenal.

What do you find is the easiest part of writing? And the hardest?

Easiest--hmmm. Sometimes writing the first draft is pretty easy for me. Sometimes! As for hardest: everything else! :-)

Did you always wanted to be an author? If not, what led you to where you are today?

I haven't. I didn't write a word of fiction until I was 27, and ended up being published because I
--well, I got really lucky! I'd written three young adult novels, but had no real plans for them even though I'd written a query letter for the first one, Bloom. (I did that so my friends would stop bugging me)

But then, one day I saw an agent blog about e-queries and I thought "ah ha! I'll send the query for Bloom, get rejected, and that will be that!"

The agent ended up offering me representation the next day. It was a TOTAL shock--and an even bigger one when all three novels (Bloom, Stealing Heaven, and Love You Hate You MIss You) sold, and every day I wake up and think about how lucky I am to do what I do. (And I'm very grateful to my friends for believing in me so much!)

Do you have any novels you are working on at the moment or will be releasing soon? If so, can you please give us a brief summary about them?

This year I have two novels coming out.

The Unwritten Rule will be out on April 6th. It's about a girl, Sarah, who falls for her best friend's boyfriend. It's about love--of course!--but also about friendship.

In September, Grace will be released by Dutton. It's about a female suicide bomber--and what happens to her when she realizes she doesn't want to to die.

Lastly, please give us an interesting fact about yourself that not many know of!

I'm allergic to chocolate. (Yes, really. And yes, it sucks!)

Author Interview: Lauren McLaughlin

Lauren McLaughlin wrote the fun novel Cycler, where the protagonist is both a girl and a boy! She joins us today for a quick interview where I also ask her a couple of holiday related questions!

You can learn more about Lauren and her novels at www.laurenmclaughlin.net.

Firstly, what inspired you to write Cycler?

I never know for sure what inspires anything I write. I came up with the idea for Cycler many years ago when I was a screenwriter. I've always considered gender an interesting topic because we invest so much in it and, at the time, are always changing our ideas about it. Each generation seems to define masculinity and femininity differently, yet each generation seems to think it knows best. Once the story and characters got rolling, I really liked the way that the main character's condition prevented him/her from settling down into a single identity. Since identity is so important for teenagers, it felt like rich territory.

If you woke up one day to find yourself as the opposite gender, what would be your first reaction?

In a way, I wouldn't be all that surprised. I've always been somewhat psychologically androgynous, my female friends often referring to me as the man of the gang. I don't look very androgynous, but when I think of myself, I certainly don't see someone extremely feminine. I think I would enjoy being a man for a while. I'd like to see how the world reacted to me, and how that changed my own reactions.

What do you find is the easiest part of writing? And the hardest?

The easiest part is coming up with ideas. My head is swimming with them. Too many of them, in fact. Dialog is also very easy for me. The hardest part is rewriting. By the time I've made it through a first draft, it's usually pretty rickety and needs a lot of help. But once you start making changes, it's very easy for the whole structure to fall apart. Another difficult thing for me is slowing down the pacing to include more interiority and mental wandering. I tend to write in very here and now, action-oriented scenes, undoubtedly because of my screenwriter background. I work hard to slow down and open things up.

Do you have any novels you are working on at the moment or will be releasing soon? If so, can you please give us a brief summary about them?

I just got my edit notes from the editor, in fact, on my third novel, tentatively entitled Steal the Future. It's set in the near future after someone has invented a software program which can process data from the now-ubiquitous surveillance cameras, along with cell phone conversations, email, and Web habits to come up with a monthly score indicating a teenager's overall social fitness. This score determines everything in life--who you can eat lunch with, who your friends are, where (and whether) you go to college, etc. It's like a universal S.A.T. score. The story follows a high school senior named Cady, whose own score is dropping because her best friend has started dating an "unscored" boy. The novel is scheduled for publication some time in 2011.

Since the holidays are around the corner, what novel(s) do you recommend for as a gift?

Right now, I'm reading Jonathan Lethem's Chronic City, which I'm quite enjoying. I also loved Justine Larbalestier's Liar and Robin Wasserman's Skinned and Crashed.

What is your favourite part of the holidays?

I love Christmas lights. The rest of Christmas leaves me a little cold, but I love the way the city puts on its brightest, sparkliest attire to celebrate the season. And, of course, I love when it snows. Snow is magical.

Lastly, please give us an interesting fact about yourself that not many know of!

I think my weirdest trait is that I am deathly afraid of butterflies.

Author Interview: E. Van Lowe + Contest

E. Van Lowe, who debuted with his first and laugh out loud YA novel, Never Slow Dance With A Zombie, is here with us today for an interview! He has written for popular comedy shows such as The Cosby Show and Even Stevens too!

There is a contest to win a cute t-shirt of Never Slow Dance With A Zombie and some signed bookmarks! Scroll down below for details!

If you want to learn more about E., please visit: www.evanlowe.com. If you subscribe to his site, you will be able to read his new novel, I Want You Back!, for free! He will start releasing chapters around Christmas!

What inspired you to write Never Slow Dance With A Zombie?

I had been writing for TV for quite a few years and knew that I wanted to write a YA novel. I love both vampires and zombies, and since there were so many vampire novels, I chose zombies. Who knew (three years ago) that there would a literary zombie uprising?

Why is it that you decided to write in a girl's perspective opposing to a male's? Do you consider it harder or easier to write the opposite gender? Why?

I had been reading a lot of YA when I decided to write a novel. Everything I was reading at the time was from a girl's POV. So, I knew I was going to write as a girl. I don't know how it happened, but even in my scripts I write from a female POV most of the time. It feels natural to me. Back in college I wrote for romance and confession magazines--all female POVs. So, I guess it started back then. I don't consider it easier or harder. I do find women more interesting. The emotions in my characters are emotions I feel intimately: wanting love, feeling betrayed, etc. The emotional makeup of my characters is neither male nor female.

What do you find is the easiest part of writing? And the hardest?

The easiest part is coming up with fun, funny, adventurous situations to put my characters in. I can entertain myself all day doing this. The hardest part is everything else. But I LOVE it all. I wouldn't trade what I do for anything.

What other genres are you thinking about expanding your writing to, asides comedy and zombies?

I've just completed my third novel, and I am currently writing a novella, I Want You Back! Everything is about teen girls with elements of the paranormal and some comedy. The later books have romance in them. The novel I just completed, Hollyweird, has a very strong romantic element, too, and it's darker. It features all the elements found in the first, I think it's just more grown up. Hopefully, I am getting better as a novelist.

What is your favourite zombie movie and zombie novel?

My favorite zombie movie is 28 Days Later & Shaun of The Dead. I know, I chose two. I love them both. Hmm, zombie novel. I haven't yet read a bunch that have come out this year like: Breathers and Zombie Queen of Newbury High. So, I need to get back to you on that one. I read Patient Zero this past spring. It was pretty good.

What is your number one survival tip on living through a zombie apocalypse?

When you see a zombie coming--run!

Lastly, please give us an interesting fact about yourself that many do not know of!

I like to dance. I don't know if that's interesting, but it's definitely something I don't tell my buddies. LOL. I look at So You Think You Can Dance? and think "I think I can dance, but not like them!" LOL.

~~~

Now that you had the chance to learn a little bit more about E., it is time for the contest!

One winner will get a large t-shirt of Never Slow Dance With A Zombie and some signed bookmarks! Yes, the size is only large at the moment but it'll be a comfy t-shirt to sleep in!

Answer the following to be entered. NO ANSWER, NO ENTRY!

+1 What is your favourite zombie movie or book?

Extra Entries:

+1 New follower
+2 Already a follower
+1 For every site you link to. Give me direct links! No links, no entries! 5 max!

This contest is open to international readers and it will be closed on December 19, 2009!