Blog Tour: Steve Brezenoff Mini-Interview

Today's my stop for the BURNING BROOKLYN by Steve Brezenoff tour over at The {Teen} Book Scene. That means I have the amazing author Steve himself here to answer a couple questions about the writing process and y'know, the one or two fun ones you can't resist. ;) For more exclusive content, reviews, and giveaways, be sure to check out the other tour stops! 

Very-Clickable Links: {website} · {blog} · {goodreads} · {amazon} 

1. "Kid" is such an ambiguous name -- though, because of that, it's intriguing. What's the back story to naming your character?
I did need Kid’s name to be ambiguous, of course, but in truth the name came to me before the character did. I’m afraid the back story isn’t exactly inspiring, but it comes down to this: In the first scene I wrote, now someplace toward the end of the story, Jonny called the narrator “kid” a few times. I didn’t capitalize it then. In the very next scene I wrote, maybe five minutes later, Fish woke up the narrator with a simple “Kid” and a light kick in the side. Since it was all on its own, as a whole sentence—a whole paragraph, actually—it was capped now, and I liked the look of it. So I decided to use it as a proper name. When I made another important choice about the narrator, it worked beautifully because of its ambiguity, so I stuck with it.

2. How do you relate to Kid? When you were 16 (or in your teens in general), was there any place you really wanted to run away to?
I did take off to Manhattan quite a lot when I was 16, since that’s how old you had to be to get into CBGB, the now defunct iconic punk club on the Bowery. For me it meant a train ride on the Long Island Rail Road, or, when a few friends got their licenses, a very scary drive. But the truth is, I come from a very loving home and two supportive and understanding parents, whereas Kid, well, doesn’t.

3. How did/does it feel writing and publishing your second novel? Did you bring in anything you learned from the first go-around?
I have to say, I really didn’t. The Absolute Value of -1 was written over a span of nearly 15 years, and I didn’t start it with an eye on publishing it, nor any knowledge of young adult publishing at all. By the time I finished it, I had already been a production editor at Simon Pulse, a teen imprint at Simon & Schuster, for nearly five years. Writing Brooklyn, Burning was a very low-pressure affair, at least at first. My self-inflicted—and very necessary—revisions were a tad stressful, but since I finished it before The Absolute Value of -1 even came out, I wasn’t much bothered. Now, as for the novel I’m working on now—or should I say, as for the novels I’m working on now—that’s a different story, and having now published two books, without having finished a third, I’m feeling the pressure.

4. Among your many other jobs, this one sticks out: singer of a heavy metal band. Anywhere we can get those records or see some pictures? ;)
Ha! We used to have a Myspace page. You can definitely hear some of the music (I was the bassist, too). It plays over the trailer I made for The Absolute Value of -1, without the vocals. I’m afraid the Myspace isn’t around anymore. I just checked.

5. Finally, if you had to pick one verb (to __________) that describes you, what would it be? Take "describe me" as you will.
This was a tough one, but I’m going with “wallow.”

Thanks, Steve! :) I'd be all over that Myspace though... <3

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Summary: 

When you're sixteen and no one understands who you are, sometimes the only choice left is to run. If you're lucky, you'll find a place that accepts you, no questions asked. And if you're really lucky, that place has a drum set, a place to practice, and a place to sleep. For Kid, the streets of Greenpoint, Brooklyn, are that place. Over the course of two scorching summers, Kid falls hopelessly in love and then loses nearly everything and everyone worth caring about. But as summer draws to a close, Kid finally finds someone who can last beyond the sunset.

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Interview & Giveaway: Terra Elan McVoy

Sorry for the eerie silence the past couple days; I just got back from my Missouri trip at 1AM this morning, but I'll be sure to check my email later tonight and put up the last two TFFOS winners ASAP. ♥

Today I have with me TERRA ELAN MCVOY, the YA author of PURE, AFTER THE KISS, and, most recently, THE SUMMER OF FIRSTS AND LASTS. Terra's super sweet and enthusiastic about everything she does, so please give a warm welcome as she discusses writing contemporary YA and her 2012 spring release BEING FRIENDS WITH BOYS (which you can get a blurb of in Terra's blog post).

Very Clickable Links: {website} · {blog} · {goodreads} · {amazon} · {book depository}

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1. How would you describe your writing in one verb, one adjective, and one noun (they don't necessarily have to flow together/match)?
Verb: Delve
Noun: Tootsie Pop
Adjective: Thick

2. Out of the three -- almost four! -- books you've released so far, do you have a favorite?
The problem is, I can’t say! Each book is special to me for different reasons. Pure because it’s my first, but also because the issues in it are important to me. After the Kiss is special because it’s my first novel in poems, and I loved doing that form. The Summer of Firsts and Lasts has a significant place in my heart because it is all about sisterhood. And forthcoming Being Friends With Boys is one I love, because of all the different relationships in it!

3. All of your YA books are contemporary. What draws you to portray the lives and relationships, both romantic and sisterly, of teens?
I’m attracted to real life because I think it is full of incredible detail and drama. There is SO MUCH in real life that is fascinating, and there’s an endless number of ways to look at things. Also, I think that being a teenager is one of the hardest, and worst (and also most exciting and fantastic) periods of life, which is why I like writing about them. There is so much happening when you’re a teenager that is happening for the very first time. Love. Jobs. Driving. Physical changes. Discoveries in school and other places . . . everything feels like it is so intense, because it is! 

source

4. And how do you take seemingly ordinary situations and shape them into riveting stories? Any tips for writing contemp?
This is hard for me, because I am so fascinated, myself, by the every day. Single details are riveting to me, but not necessarily to everyone else. So the key is to remember that there has to be a beginning, middle, and end to your story. Details matter, but the character has to go from here and now, to there, then. There has to be an arc. And you have to create events within the plot that force your character to act and change, even if she doesn’t want to. It’s not enough to write a pretty scene about how she’s feeling. She has to get somewhere with it. There has to be growth.

5. As for all of your book covers, including the new one for BEING FRIENDS WITH BOYS, they seem to share that simple, clean, and cute feel. How much input do you get in the design process, and what are your thoughts on the covers?
I definitely get a little input, but not a ton—and that’s really okay with me. I think if I was horribly against a cover, they’d take that into consideration, but my main feeling is that I’m a writer, not a graphic designer. There are people who have very good jobs that require them to know what looks good on a cover, and I am very happy to let them do their work, because everything’s been beautiful!!

6. Speaking of BEING FRIENDS WITH BOYS, can you give us some hints on what to expect? How is Charlotte different from your previous main characters?
Charlotte is different from Tabitha, Camille, Becca, and each of the Winthrop sisters in that she really isn’t a high-performer. She doesn’t care much about her grades. She isn’t pert and snappy with her appearance. She is just kind of a kick-around girl, and she likes it that way. I think the other girls I’ve written about are a lot more self-confident, while Charlotte —at first anyway— is content to kind of sit back on the sidelines. She’s quietly cool; you have to look close to see it. But then, maybe, she finds ways to let that out a little more . . .

7. Over the course of your "published writer" career, do you feel like you've changed and/or improved as a writer (i.e. your style, character-building)?
I always think I’m improving, but then I find ways in which I’m not! Writing a novel is so hard—it’s hard every time, for different reasons, at least for me so far. There’s always something new you’re learning, something you’re taking on. My best friend and writing advisor says that she thinks my writing improves every book, but I feel like I am always starting from scratch. I think I’ve improved in terms of plot, a little—being able to make it more complex and challenging. But I ALWAYS include too much information, and there’s always a ton to cut out during the revision process. I’m always looking for ways to write sharper, savvier, simpler.

8. What titles would you give if you chose to write a novel in the genre of:
- horror: The Bloodred Face
- science fiction: Two Minutes Till Dark
- paranormal romance: She
- historical fiction: The Pen and the Key

9. If you could pose a question to yourself, what would it be? Answer it! :)
Gosh, I feel like I’m always questioning myself. But one that I ponder a lot is what kind of job I might have if I weren’t an author or Decatur Book Festival Program Director. I sort of always wanted to try bartending, actually, because you’d get so many good stories. And it might be interesting to be a fireman. Or, -woman, I guess! And a teacher. I could definitely have a ball doing that.

Thanks so much for this terrific interview!

Thanks, Terra! Charlotte definitely sounds like my type of girl, and those are some pro "ambiguous-and-seemingly-philosophical" titles. ;)

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Summary: 

Three sisters. One life-changing summer.

Calla loves summer because summer means Duncan. They’ve been best friends for years, but Calla has never worked up the nerve to tell him how she really feels. This summer, the summer before college, is Calla’s last chance.

Violet isn’t much of a rule breaker in real life. But this isn’t real life, this is summer, and Violet is determined to make the most of it. Besides, a little sneaking out never hurt anyone. And sneaking out with James is 100% worth the risk…even though James is completely off-limits.

Daisy has never been the sister that boys notice, but when sparks fly with Joel at the first bonfire of summer, it seems so easy and right. So why is being his girlfriend so complicated? 

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GIVEAWAY

Thanks to Terra and Simon & Schuster, I have one finished copy of SUMMER OF FIRSTS AND LASTS to giveaway!

To enter, fill out the form below. Contest ends 9/6 at 11:59PM EST and is open to US only.

TFFOS: Amanda Cockrell -- Interview & Giveaway

To find out more about The Four Flavors of Summer and to view a master-list of all features and giveaways, click HERE.

I love the title of the AMANDA COCKRELL's debut YA novel: WHAT WE KEEP IS NOT ALWAYS WHAT WILL STAY. Honestly, it's a bit of a pain to repeatedly type, but after reading the summary, it really seems to fit the book perfectly. Read on for Amanda's just as long, just as awesome answers to my interview questions! :)

Very Clickable Links: {website} · {goodreads} · {amazon} · {book depository}

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1. WHAT WE KEEP IS NOT ALWAYS WHAT WILL STAY is a title that is as awesome as it is long. If you could rename it into three shorter yet descriptive titles, what would they be? 

I had a terrible time with the title. It was originally called The Untied Church of Dog, from a bumper sticker that Angie sees that says:

Dyslexics, remember that Dog loves you

A Message From the Untied Church of Dog

She’s been worrying a lot about whether God is actually paying any attention to all the awful stuff that keeps happening in the world, and she thinks, “Maybe God really is a dog, and he loves everybody but he can’t help them do things or get things or win the lottery, or wars. That probably isn’t an idea I should talk over with Father Weatherford.”

Well, all my writer friends loved the title but my agent and my editor both said it wouldn’t convey anything to teens, and besides that booksellers would type “United” into their computers instead of “Untied” and they wouldn’t be able to find the book. So that was the last nail in the coffin of that title!

We took What We Keep Is Not Always What Will Stay from a poem that comes toward the end of the novel. It was the only other title I liked. I don’t think I could possibly think of three more!

2. From just reading the summary, WHAT WE KEEP IS NOT ALWAYS WHAT WILL STAY sounds like a blend of wit and deep issues. How do you balance between the humor and the serious? 

I think that you need both, truly. Even very dark novels need some relief, some bit of even dark humor, to provide a place to breathe. And even very light novels need some deeper aspect, some hard stuff touched on, or they aren’t really about anything. I like books that balance both because that seems to be what life does when it’s running along as it ought to. We aren’t promised a life without sorrow, but there is always joy around the next corner too.

3. Your novel boasts a rich variety of characters, from a homeless veteran to family-troubled Angie to recently-back-from-Afghanistan Jesse. What’s it like developing a complex history for each of them? Is there a certain character you relate to most? 

If I think about them enough, the history unfolds itself. I think, “Ah! That’s why he’s the way he is. That’s what happened to him. No wonder.” That was certainly true of Felix. It took me longer to figure out Angie’s mother, Sylvia, but it was the same process. Angie has less history, but what she does have is important to her and has marked her in some ways. I relate to Angie most, since she is my heroine, and it’s her story. But Felix and Sylvia are probably the most real to me besides Angie. There are large chunks of me in Sylvia, and large chunks of men I love in Felix.

4. What song(s) runs through your head when you think WHAT WE KEEP IS NOT ALWAYS WHAT WILL STAY? 

Unfortunately, the Ipana toothpaste song, since I put it in that poem. Now it won’t go away.

5. In your author biography, you mention that you’ve written radio commercials, ads for panty girdles, and obituaries among many other things. How did you branch out so much? And what would be the most interesting/unique/etc. thing you’ve written? 

It has to do with making a living. The only thing I do very well is write, so all my jobs have involved that in one way or another. I’ve been a newspaper reporter, a copywriter for an ad agency and a radio station, and a freelance writer of whatever anyone would hire me to write. I wrote commercials for Custer’s Last Sandwich Stand when I worked at KYNO. They featured Custer’s Famous Singing Pickles, which were the afternoon drive disk jockey singing four-part harmony with himself, speeded up. We mostly adapted classics for the Pickles. At Christmas we did “Hark the Herald Angels Sing”:

Hark the Herald Pickles Sing

Welcome in the Sandwich King

Mayonnaise and mustard mild,

Two for man and one for child

6. Fill in the blank: if you could go back and stick with writing something other than novels, you would be a writer of ___________________. 

I can’t think of anything I would like to have paid more attention to poetry.

it's bottle rocket stealing biscuits!

7. You mention that you live with a “substantial amount” of dogs and cats. Since I’m a pet-lover, I have to ask if you could give us some details. Pictures appreciated. ;) 

We have three cats and two pugs at the moment, which is kind of on the low end of the population scale for me. My mother founded the Humane Society in the town I grew up in and when I was a child we always had some foster critter as well as our own. Once there was a duck with a broken leg living in the bathtub. Later when I was married and Mama was living with us, we had four dogs and six cats, which was the city limit. Right now I am angling to get chickens, just a couple of backyard hens. I keep sending my husband links to prefab chicken coops with coy little subject headings like “Christmas?”

8. If you could win any five awards (writing or otherwise) in the world, what would they be ranked in order of number 1 to 5? 

The first four are not remotely likely...

1. A MacArthur Fellowship

2. The Prinz Award for YA Literature

3. The National Book Award

4. The Pulitzer Prize

5. An NEA Fiction Fellowship (I did get one of those once)

You’ll note that these are all for writing...

9. Lastly, Angie confesses to a statue of St. Felix. If you were to confess to an inanimate object, what would it be? 

Probably one of the little santos and shrines I make to imaginary deities. I’ll send a couple of pictures of those too.

Thanks, Amanda! And Amanda actually sent me a LOT of adorable pictures, but I only included two out of image overload. ):

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Summary:   

Fifteen-year-old Angie never used to think much about God—until things started getting weird. Like the statue of St. Felix, her secret confidante, suddenly coming off his pedestal and talking to her. And Angie's mother, who's busting up her third marriage for no apparent reason. Then there's Jesse Francis, sent home from Afghanistan at age nineteen with his leg blown off. Now he's expected to finish high school and fit right back in. Is God even paying attention to any of this?

Against the advice of an increasingly vocal St. Felix (who knows a thing or two about war), Angie falls for Jesse—who's a lot deeper than most high school guys. But Jesse is battling some major demons. As his rages start to become more frequent and unpredictable, Angie finds herself losing control of the situation. And she's starting to wonder: can one person ever make things right for someone else?

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GIVEAWAY

Thanks to Marissa at Flux Books, I have one finished copy of WHAT WE KEEP IS NOT ALWAYS WHAT WILL STAY to giveaway! For an extra entry, tell me what inanimate object would you confess your life story to?

To enter, fill out the form below. Open to U.S. addresses only.

TFFOS: Kathy McCullough -- Interview & Giveaway

Before beginning, I want to say thank you to everyone for the enthusiastic response! It may not look like it, but I'm reading all of your comments even though I don't have the time to reply. ): Hope you guys continue to enjoy the remaining two weeks! (I think I'm going to have to go on many un-book-related tangents after this event is over. I need randomness in my life. ;_;)

To find out more about The Four Flavors of Summer and to view a master-list of all features and giveaways, click HERE.

 We're kicking off contemporary week with KATHY MCCULLOUGH! She's a 2k11 author debuting in November with her novel DON'T EXPECT MAGIC, a book based on, say what? FAIRY GODMOTHERS. You know, those badass wish-granters made famous by Cinderella and a certain grandmotherly lady? Kathy's here to shed some more light on these "F.G.s," so read on!

Very Clickable Links: {website} · {character Delaney's website} · {goodreads} · {amazon} · {book depository}

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1.Tell us about DON'T EXPECT MAGIC! To describe your book, name 5 ways you would fill

    in this blank: Don’t Expect_____.

 Don't Expect a violent fight for survival.
Don’t Expect a completely reliable narrator.
Don’t Expect that the characters are exactly what they seem on the surface.

(Since I can’t think of any other “don’t”s, I thought I’d switch to “do”s. ;) )

 Do Expect sarcasm.

 Do Expect redemption.

2. Where did you get the inspiration for this twist on the traditional fairy godmother?

 It’s always hard for me to trace the genesis of a story completely because the ideas always evolve over time, often changing without me being aware of it. I can tell you that the original idea had Delaney’s grandmother being the fairy godmother, and the ability skipping a generation. However, that idea didn’t have a lot of humor in it, and that’s when I thought of making it her father. Having Delaney accept the skill willingly lacked conflict, so it was a natural development to make her someone for whom this is not a good thing: she’s a loner and this forces her to interact with people; she’s dark and sullen, and so the typical image of a sparkly, cheery fairy godmother goes completely against how she views herself.

3. On her website, "New Jersey tough girl" Delaney lists that her favorite poems are:

"Fire and Ice" by Robert Frost
"Portrait of a Girl with a Comic Book" by Phyllis McGinley
"A Tale of the Thirteenth Floor" by Ogden Nash
"Sonic Boom" by John Updike
"Wild Geese" by Mary Oliver 

 Are there any reasons that these poems "speak" to her?

 They all contain elements of darkness as well as anger and pain, which I think a lot of teenagers relate to since they tend to feel things very deeply. Having been abandoned by her father and later losing her mother intensifies these feelings for Delaney. The way poetry has of cutting to the emotional chase can make it feel as if the poet is speaking directly to the reader, and Delaney feels that with these poems (less so with the Ogden Nash, which is more about creating a dark world that appeals to Delaney’s sensibilities than evoking emotion). Although Delaney would never admit it, “Wild Geese” does contain an element of hope, very subtle, that gives Delaney something to cling to (if only subconsciously); a suggestion that things can get better.

And being from New Jersey myself (though I love Philadelphia), I have to ask: how do you pronounce "New Jersey?"

I’m originally from Michigan and moved around a lot as a kid, so I don’t really have an accent. Delaney does but she’s not from the northern part of the state (near New York), where people supposedly say “New Joisey.” (Although is this true? Or is this just in the movies?? I’m not sure I’ve ever heard anyone in real life say it this way.) Her accent is similar to that of native Philadelphians, since she grew up closer to that area, but I’m not sure how to write it phonetically. I’d say that her vowels are flat and her way of speaking is a bit harsh: very hard on the “Jer” – New JURsey. (How do you say it, Jenn?)

4. Can you give us the inside scoop on Delaney's boots fetish? And do you have any fetishes?

 That’s another thing that evolved, but I’m not sure exactly how. I always pictured her wearing boots, ones that had been funked up in some way. I think when I was rewriting the opening scene, very early in the process, I suddenly saw her sketching the boots herself. It seemed like something she would do – she wants her boots to look a certain way and the only way this will happen is if she designs them herself.

As for me, I love, love, love old movies (of the black and white, Turner Classics type) and also Broadway musicals.

5. So, any hints on romance in DON'T EXPECT MAGIC?

There is indeed a romance, or two, but to say more would give the plot away. 

alec baldwin... do you see the fairy aura? :3

 Which celebrities (singers, actresses, models, etc.) do you envision playing the main characters?

Hmm. Although he is perhaps not the right age, I always had Alec Baldwin in mind for Hank when I was writing the book. There are so many great young actresses out there, it’s hard to narrow it down for Delaney. I do like Hailee Steinfeld a lot and think she would be great. I'm not sure about the other characters. It would be interesting if readers ended up having casting ideas...

6. If you were given a fairy godmother, what would your wish be?

So easy: to make a (good) living as a writer without ever having to go back to the day job.

7. In your bio, you mentioned that prior to writing YA, you did some screenwriting and studied film in college. What was the transition like? Any regrets?

I still write screenplays (and may be adapting the book soon), and I hope to always do so, although fiction has become a stronger passion for me. It really was an evolution. My interests changed and I find I really like writing books for teens and kids, because I think a writer has a greater opportunity in this world to explore issues that are important to him or her.

8. Also in your bio, you said that you love experimenting with food, even though it results in some strange dishes. Can you recall your worst experiment and your best? 

The worst was this citrus risotto dish that was supposed to be sweet, but I decided (why???) to use this garlic-flavored wine I had bought when visiting Gilroy, California (the garlic capital of the world). I also used jasmine rice, which I had bought and never could find anything to put it in. The result was seriously nasty and I still have a horrible sense memory of it, even years later. It was the one thing that was so bad, I threw it out (and I never throw out anything if I can choke it down).

The best was inspired by a suggestion from a friend which I tweaked a lot and got published in Cooking Light!: brown rice, black beans, cherry tomatoes and sliced avocado. It’s the perfect meal. I could eat it every day.

9. If you could be any fictional character in the world, who would you be?

 I think I’d enjoy being Elizabeth Bennet from “Pride and Prejudice.”

kiera knightley as lizzie. i'm not such a fan of this P&P rendition though...

10. Finally, if you were a fairy godmother and had an awesome superhero-esque alias, what would it be?

I’m not sure this is appropriate for a fairy godmother, but I think it would be cool and it sounds like a superhero: Dream Weaver.

P.S. Thanks, Jenn, for these fantastic questions and for interviewing me for your great blog.

Thanks, Kathy! And I say New Jur-sey too, since I used to live really close to Philly and went there all the time. NOT a Jersey Shore girl, sorry. :P

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Summary:  

Delaney Collins doesn’t believe in fairy tales. And why should she? Her mom is dead, her best friend is across the country, and she’s stuck in California with “Dr. Hank,” her famous life-coach father—a man she barely knows. Happily ever after? Yeah, right.

Then Dr. Hank tells her an outrageous secret: he’s a fairy godmother—an f.g.—and he can prove it. And by the way? The f.g. gene is hereditary. Meaning there’s a good chance that New Jersey tough girl Delaney is someone’s fairy godmother.

But what happens when a fairy godmother needs a wish of her own?

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GIVEAWAY

Courtesy of Marissa at JKS Communications, I have one ARC of DON'T EXPECT MAGIC to giveaway (will be shipped when available). For an extra entry, tell me your strange fetish. Delaney likes boots, what do you like? (I like collecting pretty, shiny crystal and glass things. Among many other strange, strange things.)

To enter, fill out the form below. Open to U.S. addresses only. (There's an awesome international contest tomorrow!)

TFFOS: Karyn Henley -- Interview & Giveaway

To find out more about The Four Flavors of Summer and to view a master-list of all features and giveaways, click HERE. 

Kicking off week two, fantasy week, is KARYN HENLEY! She debuted with her first YA novel, BREATH OF ANGEL, last week on June 21st, though she's no newcomer to the writing scene, having written many children's books, preschool musicals, CD's/DVD's, and more. Find out more below! :)

Very Clickable Links: {website} · {blog} · {goodreads} · {amazon} · {book depository}

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1. Can you summarize BREATH OF ANGEL in an acrostic poem? 

Birthed in mystery,   

Raised as a priestess, Melaia yearns for freedom,

Even as she is drawn into a world of feuding immortals 

And earthbound angels hoping to restore their stairway to heaven.

True love, first love, and Melaia’s destiny

Hinges on an ancient debt to be repaid by breath of angel, blood of man. 

2. Can you give us a bit of insight on how BREATH OF ANGEL's cover relates to the story?

The cover of Breath of Angel shows Melaia near the temple in the city of Redcliff, home of the king’s summer palace. Overhead is the hint of an angel shape in the night sky, but Melaia looks warily over her shoulder, not knowing who is worthy of her trust. At the top center of the border design is the three-pronged sign of the Tree, which is used by angels and their friends to greet one another. The sign of the Tree can be drawn as it is on the book cover, or it can be made by raising three fingers, usually over the heart, although in situations of danger, the sign is made more subtly. 

3. If you were in the story, who do you think you would be? A spectator, Melaia, an angel?

I would be an angel spectator, probably of the rank of Exousia, because these angels have two main duties. They are warriors, but they are also the keepers of history, recording events on scrolls and storing them safely in hidden libraries.   

4. How would you draw the line between paranormal and fantasy in BREATH OF ANGEL?

Technically, “paranormal” simply means supernatural, not explainable by science. In that sense most fantasy is paranormal, including Breath of Angel. But these days the term “paranormal” seems to apply more to a popular genre of fiction in which the major plot conflict comes from characters experiencing the supernatural and unexplainable within a contemporary setting. Since Breath of Angel takes place in an ancient world in which the supernatural is more accepted and expected, it’s more of what we might call “high fantasy.”  

5. On your blog, you said that you altered the angel hierarchy created by Pseudo-Dionysius. How so? And what other research went into writing BREATH OF ANGEL?

world tree // source

I renamed some of the angel ranks. According to Pseudo-Dionysius, 6th century CE, (and Thomas Aquinas in the Middle Ages), the three top ranks are Seraphim, Cherubim, and Thrones. I changed Thrones to Ophanim, which technically is the same as Cherubim. I put Thrones (which I call Thronos) into the second triad. For Dionysius’s rank of Dominations, I used the title Kuriotes, a later word used for that level. The Virtues I called Archae. For Principalities I used the Greek name Exousia. I also tweaked the responsibilities of the angel ranks according to the needs of my story.

My other research falls into two categories. One is myth and legend. I looked into legends surrounding harps, and I researched myths of the World Tree, which appears in the ancient lore of many cultures. Both make fascinating studies, and I incorporated them into the major plot of the story. You can find more information about world trees and harps on the Breath of Angel website.

The second category of research I did was on ancient Mediterranean culture. The world of the Angelaeon Circle novels is roughly comparable to ancient Rome, Greece, and Palestine. I’ve used many of the elements of these ancient cultures in the setting of the story. For example, Melaia carries a small pouch of anise seed on her journeys. Ancient people had no toothpaste or toothbrushes, so they would often crunch on a pinch of anise seed to sweeten their breath. In the next few weeks, I’ll be blogging about other interesting facts of the ancient world that I’ve incorporated into the setting of the Angelaeon Circle novels. 

6. Did/do you have any particular sources of inspiration (i.e. place, event) when writing?

I’ve discovered that the mind is a treasure trove of all the experiences of the past, not only places and events, but more important sensations and emotions. As I write, these places, events, sensations, and emotions surface when I need them, which is a delightful experience in itself. When Melaia and her traveling companions had to make camp one night, I saw hot springs at the site, steaming into the cool night air. I’m sure that inspiration came from the hot springs I saw at Yellowstone as well as smaller ones I saw on the grounds of a private college in Murietta Hot Springs, California. 

7. If you could invent anything you wanted, what would it be and what would you name it?

I would invent a system of transportation that included vehicles that would never crash into each other so that no one would ever be hurt in a traffic accident. I would call it the GTS system: Get There Safely. 

harp! // source unknown

8. What would you be if you were an:

• animal: a cat

• color: blue

• musical instrument: harp

• tree: willow 

9. To wrap it up, what would your advice be to aspiring writers?
Three words: Enjoy the process. Most of a writer’s life is spent in the process of writing, which frankly is hard work. The more glamorous part of being an author (seeing the cover for the first time, seeing your name on the book, seeing the book in stores, signing copies) lasts for a very short time. Then you’re back to the process again, which in many ways is a learning process, because you’re always learning to write whichever book you’re working on at the moment. Each book brings its own challenges. So if you enjoy the actual learning and writing – or at least if you can be content during the process – you will find the writer’s life to be very satisfying and rewarding.

Thanks, Karyn! I love how she somehow managed to make her acrostic poem actually a poem (says this girl who fails at acrostics *hint*). And WOW, that research. Kudos.

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Summary:  

Melaia, a young priestess, witnesses the gruesome murder of an emaciated stranger in the temple courtyard. Just after she discovers wings on the stranger, the murderer enters the temple, and what Melaia has known only through song and story suddenly takes on flesh. Angels and shape-shifters were myths and stories . . . until now.

Melaia finds herself in the middle of a blood feud between two immortal brothers who destroyed the stairway to heaven, stranding angels in the earthly realm. When the feud turns violent and Melaia becomes a target, she finds refuge with a band of wandering angels attempting to restore the stairway. But the restoration is impossible without the repayment of an ancient debt, the “breath of angel, blood of man,” a payment that involves Melaia’s heart, soul, and destiny.

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GIVEAWAY

Karyn has kindly offered one finished copy of BREATH OF ANGEL by Karyn Henley to giveaway! Again, comments and following aren't necessary but appreciated. If you do want to comment, here's a question for you: If you were an angel, which one would you be (either by name, job, or rank)? You can find the angel hierarchy HERE.

To enter, fill out the form below. Open to U.S. only!

TFFOS: Randy Russell -- Interview & Giveaway

Author #2: RANDY RUSSELL, aka the epitome of hilarious. If the humor isn't dead obvious in the fact that his debut novel DEAD RULES begins with a freak bowling accident, I don't know how else to get it across. And HAPPY RELEASE DAY! :) 

Very Clickable Links: {website} · {blog} · {goodreads} · {amazon} · {book depository}

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1. Can you describe DEAD RULES with an acrostic poem?

Only if it doesn’t have to be any good. Deal?

Damn love.

Easy to jump in, but

Always the deep end.

Damn love.

2. For curiosity's sake, is there any particular reason you made Jana die in a bowling accident?
Hey, it wasn’t me, I swear! I didn’t do it. She fell funny, okay? Leave me alone about it. It’s ALL her fault. I wasn’t even there.

3. What's it like as a male writing YA from a teenage female perspective?
Easy as peanut butter and jelly. Let’s just say I prefer the company of women. They are much more interesting to get to know. Most guys, including me, are about as complicated as a candle.

4a.You mention that you've collected hundreds of first-person accounts of ghost experiences. Can you give us a sample of one of the more bizarre stories you've heard?

I am continually surprised by the number of encounters that have been shared with me that involve a ghost telling someone living where money is hidden. Apparently, it’s very important for the ghost to let someone know.

Memorable first-person encounters I’ve collected include:

1. An antique canopy bed in Louisiana that held the ghost of a woman who cried every night.

2. A family dog that ran out of a burning house and was chased by firemen who attempted to lure the dog to safety. The dog, according to the family member I talked to, had been dead for years. No other dogs lived in the house at the time.

3. A messenger ghost (extremely rare!) that visited a freshman in her dorm room at college to tell her that her grandmother had died but was doing just fine and would like to say hello.

4. A ghost of a little girl who moved a baby carriage from an upstairs bedroom closet into the middle of the living room downstairs EVERY NIGHT in a locked and vacant house that a real estate agent I know was trying to sell. The last family member in the home had passed away and my friend had the only key to new locks he had installed himself.

4b. And did these interviews contribute towards writing DEAD RULES?
Oh yes, my continuing original-source research of ghost experiences is the basis for my writing DEAD RULES. First, I learned that love is often what binds a ghost to Earth. And I wanted to explore how it might feel to be on the ghost-side of encounters between the living and the dead. I’d heard the other side of the event often enough. I don’t think I would attend my own funeral, as the kids in DEAD RULES do, though. I’d laugh too much.

5. Huge congrats on getting fabulous reviews from both Kirkus and Publisher Weekly! How do you feel about all the attention your YA debut has been garnering?

I’m so pleased that trade reviewers are finding reading my work worthwhile. I guess reviewers sort of hope that love lingers beyond death, too. Still, I am much more interested in having normal readers enjoy getting to know the kids at Dead School. I’m hoping the goings on there surprise and entertain readers as much as they surprised and entertained me.

6. If you were a member of Dead School, who would you be? The principal? The creepy kid in the corner?

If I could choose, it would be the school counselor. He doesn’t make an appearance in the first book. But I have visited his office and we’ve talked. He gets to hear ALL the good stuff! I don’t really have that choice, though, because I am already a member of Dead School. Wyatt uses up a whole lot of me when I was 16. I even owned that damn motorcycle he dies on… or one very much like it. That, and Wyatt scares easy. I’m scared all the time, but in my heart of hearts I really, really REALLY want to jump off a high mountain cliff at night and feel what those kids feel in midair, in darkness, in life.

7. If writer's weren't called "writers," what would you call yourself and fellow authors (i.e. scribblers, dreamers, some made-up, mish-mash of words)?
Invisible friends. We really should be invisible, you know.

8. What are your brief thoughts on:
- singing and butt-washing toilets (think Japan): I want one right away!
- stand-up comedians: Best when they wear funny pants.

- eating only sweets for the rest of your life: Would be much like my life up till now. I’m from the South. Moonpies and Krispy Kremes are my vitamins.

9. Now ask yourself a question that you'd like to answer -- then answer it! :)
Q. If you could only write about one thing for the rest of your life, what would it be?

A. Love.

10. Finally, can you pose a quick question for the readers?
Sure. If you could only write about thing for the rest of your life, what would it be?

Thanks, Randy! (Those butt-washing toilets are kind of creepy... but kind of soothing too... *shifty eyes*)

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Summary:  

 Till death

Jana Webster and Michael Haynes were in love. They were destined to be together forever.

Do

But Jana's destiny was fatally flawed. And now she's in Dead School, where Mars Dreamcote lurks in the back of the classroom, with his beguiling blue eyes, mysterious smile, and irresistibly warm touch.


Us

Michael and Jana were incomplete without each other. There was no room for Mars in Jana's life—or death—story. Jana was sure Michael would rush to her side soon.

Part

But things aren't going according to Jana's plan. So Jana decides to do whatever it takes to make her dreams come true—no matter what rules she has to break.

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GIVEAWAY

Marissa over at JKS Communications has kindly offered one finished copy of DEAD RULES to giveaway.  

To enter, comment answering the question Randy posed in purple. Open U.S. ONLY.

Edit// I'm going to try it without a form. Just comment and make sure you leave your correct email in the email field. If you spread the word, leave a link for +1 entry. (If this doesn't work well, I'll change it.)

TFFOS: Leigh Fallon -- Interview & Giveaway

To kick off The Four Flavors of Summer, I have with me LEIGH FALLON, the debut author of THE CARRIER OF THE MARK. If you haven't heard of her yet, under which rock are you living?! Joking, joking... kind of...

Very Clickable Links: {website} · {blog} · {goodreads} · {amazon} · {book depository}

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1. Can you write a haiku to describe THE CARRIER OF THE MARK?

American girl moves to Ireland

And gets luscious guys and magic galore

Could she want for more?

2. The inside scoop: can you tell us one unique thing per each of the main characters, Megan and Adam, that we don't yet know?

Adam middle name is Liam.

Megan thinks she’s the first Female Marked of royal blood… but she’s not. Ooooh.

3. What's it like writing about Kinsale, a place where you actually live? Is there anything you do/did to get inspiration (i.e. visit certain places)? 

It’s fantastic writing about a place you’re living in.  You can document what you’re seeing, making the imagery all the more real.  I used to go down into Kinsale town and sit on the pier wall looking out to sea and people watching for inspiration. It’s a beautiful and interesting place.

4. How does it feel to get international acclaim (press in both the United States and Ireland) on your debut book? Is debuting anything/everything that you expected it to be?

It feels AMAZING to get international acclaim! Honestly, I never expecting this amount of coverage, I still have to pinch myself when I see the newspaper articles.  Debuting has been everything and so much more, and I’m enjoying every minute of it.

5. Looking on your blog, why would you refer to yourself as an "alien suburban goddess?" (Not that it's not awesome and all. :D)

LOL! My blog has since changed. I’ve gone all fancy now, but I’m still an alien suburban goddess at heart.  You see, I’m living over here in the US at the moment, in this tiny little suburban town in the commuter belt of Boston.  It takes a while to get used to the very different lifestyles that I live here compared to the one I lived in Kinsale.  I used chronicle my more interesting encounters on my blog.  The Goddess thing was my promise to get fit, thin, and healthy while learning to ice-skate, ski and do all manner of things I couldn’t do in Ireland.  I did join a gym and learn to ice-skate, but my road to goddess-dom ended there. LOL.

6. If you were a carrier of any mark from literature, whether it be from a film, novel, comic book, etc. (i.e. HP Death Eater mark), what mark would you have?

Ooooh, I think I’d like a couple of molnija for kicking some bad boy butt in Vampire Academy.  They’d be kinda cool.

7. What's your greatest love, second to writing?

Well there’s my family of course, I’ve got four kinds that torture me.  I adore them of course, they probably come in par with my writing.  I love horse-riding, but I don’t get too much time for it now that I’m in the US. Boo.

8. A few weird questions:

- Why do they call them "buildings" when they're already done building them?

They call them buildings because it’s got a better right to it than builtalreadies.

- Is a metaphor like a simile?

Does it represent me poorly if I admit I read that question as ‘is a metaphor like a smile’? Oh and my answer is. Yes, why it is. *smiles*

- If Barbie is so popular, why do you have to buy her friends?

Most popular girls require friends to be bought, that kind of adulation doesn’t come for free.

9. Finally, what's a question that you would like to post for readers?

If life is like a box of chocolates, which three chocolates best represent you, and why?

Thanks, Leigh! And I'm totally with her on the molnija. ;)

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Summary:  

When Megan Rosenberg moves to Ireland, everything in her life seems to fall into place. She makes close friends with the girls in her class, her relationship with her dad is better than ever, and she finds herself inexplicably drawn to gorgeous, mysterious Adam DeRis. Adam is cold and aloof at first, but when Megan finally breaks down the icy barrier between them, she is amazed by the intensity of their connection. Then Adam reveals a secret about the magical destiny that will shape both of their lives but also threatens to tear them apart...



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GIVEAWAY

Leigh has generously provided some HALF-BLOOD and CARRIER OF THE MARK swag and a celtic silver book mark -- all the way from Ireland! -- for me to give to you. <-- picture coming soon


To enter, comment answering the question she posed in purple. Then fill out the form below. Open INTERNATIONALLY.

Blog Tour: Between Character Interview

Today, for the blog tour over at The Teen {Book} Scene, I got to interview Lindsay, the MC of Between! She's super fun, and I promise this post to be filled with yummy guys (that will melt you if the summer heat didn't). ;)

You can visit the rest of the tour stops HERE or enter to win a e-copy of Between by Cyndi Tefft.

1. Hey, Lindsey! Thanks for joining us today. To begin, why don't you do a brief introduction about yourself?

Thanks! Well, let's see. I'm Lindsey Waters. *waves* I'm eighteen and just started college. I room with two girls (Jen and Steph) in a triple dorm room, which is majorly bizarre for me, since I'm an only child and have always had my own room. I guess it's a good thing my parents didn't have more kids, though since they got divorced last year. Actually, I don't want to talk about that. *growls*

I love to sing and am taking French classes in school. I've always wanted to travel and maybe even sing in a band someday. That would be awesome! Of course, that was all before the big accident...

2. So, was dying everything you expected it to be?

No way! I don't know what I expected exactly, but I never thought I'd wake up in a beautiful meadow and meet the most gorgeous guy. That's just crazy, right? But that's exactly what happened, I swear it. The accident was over so fast and dying itself didn't hurt at all. And then the realm in between heaven and earth was so amazing—to be able to relive memories or just think of something and have it materialize—I just wanted to stay there forever. Well actually, it was mostly Aiden I wanted to keep forever. :) He's yummy.

Ravi

3. If you could rewind time to any point in your life, what would you choose to change or have a chance to do?

At the first school dance when I started college, I drank too much of the spiked punch and I let Ravi kiss me. He was so sweet that I couldn't stop myself. Still, I ended up hurting him and I hate that. I think I'd go back to just being his good friend if I could do it over again. :( 

4. It seems like you have a thing for exotic men, first Ravi then Aiden. Looking at cultures outside America, where can we find the world's sexiest accent and ethnic apparel (pictures appreciated ;))?

Yeah, I have a thing for accents. *grin*

Indian boys with beautiful cocoa eyes just melt me. English gents are so dapper and sophisticated (hello, Jude Law anyone??) But Aiden, oh geez, the way he said my name with the rolling "r" in Waters, I was a goner from that moment on. There's a reason why "Scot" and Hot" rhyme! Sorry I don't have a pic of him to share at the mo, but here are some of my faves.

5. If you could make whatever flavor ice cream you wanted, what would it be? What would you name your flavor?

I love the cereal Golden Grahams. They're crunchy and sweet, sorta honey and cinnamon and a little I-don't-know-what-else. An ice cream with Golden Grahams mixed into a cinnamon base—bliss! We could call it Yummo-Grahams or Golden Goodness. What do you think?

6. Which would you rather have for a pet:
- ostrich or kangaroo
- T-rex or pterodactyl 
- napkin or bottle cap

- Kangaroo, definitely. Ostriches have creepy eyes and weird me out bigtime. Besides, the little kangaroo babies are so cute!

- I'm going with pterodactyl. The T-Rex would just want to eat me anyway. Maybe I could train my pterodactyl so it would let me ride it and we could go flying together!

- I have a drink napkin from a party that says "Cocktail napkin seeking tall, cold beverage for a short-term relationship." Cracks me up.

7. When you think of your love Aiden, what song do you think of? Is there a memory that accompanies that song? :)

L.O.V.E. by Natalie Cole. I had that playing one day while I was making breakfast. He came up behind me and danced with me. I can still feel the warmth of his chest, pressed against my back as we swayed together to the music. *swoon*

8. Let's hear your parting words of wisdom:

Live every day as if it were your last. I know that is so cliché and you can't really (or else no one would ever take out the garbage), but just don't waste your life thinking that "someday" you'll get around to doing that thing you've always wanted. Do it now. Make plans to travel. Sing in a band. Kiss a cute boy (Indian, English or Scottish- or heck, all three!). Live out your dreams today because tomorrow may bring something you never expected!  

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Thanks, Lindsay! You know what they say about dreams: Reach for the moon and, if you fall, you'll fall among the stars. <3