Interview with Tish Cohen, author of "Switch"

A little while ago, I had the pleasure of reading and reviewing Switch by Tish Cohen (you can read my review here). Ironically, the same week I finished reading the book, I ran into Tish at a book launch for Lesley Livingston...ok, I'll stop with the shameless name dropping now :) I stopped Tish while she was (probably) on her way to the Ladies' room, but she was gracious enough to chat with me for a little while. (I still find it a bit overwhelming how book blogging has started to make me feel a little less fan girlie ...though not by too much :-p )

In the meantime, I had interview questions out there in cyber space about Tish and her latest book. I have the answers here, so without any further preamble, please help me welcome Ms. Cohen today:

(Note: Switch released here in Canada on May 9th but will be releasing next week in other countries).

Jackie - Can you tell the readers a little of what we'll find in the pages of Switch?

Tish - Switch is all about learning to recognize what, in our lives, is good and valuable. Andrea Birch is having a rough time being the only biological daughter of parents who take in many foster children. Because Andrea's parents view her own troubles are seen as minor in comparison to those of her foster siblings, she wishes she could switch lives with a girl she perceives as much luckier.

J - On your website, you tell a poignant tale of the girl that inspired parts on Inside Out Girl.  Where did you find inspiration for the characters in Switch?

T- I read an article in London's Daily Mail about a woman who lived a life much like Andrea's--she grew up with 35 foster siblings. She inspired the character of Andrea.

J -  From The Prince and the Pauper to Freaky Friday, the idea of switching lives seems a recurring theme. Why do you think this notion appeals to so many people? 

Interview with Kevin Hearne

I've recently read and reviewed, Hounded by Kevin Hearne (click here to read my review) and loved it so much that I broke out of my shell and actually asked the author for my first (solicited) interview ever! With the second book in the series, Hexed, just released and the third, Hammered, less than two weeks away, we get to peak into the author's world here. Please give a warm welcome to Kevin Hearne:

Jackie: The second book in The Iron Druid trilogy released June 7, 2011. Please tell us a bit about what we'll find in the pages of Hexed?

Kevin: Atticus has to repel the invasion of some witches bent on claiming Tempe for their own, and in the meantime he also has to deal with the remaining mess from Hounded, as well as the continued machinations of Brighid and the Morrigan. And, of course, there's plenty more from Oberon and the widow MacDonagh.

J: Because your first novel, Hounded, was only released in May, is it too soon to ask if movie rights have been inquired about? How do you think a movie would play out, especially with the Atticus/Oberon conversations?

K: There are people working on it, I'm told, but I won't get excited about it until somebody shows me the money. People like to talk a lot in Hollywood, but it's all fluff and noise until somebody puts a contract in front of you. If I do ever get an offer, you can be sure I will stress that Oberon cannot be cut out of the movie and he cannot be made to move his mouth with little CGI effects. That's actually what worries me most.

J: Oberon is a pretty cool dog, with lots of one liners and quick retorts. Why, then, do you think he's so fascinated with the higher maintenance French Poodles?

Interview with Mary Wine, author of Highland Heat (and giveaway!)

Today, I'm very pleased to welcome Mary Wine for a little Q&A session about her new book, Highland Heat, why we love highlanders, and various other topics. I have to say, I think this was the most fun I've had as I read through Mary's answers. It's funny when you have certain expectations, but are pleasantly surprised by reality. Curious? Well read on and see what I mean!

Jackie: Can you tell my readers a little about what to expect in Highland Heat?

MW: A scorching love story. These are the two who refused to bend in the two previous books. I could see them moving closer to one another but they are both independent. When I write a historical…I like to show just how strong the women where during these periods. Banish the idea of fainting maidens, you won’t find those in my books.

J: What is it about Highlanders that makes them so interesting to read about? Or, for that matter, to write about?

MW: Ah Highlanders….what an amazing people. Rome failed to conquer them. The Vikings settled among them. They live on land that is as beautiful as it is harsh. Their music is soul inspiring…what’s not to love? Mix in the lore and legend and it’s a wonderful place to write a book in.

J: You are a historic costumer. What time period(s) do you create costumes for? (Note: I’d love to add some pictures of Highland costumes, if available)

MW: I do Elizabethan, reign of Elizabeth the first, Victorian 1880, medieval, colonial and just about anything else I have a reason to make up a suit for. At the moment I’m working on an 1885-90 because I’m launching a Steam Punk saga. It really comes down to needing a dress for some event. I’m on the hunt for fabric for Tudor era gown too…

J: While you write different romance novels, spanning past, present and future, can/would you pick a favorite and why?

MW: My favorite is normally the one I’m working on, right after I get finished with it because normally during the process I’m ready to strangle my hero. Quinton was defiantly one of those but I love Highland Heat. I wanted to write Deidre’s tale but I knew it was going to be a challenge.

J: What is more difficult to write fighting scenes or the romantic interludes?

MW: Neither…at least for me. I’m a second degree black belt in Tae kwon Do. I get stuck between those scenes, when I need to move my characters around and all I want to do is jump ahead to the action…lol.

J: Have you visited the Scottish Highlands? If so, can you tell us a memorable experience?

MW: Not yet but I did have the opportunity to have lunch with a wonderful Scottish Highlander. It’s the truth that I met him in a bar, which was once a famous brothel. I was in Alaska and heard his brogue, turned around and there was a Highlander, off to see the wilds of Alaska like I was. He was a wonderful man, yes, he plays golf. For formal night aboard ship, he’d brought along his kilt and I had my Victorian bustle gown…they said formal but didn’t give a year mind you. We had a wonderful time in our finery.

HIGHLAND HEAT BY MARY WINE – IN STORES MARCH 2011

Ruined, Betrayed and Banished…

As brave as she is impulsive, Deirdre Chattan’s tendency to follow her heart and not her head has finally tarnished her reputation beyond repair. But when powerful Highland Laird Quinton Cameron finds her, he doesn’t care about her past—it’s her future he’s about to change.

But It’s Never Too Late for Redemption…

From the moment Quinton sets eyes on Deirdre Chattan, rational thought vanishes. For in her eyes he sees a fiery spirit that matches his own, and he’ll be damned if he’ll let such a wild Scottish rose wither under the weight of a nun’s habit…

With nothing to lose, Deirdre and Quinton band together to protect king and country. But what they accomplish alone is nothing compared to what they can build with their passion for each other…

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Mary Wine is a multi-published author in romantic suspense, fantasy and western romance; now her interest in historical reenactment and costuming has inspired her to turn her pen to historical romance. She lives with her husband and sons in southern California, where the whole family enjoys participating in historical reenactments. For more information, please visit http://www.marywine.com/.

As a special treat, thanks to Danielle at Source Books, I have 2 copies available as a giveaway, of Highland Heat. To enter, just leave a comment below with your e-mail info to contact if/when you win. You must be a follower to enter and it's open to US and Canadian addresses only. I'll draw for the winners on March 15, 2011 (so entries no later than midnight on the 14th). Good luck!

And thanks again to Mary for stopping by! It was a great pleasure.

Interview with Lauren Oliver

Yesterday, I posted my review of Lauren Oliver's latest novel, Delirium. Today, I'm happy to have Lauren on the blog for a little Q&A session. Please, give a warm welcome and let's see what Lauren has to say, in her own words!

Jackie: Please tell the readers a bit about what we can expect from Delirium?

Lauren: DELIRIUM is a novel about a world in which love has been declared a contagious disease. Scientists have invented a cure and the government has made it mandatory. The book tells the story of Lena, a seventeen-year-old on the verge of being cured.

J: Delirium is a dystopian novel, which is becoming increasingly popular (again?) in YA literature. Do you think this genre has taken over from the overwhelming amounts of vampire, angels and werewolf novels of recent years?

L:Oh, jeez. That’s so hard to say. I think both genres indicate that the popular imagination has been very dark of late. But I try very hard not to think too hard about trends, and what will stay in or out. It’s too stressful!

J: With Delirium being your sophomore effort, did you find it easier to get your ideas down on paper?

L: Definitely not! One of the things that kind of amazes me about writing is that it never gets any easier. In fact, sometimes I think it’s the reverse!

J: Before I Fall drew heavily on your own experiences in high school. Does Delirium share any parallels with your life or is it a complete departure from similarities?

L: Well, to be honest, there have been times in my life when I have very much wished that there was a cure for love! And Lena is a runner, as I am; I actually ran most of the routes described in DELIRIUM. And I certainly relate to the deep ambivalence Lena feels about love—its terrors and attractions.

J: Both Before I Fall and Delirium have been optioned for films. Are these projects in the infancy stage or are they full steam ahead? Will you have much input in the film versions?

L: Before I Fall is chugging along—Delirium is a little farther behind, as it has just been released. I’m lucky that the producers attached to my projects are very open, communicative people, and really committed to making a film that best represents the book. I therefore feel absolutely no fear about leaving it entirely in their hands!

J: For my Canadian readers, do you have any plans to tour in Canada with Delirium?

L: I would love to! I have no immediate plans to tour there, but I think it would be great, and I’m sure we can make it happen!

J: Have you already started on your next project? If so, can we have a sneak peek?

L: My next book is actually a middle-grade called LIESL & PO and it publishes this fall. And after that comes the sequel to Delirium, PANDEMONIUM. No sneak peeks allowed, but it is action-packed, I promise!

Thanks to Lauren for taking the time out to answer my questions; it was a great honour. Hopefully if you haven't read anything of Lauren's yet, you'll get on it ASAP!

Interview with Lesley Livingston!

Thanks to Shannon at Harper Collins Canada, I was given the opportunity to interview Lesley Livingston, author of Wondrous Strange, Darklight, and, most recently, Tempestuous. I met Lesley at a book signing last year, so I know she's a vibrant, fun woman (and Canadian also ;-).  What fascinates me is this author's ability to make readers almost giddy to read Shakespeare again! (Not many can take credit for that feat.)  Lesley's enthusiasm is contagious, I think....but read on and see for yourself:

Can you tell the readers a bit about what to expect from Tempestuous?

Well… I don’t want to be all spoilery for anyone so… in no particular order, I’ll just list a few things readers can expect. Things that may or may not occur in this book: kissing, heartbreak, turmoil, kick-assery, Shakespeare, reunions, separations, reconciliations, vengeance, retribution, redemption, betrayal, kissing, magick, humour, hi-jinx, shenanigans, fighting, battles, skirmishes, fisticuffs, feathers, true love, heartache, blood, sweat, tears, flying, singing, and pretzels with mustard.

Will King Auberon ever show his nice side? Wait! Does he even have one?

Auberon is certainly a… shall we say… multi-faceted character. He has a nice side—I guarantee it. He may even have already shown it. The problem is that, his “nice” side might not exactly resemble what the average person thinks of as “nice”. With Faerie—especially High Fae—it’s always a bit tricky trying to figure out precisely what’s going on in their minds. There. How’s that for a perfectly straightforward answer?

The portal between the human and the Faery Otherworld is in Central Park, but you mention others too. Are any of them in Canada, and if so, where?

There are Four Gates between the Otherworld and the mortal realm and they correspond with the four points of the Celtic calendar. They are—or at least, when they were open, they were—movable, which is why one of them ended up in the middle of New York City. Another is in Ireland, and one is located at Stonehenge. But there is one Gate that I only ever describe as existing in “the far north”. I never specify the far north of where. And there is, after all, a strong tradition of faerie culture in the Canadian Maritimes, so it’s a definite possibility. I suppose I could be a little less obscure with my answer, but the Faerie do like to keep their secrets… and I really don’t want them mad at me!

With your background in Arthurian legend and in Shakespeare's work, how much additional research did you have to do for the books? Was there anything new you learned?

I learned a lot! Mostly about the history and background behind the design and construction of Central Park at the turn of the century. I had to do quite a bit of research into that aspect of the story, and it was fascinating! I was pretty solid on my Shakespeare and the hints of Arthurian lore I used but, even still, there was always some surprising bit of faerie trivia, or a line in one of the plays, or some obscure nugget of folkloric detail that I would stumble across that would enrich the story—or suddenly make something make perfect sense. Discovering certain aspects of leprechaun lore, for instance, was enormously helpful when it came time to deal with those guys. And they had to be dealt with extremely carefully, it turns out! Just ask Sonny…

What is your favourite Shakespearean role to play?

Ooh… tough question! In the comedies, it’s Beatrice from Much Ado About Nothing! Smart, sassy, and surprisingly vulnerable. In the tragedies… well, Juliet was wonderful to play, but so was her Nurse (not in the same production—heh!). And then there’s Ophelia, and Lady Macbeth… I mean, let’s face it: any time you have the opportunity to go stark raving bonkers on stage, well—there’s almost nothing more fun than that! Ariel was a joy to play, too—although I think I still have glitter-dust floating around in my lungs, even after all these years, because of that show!

With your company, the Tempest Theatre Group, have you ever had to act in a male role?

I did, actually! I played the Boy in the Henry V and it was huge fun. I got to be in all the battle scenes and had a quarter-staff fight (I love stage combat)… and then got my throat cut horribly at the end when the French soldiers kill all the luggage boys. Henry then carried my poor limp, lifeless (stage-bloodied) body down to centre stage where all the hardened warriors wept over me and then sang Non Nobis… all very poignant!

What is your take on the conspiracy theory of Shakespeare's identity?

Shakespeare was Shakespeare. His “true” identity never came into question until the 19th century and all that speculation has always struck me as a mostly hot air. I’m still not sure why everyone thinks it’s such a stretch to believe that the guy was who he was, regardless of education or social standing. He just happened to be a freakin’ genius, that’s all.

With Tempestuous being the final book in this trilogy, do you have your next project planned out? Can we have a hint?

Well, my very next project is a YA time travel adventure called ONCE EVERY NEVER, about a modern teen girl who spirals back in time to Rome's bloody conquest of Britain—where she befriends the daughter of a fiery queen, falls for a fierce warrior prince, and discovers that she may be the only hope of averting a devastating blood-curse. It’s great fun—and there are flaming arrows!


I’m also hard at work on another trilogy called STARLING and… all I can say is, if you’re a fan of the WONDROUS STRANGE books… you should probably keep an eye out for these in 2012! Yes. Yes, you should.


Thank you for such fun questions!

I want to say thanks again to Lesley for taking the time to answer my questions. I hope that her answers have inspired any of you out there that haven't picked her books to do so...and soon! I'll be posting my reviews of Darklight and Tempestuous shortly, so keep an eye out for them. In the meantime, you can click on the book covers below for Harper Collins Canada's "Browse Inside" feature, and get a taste of what you've been missing, as well as check out the teaser trailer for Tempestuous. As for me, I off to hunt down a warm pretzel with some mustard. Thanks for stopping by!

Interview with Alexandra Adornetto, author of Halo

I had the very great pleasure of interviewing Alexandra Adornetto on Monday morning. I was a bit nervous as this was the first telephone/in person interview that I've done. I was quickly reassured by her down to earth, friendly manner and the oh-so-adorable Australian accent. Talking to an "eighteen-year-old phenom", as touted  by her publicist, I wasn't sure what to expect really. Alexandra is a well, but soft-spoken, young lady.

I started by asking where the name of Venus Cove, the fictional town that's the setting of her latest novel, Halo, came from. I thought that she would say it was based on somewhere local to her in Australia, but Alexandra says that Venus Cove is an unidentifiable American town; this was done to reach a wider market which makes sense being her North American debut.

Halo has been distinguished from other teen novels as being a "clean" read. When I asked Alexandra about this she felt it was more a reflection of her upbringing in a Christian household and attending Christian schools than anything intentional on her part. On reading her work, the publisher liked the fresh outlook, again giving Halo a wider appeal. Along this vein, I asked Alexandra how difficult it was for her to write the part of Jake, the "bad-guy" of the story. She told me that with Jake's character, there's more creative license involved. He appears as a teenage boy, the same as Gabriel, but Jake has his underlying dark side. Alexandra said Jake's character, along with the others, will be further developed in the second book of this trilogy, Hades.

On the topic of Hades, Alexandra mentioned she is working on book 2 while touring for Halo. The third title in the series will be Heaven; you have to love the alliteration here! Talk about a trouper though; This young lady is not only dealing with a North American tour but also writing a novel! With Halo coming in at 496 pages, she's no lightweight writer either.

We got onto the subject of more general author questions. I asked her about her writing day. Alexandra insists on complete quiet to write; she used the word "fussy" to describe this aspect of herself. She understands that lots of author's can write in coffee shops, etc. but that's not for her. She offered me an anecdote about kicking her mom out of the study one time for breathing too loud! I questioned her use of a quote from Beyonce at the beginning of Halo and Alexandra says that she finds music can be inspiring for writing....obviously just not while she's writing.

Alexandra isn't a newbie in the world of writing, having her first novel published at the age of 14. In fact, it was a trilogy, also, that she released but they were only available in Australia. I asked, with her break into the world-wide market, if there were any talks of bringing that first trilogy out in North America. She feels that the potential is there, with having had people ask where they could purchase them, but her focus (and that of her publisher here) is on Halo, Hades, and Heaven.

We chatted about her reputed piles of books lying around. I asked if there were particular books which she re-read. Alexandra told me that for YA novels, she basically reads them once and puts them aside, but the re-reads are usually the classics: Pride & Prejudice, Wuthering Heights, etc.

My final question put to Alexandra was: Neighbours or Home and Away? She admitted to watching Neighbours occasionally, but I can imagine having four books published by the age of eighteen that not a lot of time was devoted to watching these long running Australian soaps.

Again, for me this was a great pleasure. Alexandra Adornetto appears to have a good head on her shoulders and the world now within her grasp. I wish her all the best success with Halo and her future endeavors.

BBAW Interview with Eva from A Striped Armchair

This being my first year blogging, I was thrilled with the idea of an interview swap. There is still so much that I feel I need to learn, so having a seasoned veteran like Eva from A Striped Armchair as my interview partner has been great. To check out the other side of the interview (my answers) click here.

Without any further ado, I present Eva:

You say you read as often as possible, how many hours per week do you think would be the average?

Let's see...my reading is cyclical. When I get really sick, I can't read at all, and I watch a ton of TV and movies. Then when I'm feeling a little better, I got on a total reading binge because I've missed it so much, reading 8-10 hours a day. Then I'll settle back to normal, which is probably 3-5 hours a day. So that's what, 21-35 hours a week? Probably closer to the 35! (This is just book-reading,not internet-reading!)

After all the places you've lived in or visited, where would you chose to stay , if given the choice (money, etc, are no object)?

I'm a Texan at heart, but my number one life goal is to live all around the world (I want to live on each continent but Antarctica at least once). So I'm not sure if I'd pick one place to stay forever,but there are three cities I'd go back to in a heartbeat to live a few years: Edinburgh, Cairo, and St. Petersburg.

Was there a specific person/blogger that helped to get you started on your own blogging adventures?

Right at the end of 2006, I somehow stumbled across Iliana's bookblog, Bookgirl's Nightstand (www.bookgirlnet). I immediately wanted a book blog for myself. :) But I didn't have a mentor.

Are you fluent in Russian and/or French?

I don't like the word 'fluent,' lol. But I'm very comfortable with Russian in all aspects, verbal and written. As far as French, I'm much better at reading and writing, since I didn't study abroad there. I took Latin in high school, which makes the French vocab a bit easier too. :)

Is there a particular book or series of books that you tend to read over and over?

Any time I'm feeling really down, I turn to a Jane Austen book. This year, I'm rereading Laurie King's Mary Russell detective series, which has been great! And if I need a lift, I prefer childhood favourites like Anne of Green Gables. I used to reread books all of the time,but since getting into book blogging I've sort of stopped doing that.:/ I want to get back into it though!

Until you have your perfect reading nook set up, where do you do most of your reading?

I have four main reading spots in my house: the couch in the living room, which is great because I can lay on it or turn the end into an easy chair (it has foot rest) and it's right near an outlet. Since I have to use a heating pad to help my muscles a lot, the couch is my fave right now. Then there's the backyard porch. I have a gorgeous backyard that turns into foothills of the Rockies, with deer often stopping by. We have great patio furniture with super-padded chairs,and during great weather I'm out there a lot. Then there's the bathtub-soaking in super hot water is a good way to help fibro, so my tub is tricked out. I have a padded bathmat in there, as well as the perfect inflatable terrycloth pillow. And an awesome pumpkin spice candle I can easily spend two hours in the bath! Finally there's my bed, which I don't use that frequently since it doesn't provide as much neck support. But I might read there right before I fall asleep. And it's where I lay when I'm too sick to read and thus listening to audiobooks.

Have you ever tried writing anything (other than what's required at school)?

Nope. Well, back when I was in elementary school I wrote a book series set in Australia with characters like Peter the Platypus and Katie the Kangaroo. But I have no real interest in writing fiction!I have started keeping a journal again recently, and I kept one when Iowas studying abroad in Russia. Nothing for publication, though,outside of academic stuff!
Are you connected with any other online book related site (like LibraryThing or Goodreads)?
I used Shelfari for maybe two weeks. lol But no-book blogs keep me busy enough as it is! If I spent any more time online, I'd never get any books read.

You are very honest on your blog about your condition. Have you ever read a fictional book where there's a character that has fibromyalgia?

I haven't, and I'm not sure that I'd want to. (I have read nonfic stuff about fibro; my favourite is A Delicate Balance: Living Successfully with Chronic Illness.) Unless the author actually had fibro, I'm sure that a fictional character would just annoy me. There are so many misconceptions and prejudices out there about fibro; when they started advertising that prescription med for it, I hated it.Now, when I tell new people I have fibro, half the time I get a response similar to "Oh, like those whiny old women in the commercials?" But I've veered off onto a whole different issue!