Emily White Author Interview

Book Nerd Interview

Emily White lives in NY, wedged between two of the Great Lakes and a few feet of snow and ice. She's spent most of her life running away from the cold, and even spent a year in Iraq, but now contents herself with writing her characters into warm, exotic places in faraway galaxies. When not tapping away at her computer keys, she can be found reading, reading, and reading some more. And when she's not doing that, she's usually playing video games with her husband, peek-a-boo with her kids, or walking through her garden, wondering why the bugs insist on eating all her vegetables.

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Was there a defining moment during your youth when you realized you wanted to be a writer?

Oh yes, absolutely. My maiden name is Emily Dickinson, so everyone always told me about this woman, but I never really understood she was. When I was finally old enough to understand what a poet was and what a writer was, I knew that's exactly what I wanted to do.

What’s one thing that readers would be surprised to find out about you?

I know how to kill a man with my bare hands. 'Tis true.

I served eight years in the U.S. Army and my MOS (occupation) was Civil Affairs, which is a Special Operations occupation. We were trained to be able to keep up with all military types (Army Rangers, Special Forces, etc.), so we had a lot of hand to hand combat training.

What was the greatest thing you learned at school?

Life is unfair. And then I learned how to deal with it.

What is the best piece of advice you ever received from another author?

Keep at it. Don't give up. I hit a lot of lows when I'm writing (I think most writers do), so it's very important to just keep working, even if it feels like everything I'm writing is crap.

Can you tell us when you started Elemental, how that came about?

Elemental came about after my first child was born. I'd been working on another book for a few years and I'd gotten as far on it as I could. So I decided to work on something else. There'd been an idea brewing for a little while about fairies that teleported rather than flew with their wings. And then Ella showed up! And everything took off from there.

What was one of the most surprising things you learned in creating Ella?

How different she was from me. Just starting out with the book, I didn't know if I'd be able to write a character who was totally herself. I was afraid I'd put too much of myself in her. It's nice to see that she came into her own and started making decisions that I wouldn't necessarily make.

If you could introduce Ella to any character from another book, who would it be and why?

Mackie Doyle from The Replacement, by Brenna Yovanoff. I think they'd get along very well. Also, I think Ella needs to meet someone who's as broken as she is.

You have the chance to give one piece of advice to your readers. What would it be?

Probably the same great advice I'd received: don't give up. If you want something, go for it. Even if you fail and you fail and you fail, keep trying. Giving up is the worst failure you could ever do for yourself.

When asked, what’s the one question you always answer with a lie?

Hmmm...that's a hard one. I don't know if I have anything I always lie about. I'm pretty open and don't really care if people know the truth about me.

What’s your most missed memory?

Probably the day some evil punks had smashed my very first pumpkin when I was four. I don't miss it because it's a good memory, I miss it because I wish I'd done more than run down the stairs, screaming. I wish I'd kicked them in the shins.

What's the worst summer job you've ever had?

The only summer job I'd ever had was babysitting and I have to admit that I loved it. The kids were always great and I had a lot of fun.

When was the last time you cried?

Just the other night.

Most horrifying dream you have ever had?

A few weeks before my wedding, I dreamt I saw my fiancée getting eaten by a lion.

Where can readers stalk you?

My blog: www.emilytwhite.blogspot.com
Facebook (me): https://www.facebook.com/authoremilytwhite
Facebook (Elemental): https://www.facebook.com/pages/Elemental/212879475408278?ref=hl
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Emily_T_White
Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/emilywhite24/

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Just because Ella can burn someone to the ground with her mind doesn't mean she should. But she wants to. For ten years--ever since she was a small child--Ella has been held prisoner on an interstellar starship. Now that she has escaped, she needs answers. Who is she? Why was she taken? And who is the boy with the beautiful green eyes who haunts her memories? Is Ella the prophesied Destructor. or will she be the one who's destroyed?

You can purchase Elemental at the following Retailers:

    

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And now, The Giveaways.

Thank you Emily for making this giveaway possible.

1 Winner will receive a Signed copy of Elemental & Signed Bookmark by Emily White.

3 Winners will receive one Signed Bookmark & Tattoo by Emily White.

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Book Nerd Button

Book Nerd Button
Finally! I've been meaning to get this done for a long time. After several emails and requests..It's HERE!

My Book Nerds...You're all amazing! The most devoted nerds I've ever met in my lifetime. I will be announcing a new awesome section on my blog, dedicated especially for you. I have decided to call it BNA - Book Nerd Appreciation. Stay tuned for more information!
So here it is....
<a href="http://www.jeanbooknerd.com" target="_blank"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbel-Mvgj303IjOQl9br6NC7_ihX4uW8jJfryCuXljmZeH8vZzsovXCH5D9z4KRZrwgjVA7TzwAQp9O-zkzjSVctXx3OYyDW6kjkUS1Eqb-Je0PTSewKgVHqbu9w00L4rGJc38AGNTJJbf/s1600/Jean_BookNerd_button.jpg" border="0" alt="Jean BookNerd" width="150" height="150" border="0" /></a>

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Nevermore by James Patterson

BookNerd 

Young Adult Giveaway Hop

Hosted by I am a Reader, Not a Writer

Co-Hosted by Reading Teen

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One last chance...

for Max, Fang, and Dylan...

before it all ends.

Are you ready for the final chapter? Are you ready for the ultimate flight? Because THIS IS IT. One last incredible, explosive adventure with an astonishing ending that no one could have seen coming.

You can purchase Nevermore at the following Retailers:

    

And now, The Giveaways.

1 Winner will receive a copy of Nevermore by James Patterson.

International winner will receive a $10.00 Book Depository Gift Card.

Click the Banner below for my Giveaways:

Hop your way to the other Blogs Here!

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Kristen Simmons Author Interview

Photo Content from Kristen Simmons

Kristen Simmons is the author of the ARTICLE 5 series, THE GLASS ARROW, and METALTOWN. She has worked with survivors of abuse and trauma as a mental health therapist, taught Jazzercise in five states, and is forever in search of the next best cupcake. Currently she lives in Cincinnati, Ohio with her husband, where she spends her days supporting the caffeine industry and chasing her delightfully rambunctious son.

        

Was there a defining moment during your youth when you realized you wanted to be a writer?
I think it was when I finished my first epic, award-worthy novel: The Adventures of Jammie. (Jammie was my hamster at the time. He was very talented - went to the Olympics, climbed Mt. Rushmore, etc.) I was very young, but remember how good it felt to put the pencil to paper and write.

Why is storytelling so important for all of us?
Storytelling is how we relate to each other. It's how we make sense of our own lives - within the context of the past, and compared to the experiences of others.It's also crucial, I think, for emotional growth. We need to imagine different ways of being and different ways of thinking in order to evolve as humans.

What is the best piece of advice you ever received from another author?
A very close writer friend of mine always reminds me to complicate characters, not plot. It's excellent advice I think!

In your new book; Article 5, can you tell my Book Nerd community a little about it and why they should read your novel?
Sure! ARTICLE 5 is the first in a trilogy. Here is a little more about it:

New York, Los Angeles, and Washington, DC have been abandoned.

The Bill of Rights has been revoked, and replaced with the Moral Statutes.

There are no more police—instead, there are soldiers. There are no more fines for bad behavior—instead, there are arrests, trials and maybe worse. People who get arrested don’t usually come back.

Seventeen-year-old Ember Miller is old enough to remember that things weren’t always this way. Living with her rebellious single mother, it’s hard to forget that people weren’t always arrested for reading the wrong books or staying out after dark. That life in the United States used to be different.

In the three years since the war ended, Ember has perfected the art of keeping a low profile. She knows how to get the things she needs—like food stamps and hand-me-down clothes—and how to pass the random home inspections by the Federal Bureau of Reformation. Her life is as close to peaceful as circumstances allow. That is, until her mother is arrested for noncompliance with Article 5 of the Moral Statutes. And what’s worse, one of the arresting officers is none other than Chase Jennings…the only boy Ember has ever loved.

I hope that readers think that it's entertaining, but that it also makes them think about some of the bigger issues in life - like what freedoms and liberties we take for granted, who really matters, and what issues are worth defending.

If you could introduce Ember to any character from another book, who would it be and why?
I would introduce her to Katsa from GRACELING. In ARTICLE 5, Ember is just trying to survive the system by flying under the radar, but she gets tougher as a result of surviving her circumstances. I think she needs a girlfriend like Katsa who could help her beef up her survival skills.

Why do you feel you had to tell this story?
I don't necessarily feel like I did, but that Ember did. She wanted people to know what was happening in her world - the injustice and oppression that she faced on a daily basis. She wanted to remind people that you can only take so much. The time will come for everyone to stand up and fight for what they believe in.

What are some of your current and future projects that you can share with us?
I am delighted to say that Tor Teen and I will be continuing our relationship following the ARTICLE 5 trilogy for three more books! They are all single stories, and again, young adult books. The first is entitled THE GLASS ARROW and is about a girl running from those who would auction off her reproductive rights. The second is called METALTOWN and is about a group who take on the most dangerous men in the city - their employers - for fair working rights in the midst of famine and war. The third...well that's a secret!

When asked, what’s the one question you always answer with a lie?
I will always answer how old I am, but very rarely with the correct number. :)

What’s the best advice you can give writers to help them develop their own unique voice and style?
Read a lot, and write a lot, and once a character surfaces in your head, listen to them! Some of the toughest times I have writing are when I cease to listen to my characters and try to tell them what to do. They are the ones who live the story. They know what to do and say. Trust them!

Who is the first person you call when you have a bad day?
My husband. Always. He's been my best friend since I was fourteen, and even now we chat on the phone several times a day.

When was the last time you cried?
Well, yesterday actually. I was watching the beginning of the new Star Trek movie that came out last year. You know that beginning scene where George Kirk saves all those people but has to say goodbye to his wife as she's delivering their baby on an escape pod? OMG. So. Sad. I bawl every time.

What are you most passionate about today?
I am always passionate about mental health issues and reducing the stigma associated with mental illnesses and mental health care. I would love to see us live in a world where someone just as easily is treated for Bipolar as they are for Diabetes. For more information on mental health resources, check out my website: www.kristensimmonsbooks.com.

What is the one, single food that you would never give up? 

Chocolate. In many forms. I can't remember the last day I didn't have chocolate. Popular choices for me include peanut m&m's, chocolate cookies, and on very special days, red velvet cupcakes.

New York, Los Angeles, and Washington, D.C., have been abandoned.

The Bill of Rights has been revoked, and replaced with the Moral Statutes.

There are no more police—instead, there are soldiers. There are no more fines for bad behavior—instead, there are arrests, trials, and maybe worse. People who get arrested usually don't come back.

Seventeen-year-old Ember Miller is old enough to remember that things weren’t always this way. Living with her rebellious single mother, it’s hard for her to forget that people weren’t always arrested for reading the wrong books or staying out after dark. It’s hard to forget that life in the United States used to be different.

Ember has perfected the art of keeping a low profile. She knows how to get the things she needs, like food stamps and hand-me-down clothes, and how to pass the random home inspections by the military. Her life is as close to peaceful as circumstances allow.

That is, until her mother is arrested for noncompliance with Article 5 of the Moral Statutes. And one of the arresting officers is none other than Chase Jennings…the only boy Ember has ever loved.

Praise for ARTICLE 5

“Kristen Simmons' Article 5 is a gripping, atmospheric story of survival. Alongside a fierce depiction of oppressive government, Simmons has created a bleak portrait of an America lost. I could hardly put it down. Ember Miller and Chase Jennings can be my post-apocalyptic wingmen anytime.” ―Kendare Blake, author of Anna Dressed in Blood

Article 5: Compliance is Mandatory is an amazing dystopian novel by Kristen Simmons. After a destructive war left the population without their essential rights, a new set of ethical laws control how people live with callous consequences for those who break it. Even the minor offenders are given harsh penalties. Ember attempts to somewhat sustain her new life moderately normal but has to watch out for her very free-spirited mother. Although she has managed to stay out of trouble’s radar, her mother has not and is arrested for breaking Article 5 in the Moral Statutes. Now Ember’s life is in a whirlwind and all her efforts for keeping a normal one has become disastrous.

Kristen’s development of the Ember character is refreshing and brilliant. The imperfectness of Ember showed how real the character is. Ember makes careless mistakes just like any human being but she is able to learn from them. Living is an unsettling and dreadful world, Kristen’s writing style provided an in-depth look at how one would react in such a quandary. The writing digs deep and unearths human emotions that could only be felt in a post-apocalyptic war.

Article 5 is a fast-paced and action-driven dystopian novel with a plot that thickens with each chapter. The fact that the events that occur in the book are realistic makes Ember’s world very frightening. Backed with Kristen’s amazing writing talent, readers will enjoy every page. Brilliant writing with excellent characters living in a unique world, even nonfans of dystopian will find something enjoyable.

You can purchase Article 5 at the following Retailers:

    

And now, The Giveaways.

Thank you KRISTEN SIMMONS for making this giveaway possible.

1 Winner will receive a copy of Article 5 by Kristen Simmons.

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Kendare Blake Author Interview

Photo Content from Kendare Blake

KENDARE BLAKE is an import from South Korea who was raised in the United States by caucasian parents. You know, that old chestnut. She received a Bachelor's degree in Business from Ithaca College and a Master's degree in Writing from Middlesex University in London. She brakes for animals, the largest of which was a deer, which sadly didn't make it, and the smallest of which was a mouse, which did, but it took forever. Amongst her likes are Greek Mythology, rare red meat and veganism. She also enjoys girls who can think with the boys like Ayn Rand, and boys who scare the morality into people, like Bret Easton Ellis.

        

What was the greatest thing you learned at school? 

To just eat the damn hot lunch. Also, how to do math. Because that’s something I would NEVER have done on my own. 

Is there such a thing as a formula for storytelling? 

I don’t think so. Unless it’s really generic like, “tell a good story.” Or, “one part inspiration, three parts perspiration, two parts plot and a dash of luck.”

What are “Character Rules” and give us some examples. 

Characters should be real. Unless they’re meant to be unreal. Like if you want them to be a metaphor, or representative of something. Characters’ dialogue should ring true while still belonging in the story. Unless it’s highly stylized. Characters should grow. Unless they’re static.

There aren’t really any hard set rules. But if you want realistic characters, make sure you do your homework. People watch, and daydream.

What are some of the common challenges that new and experienced authors face and what advice do you have for over-coming them? 

The most common challenge is rejection. It never goes away. The threat of rejection, of flopping out of writing, is always there. It’s just part of the process. Take your lumps, and keep on doing what you’re doing. And then there’s criticism. This is harder for some to take than others, but it’s necessary for everybody. Figure out how you handle it best, and indulge in a sulky treat when you don’t handle it so well J

In your book, Anna Dressed in Blood; can you tell my Book Nerd community a little about the novel? 

Anna Dressed in Blood is about teenage ghost killer Cas Lowood, and his hunt of Anna Dressed in Blood. But he has no idea what he’s in for.

What was one of the most surprising things you learned in creating Cas? 

Cas actually didn’t surprise me. Carmel, the queen bee, surprised me. I thought she’d die. Cas, he played by the rules. Did what I expected. He’s a good character to write.

Do you have a favorite quote that you keep visible in your work environment to help inspire you? 

I don’t. I’ve heard that people do that, but I have no idea what quote I would use. All the quotes I love are really depressing.

If you could introduce Anna to any character from another book, who would it be and why? 

I would introduce her to the villain in Joe Hill’s HORNS. And then I would have her kill him. Because I effing hate that guy. So, to summarize, I’d pretty much just use her as a personal literary hit girl.

What are some of your current and future projects that you can share with us? 

Well, GIRL OF NIGHTMARES, the end of Cas and Anna’s story, comes out next week. And then I start a new trilogy next August, called ANTIGODDESS. It’s about dying Greek gods in the modern world and the reincarnated teen heroes that get caught in their war.

What question are you never asked in interviews but wish you were? 

I used to say “If Cas was an ice cream flavor, what flavor would he be?” But then someone asked me that. So, I don’t know. FYI, he would be Rocky Road.

When asked, what’s the one question you always answer with a lie? 

I try not to answer anything with a lie!! But let me think…No, seriously, I’m usually pretty honest.

If I came to your house and looked in your closet/attic/basement, what’s the one thing that would surprise me the most? 

I really wish I had a more interesting closet. Maybe…all the high heeled shoes?

When was the last time you cried? 

Had to be during a movie. I think during Never Let Me Go, with Andrew Garfield and Kiera Knightley and what’s her name that I can’t remember. Carey Mulligan.

Most horrifying dream you have ever had? 

I just had one a while ago where I was somewhere that everything was wrong. Something was wrong. It wasn’t safe to be out. And I saw this black lab walking backward.

Who is the first person you call when you have a bad day? 

My husband? My mom? My best friends? Depends on the problem, really. Sometimes it’s my cat.

Cas Lowood has inherited an unusual vocation: He kills the dead.

So did his father before him, until he was gruesomely murdered by a ghost he sought to kill. Now, armed with his father's mysterious and deadly athame, Cas travels the country with his kitchen-witch mother and their spirit-sniffing cat. They follow legends and local lore, destroy the murderous dead, and keep pesky things like the future and friends at bay.

Searching for a ghost the locals call Anna Dressed in Blood, Cas expects the usual: track, hunt, kill. What he finds instead is a girl entangled in curses and rage, a ghost like he's never faced before. She still wears the dress she wore on the day of her brutal murder in 1958: once white, now stained red and dripping with blood. Since her death, Anna has killed any and every person who has dared to step into the deserted Victorian she used to call home.

Yet she spares Cas's life

Praise for ANNA DRESSED IN BLOOD

“Abundantly original, marvelously inventive and enormous fun, this can stand alongside the best horror fiction out there. We demand sequels.” ―Kirkus Reviews, starred review

“Anna Dressed in Blood is a dark and intricate tale, with a hero who kills the dead but is half in love with death himself. By the end of the book, you will be too. Spellbinding and romantic.” ―Cassandra Clare, #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Mortal Instruments series

“Cinematic and compelling. Blake's smooth combination of gore and romance should have little problem attracting the Twilight crowd.” ―Booklist

“It's the old boy-meets-girl story, if the boy is a wry, self-destructive ghost-hunter bent on avenging his father and the girl is a homicidal ghost trapped in a house full of everyone she's ever murdered. Needless to say, Cas and Anna are my new favorite twosome. When I got to the last page, I flipped back to the first.” ―Holly Black, New York Times bestselling author of Red Glove

Kendare Blake’s Anna Dressed in Black is a suspenseful story of vengeance. This creepy book is told from the refreshing male point of view of Theseus Cassio Lowood, otherwise known as Cas. At the age of seven, a ghost killed his father. Seeking vengeance, he travels from town to town killing ghosts that harm people. This mission leads him to meet some extraordinary people who try to work together and figure out the very vicious Anna Korlov, aka Anna Dressed in Blood.

The book is full of ghosts that will rattle your bones to its core. The creepiness factor is in full gear that it is just too difficult to put down. Kendare’s descriptions of these frightening encounters are truly intriguing and mesmerizing at the same time. As Cas goes further along on his mission, readers find themselves drawn to his will and determination. When the moment arrives when they meet Anna, it is unforgettably the most terrifying encounter.

Anna was truly down-right deadly and malicious. Kendare’s writing style was able to deliver a clear picture of Anna’s deadly demeanor. The interactions between characters felt genuinely real and each were given their own personality. The theme of friendship and loyalty is strong.

Kendare is a master story-teller. Anna Dressed in Blood is the perfect ghost story book. The supernatural aspect is brilliantly done. Although it belongs in the YA paranormal genre, it is definitely dark and creepy. I am certain the next installment, Girl of Nightmares, will be just as good as the first. Plenty of murders and intense situation to read about. The gore and f-bombs are in abundance but did not take anything away from the story. This is one of those rare books that will lead you down a path, grabs you by the wrist, and leads you to a road of excitement and intense horror.

You can purchase Anna Dressed in Blood at the following Retailers:

    

And now, The Giveaways.

Thank you KENDARE BLAKE for making this giveaway possible.

1 Winner will receive a copy of Anna Dressed in Blood by Kendare Blake.

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Alexander Gordon Smith is my Rockstar!

Book Nerd Interview

Alexander Gordon Smith, 32, is best known as the author of the Escape From Furnace Series, made up of Lockdown, Solitary, Death Sentence, Fugitivesand Execution.

He also wrote The Inventors - which was runner-up in the national Wow Factor Award - and The Inventors and the City of Stolen Souls, both of which were co-authored by his eleven-year-old brother Jamie. The first novel in his third series, The Fury, will be published in 2012, alongside an as yet untitled book for younger readers. He is the author of two creative writing handbooks, Inspired Creative Writing and Writing Bestselling Children�s Books, a number of screenplays that are currently in development, several non-fiction books and hundreds of short stories and articles.

Gordon is the founder of Egg Box Publishing, an independent, non-profit imprint designed to publish and promote talented new writers and poets, and is the co-owner of Fear Driven Films, a production company filming its first feature in 2011.

He is also the founder of Inkling Studios, a brand new venture which specialises in creating books, films, television programmes and computer games for children and young adults. He actively encourages people of all ages to read and write, and runs creative writing talks and workshops across the world. In 2009 he was named by the Courvoisier Future 500 as one of the most promising young entrepreneurs in the United Kingdom.

He is called Gordon, rather than Alexander, because his Mum and Dad liked the name Gordon but didn't want his initials to spell GAS, so called him by his middle name.

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Authors are Rockstars!
Hosted by Two Chicks on Books & Fikshun

What’s one thing that readers would be surprised to find out about you?

Probably that Alex, the main character in Furnace, is actually based on me when I was a teenager. I went through a bit of a… let’s call it a “challenging” period! I fell in with a bad crowd, started hanging out at a biker bar, drinking, getting into fights. I was about fifteen or sixteen, and it quickly got worse and worse until I was stealing things from home and from school to sell. One night I got into a pretty bad fight, lost some teeth. Knives were involved. My family just said enough is enough – if I didn’t sort myself out then soon I’d be in prison, or worse. So I sorted myself out. I hated that life anyway, I was so relieved to be free of it.

Writing about “me” – well, a version of me, anyway, because Alex is much cooler than I ever was – helped make Furnace the story that it is. Because I was so close to the character I felt every blow, every moment of terror, every glimmer of hope, I was locked up down there with him, the ghost in his cell. I was fighting to get out of there just as ferociously as he was. It was an incredible experience.

What was the greatest thing you learned at school?

That it’s okay to just be yourself, whoever you are. I wasn’t particularly happy at school, as a teenager anyway. I remember getting bullied because I was an overweight geek! But the times I was unhappiest were the times I tried to change myself to fit in with what I thought other people wanted me to be, the times I tried to be somebody else. I felt miserable, I felt like a fraud, like I’d surrendered the most important things about myself. Nowadays I see the “cool kids” from school and I ask myself why on earth I wanted to be like them, I wouldn’t be like them now for all the tea in China (and I love tea).

I’m so glad and so grateful that, even though it was a struggle, even though I didn’t always fit in, I decided to just be me. It was that fight that made me the person I am today. Don’t let anyone ever tell you that you can’t be you. Don’t let anyone ever tell you that you have to change. Be yourself, be proud of who you are, know that you are amazing and unique, that there never has and will never be anyone else like you. That’s what being human is all about. Anyone who doesn’t like that can go take a long walk off a short pier.

What is the best piece of advice you ever received from another author?

When I was at uni, a visiting author (I won’t say who) told us not to write horror, that horror stories (and children’s books too, outrageously) were beneath good authors. He suggested we write discerning, literary novels. It was the best piece of advice I ever received, because I totally ignored it. What a load of rubbish. I never need to defend writing children’s books, because children’s literature is the most important, and the most amazing, body of literature in existence (in my opinion!), but I do often have to defend my love of horror to people.

Horror is so important because it makes you realise what matters most to you. When things are at their worst, you really do see people at their best. When things turn bad, people fight tooth and nail for everything they believe in. They fight for their family, for their friends, for their loved ones. They fight for what is right, and what is just. They fight because they know they must. Heroism isn’t about defeating evil, it’s about standing up for the people you love. It’s not about being brave, either, it’s about always having hope. That’s something I learned, too, whilst writing my books. Horror makes heroes out of us.

What are some of the common challenges that new and experienced authors face and what advice do you have for over-coming them?

There are so many challenges out there, for new writers and published authors alike. Too many to mention here. But challenges is the perfect word for them, because they challenge you to write better, to try harder, to persevere when you might otherwise give up. And that’s the most important piece of advice I could ever give: Never Give Up. This doesn’t just apply to writing, it applies to everything in life. People are incredible, we can do pretty much anything we want if we set our minds to it. The only thing that can really stop us is that little voice in our head that tells us we’re no good, that we can’t do it, that we should stop trying. Ignore it! If you want something, go out and get it. Writing is like anything, though, it takes work. You can’t just wake up one morning and write a book, the same way you can’t just wake up one morning and run a marathon. You need to write every day, and read every day, you need to train. But don’t let anyone ever tell you that you can’t do it, and never let yourself tell you that you can’t do it either. Everyone can be a published author if they want it enough. So keep writing, keep telling the stories that you love, keep sending them out to publishers, and never, ever give up.

For those who are unfamiliar with your novel; The Fury, how would you introduce it?

A roller coaster ride through hell! :-) It’s basically the story of what would happen if one day, for no reason, the whole world tried to kill you. Everybody around you – your mum and dad, your brothers and sisters, friends, teachers, strangers in the street – tries to tear you to pieces. And as soon as they have, or as soon as you’ve escaped, they go back to their lives as if nothing has happened. They totally forget that you even existed. It’s basically a zombie book, but without zombies!

I love zombies, they are my favourite horror staple, and I’ve been wanting to write a zombie book for years. I just couldn’t think of the right idea, an idea that hadn’t already been done, because so many people have written amazing zombie books and movies. Then one day I was thinking about the things that can trigger zombies – chemical spills, possession, reanimation, etc – and I just thought what if the thing that turns people into zombies is you? As soon as you go near them, they turn feral and try to kill you, and only you. It was one of those ideas that just leapt up and tried to bite my face off.

What was one of the most surprising things you learned in creating Cal?

I think it was actually Brick who taught me the most about myself. Cal is the guy I never was at school, the guy I wanted to be. He’s athletic, confident, funny, popular with the girls and boys. Brick, on the other hand, is the opposite of all that. He’s a loner, he doesn’t like people much, and people rarely warm to him. He’s angry all the time, with his friends, his family, and mainly with himself. I think he’s angry because he’s scared – he’s scared of people, of what even the simplest relationships can do to you. The anger is the thing I remember most vividly from when I was a teenager. I was so angry with the world back then because I couldn’t seem to control my life. I still get angry now when things spiral out of control – money or relationships or whatever – but writing Brick helped me see things in perspective. I would sit and talk to Brick while I was writing, trying to get inside his head, calm him down, and in doing so I could take control of my own emotions, I’d see myself the same way I’d see him, realise how ridiculous anger is. It’s a fascinating emotion, though. Anger plays a huge part in all my books, so far, especially the complex relationship between anger and power.

Why do you feel you had to tell this story?

The same reason I have to tell any story, really – to find out what happens! I don’t plan my books. For me, planning is cheating (although I should stress that there is no right or wrong way to write a book!) because you’re playing god, looking into the future. I just spend a long time with my characters, getting to know them as well as I possibly can. Then when I feel like I’ve been friends with these guys forever, I start writing. And I can’t stop until I get to the end, because I have no idea what’s going to happen to these people. I have to write fast just to keep up with them. I call it writing at the speed of life, because you really are living the story as you write it.

For those who are unfamiliar with Daisy, how would you introduce her?

Daisy was one of my favourite characters to write, ever. She’s just so real in my head. I think that’s partly because she’s based on my daughter, Lucy, who’s thirteen now, which made it a really interesting process. It made it quite scary, too, because when she was in danger I really felt anxious. It’s fascinating because when I started writing, Daisy was a very typical twelve-year-old girl, but the deeper we got into the terrifying events of The Fury, the more she began to reveal this immense inner strength. By the end of the story, when all is said and done, she’s the strongest character there. She is the one who leads the way. That was actually one of the comments I got from my UK editor, that they wanted Cal to be more of a driving force, instead of Daisy, because he would appeal more to teenage boys reading the book. But you know, I didn’t change it, because I think you appreciate that kind of character more – the one who is stronger than they look, who surprises you, not just the generic male action figure. I love Daisy to pieces because she totally surprised me too.

Do you have a favorite quote that you keep visible in your work environment to help inspire you?

I don’t, but I feel like I should. Any suggestions?

If you could introduce Brick to any character from another book, who would it be and why?

Wow, great question! I’d be a little worried introducing Brick to anybody, because it could only lead to trouble! I wonder how well he’d get on in Furnace. Actually, I think he’d probably get on with Clint, the little robot from The Inventors books, mainly because Brick hates people, and Clint isn’t a person. They could sit on the beach together and moan about stuff. :-)

What are some of your current and future projects that you can share with us?

I’ve always got a few things on the go – I hate being bored! I’ve just finished the second book in the Fury series (there are two books in the UK, but they are being published together as one book in the US), which is another beast. I’ve just started another YA horror series, provisionally titled Relics, and I’m working on an adult horror novel too. Aside from the books, I’m writing some screenplays with my sister, Kate – we run a film production company together, called Fear Driven Films. All horror, of course! I’m trying to find funding for a new publishing company, called Inkling Studios, which I set up with my girlfriend and daughter last year. We’re hoping to start publishing some children’s books, and maybe even make some films too. Our slogan is ‘Every great story begins with an Inkling!’ Because we want to nurture new writers. It’s tough trying to juggle everything, but it’s all a lot of fun.

What’s the best advice you can give writers to help them develop their own unique voice and style?

Again, just be yourself. Never feel that you have to imitate another author’s voice or style to make your work commercially successful, you’ll just end up writing a pale shadow of whoever you’re trying to be. Have faith in your voice, and know that it will always change naturally, it will evolve with every story you read and every story you write. The same rule applies to writing as it does to life: you’re unique, nobody else has lived the same life as you, so nobody else will ever be able to write the same story as you. It’s the reason, I think, that anyone can be a writer, because everyone has got a story to tell. Your voice is amazing, never feel you need to speak with anybody else’s!

Where is the best place in the world you’ve been?

Wow, that’s a tough question. I love to travel, especially around the US. I’ve had so many great experiences over there touring with the books – the people, the culture, the scenery. I think it’s impossible to give an answer to this, though, because each place you visit has something amazing about it, something unforgettable, something that totally changes you for the better. I’m hoping to visit every country where my books have been published – I’m planning a trip to Brazil next year, which will be amazing! I know every place I visit will offer something uniquely incredible.

The best place in the world, though? Probably home. As much as I love to travel, there’s nothing better than walking back in through your own front door and being surrounded by your friends and family.

What book are you reading now?

I have just finished Kraken by China Miéville. It’s a ‘Kraken’ good read! (Sorry about that, my jokes get worse every year…)

Who was your first girlfriend?

That would be telling! :-)

When asked, what’s the one question you always answer with a lie?

How much do you weigh? (About 200 lbs…)

What's the worst summer job you've ever had?

My first, in McDonald’s! It was truly terrible, like slave labour. The one good thing about it was it made me realize how much I wanted to be a writer (and my own boss)!

When was the last time you cried?

Um… Never… I’m far too manly for that… :-)

Actually I cry all the time when I’m writing, especially when characters die. You come to love them so much, and when bad things happen it’s unbearable, especially as you’re the one making them happen!

Where can readers stalk you?

Pretty much everywhere!

http://www.facebook.com/gordon.smith.7982
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Lockdown/126095974414
http://twitter.com/AGSmith_Author
http://www.tumblr.com/blog/furnace2013834
http://www.youtube.com/user/FurnaceLockdown
http://www.alexandergordonsmith.com
http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/8527846-gordon-smith
Or send me an email at: mail@alexandergordonsmith.com

Thanks again for hosting me on your awesome blog! :-) 

[Jean - You're welcome!!]

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Cal, Brick and Daisy are three ordinary teenagers whose lives suddenly take a terrifying turn for the worse. They begin to trigger a reaction in everybody they meet, one that makes friends and strangers alike turn rabid whenever they are close. One that makes people want to tear them to pieces.

Cal and the other victims of the Fury - the ones that survive - manage to locate each other. But just when they think they have found a safe haven, a place to hide from the world, things get worse.

Some of them begin to change…

They must fight to uncover the truth about the Fury before it is too late. But it is a truth that will destroy everything they know about life and death.

A Special "THANK YOU" to these amazing Ladies: Rachel, Jaime & Patricia! 

Why is Gordon a ROCKSTAR??? I'll tell you why...

When I was signing up for Authors are Rockstars Tour, I wanted to write about an author I knew little about. Upon looking at the list, my eyes set on Alexander Gordon Smith. To be honest, I have never read any of his works and this tour presented me with the chance to get my feet wet so-to-speak. I navigated over to his website (Alexandergordonsmith.com) and to my surprise, his line of literary works are the types I usually read. I was truly intrigued with his works and upon learning more about Alexander; borrowed a copy, loved it and I was able to set an author interview with him on my blog! Thanks to Rachel, Jaime and Patricia for making this possible.

I think Alexander Gordon Smith is a Rockstar because he truly is a writer. Not only has he authored books, he is also the founder of Egg Box Publishing, which is aimed at publishing and promoting new writers. He rocks even more because he is also the founder of Inkling Studios that concentrates on producing films, books, television programs and computer games for children and young adult. Rockstars are known to never sleep and with all of his countless projects in his hands, it is truly amazing how he is able to be productive.

Alexander Gordon Smith is the author of The Fury-a story that will tap into the things that we fear the most. He knows how to use words and put them together in such a way that will leave readers in fright. He is skilled at taking something so familiar, in this case: zombies, and able to add his own wild imagination to create a new perspective that just blows the mind away. The highly detailed descriptive events within The Fury will play out in readers’ minds for weeks. Readers will be invested in his wonderfully sculptured characters that he carefully pitted them in heart pounding predicaments. The Fury is a complete tale of excellent writing. Although it is the first part of a two-part series, The Fury will satisfy readers to the bone.

You can purchase The Fury at the following Retailers:

   

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And now, The Giveaways.

Thank you Gordon for making this giveaway possible.

1 Winner will receive a copy of The Fury by Alexander Gordon Smith.

1 Winner will receive a copy of Lockdown by Alexander Gordon Smith.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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