Author Interview: Becca Fitzpatrick!

Becca Fitzpatrick author of Hush, Hush

In honor of the most anticipated release of Becca's debut novel Hush, Hush (which is out now!! Go buy it!) How fitting would it be to have her on Flip The Page! answering some of my questions for YOU- the reader! So if you regularly read my blog you must know how much I LOVE Hush, Hush! So here's a little something about what is sure to be your new favorite book of the year!

Hush, Hush
by Becca Fitzpatrick

Plot
For Nora Grey, romance was not part of the plan. She's never been particularly attracted to the boys at her school, no matter how much her best friend, Vee, pushes them at her. Not until Patch came along.



With his easy smile and eyes that seem to see inside her, Nora is drawn to him against her better judgment.


But after a series of terrifying encounters, Nora's not sure who to trust. Patch seems to be everywhere she is, and to know more about her than her closest friends. She can't decide whether she should fall into his arms or run and hide. And when she tries to seek some answers, she finds herself near a truth that is way more unsettling than anything Patch makes her feel.


For Nora is right in the middle of an ancient battle between the immortal and those that have fallen - and, when it comes to choosing sides, the wrong choice will cost her life.

Interview

1. I thought the fallen angel concept was really interesting and original! How did you come about this subject and what made you want to write about it?

Truth be told, I didn't set out to write about fallen angels. When I started Hush, Hush, I knew I wanted Patch to be the ultimate bad boy...but with a twist. He hadn't always been bad. In fact, at one point, he'd been really good, and something had caused this big change. While pondering what had caused Patch's fall from grace, the metaphor of “falling” that I was carrying around in my head became something quite literal – a fallen angel. Since I already knew Patch was going to be the ultimate bad boy, this revelation seemed perfect – after all, fallen angels are the original bad boys!

2. What was it like developing the main characters of Hush, Hush? What kind of person did you want to portray when you wrote Nora and Patch?

I didn't really feel like I had to develop Patch – he showed up on day one in full personality. Nora was harder. In the early drafts, she was almost as cocky and self-assured as Patch, and it just wasn't working. I finally ditched her old character, name included, and started over. In the end, I'm very happy with Nora. She's the yin to Patch's yang.


3. Patch is the ultimate bad boy with a dark side but tell us what’s really going on in his head!

Oh man, I wish I knew! Patch is such a mystery, even to me. I think he's trying to do the right thing, but it really goes against his nature. Being a guardian angel is going to try his patience – he's not good at following rules or dealing with bureaucracy. I think he's going to be one of those characters we're never quite sure we can trust. He wants what's best for Nora, but his ways of going about securing that aren't always the most ethical. Let's just say his moral code is a little blurry.


4.Vee Sky adds just enough comedic punch in the novel to ease the intensity- what was the inspiration for this character?

I didn't realize this while I was writing her character, but when my family read the book, they all pointed out how similar Vee is to two of my childhood friends. Of course they were right! I think the moral of this story is pretty clear: if we've crossed paths in the past, you just might end up in my next book.


5. There are so many sub-stories in this novel- Jules and Elliot, the stalker, Miss Greene/Dabria, Nora’s fallen angel bloodline- What was it like connecting all these stories and what significance do they have with the second novel Crescendo?

Laughing...it took many drafts to get all of the threads to come together in the end. Plotting is hard – don't let anyone tell you otherwise :). As for how things will play out in Crescendo, the focus of the storyline is two-fold: the mystery of what really happened the night Nora's dad was murdered, and the challenges Patch and Nora's relationship will face. The book focuses more on Nephilim, which means if I'm lucky enough to get to write a third book, it (book 3) will focus more on angels.


6.  The novel seems to have the perfect balance of romance and suspense but was there anything of those two categories that you would’ve liked to put in but didn’t get to? Like more of Nora and Patch connecting/not connecting? Or more mystery and thrills?

That's the great thing about writing a series – not everything has to be revealed between the covers of one book. Crescendo will definitely explore more of Patch and Nora's relationship, and the danger is increased a notch...or two.


7. Why do you think you’re novel is worth reading? What do you think sets Hush, Hush apart from all the other YA novels coming out?

I think Hush, Hush has a lot going for it – there's a seductive romance, a mystery to be solved, and a dash of (hopefully!) fresh mythology. For readers who're looking for a blend of genres, I'm hoping they'll give Hush, Hush a shot.


8. You made a playlist for Hush, Hush with music by The Smiths (favorite band ever!), Pixies, Led Zeppelin and many more. What other bands/types of music inspired you while writing Hush, Hush?

My boyfriend in college loved The Smiths and introduced me to them, so I have him to thank. But back to the question. I listened to The Phantom of the Opera soundtrack often during the plotting stages of the book. I'm crazy about that soundtrack. Maybe if Hush, Hush is made into a movie, Andrew Lloyd Webber will write the score...hey, I can dream!


9. What are some great books you’re looking forward to reading or have already read?

The Angel's Game by Carlos Ruiz Zafon, Fade by Lisa McMann, Ice by Sarah Beth Durst, Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins and The Monstrumologist by Rick Yancey.

I can't help but say thank you to Becca for letting me badger her with these probably all to familiar questions! It's a really freakin awesome moment when i get to interview a highly amazing author with such great potential! You better believe i'll be watching out for more of her work! And you should be too!

You can see my review of Hush, Hush here.

You can listen to my playlist for Hush, Hush here.

You can also check out the post i did for BBAW about this book with an extended playlist here.

If you wanna know more about Becca and the Fallen Angels Series you can go to her blog or her web page!

Author Interview: Jennifer Brown

Jennifer Brown author of Hate List

Today, I have Jennifer Brown, the talented writer of the inspiring novel Hate List! You can see my review of Hate List here. You can see my personal playlist for the book here. AND im giving away a signed copy of Hate List here! Enjoy the interview!

1. Was the Columbine High School tragedy somehow linked to your writing process?

No, not at all. Never in my mind's eye was I writing about Columbine or any other real-life school shooting. I would never presume to understand at all what it was like to be in the place of those people who lived through Columbine, or those people who lost a loved one in Columbine. And there are some very real differences between the shooting in Hate List and the one in Columbine (a single shooter versus two shooters, for instance, and also no use of explosives in Hate List, etc.).


2. Valerie's inner battle can be described as confused and hurt- what was it like entering her mind and writing her character?

No doubt about it, Valerie's mind was a very dark place to be. At first, she was very unpleasant to be around, but I knew she had the potential to reach out and to get better. I knew it would be tough for her, but absolutely possible. Because I could always see the good in Valerie, it wasn't too difficult to enter her mind -- I knew her sweet, vulnerable side.


3. Was there anything you wanted your readers to take away from reading Hate List?

Absolutely! I wanted readers to take away the notion that they can change hate by reaching out like Jessica (and eventually Valerie) did. I wanted them to look at something that seems so simple at first blush and see that there are so many fuzzy lines there, it's almost impossible to tell what's the truth. And I wanted readers to come away from the story hopeful, which sounds weird, given the subject matter, but I do think it's possible to come out of darkness... hopeful.


4. Death, divorce and friendship are all important topics in this book. What was the hardest/easiest thing to write about?

They're all difficult subjects to take on. It's never easy to describe carnage, even if it's made-up carnage, you know? Probably I had the "easiest" time writing about the divorce. Not "easy" like it wasn't emotionally heavy for me, but "easy" like I've lived through it and didn't really have to stretch myself to describe it from both the parents' and Valerie's points of view (and, no, Valerie's parents aren't my parents).

The friendship, on the other hand, was difficult for me to write, because I've always found female friendships to be difficult and confusing and ultimately very rewarding... but in a difficult and confusing sort of way. :-)

5. Reading Hate List was very emotional for me. What was it like writing Hate List?

Emotional as well, but probably not quite as emotional as the reading of it. I was very surprised the first time I learned that HATE LIST was a tear-jerker for some (most?) readers. I guess since I always knew how it would ultimately end up, I didn't find it quite as sad. Of course, any time you're writing about tragedy, though -- especially tragedy involving young people -- there's sadness involved. Or maybe more fear than sadness.


6. What are your favorite books and/or literary characters?

My favorite book of all time is The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck because it is about the perseverance of man in the face of really horrible odds. That's a theme that really resonates with me.

I read constantly, and I'll read anything. I don't have a "favorite genre" or a "favorite author" -- it just doesn't work that way for me. I have authors who really impress me -- Gail Giles, John Green, Jay Asher -- and books that really impress me, but I shy away from having favorites that could keep me from reaching out and finding new great stuff to read.

That said, I love to read debut novels (because I think that's when the author's voice is freshest and most vulnerable) and I love to read classics. The Old Man and The Sea by Ernest Hemingway... changed my life.


7. Are you working on anything at the moment?

Yes, I'm almost finished writing my next YA book -- hoping to see it come out in Spring 2011.


8. Is there anything you'd like to add?

Thank you so much for having me on your blog, Christina! I love YA readers!!!

Author Interview: Stephanie Kuenhert

Presenting Stephanie Kuenhert author of new novel Ballads of Subrbia!

Stephanie Kuenhert is the rockin' attention getting author of the fast paced, emotional novel Ballads of Suburbia! When she's not writing she bartends at a local Forest Park, Illinois bar and is currently working on her next, sure to be awesome, YA novel!

Interview

Question #1

Music plays a big part in Ballads of Suburbia, the story is actually constructed like a ballad. If you had to choose one song that reflects the central conflit of the story what song would it be?

Hmm well I'm always indecisive so I'm going to name two songs. I do think that the song Adrian chose "Bastards of Young" by the Replacements suits all of the characters. They are a group of people who feel they have no place, who are all abandoned or neglected by the adults in their lives for one reason or another. But another song I think really suits the book is "The Kids Aren't Alright" by the Offspring. The title pretty much says it all, but specifically it's about kids who had all these dreams and then things fall apart. Yeah it's really hard to choose one song for this book. I have a whole playlist which you can find here.


Question#2
Each character has their own addiction-Kara's cutting, Adrian's heroine, Cassie's Acid, Etc. How do you think each character's addiction reflected there inner troubles? Was it intentional?

I didn't really choose the addiction for the character, the character chose their addiction. Just when I met them, I knew Kara was a cutter and Cass had an acid problem and Adrian was a heroin addict. They definitely do reflect things about their personalities, but they are all escapes and basically each of the characters needs an escape. Cass's reality is very harsh, so she turns to a drug that distorts reality; also she deals with the mental illness in her family and acid kind of creates a mentally ill state so I suppose that is interesting. Adrian does the most extreme drug because he is always looking to live on the edge. Kara cuts... well I think Kara explains why she cuts in the book best :)
Question #3

All of the ballads were very unique in their own ways. If you could rewrite Ballads of Suburbia in another characters point of view which would it be?


Liam's or Cass's. Really though, I came to love and hurt for Liam almost the most out of anyone. He really interested me. But Cass too. I wanted her to have a bigger part in the book, so yeah I'd love to see the whole thing through her eyes.


Question #4
When Kara self injured you described it so vividly. How did your own experience with cutting help you visuilize her inner pain? Was it hard going back to that place?

Um yeah. This book caused me at least three nervous breakdowns. I'm totally serious. And part of it was because I had to get so close into Kara's head and feel that kind of pain again. You don't forget that pain. You don't forget why you cut, so my own experience definitely fed Kara's. In earlier drafts I shied away from getting so deeply into it because I knew it would hurt to go back to that place, but I wanted to do Kara and her story justice. I hope I did. As long as I did, it makes it worth it.

Question #5

While Adrian has trouble expessing his emotions Christian couldn't seem to control his. Was this purposely done? What were readers meant to take away from these two relationships?

Hmm, no that wasn't done on purpose, but that does work out nicely doesn't it? Hee hee doing this interview I've been thinking about how my high school teacher would ask to discuss why an author did something and I always wondered did they really do it intentionally and now I've learned the answer... not always, but it does work out well sometimes!

Basically I'm a writer who is led around by her characters, they act how they are going to act and I record it. So I'm not sure I went into telling the story with anything in particular I wanted readers to take away from the relationships because I think what you do take away is very personal. If anything I hope they see that it is not necessarily good to let your emotions control you like Christian does or to run from your feelings like... well just about every character in the book does. Balance. Balance is very important.

Question #6
How did Maya and Kara's friendship differ from Stacey and Kara's?

I think they had similarities and differences. The main thing is the difference between the friendships you form in grade school and those your form in high school. It's a different beast. You are a lot more open in grade school usually... but you change a lot in high school so you might mesh with people you met in high school better. I think that is a lot of what you are seeing in play with those two friendships.


Question #7

You were a bartender before you were a writer- what were some struggles you went through to get where you are now? Any advice for aspiring writers?


I'm still a bartender. I don't foresee being able to quit my day job (or night job in my case) any time in the near future sadly. I'd love to write full-time and it's my long term goal at this point. So I'm still struggling with a lot of the same things I've always struggled with. There's the general struggle to make ends meet (and isn't most everyone facing that struggle right now), but there is also that inner struggle where I say, "Am I really good enough to do this? Am I ever going to be able to make a living at it? Should I keep trying?" I have TONS of self-doubt. I probably tell my fiance once a week that I'm going to quit writing, but I never mean it because I can't. It's in me. As long as I keep meeting/dreaming up characters with a story to tell, I'll keep writing.
As a teenager I struggled with a bunch of other stuff, some of the stuff that my characters in Ballads struggle with like cutting and divorce and friends who are losing themselves to addiction. I was a very insecure and messed up girl for a long time. But my dream of writing nurtured me through.
I think the best way to approach your goals as a writer is in parts. First I knew I need to hone my craft and generate a lot of story ideas. I did this by going to school for creative writing. But if that isn't for you, join a writing group either locally or online. My biggest piece of advice for aspiring writers is always get feedback on your work. So I went to school, honed my craft, met people to give feedback and my next goal was: finish a whole novel. I did, but it was a thinly veiled autobiography and it was bad. I shoved it in a drawer. It wasn't a waste though, because I took some of it, especially some of the characters and it eventually became Ballads. But first I finished another novel, I Wanna Be Your Joey Ramone. I had an agent interested in IWBYJR before I finished it so that was lucky. But yeah I finished that book and while she was shopping it I wrote another. But there will always goals and I broke them down. I didn't start with become a bestselling millionaire author. I started with hone and learn my craft, then finish a novel, then finish another novel, then get published, then get published again. And now the goal is write another book and get published again but with the hopes it will do even better than my first two books. Maybe one day I can be a bestseller, who knows. But yeah, break it down into small achievable goals, as small as finish chapter one by this date. That's how I did it!
 
 
Question #8

What influences you as a writer?

Untold stories. The reason I wrote Ballads is because I saw a lot of untold stories that really really needed telling, That's my prime motivator. Discovering characters who really need a voice-- characters who a lot of teens may relate to in some way especially. I'm influenced by what I observe every day. And of course music, particularly punk rock, influences me in a huge way!


Question #9
What are some of your favorite books or literary characters?

Probably my all time favorite characters are Weetzie Bat and her daughter Witch Baby from Francesca Lia Block's Weetzie Bat series. But I have a lot of favorite books: Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck, Trainspotting by Irvine Welsh, Hairstyles of the Damned by Joe Meno, Ink Exchange by Melissa Marr (I love the whole Wicked Lovely series, but that's my favorite), Beige by Cecil Castellucci, and Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson


Question #10
Are you going to write another YA novel? If so, can you give us a little sneak peek?

I am working on another YA novel. I have a few more YA novels planned. However right now I'm in such an early phase, where I'm still plotting things out and they might change a whole lot, I really don't feel comfortable talking about or sharing much. I did give a little tease over here on my blog though if people want to check out, but seriously, tomorrow it could be a lot different :)


You can check out my review for Ballads of Suburbia here and it's awesome playlist here.

Come back for soon an exclusive interview with Patrick Jones author of The Tear Collector!

Author Blog Tour: Samira Armin Hodges author of Milestones + Giveaway!

Samira Armin Hodges  author of debut novel Milestones!

A little about Milestones...

Synopsis

One day. That’s how long it took for fourteen year-old Faye Martin’s ordinary life to take a dramatic and unexpected turn. First, she gets struck by lightning. Second, Benjamin Parker, the object of her obsession, witnessed her near-death experience. Finally, her parents force her to leave her hometown of Seattle to attend an overnight summer camp, aptly named ‘Camp Milestone’.

Only, Camp Milestone is no ordinary camp. Before she knows it, Faye finds herself caught in a whirlwind of uncertainty, torture, calamine lotion and romance….all in the name of summer camp. But as the summer unfolds, she realizes there is much more to Camp Milestone than meets the eye. Will she be able to unravel the mystery that surrounds this unusual camp? And more importantly, will she be able to survive the madness long enough to put the pieces together?

In a delightful story about the true meaning of self-discovery, love and friendship, part one of the Milestones trilogy takes readers into an imaginative and amazing new world which gives a whole new meaning to the phrase summer camp.

Interview

1.What life experiences inspired you to write Milestones? How did those experiences shape the story?

Well, to be honest, a lot of my ideas came from my super active imagination. But like every author, there were some inspirations and for Milestones specifically, I would have to say that my own camp experience was very influential. I went to um, what we’ll call “nerd camp” when I was 15 years old, had the time of my life, made amazing friends and lifelong memories which I would occasionally channel while writing Milestones.

2. There is definitely some mystery in Milestones but what are something readers should expect?

For one, expect to be surprised. The ending is a little different from the norm. Also expect to read about all the emotions and cynicism and craziness that goes along with having a crush who doesn’t know you exist. Finally, expect to read about a teenager’s evolution and personal growth.

3. How did you develop the character of Faye Martin?

Well, Faye is a very specific person and the reasons behind her personality and qualities become apparent near the end of the novel. But for the most part, she’s meant to be your average, ordinary, fourteen year old – who then turns out to be….well, NOT ordinary.


4. What was it like going from a Pediatrician to a YA author? What were some hurdles you had to overcome in the process?

The two careers don’t exactly go hand in hand. But I feel as though I’ve been a writer (in some way, shape or form) for all my life. So in a way, it felt natural. As far as hurdles are concerned, there is one major one: time! Or should I say the lack of time! I’ve had to become a professional multi-tasker in the last few years.


5.  What can we expect from the other two books in the series?

A lot! Truly, the story takes a few turns in books 2 and 3 of the trilogy. I can’t divulge too much but in a nutshell, the characters have a destiny to fulfill and in book 2, there is a rather giant obstacle that gets in the way of this fate. I can also say that it is not going to follow the formula people are expecting.


6.Texas is really, totally different from Seattle so what made you start there? Did you read up on the location before putting it in your book? What made you start out in Seattle?

You are very perceptive and to answer your question, yes, I read up a teeny bit on Seattle before deciding on the location. The main reason behind my decision was that I needed Faye to live in a city/state where thunderstorms would not be unusual. To be honest, Seattle is not like any of the places I’ve lived in (Paris, Toronto, the Caribbean, Detroitor Texas) so it was a bit unusual of me to pick that as a location in my book. But it had to be done!


7. What is Faye’s interest Benjamin Parker like? Is he swoon worthy?

Cute question! The answer is: it depends on your type! If your type is the silent, athletic, baseball-cap wearing, polo-shirt and jeans wearing, shy, yet handsome and intelligent type, then yes. He is definitely swoon-worthy. But Benjamin is also hard to read, hard to understand and a little secretive at times. Until of course, he falls in love. Then it all changes.


8. Do you have any advice for aspiring writers?

Absolutely. First and most importantly, never give up. You need to grow thick skin and be prepared for rejection but try to remember that every single author (even the super famous and successful ones) has had their share of rejection. It’s just part of the game. Next, don’t forget to ask for help when you’re feeling low or demoralized. You’d be surprised at how many people would be willing to read your work and give you advice and positive feedback and reinforcement. If you’re a serious writer, you will feel need the boost!


9. Is there anything else you’d like to add?

Thank you so much for having me Christina! It was super fun and you are running a great blog. Overall, I do hope people enjoy Milestones and if they do, I’d love to know about it!

*You can get more information about Samira and her book Milestones on her website here.

Giveaway!

So do you sound interested in Milestones? I know I am! Samira and her publiscist have been so wonderful as to grant one of you a free copy of Milestones! To enter this contest just comment on this post with your name and email telling us what you think anout the interview and/or Milestones! For extra entries...

+ 1 if you are a new follower
+2 if you are a current follower
+2 for tweeting about this giveaway, book or interview (but you must add @yotina_38 to the tweet)
+3 for posting about this interview/giveaway on your blog (side bars are acceptable!)

*The contest will end October, 2 at Midnight Central Time! U.S. residents only please!