Melina Marchetta is the author of Australian young adult titles Looking for Alibrandi, Saving Francesca, On the Jellico Road and Finnikin of the Rock. March celebrates the release of Melina’s new book, The Piper’s Son. I recently had the opportunity to catch up with Melina on the phone during her Australian tour, and Melina answered a few of our questions about The Piper’s Son and writing in general. Just a warning, there may be a few spoilery type moments throughout the interview. Enjoy!

Congratulations on the release of The Piper’s Son on Monday. It was an excellent book, and I enjoyed it immensely.

For readers that haven’t read Saving Francesca, I was impressed by the fact that you could read The Piper’s Son, without feeling lost in all the characters. Was this something important for you during the writing of the book?

MM: Defiantly. I didn’t want– in actual fact, I like the idea of people reading The Piper’s Son and then going ‘oh I’d like to go back and see what they were like when they were young’. The thing that probably was the hardest was making sure I wasn’t writing The Piper’s Son without the Francesca readers in my head and that meant sometimes what I was trying to do was maybe spend a bit more time on, say the Will/Francesca relationship. I had to really make sure that didn’t dominate, so that’s why I kind of sent Will overseas, because I had to remind myself not everyone will have an emotional investment in that relationship. So I think that if people have read it will be great to see what they were like five years later but I certainly didn’t want it [Saving Francesca] to be a pre-requisite.

Tom seems to go through some major changes and developments in this books, starting off from a bad place and moving into one that ultimately seems him thrive with new life. Was it difficult to get this development of the character down or did Tom’s progression come naturally?

MM: It came slowly, but naturally. Like I didn’t put– I suppose to have a really basic understanding of where it’s going to go, as the writer you kind of know he’s going to be okay so you just have to work out how to get him to that point and I let it come naturally. I knew that it was going to be once he was in these two locations, one being Georgie’s house and the other being the Union pub and I knew it was going to be through his correspondence with Tara Finke but I had to make sure that that was paced really nicely rather than rushing into it. What worries me sometimes, and I know I was worried about this in the re-writes, was at what point things were happenings sometimes I thought ‘oh god, Tara doesn’t really come into it properly until after page 100, I wonder if people are going to hang out that long’, things like that. But it was kind of the pace of it was really quite important that I let it come as naturally as I could.

To me, Georgie was almost as an important character in the novel as Tom was. Was Georgie always going to have an important role, or did that develop over the course of writing?

MM: I think so; I can’t remember it being any other way in my head that they were going to get a chapter kind of each. I didn’t want it to be a he said, she said, where you kind of get a different perspective of the same incident so I knew it was just going to be his story one chapter, hers the next but somewhere probably a quarter or three quarters into the novel a lot of the times they were together with all their worlds in the same chapters. She was very important to me as a character. I think that has a lot to do with the fact that when I was writing her she was my age and I felt that probably as someone over forty I had probably something to say about relationships and life in general. I love her as much as I love Tom and I love their relationship as prickly as it is. Sometimes what worries me, especially you could tell me this as a reader closer to Tom’s age, I was worried that when people were in Georgie’s chapter they would want to be in Tom’s chapter. Or else people were in Tom’s chapter they wanted to be in Georgie’s chapter. So did you feel that you had a yearning to be in Tom’s chapters when he wasn’t quite on the scene?

Occasionally, but I also really enjoyed reading inside Georgie’s mind and seeing where she was going. I thought she was quite a highlight of the book. I thought there was quite a good balance there.

MM: Because I think that sometimes people– a friend of mine was telling me that, she was actually my age which was surprising, she said I kept on jumping ahead and going to everyone of the letters between Tara and Tom. But then it made me worried. I thought ‘oh god I hope people don’t push Georgie’s story aside’ because to me, what’s taking place in Georgie’s life is very similar to what’s taking place in Tom’s life. They’re both stuffing up relationships, and they’re both grief stricken and they both don’t know how to get out of a particular rut. But they are 20-so years apart, and sometimes there’s no big difference between people, except when you’re older, there are probably bigger ramifications, than when you’re younger.

The London bombings shocked the world on a global scale. What I found interesting was how you decided to show how the aftermath of these attacks can change a family for better and worse. What influenced your decision to use the London attacks as the background to losing Uncle Jim?

MM: Because I think for me, I didn’t want this novel to be about terrorism at all. I didn’t want it to be, I can’t say I didn’t want it to be political, because I think it is a pretty political novel at times. I didn’t want it to be about terrorism but I needed something, sadly I needed something where there wouldn’t be a body, a possibility where there wouldn’t be a body and I suppose a bombing is a classic example of that. Unless someone goes missing, and if someone goes missing then the readership would have thought then ‘oh were going to find him, Joe at the end’. I kind of needed it to be certain, in the same way with Tom Finch. There was a certainty that these men were dead that they couldn’t bury them. I choose London because, I taught for ten years, most of my closest friends have taught in London so it’s such a normal thing for Australian’s to go over to London and teach. I could have based it on the Madrid bombing or September 11, but I just thought there was a bigger chance that Australian people would be affected by something happening in London. I actually remember when it happened, thankfully people didn’t die. But again my cousins, a girl that went to school with my cousin, was on the bus, her fiancé when it happened. This is someone from our suburb so there’s always this idea when something happens overseas, was there an Australian involved, most times Australian’s are somehow involved because we are such big travellers.

The relationship between Tara and Tom takes an interesting climb through the novel. What would your advice to teenagers in similar situations be?

MM: What kind of similar situations? The fact that they are estranged from each other?

I guess the distance and being apart, yet from what we gather from throughout the novel and learn that their parting wasn’t on the best of terms.

MM: I think that, to me it’s a story about forgiveness. Some people say to me that they would never forgive Tom for what he did. Other people say ‘well he was grief stricken’. But I still think that the way he acted was awful. There was a trust thing that happened there and especially coming from a character like Tara Finke, he’s not really a player and she’s not really a confidant person on so many different levels. But I think for me there was just, ultimately I know what he did was wrong but there was such a respect between them as people and I like the fact that he had to actually work instead of trying. Like I think in the past he had found it so easy to charm people but at this particular case because he didn’t have her there in front of him, he actually had to work at wooing her back. And I think he succeeds. And there are so many times when people around him don’t think he is going to succeed at that, there’s no way that she will forgive him and I like the fact that she does, and it’s not because she’s a pushover it’s because Tom has really worked at it that he has opened himself to her in the same that that she kind of opened herself to him. I suppose it’s about trust between people in the end. I would never know what kind of advice to give anyone, whether they were young or older or my age. I think relationships are so, so tricky and they’re so not black and white, there are blurry moments. The same could be said about Georgie and Sam. A lot of people have said to be there’s no way that Georgie should have ever forgiven Sam. I think well there are a lot of blurry moments in that relationship and I had to kind of give it the conclusion that I felt really worked for the story.

What authors influenced you growing up and in your writing?

MM: When I was growing up I really loved the Anne of Green Gables novels. The one thing that I, I’ve said it so many times, but I feel as if– have you read Anne of Green Gables?

No, I haven’t.

MM: There’s a moment in it where Anne Shirley, great character, where she hits, she’s in the same classroom as Gilbert Blythe and she hit’s him over the head with a slate, which is their kind of writing tool, and I always say, that moment for me, was just, I was just absolutely mesmerised. I thought it was so romantic thought she hated his guts. I would always say that in every one of my novels there is a moment where my character’s metaphorically hit their potential love interests over the head with a slate. It could be that winning an argument or getting the upper hand, an example in say The Piper’s Son could be here’s Tom thinking it will be easy, text messaging Tara saying ‘How’s it going, babe’ and her response, that for me is the hitting someone over the head with a slate. It happens in Saving Francesca when she kind of meets Will and Will’s such a bastard to her. So they’re moments I kind of adopted and I loved that particular one, so I would say she was a major influence.

Any quirky writing rituals or habits?

MM: They’re just not quirky, they’re just rituals. I always, what do I always do? I mean I do write in bed. I love laptops. The best thing about a laptop is writing in bed and I actually think I do my best writing late at night in bed. I always do like a coffee, but I have to have, if I have a coffee while I’m writing I always, always, always have to have a biscuit with it. There’s no such thing as having coffee on its own. Its comfort stuff. To me writing, I have to stop making it feel like work, and it is work at the end of the day. I quite like the cosy-ness of it. And I have to say that in summer that I love a glass of wine while I’m writing.

The Piper’s Son was released in Australia on March 1, 2010.

Carolyn Mackler is the author of highly sought after titles such as Vegan, Virgin, Valentine, Guy-a-holic, The Earth, My Butt, And Other Big Round Things, just to name a few. In the month of February celebrates the release of Carolyn’s new book, Tangled. It’s our Book of the Month for February and as part of our monthly promotion, Carolyn answered a few of our questions for your reading pleasure. Enjoy! I should probably warn you folks, there are some spoilery type moments throughout the interview.

Firstly, I just want to say congratulations on Tangled. It’s an excellent book and I really enjoyed reading it.

CM Thank you!!  I really enjoyed writing it.

With that in mind, I thought we’d get straight into some questions about the story itself…

Skye is one of those fortunate people that seem to have everything: the beginnings of fame, money, respect from those around her, yet it is obvious from the onset of her story that she suffers quite badly from depression. Was it a conscious decision of yours to write Skye in as the depressed character, or did she just come out that way?

CM:  As I got to know Skye, though the course of writing Jena’s story and then her own story, I realized she was suffering from depression.  But it’s not obvious – I had a dig a little deeper into her to figure that out.

Depression is a serious mental health issue that often goes unnoticed or is confused as teen angst. If there is one thing that you wanted readers to take from Skye’s story, what would that be?

CM: Get help.  Tell someone.  Get help.  You are not alone in depression, and never should be.

Archetypes like Jena show up in your stories often. Although both Dakota and Owen label her as hot, Jena doesn’t think of herself that way. Why do you think so many teenagers, like Jena, have serious self-esteem issues?

CM: Because the world often tells us we’re not right the way we are – billboards, movies, shows, videos – and we internalize those messages, those images of what beauty is.  And it’s so not true!  Beauty comes in all different shapes, sizes, and hair colors.

How did you find writing Owen and Dakota’s respective points-of-view? I’m always interested in authors who tap into the minds of the opposite gender…

CM: Loved it!  It was a refreshing break after writing about girls, to see how a guy thinks and sees the world.

Jena is much more confident in her pursuit of Owen than she was with Dakota. What exactly changed in her for this to happen?

CM:  Hmmmm….she got her heart broken by Dakota and became stronger because of it, learned that taking risks is a good thing.  Also, once her beloved grandmother had a stroke, Jena decided to believe her grandma’s wise words that she is, in fact, luscious!

The tone of Tangled is much darker than most of your previous novels. Did you set out with the intention to write something edgier, or did it just happen that way?

CM:  It just happened that way as the story evolved in my head.

Whose story came to you first, Jena, Dakota, Owen, or Skye’s?

CM:  I knew it was four from the beginning – though at first the second guy character, Owen, was going to be a friend of Dakota’s.  Then I decided a brother would be much more interesting.

Do you have any quirky writing rituals or habits?

CM  I wish!  With a five-year-old and an infant (both in the background right now), I just want TIME to write these days.  And coffee.

What is in your To-Be-Read pile right now?

Going Bovine, Punkzilla, American Born Chinese, and a book I’ve been asked to blurb.  Oh, and Goodnight Moon for the baby.  And Harry Potter for my kindergartener.  Time!  I want time to read/write/sleep right now.

Do you have an all time fave novel?

About a million.  Seriously.   Check out my website www.carolynmackler.com for a list of my favourite authors.

Two days ago we posted a review of Kimberly Derting’s debut novel, The Body Finder. As indicated by our review, yaReads is a bit of a fan of this one, so when we were asked to participate in Kimberly’s promotional blog tour, we just couldn’t say no. Enjoy!

Violet and Jay have known each other since they were kids, but she suddenly has a huge crush on him. What do you think is the trigger that changes “like” to “love”?

I think Violet and Jay were always perfect for each other, she just didn’t realize it until the other girls at school started noticing him.  Suddenly she was forced to look at him through different eyes.

Everyone has to accept their partners’ little quirks, but what’s one pet peeve that you just wouldn’t be able to stand in a boyfriend/girlfriend?

Laziness.  As Liz Lemon (from 30 Rock) would say, that’s a dealbreaker!  I’m not talking about the kind of guy who likes to hang out and relax. I love my downtime as much as the next girl.  I’m talking about a guy who is genuinely lazy. . . someone who doesn’t help out around the house or pick up after himself, someone who plops down on the couch and just stays there.  All of the time.  You know, that guy!

If someone was going to buy you a box of your favorite candy for Valentine’s Day, what candy would be inside?

I very rarely eat chocolate, which seems kind of like the obvious answer here, so I would have to say. . . Skittles.  I know, it’s kind of wrong, but they are so delicious. I’m still waiting for someone to invent a candy that has both Skittles and chocolate.  A girl can dream, can’t she?

What’s the best part of the winter season for you?

Snow.  Definitely snow!  Snow days, snowmen, snowball fights, all of it.  Last winter, our golden retriever would pull the kids on their sleds through the neighborhood. We called it the Alex Express.  She (and the kids!) had a blast!  And then we’d come in and sit by the fire and drink hot chocolate. It made for the perfect winter day.

What’s your favorite love song (old or new)?

Wow, are you really gonna make me admit this out loud?  I kind of like anything by. . . ehem. . . Barry Manilow.   Yes, it’s sappy, but no one can belt out a love song like Barry.

More recently, though, I kind of love “What About Now” by Daughtry.  It’s very angsty and romantic.

What’s your preferred hot drink to curl up with when reading: tea, coffee, or cocoa?

Ooh, that’s tough, although I am a bit of a caffeine junkie. I drink A LOT of tea, but it really depends on my mood. Coffee and hot cocoa are right up there.  Seriously, check my pantry sometime. . . I’m like the poster child for hot drinks!

What are you most excited about this winter?

The release of The Body Finder, of course!

If you were snowed in, what are the three items you would want to have with you?

Easy!  I would definitely need a good book (or three).  A toothbrush because. . . well, gross.  And a comfy bathrobe. (But let’s not get confused, I did not say Snuggie.  It must be a bathrobe.  Somehow that just makes it cooler!)

Where is your favorite winter getaway?

In Washington, we have this great Bavarian village called Leavenworth.  It’s charming, rustic, and snowy.  It’s like a life-sized Christmas village, with some of the most amazing places to shop, eat, and sleep.

Of course, if I could pick someplace sunny, it would definitely be Maui.  Sometimes you just need a little sun in the wintertime!

Do you believe in love at first sight?

I should. It seems like the romantic thing to say.  But I really don’t.  I think falling in love is worlds different than falling in lust, and it takes time to build something solid and real.  Besides, it’s way better if you fall in love with your best friend. Who else is going to get all of your corny jokes?

In promotion of her new book, Beautiful, author Cindy Martinusen-Coloma is cruising the Internet on a bit of a blog tour and we thought we’d get on the bandwagon. We posted a review of Beautiful two days ago and now we’re excited to bring you an outstanding interview with Cindy herself. Grab a cup of coffee, find a comfy spot on the couch and enjoy!

**Spoiler Warning**

At the end, are Ellie and Ryan back together? Although that was never explicitly said, it sure seems like they might be…

Well…what do you think? Sometimes in my books, I leave certain things to the readers’ imaginations when the book warrants that kind of ending. This book was about Ellie’s journey of losing her identity and discovering the real essence of who she is and can be. Her sister Megan is on a similar reluctant quest but in a different way. The romantic storylines are definitely part of their journeys, but both girls have a lot of self-discovery and inner explorations to do and their boy relationships only complicate that. It’s as they start finding their way that love opens up as more of a reality.

Ryan was so in love with Ellie, but she didn’t let herself really see more of who he was – the underneath layers. Part of that was because she was hiding a lot herself, and she couldn’t even look at herself very well. It was all about performance. Ellie also wasn’t going beneath the exterior of Ryan – writing him off as just a good-looking jock who was a lot of fun. Ryan is so much more than that.

With Ellie finally discovering many truths, it brings the hope for something to grow romantically. Ryan perhaps? ☺

If Will had said he wanted to date Ellie, do you think she would have given it a go with him?

Ellie and Will’s friendship certainly developed into something more. And in fact, she did go out with him on a number of occasions. But an official date, I think her personal demons would have made her too afraid to be seen in public like that.

To me, it seemed that Ellie didn’t really grieve or even think too much about the fact that Stasia didn’t even live – what was that all about?

That’s an interesting take because I viewed Ellie as not being able to get over Stasia’s death at all. She really struggled with knowing how to cope with it, and so, she often stuffed it away as best she could. But the guilt was always there beneath the surface. I’ve seen during times of trauma, it takes a long time to process and grieve fully because there’s just the moment-by-moment need to survive. Ellie is in that mode after the accident, trying to heal, trying to cope with her new life, haunted by the guilt over being alive, bitter over what’s happened to her, etc. Her grieving of Stasia is mixed up in all of that. From times of grief in my own life and in friends’, I’ve seen how trauma brings about a new state of being compared to what is normal. It takes a long time to sort through that.

I thought it was interesting that, in addition to Ellie’s story, you chose to follow Megan’s as well. What was your motivation for this?

I like paring two opposite characters and weaving their stories together. For these two sisters, they are so different that they really don’t understand each other. When a crisis event occurs, it’s their love and sisterhood that makes them move beyond their differences to start discovering the unique qualities that they couldn’t see before. We all do this – judge someone and put them into categories. I’ve become really close with people that I initially thought were too different from me to become my friends. It’s easy to miss out on really amazing people who bring fresh perspective and a unique viewpoint to our lives because we judge a person like a book by it’s cover.

If you wanted readers to take one thing from Ellie’s story, what would that be?

That our lives don’t have meaning because of what we do (our accomplishments, our style, our careers, our attitudes) but we have and find meaning because we are unique creations, loved by God, with a magnificent ability to love others and to discover who God really is.

Find more information about Cindy and her writing at www.cindycoloma.com

Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl’s debut novel, Beautiful Creatures, is our Book of the Month during January. The authors took some time our of their busy schedules to answer some questions about their story and their beloved characters. Enjoy.

*Author photo credit: Alex Hoerner

What is it like co-authoring a book? Does this process ever get complicated or confusing at any stage?

Margie: You know, since this is our debut novel, we really don’t know any other way to do it. The most complicated part is definitely juggling our schedules so we can work. The easiest part is the writing. We’ve been friends longer than writing partners, so we can finish each other’s sentences – and that’s how we write, too.

Kami: We can fight like sisters, but it’s always about the mundane – the schedule – how cold our office is – why there is no ice for the Diet Coke. We’ve never disagreed about the story. And this year has been so overwhelming for us in so many ways, I can’t imagine going through it alone.

When you write, do you get together and write, or do you writing individually and then come together and edit?

Margie: We work separately. If we are in the same room, we’re still separated by my enormous earphones. Music vs. no music – we can’t write in the same airspace!

Kami: But we edit together, hashing out huge, color-coded whiteboards that plot all the character arcs, magic developments, and story beats. Our office is in Margie’s house, and it’s like the war room.

Was focalizing the story through Ethan’s POV a conscious decision, or did it just kind of happen?

Margie: We knew Lena was our mystery, and our supernatural. We wanted a strong female character with power, and we wanted to follow Ethan as he found his way into her story.

Kami: We also knew we were doing something less typical in YA, by allowing the reader to experience insecurity, first love, and fear through the eyes of a guy. To see what guys are thinking about girls, for once.We also fell in love with Ethan, the guy we never dated in high school…

As two female authors, was it difficult to write a romance-centered story from a male point of view?

Margie: Not really. We have six brothers between us. Also, there is so much already out there that is written from a teen girl’s perspective, it might have been harder to find our own voice if we hadn’t written from Ethan’s POV.

Kami: Sometimes it’s easier to write from a perspective that is definitely not your own. And Ethan is a great guy. He’s easy to write, because we love him so much.

Did you have prior knowledge/personal interest in magic and witchcraft, or was this something you had to research for Beautiful Creatures?

Margie: Just a lifetime of reading Diana Wynne Jones and high fantasy! I can’t imagine writing a book that didn’t have some sort of magic in it. Ever since I first read Susan Cooper’s The Dark Is Rising series in third grade, I have been living in a fantasy world. And yes, I can still recite the poem from the front of that book.

Kami: We are both huge fantasy readers, so magic and magical lore has always been swimming around in our minds. I don’t consider the magic in BC witchcraft, per say. But I have always been interested in the way religions from Africa and the West Indies influenced Southern culture. I’m so superstitious that I might as well be Amma.

When it comes to naming your characters, what kind of process do you go through?

Margie: We have raided our family genealogy for generations, to begin with… But we also do lots of research on the meaning of the names.

Kami: We used French-Creole names for Lena’s family, and traditional or more obscure Southern names for the folks in Gatlin.

A little birdy told us that Beautiful Creatures has just been optioned by Warner Bros and is set to be made into a film. Can you confirm or deny this?

Margie: Was the little birdy named Variety? ☺

Kami: Yes. We are so thrilled that Warner Brothers optioned the film for a supremely talented writer/director, Richard LaGravenese, and a hugely capable producer, Erwin Stoff.

How much input/control will the two of you have (if any at all)?

Margie: When Richard and Erwin came into the picture, we knew we could trust them. Their track records speak for themselves.

Kami: And we knew Warner Brothers would be the perfect home for Beautiful Creatures. Really, we couldn’t be happier. We’ll stick to writing and leave the rest to them.

What’s in your to-be-read list at the moment?

Margie: I am just finishing a draft of a work in progress, the newest middle grade book by my old friend, Pseudonymous Bosch. He’s the Roald Dahl of my generation, I adore him.

Kami: I am completely in love with the draft of Holly Black’s WHITE CAT, which I’m reading for the second time. Her new Curse Workers series is going to be huge! And I just finished her short story collection, POISON EATERS.

What are your all time fave YA novels?

Margie: TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD by Harper Lee. In case you couldn’t tell…

Kami: Well, she took my favorite. After TKM, it would be THE OUTSIDERS by S.E. Hinton & FREAK THE MIGHTY by Rodman Philbrick.

Is it true that this series is set to be a five-book series?

Margie: We are just finishing our sequel now.

Kami: It comes out this same time next year. We are really excited about it!

Can you tell us anything about the next instalment?

Margie: Mortal danger. True love. Broken hearts.

Kami: Ethan and Lena are up against unbelievable odds. And there’s sweet tea.

You can keep up with Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl at www.BeautifulCreaturestheBook.com.

Join the BEAUTIFUL CREATURES US fansite at www.CasterGirls.com.

Visit Little, Brown’s Beautiful Creatures website at
www.SomeLovesAreCursed.com.

As you all know, Lili St Crow’s Betrayals (the second book in her Strange Angels series) is our Book of the Month for December. We’re stoked to have Lili with us this month, and after reading this interview, we think you’ll be pretty stoked too. We want to thank her for taking the time to respond to our questions with such honesty and detail. You rock our socks off Lili! Grab a cuppa and sit back and enjoy!

Strange Angels is your first venture into young adult story telling. Was it a conscious decision to write a story for teens, or did the narrative just take that shape?

I actually never thought I would write YA. It never seemed to be an option because of the subject matter and darkness of my usual work. I was quite surprised when I was contacted about my willingness to write in the YA field, it just never occurred to me as something feasible.

I think the YA genre has grown tremendously in the last five to ten years. When I was in that age group, I don’t think certain issues of violence or sexuality would get through the gates, so to speak. There’s been a certain loosening of attitudes and an admission that teenagers do say bad words and they do have hormones, they face dangerous situations and they make choices. I skipped a great deal of YA when I was that age because it just didn’t speak to me—I started reading “adult” books because none of the YAs addressed issues I felt were relevant to my problems. I think teens today have a much greater choice in the genre.

For you, what was the biggest challenge about writing a story for teens as opposed to adults?

Well, they’re not that different. The baseline promise a writer makes is to tell the truth. This makes no difference whether your audience is 14, 40, or 70. Once you have that commitment, you can tackle questions of appropriateness in your own way.

I was very concerned that there would be tension between my editor and me when it came to certain things—rough language, violence, sex. Once I had That Talk with my editor, I was much more sanguine. Before I ever signed the contract I spoke with my editor about my concerns and it was just all out there on the table: I was not going to sugarcoat anything or BS any of my readers, no matter their age. My editor agreed completely and is very supportive.

It seems, at the moment, that in paranormal YA lit, the big thing that draws readers in (especially girls) is the presence of an impossible love triangle. Why did you decide on a love triangle, rather than a single love interest for Dru?

It was just the shape the story took. There are triangles of one sort or another in a lot of my adult work as well.

A lot of paranormal YA—and, let’s face it, a lot of adult fiction—tends to have this narrative that the dangerous, flashy, obsessive partner is desirable and something girls should aim and sigh for. I like to contrast that with the partner who isn’t obsessive or as dangerous. I think a lot of our cultural narratives about romantic love glorify behaviour that would get a restraining order out here in the real world, and contrasting that with a more realistic portrayal of what a healthy relationship looks like is very valuable.

But then again, there are huge conversations going on in our society about gender roles and relationship roles, and the triangles are a good way to explore a lot of those knotty problems. Plus there’s the fantasy factor—in real life, sometimes behaviour a fiction character engages in would be creepy. But the reader has control over how far they enter into the fantasy, and it’s empowering to have that complete control.

I have to ask, are you Team Graves or Team Christophe?

Personally, I’m very Team Graves. He’s not perfect, but his affection and attention are very much preferable to Christophe’s. I mean, Christophe is very old. He remembers certain parts of World War I, for crying out loud. It’s disturbing that he had this relationship with Dru’s mother and is now acting interested in Dru. It’s always faintly skeezy that we have these immortal beings in love with teenagers in our fiction. Part of this goes back to that cultural narrative, and the fantasy.

On the other hand, Christophe is an interesting character because djamphir don’t mature in certain ways. They’re stuck in teenage bodies and dealing with a world that treats them like children nowadays. So it’s not as skeezy as it could be, and Christophe’s growth as a character brings some of these issues into focus.

Artistically and as a writer, I don’t know where Dru is going to “end up”. Why does it have to be a choice between Graves and Christophe? Maybe she will decide to take some time off and figure out what she wants without a boy in the picture. I find it interesting that this isn’t even seen as an option when this sort of thing is discussed.

Do you have the whole Strange Angels series planned out, or are you creating as you write?
I have the big things, the broad strokes, very firmly in my head. But part of creating a work of art is making choices in the moment that might take it in a different direction. It’s a balance, a fine line to be walked between one’s idea of where the story should go and where the story wants to go. Just like life, I guess.

If Dru could click her heels and have three magic wishes, what would she ask for?

I think she would ask for those people she loves to be back with her and whole. She’s had a lot of loss. Dru is an orphan, and that’s a heavy burden to bear. Through most of the series she’s searching for someone to help her, and missing very much the love and stability that her father and grandmother provided, even if both of them were extraordinarily non-traditional.

What about if you could have three magic wishes, what would you ask for?

It’s probably a marker of my age that I don’t know. I think I’d have tremendous difficulty deciding, because any wish I made would have consequences I couldn’t even guess at. I’m not sure I would take advantage of that. I’m profoundly wary of such questions.

Do you have any particular writing habits?

Other than doing it every day, rain or shine? Not really. I’ve trained myself to write no matter what, so my habit just takes the form of doing it every day. Making the commitment to get it done, no matter how or what or why.

When you ventured into the world of YA, why did you chose to write under Lili St Crow rather than Lilith?

That was a decision taken in conjunction with the publisher, to make it very clear that I was writing in a different genre with different expectations.

Can you tell us anything about the next Strange Angels novel?

I’m working on Book 4 right now, and Book 3, Jealousy, isn’t out yet. So I’m kind of torn—which one should I talk about? I suppose it would be fairest if I spoke about Jealousy. The title kind of speaks for itself.

I’ve always seen jealousy as one of the biggest and most insidious problems in high school. There’s this complete lack of proportion and this social pressure, and popularity or even just plain fitting in and finding a peer group is often played as a zero-sum game: the more for you means the less for me. I don’t think our current system does a good job at teaching kids compromise and cooperation as an non-zero-sum game. So when people hit the adult world, there’s this all or nothing habit of interacting with people that’s very hard to break. Some people never grow out of it.

But you wanted to know about the book, right? Well, this is the book where Dru finds out more about how her mother died and who was truly responsible. The traitor to the Order is unmasked, and there is a price to be paid for Dru’s acts of kindness. Dru also learns a great deal more about what it means to be a part of the Real World, the world of all these things that go bump in the night.

Are you working on anything non-Strange Angels related at the moment that you’d like to share with us?

I’m actually incredibly busy right now, with a ton of short stories for anthologies in process and the next Jill Kismet novel (one of my adult series) pretty much wrapped up and sent to the editor to begin the revisions process. I like being busy.

Thanks so much for having me here!

Stephanie Kuehnert’s new book, Ballads of Suburbia, is our Book of the Month here at yaReads. We think Stephanie is a pretty amazing story teller and is a breath of fresh air in the world of Young Adult fiction. She deviates from the regular YA formula and her books are confronting, edgy, and real. It’s great to see someone pushing the boundaries. She was kind enough to answer some of our questions about Ballads, for your reading pleasure. Enjoy!

If you had to choose a ballad that fits your own life story what would it be?

Okay, this is seriously the hardest question anyone has ever asked me! It’s hard for me to choose just one because different phases of my life had different songs. I guess, I’d have to say “The Young Crazed Peeling” by The Distillers though. There are things that don’t apply literally (I’m not from Melbourne, I didn’t have an abusive dad, though my mom does blame herself for me growing up troubled a bit), but it’s basically to me about getting through your rough teenage years where you’re bored and troubled and as Brody sings “you can wash it all down, swallow your story, get smacked up, yeah and go down in drum roll glory,  but it won’t solve it, committing self inflicted crime.” And then you’re “liberated from those sad side city streets”, find love, speak truth, and  ”it hit me, I got everything I need. I got freedom and my youth.” Basically my troubled youth ended well, and gave me a gift of creativity, and I finally did find good love.

You’re obviously heavily influenced by music. What are your top three bands/artists of all time?

Nirvana, Hole, and Social Distortion, all of whom I discovered between the ages of 12 and 14.

Where does your musical influence come from?
Somewhere around age 10 or so music became as essential to me as food, water and air. I got into the Beatles first, through my parents. Then we got MTV and I started getting into alternative rock like REM, Jane’s Addiction, Depeche Mode and Faith No More as well as heavier stuff like Metallica and Megadeth. I had a couple friends who were always discovering new bands first, like one of them got Nirvana’s first album Bleach right before Nevermind came out and they got huge. One of them got stuff from a cool older cousin. That was where I heard Hole’s first album and I remember that friend brought the first Nine Inch Nails album to my 12th birthday party and we were like “The devil wants to f*** me in the back of his car?!?” BAD-ASS! But really it was Nirvana that had the hugest influence. Something about how Kurt Cobain screamed, it just soothed all that hurt inside and I wanted more music like that. So I bought bands’ albums that he mentioned in interviews. That’s how I discovered the Sex Pistols. Nirvana and The Sex Pistols were my two favorite bands in junior high and from there I went on to discover more punk. Punk gave me voice and a sense of release. It all comes from that.

Now for Ballads, how long did it take to write?

Actual writing time probably 2 years, but I wrote a really, really crappy book when I first started the creative writing program at Columbia in 2000/2001 called The Morning After. It had some of the same characters from Ballads, but it was a fictionalized version of my own life and that was not what I wanted to do. I had something to say about suburbia and I wanted to do it justice and find the write structure for it. So I shoved that manuscript in a drawer and went on to write my first published novel, I Wanna Be Your Joey Ramone. In the middle of doing that, while I was in grad school, I took a class with Joe Meno and he did this whole lesson on ballads and that was when I realized I needed these confessional type ballads for my suburbia book. Still, I finished writing IWBYJR and then came back to Ballads in 2006. I need a lot of stewing time for my books. But the ballad structure was exactly what I needed. I wrote the book fast. I think the only scene from The Morning After that made the cut though was when Kara and Adrian meet.

***SUPER SPOILER WARNING***

Did you make a conscious decision to kill of Maya, or did the story kind of write itself that way?

I knew Maya was dead when I met her. Ballads, unlike IWBYJR, I wrote linearly. I wrote that epilogue first and when Kara had that vision of Maya, I saw her too and I knew that Maya was dead. I knew how she would kill herself too, but I had to discover the whys through the writing, let Maya slowly reveal them to me.

A lot of the characters in Ballads (Liam and Kara especially) say that love is for suckers, yet they both end up falling for the people they’re messing around with. Do you think that people can have no-strings attached relationships like they were both aiming for?

Kara’s story is not as uncommon as society would have us think. Why do you think teens (and people in general, I suppose) turn to self-mutilation, drugs and substance abuse to help solve their problems? Well, I can’t speak for everyone, but I can speak for myself and I would say no. I had a couple Adrian style relationships when I was younger and always got emotionally involved and got hurt. Now I’m a very emotional person so that is just me, but when I’ve seen other people do it, it seems like someone always gets hurt too.

Kara’s story is not as uncommon as society would have us think. Why do you think teens (and people in general, I suppose) turn to self-mutilation, drugs and substance abuse to help solve their problems?

Because as a society we don’t communicate well. That’s kind of the whole theme of Ballads, the whole tragedy of it. If parents had talked to children or children had talked to parents or other trusted adults or each other, things might not have happened the way they did. I hope this story creates a dialogue and gets people talking so fewer kids suffer in silence like the characters in Ballads and like I did as a teen too.

If Kara’s parents had stayed together, do you think she would have gone down a different road, or do you think she was destined to learn life’s lessons the way she did?

Well, it depends. If they stayed together for the right reasons and actually created a healthy environment, then maybe things would have been different. But “staying together for the kids” and creating this unhealthy silence wouldn’t haven changed things. Also Kara had other issues. She felt isolated and friendless, she might have still gone down the same path because of that. I don’t think anyone is destined for anything, there are always choices, but there are also always multiple factors that shape why we act the way we do.

***SUPER SPOILER WARNING***

Do you think Adrian will ever clean himself up?

Um, I don’t know. Part of me wants to hold out hope. Part of me is cynical because I have friends (ex-friends really) who are still in the throes of addiction and it seems like they will never come out. Adrian’s a lot like them because he just doesn’t care. If you don’t care enough to save yourself, you’re pretty much screwed. No one can save you but you.

For all those people out there who live by the motto “once a drug addict, always a drug addict” what do you have to say to that?

Depends what you mean by that. If it’s like a negative thing, like people can never turn their lives around, I think that is bullshit. There are always choices and opportunity for change. But it is a fight to overcome an addiction. I struggled with self-injury and even though I haven’t cut in eight years when a friend of mine was killed in a motorcycle accident last year, it took unbelievable willpower not to go back to old ways of running from pain. So yeah, you are always an addict in that sense where it’s not like you can just indulge again without consequences. But you can start fresh and turn your life around.

What would be your advice to teens reading Ballads that might be following a similar path as Kara?

Find someone trusted to talk to. Friends are good, but finding an adult is important too. There is no shame in therapy. My life didn’t turn around until I seriously started going to therapy. That combined with my art–my writing–helped me through my darkest times. Art is the best escape– no hangovers, no regrets, no scars. Finding some form of art–music, writing, painting, photos, film–to express yourself with is the best way to begin to heal. Along with talking. Talking is so necessary.

What are you working on now?

I’m working on a few different things. It takes a while for the ideas to formulate so I do more than one thing at once until I really get going. I’m working on a book about a teenage girl and her alcoholic, still-teenage-acting mom trying to grow up and finally put down roots somewhere together. Then I’m working on a book with paranormal elements, that involves mythology and rock ‘n’ roll.

Maggie Stiefvater is one of our fave authors here at yaReads. So when we were presented with the opportunity to run with her as our feature author for the month of September, we jumped on it. Although we realize we’re now in the very last days of September, we reckon her interview is better late than never. As always, she’s got some pretty interesting things to say. Be warned, this one contains spoilers!

Why did you choose Minnesota as your setting?

I was looking for someplace that already had a resident wolf population in the United States. Someplace cold. Cold and suburban. I could’ve done Wyoming, but I lived in Wisconsin, right next door to Minnesota, for a few years as a kid, so I had some experience of the landscape.

Grace thinks the reason she never turned into a wolf when she was bitten was because of the fever she got straight afterwards … are you going to elaborate on this in future books?

Oh am I ever.

When was the exact moment that Sam realised he was in love with Grace?

That is up to reader interpretation. I’m inclined to think it was probably while he watched her read on the tire swing. Readers love other readers.

Some of us here at yaReads are also wondering what exactly happened to Jack’s body. Can you tell us?

At which point? You mean, after he met his untimely end? I’m assuming he’s buried out in the back forty. The FBI could probably have a field day with Beck’s backyard.

Can you dish any goss about the next novel?

No, I can only be enigmatic and say that there is a lot more Isabel, and Grace, and it will be fun.

In an age where more and more books are being adapted for screen, we love to try and ‘cast’ the characters in our fave novels. Who can you envisage playing Sam and Grace?

I actually did a long blog post about this (http://m-stiefvater.livejournal.com/123623.html) but the short version is that I see Alex Turner (the lead singer of the Arctic Monkeys) as Sam and Eliza Bennett (from Inkheart) for Grace.

In the event that someone wanted to buy it, would you sell Shiver to a film company?

In a New York minute. There is considerable interest but that’s all I can say at the moment.

Since Lament came out, you’ve been super busy. How long did Shiver take you to write?

Four months.

For you, what has been the best thing about your ride to literary success so far?

Whew. Um. It was pretty wonderful seeing the cover for Shiver for the first time. Also, hitting the bestseller list was pretty amazing and woozy-making.

Any downsides?

There’s an incredible amount of busywork that is associated with it — a ton of emails and edits and non-writing things. Also, there’s some pressure to make the next book at least as good as the last one.

In books about paranormal teen relationships, why do you think the boy is most often the one with the supernatural abilities?

I think because it’s more interesting to look at the supernatural from the outside, and the protagonists are often girls because that’s the intended audience for a lot of YA. So we get these girls looking at these supernatural guys from the outside. Thought in Lament, Deirdre also has her supernatural bits, and it’s not at all the dynamic in Ballad. Also, you’ll see a complete shift in Linger.

The YA paranormal romance genre is huge right now. What is it specifically about werewolves, vampires and the dark side that you think is so appealing?

For me, it’s because I believe in that . . . *something more*. Something outside of ordinary. It’s not that I believe in werewolves or faeries per se, but I do believe in . . . something more. And writing about them lets me write about that feeling of wonder and curiosity. I also love to play with metaphor, and werewolves are great metaphors for all sort of different things.

Can you imagine yourself ever writing in a different genre?

I could possibly shift from urban fantasy to dystopia. I have a lot of ideas in that department. But I think I will always write something that can be classified speculative fiction.

What are you working on at the moment?

The third book in the Shiver series, Forever.

Richelle Mead is the author of the ever popular Vampire Academy series. The much anticipated fourth book in the series, Blood Promise, is scheduled for release on August 25 for Americans and August 26 for Australians. As a bit of a teaser, Richelle was kind enough to take time out of her busy schedule to answer some questions about herself, and her beloved vampire series to get you ready for Blood Promise. Fear no, there are no spoilers in this interview, so sit back, grab a cuppa, and enjoy the show…

The age difference between Dimitri and Rose is quite big, why/how did you decide to make Rose’s love interest a much older man?

Well, it’s not that big a difference!  Questions like this are hard to answer because my response is usually “because it felt right.”   That’s just the way their story needed to be told.  When I started conceiving the characters and the world, it just came together that Rose and her instructor would fall for each other.  And of course, it adds the dangerous and forbidden element that we all love.

Lissa and Rose are an unlikely match, personality wise. If they weren’t bonded, do you think they’d be friends?

Absolutely!  They actually were friends years before the bond existed.  I think it’s a pretty common phenomenon (the friendship, not the bond!).  Sometimes we need to be around people who have different traits to complement our own, and I’ve had a lot of teens write me and say their friendships are just like Lissa and Rose’s.

The Vampire Academy world has three ‘types’ of vampires. Why/how did you decide to separate the good, evil and half breeds into three separate races?

This is actually a concept found in Romanian folklore.  I loved the idea of it, especially since it was so different from the usual images of vampires that are out there.  So, I used pieces of that myth as the basis for my world and then built my story around it.

All throughout the VA series, there have been references to Russian language and culture, especially in Blood Promise. Do you have any familial ties or previous interest/experience with all things Russian?

I actually have no connections whatsoever to Russian or Romanian culture—and struggle when people ask me to pronounce some of the VA terms!  I chose to have both cultures influence the VA world because those regions have such fantastic vampire stories in their folklore.  So, it seemed natural that Eastern Europe would be where a lot of my vampires came from.  Without having visited, I have to do a lot of research to make things work!  I read a lot and am lucky enough to know people who speak the languages.

Do you name your books, or does your publisher have some input, too?

They definitely have input.  In fact, I’d say the relationship in selecting titles is 50/50.  We can’t go forward until we have a title we all like, and Shadow Kiss is notorious for having taken months.  So, we end up constantly swapping suggestions back and forth, and every time, one hits that gets us all excited.

How easy/hard was your rise to publication success?

Publication is never easy for anyone.  There are so many variables that affect success: book quality, promotion, timing, and a lot of luck!  Any of these can have their own degree of difficulty.  Mine were mixed, which is typical of most authors.

Before the Vampire Academy books were released, you wrote adult fiction (and still do). What prompted your move into the YA genre?

I had some extra time (if only I did now!) and wanted to start a new project.  Since I was a teacher then, someone suggested YA, and I thought it sounded like a lot of fun.  I was also interested in it was because it was so different from my adult books, and writers always looking for new ways to experiment with their creativity!

What is your fave book?

I have a few faves, but let’s go with The Mists of Avalon by Marion Zimmer Bradley.

What do you enjoy doing when you’re not writing?

I do a lot of mundane things like reading and watching TV.  I also occasionally try my hand at gardening (with varying results) and have been dabbling in genealogy recently.  Probably one of my very favourite things is socializing with friends, which gets tough to fit in with books always being due!

For you, what is the best and worst things about being a writer?

The best part is that I absolutely love it, which is so important because even the most wonderful jobs will have hard, stressful, hair-pulling days.  It’s hard to get through those days if you aren’t passionate about your work, and I definitely am.  I love my characters, their worlds, and their stories. The hardest part is that the job rests on me.  I don’t work for anyone.  I sell my books to my publishers, and then it’s up to me to make sure I finish them.  So, this job requires a lot of discipline and time management to go with the romance and glamour.  It’s up to me to make sure I’m putting in the time and giving the books the attention they deserve.  It can be very stressful sometimes!

Stay tuned for our review of Blood Promise coming your way on the day of release!

The Demon’s Lexicon by Sarah Rees Brennan is our Book of the Month here at yaReads. Sarah added to her already huge stack of awesomeness this week and agreed to an interview with us for your reading pleasure. Enjoy.

So, since we’re running a contest that offers both the UK and the US covers as prizes, I have to ask: which one is your fave cover and why?

My favourite cover out of all my covers? Definitely my Japanese cover! Check it out: http://www.sarahreesbrennan.com/japancoversmall.jpg Is it not the greatest cover in the world? I’m having it made into posters to pass out when I am on tour with Scott Westerfeld in October. (Yes, you heard that right. Imagine that phone call as ‘You free to go on tour with Scott Westerfeld?’ *scream* *crash* *gurgling sound of someone trying to both faint and have hysterics* ‘… Yes, that sounds acceptable to me.’)

I like both my UK and US covers: I love how noir and dangerous the UK cover looks, and how the boy on the US cover is good-looking with just a hint of something dark in the eyes - and that underneath the US cover there’s a Secret Cover.

The Demon’s Lexicon world is kind of a mash of a whole bunch of urban fantasy genres. You’ve got everything magical in there. Was that a conscious decision or did it just kind of happen naturally?

I feel magic is like chocolate - adding it makes everything better. I’m never really able to believe that just one fantastical thing is true (witches are real but nothing else is, vampires are real but nothing else is) and I wanted to have a secret world that was believable, and magic that was used in a dozen different ways. Including using it for profit!

Nick is a very fierce character. Please explain.

Well, Nick has a lot to be upset about… Heh. I kept seeing characters who were watered-down versions of the mad, bad and dangerous to know type like Rochester and Heathcliff, and I really wanted to write a character who was mad, bad and dangerous to know - but from the inside, so nobody was distracted by the smouldering good looks (well… not very distracted) and so I could see how that character really ticked, make it clear that this kind of behaviour didn’t come from a good place and also (with some luck!) write a character who was still compelling despite all that.

I’m always interested in how authors choose names for their beloved characters. So, how did you choose yours?

Honestly I am always freaked out by characters with bizarre names in books. So many people with strange names like Faraday Moonfeather, so few explanations like ‘My parents were vampire elders/hippies/thought being beaten up on the playground would build moral fibre.’ So I knew I wanted really normal names for my characters, in order to fight the trend. So, Nick and Alan, normal names that I like. Plus it amuses me that Old Nick is one of the names for the devil, and it seemed a good fit for my slightly villainous hero.

Mae and Jamie, the other two main characters, were chosen to be not so strange and yet say something about their characters: Mae calls herself Mae after Mae West, truly one of the most awesome old movie stars ever (a couple of Mae West quotes: ‘Marriage is a fine institution… but I’m not ready for an institution yet’ and ‘Used to be Snow White, but I drifted’) and Mae Jemison, the first African-American woman in space, which says a lot about Mae, and Jamie goes with a cute, non-threatening nickname rather than ‘James.’

Of course then I found out that ‘Jamie’ can also be a girl’s name in America. I’m so sorry, Jamie!

Did your plot, or your characters for The Demon’s Lexicon come first?

I knew the end of the book first, so you could say that plot came first, but the plot is really bound up with the characters: things only pan out the way they do because the people in the book are the people they are - a compulsive liar, a power addict, someone with an anger management problem and someone with a huge secret - so it’s very hard for me to disentangle the two.

How long did it take – from start to finish – to write The Demon’s Lexicon?

From having the idea to being totally finished, with revising it myself, revising it with my agent, revising it with my editor and copy edits done? Two years. (But I was writing other stuff by the time I was in copy edits… like the sequel!)

You were a Librarian before you were a writer. Do you miss it?

I was a library assistant, not even as fancy as a librarian. I will tell you one thing I miss about it - story hour at the library every Wednesday. I love reading aloud and running around, and we’d read Where the Wild Things Are and then scream ‘LET THE WILD RUMPUS BEGIN!’ and jog around the children’s space as we all screamed and threw up our hands.

… My bosses never need to know this about me.

You lived in New York for a short period. What did you love most about that? Why did you decide to move back to Ireland?

Well, I moved back to Ireland because I only had a year’s visa as an intern, and the Law asks Questions of a young lady who stays on when her visa is expired…

But I did live in New York, yes, and I loved it. Part of it was just how different life is over there. ‘And what do you call this?’ ‘Mac and cheese…’ ‘Ah, MAC and CHEESE. Mmm, exotic.’ ‘And this delicacy?’ ‘Meatloaf.’ ‘Today I sampled the dish known as the Meat Loaf, Mother. I have as yet suffered no ill effects!’

And partly it was that New York is one of those sprawling, wonderful cities full of discoveries to be made. like a street with quotes written on every paving stone, and biker gangs who end up adopting you (long stories) and friends who don’t abandon you even though you shame them in your paroxysms over bubble tea.

As a first time novelist, is being a writer lived up to everything you thought it would?

I don’t think I ever had a clear idea of what it would be like: I spent years and years having it be a dizzy dream - I wasn’t able to think past publishers saying yes before they did, and when they did I didn’t spend any time thinking: I spent my time either ecstatically dreaming of huge success, or coldly fearing terrible failure.

Even now, there have only been a few moments where I could quietly process what’s happened: when I’m sitting down writing a book that I know someone besides my Great-Aunt Jemima will read, or reading a lovely email from someone who enjoyed the book, or curled up with tea and copy-edits. And then I think ‘Wow, I am so lucky’ and try to think about something else fast lest the luck be broken.

What is your fave fantasy novel?

I absolutely cannot pick one. I love far too many. But possibly my favourite fantasy novelist in the world is Diana Wynne Jones, who makes fantasy both funny and believable all the time, and ties it into issues like fantasy, love, family and betrayal in a way that hits all my fantasy-loving buttons at once with a massive hammer.

Do you get into contemporary/realist fiction?

I get into every kind of fiction there is! I love historical, crime, classics, romance, and everything in between. An extremely brilliant contemporary novel I’ve read recently is Jaclyn Mitchard’s The Deep End of the Ocean, about a young boy stolen from his family, and how his loss affects both his mother and his rebellious older brother. (It’s obvious at this point that families in fiction are one of my favourite things!)

You did an MA in Creative Writing. Is this something that you would recommend to all aspiring writers?

It would depend on the course, and also what they wanted to write. My tutor Liz Jensen (The Ninth Life of Louis Drax) was awesome and taught me a lot, but there were also a few people who thought fantasy was a waste of time. On the whole, I’m really glad I did the course, but I think it’s something everyone has to think over very carefully and then decide for themselves.

Which do you prefer…

Coffee or tea?

Tea. You might think this means I don’t have a problem, but tea actually has more caffeine in it than coffee, and I am on a good thirteen cups a day. Tea is my heroin. baby.

Summer or winter?

Summer! I love the sunshine. Which is sad for me, as the Irish summer lasts approximately three days.

Carrot or icecream?

How can you even ask me that? What do you take me for? Ice-cream! I just had burnt sugar and butter ice-cream while I was in Massachusetts, and honestly I still dream about it.

London or New York?

Oh. That one is really, really tough. I will say New York, because America has being exotic going on for it, and there is always something fun and strange happening in New York (though there’s mostly something fun and strange happening in London.) Still, given the Victorian tea parlour that’s secretly a bar, the library that’s secretly a bar, the underground spyhole that’s secretly a bar, the beauty shop that’s secretly a bar (What… I’m IRISH) I’ll have to go with New York. But I love both!

Patrick Ness is the brilliant author of the Chaos Walking trilogy. The second (and latest) novel in the series, The Ask and The Answer, is on shelves in the UK and Australia now, and is nothing short of spectacular. Patrick sat down with us last week to answer some of our burning questions about his beloved series…

Where did the idea of the Chaos Walking trilogy come from?

It was two ideas really, as I like to say, one serious, one stupid.  The serious one was that the world is a noisy place already, with mobiles and the internet and networking sites and on and on.  You can’t really turn anywhere without someone telling you their opinion.  So I thought the next logical step was, what if you couldn’t get away?  What if you and everyone else was completely robbed of privacy?  Especially if you were a young person.

The other idea was that I’ve never liked books about talking dogs, and I thought it would be funny to have a dog character talk like an actual dog would, instead of just being a miniature person.  And I think dogs would talk about things important to a dog, like eating and going to the bathroom and how excited they were to see you.

That’s how it began, and it just grew from there.

Viola and Todd are both incredibly mature for 12/13 years old. How did you decide on their age?

Well, they’re as mature as many young people on the cusp of adulthood:  really savvy about some things and just learning about others.  Plus, Viola was trained for her role as someone who’d scope out the planet (you find this out in the free short story about her available on booktrust.org.uk), and Todd was raised without a childhood really, having to get right in there with work and responsibility.  It’s a more old-fashioned idea of what 13 year olds used to have to do.

In The Ask and the Answer, it becomes clear that Todd and Viola are totally in love with each other. Do you think that they’re too young to really understand that kind of love?

I disagree that they’re “totally in love” with each other.  I think that implies regular teenage romance, which isn’t at all what Todd and Viola have.  They learn that they really have to rely on one another, in a way far beyond just a simple romance.  I think it’s deeper than that.  They’re lost people who found one another, and they may not being able to understand all the depths of that just yet, but I think they’re more than smart enough to know how important the other is to them.  And that’s because they’ve each earned it, through hard circumstance.

Todd has the bravery of a grown man. Where did he learn that?

I’m sensing some reluctance about Todd’s age!  Again, in a hard-scrabble farming community, he’d be forced through necessity to learn so much more.  He’d have no choice.  Plus, there’s the issue that the year may be a bit longer on his planet (13 months instead of 12).  And most importantly, he was raised by two great, kind men, Ben and Cillian.  Both of whom are very brave and who kept Todd as decent and kind as they could.  I think Todd is the recipient of some really excellent parenting, and that always helps.

When you started the trilogy, did you always know how it was going to end, or were you making it up as you went?

I knew how it was going to end before I wrote the first sentence actually.  It’s a practice of mine; I may not know exactly how I’m going to get there, but I know how I want to leave the reader, the last feeling I want to leave them with.  So, yes, I knew the very last sentence before I wrote the first one and a general idea of the story.  I left it loose enough for surprises, though, and a few good ones popped up.

If there was one thing that you wanted your readers to take away from Chaos Walking, what would that be?

I always worry that if I start out thinking in terms like that then I end up writing a lesson rather than a story.  Hopefully, if I pay proper attention to what the story wants to be and try to make it the best story possible, then there will be things in there for the reader to take away anyway.  I think that’s the best way; that way you never preach.  Having said that, looking back on the books now, they’re probably most about how hope lies in the people we love, that if you can find someone to count on and who counts on you, then that’s probably the best meaning life is going to get.  A hopeful message.

From start to finish, how long does it take you to write a book?

Usually about year or so.  Six or seven months writing the first draft, then five or six rewriting and editing.  But I work pretty hard.  I should probably take a few more holidays, frankly!

Do you have any quirky habits that help you write?

Well, I’m a long-distance runner (a couple marathons under my belt), and running is great for sorting out plotting problems.  I get my best ideas while out running.  Probably the rhythmic meditative aspect of it.  Breathe in regularly for 20 minutes and your brain’s probably nice and calm.

Who is your all time fave fictional character?

I think Buffy the Vampire Slayer is a great and glorious creation.  Smart, kick-ass, extremely funny, but recognisably with real problems.  Genius.  Not that I want be her, necessarily, but she’d be unbeatable as a friend.

When you’re not writing, what are you doing?

Usually running, my big hobby, though there hasn’t been much non-writing time lately!  The books are pretty long, and I’m working hard on the third volume, making sure the series has a good finish.

What are you reading at the moment?

I’m reading Bettany’s Book by Thomas Keneally.  And next is Fraction of the Whole by Steve Toltz, which is just coincidence that it’s two Australians in a row, but you won’t find me complaining.

Before we go, can you divulge any insider’s secrets about the last Chaos Walking novel?

Nope, sorry.  Even the title’s a secret for now.  Though I can say I’ve already written the ending, and without giving anything away about whether the ending itself is  happy or sad (because you never know with me!), I can say that I’m really, really pleased with it and very happy for it to be the end of the whole series.  Rarely do you get exactly what you want when you set out to write, but this ending is exactly what I wanted.  And it may not be what you expect…

If you haven’t read The Knife of Never Letting Go or The Ask and the Answer, we suggest you put your shoes on and head down to your nearest book store and get yourself a copy!

To celebrate the release of The Geek Girl’s Guide to Cheerleading by Charity Tahmaseb and Darcy Vance, yaReads is participating in a blog tour organised by Goddess Fish. Below is an interview with the two authors. Enjoy!

Urban Fantasy and paranormal are really hot in the YA book world right now. Have either of you ever written, or considered writing a book in either of those genres?

C: A (long) while back, I wrote a paranormal romantic mystery from the point of view of a ghost who was haunting his ex-wife (whom he still loved very much). Despite the fact I consider myself genre savvy, I completely missed the memo about the alpha male in paranormal romance. No one wanted a meterosexual ghost who eventually learned how to manifest in his favorite Armani suit. That, and I totally messed up the whole ghost/human happily ever after. #paranormalfail

D: The first novel-length fiction I wrote contained some magical elements, but it was really more of a ‘quest’ story. The third novel I wrote had some spooky stuff going on in it, but it all turned out to be explainable in the end. I’ve had an idea about a girl who can fly stuck in my head for about four years now – but so far I can’t get her to come out.

Do either of you read urban fantasy or paranormal? If yes, who are your favorite authors in the genre?

C: Melissa Marr’s and Libba Bray’s series are on the top of my list. Also, in looking at my reading log, I seem to have a fondness for dystopia fiction (The Hunger Games, How I Live Now, Life As We Knew It). I also really enjoyed Elsewhere by Gabrielle Zevin.

D: I love Scott Westerfeld’s Uglies series but I liked Peeps even more! I’m also a pretty big fan of Libba Bray’s Gemma Doyle books. I’ve been pretty busy lately so I haven’t read A Sweet Far Thing yet though. I’m excited to say it is next on my To Be Read pile!

Did you read UF or paranormal books when you were a teen?

C: I loved the Chronicles of Narnia. I’m not sure The Lord of the Rings trilogy qualifies, since I didn’t read that until college. What’s great is I’m revisiting Narnia with my kids. My daughter in particular is very taken with the series.

D: Urban fantasy is a fairly new genre, and I’m a fairly old person. I did read a lot of other fantasy though. I loved Mary Stewart’s series about Merlin. And, as a certified geek, I am required by law to be a Lord of the Rings fan. (I’d be a fan even if it wasn’t required though – Frodo Lives!)

If you were required to place a paranormal element in The Geek Girl’s Guide to Cheerleading what would it be?

C: When my son took an ARC of The Geek Girl’s Guide to Cheerleading to school to show teachers/friends, the girl who sat next to him in orchestra asked why we didn’t ”write something like Twilight.” So … I’m going with vampires. I’m now sure how we’d get them into the story, but we’d get them in there.

D: I think I’d choose to have Elizabeth Bennet’s (From Pride and Prejudice) ghost following our main character (Bethany) around. She could give her some really great advice, though I think there are things in the modern world that Lizzie would not approve of.

Unicorns versus zombies?

C: Since I am a charter member of the “Unicorn Sisters Club” (as started by my daughter), I’m going to have go with unicorns. Besides, zombies scare me.

D: I ♥ zombies but I have to take unicorns for the win. They are faster! And they have horns!

Alex Sanchez is the author of many young adult books featuring queer characters and relationships. His books have won many awards and he is regarded as one of the most popular and influential writers of fiction for gay youth. Some of his titles include The Rainbow Boys trilogy, The God Box, So Hard to Say, and Getting It. His latest novel, Bait, is in stores now. In celebration of Gay Pride Month, Alex was kind enough to sit down and answer a few of our questions. Here’s what he had to say…

What made you decide to write books about gay teens?

I didn’t set out to write Y.A. Lit. When I wrote my first novel, Rainbow Boys, I was simply writing the book I wished I’d had available to read when I was a teen—a book that would’ve told me, “It’s okay to be who you are.” Part of who I was then was a very normal teenage boy trying to sort out love, friendship, sex, and sexuality.

If you weren’t a writer, what would you be doing with your life?

Prior to becoming a full-time author, I worked as a website manager, organizational development consultant, juvenile probation officer, family counselor, scuba instructor, college recruiter, movie projectionist, agent trainee, movie production assistant, theatre usher, stock clerk, and tour guide. Who knows what else I might be doing?

We’re featuring The Rainbow Boys trilogy on our site this month for Gay Pride Month. Where did the inspiration for those books come about?

A lot of the inspiration came from seeing young people nowadays who have the courage and opportunity to come out and be themselves in high school. When I was in high school, the term “coming out” didn’t even exist. The early 70’s was a time when gay people were practically invisible. I thought I was the only one in the world with my feelings. This was back in the dark ages—before Will & Grace.

Which character – Jason, Kyle, or Nelson – came to you first?

I began writing the book in 1993, so I don’t remember which character came first. I wanted to write a love story between two teenage boys—that’s where Jason and Kyle came from. And I wanted to write about the friendship between two boys—that’s where Kyle and Nelson’s story came from. The triangle between the three boys is what makes the story hang together.

Why did you decide to write this series through three different points of view, rather than just one character’s perspective?

I wanted to allow the reader to experience how three very different gay and bisexual teenage boys experience the world differently.

Do you have a favourite out of the three boys?

Each boy captures an aspect of myself—and of universal human drives. Jason struggles to love himself. Kyle wants to find someone to love. Nelson wants to find someone to love him.

Jason loses his college scholarship when he comes out. Do you think this kind of thing is still a common occurrence in modern America?

Unfortunately, homophobia is alive and pervasive in America. I recently received the following words in an email from a boy who came out at his school:  “I ended up getting kicked off of like five activities. And I didn’t make the football, basketball, or baseball team even though I was captain in all three my junior year. And I wasn’t sure whether they’re allowed to do that. I mean, I’m not a bad athlete or anything.”

What do you have to say to teens that might be in Jason’s position?

Keep reaching out.  Never close up.  Never give up.  Hang in there.  You will get through this.  You are a wonderful human being.  Love, respect, and accept yourself for the beautiful soul you are.

While all three boys in The Rainbow Boys eventually come out, and are relatively happy with their decision to do so, not all teens are so lucky. What advice do you have for teens that might be struggling with coming out?

Coming out can be a very freeing thing. You no longer have to hide who you are, censor what your say, and watch what you do. Being honest and open enables you to feel confident about yourself and more able to form closer relationships with people. But because homophobia is so pervasive in our society, you never know how others will react. A big part of coming out is whether you’re prepared to deal with anti-gay reactions that may come from your being open. There is no rush to come out. TAKE YOUR TIME. The most important thing is that YOU love and accept yourself for who you are. Don’t do anything before you feel ready. It’s your life and your choice. Only you can decide if, how, with whom, and when to come out.

Where can questioning or gay teens find information that might help them through their self-discovery?

If you’re a teen and want to talk with someone, contact one of the organizations listed at my website, www.alexsanchez.com. And read all my books! They will help you.

Peace, Alex.

Rachel Caine is the author of the popular Morganville Vampire series. The sixth book, Carpe Corpus, was released this week. Being the huge supporters of the Morganville books that we are, yaReads couldn’t pass up an opportunity to sit down and pick Rachel’s brains… enjoy!

For those that might not understand, can you please explain the title ‘Carpe Corpus‘

Seize the Body?  ☺  Well, it refers to a couple of things … first, Bishop’s struggle to take over Morganville, and the fighting that goes on around it.  Second, the relationship between Claire and Shane.  And that’s all I’m going to say about that.

For Latin purists:  Yes, technically it should be Carpe Corpum.  But that just didn’t look nearly as cool.

The cover is spectacular – did you have any input into the design?

No, I didn’t, my wonderful publisher deserves all the credit!  I honestly wouldn’t have had any idea what kind of image to go with for this one.

Which Morganville cover is your fave?

In terms of the US covers, I’d have to say Feast of Fools, just because Michael looks so *gorgeous* on it.  In terms of British covers, the new, awesome design for Lord of Misrule is just spectacular and luscious.

This is book six in the Morganville series – do you feel like you know your characters a lot more these days? Do you have trouble (still) writing any of them?

Oddly enough, the Morganville books have never presented that much trouble for me.  The characters, town and situations seem very clear, and it’s a great experience writing them.  Certainly I’m delving deeper and deeper, both into the characters and into the town itself.  So it continues to be fun and fascinating work!

Do you have a fave Morganville character?

I always feel so guilty when I say this, but … Shane.  Yes.  It’s Shane.  Although I truly enjoy writing ALL of them, from Oliver to Eve to Amelie to Myrnin.  And Michael is just adorably fun, like the big brother I never had.

Have you always known exactly how the Morganville books are going to end, or are you writing it as it comes to you?

A mixture of both.  I knew my ending, but I didn’t know all the twists and turns it would take to get there.  The thing is, after book 6, I’m on my own.  No more roadmaps.  Although I think FADE OUT (the next book) really is a true stand-alone story.

What life lessons do you want your readers to take from Morganville (if any at all)?

I don’t know if I’m a “lesson” writer, but if I am, it’s all about friendship and sacrifice.  About keeping a good heart in the face of bad things.  I’m an optimist, and I think the stories reflect that, as dark as they get.

Why do you think teen vampire novels are so popular right now?

Vampires are, and always have been both cool and outside the mainstream … which is extraordinarily attractive when you’re a teen.  Party all night.  Sleep all day.  Never grow old.  It’s the Lost Boys mantra, and it completely describes what’s so great about the idea of being a vampire.  (The liquid diet part, not so much.)

Having said that, though … there’s a lot of variation in the way writers are approaching the theme, which is great!  There are relationship-driven vampire books.  There are dark suspense books.  There are adventure books (which is probably where mine fall).  Funny vampire books.  So there’s room for everything.

What was the last book you read?

I’m currently reading Lee Child’s ENEMY, which is a Jack Reacher novel.  I’m about to start CEMETERY DANCE by Douglas Preston & Lincoln Child.  Prior to that, I read John Maddox Roberts’ SPQR book THE PRINCESS AND THE PIRATE.

*********SPOILERS AHEAD************

You’ve been teasing fans with Shane and Claire for four entire books now – how does it feel to finally give us what we want?

Honestly?  Terrifying.  I really felt the weight of responsibility in trying to make that moment seem real and right, but also have lasting impact and consequences to their lives.

You wrote the “Shane and Claire” scene perfectly. Did it come easily or did you write and rewrite it a lot before you were happy with it?

I am so relieved you think it came out well!  I worried a lot about it.  I think it came out as I wanted it on the first draft, and then I worried about whether or not what I wanted out of it was the right thing.  So … yes and no.  I fiddled with it a lot, but it was mainly just nerves rather than real rewriting.

Although one of my fabulous beta readers did point out that Shane’s been in prison for a long time.  He WILL want to take a shower.  And we WILL want o him to.

Are you worried about parental pushback about the sex issue in this instalment?

Yes, of course.  It was an issue that I really had to think about and talk over with my publisher, and we are prepared for some negative comments about it.  But I did take the step of asking for blind readers who self-identified as conservatives, with children, and sent them the book for pre-read to see whether or not they would find it appropriate.  9 out of 10 thought it was a positive approach, so I feel fairly confident that I was in the right place with it.

Are we going to be seeing more of Dean? Something tells me that we might…

You might.  ☺  And not in a good way.

The Morganville books are famous for their nail biting cliffhanger endings. Carpe Corpus does not have a cliffhanger. What made you decide to do this?

I really had planned to finish the series in Book 6 – that was my original contract length with the publisher.  So I had planned the story arc to finish there, which is why there isn’t a cliffhanger.

Also, I was tired of being pelted with tomatoes.  ☺  No, seriously, I never intended it to become such a thing … it just did.  And I was kind of relieved to stop doing it.

I was truly overjoyed that my publisher wanted to continue to explore Morganville for another 3 books!

Can you give us any hints about what is coming in Fade Out?

Sure!  You’ll find out that the town of Morganville puts on an annual play, and Eve gets a prominent role, which is a life-long dream for her.  She also becomes instafriends with a fellow Goth girl named Kim, who is kind of Morganville’s resident Rebel Without A Cause.  But Kim delivers loads of complications between our heroes … Claire can’t stand her, Shane might have had a history with her, Eve loves her, Michael just wishes it all would go away, which leads to all kinds of distress.  Oh, and there’s trouble from an unexpected quarter.  Of course!

Thank you so much for letting me talk to you today!  It’s been a treat!

Actually, Rachel, the treat was all ours!

Click here if you want to read our review of Carpe Corpus

Maria V Snyder is the author of the popular Study Series. Her new novel, Storm Glass, is scheduled for release in April of 09. Maria sat down with us recently for a quick Q&A. The interview contains a few minor spoilers about Storm Glass, but nothing too major. Storm Glass is our book of the month here at yaReads, so grab a copy, get reading and tell us what you think!

Your new novel Storm Glass incorporates both the art of glassmaking and a knowledge of the weather. How much research did you have to do into both of these areas, or did you already have all the knowledge you needed?

I already knew quite a bit about the weather since I have a college degree in Meteorology ☺ However, for the glassmaking, I needed to take a bunch of classes in how to blow glass and work with molten glass.

Are you more interested in glassmaking, or the weather?

My interest is about the same. I always enjoyed being creative. I danced, painted and acted while in High School, but I also liked math and science. The best thing about being a writer, I can have interests in a wide variety of subjects and I have a good excuse to take classes.

This is your fourth novel, is the writing process getting easier for you now?

I wish! While it’s not easier, I do have a little more confidence that I can finish a novel. Otherwise, the writing is the same—getting my butt in the chair and getting the story out.

How did your writing experience with Storm Glass compare to that you had during the Study Series?

I had more stress with Storm Glass. Everyone loved Yelena in the Study Series and wanted more books from her point of view. I needed a break and wanted to write something new. So while I was excited about Storm Glass, I worried my readers would be disappointed. I’ve gotten a few reviews and, so far, they’ve been positive. (sighing in relief!)

Is Opal’s tale planned out as a trilogy?

I don’t plan anything when I’m writing. I was surprised Yelena’s story spanned three books. Right now, there will be three books in Opal’s tale. However, I don’t think of those three as a trilogy, but like a series because I tried very hard to make each book have its own beginning, middle and end. And I hope to add more books in both series eventually.

Opal is a very different character to Yelena from the Study Series and each character has their own distinct voices. Did you find transitioning from Yelena to Opal challenging?

YES! Yelena wanted to take over and I re-wrote the beginning a few times to try to get into Opal’s head. Once I figured out that Opal is an artist and she would view the world with more of an artistic flare, I was able to tell her story.

With regard to the Stormdancers, can you explain what it is about their abilities that enables them to harness the weather?

The Stormdancers are considered magicians. However, they use their magic to draw the storm’s energy into a glass orb, rendering a strong storm into a mild rain. They are also connected to the atmosphere, and can use their magic to make the wind blow or have someone struck by lightning. They’re very critical to Sitia since they calm potentially lethal storms and provide a source of energy to the factories.

If it is so dangerous for the Stormdancer clans to live in the caves by the beach, why don’t they relocate to higher ground where it’s safer?

Only the Stormdancers live in the caves, and only during the two storm seasons. The rest of the clan lives on high ground—some are indigo farmers and others work in factories, producing metal goods. When a big storm comes in, the Stormdancers want to be out on the sea rocks so they can harvest the energy before the storm reaches land. The others who work with them will relocate to the higher caves to avoid the waves.

If Opal weren’t a glassmaker, what would she be?

I think she would find a career that helped others, but I don’t know what it would be. Being a glassmaker is part of who she is ☺

Would Kade still be interested in Opal if she were less talented with glass?

I don’t think they would have met if she weren’t a glass magician. The Master Magicians thought the problem with the orbs could be related to magic and she’s the only one in Sitia who has the glass magic it made sense to send her to help the Stormdancers out.

Opal has no confidence. Why is this, did something happen to her during childhood to make her feel that way about herself?

Opal’s lack of confidence is due in part by her childhood. She’s the third child. Her oldest sister, Mara is a stunning beauty who received all the attention. Her other sister, Tula was her best friend, and her younger brother Ahir, was the baby of the family and a boy so he was unique in his own right. Opal couldn’t blow a bubble into molten glass, which is the way to craft vases, tumblers, bowls etc… what she was blowing was magic, but she didn’t know that until she was 14.

When Tula died, she lost her closest friend and sister. The events in Magic Study—her kidnapping and what happened after also took away any feelings of self worth. Add to four years of school at the Keep being called a One Trick Wonder…and she’s in serious need of some confidence. Although, she is quite competent with her glass skills. When it comes to sand receipts and working with molten glass, she’s in her element.

Yelena has a cameo in Storm Glass. Are we going to get to see Valek in the next novel? I know I speak for all when I say I’m dying to know if his relationship with Yelena goes the distance (there is a lot stacked up against them).

Valek is in the third Glass book (untitled for now). Since the Glass books are focused on Opal, I really couldn’t add Valek into the story unless he had a reason for being there (other than we all love him ☺). I mentioned in the answer to question #5, that I see these books as a series. I’m hoping to go back to Yelena and Valek in the future and see what troubles they get themselves mixed up in.

Besides your own, what was the last novel you read?

I just finished reading Life as We KnewIt, by Susan Beth Pfeffer. It’s the book I’m reviewing for you. ☺ I’m reading a bunch of YA books right now. One reason is because I enjoy them so much, and the other is that I’m writing more YA books. My first “official” YA book, Inside Out will be released in April 2010. The interesting thing is I wrote that book the same as all my other books, it’s just shorter and the protagonist is a little younger.

What do you like to do on the weekends?

What I like to do is usually very different than what I end up doing. My preference would be to play with my kids, read, do sports (skiing, volleyball, or walleyball), or take a weekend trip. What I end up doing is running the kids to soccer games, or their friends’ houses, cleaning the house, doing laundry, food shopping, and catching up on sleep and emails. I’ll also have book signings on weekends or I’ll be at a conference for the weekend.

Are you a dog or a cat woman?

Dog! I grew up with a dog and love dogs. My yellow lab, Hazelnut is almost 16 years old and she’s here snoring by my side.

What are your three most prized material possessions?

My wedding/engagement rings, a letter and picture from a special reader, and the Compton Crook Award Plaque.

Plug your next novel here…

Sea Glass is coming out in September 2009. Like the colorful pieces of sea glass washed up on shore, Opal has weathered rough waters and twisting currents. But instead of finding a tranquil eddy, Opal is caught in a riptide. Her unique glass messengers which allow instant communication over vast distances have become a vital part of Sitian society. Once used solely by the Councilors and magicians, other powerful factions are now vying for control. Control of the messengers equals control of Sitia. Unfortunately that also means control of Opal.

If that isn’t enough of a problem, Opal’s determination to prove blood magic is still being used is met with strong resistance. The Council doubts her, her mentor doubts her, and even her family is concerned. When her world is turned upside down, she begins to doubt herself. In the end, Opal must decide who to believe, who to trust, and who has control—otherwise she will shatter into a million pieces and be lost at sea.
Check out our review of Storm Glass here

Cassandra Clare is the author of the popular Mortal Instruments series. The third and final novel in the series, City of Glass, is due out on the 24th of March, which, is today for most people. Cassandra answered some questions for us about her beloved characters - we hope you enjoy!

Did you always know that the MI series was going to be a trilogy?

Yes. I sold it as a trilogy, three books.

If so, have you had the entire story plotted out from the beginning, or have you been creating as you’ve been writing?

I always had the story plotted out from the beginning. I sold the series as a trilogy, which means I had to submit a detailed outline to the publisher of each book in the series. Your publisher wants to know not just that you know how to start a story but also that you know how to end one, and that nothing too crazy happens. So I had the story plotted out, because it was required. I also always knew it would be a trilogy. It is structured on the hero’s journey to the Underworld — the theme of the first book is descent, thus each epigraph makes reference to descent (“The Descent Beckons”, etc.). The theme of the second is hell or the underworld, and all the epigraphs make reference to hell or the underworld (“the Gates of Hell”). The third book’s theme is ascent or heaven, and all the epigraphs make reference to ascent or heaven (“The Road to Heaven”.).

Which character in the MI world came first for you?

Clary. I think one’s viewpoint character often comes first.

Who is your fave MI character and why?

I don’t have one. It’s like picking favorite children. Even the characters I don’t like, like the Inquisitor, I like, because they’re fun to write or useful to the story, or interesting in some way. The most fun to write is probably Magnus, and the one most like me is Simon.

I’ve tried to work it out a few times but failed miserably, just how long is the time period over which the MI series is set?

You’re not supposed to be able to figure it out, really, as the gap between books is usually just noted as “a few days” or ‘some time.” The first book takes about a week, the second another week, the third, about two weeks.

You deal with some challenging issues that I’d like to discuss in relation to the MI world…

Alec & Magnus are gay – the Clave’s position on homosexuality sends some pretty negative messages to potential queer readers, was that a conscious or unconscious decision you made while writing?

I am certainly saddened by the idea that “the Clave’s position on homosexuality” might send a negative message to queer readers. Including positive gay characters like Alec and Magnus is about inclusivity and representation — the world we live in isn’t a heteronormative one, so I wouldn’t want to represent it as such. Of course, that also means dealing with issues like bigotry and homophobia — things I wish didn’t exist in the world, but which, in fact, do.

It is worth noting, though, that the bigoted members of the Clave are bad guys, and are presented as such. Merely articulating a position, or representing that a belief exists, in fiction does not mean that you support it. I believe my readers — straight and gay — are smart enough to understand that when the villain is the one expressing a viewpoint (in this case, a homophobic one), that probably means that the message of the book is that that viewpoint is bad. And, you know, “homophobia=bad” is a message I’m willing to stand behind.

Magnus and Alec seem pretty different – what was it about Alec that Magnus was drawn to?

Exactly the fact that Alec is not like him. Alec is sweet and completely sincere, whereas Magnus is sarcastic and guarded. (This is also why Magnus would never be interested in, say, Jace, who is much more like him.)

Is the Clave supposed to be a metaphor for our own contemporary institutions that govern the free world, or am I over thinking this too much?

It’s not a metaphor. Perhaps it could be described as an extrapolation — I mean, the Clave is based on my research into secret organizations rather than research into government. If anything, I based it a bit on research I did into secretive offsprings of, say, the Catholic Church — I mean, there’s an Inquisitor, and Conclaves, all those are church terms. I should hasten to add that the Clave is not meant to be the Catholic Church, not even the Catholic Church of hundreds of years ago. I just feel that things in fantasy worlds are often made more realistic when you use real-world structures as models, and in this case, religious organizations were models.

Clary and Jace are allegedly brother and sister – their desire for each other continues feverishly through all three books. Have you had any negative feedback about presenting a relationship that borders on incest?

No. I mean, I am sure someone out there has fussed about it, but not in any way that has ever reached my ears or my publisher’s (not that they would care, mind you.) It’s such a common trope, and as far as the first two books goes, nothing physical happens between Clary and Jace that does not happen between, say, Luke and Leia in The Empire Strikes Back, a movie that has been enjoyed by five year olds the world over. The difference is that Clary and Jace have real romantic feelings for each other and there’s a lot of longing in their relationship. However, no one ever fusses about longing. They fuss about sex and language.

I’d like to talk about GLASS now…(so obviously spoilers follow, guys)

When Alec is introducing Magnus to his parents at the end of Glass, we don’t really learn the outcome of that meeting. Are Alec’s parents accepting of their Alec’s revelation and how do they feel about him dating Magnus?

I absolutely feel that they are. We see the Lightwood parents meeting Magnus and shaking his hand, which is a sign of respect, and Maryse hugging Alec. I know we don’t get a lot of time to dwell on these characters, because as fond as I am of them, they’re still secondary characters in the book, but I hoped that would be enough to indicate that the family’s accepting of Magnus and Alec. And obviously Jace and Izzy are.

When Sebastian kissed Clary, he knew he was her brother. Clary was grossed out by the situation but we never really found out how Sebastian felt about that. It looked as if he actually enjoyed it. Did he?

Sebastian is not someone who gets enjoyment out of the things normal people get enjoyment out of. He enjoyed it, but precisely because he knew he was screwing with Clary by doing it and his emotions about her are a complicated mixture of fascination — she’s his sister — and hatred, and for him, hate and sex and desire and rage are all bound up. I’m sure he liked it better because she was his sister.

Is Simon going to end up with Maia or Isabelle?

See, the honest answer to that is that I have no idea. I don’t know what happens to the characters after the book is over, because that’s all “the unwritten future.” If some day I sat down and plotted out a sequel, or a sequel series, then I would start taming my vague ideas into a more concrete story, and then I would know — but now I don’t. I will say that if I ever wind up doing sequels to the MI series, they will probably focus on Simon, so presumably his love life will get a workout then!

You’re working on a prequel trilogy – The Infernal Devices. Are any of the characters in the MI series going to be in the ID books?

Magnus is in it. Other of the more immortally inclined characters are in it — the head of the New York vampire clan, who Raphael is always talking about and who we never see, is in it.

Can you share any other info about these novels?

The main characters are all related to Clary and Jace and the Lightwoods via bloodlines. I think part of the fun of reading them, for MI fans, is going to be figuring out how everyone is related to who. There are Herondales, Waylands, Lightwoods, and some new families.

And lastly, we’ve been trying to cast the MI characters on our forum. In an ideal world, if the books were ever made into a movie (is that likely to happen?) who would you want playing your characters?
The list, with photos! http://www.cassandraclare.com/cms/faqs/imaginary-casting

Simone Elkeles is the author of Perfect Chemisty, our book of the month. She sat down with us this week to talk about Alex and Brittany, the possibility of a sequel, and a few other quirky tidbits that we thought you might find interesting. Enjoy guys!

Simone Elkeles, can you tell us how you got into writing and why you chose the YA genre?

I started writing adult novels (although they were never published), but then had the idea for a young adult novel.  When I started writing it, I seriously felt so comfortable writing the teen characters I immediately knew writing teen novels was “the place for me.”  The characters and story just flowed out from my fingertips and onto the computer screen.  To be honest, even though Perfect Chemistry is my fourth novel to come out it was actually the first young adult novel I wrote.  Most people don’t know that my original title for Perfect Chemistry was ZERO TOLERANCE.  I thought it was a perfect title to describe the book, because Alex has no tolerance for Brittany and her rich friends and Brittany has no tolerance for Alex and his gang life.  And their chemistry teacher has a ‘zero tolerance policy’ in her class.  My publisher hated the title Zero Tolerance and said I had to change it.  One of my best friends Marilyn Brant, who has her first book coming out soon titled According to Jane, actually came up with the title Perfect Chemistry.

Do you have any habits or little quirks that you implement as part of your writing process?

I’m a mom, so sometimes I have to write at one of my kids’ hockey games or while watching my son play baseball.  I don’t write off of an outline (I’m just not that organized) so there really is no routine for me.  Sometimes I cut out magazine pictures of people who I think look like my characters, and those pictures give me inspiration.  The character Alex was inspired by this Mexican guy who works at the deli by my house.  When I was writing Perfect Chemistry, it’s no wonder every week I found myself at the deli stocking up on bagels.

This is not your first novel, what inspired Perfect Chemistry?

There’s a town by my house where there is a big Hispanic community on one side and people who live in big houses on Lake Michigan on the other side.  They all go to the same high school.  I just thought it would be interesting to explore a fictional town with that same dynamic…where a boy and girl from two sides of town have to come together in chemistry class.  I loved showing readers the stereotype of each of my main characters (gang member and rich white girl) and then break down those stereotypes throughout the book.

Are you more like Alex, or Brittany?

Oh, that is such a good question!  I guess my attitude is more like Alex’s, but I definitely have qualities of Brittany.  I think a lot of girls have insecurities like Brittany.  Sometimes it feels like we can’t be “real” because we risk showing our imperfections.  In the book I’m working on now (How to Ruin Your Boyfriend’s Reputation), my character observes that people who are “normal” are actually a minority.

If there was one single message that you wanted readers to take from Perfect Chemistry, what would that be?

Don’t judge people based on their appearance.  But secondly, I’d love for readers to realize that nobody is perfect and everyone should have courage to show their true selves (even imperfections) to people.  It’s okay to be “real.”

When Alex leaves towards the end, why did you decide to have him leave then? I thought for sure he’d try to make things right with Brittany before he did…At that point in the book, Alex felt he had to leave for Brittany’s safety.  Everyone he cares about dies, and by leaving and cutting ties with her he felt he was saving her life.

Finish these sentences…

(These are their flaws at the beginning of Perfect Chemistry)

Brittany’s biggest flaw is…she’s afraid to show her true self and admit her insecurities/problems to the outside world.

Alex’s biggest flaw is…he doesn’t think his life can change, so he settles for the status quo without fighting for what he believes in.

In your opinion, what makes them such a great couple?

Alex and Brittany are so different on the outside, but yet they’re so similar when you get to know who they really are.  It’s those similarities that bring them together.  Alex and Brittany both hide their true selves to the outside world and let very few people get past their barrier.  They actually find comfort in knowing that they both put on a show to the outside world in an effort to hide their true selves.  Alex tells Brittany to be real, but sometimes she doesn’t know how.  By knowing each other, and truly accepting each other, they both become stronger and are able to overcome their problems.

I heard somewhere out in cyberspace that you were thinking of writing a sequel to this one, is this true, and if so, can you dish us a little dirt?

As of right now, there are no plans for a sequel.  I’d love to write one someday, because I’d love to continue Alex and Brittany’s story.  To be honest, I’d also love to write the stories of Carlos and Luis, Alex’s brothers.

Now for some more light-hearted questions…

What are your top five favourite books (either right now, or of all time)?

Forever by Judy Blume

Flipped by Wendelin Van Draanen

Lady be Good by Susan Elizabeth Phillips (adult romance novel)

Twilight by Stephenie Meyer

Rainbow Boys by Alex Sanchez

The Boy Next Door by Meg Cabot

What was the last movie you saw?

Mall Cop (although as of tonight I have to change the answer because I just saw Slumdog Millionaire)

Dogs or cats?

For me, it’s definitely DOGS!  I have two of them: a Labradoodle and a Lab/Rottweiler mix that I just rescued from the shelter.

Vampires or werewolves?

Although I am a huge “dog” lover, after reading Twilight I have to say Vampires.

If you were going to be stranded on a deserted island for the rest of your life, what would be the five items you’d take with you from your current life?

Assuming my family and dogs are with me, I’d bring:

My bed (I can’t sleep comfortably on the ground)

My iphone (I know it’ll run out of battery, but in my fantasy it never runs out)

A deck of cards (I’d get bored, so making up solitaire games would help pass the time)

My computer (so I can write)

Flint (I’ve watched Survivor and would definitely need fire to cook and keep me warm – I hate being cold.  Don’t ask me why I live in one of the coldest states in the US)

What is the best and the worst thing about being Simone Elkeles?

Hmm….

Best thing: I love making people laugh and always look at the positive parts of life

Worst thing: I have a hard time juggling being a writer, mom, and wife.  Life gets pretty hectic at times, especially when I’m on deadline for a book

We’d just like to thank Simone for taking the time out of her busy schedule to do this interview with us! Stay tuned for a guest review from Simone soon!

Melissa Marr is the author of the hugely popular books, Wicked Lovely and Ink Exhange. Her third novel, set in the same world as the two aforementioned books, is scheduled for release in April of 2009. In anticipation of this, Melissa was kind enough to sit down with us this week and answer some of our questions. Grab a cuppa guys, you’re in for a real treat!

Firstly, I just wanted to say congratulations on writing such an amazing series. The Wicked Lovely books are hugely popular, and rightly so!

Thank you : ) It’s very cool (and still exceptionally surreal!) that readers are enjoying spending their time with my characters.

First things first, I want to put some debate to rest and ask just exactly how you pronounce Aislinn’s name.

Aislinn or Aisling (ASH-ling or ASH linn)

Does Ash’s name signify anything about her character, or was it just a random selection on your part?

Aislinn means “dream or vision.” The first part sounds like “Ash.” Mounain Ash/Rowan is one of the trees used a lot in folk tradition. Ash is also the leftover bits after we pass away (“ashes”) and what is left after one is burnt up (by the sun, frex).

Most of the names in my texts are chosen for their etymological significance. If you want spoilers, sometimes checking out the names of characters in texts will lead you to clues.

There seems to be a definite divide between the Team Keenan and Team Seth fans. Are you impartial, or do you lean towards one team over the other?

I can argue for the strengths of both Seth & Keenan—and have love for most of my characters. That doesn’t mean that I would take up with them in the real world. They’re neither one my type. If I were able to step into the book, I wouldn’t be pursuing either of them or trying to sway Ash in her decisions . . . but I can see why she has feelings for them. They’re good guys. Flawed, but good. . .

In your mind, who came first – Seth or Keenan?

Keenan came first in terms of the writing. In 2004, I wrote a short story (”The Sleeping Girl”) about a girl - Aislinn - who had to choose between joining the Summer King and becoming the next Winter Queen. Choosing one would end her contact with the other. The Summer King tempted her with a life of endless summer - dancing and freedom and no responsibilities.

So, Keenan & Ash were in the story from the beginning. Seth and Donia and all the rest evolved as the story became a novel.

Why faeries?

Why not? : ) With folklore, there are so many interesting beings. I grew up believing in them — the beansidhe in the woods, the ghost in the music box, the vampire who likes to walk in the old cemetery on the hill. . . Add a steady diet of folklore, fairy tales, critical studies on the same, and a decade teaching literature, a few years teaching lit/gender studies . . . It all swirls together. So it’s what leaks through when I write. Right now, the faeries leaked through first.

Who is your favorite fey character in your fey world, and why?

Depends on what day it is and what I was just writing : ) I like the Scrimshaw Sisters, Beira, Irial, Bananach … I like Sorcha. Tonight, I’m in revisions on the fourth novel (which has a working title of Skin Starved), so I’m particularly fond of Ani. To write them, I need to love them. I need to want what they want, believe in their goals, and look at the machinations necessary to make their agendas reality. If I don’t hold their needs and wants and hopes as important, they could end up as flat characters or placeholder characters . . .and where’s the fun in that?

Are any of the characters in your novels based on actual people?

Grams is based, in part, on my own grandmother - Marjorie Marr. My grandmother was the most amazing woman I’ve ever met. She was brilliant, tough, clever, and never stopped learning about the world. I wouldn’t be the person I am without having had her influence on my life.

Grams also has the surname of my grandfather’s (John Marr) mother. The rest of the characters are not consciously based on anyone, but Grams is my homage to my grandparents and their histories.

Ink Exchange predominantly follows a different set of character than Wicked Lovely does, what made you want to change the focus like that?

Picture being in the middle of a group of people. One person is talking, telling a story, and another says something fascinating. Now, you can’t really stop everything to follow up bc, well, the original story is interesting you and if you walk away you’ll miss it. Afterwards, the room is emptying out and you see the person who made the remark. You can follow the first person and hope there are more things they’ll say later, or you can walk to the park with the second person whose story you haven’t heard yet. To me, the second option is more fun. Life is filled with people with stories inside of them, and I don’t want to only listen to the stories of one person (or character).

In Wicked Lovely we first met Leslie as Ash’s friend. But in Ink we see a whole new side of Leslie that we don’t really see in WL. They seem kind of different to me. How did they become friends?

I suspect it was the same way we will all do - a moment where they discovered a point of connection, a commonality. (In their case, it was over a lit assignment they first started talking.) I guess I don’t see the difference as the important factor. Difference is all the more reason to talk. One of my dearest friends is a very granola, very religious (& not my faith), kinda anti-feminist mother of a few kids. Another hates children (no, really, finds the idea of small humans repugnant). Another is texting me right now abt a particularly good date he had last night-today-still. Another is a bit of a misanthrope. Another is hardcore activist, reproductive rights, liberal. Another is . . . They’re not the same. I argue with some on issues. I adore them all.

If we are only friends with those who are all the same, we miss out.

Are we going to see Leslie again in future books?

Leslie is not in Fragile Eternity or Skin Starved (Book 4). Beyond that, I have no answer. I know what’s going on in her corner of the world, but I’m not sure when or if that needs to be brought back into the novels. The resolution of Ink Exchange was the right resolution for her at this point in her life, so I don’t anticipate her returning to the rest of the events in the world of Wicked Lovely anytime soon.

If my memory serves me correct, Ash doesn’t have any tattoos, right? Is she planning on getting any? If so, of what?

Ash isn’t so much a tattoo fan. Seth is. A few other characters are. (Tavish has a sunburst tattoo I’m quite fond of), but Ash has no immediately plans for a tattoo. Some people just don’t want to wear art - which is fine.

It’s no secret that you’re a fan of tattoos. Do you have any advice for someone thinking about getting one?

One should always research both the artist and the studio as the key part of planning to get a tattoo. You want an artist with experience, not just in traditional art but in tattooing. Just because someone can run a tattoo machine doesn’t mean they are qualified to decorate your body - and just because they can sketch doesn’t mean they can tattoo. Think of it like calligraphy and working in oil: both are art, but skill in one isn’t necessarily skill in the other.

Ask questions, meet the artist, check out the shop, & trust your instincts if you get a twitchy feeling. There are some brilliant artists out there, but there are inexperienced scratchers too. A lot of shops will have laws, advice, and other helpful things on their websites. The pros - the real tattooists - want you to have beautiful art and a put that on a worthy canvas. That means client and artist need to be sober (no drinking or drugs), clean, and well rested. On their side, they should also open new needles (in front of you!), change gloves any time the gloves contact anything (phone, trash, etc). Treat a tattoo visit with the respect you would your physician’s visits. It’s a profession and an art.

The [US] covers of your books are amazing. How much input did you have on that?

They’ve been very active in asking for my opinions. I picked both cover models (in that, matching the character’s image in my head and looking healthy were my priorities. Promoting an unhealthy body image seems anti-feminist so a number of models were off the list for that reason). They asked for a list of suggestions of “iconic images” (the flower on the cover of Wicked Lovely, the tattoo on the cover of INK, & the butterfly in FE). The vines on WL & FE (ivy & jasmine, respectively) are from the texts.

I’ve had regular contact with Alison (the Art Director), and I’ve even answered questions on what length the models fingernails should be for the WL cover. At the end though, those very same details could create a totally different image, so while the details are things I can offer thoughts on, the art is totally theirs. Mark Tucker (whose art makes me crush on him quite horribly) and Alison Donnalty are the ones who do the magic on the covers.

And, yes, I do have a favourite - the US cover of Ink Exchange is easily my top pick, closely followed by the US cover of Wicked Lovely. I’ve been fortunate to get some beautiful ones overseas too: both the books have gorgeous covers in Germany, and the art on the original UK covers is stunning. I’ve been elated by all of these.

What is your fave novel circulating at the moment?

I don’t usually have just one answer, so here are my top 6.

In terms of newish books? The Graveyard Book (Gaiman). No one else alive can craft stories like he can. He’s brilliant.

Other newish picks I recommend to my readers are Graceling (Cashore), The Summoning (Armstrong), Bones of Faerie (Simner).

In term of what’s coming? The Forest of Hands and Teeth (C Ryan) and Immortal (Shields) are both texts that are literary and captivating - in totally different ways. I really enjoyed them both.

Do you think you’ll always write novels about fey, or are you planning non-fey stories in the future?

I’m afraid I don’t plan very well, but since I know what I’m under contract for - but not spilling in public any time soon - I can safely say that I will write both faery and non-faery stories

Fragile Eternity is out in April. Don’t spose you could dish any info for us?

If it wouldn’t get my knuckles smacked, I’d spoiler all over the place. I’m one of those folks who reads ending first, so I’m all for spoilers . . . That said, I get chastened if I share too much. Hmmmm. How about this: The Persephone myth (which is very like a particular faery lore detail) is a factor. I think the actions of the characters are ones that were totally inevitable, but I know a few earlier readers (including my daughter) have gasped at some of them.

We’d just like to say a very huge thank you to Melissa for taking time out of her uber busy schedule to answer our questions. I know I speak for everyone in the yaReads family when I say that we’re all profoundly excited about the release of Fragile Eternity. In my opinion, April can’t get here fast enough!

Patrick Carman is the author of the fabulous interactive novel, Skeleton Creek. He took some time out of his busy tour schedule this week to talk with us about his book.

Firstly, I want to say that I love the concept – very innovative indeed. What came first, the idea of incorporating video and novel together, or Sarah and Ryan’s story?

Skeleton Creek is a case of two ideas coalescing unexpectedly. Having different ideas come together is not an uncommon event in the development of my stories. With Atherton, it was climate change and Frankenstein, two ideas I’d been exploring separately that became the story of a mad scientist creating a new planet in a dystopian future. For Skeleton Creek, the format had been on my mind for quite a while. At the same time I had long wanted to write a mystery / ghost story but couldn’t settle on a location or a thread that would hold things together. When I visited the dredge in Oregon, everything merged together pretty much overnight. Sometimes a location or a character will do that for me. When I walked into the dredge and saw the massive gears and conveyer belts, then heard about a legendary ghost story, well, that was it for me. The idea of shooting video inside this place at night was very appealing. The story of two teens, one who wrote and one who filmed, felt right for the setting. After that things started to really move.

You’ve said previously that it took three years to make. That’s an awfully long time! Why did it take so long?

I visited the dredge multiple times to do research, shoot preliminary video, and take a lot of pictures. Then I wrote the book and the screenplay, which saw many revisions. I had to get Scholastic to buy the idea, which involved sample footage and the development of a production plan. Then I had to go out and find a team of about 20 people, which was very time consuming. I needed a director, cinematographer, crew, actors, an editor. Finding the main actress took months and included casting calls in Los Angeles and all over Washington. I switched directors in mid-stream and had to start over. Needless to say, not only did Skeleton Creek take three years to develop, it also burned through quite a bit more than my advance on the book. But I was in with both feet and there was no turning back. Thankfully, the second book was faster and less expensive….I figured some things out on the first project.

Which character came first for you, Ryan or Sarah?

They were simultaneous, really. I knew for this particular story to work I would need one character who loved to write and one who loved to film. In a sense, Ryan and Sarah are trying to prove their storytelling format is the better of the two. Sarah never writes, Ryan never films (unless Sarah makes him hold the camera). And, importantly, their storytelling methods match their personalities. Ryan would rather write a ghost story than be in one. He’s perfectly happy to stay in his room and write all day, especially if it means staying out of difficult situations in the real world. Sarah couldn’t be more different. She will take her camera anywhere, film in the middle of the night, and secretly record conversations with people. For Sarah, the camera is her escape from a boring life in a dead end town.

Do you have a preference for either character?

I like them both for different reasons. Ryan is way more paranoid than I would ever be, but he’s also the voice of reason in the relationship. And I love the way he over thinks everything like the passwords and the situations Sarah might be getting into. He’s also a good storyteller, which I admire and enjoy. I like Sarah because she’s reckless, and reckless is always fun to write. She makes the story interesting. She is the eyes and ears for the reader (and for Ryan), showing us things we don’t necessarily want to see, taking us to places we’re at once curious about and afraid of. I think Ryan is secretly happy he’s got a friend that is willing to go places he won’t go and risk things he won’t risk. Sarah stretches Ryan, and he needs that.

Did you write Ryan’s journal before any footage was filmed?

I wrote everything – the journal and the screenplay – before anything was shot.

I’m interested in how much you were involved with the production of the videos. What kind of involvement did you have in casting/directing and all that jazz?

I was involved in every part of the production. Choosing the production team and the actors, selecting the locations, being there for the long nights of shooting, changing the script on the fly, editing the final nine segments. No part of this project escaped my attention, because I had a very clear vision of what I wanted. That said, the team that worked on Skeleton Creek was world class. The director and editor, the cinematographer, the actors and everyone else on the project worked extremely hard to create a solid piece of storytelling.

Was the footage filmed at the dredge a real building, or a set? It is very realistic!

(I’d just like to interrupt here and say that I’m aware that Patrick kind of, sort of, already answered this question previously but he’s also talked about some other stuff that I thought was interesting, so i’m going to leave it in.)

We spent two weeks on the actual dredge, filming primarily from dusk until dawn. Very long nights where we filmed every scene dozens of times. We also had sets for Sarah’s room, the town of Skeleton Creek, her car, alleyways, that sort of thing. The secret room was particularly difficult to film and involved a lot of set pieces. Overall we built a lot more items than readers would imagine.

What was your favourite part of the writing/creative process?

This was the first time I was able to collaborate on a story with a large group….I am officially addicted. Working with the key three or four people was particularly enjoyable. Meetings where you sit around for hours talking about how you’re going to make certain scenes work was very energizing. And I love movies, so the idea of blending a movie and a book was fascinating. Developing the second book was even more enjoyable, because I learned so much on the first go around.

Do you have any rituals when you sit down to write? Any quirky habits that you have when you write that we might be interested in?

I have a hard time getting started! Writing is difficult, solitary work. I have to will myself into the chair. The strange thing is, once I’m sitting down, I love the process of writing. I’m one of those writers who, once I finally get started, I can’t stop. Six hours later I look up and I’ve written 5000 words and I’m like….what just happened?

Have you always been into ghost stories? What is your favourite creepy book/movie?

I don’t even like ghost stories, generally speaking. I’m a chicken. Plus I generally don’t buy into the whole ghostly thing, which made the experience interesting. I do enjoy the classic gothic novels – Turn of the Screw, Frankenstein, Edgar Allen Poe – those are more the model I’m trying to work from. Those old stories are grounded in the narrator, the setting, the mood they create, great storytelling – the ghost or the monster is (in my opinion) beside the point with a lot of classic gothic writing. It’s the feeling they create – dread and fear – that interests me about doing a story like this. On the movie side of things I’m a fan of Alfred Hitchcock (note the stairway scene in Skeleton Creek!), and the Japanese filmmakers doing things like The Ring, where mood trumps monsters.

What scares you more than anything else in the world?

I’m not good at being home alone in the middle of the night. Dark + Alone + Home = Terrified. I can’t seem to shake the idea that someone is in the house with me, possibly even watching me, intent on doing me harm. This never happens when my family is at home, only when I’m alone (very rare). Read The Cask Of Amontillado for a general idea of how this might feel (also a wonderful Vincent Price reading of that short story widely available online). Other things I fear are being on the front line in a war, drowning, guns (I generally can’t stand any kind of gun), and a healthy fear of the almighty.

As a YA author, what is your fave YA novel (besides your own, of course).

Catcher in the Rye tops my list. Also A Separate Peace (for similar reasons). New YA is often too profane for my taste, but I do like the occasional Scott Westerfeld, John Greene, or David Levithan book. Middle grade is dicier, because I hardly ever read it. I mostly read adult fiction. Favorites there include Steinbeck, Dostoevsky, Victor Hugo, Robertson Davies, David James Duncan (fiction only – don’t like the non-fiction as much), Mary Shelley, Edgar Allen Poe, Henry James, T.H. White, Robert Frost (I’m not into poetry, but him I like), Tolkien, a few others. Top 5 favorite books (these are ever changing): The Grapes of Wrath, The Brothers K (David James Duncan), The Brothers Karamotsov, Frankenstein, and Fifth Business.

Finally, for those who are not aware, there is a sequel to Skeleton Creek coming in the American summer of 09. Will this be the last of the Skeleton Creek books?

I honestly don’t know the answer to that question. We shot two endings, one that brings the story to a close, and one that allows for a third instalment. My feeling right now is that two will do it, even if the series becomes wildly popular. I say this primarily because we’re already in development on a totally different story in this new format, and getting back to Skeleton Creek might be tough. But I never say never with things like this. If a story is there and a lot of fans want to hear it, than a third book is certainly something I’ll think seriously about.

We here at yaReads really loved Skeleton Creek and we’d just like to thank Patrick for sitting down with us. He’s a very busy man!

We here at yaReads love us a bit of Maggie Stiefvater. She’s the author of Lament: The Faerie Queen’s Deception , and she has two more books on the way. Maggie sat down with us this week and let us pick her brains a little. Here’s what she had to say…

So Lament is a book about evil faeries that essentially want to snatch Dee, the main character. How much research into fey folk lore did you do before writing Lament?

A lot. But it doesn’t count, because I did most of it for my own personal entertainment value when I was a teen. I’ve been pretty much obsessed with homicidal faeries in myth and legend since I was young, so I read every book I could get my hands on. When I wrote LAMENT, it was just a matter of consolidating. I do think it’s pretty true to the lore, though. The only really big original concept is that of the Cloverhand, which is all mine, baby.

How did you come up with your character names, or perhaps I should rephrase and ask what on earth possessed you to call your protagonist Deirdre?!

Hahaha! I started writing LAMENT back when I was sixteen and very idealistic and melodramatic and obsessed with all things Irish, and back then, I named all of my characters things like Deirdre and Fiona and Colleen and just about every cliche Irish heroine name ever invented. By the time I got to the publishing process with Flux, I had outgrown it and tried to avoid it by calling her “Dee” a lot in the novel.

What I was too chicken to do at the time was ask my editor if I could change her name, but I was such a newbie author, I didn’t realize that I could. And later (far too late to change it), he confessed that he hated the name too. But it turned out all right, because it did end up being important to the plot. Still, I like to think I’ve become a little more typical with my naming habits.

How did you choose your fearie names?

I went with old Irish names for most of the faeries — trying to stick with ones that were pretty to look at and hopefully not impossible to pronounce. Most of these aren’t the faeries’ true names — they’re the names that they’ve acquired over the years — so some of them have slightly more modern ones.

If you were fey, what would your faerie name be?

I would say Nuala, because I always loved the name Nuala (sounds good too: Nooooooooooola), but I just used it for the main faerie girl in BALLAD. So now I will be forced to choose something else. I’m not sure what — Maggie is a name I chose for myself when I was 16, so choosing yet another that really fits me is a bit challenging.

Dee plays the harp and I know that you also do as well. What else do you have in common with Dee?

Mmm, not much. Dee is a nervous-barfer, and I can’t remember the last time I threw up. Dee is also very self-conscious, and I got over any self-consciousness I had left somewhere around the delivery of my kids, when everyone in the world comes and takes a look under your hospital gown to see how things are coming along. Dee’s also able to sing. I don’t think you’d like to hear me sing.

I think I’m probably a lot more like James, if truth be told.

Did you model any of your characters off of people you know? If so, which ones and who?

Yes, I steal all the time. But I’m very insidious about it. If I stole someone whole-cloth, they’d notice. So instead I steal someone’s shyness, someone’s accent, someone’s bad habits. And then I reassemble them into an entirely different character. Still, I think a clever person who knew me could probably tell where I got some of my influences. Dee is rather like my sister Kate. And like I said, James is a lot like me. My husband shows up in a very hard-to-spot form in SHIVER.

Tolstoy once said that by the end of writing Anna Karenina, he’d spent so much time with Anna that he ended up hating her. Are there any characters in Lament that you dislike, or did not enjoy writing about?

Ha! There was a point where I was hoping that Dee would be hit by a literary car. I’m not sure why that happened with her, since I’m still in love with James from BALLAD and Sam and Grace from SHIVER, even after all the edits. I think it’s probably because I started the seeds of LAMENT years and years and years ago, so I’ve been around Dee for longer than my husband.

The following Q&A might contain spoilers.

Now I’d like to ask some plot specific questions. Firstly, how did you decide that Luke’s soul would resemble a pigeon?

Well, dove. I wanted the idea that a soul before anything happened to it was this pure, innocent thing, and a dove represents that idea. I also liked the idea that it appeared different to different people. The Queen obviously saw it in a much less flattering light than Dee, who was in love with Dee.

Luke’s soul was a dove? I swear I saw the word pigeon. Maybe I was reading too fast!!!

No, you were right, in a way — Dee saw it as a dove, but the Queen saw it as a pigeon and said as much at the end — because they both saw Luke in different ways. To Dee, he’s something amazing . . . to the Queen, he was just . . . ordinary and to be looked down on.

What exactly was in the pasty concoction that Granna was working on?

Mmm. Good stuff involving all the herbs and plants and flowers that faeries cannot abide. There is a lot of plant and tree-lore that relates to the faeries, and I’d like to play with that more in another novel.

Will we find out in Ballad (the sequel to Lament) who is responsible for hurting Granna?

Nope.

How did Dee’s family end up with a faerie hound?

It was a good way for the faeries to keep tabs on a family that had been of interest to them for a long time, especially after they began to suspect that Dee might be more than she seemed.

Was Luke in love with Dee before, or after he approached her at the recital?

After! Beforehand, he was definitely just thinking of her as yet another job that he really didn’t want to complete.

At the beginning of the novel, Dee is in the bathroom before her harp performance puking her guts up – is that something you’re well acquainted with as well?

Years and years of playing music in public means that I don’t really get nervous anymore (my agent tells me orange juice is great for settling nerves, by the way — I will say it makes me feel pretty even-keeled before speaking to large groups). Even back when I used to get really nervous, I generally busted out with goosebumps instead. But I do know nervous pukers and I thought it would be a pretty visual method of getting Dee’s phobia across.

End of spoilers.

What is your fave YA novel you’ve read in the last six months?

Tough choice, but I’ll have to go with SAVING FRANCESCA, which is surprising, because I never used to like contemporary YA that didn’t feature any supernatural elements terrorizing the main characters. But I was just writing the review for SAVING FRANCESCA for you guys and it made me want to read it again — so it must be love.

You’ve got two kids, right? How do you fit writing in around looking after a family?

Heh. It’s a very delicate balance. I have to say right now that my husband is amazing and supportive and no, you can’t have him. But he’s always been good about taking the kids out of the house and out of my hair when I need to get work done on his days off. They’re also in school three days a week, which helps.

But when it comes down to it, I wrote LAMENT back when my husband’s work hours were crazy, the kids weren’t in school yet, and I was working full time as a portrait artist to make my living. I wrote it in three hour chunks once a week — so don’t let time be your excuse for not finishing your novel!

You’ve got two more books planned for release. Please tell us a little about Ballad and Shiver…

I’m really, really excited about both of these, because I feel I grew so much as a writer during and after the LAMENT writing and editing process.

Ballad, the sequel to LAMENT, comes out October 1st. It’s narrated by James and takes place at Thornking-Ash the fall after LAMENT ends. The official descriptions for both BALLAD and SHIVER are here at my site: www.maggiestiefvater.com/forthcoming.html, but I can add that BALLAD is about coming to grips with the elements in LAMENT that were pushed to the side by the overarching threat of the Faerie Queen. It’s about what it really means for James to be psychic and for Dee to draw faeries to her all the time. It’s about James coming to grips with his feelings for Dee and vice versa.

And SHIVER. Oh, SHIVER. It’s not set in the same world as LAMENT/ BALLAD, and it’s the first unabashedly romantic novel that I’ve written, where the whole point of it is the love story. It’s about a girl who has always watched the wolves behind her house and a boy who must turn into a wolf each winter, and it’s happy, and sad, and bittersweet . . . and I’m really proud of it. I love the plot in BALLAD, but I feel like with SHIVER I really matured even more and played with words in a way I couldn’t when I wrote LAMENT.

We’d like to extend our thanks to Maggie for taking the time out to answer our questions!