The time there were sips

So. If you follow me on Twitter, then you know how much I wanted a copy of The Distance Between Us. The ever so awesome Jaime let me borrow her arc and I instantly fell in love. I went around and entered all of the contests [it was really just the one on Kasie's website] trying to get my hands on a copy of my very own. Amazingly, I found it at a local library's on site book store [for a dollar] where I immediately snatched it up and hugged it. There may or may not have been some loud squealing and dancing. I cannot confirm or deny that.

Anyhoo.

After I read it, I flailed all over Kasie about it and begged asked for an interview. Since she's so amazing [and perhaps immune to my fangirling, I mean, we did hang out at Disneyland], she agreed! Before we get to Kasie, let's check out Distance Between Us.

Seventeen-year-old Caymen Meyers studies the rich like her own personal science experiment, and after years of observation she’s pretty sure they’re only good for one thing—spending money on useless stuff, like the porcelain dolls in her mother’s shop.

So when Xander Spence walks into the store to pick up a doll for his grandmother, it only takes one glance for Caymen to figure out he’s oozing rich. Despite his charming ways and that he’s one of the first people who actually gets her, she’s smart enough to know his interest won’t last. Because if there’s one thing she’s learned from her mother’s warnings, it’s that the rich have a short attention span. But Xander keeps coming around, despite her best efforts to scare him off. And much to her dismay, she's beginning to enjoy his company.

She knows her mom can’t find out—she wouldn’t approve. She’d much rather Caymen hang out with the local rocker who hasn’t been raised by money. But just when Xander’s attention and loyalty are about to convince Caymen that being rich isn’t a character flaw, she finds out that money is a much bigger part of their relationship than she’d ever realized. And that Xander’s not the only one she should’ve been worried about.

Sounds good, yes? [It totally is. And that cover is gorgeous!]

 

 

1. Where did the idea for Distance Between Us come from?

Oh my gosh, I just had a surreal moment with this question because I realized you are my first interview ever for The Distance Between Us. I'm so used to answering this question for Pivot Point that I almost immediately typed in that answer. Okay, so you don't want to hear Sliding Doors. Ha. Annnnnyway, I got the idea for The Distance Between Us on a Tuesday. I know this, because it's the day I used to take my daughter to guitar lessons. Her lessons are only a half an hour so I never really had time to do anything while she was there. So I usually would just sit in my car and read or get on twitter. Well, next door to the music store where she takes her lessons is a dollstore called 'Dolls, Bears, and More.' The main thing they sell there are porcelain dolls and as I sat there one day staring at the window display of these creepy dolls, I thought to myself, that would make a fun book--a girl who works in a porcelain doll shop. And thus, this book was born (well, the idea was born). :)

2. I love all of the sarcasm. Caymen's sense of humor is a lot like mine. How did she develop as a character?

My husband will die if I say this but I have to. Caymen is basically the girl version of my husband. I mean, of course she's different, but her humor was very heavily influenced by his humor. He has this dry humor that has always made me laugh. So whenever I thought about what Caymen might say in a situation, I pictured him. Which sounds really bad and please don't picture my husband as Caymen as you're reading because that would completely take all the romance out of this book. :)

3. Xander. I don't even have words for this boy. I cant tell you how much I flailed over the sips of Caymen's drinks. Where did he come from and would you ever consider doing something from his POV?

I love Xander. He was one of those rare characters that came to me fully formed. He was so easy to write. He just was. If that makes sense. Maybe that's why I like him so much. Because he was easy. In more ways than one. Ha. No, just kidding. He was only easy in one way. :)

And a book from his POV?? Hmmm. I have a confession (I know, another one) I'm terrified to write from a male POV. I don't know that I could do it. So my knee jerk, scaredy pants reaction to that question is no, I probably never would. BUT, I've learned to never say never. So....maybe. :)

4. The dolls are creepy. Why a doll store as the family business?

Well, as I stated above, the store that I sat in front of weekly was the main reason. But I also had a very unpleasant history with porcelain dolls dating back to my childhood and my grandmother who made us sleep in a guest room full of them. It was not fun. They really are creepy. And they used to stare at me. And my older sister thought it would be funny to tell awful stories about them and then proceed to fall asleep. So yeah, I thought there needed to be a book in a porcelain doll store.
 

5. Distance Between Us is a lot different from Pivot Point. Was it easier to write?

Yes and no. It was easier in that I didn't have to worry about alternate realities and keeping track of what she knew in one life versus what she knew in another and if it is this time in one life, I have to make sure it's this time in the other. All of those detail type stuff that made my head want to explode were not in DBU. But when you take out all that stuff, you realize how much contemporary depends on emotions and relationships and characters. And that's hard.

Speed [ish] round:

1. What's your go to guilty pleasure thing to eat?

Cookies (I also eat a lot of Jr. Mints but for some reason don't feel guilty about that)

2. What are you reading right now?

Going Vintage by Lindsey Leavitt

3. Who are your favorite swoony boys?

Jace (Mortal Instruments), Perry (Under the Never Sky), Wes (The Truth About Forever)

4. Are there any authors that you fangirl over?

Absolutely. A lot of them. :) I would love love love to meet Sarah Dessen though.

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Huge thanks to Kasie for taking the time to deal with my fangirling answer my questions.

Go find Kasie on her website or on Twitter. And go add all of her books on GoodReads.  

Now. The Distance Between Us has quickly become by go-to-when-in-a-slump book and I want everyone to read it and flail right along with me.... Soooooo.

Haven't read The Distance Between Us yet? Well, you're in luck. I'm giving away three [YES, THREE] copies. This is an international giveaway [as long as TBD ships for free to your country, so check first!]

Rules for the giveaway are listed under the "terms and conditions" on the Rafflecopter widget.

**Good Luck!!**

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The time it was about Daniel Sheridan

I had the delight of meeting Susan Dennard at Comic-con last year.  It was before Something Strange and Deadly was released and I was so so so happy that it was for sale before her signing.  I got my book signed, got a picture, made an ass out of myself in front of her [and Sarah J. Maas, who happens to be Susan's BFF].  You know, normal things.

So, when I saw that she didn't file a restraining order there was going to be a novella, I knew I wanted to help promote it.  I emailed Susan and asked if she would do an interview. She said yes [hooray!!] and as far as I know, still hasn't filed anything with the cops. That may change as I keep entering her arc giveaways.

Now, before we get to Susan, check out Daniel's story in A Dawn Most Wicked.

Daniel Sheridan is an engineer’s apprentice on a haunted Mississippi steamer known as the Sadie Queen. His best friend–the apprentice pilot, Cassidy Cochran–also happens to be the girl he’s pining for…and the captain’s daughter. But when it looks like the Sadie Queen might get taken off the river, Daniel and Cassidy have to do whatever they can to stop the ghosts that plague the ship.

Fortunately, there happens to be a Creole gentleman on board by the name of Joseph Boyer-–and he just might be able to help them…







Sounds good, right?

1. Where did the idea for the series come from and what prompted you to combine all of the elements you did?

 

So, as lame as it is, the idea for the series came from a dream. I dreamt my brother was missing and I would have done anything to get him back. Yet he'd been taken by supernatural forces, and I was totally NOT equipped to deal with that. For help, I turned to a ragtag team of supernatural-fighting outcasts (who had a super cool lab and skills). My dream was vague on setting, though, so I actually spent weeks and weeks just scouring history for a time period that jumped out at me as The Time and The Location for this story idea. :) As I wrote, the necromancy, ghosts, Dead, and electricity-inventions just sort poured out. It was as if the world and all its components had always been in my brain, I just had to tap into them and discover it as Eleanor did. In books 2 and 3, we get to see more of that supernatural world--other creatures, spells, and a lot more darkness. And of course, the novella shows a different side of this ghost-filled alternate 1876 too.

 

2. Let's talk Eleanor. I'm a sucker for a smart girl who gets things done and I adore her. Did writing her come easily?

 

At first, I made Eleanor way too fluffy. I always do this! I can't help it--when I sit down to write a first draft, my heroines are always too nice, too good at everything, and too happy. Usually I have to start the book a few times before I finally hit on the right balance of darkness, flaws, and likability. But once I have the voice, I have it. ;)
 

3. Daniel. He's swoony in a gruff sort of way and it absolutely works. Did he evolve on his own or in response to Eleanor?

Daniel definitely evolves throughout the series in response to Eleanor. A big part of his character is that he's volatile--he knows he's short-tempered and sometimes cruel--but he can't seem to control it. Yet he so desperately wants to be a better person, and as the series progresses... Well, I'll let you see how he does at improving his character. ;) I knew who Daniel was from the get-go. He was in my dream, actually--an angry inventor with a super shady past--so I had his character worked out from the start.

4. When you wrote the ending for Something Strange and Deadly, did you sit back and laugh, knowing all of the people you were going to drive crazy?

 

Ha! NO! Not at all! It was just the natural, appropriate ending based on who Daniel is and how the time period works. Heck, had I known how many people would be furious, I might've changed it. But I'm so glad I didn't--more often than not, people like that the ending is just so...up in the air. That said, there will be a ton of closure once readers have the novella in their hands. They'll at least understand Daniel's character a lot more.

 

5. You're killing me with the relationship between Eleanor and Daniel [Empress? *swoooon*]. Is there anything you can tell us about what happens between them in A Darkness Strange and Lovely?
 

Um....Hmmmmm. All I'll say is that it takes a bit of time for Daniel to appear (he doesn't show up until about halfway through), but once he's on the page, the sparks are FLYING. Like I said, the novella explains so much about his character, but Eleanor doesn't know all that info. So though the chemistry is high, so is her frustration. ;) I think readers will like it, though.

 

Speed [ish] Round:
 

1. What is your go-to guilty pleasure thing to eat?

 

Cookies. Any shape, flavor, size--I don't discriminate.

 

2. If you could wake up one day, just knowing how to do something, what would it be?

 

How to draw! Oh goodness, that is the one thing I wish I could do!!

 

3. What are you reading right now?
 

I'm reading (admittedly slowly thanks to deadlines) Archangel by Sharon Shinn. I adore her books.

 

4. Are there any authors that you fangirl over?

 

Omg, I made a HUGE fool of myself in front of Robin Hobb. Twice. I first met her at Comic Con and started crying. So. So. SO EMBARRASSING. Then I met her again at the Decatur book festival and flailed like an idiot. I was mortified. Fortunately, she didn't seem to hold it against me, since she invited me (and the less flail-y Sarah J. Maas) to dinner. It was amazing and insightful. Turns out my idols are just normal people too. ;) If I ever met Garth Nix or Sherwood Smith, I would probably have the same ridiculous meltdown reaction.

 

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Huge thanks to Susan for dealing with my fangirling answering my questions!

Find her on her website, blog, and Twitter pages.  And go add all of her books on GoodReads.

Now.

Haven't read any of Susan's books? Wellllll, that's where I come in. 

To celebrate the release of A Dawn Most Wicked, I'm giving away stuff! There will be three winners. The grand prize winner will win a hardcover copy of Something Strange and Deadly, an e-book of A Dawn Most Wicked and a hardcover copy of A Darkness Strange and Lovely [when it is released on 7/23/13]. Two winners will get an e-book of A Dawn Most Wicked.

The grand prize winner will get books from The Book Depository [so make sure it ships for free to you before entering!]. Winners of the e-book copies will choose between Barnes & Noble or Amazon for delivery.

Rules for the giveaway are listed under the "terms and conditions" on the Rafflecopter widget.
 

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The time I reviewed a book -- 2

Okay.  Another book has captured my brain and held it hostage. I know that I said I wouldn't do reviews all the time, but I refuse to take the blame for this.  I'm holding Susan Dennard completely responsible for creating such an phenomenal world and characters.  It's her fault that I can't get Something Strange and Deadly out of my head. 

First of all, look at that cover.  It's gorgeous.  The colors.  The model.  The gears behind her.  The font.  Everything about this cover makes me happy. 

I had heard the buzz about Something Strange and Deadly right from the beginning.  I put it on my "to buy" list and figured I'd buy it eventually.  And then I saw Susan tweet something about how it was going to be on sale at CC before it was officially released.  Annnnnd, I'm not one to skip that sort of opportunity.

But, let's get down to business.  Here are the reasons I'm horribly in love with this book.

1. Eleanor

I'm a sucker for a smart girl.  I love love love when authors write their heroines as witty and charming instead of needing to rely on a boy.  And my ideal heroine is one who delivers snarky retorts and proves how awesome she is without changing a damn thing about herself. 

Eleanor is all of those things.  And more.

She fights the Dead with a parasol.  She gets into the thick of things right from the beginning and never wants to leave. She's the younger sister to an older brother who can't come home for some reason.  The family is almost out of money and the responsibility to marry quickly falls on Eleanor's shoulders.  And does she falter? Nope.  Not at all.

2. Daniel

Daniel is swoony without even knowing it.  He's smart and gruff and so delicious in his not acting properly around a society lady.  Even better, he knows how he's supposed to act and does the exact opposite.  He calls Eleanor "Empress".  He buys her a parasol when she loses hers. 

At the same time, you can tell he doesn't know what to do with Eleanor. And it's absolutely amazing to watch it all unfold and see the interactions between them. 

3. The promise of more in Book 2

Eleanor. Daniel. Paris.  The end.

Something Strange and Deadly takes place in Philadelphia.  There are zombies.  Smart zombies who are being controlled by a necromancer.  And some pretty awesome steampunk-like science experiments that help destroy the zombies. 

Go buy it. 

As I said in my epic Comic-Con recap, I briefly met Susan.  She's adorable and charming and I absolutely want to meet her again so I can fangirl on her the way she properly deserves.