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Tuesday, June 8, 2010

Interview: Angie Frazier (Author of EVERLASTING!)

After months of waiting, I'm thrilled to finally have debut author Angie Frazier here to discuss her debut, EVERLASTING! Be sure to check out my review of the novel too!
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A Brief Bio
Angie lives in New Hampshire with her husband and two daughters, their big black lab, and a pair of highly destructive cats. Her debut young adult novel, EVERLASTING, is the result of an overactive imagination, an addiction to historical research, and dozens of vintage travel posters plastered to the ceilings of a cottage she rented one long, snowbound winter.
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The Interview


Give a short statement describing EVERLASTING.
EVERLASTING is a romantic adventure set in the Australian wilderness in 1855. After Camille Rowen loses her father in a shipwreck, she learns there might be an ancient stone that could bring him back to life. She also find out that her mother, whom Camille always believed was dead, is in fact alive and has the key to the stone. Camille and Oscar, her father’s loyal (and of course handsome!) first mate, set out into Australia to find her mother and the stone before Camille’s father’s rival can beat them to it.


The setting of EVERLASTING is integral to Camille’s story. How does the time period in which Camille lives shape her actions and personality? In what ways would Camille be different if her story was set in modern day?
I love this question! Yes, the time period is important. In that period young ladies were expected to marry and have babies and please others. If women went against the norm, they were ostracized and set apart. And though Camille has always had a separate kind of freedom sailing aboard her father’s ships, she doesn’t want to bring shame down onto her father or his business, and truthfully, herself. She knows what she wants, but she’s afraid to go after it and lose everything she’s ever known. If the story was more modern day, then the different social classes and the conflict between Camille and Oscar wouldn’t be the same or hold the same weight.


The forbidden romance between Camille and Oscar is definitely one of my favorite aspects of the novel. Camille’s father sees the connection between the two and does not approve. When he is claimed by the sea, Camille and Oscar grow even closer, but Oscar still pulls away out of respect for Camille’s father and for Camille herself, despite his deep love for her. What does this say about Oscar? Do you think that Camille’s father would have eventually come to terms with their relationship?
I don’t think Oscar is only tiptoeing around his feelings for Camille out of respect for her and her father, but also for himself. He knows as well as Camille does that he has nothing to offer her—and 1855 was a day and age when money and position and dowries were all still very relevant and a big factor in marriages. If Oscar was to admit his feelings, if Camille confessed hers to him, and if anything happened between the two of them, then how could Oscar go back from there? He’s protecting himself with his stoic, protector-like persona. And I think Camille’s father would have eventually accepted their relationship, but it would have come at a high cost, and hurting her father or disappointing him would have been torture for Camille.


Character names often contribute to my perception of a character. The main characters, Camille and Oscar, have particularly unique names. Was it difficult to decide names for your characters and is there a particular reason, other than the time period, that contributed to your decision?
If I remember correctly I came up with their names pretty quickly. I wanted something burly and rough for the lead guy, and Oscar fit perfectly. For my main female character, I wanted something sweet yet sexy. I’m actually not sure if Camille or Oscar were popular names during that time period, but I really liked them!


Can you tell us anything about your next YA novel?
Well, my next YA is going to be the second Everlasting book coming out next summer. I couldn’t end Camille’s story just yet. I don’t think I can say anything more about it just yet, but there should be at least a title soon to share.


My blog is dedicated to my personal hiding spot, books. Who, what, or where can be credited as your personal escape from reality?
My escape consists of reading in bed on a Sunday morning with a cup of coffee or tea while my girls eat breakfast and watch PBS cartoons. Just give me an hour and I’m ready to go for the whole day!
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Thanks, Angie!

To learn more about Angie and EVERLASTING, check out her website and my review.

32 comments:

  1. Wow, you asked very good questions, totally interesting! I love the replies, and I LOVE Oscar!

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  2. Everlasting looks amazing! I cannot wait to read it. Good questions :)

    By the way, you have an award over at my blog.

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  3. Wow. I didn't know there was a second book and I love how she picked the names. Can't wait to read this book.

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  4. Definitely excited for this book! Great interview :)

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  5. Awesome questions! I want to read this book so bad.

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  6. Wow, you had some really great questions!! Terrific interview

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  7. Good questions! I need to take notes on my interview skills!

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  8. Ooh, I was iffy at first about the MCs names, but after the descriptions I was nodding along.. yes, rugged Oscar :) Awesome questions and great interview!

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  9. So glad to hear there is another book coming out!

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  10. Thanks for this interview. Nice questions and answers.

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  11. Great questions! Looking forward to this book!

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  12. Very informative interview! I really like the idea of a ya historical. I like to that it takes place in Australia, I'd love to visit there some day. I look forward to reading this one.

    mlawson17 at hotmail dot com

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  13. I loved her escape idea... Sunday mornings with a cup of coffee =) she sounds like my kind of gal!~

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  14. Great questions were asked! I loved the answers. Thanks for the interview :)

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  15. Can't wait to read Everlasting! I love the name Camille, but Oscar just unfortunately reminds me of Oscar the Grouch.

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  16. Great interview! I love the name choices :)

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  17. This makes me want to read the book even more! It sounds so interesting and I love the questions you asked. :)

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  18. This sounds like a great book. Thanks for doing the interview. And I agree-reading is the best escape from reality.

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  19. Forbidden relationships! Lol, that was a great question you aksed about. I love her response and I think Angie did good with picking the characters' names. They're so beautiful! Thanks for the interview!

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  20. Very excited that there's more to come with Camille and Oscar!!! :) THanks for the interview!

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  21. Wow! There's going to be a second book following Everlasting? This is the first time I've heard of it. Hehe forbidden relationships. Nice interview.

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  22. Great interview. I havent read Everlasting yet but I am already glad to see a sequel in the works.

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  23. That sounds like a great hiding spot...

    Camille and Oscar are unusual names, but they seem to fit with these characters. Great interview!

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  24. I'm always so jealous when I read interviews--I could never think up such awesome questions! I love reading interviews. They either expand on a book I've already read, answering questions I may have been curious about, or it makes me want to pick up the book if I haven't read it yet. I really want to read Everlasting now! Thanks

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  25. You can tell that Angie Frazier did a good amount of research. I love that she kept the names of her characters even though she didn't know if it fit in with the time period. It makes those names stand out.

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  26. These are great questions! Loved this interview!

    I think Camille is such a great name; it definitely sounds like a name used in that time period. I also think it's great that she's writing a sequel!

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  27. I think I'll probably like this book. Thanks for posting this interesting interview!

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  28. I still watch PBS cartoons sometimes too as a getaway even though I'm... lets just say.. a little too old for them :P. Great interview!!

    angela z

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  29. This interview has made me even more anxious to read this book! Angie Frazier seems like a sweetheart!

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  30. Great interview. I find the idea of a dowry and arranged marriages very interesting.

    lizzi0915 at aol dot com

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  31. This book looks perfect. Romance, adventure, magic, girls doing things they aren't supposed to-- a recipe for greatness!

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  32. I'm interested to know whether or not Oscar and Camille actually were popular in 1855. If not, I wonder if Angie Frazier will face criticism for this aspect.

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Make sure you whisper, I'm hiding!