Interview & Giveaway: Joelle Charbonneau, author of The Testing

Today Joelle Charbonneau, author of The Testing, is here at The Hiding Spot as part of the Fall Festival celebration! Joelle's novel, The Testing, is one of my 2013 favorites! Don't miss my review, here! Check out my interview with Joelle and enter win a finished copy of The Testing and a signed poster!

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The Interview

Did you have trouble writing any of your characters or specific scenes within the novel? Or, were any characters or scenes particularly easy to write?

I think the hardest scene for me to write was the one after the third test.  Cia has some very serious concerns about the choices that she and some of her teammates made during that test, but while the scene is filled with her thoughts and reactions, there are other things happening in that scene that are important to the overall story arc—things she doesn’t completely register as being important.  Finding a way to drop certain moments into the story without making them look pivotal or making Cia look silly for not being aware of those moments was perhaps the greatest challenge for me in this story. 

Has the title changed or stayed relatively the same as your novel journeyed towards publication?

The title for the book was submitted to editors as The Testing.  So most of the publishing world has only known it as that.  However, when I first opened the file and started typing, I titled the filed Higher Education.  My agent was the one who read the book and said – you know—The Testing is the big event in this book.  Maybe we should name it that.  She was right and we did!

What book or author has most influenced you as a writer or in general?

I guess my biggest influences have been Stephen King and Nora Robert.  As a young reader, I plowed through all of Stephen King’s books.  They really influenced the books that I enjoyed then and still continue to love.  Since what you read influences what you write, I would say he influences me without my knowing it every day. 

As a writer, I think Nora Roberts’s work ethic influences me greatly.  I heard her say once that she can fix a bad page, but she can’t fix a blank one.  On the days where I think I am the worst writer in the world, those words keep me at the keyboard pushing the story forward.

What jobs did you have on your way to becoming a writer/published author? Is there a certain work experience that has shaped your writing?

Ha!  Well, I tend to favor jobs that are filled with copious amounts of rejection.  I’ve been an opera singer, a music theater performer, a model as well as a voice instructor.  Oh – and there was a stint as a systems administrator (which involved report analysis and testing and developing software upgrades).  Don’t ask.  I’m still not sure how that happened.  The funny thing is that while I never intended to be a writer, my work as a professional performer shaped my ability to deal with submissions, reviews and rejection—some of the hardest things for an author to face.  So, I guess I was training to be an author all along. :)

 If you had to pick a favorite word, what would it be and why?

Outstanding…because as a teacher you work to make your students understand being good is fine – but taking it to the next level is WAY better.

My blog is dedicated to my personal hiding spot, books. Who, what, or where can be credited as your personal escape from reality?

Music.  I can’t write with music on because I escape into it in the same way books pull me in.  If I need a good cry or a laugh, there is always a musical or an opera that will fulfill that need and leave me feeling better about the world.  And if I get to sing it—well that’s even better.

Find out more about Joelle and her books here! 

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More about The Testing:

Keep your friends close and your enemies closer. Isn’t that what they say? But how close is too close when they may be one in the same?

The Seven Stages War left much of the planet a charred wasteland. The future belongs to the next generation’s chosen few who must rebuild it. But to enter this elite group, candidates must first pass The Testing—their one chance at a college education and a rewarding career.

Cia Vale is honored to be chosen as a Testing candidate; eager to prove her worthiness as a University student and future leader of the United Commonwealth. But on the eve of her departure, her father’s advice hints at a darker side to her upcoming studies--trust no one.

But surely she can trust Tomas, her handsome childhood friend who offers an alliance? Tomas, who seems to care more about her with the passing of every grueling (and deadly) day of the Testing. To survive, Cia must choose: love without truth or life without trust.

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Interview & Giveaway: Amber Kizer, author of A Matter of Days

Today, Amber Kizer is at The Hiding Spot as part of Fall Festival Blog Hop to talk about her newest release, A Matter of Days! I loved this post-apocalyptic story of a brother and sister traveling across a decimated United States - be sure to check out my review here! Amber has kindly provided an audiobook of AMOD for one lucky winner at The Hiding Spot, which you can enter to win below.

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The Interview

Did you have trouble writing any of your characters or specific scenes within the novel? Or, were any characters or scenes particularly easy to write?

AMOD stewed in my brain for a very long time before the opportunity to write it appeared, so in many ways it was very easy to write. However I did an incredible amount of research on viruses and pandemics, prepping, survival, and actually took the road trip with Nadia and Rabbit via Google Earth. So the timeline and the details were tricky from my perspective—only to make it seamless for the reader—who hopefully never notices those things because they’re so caught up in the adventure!

Has the title changed or stayed relatively the same as your novel journeyed towards publication?

Originally the working title was ECHOES OF 1492. I had patient zero named “Columbus” and that led to the virus being named “1492” because it led to a whole new world—ie Christopher Columbus sailing to the Americas in 1492. However I changed editors within the publisher and she felt it sounded too historical, so I went back to the text, used a middle school of kids to focus group ideas and help narrow them down and the team at Delacorte liked A Matter of Days best. I like it because the phrase “a matter of” comes up a lot in Nadia’s thinking and rather than chapters we used days to designate breaks—cuz let’s face it, everything is different and sunrises are way more important than chapters in a survival story.

What book or author has most influenced you as a writer or in general?

Yeah, so this is impossible to answer. I read everything. Usually 20-25 books, in all genres, concurrently. I seek words and story everywhere. But if I pick one writer’s work, Gabriel Garcia Marquez has a story in Strange Pilgrims which completely changed the way I view story and details. Two little boys in an urban environment learn to scuba dive in light instead of water and subsequently drown. That story changed me completely.

For AMOD the most influential books were Stephen King’s The Stand which I read in middle school, followed closely by Richard Preston’s Hot Zone. Both sucked me into daydreams about survival and pandemics.

What jobs did you have on your way to becoming a writer/published author? Is there a certain work experience that has shaped your writing?

I started writing because I developed a rare nerve disorder in my legs that requires an incredible amount of flexibility and fortitude to get through each day.

 If you had to pick a favorite word, what would it be and why?

Aside from swearing? “Splendid.”

My blog is dedicated to my personal hiding spot, books. Who, what, or where can be credited as your personal escape from reality?

Are you saying I can’t pick books too? I have a variety of escapes—the animals in my life, my gardens, trashy reality television, and food—all fulfill anti-reality niches for me!

Find out more about Amber and her books here!

Follow Amber on Twitter: @WriteAmberKizer
Email comments to Amber at Amber@AmberKizer.com 

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More about A Matter of Days:

On Day 56 of the pandemic called BluStar, sixteen-year-old Nadia's mother dies, leaving her responsible for her younger brother Rabbit. They secretly received antivirus vaccines from their uncle, but most people weren't as lucky. Their deceased father taught them to adapt and survive whatever comes their way. That's their plan as they trek from Seattle to their grandfather's survivalist compound in West Virginia. Using practical survival techniques, they make their way through a world of death and destruction until they encounter an injured dog; Zack, a street kid from Los Angeles; and other survivors who are seldom what they seem. Illness, infections, fatigue, and meager supplies have become a way of life. Still, it will be worth it once they arrive at the designated place on the map they have memorized. But what if no one is there to meet them?

Earn extra entries by following the Fall Festival blogs listed here!

Giveaway


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Interview & Giveaway: Trish Cook and Brendan Halpin, authors of A Really Awesome Mess

Kicking off the Fall Festival, I have authors Trish Cook and Brendan Halpin here at The Hiding Spot to chat about their new book, A Really Awesome Mess! Both Cook & Halpin are incredibly funny and charming... and these qualities definitely flavor their co-authored novels. Also, don't forget to enter to win your own copy of this fantastic title via the form below!

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The Interview

Did you have trouble writing any of your characters or specific scenes within the novel? Or, were any characters or scenes particularly easy to write?

Trish: The scene where Emmy and Justin are running through the cornfield trying to get to the Farm Sanctuary was difficult for me to write because I’ve never lived in the country, only suburbs and cities. I kept asking my friends who grew up in rural areas, “How is corn planted? In rows? Are they even? Wide enough to run through? If you were really short, would the stalks hit you as you went by? In the face, shoulders, what? How high would corn have grown by August?” They were like, enough with the corn questions already.

Brendan: It was difficult for me at times to articulate the way Justin was feeling. I've had issues with depression myself (though not as severe as Justin's) so I was able to call on my own memories, but I did find it challenging to translate the feelings into words.

 Has the title changed or stayed relatively the same as your novel journeyed towards publication?

Trish: Ha! The whole time we were writing it, Brendan and I intended the title to be Escape from Assland, and generally referred to it as Assland for short. We were really bummed—but probably not all that surprised—when the marketing people told us to change it. So then we went around and around, trying to figure out a new title we liked as much. It was NOT easy, and I think in the end, we both still wish it had been named EFA. But here’s a little secret: On the back cover, you can faintly make out the word Assland in the faded school crest. I love the cover designer for adding that in there.

Brendan: I don't really have anything to add to Trish's Assland story except to say that I still think that's an awesome title.

What book or author has most influenced you as a writer or in general?

Trish: I would have to say Judy Blume. I was always so blown away by her honesty and handling of sensitive subjects. I love the way she takes kids’ and teens’ problems seriously, and never talks down to her readers.

Brendan: Probably Stephen King. When I was a teenager, I read everything he'd written up to that point.  I've always really admired the way he sells the supernatural stuff with his keen observations of human behavior.  That's true even in his lesser works: there's a part in Dreamcatcher where an alcoholic literally risks his life for the beers in the trunk of his car that is probably the most devastating indictment of alcoholism I've ever read.

What jobs did you have on your way to becoming a writer/published author? Is there a certain work experience that has shaped your writing?

Trish: I worked for a long time writing insurance brochures. If you think that sounds like the world’s most boring writing job, you’re right. However, it was also an excellent training ground for learning to write clearly, succinctly, and sometimes, creatively when I had a particularly cool client. My mentors at the consulting firm where I worked taught me so many valuable lessons about what good writing is, as well as how to effectively edit my work and graciously accept a critique.

Brendan:  I was a high school teacher for ten years, which definitely influenced my YA work.  I have also sorted mail, delivered airline tickets (back when there was such a thing), and worked as a caddy.Caddying was the worst job I've ever had. I attended private school on a scholarship, so I used to come off 4 hours hauling a heavy bag across the golf course and see my classmates cavorting in the country club pool. It was seriously like something out of a movie.

 If you had to pick a favorite word, what would it be and why?

Trish: It’s a tie between JOY and GRATITUDE. Joy, because I think it’s the ultimate goal. And gratitude, because I think we sometimes fail to recognize the joy that already exists in so many little moments every day, and should try to become more aware and grateful for these.

Brendan:  Today I was talking to my students about the word "cesspool," so that's kind of in my brain right now. I like that one a lot.  I'm sure there are more, but cesspool is taking up all the great word space right now.

My blog is dedicated to my personal hiding spot, books. Who, what, or where can be credited as your personal escape from reality?

Trish: WHO: My family

              WHAT: The beach

              WHERE: Surf City, Long Beach Island every August

Brendan:  When I'm writing, I can totally get in the zone when I get lost in the story and completely forget everything else.  It's really one of the main reasons I write.

Find out more about Trish and her books here!
Find out more about Brendan and his books here!

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More About the Book:

A hint of Recovery Road, a sample of Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist, and a cut of Juno. A Really Awesome Mess is a laugh-out-loud, gut-wrenching/heart-warming story of two teenagers struggling to find love and themselves. 

Two teenagers. Two very bumpy roads taken that lead to Heartland Academy. 

Justin was just having fun, but when his dad walked in on him with a girl in a very compromising position, Justin's summer took a quick turn for the worse. His parents' divorce put Justin on rocky mental ground, and after a handful of Tylenol lands him in the hospital, he has really hit rock bottom.

Emmy never felt like part of her family. She was adopted from China. Her parents and sister tower over her and look like they came out of a Ralph Lauren catalog-- and Emmy definitely doesn't. After a scandalous photo of Emmy leads to vicious rumors around school, she threatens the boy who started it all on Facebook.

Justin and Emmy arrive at Heartland Academy, a reform school that will force them to deal with their issues, damaged souls with little patience for authority. But along the way they will find a ragtag group of teens who are just as broken, stubborn, and full of sarcasm as themselves. In the end, they might even call each other friends. 

A funny, sad, and remarkable story, A Really Awesome Mess is a journey of friendship and self-discovery that teen readers will surely sign up for.

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Earn extra entries by following the Fall Festival blogs listed here!

Giveaway

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Book Trailer: Champion by Marie Lu

Anyone else ridiculously excited for the final book in Marie Lu's epic Legend series?! November 5th can't come soon enough! :)

More about the book:

He is a Legend.
She is a Prodigy.
Who will be Champion?

June and Day have sacrificed so much for the people of the Republic—and each other—and now their country is on the brink of a new existence. June is back in the good graces of the Republic, working within the government’s elite circles as Princeps Elect while Day has been assigned a high level military position. But neither could have predicted the circumstances that will reunite them once again. Just when a peace treaty is imminent, a plague outbreak causes panic in the Colonies, and war threatens the Republic’s border cities. This new strain of plague is deadlier than ever, and June is the only one who knows the key to her country’s defense. But saving the lives of thousands will mean asking the one she loves to give up everything he has. With heart-pounding action and suspense, Marie Lu’s bestselling trilogy draws to a stunning conclusion.

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Fall Festival Celebration with Author Interviews & Giveaways!

Welcome everyone to Fall Festival! Each day my co-host Lizzy at Cornucopia of Reviews and I will be posting interviews, guest posts, and fall spotlights! I'll be hosting an interview and contest each day, and I know that Lizzy will be hosting some great giveaways, too. Don't forget to check out the posts by our other participants, as following them in some way can give you bonus entries into my contests! Here are the other blogs to check out:

Kristen at The Book Monsters
Debz at Debzbookshelf
Bemused Bookworm

Check back tomorrow for my first post/contest! Don't forget to check in all week long to see new contests, author content, and more!

Confessions & Clues Week + Giveaway

There have been a string of murders on the Upper West Side in NYC. A killer is on the loose targeting private school girls, and while the police look for all the right answers in all the wrong places, Tandy Angel is determined to uncover who is really responsible. 

Tandy has shared these five clues that hint at who the killer may be. But what is going on in Tandy’s mind as she tracks the footsteps of a killer? Here is one of Tandy’s true CONFESSIONS, an inside look at her thoughts and feelings. To piece together the full story and get an inside look at this thrilling story, you’ll have to pick up a copy of Confessions: The Private School Murders, on-sale October 7th however books are sold. 

Tandy Angel, mastermind determined to track down a serial killer targeting private school girls on the Upper West Side, has more than just murder on the mind.

Amongst the drama around her, she dreams of her long lost love James Rampling…will the two ever be reunited? In this key confession, Tandy uncovers a letter that might lead her to James’ whereabouts. 

“I read the letter again, then a third time, then a fourth. This couldn't be real. In a few short days, I was going to see James? 

Actually see him, touch him, kiss him?”

 -Confessions: The Private School Murders (page 406)  

Look for the next clue tomorrow at The Book Cellar!
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More About the Confessions Books

by James Patterson & Maxine Paetro

Confessions of a Murder Suspect

James Patterson returns to the genre that made him famous with a thrilling teen detective series about the mysterious and magnificently wealthy Angel family . . . and the dark secrets they're keeping from one another.

On the night Malcolm and Maud Angel are murdered, Tandy Angel knows just three things: 1) She was the last person to see her parents alive. 2) The police have no suspects besides Tandy and her three siblings. 3) She can't trust anyone—maybe not even herself. Having grown up under Malcolm and Maud's intense perfectionist demands, no child comes away undamaged. Tandy decides that she will have to clear the family name, but digging deeper into her powerful parents' affairs is a dangerous-and revealing-game. Who knows what the Angels are truly capable of?

Confessions: The Private School Murders

Tandy Angel may have played the hero when she solved the case of her magnificently wealthy parents' mysterious deaths, but she isn't done yet. Her brother Matthew stands trial for homicide, young girls are found murdered all around New York's Upper West side, and Tandy is determined to use her piercing intellect to get to the bottom of both cases. But the biggest mystery of allmay be what actually happened to James Rampling, the handsome son of a family enemy, whom Tandy fell in love and ran away with--though most of her memories of the affair are disturbingly absent...

The confessions keep coming as Tandy delves even deeper into her own tumultuous history and the skeletons in the Angel family closet.

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Spill Your Confessions Giveaway

One winner receives a journal, a custom t-shirt and copies of Confessions of a Murder Suspect and Confessions: The Private School Murders!

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Review: Eat, Brains, Love by Jeff Hart

Two teenage zombies search for brains, love, and answers in this surprisingly romantic and laugh-out-loud funny debut novel with guts.

Jake Stephens was always an average, fly-under-the-radar guy. The kind of guy who would never catch the attention of an insanely popular girl like Amanda Blake-or a psychic teenage government agent like Cass. But one day during lunch, Jake's whole life changed. He and Amanda suddenly locked eyes across the cafeteria, and at the exact same instant, they turned into zombies and devoured half their senior class.

Now Jake definitely has Amanda's attention-as well as Cass's, since she's been sent on a top-secret mission to hunt them down. As Jake and Amanda deal with the existential guilt of eating their best friends, Cass struggles with a growing psychic dilemma of her own-one that will lead the three of them on an epic journey across the country and make them question what it means to truly be alive. Or undead.

Eat, Brains, Love is a heartwarming and bloody blend of romance, deadpan humor, and suspense that fans of Isaac Marion's Warm Bodies will devour. With its irresistibly dry and authentic teen voice, as well as a zombie apocalypse worthy of AMC's The Walking Dead, this irreverent paperback original will leave readers dying for the sequel that's coming in Summer 2014.

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To be honest, I expected Jeff Hart's Eat, Brains, Love to be a bit fluffy and definitely silly... Blame this assumption on the cover. Because, while there is a certain goriness to concept of the cover, it really didn't give me reason to assume that the book was really deal with the typical gory zombies. I will happily admit that I was completely wrong in my assumptions about Eat, Brains, Love: it's funny, it's romantic, and it's gory in the very best ways.

Eat, Brains, Love is told from two different perspectives: Jake, the recently undead, and Cass, the psychic government operative who hunts the undead. Jake's on the run with Amanda Blake, his super popular classmate, who just happened to turn zombie during the same lunch period as he did. After eating half of their friends and peers in a zombie haze, Amanda and Jake revert back to the normal, clear-headed selves with no other option but to flee. Enter Cass, who works for a secret government team that cleans up situation like the one just created by Jake and Amanda. The team tracks down and takes out the zombies, but not before altering the memories of the humans involved so they overlook that zombies exist at all. Cass has been doing this job for years and she's proud of it - she keeps people safe and gets rid of monsters - but, with Jake, Cass finds herself doubting everything she's always believed. Cass's psychic abilities allow her inside Jake's head and she's surprised by what she finds there. Sure, he's a zombie and he's killed a growing number of people, but he's also just a guy. A guy that Cass can't help but like and who, at least most of the time, doesn't seem like a zombie at all. While Cass struggles with her connection to Jake, he and Amanda are struggling with the unexpected turn their lives have taken, the guilt from having massacred their friends, and the hunger that sometimes fades, but always returns.

I'm pretty squeamish when it comes to gratuitous gore, but I really liked Hart's incorporation of blood and guts in Eat, Brains, Love. It was gross, but also funny, which I found smart and, oddly enough, charming. Remember that scene in Disney's Lady and the Tramp where the two lovebirds are sharing a plate of spaghetti, when they find they're both working their way up opposite ends of a spaghetti strand? Well, that happens in Eat, Brains, Love... with intestines. And I thought it was hilarious! That's the kind of gore you'll find in this book. It's a zombie book, so it's totally appropriate, and it's not over the top.

I loved that Cass and Jake were the two telling the story rather than Amanda... or maybe I'm just biased because, in the context of the strange love triangle that was developing, I favor Cass. Like me, you might wonder how Hart will pull off a zombie-hunter falling in love with a zombie, but Hart's zombies are unique in that, until they're hungry, they're pretty much normal kids. Kids that heal ridiculously fast and often have leftover blood and gore staining their clothes from the last meal, but kids nonetheless.

Eat, Brains, Love is nonstop action and, while the ending does offer some resolution, it also left me wanting more and very thankful that there is already a sequel in the works. I wholeheartedly agree with the assertion that fans of Warm Bodies will love Eat, Brains, Love, but I also think that this book has the potential to win over readers who aren't as zombie-friendly with it's wit and charm.

HarperTeen, October 2013, Paperback, ISBN: 9780062200341, 352 pgs.

Review: This Song Will Save Your Life by Leila Sales

Making friends has never been Elise Dembowski’s strong suit. All throughout her life, she’s been the butt of every joke and the outsider in every conversation. When a final attempt at popularity fails, Elise nearly gives up. Then she stumbles upon a warehouse party where she meets Vicky, a girl in a band who accepts her; Char, a cute, yet mysterious disc jockey; Pippa, a carefree spirit from England; and most importantly, a love for DJing.

Told in a refreshingly genuine and laugh-out-loud funny voice, This Song Will Save Your Life is an exuberant novel about identity, friendship, and the power of music to bring people together.

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Fans of contemporary YA fiction are seriously missing out if they haven't read any of Leila Sales' novels. This Song Will Save Your Life is the third book I've read from Sales, who is quickly becoming one of my go-to authors for smart, heartfelt realistic fiction and witty, engaging main characters.

This Song Will Save Your Life follows Elise Dembowski, a passionate girl who flings herself wholeheartedly into life and pursues her diverse interests with a reckless abandon. Well, at least she did, until she realized that being passionate and interesting just made her an easier target - for judgement, for laughter, for bullying. Elise decides to blend by embracing anything and everything that's "in" in an effort to discourage the teasing and bullying, but, much to her disappointment, she finds even this carefully planned effort to escape loneliness isn't enough. And then, unexpectedly, everything changes. One night Elise stumbles across a secret party, where she meets people who don't know that she's the unpopular, constantly mocked Elise Dembowski. Instead, she's an interesting girl with good taste in music and a natural skill for DJing. Elise loses - and finds - herself during her clandestine nights at the secret warehouse parties, but the double life she's carefully cultivated can't last forever.

Though it's alluded to in the novel's description, I really didn't realize how much of This Song Will Save Your Life would focus on bullying and suicide, nor did I realize how much it would affect me. This book reminded me how powerful a bully can be and how senseless bullying is. I was ridiculously angry at the kids in the book that picked on Elise over the years for absolutely no reason. Not that there is ever a situation that warrants bullying, but Elise, with her passion and interesting hobbies, is awesome! And I couldn't understand how her peers couldn't see how awesome she is.

When Elise finally gives up on winning the approval of her peers, I cheered for her. It was difficult to see her try to win over people who so clearly didn't appreciate what she had to offer (friendship with an interesting, unique person!) and see the resulting low self-esteem take hold and inevitable, self-questioning of what was wrong with her (rather than what was wrong with them). I think that this aspect of the book really shone: Elise taking charge of her life, in spite of the haters, and reaffirming what she believed in and cared about, to hell with all of them!

There is a small amount of romance in This Song Will Save Your Life, but it's definitely not the focus of the story. The romance elements seemed to be included to illustrate Elise's growth and the changes in her self-worth. The true romance in this book is between Elise, the music, and the sense of pride it allows her.

I highly recommend all of Leila Sales' novels, This Song Will Save Your Life included. Not only is this a great story about overcoming bullying and finding yourself, music lovers will appreciate the mentions of fantastic bands and songs!

Farrar, Staus, & Giroux, September 2013, Hardcover, ISBN:9780374351380, 288 pgs.

Interview & Giveaway: Maria Andreu, author of The Secret Side of Empty

Today author Maria Andreu visits The Hiding Spot to chat about her upcoming release, The Secret Side of Empty. Read on to learn more about Maria, including the book that made her realize her own book wanted to be YA, her favorite word (introverts unite!), and road that lead her to her final title: The Secret Side of Empty.

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Did you have trouble writing any of your characters or specific scenes within the novel? Or, were any characters or scenes particularly easy to write? 

 Nothing stands out as particularly tough.  As for easy… I did love writing the scenes between the main character and her boyfriend.  She goes through some tough times, so giving her those moments of first love was wonderful.  Plus it was nice to tap into that feeling and remember how great it feels to fall in love for the first time.

Has the title changed or stayed relatively the same as your novel journeyed towards publication? 

The novel’s title changed.  For as long as I was working on it (about 5 years) its working title was Illegal.  I sold it as that and was sure that was its title.  I was pretty attached to it, actually.  Then, a couple of months after selling it we discovered that there was another YA novel with that title.  It broke my heart.  But then, almost as if by magic, The Secret Side of Empty just popped into my head.  I loved it immediately.  It works on a lot of levels.  I was one of the lucky ones… my publisher really respected my wishes and they went with the alternative I suggested.  Now I couldn’t imagine the title being anything but what it is.

What book or author has most influenced you as a writer or in general? 

It’s impossible to narrow it down to one.  I always loved to “hide” in books, and I’ve had hundreds that have been meaningful or have stayed with me.  Isaac Asimov stands out as a favorite of my teen years.  I will read anything Jon Krakauer writes.  I love Harry Potter, of course, and really got into the Matched series.  As far as inspiration for my book, in retrospect I can say that I was inspired by books like A Tree Grows in Brooklyn and The Glass Castle.  Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson is the book that made me realize that my book wanted to be a YA novel.  It has a very special place in my heart.  

What jobs did you have on your way to becoming a writer/published author? Is there a certain work experience that has shaped your writing? 

I’ve always tried to stay in “writer-friendly” fields like marketing.  I’ve been just adequate enough at those to stay afloat.  But, honestly, writing is the only thing I’ve ever done which has made me feel like I can fly.  The only thing that has shaped my writing has been writing and more writing.  That said, I have a ton of interesting stories from my work life which will one day make it into my books and stories.

If you had to pick a favorite word, what would it be and why? 

So many!  Just in this moment the one that popped up was the word, “Solitude.”  There is something so breezy and quiet about it and regal about it.  It’s not loneliness, it’s being alone and happy.  A great state for writing.

My blog is dedicated to my personal hiding spot, books. Who, what, or where can be credited as your personal escape from reality? 

I share that feeling of books as a personal escape.  I love that feeling about 50 pages into a good book when you realize you’re invested in what happens to the characters, that they are part of your experience now.  That’s awesome. 

 
Other than books I’d have to say I find peace and a “hiding spot” in my garden.  There is something so magical about putting seeds and roots in the ground and having them sprout up in greenery and flowers.  I am planting a butterfly garden right now and I spend hours thinking about it and researching the best plants to put in it.  As a matter of fact, I’m looking into buying a butterfly house, a “hiding spot” for butterflies.  I think as someone who likes to find safe little hidey holes, it’s nice to provide that for others as well. 
 
Come to think of it, that’s one of the things that’s cool about writing… giving others what you love yourself.

Find out more about Maria and her books here!
Follow on Twitter or Facebook!

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GIVEAWAY

 

 For a chance to win the $250 Amazon gift card OR a the Kindle Fire leave a comment on this blog post. Winners will be randomly selected (from all comments posted on all blog posts participating in The Secret Side of Empty pre-publication tour) on September 30th.
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More About The Secret Side of Empty

It's the story of a teen girl that is American in every way except for in one very important way: on paper. She was brought to the U.S. as a baby without proper documentation, so she's "illegal." As the end of the safe haven of her high school days draw near, she faces an uncertain future. Full of humor and frustration and love, The Secret Side of Empty speaks to the part in all of us that has felt excluded or has had a secret too scary to share. What M.T., the main character, finally discovers is the strength of the human spirit and the power that's unleashed when you finally live the truth.

Giveaway: Antigoddess by Kendare Blake

Tor Teen has kindly provided a finished copy of Kendare Blake's newest novel, Antigoddess, for one lucky winner at The Hiding Spot! This new novel from Blake is just as badass as her duology, Anna Dressed in Blood and Girl of Nightmares. Trust me when I say this is a book that you don't want to miss!

Enter for your chance to win using the Rafflecopter form below. Please note that extra entries can be earned by commenting on my review of Antigoddess or my interview with Kendare, found here!

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