Author Interview: Cathy Ostlere

Cathy Ostlere is the author of young adult novel in verse, Karma. 

Synopsis (from Goodreads)

On October 31, 1984, Indira Gandhi is gunned down by two Sikh bodyguards. The murder sparks riots in Delhi and for three days Sikh families are targeted and killed in retribution for the Prime Minister’s death. It is into this chaos that sixteen-year-old Maya and her Sikh father, Amar, arrive from their home in Canada. India’s political instability is the backdrop and catalyst for Maya’s awakening to the world.

Born Bookish: Karma is your first book for young adults, what made you want to branch out to a new audience?

It's funny, but I never really thought about specifically writing to a new audience. Karma was the story I wanted to tell and it turns out it is perfectly suited to a young adult readership. As I was writing I found the character Maya to be strong and resilient and I was delighted to be able to share her with readers who are a similar age.

Born Bookish: Your adult novel, “Lost” is written in traditional prose, what made you want to tell Karma in verse?

"Lost" began as poetry but developed into prose. "Karma" began as prose and turned into poetry. I'm not sure I can explain why both books changed except to say it felt right for each story. Writing is an organic process and writers sometimes must take their cues from gut feelings.

Born Bookish: The murder of Prime Minister, Indira Gandhi and the Sikh community massacres that followed are real life events that took place in Delhi, India in 1984. What inspired you to write a book on this specific event?

The story of the 1984 slaughter of innocent Sikhs and the Hindus who tried to help them is a story not often told. And I believe it's an important story. There are many important discussions that can come from knowing about this event: religious tolerance, the immigrant experience, racism, and the power of teenage love.

Born Bookish: Karma is considered to be Historical Fiction. How many hours of research did you have to put in prior to writing in order to make this novel historically, and culturally accurate?

Good question! I really have no idea! I researched while I wrote instead of doing all the research up front. This was done because I didn't know what kind of research to do until my characters found themeselves in particular settings and situations. My characters lead me into the story. But my research made it real and true.

Born Bookish: Can you tell us a little bit about your writing process for Karma?

I write five days a week, about 4-5 hours a day. I write whatever comes to mind, allowing the characters do whatever they please. Then I spend a year editing the story, giving it shape, and making sure the characters make sense.

Born Bookish: Which character was easiest for you to write? Why?

Maya was the easiest. She just seemed like a real girl to me: a girl who needed me to tell her amazing story. But 17 year-old Sandeep was fun to write! He's very bold and mouthy and mixed-up and a little funny-looking. He made me laugh.

Born Bookish: What is your favorite novel in verse?

It's hard to pick just one. But if I have to I'll say Helen Frost's "Keesha's House". By using traditional sestina and sonnet forms she draws the readers into the lives of seven struggling teenagers. The writing is spare but the story is large. It's a remarkable literary feat.

Born Bookish: A lot of people are hesitant to try reading this format, why do you think that is?

For many readers, poetry is a daunting genre. They think it will be difficult to read. They think there won't be a story they can grab onto. They think it won't make sense to them. Because of these assumptions, the idea of reading a verse-novel just isn't that appealing. But of course, verse-novels have come such a long way in the last five years and the readership is growing in leaps and bounds. So many teens (and adults) are discovering that the spare voice, the right word, the beautiful description, and the powerful voice of a character is a rich experience. I think more teachers should put verse novels in front of students. The stories read quickly but often the ideas and characters stay a long time.

Born Bookish: If you could take any classic novel and re-write it in verse, which would you choose?

I'd choose Mark Twain's Huckleberry Finn. A kind of road trip!

Born Bookish: What was your favorite children’s book growing up?

Honestly, I was a big big Nancy Drew fan! I loved all the mysterious settings: hidden staircases, tunnels, attics, mansions, castles, ranches, and ships. Mystery! Secrets! Danger! I was glued to the books.

Born Bookish: Do you have any books in the works that you can tell us a little bit about?

I am working on a new YA book that has secret tunnels in it. Perhaps I'm invoking a little of Nancy Drew!

Born Bookish: Here at Born Bookish, I have a segment called Breathtaking Book Covers where I post the cover image of a book that I think is stunning. Is there a book cover that has ever taken your breath away? If so, what book?

I really love the beautiful cover from Nnedi Okorafor's "Akata Witch".


A BIG thanks to Cathy for the interview!!! She was also super nice and sent me a bunch of bookmarks for you guys! The first three  people to link up a novel in verse review this month will get one of these bookmarks =)

Defy the Stars Book Weekend: Author Interview

Welcome back to day two of Defy the Stars Book Weekend, thanks for coming back =)

Yesterday we started with a book review and today we have an interview with the lovely author herself, Stephanie Parent. 

Here's how things are gonna go: 

Yesterday: Book Review

Today: Author Interview

Tomorrow: Giveaway & Author Mad Lib

Born Bookish: Defy the Stars is a retelling of Romeo & Juliet, what made you want to reinvent this story? 

I had written a previous novel in verse and received feedback from editors that it wasn’t “edgy” or dramatic enough for today’s YA market, so I knew I needed to go further in my next novel. Someone in the publishing industry actually suggested the idea of a modern Romeo and Juliet story involving drug addiction. At first I wasn’t sure about it, but then I reread the play and was struck by how well the “poison” in the original play correlated with modern drug use. I was also frustrated with several recent YA books that I think portray Romeo and Juliet in an overly simple, one-sided way, and I wanted to explore Shakespeare’s work in a deeper way. 

Born Bookish: Did you read many novels in-verse to prepare yourself to write one of your own? 

I didn’t specifically read verse novels in preparation for this one, but I’ve been reading verse novels for many years before I attempted to write one. In fact, I would like to read every YA verse novel ever published if that were possible! 

Born Bookish: What is your favorite novel in-verse? 

It’s so hard to pick! One absolutely amazing, completely original verse novel I have to mention is Martine Leavitt’s My Book of Life by Angel. This is the gritty, uncompromising story of a teenage prostitute on the streets of Vancouver, and the author was inspired by the real-life disappearance of a number of prostitutes in the Vancouver area. The poetry format works perfectly to illustrate Angel’s broken psyche and her broken world, and Leavitt works in excerpts and themes from Paradise Lost to stunning effect. 

Another verse novel I really love, which I think definitely deserves more recognition, is Dead on Town Line by Leslie Connor. At less than 10000 words, this book is short even by verse standards, but the author manages to tell a complete, moving, satisfying story that somehow feels more like a novel than a short story or novella. Sort of a YA version of The Lovely Bones, this book is dark and sad, yet ultimately hopeful. 

On a lighter note, I absolutely love Sonya Sones’ companion verse novels, What My Mother Doesn’t Know and What My Girlfriend Doesn’t Know. Sones is one of those authors who just makes it look so easy—her verse is deceptively simple but so clever, elegant and charming, it will definitely leave a smile on your face. 

Born Bookish: A lot of people are hesitant to try reading this format, why do you think that is? 

I think a lot of people develop a fear of poetry in high school and/or college English classes and never really outgrow it! I completely understand this, because there are plenty of poems I’ll NEVER understand no matter how much time I spend analyzing them. In addition, some people hear “verse” and assume a verse novel will be a series of poems, perhaps confusing and overly metaphorical, without a clear and overarching narrative. The truth is, many verse novels are quick and easy to read and perfect for reluctant readers, since they contain so few words per page and cut to the emotional core. 

Born Bookish: Can you tell us a little bit about your writing process? Do you make yourself write a certain number of words a day etc.? 

I really don’t enjoy—in fact, I pretty much dread—the actual writing process, so I usually don’t force myself to write a certain number of words a day, and I have a lot of weird little rituals to help me write. I actually like to write with a TV show on in the background of my computer! It has to be a show I’ve watched before so I’m not too distracted, but having that extra noise rather than the gaping silence really helps me. Oddly enough, though, I can’t listen to music while writing, especially music with lyrics—I find that too distracting. I also like to give myself permission to take frequent breaks and surf the net while writing. It means the process takes longer, but it preserves my sanity a bit! 

Born Bookish: Which character was easiest for you to write? Why? 

Julia, since in many ways she’s similar to who I was as a teenager—I was also a fairly serious piano player and a bit of a perfectionist and workaholic. 

Born Bookish: If you could be one of your characters, who would you be? 

Honestly, since Defy the Stars is a pretty depressing story, I’m not sure I’d want to be any of the characters! Probably Julia, because it might be worth the pain she goes through to experience that kind of love. 

Born Bookish: Piano plays a big part of Julia’s life, do you play piano yourself or was it just something that interested you? 

I actually do play the piano—although not nearly as well as Julia does! I went to a performing arts high school, The Baltimore School for the Arts, as a classical piano major, and I also took private lessons at the Peabody Preparatory, the pre-college branch of the Peabody music conservatory that Julia applies to in the novel. However, I was never too interested in or dedicated to the technical aspects of playing, and I knew I didn’t have the drive to pursue it as a career. I definitely couldn’t play the third movement of Beethoven’s Moonlight Sonata that Julia tackles in the novel! 

Born Bookish: Both of the main characters in your book are musicians, did you listen to music while writing? If so what was the main song that inspired you? 

I have a hard time writing to music, especially music with lyrics, but I did listen to a lot of classical piano music while writing the book. One piece I listened to over and over is Beethoven’s Moonlight Sonata—you’ll see why if you read the book! A few more modern songs I was also inspired by are “1979” by The Smashing Pumpkins and “Your Decision” by Alice in Chains. 

Born Bookish: What was your favorite children’s book growing up? 

So many, but if I had to choose one, Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson. One of my most vivid childhood memories is sitting on the stairs and sobbing my heart out while reading the last few pages of that book. It really showed me just what an emotionally intense experience reading can be. 

Born Bookish: Do you have any new books in the works that you can tell us a little bit about? 

I have a shorter novel called Forty Days coming out in February—it’s actually the first installment in a two-part story, a YA retelling of Noah’s ark from the point of view of Noah’s sixteen-year-old granddaughter, Neima. Then in May I’m releasing a New Adult romance titled Precious Things, about a girl who has to switch from her chosen university to a community college at the last minute, and the intriguing people she meets there (including a hot guy, of course!). Then in late summer or early fall I’ll have Forty Nights, the second half of the Noah’s ark story. 

Born Bookish: Here at Born Bookish I have a segment called Breathtaking Book Covers where I post the cover image of a book that I think is stunning. Is there a book cover that has ever taken your breath away? If so, what book? 

I really love the covers of most of Francesca Lia Block’s books, which are designed by the amazing photographer and visual artist Suza Scalora. I think my favorite is the cover for I Was a Teenage Fairy.


Thanks so much for the interview Stephanie!!!

Author Interview: Emma Carlson Berne

Today Never Let You Go by Emma Carlson Berne hit stores! 

Wahooooooooo!

Synopsis:

A love triangle goes horribly wrong in this dark, romantic suspense-thriller from the author of Still Waters. Megan never meant to hurt her best friend, Anna. She made a mistake, and she’s spent all year trying to regain Anna’s trust. So when Anna invites her to spend the summer on her uncle’s farm, Megan is excited…and relieved. The past is finally behind them.

On the farm, Anna quickly falls for Jordan, a rugged summer-hand. Megan and Jordan have their own spark, but Megan’s betrayed Anna once before and she’s not about to do it again.

Still, the more time that Megan and Jordan spend together, the harder it is to deny their chemistry. But Anna doesn’t like to be ignored—and she doesn’t forgive and forget. What started out as the perfect summer is about to take a very dark turn...

To celebrate, I interviewed Emma and found out a little bit about the new book. 

BornBookish: Who would play you in a movie?

Maggie Smith. 80 year-old British dame, that's me.

BornBookish: In addition to your YA novels, I see that you’ve written a lot of non-fiction. Do you prefer one to the other?

The non-fiction satisfies my huge inner nerd - I love reading long biographies of Sacagawea or articles about the Marines. And the fiction takes care of my active imagination.

BornBookish: You did such a great job creating a creepy atmosphere in Still Waters. When you're writing those scenes do you ever scare yourself? Find yourself looking behind doors and hearing noises?

Oh yeah. I remember finishing a scene at dusk when we were living out in the country. My husband and son were at my parents' house so I could write. I had to go outside and walk around a little to de-freak myself.

BornBookish: Which character was easiest for you to write? Why? 

Both Megan and Anna were easy in that I felt like I'd met them both before--Anna in particular is an amalgam of all the mean girls I've met. 

BornBookish: Do you find it hard to throw obstacles in your characters way or make life difficult for them? 

No, I love it. What story would be good without juicy conflict?

BornBookish: Can you tell us a little bit about your writing process? Do you make yourself write a certain amount of words a day, etc.? 

Yes, I'm a big scheduler. I set myself a word quota per day and I write it all down in the same brand of planner I've been using since college.

BornBookish: Your second YA novel, Never Let You Go, hits stores on December 4th. Are you doing anything special to celebrate? 

Biting my nails, most likely.

BornBookish: Do you have any new books in the works that you can tell us a little bit about? 

I'm moving back into the sweet end of things this spring with a new romance that will be out in 2014--a girl, two boys, and a ranch in Colorado.


BornBookish: Here at Born Bookish I have a weekly segment called, Breathtaking Book Covers, where I post the cover image of a book that I think is just stunning. Is there a book cover that has ever taken your breath away? If so, what book?

I just love the cover of 50th anniversary edition of To Kill a Mockingbird--it looks like a woodcut.

Author Interview: Lauren Morrill

Todays the final day of Meant To Be Weekend =( 

Thanks so much to everyone who stopped by over the course of the weekend.

I hope you've all enjoyed it as much as I have!

Here's how the weekend is going to go:

Friday: Author Mad Lib

Yesterday: Book Review

Today: Author Interview

Meant To Be is Lauren's first novel, which will be releasing on November 13th.

If her first novel is any indication of what's to come, Lauren is sure to have a long lasting career in YA.

Born Bookish: Who would play you in a movie?

I’m going to go with Kat Dennings, because she has the same gap in her front teeth as I do (just say no to braces, oh ye unique smiles of the world!)

Born Bookish: Your debut novel, Meant To Be, is due out in November. Is it hard to wait, knowing that it’s done but not available to readers for four more months?

OHMYGOSHYES. But I’ve learned that publishing is definitely a waiting game, and the sooner you can develop nerves of steel the better. It’s crazy, I’ve actually already turned in my second book, and I just got an email from my editor that the art department is working on the cover for it … and it won’t be out until early 2014!

Born Bookish: In your book, the main character, Julia, goes to London on a ten-day school trip. If you could spend ten days anywhere in the world, where would you go?

Ten days on a beach in Bali with a Kindle loaded up with books sounds like HEAVEN to me, but 10 days in France sounds pretty good, too … maybe a compromise? 10 days on a beach in France?

Born Bookish: The details of London were so rich, did you spend time there yourself or did you do an insane amount of book and internet research?

Believe it or not, I’ve never visited! I spent 10 days in Scotland for my honeymoon, so I had a bit of the UK feel, but for everything London I used an intricate Google map that I created for the book. I spent a lot of time on Google Street View, scouring historical maps, and flipping through travel books.

Born Bookish: Can you tell us a little bit about your writing process? Do you make yourself write a certain amount of words a day, etc.?

I am a champion procrastinator, so my writing process often involves going on serious writing binges where I crank out six or seven thousand words at a time. It can be painful, but it works! I wish I could be one of those writers who sits down and writes at least 1,000 words every day (My friend Kathryn Holmes, who is shopping her first YA novel, is like this, and I’m unendingly jealous of her discipline).

Born Bookish: Which character was easiest for you to write? Why?

Jason was easiest for me to write, because I liked him from the start. I liked that he was fun-loving and funny, clearly very smart, and yet had a lot of depth to him. Sometimes I loved to hate him (as Julia does!), but writing him was always fun for me.

Born Bookish: Do you find it hard to throw obstacles in your characters way or make life difficult for them?

Yes! I love my characters so much, and it pains me to see them hurt, or worse, embarrassed. But sometimes that’s the way the cookie crumbles, both in life and in stories.

Born Bookish: If you could choose any fictional character to come to life, who would it be?

Lola from Lola and the Boy Next Door. I want her to be my high school BFF, and I bet she’d be awesome to hang out with in her 20s, too!

Born Bookish: What is your favorite book of all time?

Just As Long As We’re Together by Judy Blume, followed closely by the Jessica Darling series by Megan McCafferty.

Born Bookish: And of course the question everyone wants to know… Twilight OR The Hunger Games?

Hunger Games, but if we’re being honest, HARRY POTTER!

Born Bookish: Do you have any new books in the works that you can tell us a little bit about?

I just turned in my second novel, and I haven’t been able to say much about it yet. It’s a standalone YA contemporary (no relation to Meant to Be), and I can give you an exclusive hint: It’s The Parent Trap meets The Cutting Edge. I love it so so so much and waiting a whole year for its release might just kill me!

Born Bookish: Here at Born Bookish I have a segment called Breathtaking Book Covers where I post the cover image of a book that I think is stunning. Is there a book cover that has ever taken your breath away? If so, what book?

I love quirky, unconventional covers. I think the cover for Amelia Anne is Dead and Gone by Kat Rosenfeld is amazing (as was the novel!). The cover for The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight by Jennifer E. Smith DEFINITELY made me pick it up (and I love that her follow-up cover is in the same vein.

 Thanks SO much for the interview Lauren!! I really enjoyed getting to know more about the brilliant mind behind Meant To Be! =D

Author Interview: Lisa Graff

Today I’m really excited to be posting my first author interview! With the amazingly talented… 

(DRUMROLL PLEASE)….......

Lisa Graff!

Lisa is the author of four middle grade novels: The Thing About Georgie, The Life and Crimes of Bernetta Wallflower, Sophie Simon Solves Them All, and of course Umbrella Summer (Click here to read my review). Lisa was kind enough to answer all eight of my questions and let me say she gave some great answers. So THANK YOU Lisa =)  Enough of my talking, here is the interview. Enjoy!

Born Bookish: If you could be one of your characters, who would you be?

I would probably choose to be Sophie in SOPHIE SIMON SOLVES THEM ALL, because she is so smart (and so good at solving difficult problems!), and even though she still has a lot to learn about life, she is very comfortable with who she is, which I think can be a hard quality to come by.

Born Bookish: Do you find it hard to throw obstacles in your characters way or make life difficult for them?

I actually love making my characters' lives a little difficult! Books aren't really very fun to read if there's no conflict, and I think what makes a character interesting is the way in which he or she deals with tough situations. So I like to throw whatever I can think of at my characters and see how they respond.

Born Bookish: If you could have any superpower what would it be? Why?

I would definitely want to have a super sense of direction. I am constantly getting lost!

Born Bookish: A lot of authors use music to help them get into the mindset of their characters. Is this something that helps you? If so what was the main song that inspired each of your books?

I don't write with music very often because I tend to get distracted. I actually prefer to write at a coffee shop or library with just a little bit of chatter behind me. Somehow I concentrate best with a tiny bit of (but not too much!) background noise.

Born Bookish: Which character was it easiest for you to write? Why?

When I began writing UMBRELLA SUMMER, I heard Annie's voice right away, so in that aspect her character was one of the easiest for me to write. But in other ways she was a really difficult nut to crack, because I wasn't sure how I wanted her to react to all the things that were going on in her life, so I had a lot to learn about her, too. It took me several drafts before I felt like I'd gotten that part of it right. 

Born Bookish: In your book Umbrella Summer, Annie is afraid of so many different things. What are some of your biggest fears?

I have long had a ridiculous fear that I will wake up one morning and find a python in my toilet (which actually happened to my parents!). And I worry about more mundane things, of course, like catching a cold right before I go on vacation or slipping on ice and breaking my leg. All in all, though, I'm much less of a worrier than Annie is (except for that python thing--that one's serious!). 

Born Bookish: Do you have any new books in the works that you can tell us a little bit about? 

My next book is called DOUBLE DOG DARE, and it comes out in April 2012. It's about two fourth-graders who are mortal enemies, and who start a dare war to decide who will be the next news anchor of the school's Media Club. It has all sorts of fun stuff in it like tighty-whities up a flag pole and trained guinea pigs.

Born Bookish: Here at Born Bookish I have a weekly segment called, Breathtaking Book Covers, where I post the cover image of a book that I think is just stunning. Is there a book cover that has ever taken your breath away? If so, what book?

I love this segment, because I'm always judging books by their covers! :) Three books I haven't read yet, but can't wait to, simply because of their covers are BLINDSIDED, OUT OF MY MIND, AND SMALL TOWN SINNERS. I think they all look fantastic! 

 Are these great covers or what?!