Blog Tour: Rock This! Thursday Interview with Shannon Delany

Welcome to Shannon Delany's Start Your Day with Serial Tour! Shannon's debut novel (and first in her YA paranormal series) 13 to Life started as a winning cell phone novel written in serial segments. During the tour you can read bits of the book in order. Miss a day? Hop to Shannon's blogand check the link to the blog tour calendar in her sidebar.

And now we're going to kick back and discuss some music and books with Shannon!


How does it feel being a debut author?

Being a debut author is all at once exciting, terrifying and mind-blowing. You never know what's going to happen next and most of the time you want to scream (for me that's equal parts out of thrill and horror)! It's like having a five year old child. VERY much like it. ;-)

When writing 13 to Life were there any songs that you felt fit the theme of the story? If so you could share a couple with us?

YES! Music is always playing in the deep, dark recesses of my brain and each of my main characters has his/her own playlist. There are a few songs I think fit one of the themes and some of the emotional background of this series... Nickelback: "If Today was Your Last Day," 3 Doors Down: "It's Not My Time," and Spill Canvas: "All Over You."

You're walking down the street - what song is following you?

The Middle by Jimmy Eat World --It's on my author's playlist for the mornings I'm dragging my way to coffee and writing.

Let's say your character Jess gets two tickets to see whatever band she wants. What band is it and who would she take with her?

Wow. She'd either go with Pietr to Snow Patrol or with Amy to Linkin Park. (Geez, I know I'll totally change my mind on both of those in five minutes...)

Who is your favorite singer/band? Why are they you're favorite?

I *so* can't choose a favorite. My taste is actually freakishly eclectic. I listen to everything from musicals (Les Miserables, Wicked, Phantom of the Opera and Jesus Christ Superstar being favorites currently) to the Gorillaz, My Chemical Romance, The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus, Taylor Swift, Bon Jovi and Metallica. (Yes, I'm old. LOL) I can even enjoy classical music from time to time. In small doses. Otherwise I start to twitch. ;-)

Tell us a song that you think would make an interesting book?

Wow. There are so many that would make great scenes for any number of books! A whole book from one song? Can't come up with a single single! I guess I always think of a book with a soundtrack of music (like a movie). Different songs for different scenes and emotions.

We're always up for new music. Care to share five songs we should be listening to

Yikes! I should totally be asking *your* readers that question... So, gang, what five songs would you say give insight to the current teen experience? Like, if I wanted to be better educated musically (having been a teen mumble-mumble years ago) what should I be listening to? OR. When YOU think of werewolves and paranormal mayhem, what songs play in the back of *your* heads? I'd say (just for rounding out a listening experience) listen to Imagine by Lennon, In Your Eyes by Peter Gabriel, Face Down by The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus, Zombie by The Cranberries, Desert Rose by Sting, and Whenever Wherever by Shakira. Crud. That's six. That's why I have an agent--don't like the counting. ;-)

Have you experienced any 'rock star' writing moments?

Heck yeah! When we were first preparing for contract negotiations for this series we got contacted by a movie producer. Since then we've heard of a couple other production companies expressing interest in 13 to Life. Who knows what'll come of it? But stuff like that makes you feel like a rock star as a writer *just* because someone noticed it. Heck, getting signed for a three book deal with a NYC publisher first time out was definitely a rock star moment for me. I kept waiting for them to look around and go, "Hey! You're nobody. Forget it. We thought you were somebody else." LOL (Refer to #1's answer regarding such neurotic writer moments. ;-)

If you weren't an author what else do you think you would be doing?

I'd still be freelancing in art and writing and working to make my farmstead self-sufficient. *shrug* Still writing--always writing. :D

If you could meet any musician - living or dead - who would it be?

I'll be greedy and choose two--Sting and Bono. They're both diversely talented and have done amazing stuff for other people. *That* rocks!

Shannon's hosting several contests during the Start Your Day with Serial Tour. The big contest will award one lucky winner with a royal amber pendant, pietersite jeweled bookmark, stuffed wolf, 13 to Life mousepad, pen, tote, signed poster, personalized copy of 13 to Life and both of the 13 to Life pins. All you need to do is comment at 13 of the blogs hosting Shannon during her 30 day tour. Everyone who does so will be entered into a random drawing. Winner may be international.


As part of her tour, Shannon's also giving out sneak peeks throughout the month from her book:

For information on the previous section, visit He Followed Me Home...Can I Keep Him?

13 to Life: Chapter 3, part J (used with the author’s permission)

My eyes must have gone saucer-wide at the insult. Amy's hand grabbed my wrist, my fingers tight around the fork I was ready to launch at my newest nemesis. "What?" I demanded, narrowing my eyes.