Rock This Thursday with Alyxandra Harvey

You're walking down the street - what song is following you?
“Trouble is a friend”, Lenka ;)

What was the inspiration behind Haunting Violet?
The idea for Haunting Violet popped into my head when I was reading about fake séances in the 1870’s. I could picture Violet reluctantly working for her mother and how confused she would be if she ever found out ghosts were actually real. Once I had that question in my mind, I just felt compelled to answer it!

Did you make a playlist for Haunting Violet? If so, can you share a few tracks with us?
I do usually make playlists for my books. I wasn’t in the habit of it back when I wrote Haunting Violet, but I did listen to a lot of Classical music, especially Baroque.

Who are some of your favorite authors?
So many! So, so many! A smattering includes Jane Austen, Mary Oliver, Holly Black, Terri Windling, Charles de Lint, Patricia McKillip...

What is a genre you don't ever see yourself writing?
Gory horror. Heavily Science-based Science fiction. Crime novels.

Was the switch between vampires and ghost easy for you?
I actually wrote and sold Haunting Violet to Bloomsbury before I’d even written the first Drake Chronicles, before I even knew there would be such a thing as the Drake Chronicles series.
I really love the paranormal genre and all of the great mythic creatures we can play with. I’m grateful to be able to explore it more fully!

What was the first story you ever wrote about?
I can’t really remember since I was about 9 years old. But by thirteen I was writing these long fantasy quest books and “myths” explaining why leaves turn red in autumn and stuff like that. Also, very bad rhyming poetry. Just saying.

Tell us five random facts about yourself:
1- I don’t like using exclamation points. But for some reason on blogs and interviews I! Keep! Using! Them!

2-I helped a big weird looking turtle cross the road today

3-I hate coriander. With a deep and abiding passion. Hate.

4-I am a vegetarian

5-Best dessert: my mom’s apple pie

A lot of songs tell a story of some sort. What's one song you think would make a good YA novel?
A fab question! I used “Killing Moon” by Echo and the Bunnymen for “Hearts at Stake”/ ‘My Love lies Bleeding” but I tend to choose songs like that midway through a book. Maybe a Morrissey song. I know people say he’s depressing but he makes me laugh.

Have you experienced any 'rock star writing' moments since you've been published?
I think my rock star moments would include seeing reader-made videos for the books, a song someone wrote for The Drake Chronicles and signing someone’s arm. Very cool! Also, once, on book tour, I actually had no idea what city I was in.

Thanks so much for stopping by, Alyxandra! If you would like to know more about her and her books, please check out the following links:

Website | Twitter | Goodreads | Amazon

Rock This! Thursday with Julie Halpern

Earlier this month I had the great pleasure of reading Don't Stop Now by Julie Halpern. It was the first book of Julie's I have read, and you can read my review of this awesome amazing quirky fun novel HERE. I knew I had to have Julie here on the blog for Rock This! Thursday. Get prepared to laugh guys, because she is freaking hilarious!

You're walking down the street - what song is following you?
The first thing that came to mind was “Saturday Night Fever,” which is way too obvious. And then I thought “Everybody’s Talkin’” from “Midnight Cowboy.” Both odd choices because they are dudes from the 70s. And I am not a male prostitute. Next came “Walk” by Pantera, but that’s only when I’m really mad. I may have to go with, “Here Comes Your Man” by the Pixies. Not that I’m a man (again, geez!), but it has a nice walking quality to it.


When did you first start writing stories?
In high school I wrote romantic stories for my friends involving either people we knew in school who didn’t actually know who we were or famous people who also didn’t know who we were. I don’t think. I used a typewriter, even though we had a computer. It seemed sexier that way.

Typewriters are quite sexy. Did you make a playlist for Don't Stop Now? If so, can you share a few tracks with us?
I made a playlist while I was writing it, just in case anyone ever asked for it. Here it is:

Beck – I Get Lonesome
Halo Benders – God Don’t Make No Junk
Tobin Sprout – Gas Daddy Gas
Hayden – Bad as They Seem
Guided by Voices – Don’t Stop Now
Modest Mouse – Baby Blue Sedan
Sonic Youth – Shoot
Cat Stevens – Wild World
The Smiths – Please Please Please Let Me Get What I Want
Dar Williams – When I was a Boy
The Monkees – The Door Into Summer
Yo La Tengo – Big Day Coming

But don’t ask me why I chose any of these songs. I have a terrible memory.

I'm always curious of "the first idea" a writer gets. What was yours with Don't Stop Now?
The whole plotline about a sort-of friend who fakes her own kidnapping and then tells only one person actually happened to me (I was the friend she told). I lied to the police and FBI and everything. Nothing else in the book is true (except maybe some best boy friend crushing), but it always seemed so weird to me I had to put it in a book.

From reading your blog I know you love to travel. If you could go anywhere this very instant, where would it be?
Australia. It’s always Australia. Although financial, time and distance reasons mean I probably won’t go there again for a very, very long time. I lived there ten years ago and would love to go back now that I have a family to share it with.

I love that you included so many real road side attractions in the book (and that your site has actual pictures up.) Are there anymore places you wish you would have included?
I secretly have a dream to be a travel writer or travel TV show host. I hope it comes across in Don’t Stop Now that I plan a mean road trip. I never visit anywhere without finding somewhere funky to stop. I don’t feel bad that I had to leave anything out. I’ll just save those places for another book, another time.


You're given two golden concert tickets to see any band from any era. The only catch is that you have to take one of your characters with you. Who are you taking and who are you two going to go see?
The problem with that question (not that it is a bad question, but the problem I am having answering it) is that I would also have to be a different age than I am now to really appreciate it. I am too jaded to obsess over music nowadays. And I have pretty much seen all of my favorite bands live. So, if it were boring old me now, I think I would have to say the Elvis ’68 Comeback Special. I get to time travel, right? And I think I’d take Tracy. She’s the best friend in Get Well Soon and has a hugely hilarious part in the sequel. She’s quite possibly my favorite character I’ve ever written. Definitely the funniest.


What is genre you don't see yourself ever writing?
I think I’d suck at mystery, so Don’t Stop Now is the closest I’ll get to that. I’ll probably not get to historical fiction because I’m afraid of screwing up the facts and having some authority on the subject attack me, but I have always had an obsession with old circuses. So I won’t say never!


Can you tell us what other projects you're working on?
I’m revising the sequel to Get Well Soon right now. I hadn’t considered writing a sequel, but when it came time to write my fourth novel I thought of the idea, “How do you go back to normal when you just got out of a mental hospital?” It’s certainly something I’ve had to contend with. I’m looking forward to its release (fall 2012) to see what people think!


Since you've been published, have you experienced any 'rock star writing' moments?
Um, not really? Is that pathetic? I’ve had some amazing interactions with teens, especially about Get Well Soon and how it helped them think about things, change things. A few of them have even been life-saving situations, which blows my mind. But nothing too rock star. I wouldn’t mind having one, though, so if anyone wants to faint in my presence, go ahead.

I think having teens tell you that your book helped them qualifies for a very big rock star moment! Thanks so much for stopping by the blog, Julie!

If you would like to learn more about Julie and her awesome books, check out the links below:

Website | Goodreads | Buy Don't Stop Now | Buy Get Well Soon

Rock This! Thursday with Kristen Tracy

As part of the Teen Book Scene tour, I have Kristen Tracy here with us today! Kristen has a handful of books already out. She writes for teens and tweens! Her teen novels include: Lost It, Crimes of Sarah, A Field of Guide for Heartbreakers, and her upcoming novel, which we're discussing today, Sharks and Boys! And of course, a few music questions thrown into the mix!

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

Sharks and Boys makes your sixth published book, does the writing process get any easier?
I wouldn’t say it gets easier. Yesterday, I took my mom to the California Academy of Sciences and there was a hole in the wall next to one of the aquariums and a sign near the hole said, “Reach inside and touch.” And so I flung my hand in this dark hole but I couldn’t feel anything. Then I got scared, because what if something with teeth was inside the hole? So I yanked my hand back out. That sort of reminds me of the writing process. Lots of risky stuff happens when you write a book. Anything could happen. Anything. Also, this stuff often involves your hands. Because you use those to type.

I love hearing about that first idea that sparked a story. What was yours?
I used to float down irrigation canals in a raft when I was a kid in Idaho. I think that’s where the story started for me. The water wasn’t that deep, but sometimes it was murky and you couldn’t see all the way to the bottom. My imagination ran wild! And I always enjoy listening to shark attack stories. Recently, I met a swimsuit model at a party that had been bitten by a shark on her foot. She was wearing a silver sequin dress underwater and she figured that the shark mistook her for a school of fish. I find those types of stories ferociously interesting.

Is there any genre you see yourself not writing?
I probably won’t ever write manuals for IKEA on how to assemble their furniture. Though they could really use my skills.

HA! Was it hard finding 'the voice' for Enid?
I like Enid. She’s fragile. I didn’t have a problem finding her voice. But I wanted to make sure that I created a girl who was still forming her belief system and yet knew enough about herself to persevere through such terrifying circumstances.

A lot of songs tell a story. Name a song that would make a good novel?
“River Deep, Mountain High” by Tina Turner. Nothing screams narrative like a love song that appropriates a childhood rag doll, a mountain, a river, and the man of your dreams. Sort of. “And do I love you, my oh my. Yeh. River deep mountain high.”

I love making playlists for stories I write. Did you make one for Sharks and Boys? If so, could you share a few with us?
I did not have a play list for SHARKS and BOYS. I actually can’t listen to music when I write. I need silence. Tragically, this means that I can’t write in cafes either. I guess I could have lied about this answer and just created a really cool playlist. Maybe I’ll do that in the future.

How much of the novel changed from the first draft to what's about to be published?
It always ended the way it ended. At one point I was stuck and I called a friend for help and she said, “Add more sharks!” And I said, “I’m worried that I’ve got too many sharks already.” And she said, “When you’re writing a teen shark novel, there is no such thing as too many sharks.” I think that’s a great motto for writing. And life.

Do you have a song that can pick you up from any crappy day?
People pick me up more than songs. I call my friend Ulla. Or Cory. Or Benz.

Have you experienced any 'rock star' writing moments?
It’s still weird when I’m out somewhere and people recognize me. Usually this happens at a literary event. Or at a bus stop near a literary event.

Thanks so much for stopping by, Kristen! If you want to learn more about her and her books, check out the following sites:

Website | Twitter | Goodreads | Buy Sharks and Boys

Rock This! Thursday with Sarah Littman

You're walking down the street - what song is following you?
Praise You by Fatboy Slim

I love the dance troupe in the official video. They dance either a) like I dance or b) the way my daughter sees me dance through her teenage eyes when I think I’m being really cool on the dance floor. Not sure which.

What was the first idea that sparked Want to Go Private?
Supervisory Special Agent Tom Lawler, from the New Haven Office of the FBI, came to my son’s school to give a presentation about Internet Safety. I was speaking to him after his talk, and he told me about a case in CT. I talk about it in this video:



I know some authors have playlists of their novels, did you make one for this one? If so, could you share a few tracks with us?
I really envy those authors with their interesting playlists, because can’t write to music with lyrics. The only time I write to music at all is if I’m in a public space and there are people talking annoyingly loud – then I tend to put on classical music because there are no lyrics to distract me from the words in my head.

What did you find most difficult writing Abby's story?
The most difficult scene to write in WTGP is one of which only small fragments appear in the book. When my editor sent back the first round of revisions, she told me it seemed like Abby and Luke “just went for a car ride.” I realized she was right and the problem was that I didn’t know what happened because I didn’t want to think about it. I was a victim of childhood sexual abuse myself and I have a daughter about Abby’s age, and I really just DIDN’T. WANT. TO. GO. THERE. But as a writer, “going there” is one of the most important parts of my job description.

I started to write the scene of “What Happened in the Motel Room” and immediately began having horrible nightmares. I was afraid I’d have to go back into therapy. So I stopped, and just kept revising the rest of the book. But then I got to the point where I couldn’t continue revising until I opened the door to that room and faced what happened to Abby there. So one day, after my kids left for school, I sat down and turned the handle.

Let’s just say that if I hadn’t had to drive a carpool that afternoon, I would have hit the scotch afterwards. And I don’t even like scotch!*

*And alcohol is not a substitute for dealing with problems. But I was shaking so much, I could have used a glass for “medicinal purposes”.

You're given two golden concert tickets to see any show from any era. The only catch is that you have to take a character from one of your books with you. Who are you taking and who are you two going to go see?
Callie from PURGE and I are going to see The Clash and you can find us in the mosh pit. We’re going to dance out some of our problems with suppressed anger.

Is there any genre you don't think you'll ever write?
One thing I’ve learned at my vast age (!) is to never say “never”. I’ve been told I’m difficult to “brand” because all of my books are so different. But writing for me is about learning and discovery, as well as love of words. I don’t want to write about the same type of thing all the time, because I’d get frustrated. While it might not be the best decision for my career, it’s the best thing for my intellectual development and sanity.

What's the one thing you want people to take with them when they read Want to Go Private?
That Internet predation doesn’t just happen to “bad kids” who have “bad parents.”

Tell us five random facts about you:

1) I’ve been told I drive like a man. I’m not sure if it was meant as a compliment.

2) I lived on a dairy farm in a small English village for 10 years. I am probably one of the few people in Greenwich, CT who can talk about the lactation yield curves of dairy cows. Unfortunately, it doesn’t often come up at cocktail parties.

3) I have a bad habit of leaving my iPhone on the kitchen counter and it doesn’t have a password. So if you read a Facebook status update that involves poop or my deep love for any right-wing political candidate, chances are my delightful progeny are messing with me.

4)Over a million people have seen my blue-haired cartoon alter ego in “Q and  A,” the animation based on the StoryCorps interview my son did of me when he was 12. I think I look almost as good as Marge Simpson. What do you think?



5) I was a Deadhead hippie chick who ended up joining a sorority (KKG) my junior year at Duke. Like I said, “never say ‘never’” ;-)

Have you experienced any 'rock star' writing moments?
At the New York Teen Author Festival this year I was part of the Five Borough Read at the Bronx Library Center. When we walked in, a group of girls asked who was Sarah. My first reaction (thinking as a political
columnist) was “Who wants to know?” But I ‘fessed up to being me, and it was awesome. They’d all read PURGE and were so excited to meet me! Fortunately I’d brought a bunch of bookmarks with me and was able to personalize and sign them. It was the first time I really felt like a “rock star”.

Rock This! Thursday Author Interview with Jennifer Rush

I'm pumped to have Jennifer Rush, a 2012 debut YA author on the blog today to discuss some music and her novel! Altered isn't coming out until next fall, and while I know that's a ways away, this book needs to be on your radar! But what is Altered about you ask? Well, I'll tell you:

Dollhouse meets Prison Break for teens, about a 17-year-old who finds herself on the run from her father's enigmatic Agency along with the four teen boys the Agency had been experimenting on, in a mystery of erased memories, secret identities, and genetic alteration.



Sounds good, right? Of course it does. So go add it to your Goodreads page :)

You're walking down the street - what song is following you?
Probably The Drumming Song by Florence and the Machine, simply because I’m usually wishing I was somewhere else, and that song always has the ability to transport me. It’s got such a cool, other-worldly sound to it.

What was the first story you've ever wrote?
I wrote my first novel when I was sixteen. It was a vampire book. I think the bad-boy vamp’s name was Thorne and of course he was dark, gorgeous and broody. I’m sure it was quite lame.

I know in writing there are moments where you just want to reach into the computer and choke the crap out of someone. That ever happen with one of your characters?
Yes! At one time or another, all of them make me feel that way. Sometimes I can’t get inside their head. Or they just aren’t coming alive on the page. Or they do stupid things that annoy me but that make total sense to the book forcing me to go with it.

What was the hardest thing about getting published for you?
Being patient and persevering. I wanted to quit a lot. I had the sickening feeling that I would never sign with an agent. And when you’re writing and revising year after year, you brainwash yourself into believing it will never happen. I often felt like I wasn’t good enough.

What was your favorite part of writing Altered? Your least favorite?
Um, would it be lame to say I enjoyed all parts? (JYTBB: Not lame at all!) I liked just about any scene with Anna and Sam. Especially if Sam was shirtless. And I liked the parts with guns. There’s something undeniably sexy about a guy field-stripping a gun. See a theme here? :) Least favorite…I loathe rereading a manuscript for the eight gazillionth time looking for spelling and punctuation errors. And sometimes, the bigger revisions can seem daunting.

Umm...I haven't met Sam yet, but I think I want to meet him shirtless :) Tell us that one song that can pull you out of any funk.
The Drumming Song! And Danse Russe by Hurt. And Black Betty by Ram Jam.

You've been given two golden concert tickets to go see any band/singer from any era. The only catch is that you have to take a character from your book. Who are you taking and who are you two going to go see?
Oh, this is a hard one…any classic rock concert and I’d take Cas from Altered. He’s a party boy with a big heart and a great sense of humor. I think he’d be the most fun.

Tell us five random facts about you:
1. When I was eight, I got caught in the tire of a four-wheeler and it ran over my face. I milked that injury for days.
2. I hated the babysitters so much that at the age of six, I leapt from the backseat of a moving vehicle trying to escape.
3. I’ve never broken a bone.
4. I cannot stand the feeling of a wet popsicle stick.
5. I love cars, especially classic muscle cars.

Did you make a playlist for Altered? If so, can you share a few tracks with us?
I have a general writing playlist, but when I’m working on one particular project, I tend to reorganize so the songs that are relevant to the story play in order. So here are a few I listened to while writing ALTERED:

The Outsider by A Perfect Circle
Danse Russe, Wars, Losing and Rapture by Hurt
Bloodstream by Stateless
Drumming Song by Florence and the Machine
Looking Glass by Hypnogaja
Everyday is Exactly the Same by NIN
Last Resort by Papa Roach
New Moon (The Meadow) by Alexandre Desplat

Have you experienced any 'rock star' writing moments?
Since Altered isn’t out yet, I really only have one tiny rock star moment. When the announcement for the book’s sale went out on the net, I got an email from one of the editors from io9.com asking for a short interview. That was huge for me.

Even though Altered doesn't hit shelves until the fall of 2012, are you working on any new projects you can share?
I’m working on a fantasy-ish YA I’m calling The Fog. It’s about a small village that, when the Fog rolls in, the people barricade themselves in safe rooms with no windows and wards written all over the walls. The narrator, Rissa, grows up following the rule without fail, despite not knowing the why behind it, until one day she breaks it. It’s SUPER fun, and it’s keeping me entertained! That’s all that matters, right?

Oooo sounds like my kind of read! If you'd like to know more about Jennifer make sure to check out the links below:

Website
Twitter


♥amber

Rock This! Thursday: Author Interview with Lara Chapman

I'm very excited because today I have Lara Chapman, debut author of Flawless here to discuss her book and music!

You're walking down the street - what song is following you?
BEST. QUESTION. EVER! Probably “Stronger” by Britney Spears.

How does it feel being a debut author?
Like an out of body experience. I can’t believe people (who aren’t related to me) are actually reading something I wrote… and liking it!

What made you want to write for the young adult genre?
I began submitting to contests and getting a lot of comments like “your heroine sounds like a teenager,” so I decided to try my hand at YA. It was a perfect fit for my voice – I can’t imagine writing anything else.

If Flawless had a soundtrack, what songs would we find on it?
I’ll Stand by You by The Pretenders
I’ll Be There for You by Bon Jovi
Big Girls Don’t Cry by Fergie
Put Your Records On by Corinne Bailey Rae
Happy by Leona Lewis
I’m the Only One by Melissa Etheridge
Beautiful by Christina Aguilera
Halo by Beyonce

How long did it take for you to write Flawless?
Not long! I spent about a week storyboarding and wrote the first draft in about six weeks. That’s just how I write… total focus until it’s done! Lots of all-nighters and emailing my awesome critique partners. I took about another month to revise before submitting.

I know when I'm writing there are days where I just want to choke my characters. Did you have any difficulties when writing Sarah?
All the time! I would get so frustrated with her. I just wanted to scream, “Tell Rock how you feel!” But that’s the beauty of writing fiction – your characters (when fully developed) create their own path. It’s like raising kids – you hope they’ll do the right thing and that they’ll be happy, but ultimately it’s all about being true to yourself.

Did you pull any real life moments into Flawless?
The things in FLAWLESS that are closest to my reality are Sarah’s journalism and English teachers and her relationship with Kristen.

The teachers are a combination of my favorite high school teachers and college professors. The greatest educators are the ones that show us how to live a life of meaning outside the classroom and that’s what these teachers represent to me.

Blessed with two remarkable best friends, I know how valuable those relationships are. We’ve been best friends for over thirty years and I couldn’t imagine a day in my life without them. The same is true for Sarah and Kristen – they rely on one another in ways they don’t even realize.

Who is your favorite band or singer and why are they your favorite?
I’m a total music junkie, so this is really hard! I love Eva Cassidy because her voice brings me to tears. Kelly Clarkson is my go-to for “chick” music and Jason Aldean makes me want to fall in love. When I’m in need of a pick-me-up, Bon Jovi does the trick every time!

Have you experienced any 'rock star' writing moments?
Well, I live in a really small town and it doesn’t take much to get “famous” in that kind of setting. At open house this year, a student’s mom asked me for my autograph! I’ve also received some amazing comments from bloggers who’d read the ARC and loved it. I won’t lie… it’ll make a girl giddy!

Thanks so much for stopping by, Lara! If you want to know more about Lara and where to buy her book, check out the links below!


Website | Twitter | Amazon | Goodreads

Rock This! Thursday with Tracy Deebs

You're walking down the street - what song is following you?
Ugh. Questions like these make me totally freeze up. Seriously. I’ve had about sixty songs run through my head since I read this questions and I just don’t know what to choose. So, umm, how about Dream On by Aerosmith? I seriously love that song and would be thrilled if it would follow me around …

How does it feel being a debut author?
It feels fantastic! This isn’t my first book, just my first YA (I also write romances under two different names) but it almost feels like it is. I’m as nervous and excited about Tempest Rising as I was about my very first novel, lol. On the plus side, the YA reading community is absolutely amazing and I’m feeling really welcome. Thanks for that!

I love the idea that Tempest is a surfer. Have you done any surfing?
I have, actually. Not like Tempest, obviously, but I managed to stay on my surfboard more often than not (which if you know me, is quite a feat). But I grew up in San Diego, hanging out and surfing on the same beaches that Tempest does. They’re beautiful and I couldn’t resist putting them in the book.

What made you want to write a siren type book?
I love mermaids. Love, love, love mermaids. When I was very young (about three or so) my father brought home a VHS tape of Hans Christian Andersen’s version of The Little Mermaid (long before Disney made a version). Though it was really dark and ended with the little mermaid becoming sea foam instead of living HEA with her prince, I fell in love with the story the first time I saw it. From then on, I was all about mermaids. I watched the movie every day (and I mean every day) for three years. My mom swears to this day that she can recite the dialogue word for word. While I eventually outgrew my obsession with mermaids, when I sat down to write my first YA and was still undecided about what paranormal creature I wanted to tackle, my agent asked, “How do you feel about mermaids?” Instantly, I was right back where I started all those years ago and knew I wasn’t going to be happy writing about anything else.

What are some of your writing necessities?
I’m actually a pretty low-maintenance writer (though I can hear my husband laughing at the idea of me being low-maintenance anything). If possible, I prefer a bottle of Perrier and my iPod, but that’s about it. I can write anywhere, including through WWIII, which is a good thing as I have three boys who hang out in a game room that borders my office.

How long did it take you to write Tempest Rising?
From the second the idea for Tempest Rising came to me, things just kind of slid into place. That doesn’t happen very often with a book, so it’s really thrilling when it does.

In October of 2009, I decided I wanted to write a YA. My friend had done my tarot cards and had basically told me that I wasn’t fulfilled writing the books I was contracted for at the time, and she was right. So I spent a little bit of time thinking about what it was I did want to write (YA and Romance paranormals) and then called my agent and told her what I wanted to do. She was incredibly supportive, and though I hadn’t decided on a YA angle yet (I went dragons with my romance paranormals) she was totally behind me writing one. A few days later, she called me and asked what I thought of mermaids and from the second she said that, everything clicked.

As I mentioned above, I love mermaids, so the idea of writing a dark mermaid paranormal appealed to me immediately. By mid-November I’d put together a proposal (synopsis and first eight chapters) for a book that I was calling Rip Tide and by Christmas my agent had sold the book. I spent January and February finishing the book, which had been renamed Tempest Rising, and turned it in March 1, 2010.

What was the first idea that sparked the character of Tempest?
I’m not sure. Different pieces kind of came together for me. I knew right away that I didn’t want to write your typical mermaid story and that I wanted it to be dark as I don’t think I can write another way, lol. Tempest’s name came to me pretty early in the game and her powers stemmed directly from that. Tempest as a surfer came to me as I was driving one day, listening to some songs from my old surfing days. After that, things just kind of came together.

A lot of songs tell a story. Tell us one song you think would make a good novel.
Wow, there are so many. Hmmmmm…. I’ve been listening to Secrets from One Republic a lot. I think it would make a really good novel.

That's one of my favorites on my current novel playlist! I agree, it could make a really good novel. Tell us six random things about you:

1. I love lipstick, books and fancy earrings (though not necessarily in that order).

2. I love thunderstorms, unexpected downpours, and walking in the rain, but hate the feel of wet clothes against my skin when the storm is over.

3. One summer, I went to every major amusement park in America. Another summer, I ran away with a band.

4. I’ve climbed the Pyramids in Egypt, walked on the banks of the Red Sea, kissed a boy in front of the Eiffel Tower, gotten soaked at Cleopatra’s favorite bathing spot and surfed Diamondhead Bay in Hawaii. I’ve also skydived over New Mexico and stood at the Cave of the Winds in Niagara Falls.

5. To this day, my favorite thing to do is to curl up with a cup of tea and a book as I listen to the rain hit against the window.

6. And last but not least, I’m part of the Chills and Thrills Teen Book Tour, which will be visiting all the major cities in Texas in the next month. Check out our website to see the other authors on the tour.

Have you experienced any 'rock star' writing moments?
A few, where fans have squealed and jumped up and down when we’re introduced, but nothing too outrageous—which I’m very glad about. Not sure what I’d say or do in a real rock star moment, LOL.

Thanks so much for having me—I really appreciate the chance to talk about Tempest Rising (and myself).

And THANK YOU for stopping by! If you want to learn more about Tracy and Tempest Rising then check out the links below!

Tracy Deebs Website | Twitter | Amazon | Goodreads | Tracy Wolff Website

Rock This! Thursday: Concert Edition

On April 22nd my BFFF Shell and I headed to the Shrine Mosque for the Avalanche Tour. The bands were: Art of Dying, Halestorm, Skillet, Theory of a Deadman, and Stone Sour. To say I was pumped about this concert would quite possibly an understatement.

After I got off work, I came rushing home, washed the deli smell off of me, picked up my BFFF, and drove the hour drive that it takes to get there. The thing is, I sometimes forget my way around Springfield and for some reason I thought taking this highway would get us downtown when I was actually going the opposite way of downtown. Thankfully Shell busted out her navigation system on her phone and got us there. We missed Art of Dying's set and caught the tale end of Halestorm.

I was okay with missing Art of Dying since I only knew one of their songs (the one they did with Shaun Morgan *swwooonn*) so if I had to miss a set, I'd pick there's. The last bit of Halestorm we saw, they were awesome! I didn't know many of their songs, but the drummer was a total badass. I think I could just watch a show of him and be happy.

Next up was Skillet and HOLY CRAP they were good! There are only a few songs I know by them, and they sounded so good live. They even busted out a violionist which brought so much more to the show. The crowd was going nuts! It was awesome.

During their break Shell and I made a trip back to the concessions stand to get water. It was so humid inside the building and I thought for sure I would pass out if I didn't get some H2O up in me. Then some other stuff happened that I won't bore you with then Theory of a Deadman took the stage and I went NUTS!

Theory was the band I was very excited to see! I started thrashing around, jumping, and screaming a lot more. I know I've probably dropped the word awesome already, but these guys totally took the word awesome and made it their own. They even played a new song that will be on their upcoming album (releasing in July I do believe) called The Bitch Came Back. It's very catchy. By about the third line, the whole crowd was singing it and Shell and I even busted out a little jig.

After they wrapped up their set, Shell and I made a bee line back to the concessions stand to get water. Before we quenched our thirst we felt the cool air coming through the windows and decided sticking half our bodies outside would be a grand idea. And it was my friends, it really was. And even a grander idea because the guys of Theory of a Deadman came out the door and were walking below us.

I'm not for sure if we said something to them first or maybe they just saw us, but one of the guitarist started to wave. He yelled up to Shell: "Are you looking for the women's bathroom?" And Shell, oh my vulgar and very off-the-wall friend responded with: "No, but are you trying to say you want me to piss on your face?!"

Yes.

You read that right. Piss on your face. THAT'S what she says to rock stars. Gotta love her. The look on the guitarist's face was classic. Then he started laughing really hard and yelled back: YEAH!! I had stuck my head back in the window to control my laughter while Shell yelled at the drummer: Did you like that?! He responded with a YEAH while everyone was still laughing. I stuck my head back out and then the drummer started waving really big at me and said hey. A few seconds later the lead singer came out, and that boy has a little swagger in his walk. He waved at us, we whooted at him, he whooted back then swaggered his way to the bus.

It was fantastic.

After we were done cooling off we went back to the floor to see Stone Sour. As much as I loved Theory of a Deadman, I have to say Cory (lead singer) really knew how to work the crowd. Maybe because he was from the Midwest he just gave the fans more love or something. He had everyone going for the rest of the night and was flat out hilarious. Besides him getting the crowd pumped, they rocked the hell out of that place!

And that wraps up my concert story. Sorry that the pictures kind of suck. I just had my phone, and I was really only taking them to send to a couple friends. Have you seen any of these bands live before? If so, comment with your take on the show!

♥amber

Rock This! Thursday with Behind Yellow Eyes

Rock This! Thursday is a weekly feature I have where I discuss books that are about or centered around one thing I love the most: MUSIC! Once in a while I'll even throw in a concert story, a band/artist you should hear, or feature bloggers and authors in an interview.


Today Gina from Behind Yellow Eyes with us to discuss books and music!

Tell us a little bit about your blog.
Behind Yellow Eyes is a fan site for Maggie Stiefvater's Wolves of Mercy Falls series. We blog about the books, movie, and Maggie!

You're walking down the street - what song is following you?
Oh the song I always think of when I'm walking down the street-seriously-is "Bittersweet Symphony" by the Verve. The song is really long. And it just sounds like the kind of song you'd hear following you down the street. Like my own personal soundtrack. Also, the video is awesome. It's literally the lead singer walking down a city street, bumping into people. I've secretly always wanted to try doing that :)

Ha! Back when that song first came out, my friends and I attempted to run into people while walking down the street. But I grew up in a small town so there wasn't many people to really run into - not like in the video at least! I know we're only four months into the year, but what have been your favorite reads so far?
Hands down, WITHER. There aren't enough hours in the day for me to sing the praises of this book. It's absolutely amazing, and everyone should read it.

Who is your favorite band or singer? Why are they your favorite?
My favorite band has to be Incubus. I love the fact that their music has so much variety. Some songs are really intense and others are mellow and melodic. Their lyrics are so poetic and there's a lot of meaning behind them. I feel like they're in it for the real art of creating music, and that's huge for me.

Love me some Incubus. Do you have any authors on your instant-buy list?
Well, besides Maggie Stiefvater's books, I'm pretty sure from now on I'll buy anything Lauren DeStefano writes. I also really like Alyson Noel, Lauren Kate, and Stephanie Perkins.

What is one song you've overplayed worse than a Top 40 Station?
"Stuck Like Glue" by Sugarland. That song is so catchy and it just gets stuck in your head-no pun intended! I still play that song a lot-it's great fun to sing along to in the car.

I know in the blogging world we all get caught up with what's coming out next. What are some books you think have been overlooked over the past couple years?
I'm going to cheat here and say Maggie's BALLAD and LAMENT. The Wolves of Mercy Falls series has gotten a lot of attention, which has brought more attention to these two. But they need more! They're really good!

I still need to read those! What's your all-time favorite genre?
Rock. Definitely rock. Nothing better.

Amen! Your least favorite genre?
Not a big fan of rap or techno.

You're given two golden concert tickets to go see any band from any decade. The only catch is that you have to take a character from a book. Who are you taking and who are you two going to go see?
Oh this is a really tough one! I think I'm going to surprise people and pick James from BALLAD and LAMENT. He's such a funny, quirky, kick-butt character and he appreciates music. I'd have an awesome time with him. I think we'd have to go see a back in the day Beatles concert.

Thanks for stopping by, Gina! Everyone make sure to go check out her site.

♥amber

Rock This! Thursday with Eilis O'Neal

How long have you been writing?
I've been telling stories since I was a little girl. When I was three, I told my first original story. It was just three sentences long—about a frog that cried frozen tears because winter had come—but it actually the beginnings of a real story, in that it had a conflict and something of a resolution. After that, I spent a lot of time telling stories to my mother. She would write them down, then type them up on our typewriter, and we'd give them away as gifts to family members. They tended to have silly titles like, “A Cat, a Girl, and a Hippo Go to a Party and Then Sing a Song.”

I tried to write my first novel at 12, but I only got about thirty pages into it. I actually finished a novel at 15—a summer romance about a girl with a boyfriend who rode a motorcycle. Between that book and The False Princess, I wrote two other books, both fantasy novels for adults.

You're walking down the street - what song is following you?
This week, it’s “Speechless” by Lady Gaga. Not sure why. That and Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believing,” though by way of the Glee cast. I know why I can’t get that one out of my head, though. I wrote a parody version of it with my husband last week for our roleplaying group, and now the parody, with its Atlantean demons and flaming swords and one very large Scotsman, is warring in my head with the original for supremacy.

Love me some Journey! (And loved Glee's version as well.) I know with writing there are always difficulties and days where you just want to throw in the towel. Who was the most difficult character to write in The False Princess?
There's a character named Mika who was actually a bit difficult to write. I introduced her late in the book, and I needed to convey a lot about her in a short time period, had to compress a lot of character information into a short space. Luckily, her personality is pretty forceful. She's prickly and opinionated, though, at the same time, she doesn't like to give a lot of herself away. Even those personality traits made her a harder to write, because I wanted the reader to really like her in that short time period. And Mika doesn't make that as easy as, say, Kiernan, who's instantly likeable.

When writing your debut novel, did you have a playlist? If so, could you share a few songs with us?
Actually, I'm one of those people who has to be in a pretty quiet room to write. I envy writers who can listen to music, because I just can't do it. (I tend to get wrapped up in songs and start singing along.) So, unfortunately, I didn't have a list of songs that helped get my in the mood to write The False Princess in particular.

A lot of songs tell a story. What's one song you think would make an interesting book?
There’s a traditional folk song from the 17th century called “Bedlam Boys” or “Tom O’Bedlam.” It has to do with madness and Bedlam hospital in London. It also mentions fairies, giants, spirits . . . There’s something very haunting in the tune, and when I first heard it at a Celtic concert I wrote the title down on a scrap of paper and took it home with me. I think there’s a fantasy story in there, and I’m just waiting to figure it out enough to write it. As for more modern songs, I’ve always been very taken with Rufus Wainwright’s “Hallelujah.” It conjures up such vivid pictures, and, again, the tune sets a mood inside me very quickly. I think there’s a story there, too.

You've been given two golden concert tickets to see any band/singer from any decade. The only catch is that you have to take a character from The False Princess. Who are you taking and who are you two going to go see?
I’d like the see the Beatles, probably in their early-ish days. And I would so take Kiernan with me for that. His attitude reminds me, in a lot of ways, of a lot of the early Beatles’ songs—fun, a little silly, really catchy, but with an underlying seriousness. And I think he would have so many witty observations to make about the girls crying and tearing at their clothes in their excitement over the band. Of course, he would also probably have those girls falling all over him in a matter of moments . . . .

What are some of your all-time favorite reads?
Do you have all day? Seriously, there are so many books that I love, that are really a part of me and that have been a big influence on me as a writer. A lot of them are YA fantasy books. A short list includes Tamora Pierce's Song of the Lioness books (strong female lead and my first book-boy crush; seriously, I still sort of want to marry George Cooper), Diane Duane's Young Wizards series (a unique magic system and another strong female lead), so many of Robin McKinley's books (wonderful language and storytelling), Susan Cooper's The Dark Is Rising series (cemented my love of all things British), and Madeleine L'Engle's books (more strong, smart girls).

Have you experienced any 'rock star' writing moments since you've been published?
There's a great group in Tulsa (Booksmart Tulsa) that hosts a lot of writer events here in town. They offered to host a launch party for the book, and so, of course, I took them up on it. I wasn't sure how many people would show up, though, seeing as how this is my first book. But it turned out that a lot of people showed up—in fact, it was standing room only. When I got up to start my reading/talk, I saw that there were people standing in the back and all along the sides of a not-so-small room. That felt utterly crazy to me—really awesome, but also a little scary. I really hadn't expected it to be SRO-- especially not when the microphone had gone missing and I had to employ my high school speech and debate skills of projection!

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Rock This! Thursday with Gillian Philip

You’re walking down the street – what song is following you?
I used to have a flatmate, back in the days when a Sony Walkman was the hottest thing around (that’s how old I am!), and she had a tape specially for walking down the town’s main street. I loved it and used to borrow it, so I always remember the first track on that – which was Aztec Camera’s ’Oblivious’. I still think it’s the best walking song ever.

I’ve always been a big fan of life soundtracks. What are some songs you think can in some ways describe your main character, her life, etc?
I’m a big fan of soundtracks too – I hate not having one for a book, and when a story is still at the stewing-in-my-head stage, I look for music that will suit, and play it over and over again to get in the mood. The Opposite of Amber had quite a retro soundtrack – it wasn’t deliberate, but Ruby’s sister Jinn turned out to have a sentimental and nostalgic streak, and was keen on really old songs from the fifties and sixties (which were before even my time!). I realised that only when I heard Gene Pitney on the radio singing Twenty Four Hours From Tulsa, and it struck me quite clearly that it was Jinn’s favourite song. And because Jinn is such a mother figure to Ruby, her music is very much the soundtrack to Ruby’s life, too. My playlist included Spanish Harlem by Phil Spector, and Good Vibrations by the Beach Boys – and some cover versions like the Killers’ version of Ruby, Don’t Take Your Love To Town, and Mary Coughlan’s cover of Ain’t Nobody’s Business (which is a song I love)... but there were a few newer tracks too. Ruby by the Kaiser Chiefs, that was a no-brainer... and that version of Roxanne, from Moulin Rouge, when they do that fabulous tango...

What was the first idea that sparked The Opposite of Amber?
I remember I was stuck on another manuscript, so I’d decided to spend the evening watching TV. And there was a documentary on that gripped me – it was about five women who were murdered in an English town in 2006, but it wasn’t interested in the perpetrator or his bizarre motives, only the women themselves, their lives, their families. I didn’t want to write about those women – I can’t/don’t do true crime – but I wanted to write a story about a woman like them, a woman whose life had spun out of her control, and the effect of that on her loved ones. I also had a what-if thought... what if one of the women was murdered for different reasons? What if there was more to one of the killings than sordid psychopathy?

We’re always up for new music. What are five songs we should be listening to?
Tough one, because I’m not very up to speed with new music! I recommend the Peatbog Faeries – really wild traditional music from Scotland but brought way up to date and beyond. Let’s see... Biffy Clyro’s When We Collide. Paolo Nutini singing almost anything, but especially New Shoes. KT Tunstall’s Black Horse and the Cherry Tree. Amy Macdonald’s This Is The Life.

Is this the first novel you’ve written?
No – I’ve lost count of the novels I’ve written! Written and published, of course, that’s different... The Opposite of Amber is the second novel I’ve written for Bloomsbury – the first was Crossing The Line – but I’ve also had two books published by Strident (Bad Faith and Firebrand). Firebrand is a fantasy, so a bit of a departure – it’s the first in a series of four. And I’ve written four short novels for Evans, an educational publisher; and I ghostwrite the Darke Academy series for Hothouse Fiction, under the pseudonym Gabriella Poole. I’m just about to start the fourth instalment of those.
There were also some unpublished romantic novels, many years ago, but we’ll draw a veil over those!

Your favorite band?
Oh another tough one... depends on the mood I’m in. Sometimes it’s Eels. Sometimes it’s Snow Patrol. I like Gnarls Barkley, or Cee Lo Green on his own... But my all-purpose favourite for most occasions is the Pet Shop Boys.

If you could have one day to spend with any musician – living or dead – who would it be and why?
Ian Dury. I love clever lyrics and he had such a fantastic way with words. Also, I think he’d be terrific company.

How did you come up with the title?
It was a belated title – the working title was completely different. It happened when I was editing and rewriting, and adding a short prologue. When I read it back, that phrase ‘it’s the opposite of amber’ leaped out at me – it was a little bit quirky and obtuse, much like Ruby, who coins it – and I realised that it was the right title for the whole thing. It has a kind of double meaning in the context of the book, too, and I like those kind of titles.

Do you have a certain process you do before starting a book – outlining, brainstorming, etc?
I wish I did... I’ll get an idea and let it stew for a while in my head, adding bits here and there. But when I sit down to write, I generally have little or no idea how it’s going to pan out. I just go with the characters, and fly by the seat of my pants. I like the uncertainty, and it makes life interesting, but it can be nerve-wracking.

Have you experienced any ‘rock star’ writing moments?
Just the other day! I was shortlisted for the Royal Mail Award, which is the biggest children’s book prize in Scotland. I didn’t win, but the ceremony was fabulous. There were about 500 students there, and it had a circus theme, so there were acrobats, jugglers, clowns, fire-eaters... and then the shortlisted authors were brought on one by one, to roars and applause. That was definitely a rock star moment!
Otherwise – well, I have been tempted to drink a bottle of whisky and smash my laptop, but I’ve never actually done it...

Rock This! Thursday with Jenny from Wondrous Reads

I'm super freaking pumped that Jenny from Wondrous Reads is here to hang out with us! If you don't know, Jenny is a super blogger. She is very sweet, and I wish there wasn't that big freaking ocean between us because I'd love to hang out with her sometime!

 Why did you start blogging?
I wish it was a more interesting story, but it isn't. I used to post short reviews on Amazon, and one day I came home from work (also book-related) with the idea to start a blog so I could have them all in one place. And here we are!

You get such amazing books in for review! What have been some of your favorites in the past 2 months?
I do get brilliant books for review, and I appreciate each and every one. I really do. When I first started blogging, I never even knew review copies existed! Anyway, these are my favourite review books from the past couple of months: Raising Demons by Rachel Hawkins, My Soul to Take by Rachel Vincent, Paranormalcy by Kiersten White, Grace by Morris Gleitzman, Rot and Ruin by Jonathan Maberry and The Pain Merchants by Janice Hardy. And I have to mention a couple that I bought myself, as they're my favourite reads of the year so far: Artichoke Hearts by Sita Brahmachari and Soulless by Gail Carriger. Both amazing!

You're walking down the street - what song is following you?
That's a hard question. Probably 'Chocolate' by Snow Patrol.

Has reading a book ever changed your views on life?
Yes, a few times. The Book Thief by Markus Zusak, Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver and Artichoke Hearts by Sita Brahmachari have all made me rethink my own views on death, loss, family and living in the now, so to speak. Each one has touched me in different ways, and I don't think they'll ever leave me; The Book Thief especially. I think about that book every day.

Who is your favorite singer or band? Why are they your favorite?
Jimmy Eat World are my all-time favourite band, and they have been since the summer of 2001. They were the first band I ever saw live, and I just love them. Their lyrics are so meaningful and well-written, and their music has been known to make me cry. You should all check them out if you haven't already! After Jimmy Eat World, my favourites (in order) are: Coheed & Cambria, Brand New, Snow Patrol and Florence + the Machine.

If someone were to write a book on your life, what would the title be?
Oh wow, I have no idea. None at all. Ermm... [10 minutes later]... 'Living on the Hellmouth: How Vampires Changed My Life'. I would like to have that on my bookshelf. Please arrange this Amber!

Dude, I LOVE that title. I'll see what I can do about this :) Is there one song out there you've overplayed worse than a Top 40 station?
'Bleed American' by Jimmy Eat World. Let's just say it woke me up every day for around 3 years back when I used my CD player as an alarm clock.

What is your favorite book about or centered around music?
There honestly aren't any that are coming to mind. I know I own books about music, but I haven't read them yet. I'm thinking I should probably start with Stephanie Kuehnert's!

Yes, you really should. Stephanie's books are the bomb dot com. You've been given two golden concert tickets to go see any band from any decade. The only catch is you have to take a character from a book. Who are you taking and who are you two going to go see?
Haha this is a great question. I've never seen Linkin Park live, though I absolutely love them. So I'd go back to 2001 for the Hybrid Theory tour, and I'd take Conrad from The Summer I Turned Pretty. I reckon he'd like them. ;)


Awesome choice! I am a music whore who usually choices songs over bands. (Except for when it comes to Seether, of course.) What are 5 songs that we all should go listen to right now!
These are my favourite songs at the moment, and you should all go listen to them. A few can be found in various US TV shows ;)

The National - 'Lemonworld'
White Lies - 'Holy Ghost'
Bruno Mars - 'Marry You'
Morning Parade - 'Under the Stars'
Julian Casablancas - '11th Dimension'

Since you started your blog have you experienced any 'rock star blogging' moments?
When I met John Green last year, he asked me if I was "Jenny the famous blogger". I'm told my face was a picture of shocked excitement. I don't think I'll ever top that!

That is one kick ass blogging moment! Thanks again for stopping by, Jenny! For those of you who haven't been by her blog, don't forget to swing by!


♥amber

Rock This! Thursday: Sounds from the Page with Sean Keefer

I love music. I’ve been a guitar player for years.

I love to write. I’ve been a writer for almost as long as I’ve been a guitar player.

I always thought I’d have a CD/album/whatever you want to call it out before I ever even thought about publishing a book, but things don’t always turn out the way you want. Not that I’m disappointed. I continue to work on my first musical release, but while I do, I have a novel out that people are reading and seem to like. (For the curious it’s called The Trust.)

The book is a mystery/thriller set in Charleston, South Carolina. When I wrote it, I wanted to blend in my love of music which, I found, wasn’t the easiest thing to do.

I could have taken an interesting approach and have provided a “Suggested Listening” preface to each chapter, but I thought that a bit transparent. I also avoided the temptation to any sleuthing musicians.

I’ve seen some interesting things in the way of music in books. One author made a reoccurring theme the existence of a list of his 100 greatest albums of all time. It wasn’t a key part of the plot, but it was something the characters revisited a number of times through the book.

As I read the book, I simply had to know the list but all I got was teasers.

The story was compelling, but what I remember most is that in the final scene when the loose ends were being tied up one of the characters offers up to the main character an envelope. The envelope contained the list and the book ended with albums 1 through 100. Neat use of music in a book without a single note being played from the page.

As neat as this approach was, I needed and wanted something else.

So I came up with something different.

One of the scenes in the book takes place in an empty, abandoned bar. There’s a storm, literally, coming and our main character is getting ready to open a door not knowing what is on the other side.

I wanted to create a certain feeling and as I was writing this section of the book, I started to hear music in my head so I transferred it to the page.

The main character is alone in the bar, he hears a song from down a long dark hall. The music is repetitive and unnerving, but he knows the song which is actually a bit comforting. Comforting yet disturbing at the same time. The song repeats, heightening the tension as the main character makes his way down the hall towards the front of the bar.

Suddenly he’s knocked unconscious.

He awakes, tied to a chair in a spotlight. He’s still in the bar. The song continues and amps up the tension and since the same song is playing, he has no idea how long he has been out….

When I wrote this, blending it all together allowed the main character to be comfortable but confused. Familiar, but unsettled. He knew the song, knew it was repeating. It was playing when he was knocked out and was the first thing he heard when he awoke, but he had no idea how long he had been out. Confusion all around and exactly what I needed.

I was able to accomplish this and, from what the readers tell me, I was able to create a good deal of suspense and the tension by weaving in a simple song.

If it wasn’t for music and being able to literally play a song from the written page, I would have had to tell the reader what they were supposed to be thinking; however, with a little music, I created a feeling that will be there for everyone that reads my book (a lot of people I hope) but that will be a feeling that each reader will (hopefully) interpret for themselves.

So as long as you’re here, why don’t you read an excerpt from The Trust or even buy a copy of your own. Visit my blog – The Trust Blog.

Rock This! Thursday with My Girl Friday

Hi! I'm Steph from My Girl Friday and am absolutely thrilled to be guest-posting for Rock This! Thursday. I'm a huge fan of this feature because it combines a few of my favourite things (and yours as well, I'm sure) - music and books.

Recently I read Lish McBride's debut novel Hold Me Closer Necromancer. Without going into a complete re-hash of my own review, I adored this book! Lish puts a fresh spin on the paranormal genre, writes well-developed characters and has this awesome balance of snark and smarts. One of the other aspects I loved of the novel was that every chapter was named after a song title (or was part of a song lyric). Now I know sometimes this device can be a bit corny, but in Necromancer it really worked and each song is kind of perfectly selected and really capture the 'feel' of the novel. So I thought creating a blog-mix-CD would be a fun way to share some of my favourite song picks from Hold Me Closer Necromancer (and with a mix of rock, alternative rock, new wave, hair metal and country, hopefully there's a little something for everybody). Enjoy!

Rock This Thursday: How Books and Music Go Hand-In-Hand

Chelsey from Sense and Disability has swung by today to discuss her thoughts on music and books. Chelsey is also a young adult writer and you can check out her blog here!

Music and books suck all the money from my wallet. I spend half my life in Harvard Square, buying CDs and paperbacks. These are the things my iPad and iPod should render obsolete, but they don’t. Probably they won’t. But I’m not here to talk about the impending death of bookstores, or the fact that we’d all be better off if the discs in the jewel-cases went away. (I hate jewel-cases, but that’s another story). I’m here to talk about discovery.

To me, literature, music and discovery are all tied together. Art is self-referential, and I love that. This year, I discovered great music through the books I read. Jennifer Donnelly’s Revolution is a treasure-trove of musical gems, and Antony John’s Five Flavors of Dumb mentioned a Nirvana video that changed the way I thought about musical legacy.  Sometimes I’ll read a book because it’s mentioned in a song (that book by Nabokov). I go to concerts and my brain tosses up ideas, inspired by the lyrics, the chords or another artist’s passion. The most powerful scenes I’ve written, or read, have threads of music running through them, whether ostentatiously or suggested in the rhythm of the words.

Songwriters create images with words, like writers do. They mix in instruments, microphones and amps like publishers and authors toss in plot, cover-art, character. All the little things that make up one bigger thing, but the pith of both arts is the same. Feeling, emotion, describing a way of being in the world. The arts are tied. That creating soundtracks for books, and writing books based on a song are things that happen necessarily, and I love the art that comes from them.

What are some of your favorite musical books and literate songs?

Rock This! Thursday with Harmony Book Reviews

For this week's edition I have the awesome Harmony from Harmony Book Reviews hanging out with us to discuss some kick butt music and awesome books!


I saw you celebrated 3 years of blogging! Congratulations! Can you tell everyone a little bit about our blog? 
Thank you! Well, I started back blog back in January of '08 and switched to Blogger about a year ago. I review YA and MG, mostly, and do giveaways and interviews on occassion - the basic book blog, basically!

You're walking down the street - what song is following you?
Alive-Superchick. I decided that was my theme song for 2011 - it's just a very upbeat, take the world by storm song. I love the lines "I need to live my dreams, not just in my sleep. I've been holed up here, but it's time to leave. I need to make my move while I've air to breathe."

What is your favorite read that is about or centered around music?
BALLADS OF SUBURBIA! Oh my god, I love that book. It's so emotional and honest and just amazing. Music plays a pretty big role in it too and I love how Stephanie chose a few lyrics to open each of the character's ballad. (Plus, without that book, I wouldn't be addicted to Tori Amos, Nirvana, or Social Distortion.)

Excellent choice! That's one of my all-time favorite reads and Stephanie is so awesome! If you could live one character's life, who would you choose and why? 
This is so hard because all of my favorite characters have really hard lives and I don't necessarily want to become a drug addict or have my heart smashed to pieces. So, I think I'll go with Tonks from Harry Potter, but pre-Deathly Hallows. :)

Ha! I love the 'social issues' books, but like you, I don't really want to have all those problems. You've been given 2 golden concert tickets to see any band from any decade. The only catch is that you have to take an author with you. Who is it going to be and who are you guys going to go see? Ooh, well, since it's from any decade...I'm going with Nirvana! And I'll drag Stephanie Kuehnert along with me, since she's the one that introduced me to them. I think that would be one AWESOME concert.

Did I say 2 tickets? I meant 3 because I am so tagging along! What's a song you think would make an awesome novel?
Are people going to laugh at me if I say "Mine" by Taylor Swift? Because the first time I heard that song, the story ideas started flying through my head and I think someone could write a really awesome novel based off the lyrics.

What are subjects you would like to read more about in Young Adult?
I want more gritty, REAL YA. I love my fluff, I do, and paranormal will always have a soft spot in my heart...but I want more cutting, more drugs, more relationships gone REALLY bad, diseases...things like that. That probably makes me sound horrible but I think novels like that can really make a difference - think about Speak or Ballads of Suburbia or Go Ask Alice or Tell Me a Secret. Those are the books that get people talking and thinking and you know, the lives are teenagers aren't always pretty. Oh, and some more music-centered novels would be cool too!

Amen! Has blogging changed your views on reading? 
I think so. I definitely analyze and think about what I'm reading more. I pay more attention to what I buy. Before, I'd just pick up things because they looked good. Now, it's all based on where I got it and when it releases and I find myself getting completely lost in the book less and less.

I'm always on the hunt for the next best song. Suggest 5 songs that all of us need to listen to.
Just 5?! Ahh. Okay. This is going to be hard...I'm going to skip over all the popular songs and try to pick out some I hope not everyone already loves...

1.) F**kin Perfect - P!nk. Okay, this one is on the radio but I couldn't not list it. EVERYONE needs to listen to this song. If you can't handle the f-bomb, listen to the radio edit. My best friend and I text each other the lyrics to this song whenever we're having a bad day.

2.) The Last Night - Skillet. This song saved my life. I bawled when I saw it performed live and it's just an amazing song. Skillet is my all-time favorite band because of this song.

3.) Don't Fall Asleep at the Helm - Sleeping with Sirens. My best friend just introduced this to me and I love it. It's original, kind of hypnotic, and I just love it.

4.) Fiction - Kids in the Way. This is definitely one of my all-time favorite FAVORITE songs. When I bought it, I literally put it on repeat and listened to it 60 times straight. Kids in the Way are my current addiction, I can put their music on and just kind of forget the world.

5.) About a Girl - Nirvana. I love Nirvana. Most adults love Nirvana. 99% of the people my age have never actually heard a Nirvana song, which saddens me, because they are not THAT old. So if you haven't listened to one, listen to About a Girl. It's my favorite. (Come As You Are is also rather awesome as well.)

That was too hard...some honorable mentions: Alice - Avril Lavigne, Like Suicide - Seether, I'm Going Down - Vampire Weekend, The Middle - Jimmy Eat World, Fall Back Down - Rancid, Savior - Rise Against, and Have Faith in Me - A Day to Remember.

You do know if you  mention Seether (aka my favorite band in the entire universe / my music muse) you instantly become one of my favorite people, right? Have you experienced any 'rock star blogging' moments?
I guess it really depends on what you call a "rock star" moment. To me, any time I meet an author and they actually recognize me, I get overly excited. I think the 2010 PAYA Festival was kind of a "rock star" moment for me too.

Thanks so much for swinging by today, Harmony! Don't forget to check out Harmony's blog here. 

Rock This! Thursday with Savita Kalhan + Giveaway

Just by reading the synopsis of The Long Weekend, I know that I’m going to be on edge while reading it. Have you always written thriller-type stories?
No, I haven’t. The first think I wrote was an epic fantasy trilogy, which took a few years to write, but I did have a baby in that time and move across continents! Then I started writing more of a contemporary novel, which had its core a darker theme. Gradually the monsters of the fantasy trilogy were replaced by real ones. Then I wrote The Long Weekend.

What were some of your favourite books to read while growing up?I actually read the entire contents of the children’s library when I was growing up, so this is such a difficult question for me to answer. I had so many favourites at different stages of childhood. I loved Roald Dahl and Enid Blyton. I wanted to be Anne Shirley of Anne of Green Gables by L M Montgomery, and Jo March of Little Women by Louisa May Alcott. I read all the fairy tales, myths and legends and folk tales from all across the world. I loved folk tales from Scandinavia.

I was lucky because my town library was so well-stocked. That may be changing with all the cuts the government is now making in libraries in the UK and it’s terrible and despicable and criminal, but don’t get me started on that...

You’re walking down the street – what song is following you?There is a Nina Simone song, which I’ve always loved. It strikes a chord somewhere deep in me and I can often hear it playing in the background. It’s called I Wish I Knew How it Would Feel to be Free.

What was the publishing process like for you?It was an eye-opener! I wish I had known a published writer then as I didn’t have much of a clue as to how it all worked. I was so naive. Beyond what was written in The Writers and Artists Yearbook, I didn’t know much else. It was a long slow learning curve for me, and eventually, I did find out, but I lost so much time and made so many mistakes.

Is this your first finished novel or have you written other stories?The Long Weekend is my first published novel. I have three finished teen/YA stories, still in manuscript form at the moment, but I’m keeping my fingers crossed that they will eventually find their way into a bookshop!

If The Long Weekend was turned into a movie, and let’s pretend you can pick the cast, who do you see playing Sam and Lloyd?
This is such a tough one! At the moment I can’t see anyone, but if your readers would like to give you suggestions, I’d happily look at them before I decide!

Is there a genre out there you don’t plan on ever writing?Hmm, I wouldn’t like to say – when I was writing the fantasy trilogy I didn’t think that I would ever write a thriller, and certainly not one that scared the life out of everyone! I suppose there are some genres that I don’t think I would ever write: I’d love to write humour, but I’m not sure it’s my thing, and bodice-ripping yarns are definitely not for me!

When you’re not writing, what are some of your hobbies?Writing is pretty consuming, and all the other stuff that surrounds the profession of being a writer in today’s world can be just as time-consuming! But I do make time for my hobbies! I love running and boxing, and I try to go to the gym most days. Writing is such a sedentary business and an early morning gym session really sets me up for the day. I also like gardening and dabble at growing things – my best successes are tomatoes and chillies, which are a great combination! I also play lots of tennis, and I love reading.

Did you base any of your characters off of people you know yourself?No, I didn’t, not at all. In some of my work, I have based characters on people that I have known – usually very loosely based, or just in even a trait that they possess may find its way into a character, but not with The Long Weekend.

Have you experienced any ‘rock star’ writing moments since your book has been out?The Long Weekend was shortlisted for the Fabulous Book Award 2010 and I was asked to attend the awards ceremony. It was to be a whole morning event with two other authors, Rachel Ward and Alexander Gordon Smith, also attending, and lots of teens from different schools in south London. When I walked into the hall a cheer went up – the kids had all read my book and had obviously checked me out on the internet as well, and so they knew what I looked like. For me, that was a real ‘rock star’ moment!