Hug An Author: Day 5; Interviews with author, Tammara Webber & Janette, fellow book lover

                                     

Welcome to Day 5 of the Hug An Author Blog Hop 

hosted by 

myself, Lynn from Bringing the Epic & Jen from What's On the Bookshelf 

to celebrate authors!

Which author inspired you? Made you cry? Made you laugh til your sides split? Writes the closest to the way you speak?

There are so many writers that have inspired me over the years that I'm not sure I can pick just one. Recently, Jandy Nelson did all of these things in her book The Sky Is Everywhere. If you haven't read it yet, I suggest you bump it up on your TBR. Forewarning, you WILL need tissues. 

If you are looking for a book that will make you laugh til your sides split, consider Dash & Lily's Book of Dares by Rachel Cohn & David Levithan. I literally almost wet myself reading this book. I haven't gotten around to reading any of the authors' other works, but I most certainly want to. And it's a great holiday read (shameless holiday plug there) that takes place in NYC over winter break. The antics in this one are sure to please!

Now, please help me hug and celebrate one of my new-found favorite authors, Tammara Webber. When I read Between the Lines I was not expecting to fall in love with the book. Even better bonus, Tammara is always so friendly and just awesome all around. Not only can she write her pants off - she can charm the fans! We do have such a blast on Twitter! Recently she and a few of my fellow online gal pals have been "dream casting" her characters and we have been rowdy and very vocal in swooning over some of our choices. I am so pleased Tammara agreed to interview for the hop!

Tammara Webber

Author of 

Between the Lines, Where You Are, 

and Good For You (out on 16 December)

Tell us about yourself.
I fell in love with young adult books when I took a YA Lit course in college, thinking I might teach. I ultimately decided teaching wasn’t for me, but my enjoyment of YA novels stuck. I’ve been a writer in one form or another all of my life, so I decided to try writing for the genre I’d come to love reading most. Eventually, I came up with Between the Lines.

Where can readers follow you on the web?

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/TammaraWebberAuthor

Blog: http://tammarawebber.blogspot.com/

Twitter: http://twitter.com/tammarawebber (warning: I suck at Twitter)

Who is your favorite author(s)? Their genre? What makes them your favorite?
Jennifer Echols (YA contemporary romantic author) is my favorite. I adore her stories and writing style. Her books are a blend of humorous, hot, and serious stuff, and that appeals to me as a reader—and is also something I seek to emulate as a writer.

Which book makes you cry, laugh ‘til your sides split?
I laugh often when reading anything by Echols, but Endless Summer was hysterical. Simone Elkeles’ How to Ruin series was also especially funny (particularly the first one—I actually snorted twice while reading). Going Bovine (Libba Bray) made me bawl. Also teared up reading I Know It’s Over (C.K. Kelly Martin) and Please Ignore Vera Dietz (A.S. King). Laughed and cried repeatedly in the same book: The Sky is Everywhere (Jandy Nelson).

Which author wrote the character that you would want to be your best friend?
Hmm. I think Seth from Wicked Lovely (Melissa Marr) would be pretty cool as a best friend. Or Matt from Flat-Out Love (Jessica Park). I suppose you can see where my head is on best friends… I’m married to mine. ;) I guess if I had to choose a literary female best friend… I’d want America from Beautiful Disaster (Jamie McGuire). She’s loyal, protective, supportive and hilarious. (Just like my RL female BFF.)

Is there another author that when you see on tour/at conferences you feel fan-girly about? Who have you gotten star-struck over?
I haven’t met many authors in person. I could imagine going a little fan-girly over John Green, though. He’s so brilliant and talented and socially aware (and cute… which certainly doesn’t hurt).

As an author, how does it feel to have your readers crushing on the fictional boys you have written?
I LOVE writing a guy who readers fall for. My goal when creating them is for the guys to be realistic, which means they will not be perfect. Of course, even imperfect guys will do some things perfectly. ;)

What advice would you give to an aspiring author in regards on how to reach their readers/fans?
A reader who enjoys what you’ve written will find you. Make yourself available! I felt really silly setting up a FB fan page when I indie-published my first book, but I did it. I set up a Twitter account at the same time. I already had the blog, which I rearranged to accommodate book information like descriptions, reviews, and the trailer for Between the Lines. Each of these has links to the others.

Interview with fellow book lover

Janette

Tell us about yourself.

Hmm, what can I tell you that will make me seem more exciting than I really am? I’m a

thirty-something Midwestern girl who has made her way to the South. I’m a married,

SAHM of three girls 13, 12, & almost 11. In my former life BC (before children), I was an

audiologist. [Sorry to disappoint, but no, that’s not someone who fixes stereos. ;)] I’m

not a writer or a book blogger, so I guess I’d refer to myself as a book enthusiast. I read

a lot, whenever I can, and spend countless hours volunteering for community and

education non-profit organizations. (In other words, I work for free. :D)

Who is your favorite author and why? What genre do the generally write?

I knew this question would be part of this interview, but I dreaded it anyway. My first

thought was ‘I have to pick 3 or less?’ My next was that I really wish I could say it’s

someone classic like Jane Austen or Tolstoy. If I’m being honest, my very favorite author is Stephen King. I love his writing style, and I’m completely drawn in by his ability to set a scene and develop complex characters. He writes primarily horror (what does that say about me?), and I will generally read ANYTHING he’s written from novels to his

column in Entertainment Weekly. He’s got a great sense of humor and wit that manages

to come through in all his work.

Do you have a blog? If so, what is the website. If not, where do you like to discuss your favorite books & gush about authors?

I don’t have an active blog; I started one a LONG time ago, but I rarely update it. I guess

you could say I’m a wanna be blogger. I love to spend time on twitter or goodreads

discussing my favorite authors & books with others.

Where can we follow you? (Twitter, Facebook, etc.)

I’m on Twitter (@jderucki) and Facebook (Janette Derucki)

Which one of your favorite author's books is the one that made them your favorite?

If I had to choose one, I’d choose It. I read that book when I was a sophomore in high

school (about 15 years old), and it pretty much terrified me. I was so frightened that I

couldn’t help but keep reading. I rushed through my homework every night just to get

back to it. I’m not even sure I could tell you what it was that captivated me...maybe the

clown? To this day when I read a book that features a clown, Pennywise is still who I

picture. He’s the ultimate in creeptastic!

Who was your favorite author when you were a child? a teen? during your

adulthood? (has it ever changed?)

My favorite author changed quite a bit growing up. I loved Beverly Cleary’s Ramona

series, then Gertrude Chandler Warner’s Box Car Children before I eventually found my

all-time favorite author from childhood, Judy Blume. I read the Fudge books and

everything else she’d written (well, that my mom would let me read anyway). As a

preteen I discovered the Sweet Valley High books by Francine Pascal and plowed my

way through those. I’ve always read a wide variety of books in many genres.

Eventually I read Stephen King and, as I mentioned before, he became my all-time

favorite. Since then I’ve found tons of authors I really love; it would be impossible to

name them all!

Is there an author you've met or attended their book signing? If not, who would yougive your right arm to see?

I love to attend book signings; living near Atlanta we’re lucky to get many authors

passing through. I attended my first signing with my friend Sue during grad school. We

attended a Nora Roberts event to get signed books for our moms, and I’ve been going

ever since. For the past several years I’ve been able to attend the Decatur Book

Festival in Decatur, GA. It’s held during Labor Day weekend and features tons of

authors for all ages, all genres, including local & up-and-coming names. I’ve attended

many readings & panels of my favorite authors (new & old); this year my favorite panel

featured Beth Revis, Myra McEntire & Rachel Hawkins. To name a few, I have been

fortunate to meet Diana Gabaldon, Richelle Mead, Kate DiCamillo, Lauren Myracle,

Judy Schachner, & Jackson Pearce.

Hug An Author: Day 4, In which I gush over some of my favorite authors & interview fellow blogger Ann

Welcome to Day 4 of the Hug An Author Blog Hop 

hosted by 

myself, Lynn from Bringing the Epic & Jen from What's On the Bookshelf 

to celebrate authors!

My Q/A for the day:

Who was your favorite author when you were a child? A teen? During my 20s?Currently?

This is a pretty tough question for me because I am an extremely indecisive person. I can never just pick 1. I don't have a single favorite of ANYTHING. This probably sounds odd to you, but it's true. Here I will attempt to narrow it down and share a few of my favorites. Can I do it ladies and gentlemen?! Here I go...

Anne McCaffrey - Ms. McCaffrey brought me to the world of reading and just looking at my copies of her books, you can tell they are well-loved (i.e. falling apart because I've read them so many times). (Child/teen years)

Sherwood Smith - Ms. Smith has a way with words that completely draws me in. I love her kick-butt leading ladies and her mysterious leading men. Just thinking about her worlds and her characters makes me want to go crack open ANY book of her's and snuggle up on the couch. I loved Crown Duel and was so ecstatic to discover she had written more. Much anticipation over some of the next bunch of releases. (Teen/adult years) 

Jeri Smith-Ready - Funny enough I came to Shade & Shift late in the game thanks to the YA Crush Tourney held by YA Sisterhood. I just had to read all about Zachary Moore. At first, after reading the synopsis I was a little hesitant. I shouldn't have been because it is seriously my favorite series that I've read this year. I laughed, cried, and ready to find out what happens next. I will sincerely be waiting on pins & needles until May when we finally see Shine! Not to mention, I love the WVMP series (adult). What's NOT to love about vampire DJs?? (Current)

Other authors of note whose books I am always on the edge of my seat for: Richelle Mead (Vampire Academy & Bloodlines), Cassandra Clare (The Infernal Devices & The Mortal Instruments) , & J.K. Rowling (Harry Potter). These authors write books that I pull all-nighters reading.

Interview with

Ann 

Today I have the privilege of presenting special guest, fellow blogger Ann from Annabell's Book Nook!

Tell us about yourself.

My name is Ann.  I am 24 and live right in the middle of Minnesota.  For the most part, I enjoy it here.  I don't like the winter because of how cold it gets, but I love the winter because of all the reading I get to do!  I don't spend a lot of time outside when it is cold, so I read lots of books and blog about them too!

Who is your favorite author and why? What genre do they generally write?

My absolute favorite author is Richelle Mead.  I read her Vampire Academy series when I had just begun reading for fun again (those 4 years in college really made reading for fun not possible!).  I hadn't really been interested in vampires at all, and didn't understand what all the fuss was about.  But when I read the first book in that series, Vampire Academy, a whole new world was opened to me.  I loved The Chronicles of Narnia and Harry Potter when I was in elementary and high school, but I thought as an adult I was supposed to stick with adult books!  I am so glad that I read Vampire Academy and found such a great author!

Do you have a blog? If so, what is the website. If not, where do you like to discuss your favorite books & gush about authors?

 I do have a blog.  It is Annabell's Book Nook.  The addy is http://annabellsbooknook.blogspot.com  I also use Goodreads, Facebook, and Twitter quite a bit.

Where can we follow you? (Twitter, Facebook, etc.)

Goodreads - http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/4334540-annabell

Twitter - http://twitter.com/#!/AnnabellsBNblog

Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/pages/Annabells-Book-Nook/159117757519915

Is there an author whose books you'll read regardless of the genre they write simple because you know you will love it?

Jennifer Lynn Barnes.  I actually haven't read much of her work, just the Raised by Wolves series, but her writing is amazing!  So I would definitely read anything she writes, regardless of the genre.

Who was your favorite author when you were a child? a teen? as an adult?

I think in my child/teen years my favorite authors were C.S. Lewis and J.K. Rowling.  And as an adult, my favorite author is Jennifer Lynn Barnes.  I could come up with a whole list, because I have several favorites, but she is the ultimate favorite! :)

Is there an author that got you started reading or maybe one that brought you back to reading after having fallen away from it?

After college, I picked up Vision in White by Nora Roberts.  I had never read anything by Nora Roberts before, but the cover was gorgeous and the synopsis was sweet.  I finished all of the books that were already released, and actually ended up picking up the rest the day they were released.  I rarely buy books, and if I do, I wait until I can find a used copy or it goes on sale.

Hug An Author: Day 3, In which I'd give an arm to see Jeri Smith-Ready & interview friend Thamy D.

Welcome to Day 3 of the Hug An Author Blog Hop 

hosted by 

myself, Lynn from Bringing the Epic & Jen from What's On the Bookshelf 

to celebrate authors!

Is there an author you've met or attended their book signing? If not, who would you give your right arm to see?

Unfortunately I have never encountered the chance to see any of my favorite authors at a signing. When I lived in bustling Philadelphia, I never knew that opportunity existed and then I moved to a smaller city in Louisiana that did not get to see much in that area of the arts (as far as I know). You could probably say that I have lived under a rock for 30 years. 

However, now that I KNOW these opportunities exists I would give my right arm to see Jeri Smith-Ready.

Which - I find kind of funny b/c I don't know who would want my right arm in the state that it's in right now....But Jeri is always so fun, generous, and all round awesome when she interacts with fans on Twitter and Google+ hangouts I would be totally willing to give my good left arm to see her at a signing.

I know Team Kilt is having a Kilt-Con in May. I really hope that I can be there but traveling from Japan at that time might prove a bit difficult. 

The moment I put Shade down I immediately bought Shift. When I had finished reading, I wanted to start back form the beginning and read them both over again. I also needed tissues. When both of these things happen, I know I am in love with a series. I cannot wait until Shine is released in May. 

While co-hosting this fabulous event, I had the opportunity to talk to so many of my bookish friends. I am so lucky I have them to gush with over books, characters & authors!

Today I have another interview for you to check out - my good friend, Twitter sweetheart and blogger... 

Thamy D.

Tell us about yourself.
I'm a Brazilian who lives in England with my husband and little daughter, I love colourful things like butterflies and sexy warrior faeries! Or angels, werevolves and even vampires to be fairly honest. Anyway in my real life, the one when I am not pretending I am a Shadowhunter, I am pretty normal, graduated in Business, always worked for banks and love eating cakes. I talk a lot, people ask me sometimes to have a drink of water and rest my tongue a bit, but the truth is that I love talking to people, it's in my blood, you know I am Brazilian! Ha! 

Who is your favorite author and why? What genre do the generally write?

Cassandra Clare, she is my idol. I also love Jeri Smith Ready and Julie Kagawa. These awesome authors write YA novels. I utterly recommend their books. Sensational. 

Do you have a blog? If so, what is the website? If not, where do you like to discuss your favorite books & gush about authors?

I do own a blog, FanaticReader (www.fanaticreader.weebly.com) but I use Twitter 24/7 and Goodreads. 

Where can we follow you? (Twitter, Facebook, etc.)
I'm on Twitter under ThamyDuff and on Goodreads, I love talking about books, amazing fictional characters and movies. 

Is there an author you've met or attended their book signing? If not, who would you give your right arm to see?I've been to a Cassandra Clare book signing in London and I'll tell you this, it was amazing. I live in Newcastle so I had to get a train to London with my rucksack carrying every single book I owned written by her. It was tricky because I was pregnant and the sickness and tiredness were not on my side, but it was worth it. She was friendly, welcoming and just as I imagined she would be, amazing! 

Who was your favorite author as a child? as a teen? Now as an adult?
I am from Brazil so my authors are really not internationally known, but I loved reading The Lord of the Rings by J. R. R. Tolkien when I was 15. As an adult? Clare is my top author, but I need to mention To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee because her novel truly moved me, I was sad for a few days after I finished reading that book because I loved it so much. 

Which author created a world so vivid you were actually lost after the book/series was completed? (i.e. who gave you a book hangover from hell?)
The Summer Trilogy by Jenny Han is a series that owns a piece of my heart, but Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare turned me into a psycho for months! I love so much her characters and the story that I can hardly explain why I loved this book so much. I am Team Jem by the way! 

Thank you, Thamy! I hope you are currently stuck with your nose in Clockwork Prince!

Is there an author you've met or attended their book signing? If not, who would you give your right arm to see?

I'd love to hear about it! 

Hug An Author: Day 2, Interviews with author Diana Peterfreund & fellow blogger Tamara

Welcome to Day 2 of the Hug An Author Blog Hop 

hosted by 

myself, Lynn from Bringing the Epic & Jen from What's On the Bookshelf 

to celebrate authors!

Today I have the privilege of presenting special guests author Diana Peterfreund & my friend and fellow blogger Tamara B.

My Q/A for the day:

Which author wrote the character that you would want to be your best friend?

When I was a little girl I was absolutely in love with Anne Shirley from LM Montgomery's "Anne" series. In fact, I was so much in love with her character that I wanted MY middle name to be spelled with an "e" as well. Alas, my mom told me no. So I'm stuck with plain Ann. But I digress. I do believe if Anne were real and she were my best friend, we would have gotten into many more scrapes (that's saying a lot since Anne was always getting into messes) and we would have been kindred spirits.

As an adult, I read Diana Peterfreund's "Secret Society Girl" series and immediately fell in love with the main character, Amy Haskel. Amy is the kind of girl I would want in a best friend. In a way, I almost view her as a modern day Anne Shirley. She loves literature and writing, has some very crazy relationships, & gets into tons of trouble and scrapes. I'm seeing a pattern here... Amy is quick-thinking, intelligent, fiercely loyal, and persistent. She also has a nose for mystery. I also have to say I'm a little envious of Amy's love interests but I don't want to spoil the series for you. You'll just have to read about all of Anne & Amy's adventures yourselves. 

Ms. Peterfreund's interview was perfect to present to you today because we share one of the same characters that we would want to be our best friends! 

Interview with

Diana Peterfreund

Author of

RAMPANT and ASCENDANT: Killer Unicorns (Harper Teen)

SECRET SOCIETY GIRL Series (Bantam Dell)

Tell us about yourself.

Oh, let's see. I prefer hot weather to cold, owing to growing up in Florida. I also love thunderstorms. I was named after a Bond chick. Ice cream is best when there's chunks of chocolate, candy, and nuts in it. Thai food is my favorite of all Asian cuisines. I live in Washington, DC, with my family. I am a total sucker for dogs, especially my Toller, Rio. My favorite TV shows are: Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Veronica Mars, The West Wing, Avatar: The Last Airbender, Arrested Development, How I Met Your Mother, and The Wire. I used to be a food critic. I'm the author of the four books in the Secret Society Girl series, the killer unicorn novels Rampant and Ascendant, the upcoming post-apocalyptic For Darkness Shows the Stars, and a bunch of short stories.

Where can readers follow you on the web?

My website and blog: http://dianapeterfreund.com

My twitter: http://twitter.com/dpeterfreund

My tumblr: http://landsbeyond.tumblr.com

Who is your favorite author(s)? Their genre? What makes them your favorite?

For a long time, I've loved L.M Montgomery and read her "Anne" series over and over every year. I think she's a master at crafting distinctive character voices and finding the magical in the everyday. I'm also a lifelong fan of CS Lewis's Narnia series, which is the fantasy world I'd probably go live in if given the chance. Other favorites: Alexandre Dumas, Jane Austen, Edgar Allan Poe. Currently publishing authors: Tamora Pierce for awesome heroines, Laini Taylor for gorgeous wordsmithing, and Scott Westerfeld for pure, unadulterated fabulous storylove.

What inspired you to become a writer? Was it another author, self-driven, or something/someone else entirely?

I honestly can't remember a time I didn't want to be a writer. In first grade, when we were given black and white composition notebooks nad told to use our vocabulary words in a sentence, I used them in a story. But until I graduated from college, I never even met a professional writer, I never thought it was something I could do (it didn't help that the established narrative at Yale was "if you're not going for a Nobel in Literature, don't write books"). I made myself a bet: said, if you write a book -- a whole book -- you can spend $100 and join Romance Writers of America. Well, I respond well to bets, apparently. I finished that book, joined RWA, and spent the next few years soaking up as much info as I could.

Which author wrote the character that you would want to be your best friend?

Currently, I want to be BFFs with Lola from Stephanie Perkins's LOLA AND THE BOY NEXT DOOR. But usually, Anne Shirley Blythe from LM Montgomery's "Anne" series.

Who is the author that wrote your first fictional crush? Which book/series and what made you crush on them?

Edmund Pevensie from CS Lewis's "Narnia" series. He went through some rough times in The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe, but he emerged from the other side a better man and proceeded to be one of the strongest and most admirable characters in the series. In fact, I wrote a whole essay about my love for Edmund, called "King Edmund the Cute" in the non-fiction anthology Through the Wardrobe. 

***UPDATE!*** Diana has informed me they have made the King Edmund essay FREE this week. You can get here at http://www.smartpopbooks.com/1052

What advice would you give to an aspiring author in regards on how to reach their readers/fans?

I feel like "reaching fans" is a little cart-before-the-horse for an aspiring author. The best way for any author to reach readers is to write a book someone will become a fan of. Make a book worthy of fandom, and the readers will find you.

Interview with
Tamara B.

Blogger & bookish friend

Tell us about yourself.

I am Tamara, I'm from a small European country called Croatia, I'm fifteen, adore to read, inspiring author and that, I think, sums me up about nicely. 

Who is your favorite author and why?My favorite author is Cassandra Clare, but notice it is a very hard pick. Why? Because there's just something about her novels and her writing that captivates you right from the start and doesn't let you go... ever.

Do you have a blog? If not, where do you like to discuss your favorite books & gush about authors?Why yes, I do have a blog. http://tamarasbookramblings.blogspot.com/ But I also gush about books on twitter.

Where can we follow you? (Twitter, Facebook, etc.)You can find me on twitter @tamsbookramble, Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100002414984749 and also I have a page of my blog on Facebook which you can like, if you want to *wink wink* http://www.facebook.com/pages/Tamaras-Book-Ramblings/130306430401156

Which author wrote the character that you would want to be your best friend? 

Lennie from The Sky Is Everywhere, because she is similar but different from me. I think we'd make a good team.

Is there an author who brought you to reading or got you started reading after having stopped for a time?

Umm, I'd say Stephenie Meyer, because Twilight made me a booklover I am today... if it wasn't for Twilight, I'd never open a book that wasn't mandatory to read.

Which author created a world so vivid you were actually lost after the book/series was completed? (i.e. who gave you a book hangover from hell?)

Again, Cassandra Clare and the Shadowhunter world. I mean, it is just a-mazing! It has got all of the mysterious creatures incoorporated and Jace is there *swoons*... So what is there not to like? :)  

Thank you again to my lovely guests today. Please share with me

Which author wrote the character that you would 

want to be your best friend?

Remember to drop back in tomorrow for Day 3!

1. 

Hug An Author: Day 1, Which I dedicate to Anne McCaffrey

Welcome to Day 1 of the Hug An Author Blog Hop 

hosted by 

myself, Lynn from Bringing the Epic & Jen from What's On the Bookshelf 

to celebrate authors!

During the preparation for this week, I was able to interview some of my favorite authors and book-crazy friends! Each day this week I will be answering a question from the list our hosts have chosen. Also, I will be sharing the interviews with you. Of course, I would LOVE to hear what all of my followers have to say about their favorite authors so don't forget to comment.

To end my portion of the blog hop I will be doing a giveaway. The prizes are yet to be determined so check back during the week for details and to find out how to enter.

Without further delay, let's get this celebration started!

Is there an author that brought you to reading?

Anne McCaffrey

1 April 1926 – 21 November 2011

I would like to dedicate this first day of the Hug An Author celebration to the award winning author, Anne McCaffrey (Goodreads).

Last week I was devastated by the news of her passing. The world has lost a truly creative, brilliant soul but I am warmed with the thought that she will live on with her legacy of the written word. I am truly thankful that her son, Todd McCaffrey, has taken up his pen and has worked with his mother in the recent years in continuing her Pern series.

Ms. McCaffrey was a master of the sci-fi/fantasy world and is probably best known for her beloved Pern series. Among the Pern novels, she wrote a small trilogy called The Harper Hall Series: Dragonsong, Dragonsinger, & Dragondrums.

The book that brought me to reading was Dragonsong. The main character Menolly spoke to me very deeply and reached out to me. Here was a misunderstood girl that found solace in music. Menolly is a vivacious and determined young girl, and highly skilled in her art & shows a profound love for music. Dragonsinger is my favorite of all her books. It is THE book I always return to as it were a security blanket. I guess you could say it's my security book.

After reading the Harper Hall Trilogy, I went on to read the other Pern novels. I remember staying up until sometimes 1 or 2 in the morning, on school nights, when I should have been sleeping. I wouldn't realize the time because I would get so caught up in the wonderful story Ms. McCaffrey crafted. 

My husband and I also bonded over our love of these novels so that is something else I will always treasure. 

Thank you for sharing your tremendous gift with the world, Ms. McCaffrey. You will be truly missed.

Interview with avid reader

 Malia Summerfield

Let me preface Malia's interview by saying that she is the first person I met when I started high school. What is even funnier is that we lived in the same neighborhood for most of our lives and hadn't met until visitation day at CAPA. When I want something new to read or want to discuss books, Malia is the go to gal! Without further ado, I present one of my oldest and dearest friends and her book love:

Hello there! My name is Malia and I am currently having a flashback of starting the school year in elementary school/ submitting a profile for a dating website. Wow, there is an odd juxtaposition, eh? 

I am a hopeful writer slash painter slash one of those artistic people. I have a love affair with words, especially those of the printed sort. I enjoy painting glass and things with the things that make me smile.  I have a small addiction to video games and love my XBOX 360. I enjoy long walks on the beach….oh wait…flashback again…

Who is your favorite author and why? What genre do the generally write? 

Ok, asking me who my three favorite authors are, well is a really, really, freakin’ really hard question. I have way too many, so I will go with the three that jump into my brain first and go from there. Well, there is really a fourth but he doesn't need any explanation as to why, so I’ll just name drop. You are totally on the edge of your seat, waiting in suspense right? 

1.) William Shakespeare (he has always been my favorite writer. when you get your first Shakespeare anthology in 5^th grade, yeah has to be on the list…. 

2.) Kasey Michaels                                                                                                                    I stumbled upon her books one day when scanning for something quick to check out from the library. It looked cute, quick and like a decent read. Within five minutes of reading it, however, I was laughing so hard I was crying. This brought on some interesting stares from my husband… 

She writes romance novels, some current day, some historical, but all written with a sarcastic, intelligent whit. Romance may not be everyone’s cup of tea. I call them my cupcake books, fluffy, pretty and fully of amazing tastes and flavors, with no real benefit to health. But with Kasey Michaels’ books, she does make you think by working in literature, pop culture and music references, Les’ Miserables, for instance. 

There isn’t a true style to her writing, some of it is in the Faulkner style (we’ll get to him in a minute), while some is very linear and clear. Sometimes she writes from first person and other times third person. She also has no problem inserting herself into the story as a narrator or psychic when needed. She can do this all, in the same novel, flawlessly. The sarcastic comments made by the lead characters never miss in rhythm. The characters are true and full, very well rounded and believable.  They may get into crazy predicaments or involve the supernatural, but there is never a time where when you, as the reader, ever question whether or not this would really happen. From the wealthy members of the Main Line to a girl coming out for her first season in London, Kasey Michaels intertwines you in the story and makes you believe. 

At the end of each of her stories, I always want to know, what happened to them? Where did they go? What life did they live? A truly great story always leaves you wanting just a little bit more…

3.) William Faulkner
Here is a little bio for you “William Cuthbert Faulkner (born Falkner, September 25, 1897 – July 6, 1962) was an American writer from Oxford, Mississippi. Faulkner worked in a variety of media; he wrote novels, short stories, a play, poetry, essays and screenplays during his career. He is primarily known and acclaimed for his novels and short stories” 

Ok, now that we got that out of the way, William Faulkner is my all time second favorite author. (I guess I have a weakness for Williams). His book, “The Sound and The Fury” is my favorite book.  It is written in true Faulkner style. (I call it that at least, a book where each character tells different parts of the story separated by chapters. It can either be in chronological order or not.) 

His overall immersion into each character is poetic and almost cinematic. In each of his books, he completely becomes each character he writes for. Sometimes, it is 5 year old; other times a slave, or a person experiencing a mental breakdown and finally a mentally handicapped adult male. Every time, he completes the transformation, slipping effortlessly into character. The only unifying thread is the different viewpoint of the same story and the total absence of the author. 

His roundabout way of storytelling is what I love the most. When one event happens, everyone who saw it sees something different. It affects them all differently also. The way Faulkner tells relates his stories you see that. He paints and unbelievably brilliant picture of life, that I never want to stop looking at…

4.) Sarah Addison Allen
She is the newest author I have been reading. Again, when I was stumbling around looking for something to read, her newest book popped up as a suggestion. After reading the sample piece on the website, I had to read more.
Her books are short maybe 250 pages with some under 200. I should mention here I read fast, like freakishly fast. Usually a 200 page book will maybe take me 4 hours uninterrupted, a day at most. But her books took me so much longer, because I would read a part and go back and read it again 3 or 4 times. 

She writes I guess what would be called southern gothic but with romance mixed in. There is an element of the supernatural to her stories, sometimes a hint, other times a main plot point. But she pulls you in, makes you believe everything she says. 

My favorite part about her writing is the description. She describes in tastes, smells, feelings like no other writer I have ever read before. For instance, she describes the smell of opportunity as fresh lemons and the smell of regret as sour lemon meringue pie.  Her descriptions mix feelings and tease the senses. Does regret really have a smell? Does a first kiss have a particular taste? What does a secret feel like against your skin? 

You get lost in the world of her stories and are happy to be held prisoner. With the tastes, smells, and feelings she depicts, who wouldn’t want to stay forever…

Do you have a blog? If so, what is the website. If not, where do you like to discuss your favorite books & gush about authors?

I have a sadly much neglected blog. I usually discuss my favorite authors with Marissa and other random people on Facebook.

Where can we follow you? (Twitter, Facebook, etc.) 

Right now only my painting has a Facebook fanpage and webpage. The Facebook fanpage is under Bruce & Harley and the webpage is bruceandharley.webs.com. Maybe one day my writing will have one too.

Which one of your favorite author's books is the one that made them your favorite?

 1.) “Much Ado About Nothing” William Shakespeare 

2.) “Everything’s Coming Up Rosie” & “The Butler Did It” Kasey Michaels

3.) “The Sound and The Fury” William Faulkner 

4.) “The Sugar Queen” & “The Peach Keeper” Sarah Addison Allen...sorry, I can be a little indecisive
 

Which author wrote the character that you would want to be your best friend?

Yikes! Ok, this is way too tough. Beatrice definitely from “Much Ado About Nothing”.  Doug Llewellyn and Rosie Kilgannon from “Everything’s Coming up Rosie” I just love true sarcastic whit.  Josey Cirrini from “The Sugar Queen”. I didn’t write the "Why I would want these particular characters to be my friend” because this is already over a thousand words and I have another question to answer lol
 

What advice would you give to an aspiring author on how to reach their readers in the future? What qualities do you look for or have you found you like best about your favorite author? 

I am pretty interested in the answer to that first question, myself. I have never contacted another author, well strike that. I talk to other aspiring authors, free lance writers etc, but never to a mainstream, published author. 

I am a sucker for description and great characters. Those things can pull you through the murkiest of plots and the most boring of chapters. Weak characterization just kills it for me, “who cares” just echoes in my head as I read it. 

I like being put in the setting of my book, right in the heart of it. I want the author to paint a complete and total picture of everything and plop me right in the middle. These are also key points I try to implement into my writing also. 

Thanks for stopping by and a huge thank you to Malia for allowing me to pick her brain and for taking some time away from her family & crafting projects! Join me tomorrow for more author gushing and a special appearance by author Diana Peterfeund, author of the Ivy League Society series.  


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Is there an author that brought you to reading? I'd love to hear about it!