Author Interview: Jennifer Echols

Jennifer Echols is an author especially known for her Young Adult romantic dramas, such as Going Too Far. This genre has made her become one of my favorite authors, and I can't get enough of her dramas. Thank you for writing, Jenn.

Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

Reviews – Going Too Far and Forget You

How did you come up with ideas to write Going Too Far and Forget You? What did inspire you to create such wonderful stories?

Going Too Far: One of the first reality shows in the U.S. was COPS, which follows the police on their daily patrols. I love this show and I wanted to write a story about a teenager who rides along with the police. Then I thought there could be two teenagers, and they could fall for each other. And THEN I thought…what if one teenager fell in love with the cop? I did some research and found out that some towns in the U.S. allow 19-year-olds to be police officers, and Going Too Far was born.

Forget You: I had idea for a story about a girl who has trouble with her car. For some reason I could see Doug on crutches, but I didn’t know why he was on crutches. Then I read a book review about a terrible teen novel from the 1980s about a girl who’s in a car accident and gets amnesia. I agreed that the book sounded bad, but I loved the amnesia idea. That’s what my car trouble/boy-on-crutches story was missing, and it brought all of those threads together.

Both your romantic drama books have gorgeous covers. Do you have any say on the matter?

Thank you! The publishers do ask me what kind of cover I would like, and I tell them. Then they show me something that looks completely different, LOL! But I do think both the covers convey the type of story readers will find inside, and that’s what’s important.

I have read another interview where you said that some of your characters have some characteristics based on yourself. For example, Meg (in Going Too Far), who goes jogging every morning. Is it true? What other characteristics of yours are reflected on your own characters?

Yes, I’m about to go jogging as soon as I finish this interview! I also have Meg’s rebellious side, John’s longing to keep everything safe, Zoey’s need to fix things, and Doug’s impatience with people who can’t keep up with him.

How was the creation process of Doug in Forget You? What did you intend for him to be/do/go through during the story?

I don’t remember working very hard on Doug. I worked hard on Zoey, but I think Doug wrote himself—perhaps because he’s a lot like me! I just wrote what I would do and how I would feel in his situation. Poor Doug.

You have announced that you have another Romantic Drama coming up next Summer, in July. How much can you tell about the story?

Yes, I’ve finished it and it’s scheduled for publication on July 1, but I can’t tell you more than that now. I hope I will have a cover and description soon, and I will post them on my web site at www.jennifer-echols.com.

Thank you so much for interviewing me. I really appreciate it! I’m so excited that my books are going to be translated into Portuguese and I can’t wait to see them!

Thank you so much for taking your time, Jenn!

No Brasil, os direitos de tradução e publicação de ambos Going Too Far e Forget You, da autora Jennifer Echols, foram comprados pela Editora Novo Século e serão lançados pelo selo Pandorga em Março de 2011.

Going Too Far – Book Depository | Cultura*
*Ganhe 10% de desconto ao finalizar a compra de GOING TOO FAR através deste link.

Forget You – Book Depository | Cultura*
*Ganhe 10% de desconto ao finalizar a compra de FORGET YOU através deste link.

Author Interview: Pamela Callow

Pamela Callow is a Canadian debut author. Her first novel was published on June 1st by Harlequin Books, and it's called Damaged. I was recently introduced to Pamela and her work, and the premise immediately catched my attention—especially for being a biomedical thriller! She already has four books until 2012: Damaged, Indefensible, Tattooed and an untitled one.

Find Pamela: Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads
Find Damaged: Amazon.ca | Amazon.com | Barnes&Noble

Also, kindly, Pamela accepted my request and today I happily have her here answering me some questions about herself, about Damaged, and just a little about Summer.

Author Interview: Pamela Callow

First of all, could you introduce yourself and then talk a little bit about what Damaged is basically about?

I am a member of the Nova Scotia bar and worked as a strategy consultant for an international consulting firm prior to making writing a career. I am happily married, and am the mother of two children and a pug. :)

DAMAGED is a legal biomedical thriller that was inspired by a US criminal case. The series lead, Kate Lange, is a struggling thirty-something lawyer who has finally landed her dream job at a high-powered law firm only to find herself uncovering a scam that rocks the foundations of biomedical research - and puts her in the path of a dementing killer.

You were inspired in a criminal case to write Damaged. Why did this case take so much your attention? Did you right away think about writing a book when you heard about it, or it took a while? When did you decide you definitely would write a book, become an actual writer?

I was browsing the newspaper one day when I read about a case that was so appalling, so devious, that it both fascinated and repelled me. I had been planning to write a suspense novel, and I decided it would make a great plot. I began working on the story right away. But I didn't want to write a fictionalized version of the case, so I used it as a springboard for DAMAGED's plot and added a number of elements, including a legal conspiracy to the story.

In terms of when I decided to become a writer, I think I was eight years old. But I didn't pursue it seriously until five years ago.

You've chosen a genre similiar to the one Tess Gerritsen writes, and she was the reason why I began to enjoy reading stories involving serial killers. Before writing, did you read a lot about serial killers, too, or something similiar?

I read a lot of mystery. The reason for the serial killer in DAMAGED is that the plot and the setting lent itself to that device, and there was an extra element I added that worked in this instance.

Did you somehow get inspiration from another author that writes the same genre as you? Who are the authors whose works you really admire?

In the suspense genre, I've always enjoyed Elizabeth George, Susan Hill, Donna Tartt, James Rollins and Tess Gerritsen. I'm a huge fan of Ken Follett, Rohinton Mistry and John Irving.

Is there anything that you do during every single summer? What is it?

My family goes camping. We sleep in a tent, cook on a Coleman stove, sit around the fire and toast marshmallows. I love it. I love being in the woods, listening to the sounds of nature, curled up in a camp chair reading a book around the campfire. We usually kayak and hike. It's very relaxing. No schedules, no internet.

Besides these four books you've planned to publish until 2012, are you working on any other project or at least has a book idea to write down in the future?

I have lots of ideas, not enough time! I love to write in different genres, so I have a YA mystery, historical and some other ideas tucked in my brain waiting to see the light of day. :)

I want to thank you, Pamela, for taking some of your time to kindly answer my questions. I sincerely do hope to get Damaged in my mailbox faster than I think, and to have you here again anytime soon!

Author Interview: Emma Michaels

Before becoming an author, Emma Michaels was a blogger, too. And just like I said previously on this post, that's one of the strongest reasons why we bloggers should completely support her as better as we can. Her first book, The Thirteenth Chime, debuts on August 13th, 2010, and I expect everyone to check this out! That said, today I have an interview with Emma Michaels, and I hope you enjoy it.

First of all, the question I never get tired to ask: Where did the idea of The Thirteenth Chime come from?

The idea came from one night where there was a storm hitting the area where I live and it had knocked out the power. We went next door to share a few candles and the storm raged outside. Suddenly, the howling of the wind died down and for a moment there was silence. Then the antique grandfather clock in the house began to chime. The sound echoed throughout the house and it made me unconsciously reach out to grab someone's hand, wanting to feel a bond in that moment. It was in that moment that the inspiration for The Thirteenth Chime was born.

Who is Emma Michaels? Just tell us a little about yourself.

Well, originally I grew up in California but I moved here a little over two years ago and met my now fiance. Coming to Washington was one of the best decisions I've ever made. I love it here and it is very beautiful and it suits me perfectly. I love having dense, green forests all around me yet I can walk just five minutes and be on the beach, or drive a bit and be in a major city (it's the city girl in me!). I love reading and I have a career goals of not only becoming a professional author, but to make it to the top of the "New York Times Bestseller's List". I love traveling and boats. I also have come to love blogging in a way that I never could have expected. It has allowed me to not only share my findings of other books with other bloggers and blog readers, but to reach out and connect with my audience in an amazing way. I am truly grateful to everyone for all of the support and encouragement I have received along the way. I also promise that if potential fans love my writing, that I will continue to write for as long as everyone wants me to write!

How was the whole process from writing the book to have it nearly published?

I began querying agents back in December '09. After I received well over a hundred standard form rejections from agents who did not even request to see a single sample of my writing, I took the plunge at the encouragement of a dear friend and began querying publishers directly. All I can say is, wow, what a difference! I received encouragement and offers almost right away and when I finally decided on going with Bokheim, I was not prepared for what would happen next. Not only did they keep me in the loop on almost every part of the process, but they heard me out on my ideas and often tried to implement them. I am very grateful to them as they really helped to make the process easier for me and even more enjoyable for me than I would have ever thought possible.

Besides The Thirteenth Chime (and, consequently, the Sense of Truth series), is there any other story you've been working on lately? Any others book ideas?

Yes! I'm working on a couple of projects currently with one finished and another one on the road to being completed. The former I can't give away too much at this time (but if you love owls you are going to love this!) but I promise to keep everyone updated!

What did inspire you to create your characters from The Thirteenth Chime?

It was the original inspiration from The Thirteenth Chime that began the idea of the story and the bond between two people. In some ways, I feel as if they introduced themselves to me, and I was just fortunate enough to be the one to share their story with all of you. David and Destiny are two very unique characters, and I know that wherever their story goes from here I can't wait to write what happens next!

Is there anybody who you would go crazy (freak out!) if he/she ever got and read your book?

There are a bunch of authors I would go crazy about if I learned they got and read (and hopefully liked) my book but I think the one that would mean the most to me is Tamora Pierce because I wouldn't be where I am now without her!

Was there anything in your story that you had to do a research to write about, or everything from the story you brought up from your own imagination?

A lot of the book came from my own mind, but I spent almost two years doing research on the locations, concepts and ideas within the story in order to make it as accurate as possible.

As a blogger turned author, do you feel completely accomplished? What do you still wish for your career as an author?

I don't feel truly accomplished though I have been fortunate enough to take the 'next step'. It is my dream to become a professional author and for me, I feel this is only the beginning. Now I have to get lots of people to read and like my first book so that they want more! I also want to get to the top of the "New York Times Bestseller's List" and to stay at the top. I hope everyone will join me in making this a reality!

What can you say to bloggers who want to be authors someday as well?

Please don't give up! I know it can be frustrating and even disappointing at times, but I didn't give up and that is why I am where I am now. I believe in each of you just as you have believed in me, and I want to one day get to read and enjoy your books just as I hope you will mine!

Can you quote a few lines that you really like from The Thirteenth Chime?

Actually I can't quote you directly from the book yet (sorry!) but I can tell you to watch out for some interesting moments when Destiny's current fiance, Scott, and her ex-boyfriend, David, share a few words with one another. All I can say is, "Oh David, can't you stay out of trouble for at least five minutes?".

What if The Thirteenth Chime were published here in Brazil?

I would love that! I never expected for The Thirteenth Chime to already have gone that far, but I would definitely be open to that possibility and doing a book tour there.

Is there anything else you'd like to share with us?

Yes, I would like to thank each and every one of you for your kind support, messages of encouragement and being the wonderful people that you have been. I am so grateful to be able to exchange words with you and I hope one day to get to see all of you in Brazil!

Thank you so much for the interview and to everyone reading for all of your support! I hope you all will love The Thirteenth Chime!

Thank you, too, Emma! It's awesome to have you here, and I hope you will accomplish all of your dreams as an author. :)

Author Interview: Lauren Oliver

I suppose you might have realized that all of the author interviews I've done so far are only authors I do really admire. And, well, today's interview is no exception. Before I Fall, the debut novel of Lauren Oliver, became one of my favorite books of all time. Lauren's writing is incredible, kind of poetic, and beautiful. It does intensely touches you. Also, Delirium, Lauren's next novel, is going to be released on February 1st, 2011 by HarperTeen. Since before I had read Before I Fall, I wanted to interview Lauren Oliver anyway, and it's finally done here, today. I hope you all enjoy!

Author Interview: Lauren Oliver

1. I've heard from you on another interview that you wrote Before I Fall while coming back home from work, on subways. You have any idea for how long you have been doing this, writing? Do you feel more comfortable this way or it's just because it was your free-time to write?

It’s true that I primarily wrote Before I Fall on the subway, but it wasn’t out of choice, but necessity. At the time I had a full-time job, was a full-time graduate school at NYU, and also worked part-time at a night club. The only writing time I had was during my commute! To be honest, though, I still often write on the subways, or on my phone when I don’t have my computer with me. If I don’t have my phone, I’ll write by hand, or on napkins, or on the backs of newspaper articles—this way I never have an excuse not to write!

2. Now that Before I Fall is going to be published in Brazil by Intrinseca, it would be interesting if you came to do book tours, right? How do you feel about it and what do you know about our country?

Oh my lord, I would LOVE to come to Brazil! I’ve always wanted to visit. I know sadly little about Brazil; only that Carnivale is supposed to be a rocking good time, the people are very beautiful, the beaches and jungles pristine, and the food delicious. That’s enough for me!

3. The idea of Sam was already completely constructed in your mind when you started writing Before I Fall, or you constructed her character as long as the story was being written so you fit everything in?

I definitely had a good sense of Sam before I began writing. In fact, the book really started with an idea of her character evolution, and her journey from a not-so-nice girl to someone who is more conscious of her relationships to other people. Of course, as I wrote, I discovered more about her. That’s one of the more gratifying elements of writing, I think: learning more about your characters as you go.

4. How do you analyze the relationship between authors and readers in general? What about bloggers—what do you think about them? Would you like to change anything to make it better?

I can only really speak to my personal relationship with readers, which I have to say is one of the most gratifying elements of my “job” (if you can even call it that!). I absolutely love connecting to my readers; it is such an affirmation, so gratifying and thrilling. I feel the same way about the bloggers I have the privilege to speaking to; their dedication to books and writing and reading, their creativity and generosity and advocacy for the books they love—all of that amazes me. The one thing I regret is that I am not always able to send out copies of my book to everyone who requests them; I wish more bloggers would understand that authors only get a very limited quantity of their own books! (I, for example, no longer have even a SINGLE copy in my house.)

5. Besides Before I Fall and Delirium, have you been working on anything else lately? I've heard you singing, so are you taking this seriously or it's just a hobby?

Ha—singing is just a hobby! But yes, I’m working on lots of things. Currently, I am working on a follow-up to Delirium. I also have two middle-grade books coming out in the next few years, so I’ve been editing those. I also recently launched a company with a former editorial colleague of mine from Penguin; we work with up-and-coming writers on new book ideas. Check out our website: www.paperlanternlit.com

6. Were Sam or any of her friends inspired by you or any of YOUR friends when you were still in High School?

Hmmm. Sam and her friends were inspired by people I knew, yes, although they weren’t exactly based on anyone. That is to say—certain elements of Sam and her friends are representative of people I have known, but they are fictional characters; no single character is totally representative of anyone in particular. Mostly, they are based on my understanding of how people can and do behave.

7. What did make you write Before I Fall? Where did this whole idea come from?

As I mentioned, the idea for the book really started with Sam. I wanted to write a novel about a girl who changes and evolves from selfish mean girl to someone who has a greater understanding of her relationship to other people. I then had to think of a mechanism that would enable her to change in this way; ultimately, I hit on the solution of having her relive the day of her death.

8. Who would you choose to play the characters from Before I Fall if there was a movie?

You know what? It’s terrible, but I really never see movies and have no idea about who’s even on the acting scene nowadays. I know the names of, like, three actresses.

9. Would you ever change places with any of your character if you could? Why?

Eep! Certainly not. I am very, very happy to be finished with high school. :-)

TRADUÇÃO: Português

Eu suponho que vocês tenham percebido que todas as entrevistas com autores que já fiz até agora são apenas com autores que eu realmente admiro. E, assim, a entrevista de hoje não é uma exceção. Before I Fall, o romance de estreia de Lauren Oliver, se tornou um dos meus livros favoritos de todos os tempos. Ah, nota importante: Before I Fall está para ser traduzido para 21 línguas, incluindo o português do Brasil, e já existe a possibilidade de terem filmes de seus dois livros! A narração de Lauren é incrível, quase poética, e linda! Toca intensamente você. Além disso, Delirium, o próximo romance de Lauren, vai ser lançado em 1º de fevereiro de 2011 pela editora HarperTeen nos Estados Unidos. Desde antes de ter lido Before I Fall, eu queria entrevistar a Lauren Oliver de qualquer maneira, e isto finalmente está feito, aqui, hoje. Espero que todos gostem!

1. Li em outra entrevista que você escreveu Before I Fall enquanto voltava do trabalho para casa, no metrô. Você tem alguma ideia de por quanto tempo você tem feito isso? Você se sente mais confortável dessa maneira ou é apenas porque esse é o seu tempo livre para escrever?

É verdade que eu, primeiramente, escrevi Before I Fall no metrô, mas não foi por escolha, mas por necessidade. No momento, eu tinha um emprego de horário integral, era uma estudante de graduação de horário integral e ainda trabalhava uma parte do tempo em uma “night club”. O único horário para escrever que eu tinha era durante a minha volta do trabalho e a minha ida ao trabalho!

Para ser sincera, eu ainda escrevo frequentemente no metrô, ou no meu celular quando não tenho meu computador comigo. Se eu não estou com meu celular, escrevo à mão, ou em guardanapos, ou na parte de trás dos artigos de jornais—dessa maneira, nunca vou ter uma desculpa para não escrever!

2. Agora que Before I Fall vai ser publicado no Brasil pela editora Intrínseca, seria interessante que você passasse por aqui também durante uma tour, certo? Como você se sente sobre isso e o que você sabe sobre o nosso país?

Oh, meu senhor, eu AMARIA ir ao Brazil! Eu sempre quis visitá-lo. Eu sei, tristemente, pouco sobre o Brazil; apenas que o Carnaval parece ser "um período fantástico", que as pessoas são muito lindas, as praias e as florestas primitivas, e a comida deliciosa. É o bastante pra mim!

3. A ideia da Sam já estava completamente construída na sua mente quando você começou a escrever Before I Fall, ou você a construiu à medida que a história foi sendo escrita e então você foi “encaixando” tudo?

Eu definitivamente tive uma boa sensação de Sam antes de começar a escrever. Na verdade, o livro realmente começou com a ideia da evolução da personagem dela e jornada dela de uma menina não-tão-legal para alguém mais consciente das suas relações com as pessoas. Claro que, enquanto escrevia, eu descobria mais sobre ela. Essa é uma dos elementos mais gratificantes de escrever, eu acho: conhecendo mais as suas personagens enquanto você escreve.

4. Como você analisa a relação entre autores e leitores, em geral? E o que você pensa sobre os blogueiros? Gostaria de mudar algo para tornar a relação ainda melhor?

Eu apenas posso realmente falar sobre minha própria relação com os leitores, o que eu tenho que dizer que é um dos elementos mais gratificantes do meu trabalho (se é que se pode chamar isso assim!). Eu absolutamente amo conectar-me com meus leitores; isso é muito uma afirmação, tão gratificante e emocionante. Sinto-me da mesma forma sobre os blogueiros com quem eu tenho o privilégio de falar; a dedicação deles por livros, pela escrita e pela leitura, a criatividade, a generosidade e a advocacia deles pelos livros que eles amam—tudo isso me impressiona.

A única coisa da qual eu me arrependo é que eu não sou capaz de enviar exemplares do meu livro para todos que pedem; desejo que mais blogueiros entendam que autores recebem apenas uma quantidade muito limitada de seus próprios livros! (Eu, por exemplo, não tenho mais um ÚNICO exemplar na minha casa.)

5. Além de Before I Fall e Delirium, você tem trabalhado em algo mais recentemente? Já ouvi você cantando; você tá levando isso a sério ou é apenas um hobby?

Ha! Cantar é apenas um hobby! Mas, sim, estou trabalhando em muitas coisas. No momento, estou trabalhando numa continuação de Delirium. Também tenho dois livros middle-grade (para leitores de 8 a 12 anos) para serem lançados nos próximos anos, então estou editando-os. Recentemente também lancei uma companhia com uma colega da Penguin; nós trabalhamos com escritores em novas ideias para livros. Visite nosso website: www.paperlanternlit.com

6. Sam e as amigas dela foram inspiradas em você ou em alguma das suas amigas quando ainda estavam no High School?

Hmmm. Sam e as amigas dela foram inspiradas em pessoas que eu conheço, sim, embora não tenham sido exatamente baseadas em ninguém. Certos elementos de Sam e das amigas dela são representativos de pessoas que eu tenho conhecido, mas são personagens fictícias; nem uma única personagem é totalmente representativa de alguém em particular. Em sua maioria, são baseadas na minha compreensão de como as pessoas podem se comportar e de como se comportam.

7. O que fez você escrever Before I Fall? De onde toda a ideia saiu?

Como eu mencionei, a ideia do livro realmente começou com Sam. Eu queria escrever um romance sobre uma garota que muda e desenvolve-se de uma menina egoísta e malvada para alguém que tem uma maior compreensão da sua relação com outras pessoas. Então, tive que pensar num mecanismo que a permitisse mudar dessa maneira; no final das contas, encontrei a solução de tê-la revivendo o dia de sua morte.

8. Quem você escolheria para dar vida a suas personagens de Before I Fall se houvesse um filme?

Quer saber? É terrível, mas eu realmente nunca vejo filmes a não tenho ideia alguma nem sobre quem está na cena hoje em dia. Eu os nomes de, tipo, três atrizes.

9. Você trocaria de lugar com algum de suas personagens se pudesse? Por quê?

Eep! Certamente não. Sou muito, muito feliz por ter terminado o High School. :-)

Thank you for the interview, Lauren.
It's such a honor to have you here. :)

Author Interview: Kimberly Derting

Kimberly Derting is the author of The Body Finder, a 2010 debut novel, and I'm honored to have her here today answering some questions related to summer and books, of course. Yet, her second book, Desires of the Dead, comes out in March of 2011 as a follow-up for the The Body Finder.

Author Interview: Kimberly Derting

1) If you could pick one YA character (it can be one of your own characters) to accompany you to the beach, which one would you pick, and why?

Since I’m not a teen anymore, I can’t very well pick Jay because that would be really creepy, and I can’t pick Violet either, because she might sense something dead (which would totally ruin the trip). So I’ll go with Chelsea (also from The Body Finder)… I’m guessing that she would make a trip to pretty much anywhere extremely entertaining!

2) What is your favorite place to read and to work on your writing during the summer?

Generally, in the summer, you’ll find me pulling double-duty as writer/lifeguard by the pool while the kids play. If I’m really lucky, I can even finish up my work in time to join them for a bit!!!

3) Which book often reminds you of summer?

I’d have to say Summer Sisters by Judy Blume…it’s a total flashback for anyone who was raised in the 70s and 80s (like…ehem…me!).

4) What country would you choose for a summer themed story? Why?

I think I’d go with France or Spain, someplace with a Mediterranean feel. White sand beaches, deep blue waters, hot guys in swimwear…sounds like a slice of heaven. Or maybe I’m just saying that because I would love to go on a “research” trip to make sure my story was authentic!

5) Is there any summer book release you are VERY excited about? Which one?

I haven’t even finished Catching Fire but I’m already super excited about Mockingjay. Isn’t everyone, though??? There’s something electrifying about the end of a phenom like The Hunger Games trilogy!

6) What was your first summer job? How was it?

Babysitting. Yes, boring… I know. And I was terrible at it. I didn’t really like kids, so I was really only in it for the buck-an-hour I earned (that’s right, how cheap is that???) plus whatever junkfood the parents stocked the house with. I was basically there to make sure the kids didn’t starve and the house didn’t catch on fire. Actually, now that I think about it, I was awesome at it! All the kids I babysat lived and not a single house burned down under my watch!

Thank you so much for the interview, Kimberly!

Kimberly has also donated a super swag prize pack to give away, so keep an eye here because I can announce the contest anytime soon this week.

Author Interview: Phoebe Kitanidis

The first idea of doing an interview with Phoebe came up when I saw one of her tweets saying she liked to give interviews. It happened before I even had read Whisper, which I fell in love with later.

Phoebe is such a nice person and I am honored for interviewing her. She is a Greek-American writer and has earned both BA in Rhetoric and MA in Communication Studies. You can find her online on Twitter, on Facebook and at her own blog.

Whisper, her debut novel, released on April 27, 2010. So, if you haven't bought it yet, go for it! In the following interview, she answers some questions about herself and Whisper, and also talks about Summer Falls.

The Interview

How did you get interested in writing about people who Hear Whispers and others who feel Waves?
I think we’re all affected by the emotions of people around us. And we all wonder and try to guess what the people we’re close to really think and want. I wanted to write a paranormal that is right next door to reality, about the things we naturally do without even thinking about them.

What’s your favorite quote?
One of my favorites that’s popular right now: “Be the change you want to see in the world.” –Mahatma Gandhi

Do you have a particular place you like to write? And to read?
I love to write in my office at home. (That’s where I am now.) I use my dad’s old desk and my grandfather’s bookshelves, and my office is filled with objects I love that are meaningful to me: candles, dried flowers, old letters, antique typewriters. As for reading, bliss = lying down with a book.

Have you ever bought a book for its cover?
Many times! The Luxe is one. And I’m a sucker for gold/silver foil and texture. I have also bought books just because they were autographed or very old editions.

Was Whisper the first story you ever wrote?
I’ve also written a couple short stories too, which have appeared in literary magazines. And an adult novel which is currently out on submission.

How long did you take to write Whisper, say "Yeah, I think it’s good" and then send to someone to read it?
Well, I’m a typical writer, so I rarely think anything I write is “good.” Writers are very critical of themselves! :-) After one year though, I finished Whisper and showed to my agent. He said it was ready to send out to publishers.

And did you take a long time to get your book published or it was quickly accepted?
Whisper sold super quickly, within three days. I was so happy when I got that call from my agent!

Were the main characters inspired by anyone you know personally?
All my characters have some of myself in them. Like Joy, I want to make people happy. Like Jessica, I feel alone and frustrated at the whole world sometimes. Jamie is based on a boy in my life who I know was always strongly affected by other people’s emotions.

Have you ever wished you could Hear Whispers? What do you think you would use them to?
It’s embarrassing to admit this, but if I could Hear Whispers I would probably use my gift to impress people sometimes. :-) But I’d also try to train myself not to listen so hard all the time—good relationships need some privacy.

You said you had no idea people were going to like Jamie. Why did you think that?
I don’t always find the love interests in books attractive. Sometimes I put down a book and wonder, “Why is the heroine so in love with that arrogant jerk?” Jamie is not arrogant. He’s thoughtful and kind. He is also dangerous, but it’s not his fault. And when it comes to obeying the law—well, let’s just say he can think of higher priorities. But at heart, he’s caring, so I’m very happy readers seem to like him. :-)

Are you really analyzing the idea of writing a book in Jamie's POV? Would it be a book from Whisper series or another series?
Yes, I would love to write a book in his POV. It would be all about his secret, his family, and his struggle to live with it. A Jamie-book would also be filled with action, because anywhere Jamie goes there is bound to be trouble. Joy and her family would play an important part too, so it would be a companion novel to Whisper.

What can you tell about your next book?
I’m working on a standalone called SUMMER FALLS. It’s got lots of romance in it, and the POV shifts between two protagonists, a boy named Marshall and a girl named Elise. The story opens with them waking up in bed together in a creepy little town… with absolutely no memories of how they got there—or who they are. They have no one they can trust, so they have to decide whether to trust each other. It’s a paranormal too, like WHISPER.

Thank you so much, Phoebe! For everything. Congratulations for Whisper one more time! You deserve all best. Wish you success and I hope you know I will be supporting you for any book you write!

P.S.: To browse inside Whisper, check the right sidebar. There is also a link for my review. We'll have a contest/giveaway later here, so if you want to win something, get more entries by commenting. :-)

Author Interview: Tess Gerritsen

It all started a year ago. I was at school, around the bookstore (yes, there is a bookstore!) and saw Tess Gerritsen's Vanish (the 5th book of Jane Rizzoli & Maura Isles series) cover. That's what first catched my atenttion, then the summary. In July, 2009, I was about to travel and asked daddy to go buy it with me, so I could read something on the plane. Unfortunately (or fortunately) there wasn't Vanish anymore at the mall's bookstore. So, the salesman introduced me to The Surgeon (the 1st book of the series) and I bought it and, now, her books have been on the top of my favorite ones ever.

I am more than happy to introduce Tess Gerritsen for those who doesn't know who she is and to re-introduce her to the others who already know. I really appreciate her work, so I hope you get any of her books to read -- because they're so well-written.

A quick biography: Tess Gerritsen is an internationally bestselling author and a retired physician. Her first novels were romantic thrillers, then changed to medical thrillers, which gave her the notability she deserved (at least here, in Brazil). Jane Rizzoli and Maura Isles are her most well-known characters, who protagonize her biggest series (Jane Rizzoli & Maura Isles series), which is being turned into a TV series. It will be released in July, 2010 (US).

The Interview

What first inspired you to write medical thrillers novels? Where did the ideas come from?
I started my career writing romantic suspense novels for Harlequin Intrigue books, and wrote nine of those books. But one evening I had dinner with a retired police detective who'd been traveling in Russia, and he told me that children were vanishing from Moscow, and the local police believed those kids were being sent to foreign countries as organ donors. I was so disturbed by this that I wanted to write a book about it. So I wrote a medical thriller called HARVEST -- which became a big bestseller. It was so successful that I decided to continue writing thrillers, and have ever since.

What made you retire from the Medicine career?
My children! I had so much trouble finding child care while I was working as a doctor, that I finally decided to stay home and pursue a different career. Within a few years, I'd sold my first book (a romance). I never went back to medicine.

In your writing life, have you ever had author's block? How did you deal with it?
I get it all the time. Usually it's because I haven't thought the plot all the way through, and I get to a point in the book where I just don't know what happens next. My solution is to take some time off and think about it. I go for long walks or long drives. It may take a few days or a few weeks of mulling it over, but I'll always manage to figure out the rest of the story.

Have your books ever been rejected? What did or do you think about that?
When I first started writing, yes, I got plenty of rejections! My first two books were never published. It only made me more determined to keep trying. I think that's the key to my success: my persistence.

Who were you inspired by to create your characters?
Every character comes form a different inspiration, but some of my heroines come from my own personality. For instance Maura Isles is very much a reflection of my own personality, while Jane Rizzoli is like every female police officer I've ever met.

What it is like, for you as an author, to have your job known and appreciated by people from so many different countries?
It never ceases to amaze and thrill me that so many people have read my books! I feel very lucky to have such fans, and I feel I have a responsibility to entertain and satisfy them. I take that job seriously!

Do these people write or email you to tell you what they think of your books?
Yes, I get quite a few emails -- at least several a day. Most of the time, they write to tell me they like the books. Occasionally, someone will write to point out a mistake. And every so often, I'll get an email from someone who absolutely hates something I've written and they tell me so! Those last letters aren't so pleasant to read.

Are they most teenagers or adults?
Both. I get a surprising number of emails from both boys and girls in their teens, which really pleases me because I hope they'll read me for many years to come.

How did you write THE BONE GARDEN's 1830-part? Did you study by yourself or when you attended college -- to describe the Medicine from this period?
BONE GARDEN required a lot of research. I read quite a few history books and newspapers from that era. I read biographies of, and books by, Oliver Wendell Holmes (one of the characters). I visited museums, and walked around historic Boston (where many of the same streets and buildings are still in existence). Finally, I was able to find and purchase several very old medical textbooks from the early 1800's, with detailed surgical instructions for various procedures -- including how to cut off an arm (without anesthesia!) I used that old information to write the scene in BONE GARDEN where the surgeons must cut off the arm of a young man.

In THE SURGEON (2001), you focus more on the relationship between Moore and Catherine Cordell and only introduces Jane Rizzoli. You intended to do it and then, in THE APPRENTICE (2003), brings her as the main protagonist of the series, or you decided it when you were writing the second one? What can you tell us about your choice to turns her into the main protagonist along with Maura Isles?
When I wrote THE SURGEON, I never thought that Jane Rizzoli would become a major character. She was just a minor character, and I planned to kill her at the end. But as I wrote the book, I got more and more interested in Jane. She seemed so different, so real to me, and by the end of the book I was really attached to her. I couldn't let her die! So she lived. And then I wanted to find out what happened next in her life, so I made her the star of THE APPRENTICE. Ever since then, she's been the star or co-star of my series.

Have they already filmed the pilot of "Rizzoli & Isles" TV series? Have you seen it? Did you participate on the cast selection? What more can you tell us about this project?
Yes, they filmed the pilot of "Rizzoli & Isles" and it looks really good! The two stars (Angie Harmon and Sasha Alexander) are perfect in their parts. The producers were the ones who chose the cast, and they did a wonderful job. The pilot will be airing on US TV in July, and there are nine more episodes after that. If the ratings are good, then the series will continue into next year. I'm very hopeful that it will be successful.

To finish: Could you tells us if you're already planning on/or writing another book for the 'Jane Rizzoli & Maura Isles' series after ICE COLD release?
Yes, I'm already about 40 pages into my next Jane and Maura novel. I don't have a title yet, but it starts off with a strange murder in Boston's Chinatown, and the story will bring in some ancient Chinese folktales that my mother used to tell me when I was growing up.

Thank you very, very much, Tess!
You have been such a nice person to me.