Featured Author: Heather Davis

If you could be a character in your books for a day, who would you be and why?
I would love to be Amy in The Clearing, so I could go back in time to 1944.  It's a magical experience for her - one that takes her away from her very modern problems - and introduces her to a whole different way of life.  And, of course, it doesn't hurt that her true love, Henry Briggs, is there in the past.



Can you name one moment that stands out as a favorite since you've become a writer?
After a particularly hard day at my day job I was nearly in tears.  And then, when I got home, waiting for me was an email from a reader thanking me for writing stories that led her away from her troubled world of middle school.  My day's problems vanished from my mind and I suddenly re-focused on what I was here to do with my life - write stories that encourage people, that take them away from their hard lives.  That was a very special day.  And, of course, I let the reader know how much her letter meant and that books had saved my life, too. 



What is your favorite place to write? Is there anything you need in order to write? (i.e. coffee, chocolate, music, etc.)
I can write anywhere.  When I'm drafting, I often go to a coffee shop to get things done with a set time limit for myself.  When I'm revising, I prefer to be at home, where it's easier to take short breaks to clear my mind.  I don't need anything but a good laptop or a notebook, but coffee does help.


Tell us about your latest or upcoming release.
My next book is WHEREVER YOU GO, coming out from Harcourt Children's in November 2011.  It's the story of Holly, who has felt lost and lonely ever since her boyfriend, Rob, died in a tragic accident.  And it doesn't help that Holly has to spend most of her free time caring for her little sister and Alzheimer’s-stricken grandfather.  When her grandfather claims to be communicating with the ghost of Rob, Holly wonders if the messages he has for her are real.  And if so, how can the loved ones Rob left behind help his tortured soul make it to the other side?  It's a book about letting go and moving on into the light.  I wrote this book after losing my grandmother to the complications of Alzheimer's, so it means a lot to me to bring the story to other families who are struggling with the disease and to teens who are care-giving for ill family members.

 

Featured Author: Rachel Vincent

If you could be a character in your books for a day, who would you be and why?

I wouldn’t want to be any of the actual characters, but I think it might be fun to be a reaper for a day—as long as I wouldn’t actually have to kill anyone. When I was a kid, I used to wish I could be invisible, so I could watch people when they didn’t know I was there. When they weren’t putting on a public face. That’s when you see who people really are.

Can you name one moment that stands out as a favorite since you've become a writer?

My favorite moments are always hearing from teens (and adults) who say they didn’t like to read until someone shoved a copy of one of my books into their hands. I didn’t anticipate moments like that before my first book was published, but when I read one of those emails, I kind of feel like I’ve transcended the concept of entertainment and done something just a little more important. That feeling is great. And it makes me want to work for more of those moments.

What is your favorite place to write? Is there anything you need in order to write? (i.e. coffee, chocolate, music, etc.)

I really prefer to write in my recliner, on my laptop, but wrist/arm troubles have made that hard, so I’m usually at my desktop now. But I always have a cup of coffee or a diet coke. And I only write to music when there’s other noise I need to block out, or I REALLY need help setting the tone of a certain scene. Music’s great for that. But since I tend to sing along, music is usually more of a distraction for me than anything else.

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Tell us about your latest or upcoming release.

My Soul To Steal (Soul Screamers 4) came out in January, and If I Die (Soul Screamers 5) will be out October 1. MSTSteal was a book of growth for Kaylee, as she was forced to fight for what she wanted. If I Die, though, is a game changer for the entire series. I’m looking forward to reader reactions to that one. ;)

Kimberly Derting

If you could be a character in your books for a day, who would you be and why?

Since I wouldn’t want to be a serial killer, or a dead girl, I’d have to say the main character, Violet Ambrose.  But I’d want to be her on a day that she doesn’t find any dead bodies.  It would be one of her slow days.

Can you name one moment that stands out as a favorite since you've become a writer?

I had a reader who threw a BODY FINDER themed birthday party, complete with cake.  That was sort of mind blowing, that someone was celebrating their birthday with MY book!

What is your favorite place to write? Is there anything you need in order to write? (i.e. coffee, chocolate, music, etc.)

I need my laptop, comfy sweatpants, copious amounts of tea, and candy (preferably Skittles!).

Tell us about your latest or upcoming release.

DESIRES OF THE DEAD is the sequel to THE BODY FINDER, about a 16-year-old girl who can match the “echoes” of the dead to the “imprints” on their killers.  And, of course, a whole lotta kissing!

Featured Author: Kristi Cook

If you could be a character in your books for a day, who would you be and why?

Hmm, I think I'd like to be Cece Bradford, who is Violet McKenna's roommate in HAVEN (Violet is the book's main character).  Mostly because Cece has a psychic gift that I'd love to experience-astral projection.  I've been fascinated with the concept since I read Lois Duncan's classic STRANGER WITH MY FACE when I was eleven or twelve.  How cool would it be to leave your body and travel wherever you wanted to go?!


Can you name one moment that stands out as a favorite since you've become a writer?

One favorite moment was definitely at the HAVEN launch party, when, right at the beginning, a teen walked in who had convinced her mom and dad to drive two-and-half hours, just so she could meet me and get a signed copy.  We'd chatted a bit on Goodreads, and it was so wonderful to connect with her in person!  


What is your favorite place to write? Is there anything you need in order to write? (i.e. coffee, chocolate, music, etc.)

Unfortunately, my writer brain only seems to turn on when I'm in my home office-which is small, dusty, cluttered, and always too hot or cold.  I've got all these lovely places in my house where I'd prefer to write, but it just doesn't work for me.  Drives me nuts!  I seriously need to re-train my brain!


Tell us about your latest or upcoming release.
HAVEN is set at a fictional boarding school where all the students and teachers have psychic gifts and talents.  When sixteen-year-old Violet McKenna transfers to Winterhaven, she finally feels like she's found a place where she belongs.  But as soon as she feels settled, she discovers the most intriguing and alluring boy she's ever met, and things quickly go awry. As the attraction between them grows, intense visions of the boy's death start to haunt her. In her premonitions, the secret he is unwilling to share begins to reveal itself. And to Violet's horror, she learns that their destinies are intertwined in a critical--and deadly--way.

Featured Author: Kelley Armstrong

If you could be a character in your books for a day, who would you be and why?

None. Sorry! I love to write about them, but I've never written a character who is someone I'd personally like to be. I could "borrow" a few characteristics from many of them. As a package, though, they're not nearly as appealing as my own life!

Can you name one moment that stands out as a favorite since you've become a writer?

There have been many, but a recent favourite of mine was the Indigo Teen Awards in Toronto. I won an award and the teen audience chanted my name as I left the podium. It's as close as I'll ever get to feeling like a rock star.

What is your favorite place to write? Is there anything you need in order to write? (i.e. coffee, chocolate, music, etc.)

My favourite place to write is very boring. It's my office, which is in the back corner of the basement, with no window or other distractions, no music etc. There is, however, usually coffee.

Tell us about your latest or upcoming release.

My next book will be launching at RT Teen Day. It actually comes out April 12, but I've been promised I'll have it early. It's The Gathering, which is the first book in my new Darkness Rising trilogy.

 

Sarah Rees Brennan

If you could be a character in your books for a day, who would you be and why?

Oh gosh, I'd never want to be a character in my books! Horrible things happen to people in my books. HORRIBLE. But I guess the girl torn between two attractive brothers wouldn't be the worst position to be in...

Can you name one moment that stands out as a favorite since you've become a writer?

I met a teenage girl dressed up as my heroine, with her hair dyed pink for the day. She was having so much fun and I was so thrilled!

What is your favorite place to write? Is there anything you need in order to write? (i.e. coffee, chocolate, music, etc.) 

I like writing with my friends best. But the only thing I absolutely NEED to write is tea. I have a thirteen cup a day habit. I drink more tea than the Queen.

Tell us about your latest or upcoming release.

The Demon's Surrender is coming out in June, and it's the last in the Demon's Lexicon trilogy, so you see who dies and - possibly more importantly - who ends up with who. Heartbreak. Demons on the loose in the London streets. And so on.

Featured Author: Tera Lynn Childs

If you could be a character in your books for a day, who would you be and why?

That's easy! Lily Sanderson, the main character in Forgive My Fins and Fins Are Forever. She is not only a mermaid (my lifelong fantasy) but also a princess! Win win. And there's the fact that she has the attention of a deliciously hunky biker boy that I wouldn't mind getting to meet in real life. Oh yes, I'd love to be Lily for a day.

Can you name one moment that stands out as a favorite since you've become a writer?

There are a lot of little moments, but the biggest and most emotional was winning the Romance Writers of America RITA award for Best First Book. It was the culmination of years of hard work and tears and it was something I never dreamed my light beach read YA would ever achieve.

What is your favorite place to write? Is there anything you need in order to write? (i.e. coffee, chocolate, music, etc.)

I absolutely can't get any writing done at home, so I spend most of my writing days in cafes and coffee shops. I affectionately refer to Starbucks as my office. Once there, all I need is a comfy seat, a caffeinated beverage, and music blasting in my ears to drown out the distracting conversations around me.

Tell us about your latest or upcoming release.

This is my first year with two book releases, and I'm super excited about both of them. First up is Fins Are Forever, the sequel to Forgive My Fins, with more yummy romance, a handsome mer prince, and lots of adventure--both on land and under water. Then I launch a new trilogy about monster-hunting descendants of Medusa with Sweet Venom. I call it Buffy meets Charmed meets mythology. I've never been more excited for a book and I can't wait for it to hit the shelves.