Sunday, October 10, 2010

Interview with Andrea Cremer

I am trying to start an Author Interview Monday (and yet I posted on Sunday, lol)- hopefully I can keep this going for a bit!

Nightshade
Nightshade by Andrea Cremer 
--Can you give us a brief description of Nightshade in your own words?           

Nightshade is Calla's story and she was the inspiration for the book. I tend to write from characters and Calla was floating around in my head for a week or two before I started putting her story onto the page. I knew she was a girl who was also a wolf. I knew she was strong, but also in serious trouble. I couldn't figure out how someone so powerful could be in that sort of a fix. That's where Nightshade's world emerged it was all about building a history and society that explained Calla's predicament.

--How did you get the idea for the story? Did you do much research for your book?

Like I said earlier, Calla started it all. The world of Nightshade came as I tried to figure out how someone like Calla, a girl who I knew was incredibly powerful, could be afraid and angry. What was controlling her? Why would she be fighting against her own destiny? I realized that she was facing off with something even more powerful than herself. That’s where my background as a historian came in. I teach early modern history (1500-1800) – a period of immense, violent change in human societies. This is the time of witchhunts, religious warfare, colonization, the Inquistion; all types of cataclysmic social transformation that turned the lives across the globe upside down. The more I thought about Calla I thought about the ways in which wolf warriors and witches could have intertwined lives.  The mythology in Nightshade is a blend of history and lore plus new twists I imagined along the way.


--Which character would you most/least like to have dinner with?
Most: Mason because he’s sweet and funny – hanging out with him would be a blast. Least: Efron Bane, but at least the dinner would likely be at a swanky restaurant. He’s loaded.

--Can you give us any teasers from the sequel? What about tentative dates for release?
I can’t give teasers as I have a strict no spoilers rule, but I’m happy to share the release dates. Wolfsbane (Nightshade #2) will be published in July 2011. Bloodrose (Nightshade #3) is scheduled for spring 2012.

--What are some of your favorite books? Do you still have much time to read?

I love books and yes I read all the time. My all-time favorite book is Watership Down – that’s one of the few things Calla and I have in common. Other writes who had a major impact on my life are Marion Zimmer Bradley, Barbara Kingsolver, Margaret Atwood, and Neil Gaiman. Current authors I think are fabulous include Libba Bray, David Levithan, John Green, Maggie Stiefvater, Cassandra Clare and that’s just to name a few. There are so many fantastic writers!

--If a fairy godmother told you your life could be like a favorite book for 24 hours, which book would you pick and why?
Harry Potter for sure - I’d love to be a young witch hanging out on Diagon Alley.

--Do you need anything to write (music, coffee, etc)? Are there any songs on the Nightshade "playlist-" songs that inspired you or that were playing while you wrote?
You named both: music and coffee! I create playlists for all my books and keep a French Press coffee pot ready at all times. A few of my favorites from the Nightshade playlist are Sea Wolf, Big Pink, Bat for Lashes, and TV on the Radio.

--If you could have any superpower what would you choose?
Flying.

--Besides writing, what do you like to do in your free time?
I have two dogs, a border collie and a pug, and we spend lots of time together. My husband and I play quite a bit of World of Warcraft. I also like getting to the gym and doing yoga.

--Is there anything else you want to add or say to your readers?
Thank you so much for reading Nightshade; I’m so excited you’re joining Calla and her pack on their journey!

Andrea Andrea Cremer's site here 


  

16 comments:

  1. OMG! She mentioned both Barbara Kingsolver and Margaret Atwood! They are both not only favorites but geniuses too!!AWESOME!Libba Bray is my favorite YA author too.

    Misha
    mishamary@gmail.com

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  2. I'd choose Harry Potter, too. :):)
    miranda.lyons09@yahoo.com

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  3. Wow, she loves the same kind of music I do! Bat for Lashes? Amazing! I love Andrea!

    I'm so excited to read Nightshade! The Shay Doran videos have got me so obsessed with a book I haven't even read yet! I don't think that's happened before LOL!

    As for Harry Potter, I think that's everyones choice, isn't it? I'd love to hang around in Diagon Alley - but being in Hogwarts (in a common room or class to be exact) would be better for me! I'm a Ravenclaw all the way!

    Thank you for hosting this competition!
    books@vampify.net

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  4. Flying would be sooo awesome! I think that's what I would want as well!!

    jessbess2505[at]yahoo[dot]com

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  5. I think its sweet that you play World of Warcraft with your husband. A bit nerdy, but I'm not judging. I also love Cassandra Clare and Maggie Stiefvater they are such good authors.
    Pokadots1121@yahoo.com

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  6. This was I believe by far one of the books that I am most dying to get. I loved the interview. Thanks for you time.

    ashleysbookshelf@gmail.com

    Ashley's Bookshelf

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  7. I have been really looking forward to this book coming out. I've read such great reviews and interviews. Its like being teased :) Can't wait!!

    romancebookjunkiesdanielle at yahoo dot com

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  8. I have wanted the book strictly because of the hairc olor of the cover model, Calla. I think omnipotence would be a good super power -- it pretty much covers everything.Fangs, Wands and Fairy Dust
    email: steph@fangswandsandfairydust.com
    twitter: @fangswandsfairy

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  9. I really think I would want to live within the Harry Potter world also...LOL. I'm also a huge fan of Maggie Stiefvater. This was a great interview. Thanks for holding the contest also.

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  10. Whaaaat? She plays WoW? Not that is something that caught me off guard! :P

    I totally agree with her on her Harry Potter answer! I'd want that to be a book I could live in 24/7; I wouldn't want to come back! :P We could hang out in Diagon Alley together, haha. She also has awesome tastes in authors and music. I'm in love. :D

    Awesome interview!

    angelmistress[at]hotmail[dot]com

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  11. Congrats! You won an award at my blog!
    http://we-b-blogging.blogspot.com/

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  12. I loved that she mentioned Bat for Lashes! Great taste in music :) I'm even more excited to read this now.

    arallison(at)gmail.com

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  13. Love the interview :) Love Andrea! Love how she loves Neil Gaiman! Hehee can't wait to read Nightshade!

    aprilxu2222@gmail.com

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  14. I love those questions and answers - especially the one about the fairy god-mother. I've been thinking all morning about what answer I'd give if asked this. Also some great novels and authors, I have a copy of Watership Down on our book shelves but have never read it.

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  15. I loved the interview and the book sounds amazing. Thanks for your time.

    bchild5@aol.com

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I would love to hear from you! (I always try to visit your blog back) I love links, so feel free to link to your blog or a post you like.
Sorry, but I am award and tag free zone, I do not have the time to return. Comments are reward enough :)