Monday, April 30, 2012

Interview with Sean Austin author of Echo's Revenge



Brothers Jeremy (age 10) and Reggie (age 14) are expert gamers. After a run-in with their mother's explosive boyfriend, they run away from home, only to discover that Echo-7, a new and indestructible game predator, has developed the ability to reverse the rules of its own video game and hunt them down- in the real world. Sean Austin's investigation continues, at echohunt.com.
Giveaway: 2 paperbacks, one US only, one international
Check out our interview below, we'd love your comments!


a Rafflecopter giveaway


Our Interview:

--The Twitter version: tell us about your book in 140 characters or less.
  Brothers Jeremy and Reggie King are expert Echo-6 gamers. After a run-in with their mother's explosive boyfriend, they run away from home only to discover that Echo-7, a new and invincible game predator, has developed the ability to reverse the rules of its own video game and hunt them down- in the real world.

--How did you get the idea for the story?

 I experienced it in a vivid dream. A team I was working with created a T-Rex-sized creature with an agenda unknown to us. The creature got loose and chased us down, almost squashing my boss. It was so terrifying I never forgot it.

--Which character would you most/least like to have dinner with?
Most like: David, aka G-Man, the big mouth in the Cauldron of Hell. He’s a go-getter and a firecracker of a kid who’s not afraid to take on the impossible. Nothing stops him...   Least like: Definitely Asa. He is such a rotten jerk, but I’d love to hear what outrageous hypocritical stuff he’d have to say. A really nasty character.

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

Anything by Chekhov, Little Brother, Feed, Shop Class as Soulcraft, Learning by Doing, Graphic Novels; I never have time to read as much as I would like, and when I read, time flies by too fast!
--Do you have any other works in progress? Any teasers or release dates?

“Echo’s Revenge: The Other Side” is the adult side of the same story- the designers who built and then lost Echo-7. It is a modern ‘Frankenstein’ story and puts the story of “The Ultimate Game” in an entirely new light. It will be out in May of 2013. For a teaser, see the excerpt at http://echohunt.com/ .

--If a fairy godmother told you your life could be like a favorite book for 24 hours, which book would you pick and why?

“The Adventures of Tom Sawyer”, because I’d love to see a less developed American landscape and hang out with people who aren’t as rushed and overwhelmed by modern life as we are.

--Do you need anything to write (music, coffee, etc)? Are there any songs on your playlist- songs that inspired you or that were playing while you wrote?

Coffee is a must. No music allowed. I only write in the am, and do extreme exercise in the pm: running 5k’s or running hills with a 20 lb weight vest. While sleeping I process what has been, and what will be, story-wise.

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

The power to freeze everything in the world and stretch time so I could read more.

--Besides writing, what do you like to do in your free time?

Surfing, swimming way out in the deep, deep ocean.

--Is there anything else you want to add or say to your readers?

I hope we can get our boys to enjoy reading more.


Lightning round: this or that?
Vanilla or chocolate? Chocolate
Edward or Jacob? Alice
Hockey or soccer? hockey
Ebook or paper? paper for home, ebooks for travelling
Salty or sweet? salty
Beach or mountains? surfing at the beach
Phone call or email? email
Early bird or night owl? naturally a night owl, modified self to be early bird.
Dog or cat? I am horrified and embarrassed to say I have 4 cats. This is extremely abnormal. I had 2 brother cats and one died of cancer, so I adopted a female cat to keep the old cat company. Then, on the way out of the adoption center, I saw another cat I liked, so I adopted him too because he was so cool looking. But after a week of silence, I noticed he had a really weird meow sound- like a shrill alien scanner kind of sound. I realized I had made a big mistake, but it was too late, he already bonded with the other cats and they seemed to sense I might move him out, so they stared at me strangely and I changed my mind. Somehow. I don’t know what happened. Then another -completely wild hunter creature with glowing eyes- cat that was really muscular and scary looking with a huge head showed up out of the darkness of a deep ravine and decided to move in. I call him Thor. No one should own this many cats, but I kind of didn’t have a choice. Now if I make contact with stray cats I immediately break eye contact and move awaaay...
Messy or neat? Naturally neat, but I enjoy trying to be messy. It’s fun.
Ninjas or pirates? Definitely Ninja.


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17 comments:

  1. I loved how the author got the idea for the story, from a dream about a T-Rex size creature chasing them down and squishing his boss! Wouldn't we all want that to happen once in awhile.

    Thanks for the great interview!!

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  2. The concept is interesting, i not fan of video game and i guess after reading this book i will be even less^^

    thanks you a lot for opening this giveaway to international too

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  3. Nice interview! I loved "Edward or Jacob? Alice" :D Haha.

    Thanks for the giveaway and for making it international too.

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  4. My brother hated to read when we were young and mom was glad when he started reading comic books and "choose your own ending" books! Now he reads everything he can get his hands on...his boys are big readers!

    This is actually a book my daughter would love!

    Wendy/books4me

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  5. This sounds like a book my son and I would love to read! I hope I win it!

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  6. This book sounds really good. I would love to read it. Please enter me in contest. Tore923@aol.com

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  7. Nice interview. Being part of Tom Sawyer would be interesting.

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  8. I liked how she came up with the story from a dream. It would be great to remember every dream, the stories that we could come up with. My son would love this book.

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  9. I should make my son read this. He can't stop playing the games! I'll read it first though. lol Thanks for the giveaway!

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  10. Nice interview! I dont really play video game, but my brother must read this. He is game player. Thanks for giveaway!!

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  11. Getting an idea for such an inventive premise of a book from a dream- well, it gives all of us inflicted with 'writer's block' hope for new inspiration!!! Just go to sleep and you get an idea that brings about a book like this. I think it sounds like a really awesome book, no joke.

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  12. I love anything by Anton Chekov, too and am glad to hear that I'm not the only one who requires coffee as a writer!

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  13. I really enjoy your interview!
    Actually, Sean is new author for me. And also about the story based on the game. I've to admitted that i raraely playing games, i prefer to read :)
    I love Tom Sawyer and fans of Alice Cullen too. You can see it on my fb profile ^^ Lol..
    Thank you for the4 giveaway!

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  14. Boy, I can really understand why the author would like to spend a day as Tom Sawyer and see life as people who never seemed as hurried as we are did. I never feel like there's enough time in the day for the necessaries let alone for any relaxation and contemplation! I think I'd vote for a day like that, too.

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  15. I wish I could remember my dreams well enough to write about, cause they would be a doozy of a story.

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  16. Thank you for the great interview!
    Tom Sawyer was one of my favorite heroes, when I was a kid.
    Loved the answers to the this or that questions. Alice. Lol. :D
    And the story of the 4 cats is just so funny. Thanks for sharing it.

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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 :)