Interview with Elana Arnold author of Sacred

About Sacred by Elana K. Arnold

Growing up on Catalina Island, off the California coast, Scarlett Wenderoth has led a fairly isolated life. After her brother dies, her isolation deepens as she withdraws into herself, shutting out her friends and boyfriend. Her parents, shattered by their own sorrow, fail to notice Scarlett's pain and sudden alarming thinness. Scarlett finds pleasure only on her horse, escaping to the heart of the island on long, solitary rides. One day, as she races around a bend, Scarlett is startled by a boy who raises his hand in warning and says one word: "Stop."
The boy—intense, beautiful—is Will Cohen, a newcomer to the island. For reasons he can't or won't explain, he's drawn to Scarlett and feels compelled to keep her safe. To keep her from wasting away. His meddling irritates Scarlett, though she can't deny her attraction to him. As their relationship blossoms into love, Scarlett's body slowly awakens at Will's touch. But just when her grief begins to ebb, she makes a startling discovery about Will, a discovery he's been grappling with himself. A discovery that threatens to force them apart. And if it does, Scarlett fears she will unravel all over again.

Releases November 13th 2012 by Random House

--The Twitter version: tell us about your book in 140 characters or less.

Scarlett suffers, an island upon an island. She meets Will, who wants to save her. But can one person truly save another?

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

I was helping my friend Amy Antoine fold her daughter’s socks as they prepared to move. She said to me—full of confidence in my abilities—“Do you know what you should do? You should write a book about a superhero.” And somehow, an image came to me—a girl, on a horse, racing down a trail. Where was she racing to? Who was she running from? And why was a boy—beautiful, intense—waiting for her just around the bend? I had to know. So I wrote the book.

--Which character would you most/least like to have dinner with?

What a great question! It would be difficult to choose between Will Cohen himself and his father, Kabbalah scholar Martin Cohen. But I don’t think I could eat a bite while sitting across from Will… I’d have a hard time concentrating on the food. So I’d better go with Martin. He’d be a fascinating conversationalist, and he’s an excellent cook. If I got really lucky, maybe he’d even bake some of his famous bread.

Definitely, I’d want to avoid a meal with Kaitlyn Meyers at all costs. She’s not very nice at all.

--Do you have any other works in progress? Any teasers or release dates?

I am so proud to share with you that I do have two other books that will be forthcoming from Delacorte. First, there is BURNING. Here’s the story:

Ben: Having just graduated from high school, Ben is set to leave Gypsum, Nevada. It’s good timing, since the gypsum mine that is the lifeblood of the area is closing, shutting the whole town down with it. Ben is lucky; he’s headed to San Diego, where he’s got a track scholarship at the University of California. His best friends, Pete and Hog Boy, aren’t as fortunate; they don’t have college to look forward to. So to make his friends happy during their last days in town, Ben goes with them to check out the hot chick parked on the side of Highway 447.

Lala: She and her Gypsy family make money the way her people have been earning it for centuries—by telling fortunes. Some customers choose Tarot cards; others have their palms read. The thousands of people attending the nearby Burning Man festival spend lots of cash—especially as Lala gives uncanny readings. But lately Lala’s been questioning whether there might be more to life than her upcoming arranged marriage. And the day she reads Ben’s cards is the day everything changes for her . . . and for him.

Told from alternating points of view, Burning brims with the passion of two young people, both at crossroads in their lives, and both forever altered by a moment in time.

BURNING will be released in June of 2013, six months after SACRED debuts.

And SACRED has a sequel… SPLENDOR. It will be released in November of 2013.

There are a few other stories that I’m currently working on, but it’s too early to share those.

--What book(s) is your book’s “cousin”? (Similar set-up or style)

Hmm… that’s a good question too! I don't really know… maybe your readers will be able to tell me? I think SACRED smashes together different worlds—romance and literary fiction, realistic and “paranoromal” storylines. It isn’t ever just one thing. I hope that is one of its strengths!

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

I am a big, big fan of Phillip Pullman’s HIS DARK MATERIALS trilogy. I also love John Irving; one of my very favorites is A PRAYER FOR OWEN MEANY. I love memoir; Cheryl Strayed’s WILD rocked my world. And Agatha Christie’s mysteries thrill me. I always manage to forget who the bad guy was, which means I can read them over and over again.

I do make time to read, and I split my time between fiction and nonfiction. Right now I’m about to start reading the collected works of John Green… a few people have told me I will love him, and I can’t wait to dig in.

--If a fairy godmother told you could be put into the world of your favorite book for 24 hours, which book would you pick and why?

I would have to go to Lyra Silvertongue’s Oxford. I want to meet my daemon.

--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?

I have simple needs. Coffee (with cream and sugar). A warm cat on my lap, or my parrot perched on the edge of my laptop. I rarely listen to music when I write, but that’s because between my dog’s barking, my parrot’s squawking, and my kids’ screaming, the house is already alive with sound.

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

The ability to make everyone like me.

Oops… too much honesty there. Sorry… Umm… laser vision?

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

I collect pets, and spend way too much time taking care of them. I have an unhealthy fascination with shoes and enjoy adding to my collection.  I like to walk and find that some of my best ideas come to me when I’m wandering the neighborhood.

--What is one thing you would tell your 15 year old self?

Just one thing? Hmm… Boobs aren’t everything. No, wait… That boy will never want you, and that is really, truly okay. No, no, one more try… You will be a writer.

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

I have waited a long time for you, Dear Reader. I have longed for you. I am so glad to meet you at last.

Lightning round: this or that?

Vanilla or chocolate?

Both.

Edward or Jacob?

Both.

Hockey or soccer?

Neither.

Ebook or paper?

Paper.

Salty or sweet?

Sweet.

Beach or mountains?

Beach.

Phone call or email?

Phone call.

Early bird or night owl?

Mid-morning… spotted bowerbird?

Dog or cat?

Hairless cat.

Messy or neat?

Messy. But oh, I wish I weren’t!

Ninjas or pirates?

Pirates. Always pirates.

About Elana:

her site: http://elanakarnold.com (images and bio copied from here)

ELANA K. ARNOLD completed her M.A. in Creative Writing/Fiction at the University of California, Davis. Elana thinks everyone has a story to tell; it took her a long time to find hers. She grew up in Southern California, where she was lucky enough to have her own horse--a gorgeous mare named Rainbow--and a family who let her read as many books as she wanted. She lives in Long Beach, California, with her husband, two children, and a menagerie of animals. She is represented by Rubin Pfeffer of the East/West Literary Agency. Sacred is her debut novel.

My question to you, my lovely readers:
Has anyone ever helped you when you were down or what have you done to help someone else?

Pin It