Author Interview- Ashley Cooley

I have been given the privilege of announcing to you that fellow reviewer Ashley Cooley is publishing her novel ‘Along the River Styx’ available May 28th on Smashwords and its distributors. She has been kind enough to answer a few questions about herself, her writing style and Along the Rive Styx!

B: First of all, tell us a little about your debut novel.
A:Thanks for having me. Along the River Styx is about the half-mortal teenage daughter of the god of death, Thanatos, who has inherited her father’s ability to kill people with her touch. But her ability gets her into some trouble when she kills the highschool quarterback Dale Henrys, who comes back to haunt her as a Reaper with a taste for the river Styx and ruling the Underworld.

B: There’s a lot of Greek mythology and Gods in your novel, what kind of research did you do?
A: I’ve always been into mythology and religion actually. So, I already had a ton of books (I have an encyclopedia and a dictionary of mythology!) and tons of printed out and hand written notes. So when I was working on AtRS there was not a ton that I had to do. One of the main things I do remember looking up is entities/deities of death for several cultures to figure out how to blend them all together. I did a little bit of research on Delphi (the place), and on classic images of the Underworld.

B: How long did it take you to write this novel?
A: Well, the first draft I wrote in two weeks thanks to many, many word wars and several 10k word days. It’s probably the most dedication I’ve had to writing a first draft ever, it became a job. I would start writing at 8 am and I wouldn’t stop until 11pm. I did a bit of editing after that, and set it aside for a few years. Then after the characters wouldn’t leave my head, and on day out of the blue discovering what was wrong with the main plot, I started working on it again, that took roughly another year. All together from first draft to publication day, it’s been four years.

B: Did you base any of the characters in your book to anybody you know in real life?
A: The easy answer here is no, but I’ll expand a little. My characters always end up coming to me before the full fleshed out plot, and I never intentionally base any of my characters off of people I know. In my head my characters need to have a distinct image in order for me to write them well, and if I based them off of anyone, looks or personality, they would eventually mold into that person, and that’s not something I want for them. So, there might be similarities, but ultimately I didn’t have anyone in mind while writing AtRS.

B: How much planning goes into your novels?
A: I’m what they call a Pantser, meaning I write by the seat of my pants. I used to be a plotter but practise has taught me that my writing often turns out better the less I plot. When I start writing I have pretty complete characters in my head already, and the most basic plot with the biggest plot line and no sub plots. The more in depth planning happens after the first draft, with the first draft I’m just trying to get all the ideas out of my head as quickly and coherently as possible.

B: What made you come up with the idea for Along the River Styx?
A: Honestly, I can’t remember. The earliest thing I can remember is that I was watching a show about prophets, and the show mentioned the oracles of Delphi. At that point, I already had the daughter of Death character, but that’s really when Delphi’s whole identity filled out.

B: What is your writing process?
A: Put some headphones on, have some coffee or tea or both even within arm’s reach, sit down, turn music up, and write for six to ten hours…or until my hands give out.

B: What was the hardest part of getting ready to publish?
A: Getting ready to self-publish is hard in general if you put any effort into it. Meeting my self-set deadlines was probably that hardest, some days I really had to push myself to get my blogging, or editing or marketing done for the day.

B: Where is your favorite place to curl up and write?
A: I don’t think I have a favourite place to write, I can write almost anywhere as long as I have the ability to tune out distracting noises around me. For the first draft, I wrote at a desk but for pretty much every draft after that I wrote while sitting in bed.

B: If you had to be one of your characters for a week, who would you choose to be?
A: That’s a hard one…hmm…it’s a tie between one of Delphi’s brothers, Auggie and Percy, and her mortal best friend Kaizzie. The twins because hello they can phase through walls and floors and I’d never have to worry about running into anything ever again, or ever being late to anything ever again. Kaizzie because she is really her own person, she has a distinct style and doesn’t care what people think about her.

B: What’s next for you? Should we be holding our breath for a sequel?
A: I wouldn’t hold your breath for a sequel, that’s not to say that one maybe won’t happen sometime in the future. I’m just not currently working on one, though I do have a few ideas for a sequel I can’t really give you a concrete answer.

B: Do you have any writing advice for aspiring writers?
A: I don’t think I’m quite qualified to be giving any writing advice just yet. But if I had to it would be to read, read anything and everything. Be gluttonous with your reading.

Author Interview - Mary Lowry

Here I have an interview with the amazing Mary Lowry! I have had the privilege to be able to e-mail her and get to know her and after talking a while we decide to do an interview to you guys as well what an amazing author and to get you guys excite for her book " THE EARTHQUAKE MACHINE"that is coming out later this month! February 27! Look for my review that day or shortly after (depending on how school is going... usually it makes me fall behind on my reading)

I ope you guys enjoy the interview as much as I did!

Bec

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Me: As a writer I am always interested to find out how other authors make up characters, are they a little like you or do you try to make them as opposite of you as possible? What is your process to making them become real?


Mary: I think my protagonists are always a little bit like I am. They are always fun adventurous girls trying to navigate through the world.
I don’t have a process to make them become real. I just show up at the page and type and they seem to form themselves.



Me:Are any parts of ‘THE EARTHQUAKE MACHINE’ based off of your life or anybody close to you such as friends and family? Where do you get your ideas from?

Mary:THE EARTHQUAKE MACHINE isn’t based on my family at all, but bits and pieces of the novel come from real life experiences. For instance: there’s a part where the main character ANGEL walks down a road through the rain forest in Mexico alone. Well, once when I was traveling through Costa Rica, I walked a long way at night through the rainforest. I could feel the rainforest dripping and pulsing around me—It seemed so alive.

ANGEL travels through Mexico by bus; and once I took a bus from my hometown of AUSTIN down to Central Mexico—so that’s an experience I’ve had.
I’ve also spent a lot of time in and around Big Bend National Park in the desert of West Texas where some of the book takes place. Plenty of times I’ve paid a Mexican man a dollar to row me across the Rio Grande to Mexico and I’ve always been fascinated with the crossing. All that goes into the book as well.
I didn’t plot the novel at all. I just sat down and channeled it, if that makes sense. My job was to show up at the keyboard every morning and let the novel come through me. Writer Anne Lamott says when she drafts a novel she almost goes into a trance and lets the words pour out of her. Then she goes back with her rationale mind and edits it and “cleans it up.” That’s how I feel about my writing process as well.



Me:When you first e-mailed me what really grabbed my attention was all the things you have done with your life, firefighter, open water lifeguard, screenwriter, and advocate in the movement to end violence against women. You have been very busy! What made you decided you wanted to be a lifeguard, screenwriter, advocate and firefighter?

Mary:I’ll try to go in the order I did each of those jobs:
1. I was a lifeguard at a giant spring fed pool called Barton Springs in Austin, TX. I first worked there when I was 14 years old and I worked there in college as well. Barton Springs was my favorite place on earth—it’s just a heaven of cool water in the middle of a hot Austin summer. So it was natural for me to want to work there.

2. As soon as I graduated college at 21, I was hired onto an elite, Type 1 Hotshot Crew of forest firefighters. My roommate’s sister had been on a Hotshot Crew and seeing photos of her standing in front of a wall of flames, or lounging casually on the ground in the woods with a bunch of burly firefighter guys blew my mind. It looked like such an adventure and I wanted to try it. It also sounded more fun to travel all over the country hiking and camping than to get a “real” job.

3. Becoming a screenwriter actually came from being a forest firefighter. I wrote a novel called THE GODS OF FIRE about being on a Hotshot crew. When the novel didn’t sell to a publishing company, I flew out to Hollywood and convinced a major producer to option the book for film. He asked me to write the screenplay, so I did. There is now a director attached to the project and the script should go out to actors soon! I hope to release the book in 2013.

4. I worked for 8 years in the movement to end violence against women. The first advocate job I got was in a domestic violence shelter in Durango, Colorado. I had been working construction and was waking up really early to write THE EARTHQUAKE MACHINE before framing houses and building fences outside all day. I was really tired all the time and really cold and wished I had more time to write.
I heard that advocates at the local domestic violence shelter lived in the shelter for 3 days a week and then had 4 days a week completely off of work. I knew I would love the job because I am a feminist and wanted a chance to support women who were going through a difficult transition. And I also knew the job would give me 4 whole days a week to write, which it did.

After that I worked on the National Domestic Violence Hotline and did work lobbying the Texas Legislature for funding for domestic violence shelters.

I’ve always been a big fan of trying out different jobs that support me financially and shelter my writing.



Me:You even ran away from home and made it all the way to Mexico at 15?! What did you do in your time in Mexico and is any of your book based off your time there?

Mary: When I ran away from home at 15, I was mostly busy feeling nervous and liberated. That’s all I’ll say about that.

Actually, THE EARTHQUAKE MACHINE isn’t based on the time I ran away to Matamoros. I drew more material for the book from the time I took the bus from Austin to the Mexican state of Oaxaca when I was 22 or so.



Me: Do you still have that very first manuscript you ever wrote and at the time you thought it was gold, and now you look at it and smile? In a small paragraph can you tell us what it was about? Have you let anybody else read it or does it stay hidden away in your closet?

Mary: The very first manuscript I wrote was the first draft of my still unpublished novel about being a forest firefighter. I still have it in a drawer, but I never look at it. But I did revise the book for YEARS and now the final version is in great shape and hopefully will be published in the next year or two.


Me:When you were writing ‘THE EARTHQUAKE MACHINE’ what message were you hoping to get out to your readers?

Mary:I was hoping that the book would inspire women and girls to have adventures, live life fully, and not feel stymied by limitations imposed on women because of gender.



Me:How long does it normally take you to hammer out a book, without doing the painful task of doing edits or anything?

Mary:It takes me two to three years to draft a novel. Then the editing starts!



Me:Do you prefer to write a novel or do you prefer to edit it after you’re done (I know I prefer the edits after I’ve written one..
I don’t have to worry about what to write next just what I missed!)

Mary:I’m exactly like you! I’d much rather edit a novel than write a first draft. That first draft is hard and scary. Once the draft is on the page, then I can focus on making it better!



Me:What is the part that just makes you want to pull all your hair out after you have paced your house for the thousandth time and screamed at the top of your lungs until you’ve lost your voice?

Mary: For me the WORST part of writing novels is sending it off to agents and editors. That is so scary and nerve-wracking. Writing the novels is such an intense, intimate experience. It’s hard to send my work off to be “judged.”



Me: Ok, I’ve been very good about this so far but I just can’t hold myself back anymore! And I’m sure our readers will want to know, can we get a sneak peek into this amazing book of yours?! Pretty please with… a cherry on top (or whatever you want if you don’t like cherries).

Mary: Sure thing! Here’s the synopsis of the book:

The Earthquake Machine tells the story of 14 year-old Rhonda. On the outside, everything looks perfect in Rhonda’s world, but at home Rhonda has to deal with a manipulative father who keeps her mentally ill mother hooked on pharmaceuticals. The only reliable person in Rhonda’s life is her family’s Mexican yardman, Jesús. But when the INS deports Jesús back to his home state of Oaxaca, Rhonda is left alone with her increasingly painful family situation.

Determined to find her friend Jésus, Rhonda seizes an opportunity to run away during a camping trip with friends to Big Bend National Park. She swims to the Mexican side of the Rio Grande and makes her way to the border town of Milagros, Mexico. There a peyote- addled bartender convinces her she won’t be safe traveling alone into the country’s interior. So with the bartender’s help, Rhonda cuts her hair and assumes the identity of a Mexican boy named Angel. She then sets off on a burro across the desert to look for Jesús. Thus begins a wild adventure that fulfills the longing of readers eager for a brave and brazen female protagonist.



Me:Is there anything you would like to say to your readers or possible readers?

Mary: THE EARTHQUAKE MACHINE is a book about a young girl who takes incredible risks and has a big adventure. I hope readers will give it a try. It’s not your usual love story, but in its own way it’s a book about passion.

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Thank you all for reading the interview! Again, "THE EARTHQUAKE MACHINE" will be out for you to buy Febuary 27!

Author Interview- K. Blake

I have here an interview with amazing author K. Blake. Soon to be posted is the review of his novel “Crushed”, available right now for ebooks from smashwords.com but will be coming out in paperback soon for those who can’t read ebooks from Amazon and Createspace!

Hope you enjoy the interview, the review for crushed will soon be posted, promise!



-Where are you from?

Originally? I’m from California, but I live in the mid-west now.



-When and why did you begin writing your books, was it first for fun and if so when did you decided you wanted to be published?

I started writing when I was twelve after watching a movie that ended badly. My favorite character was killed off, so I picked up a pencil and six sheets of paper. I rewrote the ending. It was so much fun that I decided to try to write a book. It took me years to finish my first novel, and it wasn’t very good. I think I was about seventeen when I got serious about writing.



-What inspired you to write your first book?

Star Wars. I loved that movie so much that I wanted to write a book with a Han Solo type character as the leading man. It wasn’t very good, and I tossed it into the trash. Now I wish I’d kept it, for a good laugh if for no other reason.



-A lot of writers have issues coming up with titles, how did you come up with the title?

Crushed is the name of the game the teen witches are playing. I called it that because they are using a ‘love’ spell, only it isn’t really love. The boy becomes obsessed with the girl and will do almost anything she asks. It seems more like a crush to me.



-Are experiences in your books based on someone you know, or events in your own life? Once in a while something that I’ve experienced sneaks into my books, but I never use real people. My characters are totally fictitious. I start with someone famous who fits the bill. Then I give them a past and their personality traits are born from their experiences, just like in real life.



-What books are on your bed side table right now?

I am re-reading City of Glass because I want to get City of Fallen Angels, but I’ve forgotten everything about the first three books. Unfortunately I don’t have a lot of time to read because I am working on my own books more often than not.



-What was the hardest part of writing your book?

I had a hard time with Kristen’s character. At first she was an average girl, but she came off as too needy. She eventually evolved into the strong character that she is today.



-Do you have any advice for other writers?

Read a lot. Write a lot. Don’t give up.



-Do you have anything specific that you want to say to your readers?

Yes. Writing is a lonely profession, and the readers keep me sane. I try to create captivating worlds and breathe life into characters that the readers will fall in love with. Then I open my world up to everyone and invite them inside. I hope you all enjoy my books. I hope you laugh and cry and fall in love.



-Can you tell us a bit about your book “Crushed”?

Here is a short blurb:



The Noah sisters rule Titan High with their beauty, brains, and magical powers.



Each year they play a secret game: Crushed. The girls pick their targets carefully and blow enchanted dust into the boy’s faces, charming them, but this year Kristen makes a grave mistake. She chooses the wrong boy and almost dies that same day. Coincidence? Maybe.

But something isn’t quite right about Zach Bevian. He doesn’t behave like a boy who’s been Crushed. He goes from hot to cold, from looking at her with contempt to asking her out on a date. She doesn’t know what to think. Does he hate her or is he truly falling for her? Is he trying to kill her, or is he trying to save her?

Author Interview- Sarah Fall/ Judith Bronte

What a way to start a new month with an interview!

So as some may know if you follow my Twitter (rebeccamsauve) or Ashs Twitter (awriter12) we have had the great pleasure of e-mail Sarah Fall asking if she would like to do an interview with us and she agreed! So below this post you will find a review for her book "The Greatest of These" and now here is the interview. I hope you enjoy reading it, I know I did.

I would just like to thank Sarah soo much for the chance to let us interview her,and review her book, taking time out of her day to e-mail us back!

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When and why did you begin writing?

I started to seriously think about writing a book after finishing a mediocre novel in 1998. It was a real disappointment, and I wondered if I could do better. One of the great thrills about writing your own novels, is having the freedom to write them exactly the way you want. It's hugely satisfying.




Do you ever get writer’s block? What advise to you give writer’s to get over the dreaded curse?

If I have a case of writer's block, it almost always is due to a lack of preparation on my part. If I don't prepare, I set myself up for rapid failure because I haven't a clue what to write. Do I know what will happen in the scene I'm working on, or am I sitting here staring at the blinking cursor, hoping it will just come to me?

My advice to not get hopelessly stuck when you write, is to know your plot, who your characters are, the key scenes you keep going back to in your head that help set the tone for the story. You know, that scene that made you fall in love with the idea for your book in the first place? Have you worked out how to get your characters to that point, so they can say and do the things in that scene? If not, write out a rough outline and keep working out a plausible way to get your characters to that point. Then work out the rest of the story, until you have a satisfying ending. Research any subjects you're not already familiar with, such as the occupation of your characters, the setting where your story takes place, the weather of the area for that time of year, etc. Do your research, plan your novel, know your characters, and when you sit down to write, it will come. In my opinion, preparation is the best way to overcome writer's block.




What kind of books do you read in your spare time?

I'm a fairly eclectic reader and like romance, suspense, mysteries, adventures, and biographies. A few of the books I've enjoyed are "Jane Eyre" by Charlotte Bronte (the first time I read this, it took my breath away, it's so romantic), absolutely everything by Jane Austen, "A Story Like the Wind" and "A Far Off Place" by Laurens van der Post (an epic two-book, grand adventure set in an exotic location), and "The Long Walk Home" by Nicholas Sparks (a tearjerker and such a sweet romance).




Do you plan out your book or do you write whatever comes to you?

I'd have to say I'm between a plotter and a seat-of-the-pants writer. Because I post each chapter on my website after I write it, it means I don't have the luxury of being able to go back and change major plot points. My readers have already gone through those chapters and are waiting for what happens next. So I definitely plan ahead, though I don't outline too extensively. I like to keep things a bit spontaneous, especially with dialogue, and that means not outlining every little detail. It's a balancing act.




Who is your inspiration when writing books?

My literary heros are Jane Austen and Charlotte Bronte, while my spiritual hero is Jesus Christ. But really, my inspiration comes from a lot of places. Good books inspire me to become a better writer, while poor ones inspire me to work harder so I won't be that terrible. Also, my monthly chapter deadline inspires me to keep working at my craft because I know a lot of readers are waiting for that next chapter.




When you sit down to write a book how do you get the words from your hands to your fingers and then to the page?

I get questions similar to this all the time. From the outside, it may look like magic, but it really isn't. To write, and get the words flowing, I need to know where the story is going, and have at least a general idea of how to get there. The words don't come from thin air. If I don't know where I'm going, how can I know what to type? Sure, I can start without knowing, but then I'm setting myself up for extensive rewrites. Some people are pure seat-of-the-pants writers, but I'm not one of them. If that works for you, however, then go for it. Creatively speaking, the only wrong way to write, is to not write at all.




Do you have a specific writing style?

When a wedding takes place in my books, it may be at the middle, or even at the beginning, but rarely at the end. The relationship of the two main characters is the primary focus throughout, and we get to follow them and see how their romance works even after they marry. They usually become very close friends at some point in the story, and must work to find agreement in their relationship. And then there's the dialogue. That's where I have the most fun. I always have lots of dialogue between the two main characters.




How much of your real life makes it into the book? Do you base charters off people? What about things that you and friends have done, do you use any of that in your writing?

Very little of my real life ever makes it into a book, though I do sometimes resort to giving my characters some of the same experiences, likes and dislikes as myself. It helps me relate to them better. For instance, I was something of a tomboy when I was younger, and it helped me write Abby's character in "Abigail's Journey" (though I've only fished a handful of times, and never fly fished). I also had piano lessons as a girl, and never got very far, just like Charlotte in "Greatest of These." Maddie from "Terry's Journey" has a thing for "Pride and Prejudice," and I do, too. That said, these characters aren't me, and they aren't anyone else, either. They really are fictional.




What was the hardest part of writing your book? What is the easiest?

For me, the hardest part of writing a book, is starting one. Get that wrong, and it throws off everything else. I go over the beginning carefully, obsess over it to make sure things are set up exactly the way I want, and with the overall tone that I'm looking for. It means getting things right that I can't go back and later change, for my readers are following the story live-- as live as it gets without them looking over my shoulder as I type. So beginnings are tough. The easy parts for me are the middles. That's where I get to have the most fun with the characters, put them through their paces and struggle to make their relationship work while they're busily falling in love.




What book are you reading now? Are there any new authors that have grasped your interest?

Right now, I'm reading "Gods and Generals" by Jeff Shaara. It's American Civil War research for the sequel I'm planning for "Mountain Wild." Jeff has a definite talent for making history come alive-- something I hope I can do in my own novel. No new authors come to mind, though I'm always on the lookout for a good read.




How did you come up with the title?

I try to match the theme and tone of the book, with its title. For instance, "Mountain Wild" is the story of a wild mountain man who falls in love, "Greatest of These" is about the struggles of an age gap romance, and "Homegrown Dandelions" is about love thriving in the most ordinary places. When coming up with titles, I use the "Synonym Finder" by J.I. Rodale. I look up words I like best, then see if there are any better choices that fit my book.




Do you have anything specific that you want to say to your current readers or a reader who may go and check out the site after reading the review and now interview?

To current readers-- thanks a bunch for the endless encouragement and overall enthusiasm for my stories. I couldn't ask for a better audience. To everyone else-- I've been writing and posting new chapters on a monthly basis for almost ten years without missing any deadlines. The books are free, and if you do try my stories, I'd suggest starting with a longer one, as the shorter ones were written back when I was more of a beginner. http://www.JudithBronte.com/



Bec and Ash, thanks for inviting me to your website, and for the book review!

Author Interview- Hannah Moskowitz

We are so lucky to get this interview! And like promised, here is Hannah!

Here’s our first author interview. And we have the wonderful and awesomely haired Hannah Moskowitz, author of BREAK and INVINCIBLE SUMMER, and many, many more to come! You can find her bouncing around on twitter and follow her blog Invincible Summer and just see how awesome this nineteen year old author is.
So welcome Hannah to the You Know What They Say About Book People blog, and it’s twice now that you get to christen our blog, first with the very first review and now with the very first interview here, so thanks so much!
(Becca...the papers upside down...I can’t read your writing upside down, turn it over! I need the questions...thanks.)

Q:       Are you really only 19? Your writing style makes you seem older.
A:Yep, really and truly nineteen. Almost nineteen and a half, though.

Q:       Why write a story about a boy on a mission to break all of his bones? It’s a very original idea for sure, that you don’t generally find every day, or maybe its just the books we read that we don’t read every day 
 A:Thanks! So I had the idea in my head that I wanted to write a book about a boy on some kind of strange mission. I considered a lot of possibilities but none of them really stuck. As soon as I thought of a mission to break all his bones, I knew I was going to have to write that one, and I finished the first draft in six days.
So I wasn't intending to write a self-injury book, and I still don't think of it as your typical self-injury book, but I am very aware that that's the issue at play, and I hope I did it justice. Once I knew that was what I was tackling, I wanted to approach it in a fresh and honest way.

Q:   And here comes a truly hard one, think you can handle it? :P What is....Your favourite animal?
       A: I am CRAZY about wolves.

Q:    The last chapter of Break seemed different from the rest of the novel, why is this?
          A: Hmmm, I don't know. Jonah's a little feverish at the time, so it might be that his voice is a little spacier than it usually is. He gets romantic when he's sick.

Q:  Okay, and here’s one very random question from Becca who just wants to feel better because she plays RuneScape. Do you Hannah play Runescape?
   A: I have actually never heard of RuneScape. But I googled it and it totally looks like my thing. But to be honest I spend most of my game time on Pokemon...judge all you like.

Q:    What are some of the ups and downs for your writing career? Was it the agents from your recent blog posts it seems like that would be a very hard thing to overcome, I guess thats the word for it.
     A:  The agent drama has definitely been hard, but everything is so settled and comfortable now. In a way, I think the downs really are those quiet parts, when you're waiting for something to happen and it feels like everyone else in the universe has a book coming out. That gets frustrating.
The ups are getting reviews. Even the bad ones. The idea that someone read your book and wants to write something about it...I still can't get over that. I adore reviews. I read all of them. (And it hasn't made me arrogant or overcome with self-doubt, so I say screw the advice, go ahead and read them if you can take it. I've learned from the bad ones, actually.)

Q:  It looks amazing but why do you like big hair? (I LOVE YOUR HAIR BY THE WAY—Ash).
       A: Big hair hides my big brain. No, I have no idea. It's kind of a throwback. But thank you! I'm cutting it off next week...but keeping it big, don't worry.

Q: Do you outline your novels extensively? Plan out the background for character relationships, the houses, everything in detail? (Like Ash...).
      A: It really depends on the book, and my process has changed as I've written more books. Back when I wrote BREAK, I outlined very, very little. Now, I do more, but they're still very basic skeletal outlines, so I'm not plotting out every detail at all. What I usually end up doing is diving in with no outline and getting lost somewhere in the middle and frantically writing down everything else that needs to happen. That works well for me.

Q:      What’s your favourite writing quote?
          A: As much as I don't feel his writing, I love the quote “You can't wait for inspiration. You have to go after it with a club" from Jack London. I always beat myself over the head trying to come with an idea when I'm in a rut, and people always tell me to relax and let it come to me, but...that's not how I roll, I guess! INVINCIBLE SUMMER came from me just going "I'm going to get an idea, damn it," and listening to the album Narrow Stairs by Death Cab for Cutie over and over and over again. 


Q:   And the very last one! We promise! Can you tell us a little bit about Invincible Summer for those who are counting down the days until this is released?
       A: :) I'm counting up the days too! INVINCIBLE SUMMER is about a boy named Chase and his four siblings told over the course of 4 consecutive summers. There's a lot of stuff going on--his sister is kind of a baby slut, his deaf little brother doesn't want to learn sign language, his older brother keeps running away...and then he and said brother start sleeping with the same girl. It's really about how everything changes--and more importantly, what doesn't change--when Chase grows from 14 to 17. Very family-focused, even more so than BREAK.


Thanks Hannah for the interview, and I hope we can get you back on the blog again!

-Ash