Swoontini Interview: MARISSA MEYER!

Welcome Back! Today we’re super stoked because the amazing Marrisa Meyer, author of Cinder, is here at Swoontini!

Have you read Cinder? If you have then you know how great it is. And if you haven’t … WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR?? Cinder is the first in a trilogy, and is a modern retelling of the classic, Cinderella. And if that weren’t enough to interest you, Cinder … is cyborg. IKR? Don’t have a copy? Stick around and you could have the chance to win one of your very own. Win/Win.

Lo & C: Hi Marissa! Thanks so much for joining us here at Swoontini!!
MM: My pleasure!

Lo & C: Ma’am! You are immediately a winner in our world because you used to write fanfiction! This is how Lo & PQ met! So, we’re always so happy to meet others who have dabbled, and are actually surprised just how many authors play in those worlds. What’s fascinating to us is just how different writing fic is from writing a novel. What are some things you think helped you become a better writer, and what are some habits you had to get rid of when you began writing original novels?
MM: Fanfiction FTW! I learned so much from writing fanfic—how to strike a balance between details and action, how to jump right into the heart of the story rather than muck around with a bunch of boring backstory, how to take criticism, and perhaps most important, how to write often and FINISH stuff (because fanfic readers get very annoyed, very fast, if you don’t update regularly or leave a story unfinished for an extended period of time).

Lo & C: THEY DO INDEED, MARISSA.
MM: One thing that’s changed over the years, though, is my willingness to revise. When I started writing fanfic, I would finish a chapter or story and slap it up on the internet with barely a read-through. Now I recognize the importance of stepping back and evaluating the story on everything from overall suspense to miniscule word choices, and I’ve completely deleted and rewritten many a-chapter in my efforts to make them publication-worthy.

Lo & C: We lovvvvvve that you said this. The amount of revising that goes into our work now versus our fic. . . it’s unbelievable. Speaking of revising, your publication journey is interesting because it was two years between starting CINDER and querying an agent. And then, you were picked up by the first agent you queried and sold within a week of submission. (This is rare, brave Swoonies. Don’t compare yourself to this.) Even given this path, what was the best writing advice you received before you were published?
MM: I know, I’m one of THOSE authors, but I do feel that spending all that time making the book as good as I could before querying was the reason I had such a fast sale. And that directly ties into what I think is the best advice I’d heard pre-pub: Take your time and write the best book you can. It can be SO HARD to be patient when you feel like everyone around you is getting a book deal and agents are closing to queries for the summer and bookstores are closing and if you don’t get published right now then you’ll never get published at all, argh! But you’ll only be doing a disservice to yourself by querying prematurely, and you only get that one chance to make a great first impression. Rewrite, revise, have some trusted readers look at your book, and revise some more. When you’ve done the best you can, that’s the time to start hunting for an agent.

yes yes yes yes yes

Lo & C: This is such good advice. We remember how hard it was to be patient. We wrote “THE END” and then wanted to send it out that day. BUT – wait, revise, wait, revise. It’s the best advice. Tell us a little bit about teenage Marissa. What books would she devour today? What boy characters would have had her fanning herself, and what girl characters would have her jumping up and down cheering?
MM: I feel like Teenage Marissa was simply a less-confident version of Modern-Day Marissa. My tastes haven’t changed that much. I was super into fantasy (particularly the Sword of Truth series by Terry Goodkind), and I still love fantasy, though ironically I read much more YA now (such as Kristin Cashore’s books or Leigh Bardugo’s Shadow and Bone – LOVE).  I also watched a ton of anime, and while I’m so out of the anime loop these days, I’m still in love with the same sorts of stories (teenagers being awesome and saving the world and falling in love). Teen Me would have been smitten with mysterious-yet-sweet heroes (then: Tuxedo Mask; now: Four from Divergent or Cas from Anna Dressed in Blood). And Teen Me was always a fan of any girl who could kick butt and stay true to herself.

Lo & C: We each bring our own unique voice and experiences to what we write. What teen experiences influence your writing in YA?
MM: I feel like the “experiences” that have most influenced my writing were all those ones that happened inside my own head. When I was a teen, I fantasized about being a superhero, a rock star, a hero, a sorceress, an assassin, a spy… (okay, I still dream about all these things). But those dreams have become the seeds for every one of my stories, and continue to inspire the types of characters and adventures I want to write about.

Lo & C: Tell us some of your favorite websites to visit when you need writing inspiration and/or a good laugh.
MM: Pinterest! So many people post hilarious photos or geeky jokes, and I love all the images of mystical castles and devious-looking characters. (Not to mention all the inspiration for food, décor, and fashion… it’s an all-around inspiring web site. Oh, and my Pinterest page, including a Lunar Chronicles board!

Quickfires:
You are currently reading: Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas

A movie you’ve seen a thousand times: Clueless (don’t judge me)

as if.

No judging here, girlfriend. That movie can play in a constant loop in our homes and we’d be happy campers. Favorite season: Autumn

A guilty pleasure: Prosecco – I’ll pop open a bottle at any time, no celebratory excuse necessary.

You’re just like our bestie Masenvixen! And, the critical question: popcorn jelly bellys are awesome or disgusting? EW. I loathe all jelly beans with a great burning passion.

A HUGE thank you to Marissa for stopping by. Isn’t she adorable??? Ngl, we’re smitten. You can order a copy of Cinder here (go on, we’ll wait…), orrrrrrr leave Marissa some love and we could be sending you one of your very own.

You can learn more about Marissa by following her Twitter, Goodreads, Facebook or Website.

TIMEPIECE Blog Tour – Interview with Kaleb!

Hello, lovelies!! So if we look a little less than calm today, it’s because – in honor of the release of TIMEPIECE   this week – we have a special guest here at the Swoontini slumber partyland. You may have heard us talk occasionally of our love for Myra McEntire, author of Hourglass & Timepiece. And if so, then you’re probably aware of our tiny little crush on a certain main character, Kaleb Ballard. Can we just say. . .

This. Just a little.

We mean NO! No. That’s not what we mean. We mean that Kaleb is a perfectly lovely young man and we simply had a little chat and absolutely NOTHING inappropriate was discussed at all. You know, as per usual here at Swoontini . . . err . . .

Lo & C: ONWARD! [Swoontini gals do a double take] Damn, Kaleb. You’re looking pretty fantastic in your Swoontini slumber party ‘outfit’. Thanks for getting into the spirit of things here.
Kaleb: The apron is an accessory. The “outfit” is underneath.

*winks* This one goes out to the Team Root gals

Lo & C: So, we know you now with all of your (semi-)grown-up charm and wit and often-inappropriate touching (never unwelcome, don’t worry), but tell us a little about Freshman-in-High School Kaleb. What would he do on a typical Saturday night?
Kaleb: That Kaleb was actually disciplined, and pretty straight and narrow with the exception of his sugar addiction. Not THAT KIND of sugar (that came later). Probably a movie with friends?

C: Get out! A movie! You wild man! You can’t hide how smart you are behind all of this [Christina gestures to the ‘outfit’]. . . manly exterior.  What are you reading right now?
Kaleb: A particular neuroscientist told me to check out HOLD ME CLOSER, NECROMANCER by Lish McBride. I always listen to hot chicks.

Lo: OH WHAT A GOOD GUY YOU ARE. *pinches cheeks* We love that book! Okay, so. You’re given $1000 – not so fast, there, Trigger. What do you buy Myra to thank her for writing you?
Kaleb: A brain massage? Per her, time travel is . . .  hard.

Lo & C: Hey ohhh! What fictional character would you like to bring over to introduce to your Hourglass peeps?
Kaleb:  Sophie and Archer from the Hex Hall series. They’d fit right in.

Lo & C: Ignoring any potential Timepiece love interest for the time being, which fictional character would you like to meet in a dark, private, and comfortable alley? (TO PLAY CHECKERS, OBVS. Jeez people.)
Kaleb: Probably Isabelle Lightwood from Cassandra Clare’s Mortal Instruments series. Hot, bad ass, good with a whip. I mean … probably a lovely conversationalist.

Don’t tell Lily. Or Em. There wouldn’t BE enough ice for the family jewels.

Lo & C: Let’s just say that you were on a dating show, hidden behind a screen, and you had to convince the girl to pick you over Dune (SWOON) or Michael (ALSO SWOON). She can’t check out your [Lo gestures to biceps] Man Parts, so what would you say to make her choose you for a date?
Kaleb: I’d tell her, in sensuous detail, about the meal I’d prepare for her with my own two hands. And I’d also describe how I look in my Kiss the Cook apron, which has become a running joke. Because it works.

you know... because he bakes. pervs.

Lo & C: If you could be cast in the movie adaptation of any book out there (other than Myra’s books), what character would you choose?
Kaleb: X-Men. A young Wolverine. He gets all the sexy ladies, right?

Lo & C: There may have been cackles last night while putting this in (twss). We love Myra so much it BOGGLES THE MIND.
AND LISTEN UP SWOONIES because Myra will be at San Diego Comic Con (AS WILL WE!). SO – for anyone who doesn’t get to be there to meet Myra, you are eligible to win a signed copy of TIMPIECE and something else fun that we will think of when we see her*. Just leave the lady (snort) some love and that’s all it takes!!! In the meantime, feel free to buy one or seventeen copies of Kaleb! We mean Timpiece.

*Sorry this one isn’t open to international – only because we don’t know what else we’ll be sending and size, etc.

Swoontini Interview: LAUREN OLIVER!

Hello Swoonies!! We are so happy that you’re joining us for our interview with the AMAZING LAUREN OLIVER! *crowd roars* Squee! When I told PQ that Lauren had agreed to be interviewed, I’ll admit there were some shouty caps in the text message. That may be true a lot between us, but these were SHOUTY shouty caps. You feel me? Also, HELLO PRETTY COVER! *pets*

Expected Publication Oct 2012

Hi Lauren! (Awesome name, even better initials, BTW *high fives*) Thanks for coming to Swoontini!! Lo says: I read DELERIUM last year on a plane trip, listening to music and now every time I hear those songs, I immediately go back to that feeling of STRESS-SWOON-STRESS. Do you write to music?
LO: Actually, I don’t! I find music is so evocative for me, it really affects the tone of my writing in ways that feel inauthentic. But I definitely listen to music to get me in the MOOD to right sometimes.

Tell us about Teenage Lauren. What current books would she be devouring? What characters would have her swooning and cheering?
LO: I think I would have loved the Hunger Games as a teenager—just as I loved it now! In my early teens, I read a lot of Jane Austen, and dreamed of being projected back in time. So some of the great historical series out there right now would have made me very happy. I also think, later on, I would have really devoured all of the dystopian series. I was quite angsty!

Swoontini Interview: GRETCHEN McNEIL

Hey Swoonies!! Welcome back! We are so excited to see you, and you all look ADORABLE. Wednesday suits you quite nicely. AND HEY, we have Gretchen McNeil here today *WILD SCREAMS* and ALSO? We’re giving away an ARC of TEN! WOOT WOOT! So all you need to do is hop on those comments below, leave your name and some love for Gretchen, and you’re entered to win! EASY.

Hi Gretchen! So excited to have you at Swoontini! We both got ARC’s of TEN at WonderCon because we are lucky hoors. And I (Lo) have to admit that there were a few sections where I literally had to close the book and put it down for awhile it scared me so bad. What are some of your favorite scary books & movies?
GM: So I’m a notorious wimp with scary movies.  Traditional horror scares the CRAP out of me!  I prefer things more on the suspense scale.   Hitchcock was a master –Birds, Strangers on a Train, North By Northwest – absolute edge-of-your seat film making.  I also love old Victorian ghost stories.  There’s nothing creepier than drafty old manor houses and ghosts on the Moor.  Sheridan Le Fanu, Algernon Blackwood, Wilkie Collins, Emily Bronte.  Deliciously gothic!
(Christina totally agrees. Rear Window is one of her all-time faves)

Swoontini Interview: BETH REVIS

WELCOME BACK! *hugs you all* *holds you tighter so you can’t get away* SO SQUIRMY. Today we’re super stoked to have the amazing Beth Revis here!  Have you read Across the Universe and A Million Suns? If yes then take a cookie and have a seat, we’ll be around with shimmies and refreshments in a few. If not, WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR??

so pretty. #coverporn