We interviewed a foreign author , Charlotte Blackwell recently.
Charlotte Blackwell is based out of Calagary, Alberta. She has authored the Embrace series of novels which are of Young Adult(YA) paranormal romance genre. Immortal Embrace is the first book in this series which has been released. The second book in the series - Forbidden Embrace comes out in September 2011.
So here goes :
1. Tell us something about your debut novel.
1. Immortal Embrace, my debut novel started out as just something for fun, for my daughter and me. It has now turned into a whole series and am so excited that it has been published to share with others. Immortal Embrace is a story about Vampires, witches and a whole bunch of supernatural wrapped in to a normal high school package. Unfortunately it doesn't stay normal for too long.
2. The characters sound fascinating! Can you give us some more details about them?
2. I based character traits from the people I know and love...or hate. Sophia the protagonist is based off my daughter and me - shy, a little self doubting, and so on. Nate, her love interest shares a lot of his quirky traits with my husband, they both love to fine the cheesiest line out there and use them. The characters go on as such; Florence is the spitting image (minus the whole vampire thing) of my grandmother of the same name. I think the best thing about my characters is that they grow, learn and develop just as we did as teens and how teens will now. They go through many of the same internal struggles that teens face.
3. How did this book happen and why did you choose to write about it?
3. As I mentioned before I wrote it just for fun, but it has become so much more than fun. This is my life now, I love reading and writing and am happy to have it as a career. I really never believed anything would come out of writing Immortal Embrace, but so much did, I found myself and where I belong.
4. Please tell us something about yourself and how you came to be a writer?
4. I always enjoyed writing letters and little things down, really just my feelings. Until a few years ago I didn't even enjoy reading. That is when my daughter pushed me into reading some YA books and I haven't stopped. Picking up a pen and a note book was the best thing that ever happened to me (aside from my family). I loved writing, but knew nothing about it, so I did research and I learned, got mentors, and beta readers and who ever I could learn from. I also began writing articles for online news sites. That taught me how to edit better and improve my craft.
5. What writers have influenced your novel or writing style?
5. Kelley Armstrong, LJ Smith, Kathi Barton, and pretty much anyone who I love to read or will take the time to teach me more. Life is an ongoing learning process and we can always learn more. I take in as much as possible when reading and try to learn, making note of what I do and don't like.
6. What does your writing environment look like?
6. That's easy, its my bedroom. I sit on the bed, door closed, ceiling fan switched on and write. I sometimes watch TV or listen to music, but I am always in my room. It is my oasis.
7. Did this story come to you easily or did you find yourself stuck with a writer’s block sometimes?
7. It has come pretty easy so far. I have tons of little notes with ideas to put in the story somewhere and they keep coming too. So I guess I will keep writing this series until I can't anymore.
8. Where can we find out about you and your work?
8. The best place is my blog/website, I have tons of info there about me, my books and lots of other stuff too. http://charlotteblackwell.blogspot.com/
9. Tell us something about your work & hobbies?
9. I stay at home and I am mother of 3, my oldest daughter is home schooled, the other 2 go to public school. My hobbies are them, I drive them to activities and we play games or watch movies together. It is very rare for me to be without one or all of my children.
10. What are you working on now? What is your dream project?
10. Currently I am working on edits for book 3 Mystic Embrace, I also have an Adult contemporary romance in the works, but my dream project I would have to say is the Embrace series. It is my first and has so many elements that I love, I wonder everyday where it will take me.
11. So how did it feel when you finally finished writing the book?
11. It was good, but I knew there was more story to be told. Immortal Embrace originally included part of Forbidden Embrace, but I later decided to split it into 2 books. I don't remember why know.
12. Describe how you brought your first book to the market?
12. I began by querying agents and having test readers try it out. After about 5 months I decided to try some smaller publishers and was offered a contract only about 2 weeks after I submitted to a foreign publisher. Excited but still unsure, I decided to try another small publisher in North America this time. I received an offer with in 5 hours of submitting. This was the place for me, the same publishing house as one of my favorite authors Kathi Barton. I knew it was right. With in months of signing the contract everything was in place and Immortal Embrace was let out in to the world. Now In a few short weeks, book 2 Forbidden Embrace will also see the light of day.
13.Top 3 All-time favourite books.
13. I can't just name 3 books, because I love series, but her are 3 of my favorite series.
Grant Brothers Series by Kathi Barton,
Darkest Powers Series by Kelley Armstrong
Night World by LJ Smith
14. Lastly... Do you have a favorite quotation?
14. "Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away." — Maya Angelou
15. Is there anything else you’d like to mention or another question that you would have liked to be asked (if so what would you have replied)?
15. I would just like to thank you and your readers for having me. I am so excited to share the embrace series with you all. I love to hear from reads so please visit my site and leave a comment, I will reply as best as I can.
Connect with her via email - embraceseries@gmail.com
Good Interview.
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