Interview with Suzanne Young

First, I want to thank everyone who participated in the giveaway for the signed copy of Suzanne's book, A NEED SO BEAUTIFUL.

Suzanne was also kind enough to do an interview with me!

Suzanne Young is a brilliant scientist. Not really. But she is a former middle school teacher turned zookeeper (mother). When Suzanne’s not fending off zombie squirrels she can be found writing obsessively. Suzanne is the author of A NEED SO BEAUTIFUL and several other YA titles.

Q. How long have you been writing for and how many did you write before selling THE NAUGHTY LIST?

A. I’ve been writing since I was in middle school, starting with murder mysteries starring my friends. Thankfully my plotting has developed since then. I wrote my first full-length novel in 2007, and then three more after that before writing THE NAUGHTY LIST.

Q. What was your favorite scene to write for A NEED SO BEAUTIFUL?

A. It would be the last Need with Warren. It was very emotionally charged for me, and the basic idea of what the Needs were all about—unwavering love.

Q. Can you tell is when a summary for A WANT TO WICKED will be available?

A. I just saw it myself! Hopefully soon! It’s really exciting!

Q. How do you come up with the names of your characters?

A. I usually start by looking up old fashioned baby names. And then from there, my characters go through a couple of choices before finally settling on one. For example, I have a new book idea where the main character was Sydelle for the first 3 chapters, and now I just went back and changed her to Natalie. It fit better.

Q. Did anything inspire your upcoming book, THE PROGRAM?

A. My own experiences with depression. THE PROGRAM ended up being the combination of three of my other unpublished novels in terms of ideas.

Q. What is your favorite writing snack?

A. Candy corn.

Q. Do you have a ritual you must do before you can start writing?

A. I like to write in a clean space. I can’t stand clutter, so I often clean a little bit. But don’t even get me started on the laundry!

Q. What is worst advice you've been given since you've started writing?

A. I was once told by a professor that I could ONLY write what I know. He tore up my first short story because I wrote it from a male perspective.

CONTEST RESULTS

Oh my goodness, your responses were awesome! I had a hard time choosing....so I ended up asking got help from my best friend and my boyfriend.

AND THE WINNER IS: Sara-

I would turn my backyard into a fantasy land! There would be a labyrinth with games and adventure at every turn. And treehouses and pirate ships to explore... :)

I'll be emailing you soon for your address to mail the book and pin!.

Ok, back to the road trip. Thank you all for being patient while I drove through mountains with no cell phone service to post this blog.

CONTEST: A Need So Beautiful

CONTEST:

Answer the question: If you were given $200,000 what frivolous thing would you do/buy, just because you could?

I’m not looking for answers like paying bills and whatnot.  Have fun with it! 

Example: My answer would be…

As a kid, I loved My Little Pony.  So I’d buy a horse, have it dyed pink (non-toxic of course), and have a cupcake stenciled on it! 

PRIZE: Signed copy of A NEED SO BEAUTIFUL by Suzanne Young and pin.

We all want to be remembered. Charlotte's destiny is to be Forgotten...

Charlotte’s best friend thinks Charlotte might be psychic. Her boyfriend thinks she’s cheating on him. But Charlotte knows what’s really wrong: She is one of the Forgotten, a kind of angel on earth, who feels the Need—a powerful, uncontrollable draw to help someone, usually a stranger.

But Charlotte never wanted this responsibility. What she wants is to help her best friend, whose life is spiraling out of control. She wants to lie in her boyfriend's arms forever. But as the Need grows stronger, it begins to take a dangerous toll on Charlotte. And who she was, is, and will become--her mark on this earth, her very existence--is in jeopardy of disappearing completely.

Charlotte will be forced to choose: Should she embrace her fate as a Forgotten, a fate that promises to rip her from the lives of those she loves forever? Or is she willing to fight against her destiny--no matter how dark the consequences.

WINNER WILL BE ANNOUNCED ON FRIDAY, AUGUST 19.

I can't wait to ready the answers!

Rules:                                                                                  

1.      Must follow me on twitter or this blog.

2.      You can only enter once.

3.      With your answer, be sure to add your email address so I can contact you!

4.      Contest ends Thursday at 9 p.m. Western/Midnight Eastern.

CHECK BACK SOON FOR: Interview with Suzanne Young!

6 Awesome Writers...

Being that I’m in Seattle for the summer, I was lucky enough to be able to attend a book event on July 31, at Third Place Books, and met 6 amazing authors.

Eileen Cook-THE EDUCATION OF HAILEY KENDRICK

Mandy Hubbard-RIPPLE

Lisa Schroeder-THE DAY BEFORE

Cat Patrick-FORGOTTEN

Suzanne Young-A NEED SO BEAUTIFUL

Kimberly Derting-THE BODY FINDER series

Suzanne and I had lunch, chatted about books, and whatnot for a few hours.  Not only is she sweet, so is her whole family who came along.  (I’m the god-mother to her niece and nephew-though, they were not there).

Soon, things were well on their way to being set up for the event and people began filling up the chairs.  After telling us about their books (apparently, they all seem to contain a LOT of kissing), including their inspiration for their stories.   Then, they were gracious enough to do a Q&A session.

Each and everyone one of them at one point made me laugh.  They also gave wonderful advice for aspiring writers.  I was impressed by how gracious each author was.  It’s not every day you get so many authors at an event and I’m definitely lucky to have been it town for it.

Autograph time:

When I bought A NEED SO BEAUTIFUL over a month ago, I read it in a little over four hours.  I cannot wait for the sequel! (A WANT SO WICKED-Summer 2012)

While at the event, I bought FORGOTTEN, which I read as soon as I go home and didn’t stop until I was finished.  That was 3 hours later and managed close it at midnight, which doesn’t bode well when the 1 year old twins wake up at the crack of dawn.  More than anything, I’m so sad that there is no planned sequel for it!  I didn’t want it to end at all.

Also at the author event, they had a raffle.  I won THE DAY BEFORE.  Although I have yet to start reading it, I’m excited to do so.  I took a sneak peek inside and read a page or two, in the middle and towards the end.  I read so fast, I need to save something for my long drive home from Seattle and the two week vacation going along with it.  I’m also saving THE NEAR WITCH by Victoria Schwab.  I read the first chapter and had to force myself to stop.  Without a doubt, I would have stayed up all night reading obsessively. 

I will be getting books by the other authors soon.  My problem is, there are so many wonderful YA books out there right now, it’s hard to stop myself from buying piles of them and spending lots of money!

Knowing how much we love books and they aren’t cheap, on my next post (Wednesday, August 17, 2011) I’ll be having a contest and the prize is a signed copy of Suzanne Young’s A NEED SO BEAUTIFUL and a pin!