Angie Frazier Guest Post & Everlasting Giveaway

If you missed my review of Everlasting – and, yes, I put it up way in advance because I was so excited about the book – here it is. I was thrilled when Angie Frazier agreed to write a guest post for me, and so without further ado…

Thank you, Chelle for inviting me to post on Tempting Persephone! And an even bigger thank you for picturing this guy* as Oscar Kildare when you were reading Everlasting!

There are many things I love about Everlasting (and plenty of things I wish that I could go back and change!). But what do I love most about my book? That’s simple: the cast of characters. Specifically, the two main characters: Camille Rowen and Oscar Kildare.

Yes, I love them. That’s no surprise really. What writer doesn’t love their characters? It’s that unconditional kind of love that applies to babies, puppies, kittens and all manner of cute, fluffy animals. But just like babies and adorable fluff balls often challenge their devoted caregivers, Camille and Oscar challenged me.

They were definitely not easy to create. In fact, Camille and Oscar were two of the toughest, most stubborn characters that have ever taken up residence in my imagination.

I knew I wanted to write about an upper class girl who fell in love with a lower class boy, but I soon found out there was a lot more to it than having them ignore the social boundaries of the time (1855, to be exact). It had to be harder than that. I wanted Camille and Oscar to struggle more, to be torn between following their hearts and doing what society declared was “right.” I wanted them to be real, and that meant I needed them to be afraid.

When I started writing about them, Oscar and Camille already knew each other. They’d known each other for years. Camille’s father had taken Oscar in off the streets and molded him into a capable (and of course, well-muscled) sailor. They’d spent lots of time in each other’s company. The problem was, I hadn’t. I didn’t know them very well at all.

After a few drafts, I realized I was stuck in a rut and losing perspective. Fast.

Then it came to me: What would Oscar and Camille do if they weren’t in the story I was trying so hard to tell? What if they lived on in another story? What would they be like in some completely different situations?

So I started to create new stories for them—short stories with different plot lines that unraveled only in my head. I didn’t write any of these side stories down. I just thought them through. I worked on them when I was driving, when I went to bed and was trying to unwind, when I worked out or washed dishes or folded laundry. Oscar and Camille’s adventures in these “side stories” always got me excited and inspired to get back to their main story, and I always felt like I knew them a little bit better at the end of each one.

Once I got to know them better, I felt comfortable writing Camille’s storyline as a girl who was torn between traditional rules and paving a new path for herself. I found a way to show both sides of her. And with Oscar I found a way to craft him as more than just a stoic, protector-type hero. He had history and pain and a secret that he’d kept from Camille for a very long time. These pieces of their characters took shape out of those “side stories” and I was able to cull them and put them to use.

Do I think this method is strange? Yes, a little. Do other writers do this? I have no idea. But it definitely worked for me, so perhaps it will for others. Putting Oscar and Camille in other situations and seeing how they survived and ultimately fell in love gave me the insight I needed.

I recall a few of these side stories, though sometimes they were just little vignettes. From a mutiny at sea to a San Francisco soiree to a rampant fever epidemic, these side stories brought me closer to my characters. And as a personal bonus, even though I’ve shared one of their stories with the world, I get to keep all the little ones for myself.

Thanks Chelle!

And now, the giveaway…

All you have to do to enter is leave a comment on this post. It can be simply “enter me!” or you can tell me which actor most clearly resembles a favorite character when you picture him/her. (You know who I think of when I think of Oscar, *and because I absolutely cannot help myself, a few more pics of him.) US addresses only, please. Contest open until June 6th.

Winner of Touched By An Alien

Thanks to everyone who entered the contest! [And to Gini for 1) her fantastic answers 2) making sure everyone knew about the giveaway and 3) for writing such an awesome book!]

Without further yapping from me, the winner is…

Jess

Congrats, Jess! I know you’re going to love this one. I’ll be in touch soon to get your info.

I ♥ This Art: Salute the Gothic Fleet

I ♥ This Art is a weekly feature on Tempting Persephone. Art, no matter the medium, buoys my spirit up. Each week I’ll spotlight a piece that speaks to me, makes me want to know more, or taps into some emotion or sentiment.

“Salute the Gothic Fleet” by Luches

Off to BEA

I may not be leaving for New York until tomorrow, but the packing, organizing and worrying about what I’m forgetting is in full swing. (I made a list, but what if I’ve forgotten to put something on the list?!)

So basically this post is to say that there won’t be much happening here for the next week or so. But! I’ve got several (exciting) things coming up when I get home – including a recap of my first BEA experience.

In the meantime, don’t forget to check out my interview with Gini Koch (and if you want a shot at a copy of Touched By An Alien make sure to leave a comment. Giveaway runs through May 28th.)

Now. Where did I put that phone charger…

I ♥ This Art: The Spiral Staircase

I ♥ This Art is a weekly feature on Tempting Persephone. Art, no matter the medium, buoys my spirit up. Each week I’ll spotlight a piece that speaks to me, makes me want to know more, or taps into some emotion or sentiment.

“The Spiral Staircase” by Risachantag

Interview with Janet Fox

The Author’s Note that follows the story was wonderful. Could you expand upon why you chose to set Maggie’s story in 1904?

Thank you! I chose 1904 for several reasons. First, I wanted to set the story at a time when girls/women were still trapped in the culture of repression in western society. Women were fighting for their right to vote and even for their right to marry whom they wished. They were still constrained by the rules of society, and constrained physically by corsets. Maggie needs to discover herself, just as we all do when we are young – and in that context needs to determine for herself whether the rules of society are just, or whether she needs to find a new path. Second, the Old Faithful Inn was completed in the spring of 1904, so I saw that as the beginning of the Yellowstone we know today. And Yellowstone is almost as much a character in the story as Maggie.

The biggest appeal of the story for me was the setting; Yellowstone came to life in the pages of Faithful, and filled me with the desire to see it for myself. What did researching the park entail?

Much pleasure. I love Yellowstone, and I’m so happy you feel that I brought it to life on the page. I’ve spent quite a bit of time in the Park, and many years in the environment around the Park, so I feel truly at one in writing about it. Researching was the easy part. I went through the Park with a different eye, looking at it as if I saw it new; I listened to Park historians lecture about events that took place at that time; I did research in the new Historical Research Center just outside the Park. I enjoyed every minute of the research, and it was my greatest desire to make Yellowstone both appealing and enigmatic.

The quotes that lead off each chapter are fantastic, offering both foreshadowing and a glimpse into another life and time. How did you gather them all? Were you looking specifically for them or did you stumble across them during your research? Do you have a favorite?

Great question! I loved gathering the quotes – thank you for mentioning them. I have double that many or more in my stockpile. Every time I came across something I liked, I kept the citation. Then I tried to fit the quote to what was going on in the chapter (and I’m delighted you recognized the foreshadowing!) Some of the quotes even came before I wrote the chapter – that was the case with the Emerson quote, which I already knew. Some I looked for, but found because of my research. Each was chosen because it was written either before or during Maggie’s time – in other words, I wanted to find quotes that she might actually have read. I think my favorite would have to be the one in Chapter 6 from Lady Rose’s Daughter, a book written in 1903. Chapter 41 is a close second. And Chapter 26, third…

Ten years after the events in Faithful take place, where do you see Maggie?

Now there’s a book I’d love to write. I think Tom becomes a wildlife biologist, and he and Maggie may end up together. But wait – this isn’t about him, is it? I see Maggie blossom into a career as a photographer, perhaps an important career – one in which she photographs the animals that Tom identifies, maybe helps to save endangered species. And maybe they don’t get married, but have a life of romantic adventure, in which they travel to Africa and she photographs the last of the great animal migrations, and then she brings that newfound photographer’s eye back to the American west and sees the reintroduction of the buffalo, and the closing of the last great migration corridors in the west and the near-extinction of the wolf…maybe she becomes the female Ansel Adams, photographing the American west in its prime. Wow. You really got me thinking there!

And now,my favorite part…

Your favorite “classic”?
(What a tough question – I’m an English major and former English teacher!) Okay – I adore Jane Austen. Pride and Prejudice is probably my favorite, but Mansfield Park is close behind. Tears and laughter, suspense and romance, and always a happy ending.

Which book do you think everyone should read?
The Book Thief by Markus Zusak.

If you could spend the day with one character from any novel, who would you choose?
I think it would be the Time Traveller, from H.G. Wells The Time Machine. I’m fascinated by time. And this character has invented something so remarkable – what’s inside this guy’s head? I know what my motivations are regarding time travel – but what are his, really?

What was the last song you got stuck in your head?
Every song gets stuck in my head! I love to sing, so I’m constantly stuck on a tune. But as of this writing (perhaps ironically) it’s “Thank You For the Music” by ABBA, as sung by the mellifluous Amanda Seyfried.

If your book was a flavor of ice cream, what flavor would they be?
Cookie dough (thick and chewy), chocolate (need I say more?) with a hint of mint (spice and magic.)

Thank you, Janet, for taking the time to answer my questions!

Faithful ~ Janet Fox

Sixteen-year-old Maggie Bennet’s life is in tatters. Her mother has disappeared, and is presumed dead. The next thing she knows, her father has dragged Maggie away from their elegant Newport home, off on some mad excursion to Yellowstone in Montana. Torn from the only life she’s ever known, away from her friends, from society, and verging on no prospects, Maggie is furious and devastated by her father’s betrayal. But when she arrives, she finds herself drawn to the frustratingly stubborn, handsome Tom Rowland, the son of a park geologist, and to the wild romantic beauty of Yellowstone itself. And as Tom and the promise of freedom capture Maggie’s heart, Maggie is forced to choose between who she is and who she wants to be. [Publisher's Summary from Amazon]

Yellowstone National Park. Those three words encapsulate the main reason why I wanted to read this novel. Why that’s so is a whole other post, but suffice to say, I knew setting was going to play a large role in my enjoyment of Faithful. I was right about that. Yellowstone is very much a character here; its rugged, wild existence contradicts everything Maggie has ever known. Ultimately, I found myself charmed by the natural landscape Fox described, and appreciated the parallels between the government’s attempt to tame the park with rules and regulations and Maggie’s lack of true freedom.

But there was something I was not prepared for. The story takes place not all that long after the park’s inception in the early 1870′s; the author’s note states that it’s 1904. Going in, I hadn’t realized – based on the cover and summary – that this was going to be an historical novel. And to be quite honest, it really threw me off. I’ve always found the history of our national parks fascinating, though, and was able to adapt. Mostly.

Since I’m sticking with the story’s pros: I thought the author did a fine job of conveying the suffocation Maggie felt as her choices were stripped away. It was not her choice to move to Yellowstone, to be lied to by her father, to have an unwanted suitor foisted on her for financial gain, nor was it her choice to have a debilitating fear of heights or the desire to accomplish something in her lifetime. The last, well, it was something she felt in her bones, an inheritance from her mother who simply wanted what she wanted without apology. Maggie felt trapped and I really got that.

But I have to admit…I didn’t care for Maggie. Mostly self-absorbed and self-pitying, Maggie was a bit too dramatic for my taste. And that’s despite the fact that I sympathized with her predicament. Her attempts to overcome her ignorance (of the world, of others’ feelings) fell flat; I had a hard time accepting that she was motivated to do so by anything other than her need to impress a boy. As a result, I wasn’t invested in her journey to independence.

The other characters – Maggie’s father, grandparents, friends, Tom, etc. – ranged from domineering to catty, malicious, insufferable, mercurial, and so on. I wanted to like the ones I was supposed to like, honestly. And I did want to boo and hiss at the ones that the reader clearly wasn’t supposed to like. But other than Mrs. Gale, a photographer Maggie befriends, I found the characterization a bit uneven. And because I didn’t feel any true chemistry between Maggie and Tom, the romance, unfortunately, wasn’t as emotionally fraught as it might have been.

For a young woman struggling to understand the extent of her freedom while attempting to claim it, Faithful may resonate. For those who enjoy an atypical setting such as Yellowstone, I’d say give this one a try, see what you think.

____________________________________________________
I received an ARC of Faithful from the publisher at the ALA Midwinter Conference.

Something Like Fate ~ Susane Colsanti

Lani and Erin are lifelong best friends – and total opposites. Lani’s a down-to-earth Taurus; Erin’s a fiery Leo. Lani likes to do her own thing; Erin prefers an entourage. They’ve always had wildly different tastes, from pizza to toppings to guys.

That is, until Erin starts dating Jason.

From the minute Lani meets Jason, she can’t deny the amazing connection she feels with him. It’s like they’ve known each other their whole lives. She’s not sure if he feels it, too – but even if he does, he’s off-limits. Lani’s determined to ignore her feelings for Jason, no matter how powerful they are, rather than hurt her best friend.

Then Erin goes away for the summer – and Jason seems to appear everywhere Lani turns. How long can she keep running from the guy who just might be the love of her life? [Publisher's Summary]

In a nutshell, Something Like Fate didn’t work for me.

Lani, our first person narrator, rolled her entire life and personality into a few paragraphs shortly into the book. She was trying awfully hard to convince the reader that she was a good girl, prone to doing good deeds, good looking but humble enough to deny it. In other words, Lani was a little too good to be true. And it felt like a set-up. The quality of her character – meaning the layers of her personality paired with her ethical code – was meant to heighten the drama of her fall from grace. Other characters followed suit: The popular, self-absorbed best friend, the gay best friend, sweet and supportive, and various recognizable cliques. You could tell from page one what role each character was going to play in the story; most of the story, then, was predictable.

As I read, I couldn’t help but liken the characters to neon lights on the fritz. Blink on – authentic – blink off – not so much. Mostly it came down to dialogue because some of the conversations in the book made me pause. Like this exchange:

“Ring ring! Clue phone!”

Jason stares at me.

“The clue phone is ringing! It’s for you!”

“Oh, right. Uh…hello?”

“Hi. Is Jason there?”

“Speaking.”

This is a junior in high school speaking. A do-gooder, pseudo-popular girl talking to her crush. It seemed to me that the dialogue was uneven; half the time it would sound just fine, but then I was left to wonder if Lani and company wouldn’t have been better served by a middle school setting. The dialogue issues alongside the clear cut personalities of the characters made it hard for me to care or go beyond a superficial reading of the story. That said, credit must be given for Colsanti’s handling of Lani’s downfall. That read as authentic. Both the way the teens treated her and her reaction felt honest, real.

On top of a best friend battle royale over a boy, this story also tries to approach homophobia, environmentalism, and the bonding nature of a traumatic experience. Throw in a bit of astrology (and palm reading, tarot cards, and dream interpretation, too, for good measure.) It’s a lot to pack into 268 pages. Perhaps too much. If you feel any sort of connection to the characters, you might enjoy the mix. I wanted to feel something for them, but didn’t, and because of that I have to repeat: This one just wasn’t for me.

Gini Koch Interview & Touched by an Alien Giveaway

As you may have gleaned from reading my review of Touched by an Alien, I loved it. So much so that when the opportunity to interview Gini Koch came up I put on my “do not ask lame interview questions” cap and got on it. (Hopefully I succeeded.)

A big thank you to Gini!

Q: I know several readers whose faces scrunch up when I say “science fiction.” What would you say to those readers who go: “But I don’t like science fiction!” In other words, what do you think the appeal of the genre is? What might surprise them about it?

A: Well, what appeals to me about science fiction is that you can explore new worlds, new ideas, new species, anything you want. You can do a more intricate and far-flung storyline, or keep it small and intimate, depending on the needs of the story. And you really see an author’s imagination at work, when they’re describing new creatures and new worlds. Science fiction is fun, at least in my opinion.

I think what scares non-SF readers is the misconception that you can’t read or won’t enjoy the genre unless you have at least a degree in engineering, advanced rocket science preferred. But that’s not true for most SF out there — a good author is able to ensure that a reader who’s never taken a physics class can still understand what’s going on — and it’s definitely not true for “Touched by an Alien”. I’m not a hard SF writer, in any way. (Those looking for hard SF be warned — I love you, but I am not your girl.)

I can’t say what would surprise a new-to-science-fiction-reader because it would depend on the book they picked up. I could ramble on for days about different authors and what a reader could expect from them. But, since you’re interviewing me, I’m going to take the easier option and say what may surprise them about “Touched by an Alien” — it’s heavy on the funny, the romance, and the action. And it all takes place on Earth, so there’s a lot of familiarity in that as well.

Back to the familiar, yet oh-so-apt, comparison — if you enjoyed “Men in Black”, you’ll enjoy “Touched by an Alien”. They’re both science fiction, with a lot of humor, action and romance thrown in.

Q: Music plays a large (and awesome) role in the book and, style-wise, it’s all over the place. What other songs would Kitty have in her iTunes arsenal? Which songs are you currently partial to?

A: Oh, wow, if it’s got a beat, chances are that Kitty has it on her iPod. Kitty, like me, likes something in every musical genre, and has a lot of music. If the situation calls for it, believe me, she’ll have access to the appropriate tune because she’s a voracious collector of tunes.

Right now, I’m rocking a lot of Pink to get me going for the “work” portion of this crazy thing we call publication. Then it’ll be back to editing Book 4, “Alien Proliferation”, and my (very long) Aliens play list, which consists of a lot of Aerosmith, all of Smash Mouth, any song mentioned in any book so far (pubbed and to-be-pubbed) and other songs that just get me in the right mood for whatever scene I’m working on. I do like to mix it up, though, so you never know when I’ll switch off and suddenly it’s all Lifehouse or Motorhead or Elton John or The Ramones, or Abba, all the time. Literally, you can name a recording artist of any day, age or genre, and there’s a 90% chance I know their song/s and have at least one cut of theirs in my iPod.

I also put up what I’m listening to on a reasonably regular basis on my Playlist page (http://www.ginikoch.com/playlist.htm) should the urge overcome to know exactly what I’m listening to ‘right now’.

Q: The friendship that develops between Kitty and Reader is high on the list of my favorite things about Touched by an Alien. If they got to hang out – no aliens, no hairspray required, basically no impending doom – what would they be up to?

A: Shopping, clubbing, fine dining, traveling. If circumstances allowed, of course. They’re both human agents, meaning they both can spot and deal with trouble of a very alien nature. Folks like that don’t always get downtime.

But Reader loves to dance and so does Kitty and while Martini and Gower would be willing, and Martini is always open to giving something a go (and is a great dancer), Reader and Kitty would probably have a more wild time at a trendy club without those two along — besides, someone needs to be available to get them out of any trouble they might get into. As for shopping, due to his prior profession, Reader’s very into clothes and Kitty prefers not to shop alone. Plus they both like food and they both like traveling.

Either that or they’d just hang out, listening to Kitty’s iPod on random play, while Reader tells her stories about his time as a male model and she tells him about all the trouble she and her friends from high school and college got into.

Q: Several scenes had me laughing the kind of laugh that abruptly bubbles up, spills over, startling an unsuspecting spouse with its randomness. I’ve always wondered, is it hard to write funny? Is it instinctual, knowing when humor best serves the scene/story?

A: As the old saying goes, dying is easy, comedy is hard.

It’s very, very difficult to make people laugh, and it’s also rare when you can make the vast majority laugh (it’s impossible to please all the people all the time). Humor takes craft and timing, and while a lot of it comes naturally to me, I have to craft it all the same.

You also have to determine when you want a laugh or a chuckle, why you want it there, and if you need more or less of it for some reason. Add in that you have to keep the character’s voice consistent, especially in first person, and it’s walking a high wire.

That said, according to my friends and family, I’m a funny girl all the time. Plus, I find “writing funny” to be fun and I like the challenge. If something makes me laugh it goes in, and if it continues to make me laugh on myriad read-throughs, it stays in. To quote Gertrude Stein, “I write for myself and strangers. The strangers, dear readers, are an afterthought.” I think that’s true of most authors — we write what we like and hopefully others will like it, too.

Of course, while I want everyone to laugh when and where I want them to, I know everyone won’t. But it’s among the best feelings in the world when someone tells me they had a great time reading my book, because that’s my goal — that the reader got to escape into my book and have fun while doing so.

Q: If you had to pick one line (I know, I’m cruel) of dialogue to say “yup, that’s my favorite,” which one would it be?

A: You’re really lucky I like you. I mean, REALLY lucky. I wrote them all, I think they’re ALL good or they wouldn’t be in the book. LOL. But, okay, fine…I have so many…in a desperate attempt to choose (after HOURS of debate, I must add), I’m going with this one, Kitty’s response to Martini and Christopher while in the middle of the big Battle Royale with the in-control fuglies.

“My crazy’s working a lot better than your sanity.”

That line potentially sums up the whole book…

Q: Steven Tyler or James Hatfield?

A: Is my answer even in doubt? Steven Tyler, always and forever.

Q: Rick Castle or Mal Reynolds?

A: HANDS down the hardest interview question EVER. I canna choose, I canna choose! Oh, okay, fine…and I realize it’s a no-lose, since they’re both played by our beloved Nathan Fillion…

For the same reasons Kitty chooses Martini, I choose Castle. He’s smart, fun, funny, can be serious when needed, is successful, great family man, and is clearly looking for that one ‘right gal’ even while acting the playboy. He’s adorable in every way, so he wins. (This time.)

Q: The last book you read and loved?

A: “Small Gods” by Terry Pratchett, on a re-read.

Q: If you could spend the day with one character (not your own,) who would it be?

A: OMG, I thought this would be easy, but I’ve spent hours arguing with myself about what one character to choose. And then it hit me — great answer AND it allows me to get you for that other question.

Mal Reynolds. And we’d be spending the day in bed, thankyouverymuch.

Q: If Touched by an Alien were a flavor of ice cream, what would that flavor be called?

A: Alien Surprise or Conspiracy Theory. They would both look and taste delicious. One with nuts, one without.

Want a copy of Touched by an Alien? Just leave a comment on this post to be entered into the giveaway. I’ll draw the winner and post the name on May 28th. (Giveaway open to US addresses or anywhere The Book Depository ships to – full list here.)

The Next Few Weeks

My apologies in advance: The next couple of weeks are going to be light on reviews. I’m knee deep in summer reading lists. I work with an awesome school librarian to create the list that students will use over the summer to guide their reading. It’s a ton of fun, but a great deal of work, too. While I’m reading away for that purpose, my other reading is going on the back burner. In fact, I am, unfortunately, behind on my reviews for a few publishers. (I will get them done and posted! Promise.)

In the meantime, I have a few interviews coming up, a guest post, and my art posts will continue on. I hope you all will stick around till I can get back to a regular reviewing schedule.

Oh, and I’ve mentioned I’m going to BEA, right? *grin* I’ll be posting on that experience soon after. (So excited!)