Author Interview Kelly Keaton

Today I have Kelly Keaton, author of Darkness Becomes Her and the upcoming sequel A Beautiful Evil. It is such a pleasure to have Kelly here as I am a huge fan of DBH!

Please introduce yourself. 

I'm Kelly. I write Young Adult books. *waves*

What inspired you to become a writer and where did you get the inspiration for Darkness Becomes Her?

I've always been inspired to tell stories. But I was inspired to write fiction as my profession when I was in high school. My English teacher had us turn in 2 pages every Friday of whatever we wanted to write about. At the time, I was reading Anne Rice, Mary Stewart, and Marion Zimmer Bradley and I just thought, "I want to do this, too."  I decided fiction was how I wanted to relay all my crazy ideas, and writing those Friday papers . . . something just clicked, I guess.
 The inspiration for DBH came from my personal loves and wanting to combine them. Mythology. New Orleans. Strange beings. It all sort of coalesced into what ended up being DBH.
Have you always wanted to be a writer?

As far back as I can remember, I have always created fictional things in my head. I think I was just born with a creative streak and a big penchant for daydreaming. I didn't know I wanted to express this creativity as a writer per se. When I was growing up, I expressed it in writing, drawing, putting on plays...  But high school is where I really started focusing on the written word and that's where I stayed. (Though I do still draw).

What is your schedule like when you are writing?
I'm not a very structured person. My writing time is from about 9am-3:30pm, because the house is quiet and my kids are in school then. Some of this time is taken up answering emails, and the promo and business side of writing, but I try very hard to parcel those out so that writing takes the majority of that quiet time. Sometimes when I'm under deadline or need to return revisions quickly, I write at night and weekends.

What was one of the most surprising things you learned in creating your books?

I guess what surprised me most is how my writing process has changed, and how what works for me is always different for each book. Early on, before I sold, I wrote manuscripts in the same general way. Outlining, mapping character arcs, and so on. Now, I just let the story come however it wants to. If that means writing a few chapters and then outlining a few, that's what I do. If it means writing the ending first, I go with it and let the creativity come out how it wants. This has become my process, and if someone told me that's how it would be years ago, I'm not sure I would've believed them!

Do you have any advice for aspiring writers?

Relax. Don't get so caught up in formatting, and perfection, and thinking you have to write a certain way in order to begin your book. Just write. Get words on paper. Get to the end. And then you have something to format, and something to craft into perfection. Everyone's process is different. And it's okay to skip scenes, or put in placeholders if you're not feeling it. Don't sit around and wait to be inspired by the next scene. Write another scene, write the ending, write "they fight" and move on if you're not feeling the fight scene yet. The thing about writing is that you're gonna go back and revise, revise, revise. The point is to have something to revise. 

 Have you ever suffered from writers block and, if so, how do you get around it?

Sure, but again, it's all about moving forward. Writers block is a block you simply move around. If I hit a wall and I don't know what to write, what should happen, or I'm not feeling it, I leave a note like: "Figure out later' or "They do x,y,z" (there have been times where I've written, "Blah, blah, blah"). And I move on. See ya, Block! :) Deadlines and contracts make it so that I can't give time staring at that block. You learn to write through the tough spots and return to it later. You'd be amazed at how you can see more clearly once the draft is done, and what now should happen in those 'blah' spots.

How many books have you written to date? Which is your favourite?

I wrote six novel length manuscripts before being published (none of which sold). And I've written six contracted novels to date (Four adults- the 4th to release this summer, and two YAs, the 2nd to release in Feb.).  My favorites so far is THE HOUR OF DUST & ASHES, which is one of my adult urban fantasies that I write as Kelly Gay. And I love A BEAUTIFUL EVIL, the YA sequel that coming out soon. 

If you had a chance to change anything in your books what would you change and why?

I'd change a lot of things. That's the thing about being a writer. There will always be a better word or better sentence or better way to show something. Having the distance of months and years, and then reading my work -- I'd always find something to change.   
 
What was the hardest part of writing your books?

Managing my time well enough to write them without waiting to the last minute like I always do. Not good.

What was your favourite book of 2011, apart from your own?

Too hard to answer! Loved CLOCKWORK ANGEL, GRAVEMINDER, HOUNDED, THE THRONE OF FIRE, INVINCIBLE...
 
Is there anything you would like to say to your readers?

Thank you! I've been so lucky to have met, online and off, so many wonderful readers. The support for the series is enormously appreciated!! *Sends warm fuzzies*


Finally, where can we find out more about you and your books? You can check me out at www.kellykeaton.net. There you'll find links to FB, Twitter, and info about the books.

And thanks so much for having me Leona! :-)

You can read my review of Darkness becomes her here.
 

Review: Glow by Amy Kathleen Ryan

Summary from Goodreads:
What if you were bound for a new world, about to pledge your life to someone you'd been promised to since birth, and one unexpected violent attack made survival—not love—the issue?

Out in the murky nebula lurks an unseen enemy: the New Horizon. On its way to populate a distant planet in the wake of Earth's collapse, the ship's crew has been unable to conceive a generation to continue its mission. They need young girls desperately, or their zealous leader's efforts will fail. Onboard their sister ship, the Empyrean, the unsuspecting families don't know an attack is being mounted that could claim the most important among them...

Fifteen-year-old Waverly is part of the first generation to be successfully conceived in deep space; she was born on the Empyrean, and the large farming vessel is all she knows. Her concerns are those of any teenager—until Kieran Alden proposes to her. The handsome captain-to-be has everything Waverly could ever want in a husband, and with the pressure to start having children, everyone is sure he's the best choice. Except for Waverly, who wants more from life than marriage—and is secretly intrigued by the shy, darkly brilliant Seth.

But when the Empyrean faces sudden attack by their assumed allies, they quickly find out that the enemies aren't all from the outside.


The cover of this book made me wary as I've found that some books that have awsome covers don't live up to what I tend to expect from them. Oh but this one certainly did!

I began this book wearily, not knowing what to expect but immediately I was sucked into the story of why the characters were where they found themselves. I'm a huge fan of people going into space so this book was right up my street!

I have this tendancy of deciding on wether or not I will enjoy a book or even if I will keep reading it! If you're not a big fan of slow beginnings you have no need to worry while reading this, the action begins very quickly and it gets addictive after that. I stayed up until 3.35 reading it and no matter how hard I tried to stop I just couldn't! I was hooked!

I love Waverly so much. I couldn't get over how brave she was throughout some terrible incidents that would cripple lots of others with fear. She develops beautifully as a character. She started out as a strong character and ended as a hm what word could we use? Well just imagibe something really strong and you have Waverlys character. Amy Kathleen Ryan wrote Waverley in an amazing way that made her relatable and you really connected with her. She is protecive and is wiser than most fifteen year old girls. I suppose living on the Empyrean would do that to you. There seems to be a lot of focuse on the fact that girls seem to be expected to have loads of children early on. It would be difficult to deal with such pressure but somehow she manages it.

Kierans determination really surprised me, most of the characters gave up after a certain incident happened, yet he always had his eye on the goal. He clearly loves Waverly and that makes me love him. He doesn't care what anyone thinks of him as long as he has Waverly. I was shocked by the things that he had to suffer and was more than happy when he got better. I couldn't believe how much he changed thoughout the book (I don't think it was a good kind of change either).

Seth. Ugh, I hate Seth. He's one of those characters that remind you of someone you know. Lets face it we know at least one person like him, maybe not as extreme as he is but the have many of the traits that Seth has. At the beginning I thought that Seth would be nice, oh how I was wrong. I shall leave it there with Seth so as not to ruin the book.

The events that unfolded in the book were written in such a way that made my heart beat and made me look around my room just to be sure. I love books that do that! Its always enjoyable to read events like that in books even if you get slightly freaked out. I can not get over the little twist at the end! I mean talk about a cliffhanger. It left me turning the next page and going "NO! You can't end it yet!".

Trust me that reading this book will not be a waste of your time!

What I'm reading Tuesday

Every Tuesday I shall tell you what I am reading and what I shall be reading after that.

This Tuesday I am reading Glow by Amy Kathleen Ryan (review to come). I love the cover of this, its gorgeous.

When I have finished I am going to read You against me by Jenny Downham (review to come)










If there is any book you would like me to review please comment under this post and I shall get the book to review as soon as I can.
I hope you all had a happy and healthy new year and I wish you all the best in 2012!
Happy Reading!

Review: Destined by P.C & Kristin Cast

In Destined, the forces of Light and Dark collide as their epic struggle focuses on Tulsa's House of Night. Zoey is home where she belongs, safe with her Guardian Warrior, Stark, by her side and preparing to face off against Neferet. Kalona has released his hold on Rephaim, and, through Nyx's gift of a human form, he and Stevie Rae are finally able to be together if Rephaim can truly walk the path of the Goddess and stay free of his father's shadow.

But is Zoey really safe? Does she truly know those who are closest to her? And will love win when it is tested by the very soul of Darkness? Find out what s destined in the next thrilling chapter of the House of Night series.


I honestly don't know why I decided to read this book, given the fact that I haven't liked the series since book 3 Chosen.

I think that this series is dragging out way to much and its gotten beyond boring. And this is the only series of books that I can think of that I don't like the main character.

I don't like the main character, Zoey. In my opinion she is self centered and annoying. In fact annoying doesn't even get near to what she is. When I began reading this series I didn't mind Zoey but after I finished Chosen and Zoey had shown what she was really like I didn't like her and I haven't liked her since. I am wonderstruck at how all the characters seem to love her so much! Its a mystery to me.

Erik! Erik is the only character I like, and he's been scarce since chosen. Hey thats probably why I haven't liked it? Honestly so many people dislike Erik and I don't know why? He's awsome and he has perfect reason or acting like he does and I show no sympathy towards Zoey.

Stark. Yikes I hate Stark almost as much as I hate Zoey. Yes I realise that I have really no reason fofr reading these books, but I have this thing that I have to finish a series when I start it. Its rather annoying really. I have a question, why does everyone love Stark so much? I honestly don't understand it.

I hate writing bad reviews because it makes me feel mean, but if I don't like something I have to say I don' like it.

I don't think theres really any point in me saying anything about the other characters because all I will say is that I don't like them because.... and I'm sure you don't want to read it.

I'm giving this book 2 out of 5 just for the fact that its not the worst book I've read so I can't put it at 1.

Review: Ashes by Ilsa J. Bick

Seventeen-year-old Alex is hiking through the wilderness when it happens: an earth-shattering electromagnetic pulse that destroys almost everything.

Survivors are divided between those who have developed a superhuman sense and those who have aquired a taste for human flesh. These flesh-hunters stalk the land: hungry, ruthless and increasingly clever...

Alex meets Tom, a younge army veteran, and Ellie, a lost girl. They will fight together and be torn apart, but Alex must face the most difficult question of all:
In such a vastly changed world, who can you trust?

 I will not lie and say that this book had me from the word go. As a matter of fact it took a few chapters for me to really get into it. I haven't read any zombie apocoliptic books so I didn't know what to expect. Trust whatever I was expecting, this book was nothing like what I thought it was going to be.

The main character Alex is awsome and I love her. I immediately liked her. She suffers from a brain tumor and I can tell you the exact moment that I really felt for her. Because my left hand shakes, Alex thought. Because I can't smell anything. Because I've got a headful of teeny, tiny little rocks that aren't working and that means more regular chemo and radiotherapy and I am so sick of losing my hair and puking my guts out for nothing and doing schoolwork in bed, and I'm not going inito some hospice. Because, for once, I'm calling the shots. My heart skipped a beat when I read that and I had deep sympathy towards her. She has this view of the way people react to her news of her having a brain tumour. She believes they look at her in a sort of 'rather her then me'. On to a lighter note, Alex is selfless and kind. At first she is easily aggravated but she gradually 'settles down'. I thought she was a saint the way she didn't get angry at Ellie.

Ellie. Hm well lets just say she's annoying and bratty. However, as the book goes on she gets nicer and slightly less annoying. However there is a part in the book that really annoys me. If you read it you may feel the same way.

TOM! I LOVE TOM! Okay when he is first introduced I was slightly wary of him. I mean after reading some details that happened earlier in the book you really can't blame me. All I shall say about the matter is that involved this line: No, she thought. No, please, God, I'm not seeing this. Let your imagination do the rest. Anyway back to Tom, he is brave. While reading it I felt the same way towards him as Alex did. There were parts in the book that I got really worried for him.

Okay the story. Yikes did it creep me out. One night I stayed up until 4 in the morning reading it. Lets just say it was a bad idea! A really bad idea. This book left me on edge and I didn't like reading it at night. It is so well written that I really got creeped out just by reading it with no one else in the room. The story is so realistic it could happen tomorrow. Thats how I felt the entire way while I was reading it. I spent the entire time thinking this could happen right now, or tomorrow. Thats how strong the writing was. I mean I love it but it creeped me out big time!

Oh the ending! What a way to end a book! Let me say I was in no way expecting the ending. Not in my wildest dreams would I have expected it. I honestly cannot wait for the next book!

Originally this book was a 5 but then came some nearly 28 days later scenes and it went down to a four. Honestly the only reason it isn't a 5 is because of the slightly gorey scenes. This book is not for the faint hearted.