Post by Ivy on Jun 30, 2009 21:34:04 GMT -5
Interview with Book Reader Times
1.) Can you please tell us about yourself?
Hi, my name is Alyson Noël and I write books and stuff.
I’m also the #1 New York Times, and USA Today and Publisher’s Weekly bestselling, award-winning, author of FAKING 19, ART GEEKS AND PROM QUEENS, LAGUNA COVE, FLY ME TO THE MOON, KISS & BLOG, SAVING ZOE, CRUEL SUMMER, FIRST KISS (THEN TELL)- an anthology, and the IMMORTALS series including: EVERMORE, BLUE MOON, SHADOWLAND (Jan 2010), and more to come in 2010/11/12. I was born and raised in Orange County, California, have lived in both Mykonos and Manhattan but am now back in The OC where I live and write fulltime.
2.) What or who inspired you to become a writer?
I was always an avid reader, raised by a mom who introduced me to the magic of books early on. But it wasn’t until I read Judy Blume’s ARE YOU THERE GOD? IT’S ME, MARGARET, that I knew I wanted to be a writer too. So I started writing really dreadful poetry in junior high, and by high school took to writing short stories that I used to hand in instead of the essays my teachers assigned. And though I took various writing classes through the years, it wasn’t until the tragic events of 9/11 when I was working as a flight attendant in NYC and figured a job change might be in order. That’s when I finally sat down, finished the manuscript that’d been living in my head for decades, and actively went after my dream!
3.) Can you please tell us about the Immortals Series?
THE IMMORTALS begins with EVERMORE, which is the story of Ever, a normal teen who suffers a near death experience that leaves her with tremendous psychic powers she doesn’t want. And just as she’s adjusting to her new life, she meets a boy who’s even more mysterious than her, and learns they’re connected in a very unexpected way.
BLUE MOON, SHADOWLAND, and the remaining books (still untitled!) will continue to follow Ever and Damen’s story and the obstacles they’ll face.
The series was inspired by grief. A few years ago I lost three people I loved in five months, and shortly after that I nearly lost my husband to leukemia (he’s in full remission now!). Experiencing that sort of intense grief and loss got me thinking a lot about life and death, mortality and immortality, the bonds that tie us even after a loved one is gone, and how our youth loving culture sort of seeks physical immortality by trying to remain youthful looking for as long as we can—and yet, what would happen if we really could achieve it? What would it mean for us, our loved ones, society in general? And since I’ve been interested in all things paranormal since I was a kid, Ever and Damen’s story seemed like the perfect vehicle to explore all of those themes
4.) How did you come up with Ever and Damen’s personality?
Ever was easy as I was also going through a lot of grief at the time and it really mirrored hers. Damen, on the other hand, was a bit trickier. He was the first of all of my characters who took a significant detour along the way. In the early draft he was too much of a nice guy—not that I have anything against nice guys, I married one—but as I got to know him better, I realized that anyone that good looking, with that much magic at his disposal, and that many years under his belt, just might have a bit more of a past. And as soon as I realized that he became much more complex—tortured, complicated, with good intentions but a sizeable amount of baggage. And you know, I like him so much better now!
5.) What are your views in reincarnation?
I like what Eleanor Roosevelt reportedly said (and I’m paraphrasing here!), that she didn’t think it would be any more unusual for her to show up in another life, than the one she was currently in!
I like to keep an open mind—the universe is vast, and mysterious, and holds many secrets—and as an author, that’s just the way I like it since it spawns all kinds of ideas!
6.) Who is your favorite character in this series? Why?
Probably Ever because I have a lot of empathy for her predicament—her guilt over the accident that caused her family’s demise—her guilt for encouraging her little sister Riley to hang around the earth plane—she’s so young and burdened and wants desperately to do the right thing—but she isn’t always sure what that is.
7.) What kind of things can we expect in the book “Blue Moon”? Can you give is any hints?
Well, without giving away any spoilers, I’ll say that I really enjoyed writing BLUE MOON because in it, Ever is really tested. Faced with some heart wrenching decisions where she’s forced to choose between her past and present, and must summon the strength to do what’s right on a bigger, more universal level, and not just a personal one. She’s faced with some very big obstacles in this book and the ones to follow!
8.) How many books are you planning to write in this series?
There will be more than five books for sure!
9.) What kind of books did you read before you became a writer?
I read everything! Fiction, Non-fiction, genre, literary—you name it! Though I’ve always been partial to YA, gothics, paranormals, and thrillers! I used to devour my mom’s Victoria Holts, Daphne du Mauriers, and Stephen Kings as a kid—I couldn’t get enough of that stuff and still love them today!
10.) Who is your favorite author?
Oh, I have many, but Judy Blume gets big kudos for writing the truth about adolescence in such an open and frank way that made me want to be a writer too, and JD Salinger—I’ve read his books over and over again, I just love him!
11.) Do you have a favorite fictional character? If yes, who and why?
Holden Caulfield from CATCHER IN THE RYE. He’s just so dang empathetic and I could totally relate to his feelings of alienation because that’s how I felt through most of high school.
12.) If you could go back and change anything in your books, what would it be?
No book is ever truly finished, and when I do go back and re-read them I can’t help but notice a gazillion little things I’d change if I could. But it’s always the small stuff—the obsessive word tweaking that can go on forever if you allow it. So I just remind myself it was the best I could do at the time and let it go. The big stuff, like the plot and the characters, I’m happy to leave as is.
13.) Will Riley be back in Blue Moon?
She will—though not quite in the same capacity as before. But you’ll definitely being seeing a lot more of her in the future!
14.) What books are you currently reading?
Lots and lots of metaphysical, research, type books! It’s been awhile since I read a book purely for fun. Though I look forward to the day as my TBR stacks are multiplying!
A big thank you to Alison Noel for accepting to do the interview with Book Reader Times. ;D
1.) Can you please tell us about yourself?
Hi, my name is Alyson Noël and I write books and stuff.
I’m also the #1 New York Times, and USA Today and Publisher’s Weekly bestselling, award-winning, author of FAKING 19, ART GEEKS AND PROM QUEENS, LAGUNA COVE, FLY ME TO THE MOON, KISS & BLOG, SAVING ZOE, CRUEL SUMMER, FIRST KISS (THEN TELL)- an anthology, and the IMMORTALS series including: EVERMORE, BLUE MOON, SHADOWLAND (Jan 2010), and more to come in 2010/11/12. I was born and raised in Orange County, California, have lived in both Mykonos and Manhattan but am now back in The OC where I live and write fulltime.
2.) What or who inspired you to become a writer?
I was always an avid reader, raised by a mom who introduced me to the magic of books early on. But it wasn’t until I read Judy Blume’s ARE YOU THERE GOD? IT’S ME, MARGARET, that I knew I wanted to be a writer too. So I started writing really dreadful poetry in junior high, and by high school took to writing short stories that I used to hand in instead of the essays my teachers assigned. And though I took various writing classes through the years, it wasn’t until the tragic events of 9/11 when I was working as a flight attendant in NYC and figured a job change might be in order. That’s when I finally sat down, finished the manuscript that’d been living in my head for decades, and actively went after my dream!
3.) Can you please tell us about the Immortals Series?
THE IMMORTALS begins with EVERMORE, which is the story of Ever, a normal teen who suffers a near death experience that leaves her with tremendous psychic powers she doesn’t want. And just as she’s adjusting to her new life, she meets a boy who’s even more mysterious than her, and learns they’re connected in a very unexpected way.
BLUE MOON, SHADOWLAND, and the remaining books (still untitled!) will continue to follow Ever and Damen’s story and the obstacles they’ll face.
The series was inspired by grief. A few years ago I lost three people I loved in five months, and shortly after that I nearly lost my husband to leukemia (he’s in full remission now!). Experiencing that sort of intense grief and loss got me thinking a lot about life and death, mortality and immortality, the bonds that tie us even after a loved one is gone, and how our youth loving culture sort of seeks physical immortality by trying to remain youthful looking for as long as we can—and yet, what would happen if we really could achieve it? What would it mean for us, our loved ones, society in general? And since I’ve been interested in all things paranormal since I was a kid, Ever and Damen’s story seemed like the perfect vehicle to explore all of those themes
4.) How did you come up with Ever and Damen’s personality?
Ever was easy as I was also going through a lot of grief at the time and it really mirrored hers. Damen, on the other hand, was a bit trickier. He was the first of all of my characters who took a significant detour along the way. In the early draft he was too much of a nice guy—not that I have anything against nice guys, I married one—but as I got to know him better, I realized that anyone that good looking, with that much magic at his disposal, and that many years under his belt, just might have a bit more of a past. And as soon as I realized that he became much more complex—tortured, complicated, with good intentions but a sizeable amount of baggage. And you know, I like him so much better now!
5.) What are your views in reincarnation?
I like what Eleanor Roosevelt reportedly said (and I’m paraphrasing here!), that she didn’t think it would be any more unusual for her to show up in another life, than the one she was currently in!
I like to keep an open mind—the universe is vast, and mysterious, and holds many secrets—and as an author, that’s just the way I like it since it spawns all kinds of ideas!
6.) Who is your favorite character in this series? Why?
Probably Ever because I have a lot of empathy for her predicament—her guilt over the accident that caused her family’s demise—her guilt for encouraging her little sister Riley to hang around the earth plane—she’s so young and burdened and wants desperately to do the right thing—but she isn’t always sure what that is.
7.) What kind of things can we expect in the book “Blue Moon”? Can you give is any hints?
Well, without giving away any spoilers, I’ll say that I really enjoyed writing BLUE MOON because in it, Ever is really tested. Faced with some heart wrenching decisions where she’s forced to choose between her past and present, and must summon the strength to do what’s right on a bigger, more universal level, and not just a personal one. She’s faced with some very big obstacles in this book and the ones to follow!
8.) How many books are you planning to write in this series?
There will be more than five books for sure!
9.) What kind of books did you read before you became a writer?
I read everything! Fiction, Non-fiction, genre, literary—you name it! Though I’ve always been partial to YA, gothics, paranormals, and thrillers! I used to devour my mom’s Victoria Holts, Daphne du Mauriers, and Stephen Kings as a kid—I couldn’t get enough of that stuff and still love them today!
10.) Who is your favorite author?
Oh, I have many, but Judy Blume gets big kudos for writing the truth about adolescence in such an open and frank way that made me want to be a writer too, and JD Salinger—I’ve read his books over and over again, I just love him!
11.) Do you have a favorite fictional character? If yes, who and why?
Holden Caulfield from CATCHER IN THE RYE. He’s just so dang empathetic and I could totally relate to his feelings of alienation because that’s how I felt through most of high school.
12.) If you could go back and change anything in your books, what would it be?
No book is ever truly finished, and when I do go back and re-read them I can’t help but notice a gazillion little things I’d change if I could. But it’s always the small stuff—the obsessive word tweaking that can go on forever if you allow it. So I just remind myself it was the best I could do at the time and let it go. The big stuff, like the plot and the characters, I’m happy to leave as is.
13.) Will Riley be back in Blue Moon?
She will—though not quite in the same capacity as before. But you’ll definitely being seeing a lot more of her in the future!
14.) What books are you currently reading?
Lots and lots of metaphysical, research, type books! It’s been awhile since I read a book purely for fun. Though I look forward to the day as my TBR stacks are multiplying!
A big thank you to Alison Noel for accepting to do the interview with Book Reader Times. ;D
