Monday, February 18, 2013

Interview with Suzanne Sullivan + Giveaway! (INT)


*squeeeeee*
I can barely contain my excitement for this interview I did with Suzanne Sullivan, author of Christabel. Find my 5 star review of the book here. To say I loved this book is an understatement. It's one of my all-time favorites now and all I can say is everyone has gotta read it. So don't forget to enter the giveaway below because one lucky person can win the book! :D


1. What inspired you to write your first book?

So many things. I've written for magazines and had poems and short stories published but a few years ago I took a seminar in British Literature that was required for my Master's degree. (I'm a former English teacher). The first time I read Samuel Taylor Coleridge's original poem Christabel and his bio, I knew I had to write this. I had a YA Book review blog and loved YA fiction so much and this story was so unique, it just demanded to be written. Coleridge died before he was able to finish the poem and the way it ends...it made me so sad to think of a main character being left hanging (figuratively) that way. I keep waiting for his ghost to show up and demand I stop butchering his work! ;)

2. How would you describe your novel Christabel in 1 or 2 sentences?

The only way for a normal sixteen-year-old girl to defeat a centuries old demon is to unlock the secret the women in her family died protecting.

3. What was your favorite chapter (or part) to write and why?

Oh gosh. I think it would be a tie between Sam and Christabel's first meeting in the woods and the first time readers see Geraldine. I love writing scenes with tension and those are probably the two most intense.

4. Do you listen to music when you write? If so, what music?

Sometimes I do, unless I'm writing a creepy scene then I sit alone in the dark and quiet in the middle of the night and let all the little noises freak me out. For this book I played The Pistol Annies' Run Daddy Run on repeat. ;) For the book I'm writing now, a New Adult Sci-Fi Romantic Thriller called Above the Underground, I'm listening to a lot of rock and heavy metal like Red, Killswitch Engage, Fireflight, and whatever else my brother suggests. This isn't my usual but my character is in a band so music plays a big part in the story.

5. Who is your favorite author and what is it that really strikes you about their work?

This is a tough one because I read so many different genres. For YA it's Jennifer Echols hands down. She's a local author and her books are like cupcakes laced with cocaine. Sweet and addictive. (I don't actually know about cocaine but you get the idea). I've just started reading romance novels and I'm a new fan of Rachel Gibson, Laura Kaye, and Cherrie Lynn. And of course, my English teacher heart will always belong to the classics. ;)

6. Do you have anything specific that you want to say to your readers?

I love you. I love you so much. I feel like I should pay you to read my books instead of the other way around. And those of you who post reviews or drop me an e-mail to say you loved what I've written, you have no idea what that means to me. Thank you. A million times.

7. If you could jump in any book and live in that world. Which book would it be?

These are so hard. I wish I could've known you when I was writing quiz questions for ninth graders! Today I'd probably say Veronica Roth's Divergent world because it's so intense and revolution is just around the corner. I love the idea of changing the world, making history. If you ask me tomorrow it might be some sappy Nicholas Sparks love story. ;)

8. If you could have any superpower at all, what would it be?

Just one? I'd have to say the ability to heal. I've lost a lot of loved ones to car accidents, cancer, and heart disease. Some on long suffering roads, and there's not much I wouldn't give to be able to able to relieve their pain if I could.

9. What 3 books would you recommend people to read?

1. Les Miserables by Victor Hugo will change your life.

2. At least one novel by a Bronte sister. Forbidden affairs, struggle, revenge, crazy women in the attic--what's not to love?
3. Something shameful that they buy only on eReader so no one will see what they've got. A guilty pleasure book is a must! Whether you're all grown up and it's the most recent Pretty Little Liars novel, or Fifty Shades, or whatever, everyone should have that one book that they can't get enough of.

10. Tell us a random thing about yourself.

I collect books about random road trips. If a road trip appears, with convenient store snacks, bootlegged music, and a cute boy, I have to have it. Regardless of genre. ;)

Thanks for having me Stephanie! And thanks again for the review, I will treasure it always!
For more on what I'm working on, you can visit www.suziesullivanwrites.tumblr.com/mybooks.



~About the author:
Suzanne SullivanSuzanne Sullivan lives in Birmingham, Alabama with her husband and daughter. Formerly a high school English teacher, she can now be found conducting baking experiments by day and writing stories in the dark by night.

Christabel is Book One in the Soul Seekers trilogy she has written.


~About the book:
Sixteen-year-old Christabel Baron has always been close with the single father that raised her, until he decides she needs a live-in math tutor. As if being a teenager with a babysitter isn’t bad enough, Christabel’s new houseguest is beautiful but terrifying Geraldine Giroux, a redhead with a dark past who possesses an eerie ability to control Christabel’s father.

Soon Geraldine snakes her way into every aspect of Christabel’s world in an attempt to destroy it. If Christabel can’t get everyone else to see Geraldine for the soul-sucking succubus that she is, her life might be over--literally.








How I loved this interview and answers!
Now on to the giveaway!

PRIZE:

Winner's choice of mobi or epub format of Christabel by Suzanne Sullivan!

There will be 5 winners! :D

Open for everyone!


a Rafflecopter giveaway



75 comments:

  1. I'd like that she'd jump in Divergent, because it's one of my favorite books

    ReplyDelete
  2. Super hero question! I really don't know why, but healer never occurred to me over invisibility or super strength or the other cliched answers, but I think I'd choose healing too!

    ReplyDelete
  3. I'd like when it to question
    "If you could jump in any book and live in that world. Which book would it be?"
    Always have it on my mind. LOL!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Who is your favorite author and what is it that really strikes you about their work?


    I'm always interested in who a writer enjoys reading

    ReplyDelete
  5. Healing! What a great super hero ability. I like that answer :)

    ReplyDelete
  6. I totally agree with you on picking the ability to heal. If I could have a super power that one would be it. :)

    ReplyDelete
  7. I always love questions about inspiration, favorite authors .. a way to find about good ones!
    Karina V

    ReplyDelete
  8. I like how for a scary scene she sits in the dark and lets the night noises scare her!!

    ReplyDelete
  9. I like that she listened to Pistol Annies' Run Daddy Run. Freaking love that song!

    ReplyDelete
  10. I will say the first one. I love to know what inspires authors to write :)

    ReplyDelete
  11. The superhero question The ability to heal would be great.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Jumping into Divergent would be awesome.

    ReplyDelete
  13. I like that she collect books about random road trips

    ReplyDelete
  14. Favorite question is asking about 3 books to recommend!

    ReplyDelete
  15. 6- Because I think that is just awesome, that it means so much to her what her readers think.
    7- Divergent would be freakin cool, but also pretty darn scary. If someone asked me this same question, my answer would change pretty much every day too!
    8-Absolutely no question, the ability to heal. Even if healing others hurt myself, it would be absolutely, without a doubt, worth it. I have lost many, many loved ones, and if I could have prevented it, nothing would have stopped me.

    ReplyDelete
  16. the superpower question. I think it's selfless and noble to choose the ability to heal . =)

    ReplyDelete
  17. The Superpower question! It's always cool to see what powers a person would choose to have :)

    ReplyDelete
  18. The super power question, I always think it says alot about a person, which one he/she chooses. And I do believe it is the first time I heard someone actually choose healing.

    ReplyDelete
  19. I love the superpower question. It's just so interesting, especially after reading Pivot Point...

    ReplyDelete
  20. Stephanie,

    I am overwhelmed at the response to this post! Be still my heart! Can we give away 5 copies instead of 1? Just send me the winners info when you have it and I'll be more than happy to send! Thanks again!

    Best,
    Suzanne

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Sure! :D That would be awesome actually. More winners means more people will read your amazing book!

      Delete
  21. I liked the answer to questions 2&3. The book blurb is quite enticing on it own but these helps seal the deal. Thanks for sharing and for the wonder giveaway. Really looking forward to reading Christabel.

    ReplyDelete
  22. #7 definitely! I love thinking about what I might be like in any given world.

    ReplyDelete
  23. 8. If you could have any superpower at all, what would it be?

    ReplyDelete
  24. I love the question about which book you would like to jump into. You choose an exciting world!

    ReplyDelete
  25. I like this 'if you could jump in any book' question. I DEFINITELY agree that it's hard. There are so many that I'd love to jump int he middle of, but at the same time, most of my favorite books, I might think I want to get into, but really wouldn't (like.. Hunger Games).

    ReplyDelete
  26. I love the superhero question, very nice! Thanks a lot for the giveaway!

    ReplyDelete
  27. I like the tell us something random question

    ReplyDelete
  28. I love when you ask her "If you could have any superpower at all, what would it be?"

    ReplyDelete
  29. I love that she wanted the ability to heal, I would have never thought of that. I also love that she wanted to jump into Divergent, I love that book :)

    ReplyDelete
  30. I like that she appreciates and loves all her readers. :)

    ReplyDelete
  31. What music she listens to while she writes--I love seeing peoples music choices! Nice interview, and thanks for the giveaway!

    ReplyDelete
  32. The random thing question was my favorite. I love learning random things about people. It's always very interesting what they choose to reveal!

    ReplyDelete
  33. Loved her answer to the "If you could jump in any book and live in that world. Which book would it be?" question! :D

    ReplyDelete
  34. 8. If you could have any superpower at all, what would it be?

    "Just one? I'd have to say the ability to heal. I've lost a lot of loved ones to car accidents, cancer, and heart disease. Some on long suffering roads, and there's not much I wouldn't give to be able to able to relieve their pain if I could."


    I always like this question and love peoples answers.

    ReplyDelete
  35. If you could have any superpower at all, what would it be? I've always loved this question—it can be a bit revealing—and "to heal" is a wonderful answer.

    ReplyDelete
  36. I love that she would choose healing as her superpower! That is what I would choose for much the same reason! Great interview!

    ReplyDelete
  37. I loved the Question and Answer of #9 the most. I like to hear what a writer would like the world to experience and the answers were so great it took my breath away.

    Judy Peterson
    strawberryrose@earthlink.net

    ReplyDelete
  38. Love the answer to question num 2!
    Jenna_bearden_10152005(at)yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  39. I'd go with the ability to heal as well!

    darlenesbooknook at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  40. The book recommendations were great:)

    ReplyDelete
  41. If you could jump in any book and live in that world. Which book would it be?

    ReplyDelete
  42. My favourite is "If you could jump in any book and live in that world. Which book would it be

    ReplyDelete
  43. If you could jump in any book and live in that world. Which book would it be

    ReplyDelete
  44. tell us a random thing about yourself

    ReplyDelete
  45. What was your favorite chapter (or part) to write and why - gives an insight into the process

    ReplyDelete
  46. What 3 books would you recommend people to read?

    Always interested to see which authors are recommended by favourite authors and means I have to read them (if I haven't already). Good luck to all x

    ReplyDelete
  47. My favourite part of the interview was Suzanne's answers to her favourite books/authors. I love the books she mentioned and would love to read her book as I'm sure these author's have also influenced her work.

    ReplyDelete
  48. Count me in please, i have to admit that i too loved the superpower question!!

    ReplyDelete
  49. That she would choose healing as her superpower makes he sound lovely :)

    ReplyDelete
  50. My Favorite question has to be - If you could jump in any book and live in that world. Which book would it be? It really got me thinking about which book I'd dive into

    ReplyDelete
  51. I like where she was asked is there anything specific you want to say to your readers she says I love you, I love you

    ReplyDelete
  52. I loved the super power question and answer

    ReplyDelete
  53. I collect books about random road trips.-- Like my family always planing the next Trip

    ReplyDelete
  54. 7. If you could jump in any book and live in that world. Which book would it be - this would be hard for me as I am often transported into another world with my books

    ReplyDelete
  55. 1. What inspired you to write your first book?

    Its so hard to get a book published so spending time writing a story when you know the odds are so stacked against you.

    ReplyDelete
  56. . Les Miserables by Victor Hugo will change your life.
    I'm dying for reading that book!

    ReplyDelete
  57. Favorite was part of the answer to question 7. "These are so hard. I wish I could've known you when I was writing quiz questions for ninth graders!" You do ask tough questions! :P Thanks for the giveaway!

    ReplyDelete
  58. I like that Suzanne also likes to read guilty pleasures via her eReader ;-)

    ReplyDelete
  59. What 3 books would you recommend - it is always great to get an authors point of view on this

    ReplyDelete
  60. If you could jump in any book and live in that world. Which book would it be?

    ReplyDelete
  61. I liked the first one about the author. I find it interesting to know why authors starts writing and what inspires them to write that particular thing.

    ReplyDelete
  62. I liked her answer to the jump into any book question

    ReplyDelete
  63. the superhero/power question

    ReplyDelete
  64. what a great Easter treat for my daughter who is about to finish her end of year 2 university exams

    ReplyDelete
  65. I love all the answers! Thanks, everyone! :D

    ReplyDelete
  66. My favourite is the one in which she was asked in what book world she would like to jump

    ReplyDelete

Share your thoughts! ♥