Loading ...Interview, Chat and Contest with Author Sarah Rees Brennan
A big welcome to our readers today! Be sure to read to the end of the interview to find out how to WIN the fabulous prizes being offered up.
PLEASE NOTE: This is not a fixed time event, the post just goes live at 10:30 am CDT. You can stop by any time during the day or evening and leave your questions and chat.
PLEASE KEEP SPOILERS TO A MINIMUM. Not all of the readers today have read Sarah’s book.
Interview:
Hi Sarah!
Welcome to Bitten by Books, we are excited to have you here today!
I would like to thank you taking the time to join us for the question and answer session with our readers. It has been very interesting to get to know more about you and what makes you tick as a writer! Readers, if you haven’t done so already please stop by and get your copy of Sarah’s newest book The Demon’s Lexicon
BBB: What are the most challenging and the most rewarding aspects of writing?
SRB: The most challenging, I think, is just forcing yourself to write when confronted with laziness or fear or a blank page or a tricky plotline: you don’t tell yourself you won’t write, but you do say ‘I won’t write now’ and then the time stretches on, and it’s far too easy to let it get away from you.
And then the most rewarding is when you do force yourself to write, and there’s that moment when you realise you haven’t even been thinking, that everything has been flowing under your fingers like a tapestry unrolling in brilliant colours, and you’re so happy.
Of course the next day you go back and look at that tapestry, and you think to yourself ‘dear god, what? Explosions are NOWHERE in the chapter plan…’ but while it lasts, it’s the best feeling in the world.
BBB: Do you consider your writing fantasy or urban fantasy and do you think it is important to distinguish between the two?
SRB: I write urban fantasy and - well, yes, I do think it’s important to distinguish between the two. Which is not to say I don’t love and wouldn’t write high fantasy, but many people think that all fantasy is wizards and unicorns in a far-off land, and what I really love about urban fantasy (and what I’d like people to think about the books I’m writing now) is that you can have a wizard sitting two seats down from you at a bar, having a packet of crisps, or a unicorn chasing you through a bad part of town. I love all the excitement and the reality you can get when you move the magic next door.
BBB: Are you attracted to the Nicks or the Alans and why?
SRB: Oh, the good, bookworm guys or the mad, bad and dangerous to even pass in the street kind? Well… I do meet more of the Alan type, since I am fond of bookshops, but I have to say it depends. Nobody really fits neatly into a mould - not the people you meet, or the characters in a book, not if it’s a good book. The beautiful, unreliable guy might never lie to you… whereas there could be a whole world of secrets behind the nice guy’s eyes.
BBB: I want to hear more about “Hitching rides in fire engines” while living in New York. Care to explain?
SRB: Well, my flatmate at the time was a vegan, and a fabulous girl. I was happy to eat vegetarian in the flat as she wanted, but occasionally I got a huge craving. So sometimes I went down the local fire station where I sat and ate my bacon sandwich. I explained why I was there, and they completely gave me permission! They seemed to think of me as some kind of strange Irish pet. And a couple of times, when the weather was beastly awful, they gave me a lift home in a fire engine. I think this is the very definition of a smokin’ hot ride…
BBB: How much research do you do for your books? How much of it actually gets used in the finished book?
SRB: Oh you make me confess a sad truth. You do SO MUCH research, and then hardly any of it ends up in the book. I remember talking to the local mechanic at length about cars, as my hero works part-time in a garage, and saying monumentally stupid things like ‘No, I don’t have a car. IMAGINE I have a car’ as the poor mechanics said sadly ‘We don’t fix imaginary cars’ and then all the technical jargon I’d picked up just sounded incredibly dry on the page. I’m assured this happens to everyone. Pages and pages of research adds up to about one or two lines on the page. But they sound like you know what you’re talking about (I hope!)
BBB: How do you keep track of your world building?
SRB: Through careful, meticulous notes, a near-flawless memory and a conscientiously kept-up whiteboard. Any reports you have heard of me flying desperately down to check the first book or crawling under my bed chewing through dustballs to get to crumpled-up notes are dirty lies.
BBB: If you could be any literary character, who would you be?
SRB: Elizabeth Bennet. And not for the Darcy-related reasons you think: I just love her. I love that she always has a witty retort, that she’s really flawed and really engaging, that we sympathise with her even when she’s doing the wrong thing and adore her for doing the right thing. If I was fictional, I’d want to be like her - so wonderful I was almost real.
BBB: What do you feel are the benefits of the new electronic readers such as Kindle 2 or Sony Digital Book Reader
SRB: It certainly makes my packing easier! I usually bring at least six books on any trip, and then I end up buying six more, and my lovely slim Sony ereader is a welcome change for my aching shoulders! And I think that reading is so wonderful, it’s great for people to be able to read books whichever way they prefer. That said, I could never forsake paper books. For one thing, my favourite place to read is the bath, it would be awfully unsafe!
BBB: What impact do electronic readers create on the bottom line for authors in the end? Do you feel they have a negative impact or positive, or no impact at all that you can see?
SRB: I am not entirely sure. I feel there is an impact, but it’s still a new and developing field, and I’m not sure whether it will benefit writers by giving readers a new medium to choose them from, or encouraging book piracy, which is a pretty disastrous business, especially when most writers don’t make much anyway.
BBB: Who or what inspires you to write?
SRB: Almost everything, in answer to the ‘what.’ Documentaries about wolves. Random essays I find on the internet. Myths and legends and a snippet of conversation behind me in the line at the supermarket. In answer to the ‘who’ - amongst others, my weird and wonderful family, including my brother the professional poker player and my mother who writes sex columns, my weird and wonderful friends like my best friend the unofficial Queen of Slovenia, and perhaps most of all my flatmate Natasha who wakes me with tea when I need to write long days. ‘You are my god,’ I say to her, clawing at the cup. She knows it’s just the caffeine addiction talking…
BBB: I understand that The Demon’s Lexicon is the first book in a trilogy. Do you have any other series or stand alones in the works?
SRB: I am co-writing a standalone book with a friend (not fantasy) and I do have several other ideas for books, but no definite plans yet. I am crossing my fingers hard that this series does well enough for me to make plans!
BBB: Do you have any stray plot bunnies running around in your head and do you think something may come of them?
SRB: I do have several other ideas for books, but I can’t pick one yet! Ghosts, vampires, imaginary friends and banshees are all queuing up in my head, and occasionally fights break out and the head of the line changes. And who knows, they may all be skipped out by an unruly but irresistible newcomer…
BBB: Outside of writing, what is the most interesting job that you have ever had?
SRB: Being the Angel of Death. I can’t explain… they made me sign a confidentiality agreement. Think of the weirdest thing you can think of for a totally untrained eighteen year old to do involving mortality, then make it weirder, and you may have guessed something close to the truth.
BBB: If your series had a theme song, what would it be?
SRB: Danny Elfman’s The Little Things. It has a great, actiony beat and heart to it as well. ‘Let the headlines wait, armies hesitate - I can deal with fate. But not the little things (you do).’
BBB: If you could pick one of your characters to have dinner with, who would it be and why?
SRB: Jamie, definitely. He’s the hapless guy dragged into the middle of all the crazy magic, and I think we’d get on: we’re both the chatty sort, and we fully agree that when dangerous things are after you the only thing to do is scream, flee or hide behind the big guy with the sword.
BBB: If you could shapeshift, what animal would you be? And why?
SRB: I would be a pterodactyl. I’d like to fly, but then some birds get shot at, and some get wet, and there’s the whole molting deal… Much better to be a pterodactyl. You can fly, and I presume everyone would just leave you alone, on account of how they’d be running away screaming ‘Oh my God, it’s a pterodactyl!’
BBB: What do you like on your pizza?
SRB: Mushrooms, onions, ham, sweetcorn, bacon… Um… Excuse me, I have to go away on an unrelated errand…
BBB: Where is the most beautiful place you have visited in the world?
SRB: I would have to say Florence. I remember visiting Italy as a poor student, trudging in rain and darkness, and then I turned a corner and lifted up my umbrella and saw the Duomo, shining like a fairytale palace in pearl and peach and gold. I visited the Duomo every day I stayed in Florence, like a girl with a crush. ‘Oh hi there massive building… fancy seeing you here!’
BBB: What is in your CD player/iPOD right now?
SRB: I’m so completely out of date: I don’t own either. I have a Walkman that I carry around with me because I like listening to the radio best - I like being surprised by the songs that come on. I’m aware this makes me sound elderly at twenty-five… I’d better not mention the taste for country music.
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Learn more about Sarah Rees Brennan here:
Read reviews of the author’s work here.
To visit the author’s website go here.
To visit the author’s blog go here.
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CONTEST: Readers, here’s how to enter the contest. You can do just ONE or ALL of these things, and each one will give you additional entries at a chance to WIN. Sarah will be giving prizes away to FIVE lucky winners. Winners will each receive a Demon’s Lexicon party bag that includes a signed copy of her book, a sterling silver Irish knife charm, and other little goodies! Contest open to readers worldwide and will run until 11:59 pm PDT 6/19/09! PLEASE NOTE THE NEW CONTEST EMAIL ADDRESS TO SEND YOUR ENTRIES TO BELOW.
1. The easiest way to enter is by purchasing copies of Sarah’s NEW book The Demon’s Lexicon from Amazon here: The Demon’s Lexicon or Barnes & Noble here: The Demon’s Lexicon Good for 150 entries.
OR you can use the Barnes & Noble search banner on the right hand side of the site or this link HERE to make your purchase of ANY kind of merchandise during the contest. You can also use the Amazon search box. Good for 50 entries to the contest for EACH item you purchase. Not valid on past purchases.
It is NOT mandatory to purchase anything to enter the contests, there are plenty of other ways to enter and win. Just email us a copy of your purchase receipt to bittenbybooks.contests @ gmail.com (no spaces). Sorry no faxes or snail mail copies.
2. Make a purchase in our Bloody Cafe store here: http://www.cafepress.com/bittenbybooks. We are all volunteers so your continuing support is deeply appreciated. Email us a copy of your purchase receipt to bittenbybooks.contests @ gmail.com (no spaces). Sorry no faxes or snail mail copies. Good for 50 entries.
3. In order to be entered into this contest the ONE thing you ALL have to do is ask Sarah a question. It can be ANY question you like. No questions = no entries! You can come by through TOMORROW 6/19/09 and ask your questions. Good for 10 entries. (max 2 questions that count towards entries)
4. Be friends with Bitten by Books here:
SUBSCRIBE to the Bitten by Books newsletter by clicking here or use the box on the top right hand side of the site. Be sure you VERIFY your subscription, an email is sent with the verification link. Unverified subscribers will not be entered and will be deleted from the mailing list. If you are already a subscriber, just let us know and you will get entries too.
Join The Blood Bank the Bitten by Books Community! here: http://bittenbybooks.ning.com/ then come back here and tell us your user name.
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Add Bitten by Books to your blog roll or links page: http://bittenbybooks.com if you leave our link up permanently you will always be entered into our contests automatically. Just be sure to stop by each contest we hold and leave the link to where it is so we can give you your entry!
Email us a copies of ALL of your verification emails to bittenbybooks.contests @ gmail.com (no spaces). Good for 50 entries each place you add us.
5. Spread the word, the more places you post the event, the more entries you get. Use this direct link to the event: http://bittenbybooks.com/?p=8285 at another blog, website, Myspace, Ning Group, Facebook, Yahoo Group, Goodreads, Shelfari (any group where it is appropriate). You MUST come back here to this interview and post those links in one response here in this thread so we can verify your entries. Good for 50 entries per place you post the event link.
NOTE: if you post multiple links here, your post will not show up right away. If you don’t see it, don’t keep posting it, we WILL approve your entry later on in the day.
6. Be friends with Sarah by joining her here:
Newsletter: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/sreesbrennanfans/
Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/sarahreesbrennan
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/sarahreesbrenna
Live Journal Fan Page: http://community.livejournal.com/marmalade_fish/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/profile.php?id=671601675&ref=profile
Facebook Fan Page #1: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=94066516462
Facebook Fan Page #2: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=33876257620
Add Sarah’s blog and website to your blog roll or links page: http://www.livejournal.com/users/sarahtales and http://www.sarahreesbrennan.com/
Then send us all the confirmations you receive verifying subscription and friendship to: bittenbybooks.contests @ gmail.com (no spaces). Good for 20 entries per place you friend/add her.
7. Twitter and ask your friends to re-tweet the URL for this event be SURE to include us in your tweet @BittenbyBooks http://bittenbybooks.com/?p=8285. Good for 10 entries each day you tweet it. Max 1 tweet per day counts for entries.
8. Email ALL of your friends and invite them to come by this week! If your fiends come and post here and say you sent them, they get FOUR entries and you get EIGHT entries! They have to tell us who you are so we know who to give the entries to. You can invite as many people as you want and get all the extra entries!
IMPORTANT CONTEST RULES AND LEGAL DISCLAIMERS
GENERAL CONTEST INFORMATION:
The contest ends on 6/19/09 at 11:59 pm PDT and the winners will be contacted via email. You will receive your prize directly from the author. PLEASE LEAVE YOUR FIRST AND THE INITIAL OF YOUR LAST NAME as well as a valid email where we can contact you. REMEMBER the more things you do, the more entries, the greater the chances of winning.
1. Please note, the prize stated IS the prize you will receive, there will be absolutely no substitutions or changes the prize is non-transferable. If you don’t want the prize being offered, please don’t enter the contest. If you ever win an electronic copy of a book, please note that it is ILLEGAL to forward, give away or copy it in anyway once you receive it. Doing so violates copyright. If we find out that it has been done, you will no longer be eligible to win any of our contests.
2. You have THREE days from the day the we contact you to claim your prize by sending your name/mailing address to me. Failure to contact me will forfeit your prize. BBB can at that time, choose either to re-award the prize to another entrant or not.
3. The prize stated IS the prize you will receive, there will be no substitutions, trades or changes. No exceptions. Please do not ask. If for some reason you do not wish to claim your prize, please let me know as soon as possible. Bitten by Books has the option to re-award it or not.
4. Contest is open to readers worldwide. The prizes are shipped directly from the author.
5. Bitten by Books is in NO way responsible for the prizes being offered in any of the contests. If for some reason a contributor does not honor their prize, there is nothing we can or will do about it. We are not worried that this will happen, but we want to be very clear that WE are not offering these prizes, the contributor is and it is their responsibility to fulfill their prize obligations.
6. These rules are subject to change or be modified without prior written notice.
7. Contest is void where prohibited.
8. By entering this contest you are agreeing to our terms of entry
(4 votes, average: 5 out of 5)
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(7 votes, average: 4.43 out of 5)