Exclusive Interview with Myra McEntire (Author of Hourglass)

After loving Hourglass, we were dying to ask the author some questions!


RTR: If you could have lunch with anyone, alive or dead, who would you choose and why?
Myra: Eminem. I think his lyrics are genius, and I believe there's a deeper story behind every song.

RTR: What is your guilty pleasure?
Myra:  Diner Dash on my iPhone. Oh, dear, sweet Diner Dash.


RTR: What is your favorite book/movie/TV show/song/artist/album at this very second?
Myra: THE NIGHT CIRCUS/Inception/Doctor Who/Roll Up by Wiz Khalifa/Miles Davis/Lungs by Florence + The Machine

RTR: What advice would you give to aspiring authors? 

Myra: Write the best book YOU can, and don't worry about what anyone else is doing. 

RTR:What is your favorite prehistoric animal?

Myra:Brontosaurus

RTR: How did you come up with the idea of Hourglass and what Emerson is? 

Myra: It was kind of an accident. Swear. I just knew I didn't want what she saw to be ghosts, so I listed my options, and that's the one that stuck. 

RTR: What is your favorite cliche? 

Myra: What goes around, comes around. (It's true.)

RTR: Out of your characters from Hourglass, to whom do you most relate?

Myra: Kaleb. Long story. 

RTR: What was the best part about publishing your first book? 

Myra: People meeting my characters and liking them! 

RTR: What would you do if you had powers like Emerson or Michael? 

Myra: Take over the world, of course.

Thanks so much for the interview, Myra! Can't wait to see what happens in Hourglass' sequel!

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Exclusive Interview with Singer Amanda Lamb

After we heard the beautiful voice that Amanda Lamb brought to this world we had to ask her some questions about her life and she couldn't wait to answer!

RTR: If you could have lunch with anyone, alive or dead, who would it be and why?

Amanda: I would love to have lunch with P!nk! She is an inspiration to me because she has been in the industry since she was 16, and she is still rocking! :) I would love to pick her brain about her music and ask her what advice she would give to emerging artists. I love how she has a tough chick attitude, but she also has a soft side to her, and she has an amazing voice!

RTR: What is your guilty pleasure?

Amanda: The TV shows "Toddlers & Tiaras"! That show is so fascinating to watch in a train-wreck kind of way!

RTR: If you could sing a duet with anyone who would it be and why?

Amanda: I would love to sing a duet with Tyler Glenn, the lead singer from Neon Trees :) His voice is so gritty and powerful compared to my voice, which is softer - I think it would be a great contrast!  :)

RTR: Why did you pick Highwire as the title?

Amanda: "Highwire" is taken from the lyrics in my song called "The Life of Aerialist" on the album. That song is about my life with Type 1 Diabetes and how life with the disease is always a balancing act. One minute I'm fine and doing normal things, the next I could have a super low or high blood sugar and be completely derailed. I feel like it’s a universal song because everyone has to juggle and balance problems, and it seems like teenagers are always walking on some type of tightrope that way.

RTR: What's your favorite song on your CD and why??

Amanda: My favorite song is "Kiss Me Now" because it is a super fun party song, and I had a blast recording it! :) The song is very tongue-in-cheek and flirty, and I love listening to my 5 BFFs chant and giggle at the very end of the song!

RTR: Super spies or Bow ties?

Amanda: I'm going to have to go with bow ties :) There's nothing hotter than a nerd with an attitude!

RTR: Where is your favorite place to write music?

Amanda: My favorite place to write music is, strangely enough, the car! I like writing there because as I’m going along the freeway, there are so many things to look at and that gives me ideas. And also, I spend A LOT of time in the car driving to L.A., so I have to kill time somehow! ;)

RTR: Who or what inspired you to be in music??

Amanda: Music intrigued me very early in my life. When I was a baby, my mom would try to sing me to sleep with lullabies, but I would just stare right back at her, just listening. When I joined choir in middle school, that's when I started feeling the thrill of being the occasional soloist and I wanted to do it more and more!
 

RTR: What was it like recording a CD? A duet?

Amanda: Recording the album was so much fun! A lot of work and late nights, but definitely worth it! :) If I could, I would spend every summer in the recording studio! I loved it there!  Recording the duet was a lot of fun too – Infinity didn’t start off being a duet but after I had recorded my vocals we were all listening to it and the idea was brought up that making it a duet would make it over-the-top romantic :)  I got to choose the singer, and it felt like being a judge on American Idol! We (the producer, the engineer, and I) would go through singers that they knew, go to their website or iTunes, listen to them and then make a decision. I am so glad we decided on Ryan Calhoun - he is such an amazing vocalist! (And he's pretty cute! ;) ) We didn't sing the song together, but rather, I recorded my vocals a week prior to him. However, I hung out the day he did his and got to give my opinion. It was a crazy process, but super fun and I think the song sounds great!

RTR: What is your favorite type of cake, pie or other dessert? (We are currently eating cake  :) )

Amanda: I LOOOOVE red velvet cake! Let me know when you guys have my flavor, and I’ll be right over!!

Thanks soooo much Amanda!!!!  We wish you the best of luck with your CD and can't wait for more!!!  :)

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Exclusive Interview with Cat Patrick (Author of Forgotten)

The second that we finished Forgotten we had some lingering questions to ask and Cat answered right away!


RTR: If you could have lunch with anyone, alive or dead, who would you choose and why?

Cat: Do I have to pick just one person? If I could have lunch with anyone, alive or dead, I’d choose my grandmas and grandpa who are gone—I miss them; President Obama—I’d love to ask him what it’s like to run the country; Busy Philipps—I know we’d be BFFs; Ellen Degeneres—I love her and I love to laugh; Jane Austen—I want to know what it feels like to have such literary staying power; and famous neurologist and author Oliver Sacks—I love to write about characters with brain quirks and he’s a go-to expert on the brain. Oh, and maybe Jared Leto, because he’s eye candy who also makes great music—I think he’d be fun to hang out with.

RTR:What’s your guilty pleasure?

Cat: I’m a big fan of doing things that make you happy everyday: It only makes you more productive. So, I’m not really guilty about any of my pleasures. Things I (proudly) enjoy: Dystopian novels, fashion magazines, Fran’s Gray and Smoked Salt Caramels, Starbucks lattes, pedicures, America’s Next Top Model, champagne, Arcade Fire and any new series that AMC airs (Mad Men, The Walking Dead, The Killing…yes, please!).

RTR: How did you come up with this original concept?

Cat: My twin daughters were five months old at the time, so I wasn’t getting a ton of sleep at night. One morning, I was in my kitchen doing something, and I forgot what I was doing mid-activity. I felt like I had amnesia! I thought about how awful it would be to have amnesia as a mother, then wondered: What period of time in life would be even worse for dealing with memory issues? High school! But, I thought, what if you could remember forward instead of backward? The idea for Forgotten was born.

RTR: Jukeboxes or Juice boxes?

Cat: Jukeboxes.

RTR: Who is your favorite character in Forgotten?

Cat: That’s like asking me to choose between my children! I love all of them for different reasons: Jamie for her loyalty, Luke for his sweetness, Mom for her commitment to her family, Page for her quirk and even Carley for her candor (she could be a little nicer about it, though). And of course, I adore London. She’s the smart, easygoing, mature teen I wish I’d been.  

RTR: Did you write everything before in your head or did it all come to you while writing the book?

Cat: I’m not sure I understand this question: Are you asking about outlining? If so, I didn’t outline anything with Forgotten: I just started writing. Then I went back and edited, edited, edited.

  

RTR: Is Forgotten going to be a series? (Please say yes!)

Cat: I’m so sorry but no, I don’t have plans to do a sequel to Forgotten at this time. I love the ending because it tells the reader that everything will be okay without completely spelling it out. But my second book—which has the same sort of “strange in Normalville” vibe—will be out June 2012.

RTR: How did you think of the outfit that London has to wear in the beginning for gym class?

Cat: I remember feeling incredibly self-conscious when I had to wear shorts in gym class: That’s why I chose the shorts. For the cat T-shirt, I just tried to think of the thing London would definitely not want to be wearing while meeting a hot guy for the first time.

RTR: What are some odd jobs you had before you were a writer?

Cat: I’ve sold concessions at a movie theater; worked as a waitress at multiple restaurants and done a stint as a substitute teacher. During college, I worked in the admissions office as a telemarketer: That was my least favorite job ever!

RTR: Do you have any weird talents or hobbies?

Cat: I’m pretty good at creating PowerPoint presentations, I can do the Axl Rose dance, and I can clasp my feet together like they’re holding hands…so, I can hold feet!

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Exclusive Interview with Singer Sunday Lane

Once we received a copy of Sunday Lane's EP album Bring Me Sunshine we couldn't resist the urge to ask her some interesting questions!

RTR: If you could have lunch with anyone, alive or dead, who would it be and why?

Sunday: Ellen Degeneres because she's funny and has a record label called eleven eleven (my favorite #!)

RTR: What is your guilty pleasure?

Sunday: Red wine and dark chocolate

RTR: What is your favorite genre of music to listen to? Sing? 

Sunday: Folk-rock for listening and singing!

RTR: Where do the inspiration for your lyrics come?

Sunday: My little sister's diary... Jk :) 90% of my lyrics are a reflection of my personal life and 10% is embellishing and making it rhyme.

RTR: If you could be a superhero what would your name be and what superpower would you have? 

Sunday: Shirley Temple. I'd be irresistably cute, wealthy, and famous.

RTR: Did you pick your own cover art? If so, why did you choose the picture you chose?

Sunday: I was given 7 pictures to choose from and I made the decision with my friends. We spent a good 30 minutes talking about which
picture I looked prettiest in. It was wonderful.

RTR: What's your favorite prehistoric mammal?

Sunday: I can honestly say I've never thought about that, but the
first thing that came to mind was Pterodactyl because they seemed the least scary in Jurassic park. Raptors are obviously my least favorite.

RTR: What's your favorite song on your CD and why? 

Sunday: Heavy Heart, Heavy Hands because it's not about love. Sometimes I get sick of writing about love and listening to songs about love. This song is about something bigger than me; it's about taking time to do more than just think about those in need.

RTR: What is your favorite book/movie/TV show/song/artist/album at this very second?

Sunday: Holy moley. Ok:
Book: Cold Mountain
Movie: Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
Tv Show: Grey's Anatomy AND Modern Family (tie)
Song: Santa Fe (by Samantha Crain. Such a great song)
Artist: Lissie Maurus
Album: Rumours by Fleetwood Mac

RTR: Who or what inspired you to be in music?

Sunday: I've had several people keep me motivated on this crazy journey (parents, brother, bible teacher, manager, Ashley, Michela, and Sasha); but I believe God placed this musical gift within me and that's where my inspiration to keep writing and playing comes from. I didn't just wake up one day and decide to be a song-writer. It's a desire that's always been within me.


Thanks Sunday! We are gonna go back to listening to your album on repeat! :)

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Exclusive Interview with T.J. and Larry from 'Round Midnight

After listening to their new album and loving it we had to see what they had to say about the world of a cappella 

RTR: How did you guys come together and start this group?

T. J. : Wayne, Jeff, and I met in college and we had another tenor.  He fell in love with a girl who lived in the midwest and he moved out there to get married.  Larry was recommended to us by a mutual friend and he came in and was amazing in our first rehearsal.  We stopped looking for a new tenor after that!

RTR: If you could have any super power what would it be?

'Round Midnight singers (left to right) T. J, Jeff, Wayne , Larry

T. J. : Flying

Larry: Teleportation

RTR: When were you first exposed to barbershop music?

T. J. :When I was 18.  I had a voice teacher who was in a barbershop quartet and he encouraged me to try it.  I thought it would be kind of nerdy and boring but once I tried it, I was hooked!
Larry: In college - one of the guys in my a cappella group brought Coney Island Baby to rehearsal once and asked me and two other guys to sing through the chart with him. i've been hooked ever since.

RTR: What is the top song played on your ipod or MP3 player right now?

T. J. : Makes Me Wonder - Maroon 5
Larry: I Saw Her Again Last Night - the Mamas and the Papas

RTR: What is your guilty pleasure?

T. J. : Madden 11 on Xbox 360
Larry: Singing barbershop quartet music

RTR: What inspires you to sing the songs that you do?

T. J. : I like to sing songs that really express who I am.  When we pick songs for the quartet, we all have a vote and if one person votes no, we don't do the song.  The lyrics really have to speak to us because that makes for a more believable performance for the audience!
Larry: Over the past two years, we've moved from a quartet that did a lot of early jazz standards to one that focuses more on 1960s R&B and Soul music - i think we've found a little niche here within the barbershop community -- not many quartets are singing this type of music and i like to think that we do it pretty well (thanks in large part to the fact that our lead, Wayne, arranges these tunes very true to the original).

RTR: Do you have any weird talents of hobbies?

T. J. : I can imitate people very quickly after meeting them :)
Larry: Yeah, I sing in a barbershop quartet

RTR: If your group was made into a musical or a movie, who would play you?

T.J. : Someone told us once that we look like a quartet of celebrity lookalikes.  If they made 'Round Midnight the movie, I would be played by Chris Daughtry, Larry by Tobey Maguire, Jeff by Gerard Butler, and Wayne by Adam Sandler (someone told him that once!)
Larry: Toby MacGuire

RTR: How involved in music were you in your high school years?

T. J. : I was very active in chorus.  I sang at the New York State music festival every year starting in 10th grade.  I was in All-County and I was also the lead singer of a rock band.
Larry: I was concertmaster of the orchestra and I studied AP music as a senior. I didn't really start singing until college when I joined the Chorale and sang in an a cappella group.

RTR: What do you do to sing safely and maintain your voice?

T. J. : Sing with proper technique (breathing is so important!) and know when I'm getting vocally tired and not overdo it.  We are very respectful of each other in the group.  When one of us is getting tired, we'll pick songs to sing that aren't so hard on the voice.
Larry: Falsetto and bubble warmups every morning in the shower

RTR: Are you guys making another cd?

T. J. : Yes!  We are in the planning stages right now.  The next CD will be longer than the first one and will feature songs like New York State of Mind and Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me.

RTR: Who's your idol? and Why?

T. J. : My idol is my old voice teacher, Dave Johnson.  He passed away in 2003 but he inspired me to always strive to be better not just in barbershop but in life.  It is because of his example that I am a music teacher today.
Larry: My brother Mark. He had a dream to become a screenwriter and he ran with it. Right after college he picked up and moved to California, got a job working as a clerk in a mail room and then as a gopher for a rock star. and he stuck with him and kept writing and now he's like one of the most famous screenwriters in hollywood. that's determination and it's the quality I admire most in people.

RTR: What advice would you give to teenagers who want to be involved in music later in life?

T. J. : My advice is remember that opportunities to participate in music will always be there for you and can always enrich your life.  Whether you want to sing in the local church choir, play in a community orchestra, or you just love watching others perform, music is an amazing way to express yourself and that doesn't change as you get older!
Larry: Start young -- because you're ability to retain information is better the younger you are. you will never meet a really great musician who wasn't exposed to music at a young age -- this is also why it's so important that we all make sure schools have arts programs.

RTR: If you could have lunch with anyone dead or alive who would it be? Why?

T. J. : I want to have lunch with Paul McCartney.  I'm curious to know what it's like to be one of the most famous musicians in the world.  Can he still just pick up and go to the movies on Friday night like the rest of us and not get mobbed by fans?  I'd love to know!
Larry: My mother's father, Grandpa Mickey. He died when my mom was 9 so obviously I never met him, but my grandmother always used to tell me that I reminded her of him. And my mom says the same thing (I think it's because he sang in the shower a lot, and the crazy thing is, he sang a lot of the same songs that I sing today in my quartet and chorus).

Thanks so much T. J. and Larry! You guys are beyond amazing and we can't wait until your next CD. 

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Exclusive Interview with Susan Goldsmith (Author of Abithica)

After we finished reading Abithica we had to pick the brain of the one who created this fantasy world!


RTR: If you could have lunch with anyone, dead or alive, who would it be and why?

Susan: I’d sit the founders of our Constitution down and drill them on what they envisioned for our country, and what they think about their vision now, but since we’re fantasizing, let’s throw in Jack Black (I love his quirky personality), and Stephen Hillenburg, the creator of SpongeBob SquarePants, just to keep the conversation interesting!

           

RTR: When did you decide to write Abithica?

Susan: Abithica was my answer to a question posed by Thomas Moore in his book, Care of the Soul, that being:  What is your worst fear.  That fear eventually grew arms and legs, and acquired a face, Abithica’s face.  By that time, I was too fascinated with her not to tell her story!

RTR: If you could only eat one thing for the rest of your life what would it be?

Susan: Pizza is the perfect food.  It covers all the food groups, AND it tastes good too!  If I could toss in a chocolate pizza once in awhile, that would be even better.

RTR: Are you writing any other books other than Abithica?

Susan: I’m currently working on the sequel to Abithica.  The title is going to be Echonyza.  (I think)  The sequel centers on The Legnas and how Abithica is tied to them.  Echonyza is a mysterious character who “awakens” to help The Legnas find the missing Sarah Cummings.  Like a snowflake, no two people see him the same.  He has the ability to be whatever you need him to be.  There are huge plot twists that will keep you on your toes, and Lane and Abithica’s love is challenged on the very opening scene in a huge unexpected way. 

RTR: What are the top three songs listened to on your iPod right now?

Susan: I have created an Echonyza playlist with 59 songs.  The top three songs are: 

“Monster” by Skillet

“Corrupt” by Depeche Mode

“Your Betrayal” by Bullet For My Valentine

RTR: Is Abithica a series?

Susan: Abithica is the first of three books.

           

RTR: If so, what can we expect in the next book (without giving anything away of course)?

Susan: Oops, I already answered that.

RTR: What got you into writing?

Susan: Stories are what got me through my childhood. When real life was overwhelming, I’d crawl into my imagination where sick mothers could be made better with a magical potion, or crazy fathers weren’t really crazy. They were just more evolved than the rest of us. Could see whole words and realities we couldn’t. Mean teachers? Witches - the whole lot of them. I soon branched out, and after sitting in Stephen King’s head for a while, decided my life was a Disney movie compared to the stuff his characters endured. Poor Carrie. Now that girl had issues!

            I loved stories, and had an endless supply of original ideas that would make fantastic books, but darn it, no matter how hard I willed those ideas to be carried through osmosis from my brain to my favorite authors’, it never happened. There they sat, alone in the dark, wilting, while I pursued every career, but writing. 

            Eventually, fate intervened and I was home with my little ones.  Suddenly, I was staring at the blank computer screen, not writing, just staring. I’d make a point to walk by it on my way to the bathroom, in-between Barney episodes, or during those times when my children actually did fall asleep during nap time.

Eventually, I did turn the computer on, and have been writing ever since.

RTR: Jukeboxes or Juiceboxes?

Susan: Jukeboxes.  I love music.

RTR: Any words of wisdom to aspiring authors?

Susan: Don’t just talk about it, do it.  Write it for yourself, and then later, after you’re convinced it’s a masterpiece, set it in a drawer and forget about it, the longer, the better.  Then read it with fresh eyes.  Fix all the problems, and then repeat, again, and again, and again….


Thank you so much Susan and we can't wait to read the sequel when it comes out!

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Exclusive Interview with Tessa Gratton (Author of Blood Magic)

After finishing Blood Magic in a matter of days we HAD to talk to Tessa Gratton and find out where the genius came from.

RTR: If you could have lunch with anyone, alive or dead, who would it be and why?

Tessa: I’d like to have a rhyming contest with Will Shakespeare – though I know I’d lose, it would make for great stories.

 

RTR: What is your guilty pleasure?

Tessa: The Vampire Diaries.

RTR: What is your favorite book/movie/TV show/song/artist/album at this very second?

Tessa: Criminal Minds. THE PIPER’S SON by Melina Marchetta. The album “Body Talk” by Robyn. Anything by The Sounds.

RTR: What is your favorite prehistoric mammal?

Tessa: The giant sloth, obviously.

RTR: How did you come up with the idea of using blood to preform magic?

Tessa: Blood is so important in so many mythologies, it seemed like the perfect catalyst for a very realistic kind of magic.

RTR: Who is your favorite character from Blood Magic?

Tessa: Josephine Darly

RTR: If you could be a superhero, what would your name be and what power would you have?

Tessa: I’m not sure I’d want a secret identity – but I’d definitely want to be able to fly.

RTR: How long did it take to right Blood Magic and how long did it take for it to get published?

Tessa: I wrote the first draft in 6 weeks, then revised for about 6 months. The book sold 4 months later, and that was August of 2009. So quite a while all told!

RTR: We are dying to know....What will happen to Nick and Silla's relationship in the next book?!?!

Tessa: Ha! You know I can’t tell you that. But what I will say is: The Blood Keeper is a companion novel that takes place 5 years after the end of Blood Magic, but you will find out about what happens with Nick and Silla. Promise.

RTR: What advice would you like to give to aspiring authors?

Tessa: Have as many adventures as possible!

RTR: What is your favorite cliche?

Tessa: Love is like a red, red rose.

Thanks Tessa! Can't wait until the sequel The Blood Keeper!

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Exclusive Interview with Stacey Kade (Author of the Ghost and the Goth Series)

After falling in love with our guilty pleasure book The Ghost and the Goth and obtaining a copy of Queen of the Dead (the sequel) we quickly sent out a few questions for Stacey to answer!

RTR: What is your guilty pleasure?

Stacey: Curling up on the couch and watching Supernatural reruns. I've already seen all of them, and most of them more than once!

RTR: If you could have lunch with anyone, alive or dead, who would it be and why?

Stacey: Well, I'm certainly not going to pass up the opportunity to have lunch with someone who was dead, that's a pretty rare opportunity! :) And for the purposes of this question, I'm assuming that he or she will have been reincarnated and therefore able to enjoy lunch rather than being a ghost and/or a corpse because that would be a little...ewww. :)

In that case, I'm going to choose Jane Austen, assuming she'd be willing to dine with me. She is one of my favorite authors and based on the letters she left behind (the ones that her sister, Cassandra, did not destroy for privacy reasons) she was awesomely funny--sarcastic and sharp. Though my guess is she'd probably make fun of what I was wearing.

RTR: Super-Spies or Bow-Ties?

Stacey: Um, Super-Spies? I think?

RTR: What advice would you give to aspiring authors?

Stacey: Read as much as you can, and read what you love.

--Keep writing. Make yourself get to the end of the draft. Writing is revising (I didn't make that up. It's a quote, but I can't remember from who!)

--Write to entertain yourself first.

RTR:  What're your top five favorite songs on your iPod?

Stacey: Oooh. They change all the time, but at the moment:

How Soon Is Now? by T.A.T.U (It's a cover of The Smiths song. Some of you will recognize it as the Charmed theme song.)
Piece of Me by Britney Spears
If I Die Young by The Band Perry
E.T. by Katy Perry
Jar of Hearts by Christina Perri

RTR: If you could be a superhero, what would your name be and what power would you have?
Stacey: Oh, I so wouldn't want to be a superhero. So much responsibility! And impossible choices. How do you choose how to save if you can't save everyone and most likely, you wouldn't be able to do that? That kind of thing would keep me up at night!

But that being said, I'd like the power to stop time. Just freeze everyone and everything in place. As far as a name, is Time-Stopper too obvious? :) Has a nice allusion to "Crime Stopper." Or maybe something cool like Alarmyst or something, lol. You know, alarm, like alarm clock...oh, never mind. It's a good thing I'm not responsible for naming superheros! 

RTR: If you had Will's power would you consider it a gift or a curse?

Stacey: That's a tough one. I'm not sure it's ever just one or another, you know? I think every gift, no matter what it is, comes with downsides. Now, granted, those downsides may not ever outweigh the overall benefit of the gift, but there are likely moments when it feels as though they do. So, I would say gift. But I also think at Will's age, I would have definitely said curse. :)

RTR: How do you come up with all the different ghost characters (personalities, deaths, etc.)?

Stacey: I have no idea! :) They were a lot of fun, though. Um, my mom would probably say I was always a fairly morbid kid, so figuring out the various deaths wasn't all that difficult. As for their personalities, I just wanted them to seem as real and alive, so to speak, as the breathing characters in the book. Oh, and they had to be troublesome. :) That was key. But I felt that was pretty realistic, given that they'd been trapped for months or years in the in-between place without much hope of ever getting to the light.

RTR: Who do you relate to most in your books?
Stacey: Of the two main characters, Will. Definitely. But there are pieces of me in Alona, too. Her desire to control things to the nth degree and getting upset when they don't go the way she planned--that is very much me. 

RTR: Which book did you have more fun writing, The Ghost and the Goth or Queen of the Dead? Why?

Stacey: I'm not sure I can compare the two experiences. They were so completely different. I wrote G&G on a whim, just to see if I could do it and had a total blast in doing so. With Queen of the Dead, it was harder because I was worried about being consistent with the previous book while still providing a new story. But I learned so much with the rewrites on Queen of the Dead. That was its own kind of fun and a confidence-builder, if that makes sense.

RTR:  How did you come up with the ideas that The Order of the Guardianship are centered around?

Stacey: I'm a huge fan of Ghostbusters? :) Just kidding (though I totally am a fan--I challenge anyone to a quoting contest with that movie.) I knew that for the world in the books to be realistic, there couldn't be just one attitude toward ghosts. Not everyone could be concerned with getting the ghosts into their afterlife. There had to be people looking at it from the other side, seeing ghosts as something frightening and harmful to those who are still living. 

Great answers! Thanks for the interview, Stacey!

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Exclusive Interview with Julia Karr (Author of XVI)

We heard so many good things about XVI that we couldn't wait to read it. We just finished it and couldn't wait to ask the Julia Karr a few questions about her and her book! She got back to us right away with answers!

RTR: If you could have lunch with anyone, dead or alive, who would it be and why?

Julia: Serious answer: Jesus - I mean, yeah... I'd want to know all about him.
Not so serious answer: Colin Firth - because who wouldn't want to have lunch with Mr. Darcy?

RTR: What's your guilty pleasure?

Julie: Slot machines. Every so often I take my little self down to the casino & spend a happy afternoon playing the slots. It's fun & once and awhile I even win! :)

RTR: Juice boxes or jukeboxes?

Julia: Jukeboxes! Let's DANCE!

RTR: What inspired you to be a writer?

Julia: I love to read - it felt like a pretty natural outgrowth of that.

RTR: What advice would you give to aspiring writers?

Julia: Write something every day (journaling counts!) and read, read, read!!!

RTR: What was your favorite book as a teen?

Julia: I was really in to Agatha Christie and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle when I was a teen. I loved me a good mystery! (and still do!)

RTR: If you could be a superhero, what would your name be and what power would you have?

Julia: Peace Girl - My power would be the ability to make people get along - for reals!

RTR: How did you come up with the idea for XVI?

Julia: XVI started as an image in my head of Nina and her surroundings. From there, the story grew pretty organically.

RTR: If you could get another tattoo similar to Wei's what would the design be?

Julia: When you read the sequel - there are more tattoos - I'd choose one of those - but can't tell you about it yet! *lips are sealed*

RTR: How many books do you plan on writing in the XVI series?

Julia: So far only XVI and Truth. Whether there are more depends on whether people want more - which I hope they do! :)

Thanks so much for the interview, Julia! We can't wait to read the sequel to XVI, Truth! 

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