Thursday, January 6, 2011

And Your Thursday Posters Are...

Chanelle and Sharon are your Thursday posters, guys! There's some info about them already on the blog, but if you wanted to know a little more about them and perhaps win a book...



Sharon, everyone!


Q: Why did you start to write YA? Do you feel like there's a view from people who aren't involved in the writing industry for people over a certain age to write for adults?

A: The first novel I started writing was probably more Middle Grade as I was writing it for my son. But I put it on hold when the idea for Mishca started knocking in my head and refused to go away. It wasn’t intentionally YA, but it ticked all the boxes.

I don’t think readers care about the age of the writer, I think they care about an authentic voice, a kick-ass plot and characters they feel drawn to.

Q: What kind of books keep you up all night thinking about? What was the last book that did this?

A: The Time Travellers Wife definitely had me thinking. It took me about a month to read it as I found I wanted to put it down and really process what I’d read. This is not normally how I read – I devour books in a day or two depending on how much spare time I have.

Q: Describe yourself in five words.

A: An epically weird writing ninja.

Q: If you could write in any location in the world, where would it be or what would it look like?

A: I already have the best place in the world to write – Australian beaches. My husband works as a lifeguard so I spend every Saturday at the beach. After lunch I take an hour off by myself with my laptop and write. I wrote a lot of Mishca at Blacks Beach (see picture) and am writing Dirty Rainbow at Eimeo Beach, where my husband is currently stationed.


Quickfire questions:
Gold or silver? Gold
Coke or Sprite? Neither, I'm not big a softdrink (soda) drinker
Hair up or Hair down? Down
Fake eyelashes or fake nails? I fake nothing =P
Red or white roses? Red

And we have Chanelle, everyone!


Q: If you were only allowed to write one genre for the rest of your life what would you choose and why?

A: Ooh, that's a hard question. It would definitely be for YA, but within that genre, I'm not sure. I guess, I'd have to say Urban Fantasy because though I really do enjoy reading contemp stories and even trying to write them, I have come up with a lot more UFs than I have contemps. And for some reason, I feel like I'm not doing contemps 'right' when I try!!

Q:What do you think will be "the next big trend" in 2011 and why?

A: I think the big trend of 2011 will be UFs making a comeback. They kind of got a lot of stick in 2010. People complained they were overdone and there wasn't anything new. Contemps became more popular - especially issue driven books. But I think there's a lot of UFs coming out this year that are going to make people believe in the genre again.

Q:What surprises people the most about you once they get to know you?

A: That I'm actually a huge animal lover. I have two dogs, who are like my babies, and I used to have horses when I was younger and had a LOT more free time than I do now. And also, when I wasn't writing with every free minute of my day. I'm big on animal rights and believe that they should be treated with respect :)

Q: Which three writers would you most like to meet and what would you ask them?

A: Firstly, and probably obviously, JK Rowling. I have a HUGE amount of respect for her. She's done a lot for my own writing career and was also the first writer who made me read seriously. From the age of ten, I collected her books and still enjoy them to this day. Secondly, Suzanne Collins. What I wouldn't do to pick her creative mind for like ten minutes!! Then I would like to meet Cynthia Hand because I've actually become a bit of a fangirl after reading Unearthly. I want to know everything about that series!!


Rapid fire questions:

Purple or yellow? Purple. Yellow offends me.

Coffee or energy drinks? Neither. I hate both.

Dresses or pants? For everyday...pants (TROUSERS!!), but for occasions, dresses.

High heels or flats? Like above, flats for everyday, heels for occasions.

Horror or comedy? Horror, definitely. I'm a huge horror fan.


Now...THE GIVEAWAY!!


We will have TWO winners for this giveaway.

Sharon is kindly giving away a copy of Blood Countess by Tara Moss. All you have to do to be in with a chance of winning, is follow this blog and comment below with your email address. If you want an extra entry, tweet the following:

You can win a copy of Blood Countess over at @YAtopia - http://yatopia.blogspot.com/
But here's the catch, this part of the giveaway is only for Australian readers only. So if you have an Australian address, comment below for a chance of winning.


Chanelle is kindly giving away EITHER an order of Stolen by Lucy Christopher or Forbidden by Tabitha Suzuma. The winner will get to choose which one they want. All you have to do is be a follower and comment below with your email address. Again, you can earn extra entries by either following Chanelle's personal blog Beyond Words and/or tweeting the following:

You can win a copy of either Stole or Forbidden over at @YAtopia - http://yatopia.blogspot.com/

This part of the giveaway is open to anyone Book Depository delivers to.


You can either enter for both or one. But please state which one you're entering for below. If you want to enter for both, please do separate comments for each giveaway. Just so it doesn't get confusing. Winners will be announced next Thursday.


Thanks for reading everyone, and I hope you stick around to see what other great stuff YAtopia has to offer. Trust me...it's a lot!!

26 comments:

  1. SHARON!!! *tackles*
    An epically weird writing ninja. <---Ahahaha!

    Chanelle: Hurrah for animal lover! I'm the same over here. Just the other day someone shot a Mountain Lion for no reason. I'm still fuming over it! -_-

    And I shall enter the second contest since I'M NOT AUSTRALIAN!!! Sharon knows that I want to be Australian sooooo bad!!! -_- Anyway, MiniMenzel08 (at) aol (dot) com. :)

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  2. I am incredibly jealous of Sharon's writing place- that sounds amazing. Incredibly envious- would love to go to Australia!

    And Chanelle- I really want to read Unearthly- it's definitely on my list.

    ps. I would like to enter Chanelle's giveaway as unfortunately I don't live in Australia! haha.
    email address just in case: jenny.russell.009(at)gmail(dot)com

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  3. Yes, I'm drooling over the idea of writing at the beach every week. *Sigh*
    And Chanelle, I'm agreeing, and hoping, that there will be a strong UF comeback with some fresh new stuff.
    Happy Thursday, ladies!

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  4. Great interview ladies. I would love to write on the beach!

    Chanelle, I HATE energy drinks. Yuck. lol.

    GAH, I am dying to read Unearthly!

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  5. Please enter me! I'm a new follower

    clderwee at gmail dot com

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  6. sorry....I missed the part about having an Australian address....

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  7. @ Sharon: Ah, writing at the beach every week would be a dream.
    "An epically weird writing ninja" <--- LOL

    @Chanelle: Harry Potter was the first books that made me love reading.

    And I shall enter the second contest.
    Even though I'm Aussie in spirit, lol.

    iheartmsod4life@aim.com

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  8. Great post! I follow this blog and I would love to enter Chanelle's giveaway (I live in the US)

    I follow Beyond Words (Throuthehaze)

    throuthehaze at gmail dot com

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  9. I would like to enter Chanelle's giveaway only (since I live in the US). I am a GFC follower (Lexie@BookBug) of this blog and Beyond Words. I also tweeted the giveaway at http://twitter.com/#!/LexieBookBug/status/23124544193568770
    lexie.bookbug(AT)gmail(DOT)com

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  10. Christinabean, you can enter into the other part of the giveaway if you want?

    Thanks for the comments, guys!!

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  11. *ninjas in to read comments then ninjas out*

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  12. AUSSIE AUSSIE AUSSIE!

    :D

    (Thank you Sharon for the memo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)

    Count me in ;D

    ellen.masquerade@gmail.com

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  13. Thank you so much! USA so the second giveaway please.
    GFC follower
    Follow Beyond Words

    Vivien
    deadtossedwaves at gmail dot com

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  14. Oh Sharon! Those beaches are amazing! I am so envious of you right now :(
    Plus I'm loving the especially weird writting ninja :P

    I admire the fact that you wrote a book for your son. That is great. Sharon! I started writing one for my brother, but he never wanted to read it lol :(

    And LOL, Chanelle, yellow offends me - I love that line! :D


    Great post, guys!

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  15. Boo to yellow, yay for purple! :P Nice random questions and answers.

    Yay!! Aussie, I! :D Haven't heard this book before, but after a quick google search, I've decided it sounds super interesting.

    Entering BOTH contests. New follower!

    Extra entries
    ----------------
    1. The Blood Countess -- http://twitter.com/#!/cc9309/status/23641854796894208

    2. Stolen -- http://twitter.com/#!/cc9309/status/23641695002300416 & already following Beyond Words. ;)

    cc932005 at hotmail dot com

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  16. I would like to be entered for the Book Depository giveaway please :)

    Chrizette
    baychriz at gmail dot com

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  17. I'd like to enter the second one. I'm not Australian :)

    Kris
    kristarwrites(at)gmail(dot)com

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  18. I'd love to be entered for the second contest! Now following and tweeted here: http://twitter.com/Word_Tapestry/status/23806463663149056

    Thanks for the giveaway!

    chocoholic410(at)hotmail(dot)com

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  19. Thanks for the giveaway!
    I would like to enter second giveaway only (since I live in the US).
    GFC follower
    Tweeted: https://twitter.com/khyla_rahchelle/status/23894560509796352

    khyla_808ATyahooDOTcom

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  20. It's great to get to know a little about you guys. Thanks for the awesome giveaway!! I'd like to be entered in the 2nd giveaway. I follow Beyond words -Onge.
    chickenherder@hotmail.com

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  21. I am a us follower so I am entering the second giveaway!

    crazypplrok@gmail.com

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  22. I would love to enter Chanelle's giveaway.

    Tweet: http://twitter.com/Sparima/status/24317810062659584
    Follow her personal blog

    spav05(at)gmail(dot)com

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  23. Would love to win a Blood Countess by Tara Moss. I have read another book of her's and it was good reading

    keprules @ hotmail (dot) com

    Have also tweeted @keppers

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  24. Would also love to win Forbidden by Tabitha Suzuma

    keprules @ hotmail (dot) com

    Have also tweeted @keppers

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  25. would love to win the Tara Moss Book. I am an Aussie and email address is:

    shellwhitfield @ hotmail (dot) com

    Thanks for the great blog.

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