AUTHOR INTERVIEW & GIVEAWAY - Nevermore - Kelly Creagh - BIR2010

Nevermore by Kelly Creagh was chosen as one of our Best I've Read 2010 selections.

Nevermore
By: Kelly Creagh
Publisher: Altheneum
Author website

Book Summary:
(from Goodreads)
Cheerleader Isobel Lanley is horrified when she is paired with Varen Nethers for an English project, which is due—so unfair—on the day of the rival game. Cold and aloof, sardonic and sharp-tongued, Varen makes it clear he’d rather not have anything to do with her either. But when Isobel discovers strange writing in his journal, she can’t help but give this enigmatic boy with the piercing eyes another look.
Soon, Isobel finds herself making excuses to be with Varen. Steadily pulled away from her friends and her possessive boyfriend, Isobel ventures deeper and deeper into the dream world Varen has created through the pages of his notebook, a realm where the terrifying stories of Edgar Allan Poe come to life.

As her world begins to unravel around her, Isobel discovers that dreams, like words, hold more power than she ever imagined, and that the most frightening realities are those of the mind. Now she must find a way to reach Varen before he is consumed by the shadows of his own nightmares.

His life depends on it.

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~ ~ ~ INTERVIEW ~ ~ ~

We're very excited to have Kelly Creagh with us today! She was truly awesome, and answered some questions for us. Take a few moments to learn more about this wonderful author.

1. In Nevermore you develop the relationship between Isobel and Varen over time. There’s no instantaneous attraction that carries them to a relationship, but rather something that builds gradually. Was that intentional, or did the characters dictate the pace? If it was intentional, what was the reasoning?

When it came to the development of Isobel and Varen’s relationship, I think the outcome was both intentional and character driven. For me, it was never a question of when they would get together, but how. That was my approach and I think that is what dictated the pace. In the end, I think that it made for a more believable and, in many ways, a more satisfying love story. As a reader, a slow and gradual romance is my favorite type. Books like Jane Eyre and Pride and Prejudice, the Gemma Doyle trilogy have this kind of build, and I think that, in each instance, it makes the story and the suspense so much richer.

2. Nevermore, while still paranormal / fantasy, doesn’t have the vampires and werewolves that are very popular right now. Instead it has ghosts and alternate dimensions. Were the creatures and the supernatural world in Nevermore dictated by the choice of Edgar Allan Poe, or did you know what world you wanted to create, and it just happened that Poe fit it perfectly?

The creatures that appear in Nevermore, particularly the Nocs, came mostly out of my subconscious. They made their way onto the page without really asking for permission. They developed in the first draft, when I was just streaming along. I know that’s a weird answer but that’s the best way I know how to describe the process. When I began writing Nevermore, I knew I wanted there to be a supernatural elements and I also knew that I wanted Varen’s dreams to play a large role. At the time, I was also listening to audio versions of Poe’s poetry and stories. He makes quite a few references to duality, especially in his stories “The Imp of the Perverse” and “William Wilson.” Also, there are quite a few ghostly women present in Poe’s works. I think I picked up on this and, since my brain was so attuned to the Poe channel, my own creatures seemed to fit in well with what Poe had been writing about.

3. What music would be on Isobel’s iPod?

Probably a lot of pop, like Beyonce, Lady Gaga, Alecia Keys, Justin Timberlake Rihanna and Black Eyed Peas. Anything with a great beat that she could practice cheerleading and gymnastics to.

4. You have a degree in theater arts. What was your favorite production to do?

Actually, my most favorite production that I ever did was a short play that I wrote and directed. It was called “Bigfoot in the Park.” The story follows three boy scouts on a camping trip in a national state park. Their goal is to earn a rare badge. In the process of their overnight stay in the woods, they undergo several comical hardships such as a broken tent, a spastic scaredy-cat troop member and an encounter with a real live bigfoot. It had tons of slapstick and a lot of Scooby-do moments. I had an absolute blast. I would love to one day see “Bigfoot in the Park” hit the stage again.

5. What are some of the most interesting facts you discovered while researching Poe?

There are so many that I’m not sure where to start. Perhaps the most interesting thing about Poe is not something we know about him but rather that there is so much that we don’t know about him. He really is a mysterious guy, and one that biographers have had a hell of a time with. There is so much left to speculation not only about his death, but also about his life. Some of the more interesting facts about his life are that he served I the army, attended West Point, made virtually no money off his famous poem “The Raven” and that he was a very loving husband/son in law. Also, despite the misconception that Poe was a dark and brooding person, he actually had a great (if not snarky) sense of humor.

6. Are there any upcoming projects you’re working on you’d like to tell us about?

I’m currently hauling butt working on the sequel to Nevermore. I also have another almost completed project that has been tucked away for some time now. Though it still has touches of darkness and a lot of mystery, it’s very different from Nevermore. I might go as far to say that it’s the polar opposite. (There’s a clue in there.) Only time will tell if it will ever land itself on a bookstore shelf!

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~ ~ ~ GIVEAWAY ~ ~ ~

We're very excited to have one (1) copy of Nevermore to give away. The winner will be chosen by random.org.

Open to US addresses only.

OPEN TO BLOG FOLLOWERS ONLY.

This giveaway ends December 15, 2010 at 12:00 midnight EST.

Please fill out this form to enter.