I am so excited to have my dear friend and amazing author, Ali Cross, here to talk about Desolate, the next in her Desolation series. She sort of released this second book out without a lot of fanfare. So, not to let it go by with me making a big deal, I decided to have Ali over for a little interview. I'll be giving a copy of her book away later this week, so be on the lookout.
In the meantime, here's Ali:
CF:
How did you write this second book? Was the process similar or different to the
first?
AC:
The process was
absolutely different. 1) I actually outlined it (using the Save the Cat beat
sheet method I love so much), 2) wrote the first draft in a month, 3) revised
for a couple months and then 4) edits and fixes and ta da! Published. So from
start to published, book two took about six months, while BECOME (book one)
took, oh, about seven years. :D
CF:
Given that Desolate is part of a series, was writing this story harder or
easier?
AC: I think it was both easier and harder. Easier because I
absolutely knew my characters, so I didn’t need to put in the time and effort
to get to know them like I did the first time through. It was also harder
because DESOLATE is tragic, terribly tragic. And it broke my heart to write it.
I feel bad, too, because I think my readers are going to be sad.
CF:
Any hints about the story or the series?
AC: Well, like I said, the second book is tragic, but it is the path
Desi and Michael and James and Miri had to take. But I promise, book three
offers . . . hope.
CF:
Who are you most influenced by as a writer?
AC: Oh, such a good question. I think I’ve been most influenced by
Guy Gavriel Kay, author of The Fionavar Tapestry. His writing is deep and
poetic, so achingly beautiful—I hope that my writing can come even a teensy bit
close to his. That someone might read my stories and feel what I felt when I
first read The Fionavar Tapestry.
CF:
What is coming next for you?
AC: Book three (yet unnamed!) will be out in a few months! In the
meantime, I’m querying some middle grade stories, and finishing up two
additional young adult stories to be published in 2013!
CF:
Fav quote from Desolate?
AC: I grasped on to him while he curled his
fingers around mine, and my forehead pressed against his and my name was on his
lips and he loved me.
CF:
Last words?
AC: Wow, that sounds so ominous. But I want to
say THANK YOU for having me on and for giving me the chance to talk about
DESOLATE. I’m so excited for the third in the series and for the story as a
whole—I hope my readers love it as much as I do.
Thanks for stopping by Ali! I can not wait to finish reading this book. I'll be posting a review as soon as I do! WOOT!!!
