3:24 PM
Chioma
I am so excited for my first interview, and with a debut author its so exciting!!! Check out her book here, on goodreads.
Judith Graves is the debut author of the YA paranormal book Under My Skin, which is already in stores. Here's a little bit about Judith:
Judith Graves loves tragic romance, werewolves, vampires, magick, and all things a bit creepy.. She lives in a small northern Alberta town with her husband, one cat, and two crazy Labrador retrievers. Working in an elementary school library, Judith is often seen amidst stacks of books, reading, when she should be cataloguing. But don’t tell the boss! A singer/songwriter for more than ten years, Judith often writes songs from the viewpoints of her characters, and—since they are creatures of the night—this makes for interesting listening.
Sure! Eryn McCain has a drug problem. Her parents have disappeared—they’re likely dead. And she’s run out of the drugs her father created to stifle her wild side, her wolven half—the dormant ability to change from human to wolf. She’s jonesing in a major way. Forget the shakes, Eryn has a yen for raw hamburger, she’s developed night vision and super-human strength, and she can smell a werewolf a mile away. To top it off, all this has made her dangerously moody. She’s trying to take it one day at a time, but her new home town isn’t a quiet, restful setting, beneficial for recovery. The town is a landmind of paranormal activity, and each encounter gives Eryn the high of a lifetime. She’s beginning the change—but thanks to her father’s chemical manipulations—she doesn’t know exactly what she’s changing into. Not the best time to strike up a friendship with a crew of teen hunters tracking her kind…no matter how hot their tall, dark, and dead-wrong-for-her leader, Alec Delacroix, may be.
Judith Graves loves tragic romance, werewolves, vampires, magick, and all things a bit creepy.. She lives in a small northern Alberta town with her husband, one cat, and two crazy Labrador retrievers. Working in an elementary school library, Judith is often seen amidst stacks of books, reading, when she should be cataloguing. But don’t tell the boss! A singer/songwriter for more than ten years, Judith often writes songs from the viewpoints of her characters, and—since they are creatures of the night—this makes for interesting listening.
First off, how completely exciting is it for you to be getting your book released?
Well, I could gush for pages, but I’ll just say…wowza, talk about surreal. People are commenting about my characters, like they’re actual, live people. I thought only I did that. It’s amazing.
Can you tell us a little about your book?
Sure! Eryn McCain has a drug problem. Her parents have disappeared—they’re likely dead. And she’s run out of the drugs her father created to stifle her wild side, her wolven half—the dormant ability to change from human to wolf. She’s jonesing in a major way. Forget the shakes, Eryn has a yen for raw hamburger, she’s developed night vision and super-human strength, and she can smell a werewolf a mile away. To top it off, all this has made her dangerously moody. She’s trying to take it one day at a time, but her new home town isn’t a quiet, restful setting, beneficial for recovery. The town is a landmind of paranormal activity, and each encounter gives Eryn the high of a lifetime. She’s beginning the change—but thanks to her father’s chemical manipulations—she doesn’t know exactly what she’s changing into. Not the best time to strike up a friendship with a crew of teen hunters tracking her kind…no matter how hot their tall, dark, and dead-wrong-for-her leader, Alec Delacroix, may be. What paranormal aspects does your book contain?
UMS has all kinds of cool paranorm beasties. Wolven shapeshifters, werewolves, windigo, witches – and those are just the “w”s! ;P
If you could be one character or paranormal creature, what would it be and why?
Any creature that can fly would be fun. I’m a white-knuckled plane passenger, but maybe if I were the one doing the flying, I’d enjoy the experience.
Why did you decided to write a paranormal YA book as your debut?
I was always the kid reading ghost stories or asking people about superstitions, etc. I love horror films with dark humour, lots of action, and characters you root for. I didn’t even think about what I was writing….paranormal stuff just fit.
What are your favorite young adult books or authors?
John Wyndham’s quirky little sci-fi book, Chocky, has always been a favorite. The idea of imaginary friends being something more…very interesting.
What inspired you to write this book?
I wanted to explore the idea of mythological creatures from different parts of the world having to duke it out over the last bit of unclaimed territory. I wanted characters who would be forced to choose sides. I wanted the lines between those sides to be very blurred and the characters to be conflicted. Hopefully UMS does a good job of laying this foundation for the series.
Do you have any favorite authors?
Lots! And more everyday. 23 of my new favourites are fellow classmates in the Class of 2k10 – a collective of debut young adult and middle grade fiction authors. I luvs them! www.classof2k10.com
Do you have any advice for other aspiring authors out there?
Join a critique group, start a writing group at school or at your public library. You’ll learn more about writing by reading/evaluating the work of other newbies. Read. Write. And don’t eat too much chocolate.
This interview was really fun to do, and great advice to those who are aspiring to become writers themselves. Though that advice about chocolate may be very hard to commit to. Thanks for visiting Black and Blue Ink today, I can't wait to read the book!!!
You can find Judith Graves here:
Official Website: http://www.judithgraves.com/
Her blog: http://wolfychicks.blogspot.com/
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3166590.Judith_Graves
Class of 2K10: http://www.classof2k10.com/author.php?id=06
LeapBooks: http://www.leapbks.com/judithgraves.htm
Under My Skin Trailer:
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