Karen Amanda Hooper, author of the Kindrily Series and The Sea Monster Memoirs, has kindly accepted to answer some of my questions. Below are her answers. If you have the time you can start reading more about the author and her books. You can find out some interestng things!
Thank you for accepting this interview, Amanda! <3
1. Hi Karen! Thank you for accepting this interview! How about telling us a little bit about yourself C: ?
I'm an author of fantasy and paranormal that's labeled as young adult, but my stories appeal to adults too (or so I've been told). I live in sunny Florida with my two beloved rescue dogs, I love Disney, coffee, and chocolate. (In that order.) I'm a constant work in progress.
2. When did you realize that you have the talent for writing?
My Creative Writing teacher in high school tried convincing me I had talent, but I didn't believe in myself until my late twenties. .jpg)
3. When did the plot of your book Grasping at Eternity come to you?
December 21, 2008. I was baking Christmas cookies and listening to an oldies music station. Ella Fitzgerald's Someone to Watch Over Me came on and Maryah's story hit me like a Mack truck. I started writing and haven't been able to stop.
4. How did you choose the title of the book?
I originally called it The Kindrily. But kindrily is a made up word (combination of kindred and family) and I worried it wouldn't really set a tone because no one would know what it meant until they read the book. I changed it to Grasping at Eternity a couple years ago because it was much more descriptive of what the story is about.
5. I find the cover really beautiful! Mind telling us how the picture was "born"?
I spent days looking through stock photos and pictures on Deviantart.com but I couldn't find anything close to what I envisioned in my mind. I figured why no try to create my vision by taking my own photo? I asked a good friend to be my model and she happily agreed. I spent hours positioning her and covering her with rose petals and peacock feathers, but it was tons of fun and we finally got the perfect picture. Then my very talented and good friend, Alexandra Shostak, manipulated the photo, added the background clocks, and created the beautiful font. Voila! I was in love.
6. Tell us a few things about the book. How do you describe it in a few words?
It's a magical love story. It's also a story of family and friendship. Soul mates and superpowers. Like XMEN meets MY NAME IS MEMORY.
7. Is the book inspired in any way from your life? Do you relate with any of the characters?
Oh gosh, yes. This series has so much of my heart and soul in it. Many of the characters are modeled or named after people in my life who forever changed me in some way. However, Maryah and Nathan are one hundred percent original. I WISH I knew a Nathan in real life, but sadly, he only exists in my imagination--and in my books!
8. Is The Kindrily Series going to be a trilogy?
9. I've also seen that you have another series named The Sea Monster Memoirs. Which of the two series do you like the most?
That's like asking a mother which child she loves the most. It's impossible to choose. I love them differently, but I could never choose a favorite. (And if I did, I'd never admit it. ;) )
10. We have reached the end of the interview! Thank you so much for the time! Feel free to tell anything you would like to those who are snooping around my blog. Any message for us romanian fans in particular? Maybe some advice, or maybe a quote you find inspiring.
Thanks so much for having me. I know so little about Romania, but I'd love to visit there someday. Maybe some of my characters will visit there in a future book. Even though we're many miles apart, we all sleep under the same stars, so here's a quote from Grasping at Eternity: "...a person’s destiny is written in the stars. The sky is a storybook, and the stars are characters in its pages.”
About the Author:
I’ve loved mermaids since as far back as I can remember. I grew up watching movies like Splash and The Little Mermaid, and you could find me swimming around the pool in our backyard with my legs stuck together, pretending I had a tail and fins.
Fast forward a couple (maybe a few) decades and I’m still playing make-believe with mermaids–except now they’re in my novels instead of a toy box.
I’m a self-proclaimed twisted little pixie. I believe that magic and true love really do exist, even in a world that can be ugly at times. I like to dance down rabbit holes and ride shooting stars while playing a never-ending game of “Imagine If…” Then I write about my impossible and fantastical musings and call myself an author. Honestly, I can’t imagine doing anything else. I love storytelling way too much.
I was born and raised in Baltimore, Maryland, but I’ve also lived in Colorado. Eventually, I had to move to a place where I’d be surrounded by water, so I now live in Florida.
I love great food, desserts, more desserts, movies that make me laugh or cry, thunderstorms, butterflies in my stomach, curtains blowing in the breeze, my dogs tails wagging because they are happy to see me, thrilling rides, books that make me think or learn something new, Ravens football, long warm baths, smiling uncontrollably, flavored coffee, an amazing dream that stays with me all day, popping popcorn the old-fashioned way, jumping out of airplanes, board games, lotto scratch-offs, and flying to Neverland.
I’m a constant work in progress.
Check out the teen focused blog that I co-founded with some other awesome YA authors: YA Confidential
I’m also grateful and lucky to be part of a talented group of authors called the Indelibles.
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