Interview with Amanda
Last week I was the extremely lucky member of Fangs, Fur, Fey who interviewed the priceless, amazing Amanda Marrone. Amanda is just an incredible woman with an amazing laugh, quick wit. She'd totally get your back in a zombie fight and take down a few without blinking.
Plus, she's a fantastic writer. Check out below the cut to see what she has to say.
-Carrie
1. Okay, Amanda why do you write urban fantasy/paranormal romance? What drew you to the genre?
As a kid, my father was always telling us ghost stories, and I grew up really, really scared of the dark because of it-closets, empty rooms, the woods behind our house-the things I imagined in them gave me nightmares! In the summer, he’d take my siblings and me to the graveyard, and had us go up one at a time and knock on mausoleum doors. To make it even scarier, every once in awhile I’d knock on a door, turn around, and everyone would’ve run off leaving me utterly alone and waiting for something to answer my knock. I think he thought the ice cream we’d get afterward made up for the scares, but I'd say my dad definitely influenced the macabre side of me.
2. What kind of urban fantasy/paranormal romance do you read: fangs, fur, or fey, or is there some other aspect of the genre that you relish?
I usually read YA and middle grades-in fact Halfway to the Grave was the first adult novel I’d read in years. I do have The Historian, and Heart Shaped Box in my to-be-read pile, but I usually stick to YA and middle grade. I’m not picky about what type of paranormal the main characters are-I love them all, (OK, I have a soft spot for vamps) but right now I’m reading Maggie Stiefvater’s Lament, which is Fey and I highly recommend it.
3. When did you decide to be a writer?
I always wanted to be a picture book author and illustrator. I never did much actual writing as a kid because my penmanship was horrible, and writing made my hand hurt, but I loved to draw. When I was almost thirty, I wrote my first picture book-made up a dummy and started sending it out. Then came book two, but book three turned into a novel, and I knew that’s what I really wanted to do.
4. What is your favorite part of writing?
Revising! Once the story is done, I love playing with it.
5. What is the biggest challenge for you as a writer?
Opening the file. The internet is a bad, bad thing.
6. If you could go back in time and meet the pre-published "you" what words of advice would you give yourself?
I always had faith in me-even in the down times, I kept telling myself it would happen, so I guess I wish I could go back in time and tell some of my relatives to keep the faith in me.
7. What or who were your early influences? How did that lead you to urban fantasy/paranormal romance?
In high school I loved reading Ray Bradbury, Stephen King, Piers Anthony, and Anne Rice. I was a huge fan of horror story or fantasy anthologies.
8. If you could be one of the characters in your book for one day, who would it be?
Dani from Revealers-about halfway through the book, that is. I’m an introvert and I like the way her inner censor is off.
9. Tell us something secret about your book or character.
I’m not sure this is a secret-especially if you knew me in the day, but my main character in Uninvited is a lot like I was in high school. I never felt I was writing about me, but because I gave her a lot of my “junk” and I could really relate to her. Sigh-social anxiety, phone phobic….
10. Book Info: Revealers, September 30th, 2008, S&S Pulse
11. Upcoming Info: Books, signings, readings, etc.
NEIBA: Hynes Convention Center, Boston, MA. Signing 12:30 9/20/08
Written Words Book Store, Shelton, CT, 2:00 10/5/08 with Bringing the Boy Home author, N. A. Nelson, and FFF member, Jennifer Lynn Barnes.
Books of Wonder YA Panel, NYC, 12:00-2:00 11/15/08.
12. What future project are you working on-what do readers have to look forward to?
I’m finishing up Devoured about a girl haunted by her dead twin while working at a small New England amusement park run by the cursed descendents of Snow White. Let the eye-rolling commence!
Thanks, Amanda! That sounds amazing and creepy. No eye rolling at all.
Plus, she's a fantastic writer. Check out below the cut to see what she has to say.
-Carrie
1. Okay, Amanda why do you write urban fantasy/paranormal romance? What drew you to the genre?
As a kid, my father was always telling us ghost stories, and I grew up really, really scared of the dark because of it-closets, empty rooms, the woods behind our house-the things I imagined in them gave me nightmares! In the summer, he’d take my siblings and me to the graveyard, and had us go up one at a time and knock on mausoleum doors. To make it even scarier, every once in awhile I’d knock on a door, turn around, and everyone would’ve run off leaving me utterly alone and waiting for something to answer my knock. I think he thought the ice cream we’d get afterward made up for the scares, but I'd say my dad definitely influenced the macabre side of me.
2. What kind of urban fantasy/paranormal romance do you read: fangs, fur, or fey, or is there some other aspect of the genre that you relish?
I usually read YA and middle grades-in fact Halfway to the Grave was the first adult novel I’d read in years. I do have The Historian, and Heart Shaped Box in my to-be-read pile, but I usually stick to YA and middle grade. I’m not picky about what type of paranormal the main characters are-I love them all, (OK, I have a soft spot for vamps) but right now I’m reading Maggie Stiefvater’s Lament, which is Fey and I highly recommend it.
3. When did you decide to be a writer?
I always wanted to be a picture book author and illustrator. I never did much actual writing as a kid because my penmanship was horrible, and writing made my hand hurt, but I loved to draw. When I was almost thirty, I wrote my first picture book-made up a dummy and started sending it out. Then came book two, but book three turned into a novel, and I knew that’s what I really wanted to do.
4. What is your favorite part of writing?
Revising! Once the story is done, I love playing with it.
5. What is the biggest challenge for you as a writer?
Opening the file. The internet is a bad, bad thing.
6. If you could go back in time and meet the pre-published "you" what words of advice would you give yourself?
I always had faith in me-even in the down times, I kept telling myself it would happen, so I guess I wish I could go back in time and tell some of my relatives to keep the faith in me.
7. What or who were your early influences? How did that lead you to urban fantasy/paranormal romance?
In high school I loved reading Ray Bradbury, Stephen King, Piers Anthony, and Anne Rice. I was a huge fan of horror story or fantasy anthologies.
8. If you could be one of the characters in your book for one day, who would it be?
Dani from Revealers-about halfway through the book, that is. I’m an introvert and I like the way her inner censor is off.
9. Tell us something secret about your book or character.
I’m not sure this is a secret-especially if you knew me in the day, but my main character in Uninvited is a lot like I was in high school. I never felt I was writing about me, but because I gave her a lot of my “junk” and I could really relate to her. Sigh-social anxiety, phone phobic….
10. Book Info: Revealers, September 30th, 2008, S&S Pulse
11. Upcoming Info: Books, signings, readings, etc.
NEIBA: Hynes Convention Center, Boston, MA. Signing 12:30 9/20/08
Written Words Book Store, Shelton, CT, 2:00 10/5/08 with Bringing the Boy Home author, N. A. Nelson, and FFF member, Jennifer Lynn Barnes.
Books of Wonder YA Panel, NYC, 12:00-2:00 11/15/08.
12. What future project are you working on-what do readers have to look forward to?
I’m finishing up Devoured about a girl haunted by her dead twin while working at a small New England amusement park run by the cursed descendents of Snow White. Let the eye-rolling commence!
Thanks, Amanda! That sounds amazing and creepy. No eye rolling at all.