Authorial Intrusion - Pam Bachorz
I’m delighted to introduce my fellow debut author, Pam Bachorz today on Authorial Intrusion.
About CANDOR:
Oscar Banks has everything under control. In a town where his father brainwashes everyone, he’s found a way to secretly fight the subliminal Messages. He’s got them all fooled: Oscar’s the top student and the best-behaved teen in town. Nobody knows he’s made his own Messages to deprogram his brain. But then Nia Silva moves to Candor, and Oscar falls in love. He must choose whether to let Nia be lost to brainwashing-or to sacrifice himself.
CANDOR has all the ingredients of a perfect dystopian novel. There’s a conflicted main character trying to survive in a frightening environment - all the more frightening because it seems entirely possible - a dangerous romance, plenty of creeping tension, and final chapters that drag you gasping to the conclusion. One of the best YA books I’ve read this year.
Pam Bachorz grew up in a small town in the Adirondack foothills, where she participated in every possible performance group and assiduously avoided any threat of athletic activity. Pam attended college in Boston and finally decided she was finished after earning four degrees. Her mother is not happy that Pam’s degrees are stored under her bed.
Pam lives just outside Washington, DC with her husband and their son. She likes to read books not aimed at her age group, go to museums and theater performances, and watch far too much television. She even goes jogging. Reluctantly.
As far as she knows, Pam has never been brainwashed. Or maybe that’s just what she’s supposed to say.
Thai food or Chinese?
Thai. We have amazing Thai food places in the DC area and we're having a blast exploring them.
Advice for writers in 5 words or less.
Commit to it.
What are you reading right now?
GOING BOVINE, by Libba Bray. I'm really enjoying it--just settling in and letting the fabulous Miss Libba take me for a ride.
Favorite movie snack?
Popcorn for sure--but I miss that gold dust they used to set out on the counters, to sprinkle on top. Who knows what was in that stuff. I used to put some extra on my fingers and lick it off.
Ocean or lake?
Lake. My current work-in-progress is largely set on a small lake in upstate NY, like the one that my family has their cabin on.
First car?
A red Ford Tempo. The AC broke so I bought a fan that plugged into the cigarette lighter and clipped it to the air flow vent, to keep me cool in the Boston traffic. Didn't really work.
Ever wish you’d studied a different subject in college?
I wish I had chosen my college major for love instead of practicality and fear of not finding a job after graduation. I think I would have majored in creative writing, women's studies and religion. But I know that studying journalism and environmental science was a smart choice, and I don't regret learning how to get my message across in an economical and straightforward manner.
Favorite pie?
My grandmother's lemon meringue. Doesn't ship too well, unfortunately.
Tattoos?
Needles completely freak me out. Ain't happening. I live vicariously through friends' tattoos.
What’s your favorite childhood Halloween costume?
It was third or maybe fourth grade--I made a MS Goodbar costume. Get it, Ms? I thought that was killer.
Who do you wish you could meet, living or dead?
Since I was eight, I have always dreamed of meeting L.M. Montgomery, the author of the Anne of Green Gables books (and many others). She wrote beautiful, sunny books but didn't have the easiest life. I wish we could spend a summer's evening on a porch in Prince Edward Island, sipping raspberry cordial and swapping secrets. Also, she has a very excellent understanding of us redheads. :)
Thanks for indulging our curiosity, Pam!
About CANDOR:
Oscar Banks has everything under control. In a town where his father brainwashes everyone, he’s found a way to secretly fight the subliminal Messages. He’s got them all fooled: Oscar’s the top student and the best-behaved teen in town. Nobody knows he’s made his own Messages to deprogram his brain. But then Nia Silva moves to Candor, and Oscar falls in love. He must choose whether to let Nia be lost to brainwashing-or to sacrifice himself.
CANDOR has all the ingredients of a perfect dystopian novel. There’s a conflicted main character trying to survive in a frightening environment - all the more frightening because it seems entirely possible - a dangerous romance, plenty of creeping tension, and final chapters that drag you gasping to the conclusion. One of the best YA books I’ve read this year.
Pam Bachorz grew up in a small town in the Adirondack foothills, where she participated in every possible performance group and assiduously avoided any threat of athletic activity. Pam attended college in Boston and finally decided she was finished after earning four degrees. Her mother is not happy that Pam’s degrees are stored under her bed.
Pam lives just outside Washington, DC with her husband and their son. She likes to read books not aimed at her age group, go to museums and theater performances, and watch far too much television. She even goes jogging. Reluctantly.
As far as she knows, Pam has never been brainwashed. Or maybe that’s just what she’s supposed to say.
Thai food or Chinese?
Thai. We have amazing Thai food places in the DC area and we're having a blast exploring them.
Advice for writers in 5 words or less.
Commit to it.
What are you reading right now?
GOING BOVINE, by Libba Bray. I'm really enjoying it--just settling in and letting the fabulous Miss Libba take me for a ride.
Favorite movie snack?
Popcorn for sure--but I miss that gold dust they used to set out on the counters, to sprinkle on top. Who knows what was in that stuff. I used to put some extra on my fingers and lick it off.
Ocean or lake?
Lake. My current work-in-progress is largely set on a small lake in upstate NY, like the one that my family has their cabin on.
First car?
A red Ford Tempo. The AC broke so I bought a fan that plugged into the cigarette lighter and clipped it to the air flow vent, to keep me cool in the Boston traffic. Didn't really work.
Ever wish you’d studied a different subject in college?
I wish I had chosen my college major for love instead of practicality and fear of not finding a job after graduation. I think I would have majored in creative writing, women's studies and religion. But I know that studying journalism and environmental science was a smart choice, and I don't regret learning how to get my message across in an economical and straightforward manner.
Favorite pie?
My grandmother's lemon meringue. Doesn't ship too well, unfortunately.
Tattoos?
Needles completely freak me out. Ain't happening. I live vicariously through friends' tattoos.
What’s your favorite childhood Halloween costume?
It was third or maybe fourth grade--I made a MS Goodbar costume. Get it, Ms? I thought that was killer.
Who do you wish you could meet, living or dead?
Since I was eight, I have always dreamed of meeting L.M. Montgomery, the author of the Anne of Green Gables books (and many others). She wrote beautiful, sunny books but didn't have the easiest life. I wish we could spend a summer's evening on a porch in Prince Edward Island, sipping raspberry cordial and swapping secrets. Also, she has a very excellent understanding of us redheads. :)
Thanks for indulging our curiosity, Pam!