Welcome to my stop on the Luminosity Blog Tour! Today I have an awesome interview with the book's author Stephanie Thomas, as well as her dream cast for the book's characters! And there's a giveaway, so stick around for that! But for now, enjoy!
Using the letters of your name, please describe yourself.
S: Silly
T: Teacher
E: Energetic
P: Peanut butter lover
H: Happy when writing
A: Analytical
N: Nutella fanatic
I: Ice cream connoisseur
E: Entertaining
If someone who strongly dislikes reading asks you why they should read Luminosity, what do you tell them?
I would tell them that when they are done reading, a unicorn made of solid gold and cookie dough will jump out and become their BFF.
Where did you get the idea for Luminosity and The Raven Chronicles?
I was teaching Oedipus Rex for the fourth time, and my students and I were having a discussion about the prophets of Apollo. I thought it made a great idea for a book, where the gift of prophecy was rediscovered and used to help save an entire people. It kind of evolved from there.
Reading the synopsis, two boys are mentioned--Beatrice's best friend Gabe, and the enemy. It says she may be falling in the love with the enemy, but I sense a love triangle here. What can you share about Beatrice, these two boys, and the romance in the book?
Well, I can tell you this: Gabe has been Beatrice’s best friend from a very young age. Their growing admiration for each other, though, is frowned upon by the Institution (where they live), and the head of the Institution, the Keeper. It’s a constant battle for them to explore where their relationship is going, and while trying to figure it out, Beatrice is sidetracked by a handsome young Dreamcatcher. He is just as forbidden as Gabe, and just as enticing as well…
You're a Tribute in the Reader Games! Three fictional characters are your allies, and three are your enemies. Who are they?
My allies: Holden Caulfield (because he’s the original badass teen), Katniss (for obvious reasons. I’m a cheater.), and Batman. I don’t think I need to explain Batman.
Enemies: Voldemort (he's pretty scary), random zombies from any zombie book, and the Joker for Batman, but he has to be the Heath Ledger version.
Now that Luminosity is a real thing, what do you see in your future? What can be expected in The Raven Chronicles?
I am hoping that at some point I can start writing full time. It’s always been a dream of mine, and a personal goal. There are two more books in the Raven Chronicles. I just finished the second one, called Evanescence, over the summer, and it is so awesome. I’d share more, but I’d be giving away some major plot points from Luminosity if I did that.
If you could collaborate with any writer to ever exist, who would it be?
I’m going to go old school here and say Ernest Hemingway. His words always move me. I found an article today that featured some letters that Hemingway wrote, and one of the quotes that was pulled from the letters read as follows: “I didn’t want to kiss you goodbye – that was the trouble – I wanted to kiss you good night – and there’s a lot of difference.” How beautiful is that?
What's your writing process?
I try to set a daily goal of two thousand words a day. If there’s one thing I took away from my time studying writing at Johns Hopkins was that it is more important to get all your ideas on paper FIRST, and then go back to edit. Many writers waste lots of time editing as they write, and it kills the creative process. Write first, edit later, ladies and gentlemen! I am also not one of those people who can put a manuscript aside for months before going back to it and editing it. I’m way too impatient, and I usually don’t wait that long before I’m back at it again.
Anything else you'd like to share?
Advice to young writers: It is never too early to start writing seriously. If you truly wish to write and be called a writer, this is the only profession where there isn’t an age limit. You can be ten or one hundred and ten and still be called a writer. The longer you wait, the longer it will take to achieve your dream. Be ambitious. Always be ambitious.
Thanks for the interview Stephanie! And now it's time for the totally awesome dreamcast!
Elizabeth Gillies as Beatrice
Logan Lerman as Gabe
Zac Efron (with really blonde hair) as Echo
Angelina Jolie as The Keeper
Stephanie Thomas has been writing ever since she could put letters together to form words. When she was a small child, she would present her mother and father with self-made newspapers filled up with make believe stories and pictures. Her love for writing followed her all throughout her schooling, where she entered and won writing contests of all sorts. Stephanie decided to become an English teacher and completed her B.A. at The Pennsylvania State University. While teaching, she later went on to get her Master’s in writing from The Johns Hopkins University. She completed her very first manuscript during her graduate studies, and by the end of the program, she had completed two more.
Stephanie is quick to tell anyone that she’s a born and raised Philadelphian, and her heart will always belong there. She moved to Baltimore with her husband, and they’ve been living there for the last five years with their doggie, Sailor, and their rabbit, Buns (aka “T Sizzle). You can find her on Twitter or by visiting her website.
Stephanie's novel Luminosity comes out TOMORROW, November 13, from Entangled Teen Publishing! Be sure to snatch this one off the shelves!
My name is Beatrice. When I was born, I was blessed with the Sight. I was immediately removed from my parents and enrolled in the Institution. At the age of twelve, I had my first true vision, earning my raven’s wings. And when I turned seventeen, one of my visions came true. Things haven’t been the same since.
The Institution depends on me to keep the City safe from our enemy, the Dreamcatchers, but I’m finding it harder to do while keeping a secret from everyone, including my best friend Gabe. It is a secret that could put us all in danger. A secret that could kill me and everyone close to me.
But the enemy has been coming to me in my dreams, and I think I’m falling in love with him. He says they’re coming. He says they’re angry. And I think I’ve already helped them win.
And last but not least, the giveaway! Thanks again for stopping by, and don't forget to check out the rest of the tour!
Interesting interview. Very entertaining.
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