Blog Tour: How I Lost You Review + Interview

Jen's Review

 How I Lost You
by Janet Gurtler
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire
Release Date: April 23, 2013

How I Lost You turned out to be a story about friendship, romance, and courage. What I liked about this one is that it's sole focus is the relationship between two friends, which isn't common among YA these days. You typically see romance-heavy issues in these types of contemporaries, but How I Lost You's outcome proved to be different. Even though I had some issues here and there, this one is an enjoyable read, with a good balance of sweet, adoring moments and serious, dark ones as well.

When I was first introduced to the main characters Grace and Kya, I immediately fell in love with Grace's character. I think the best way to describe her is loyal. Her obvious love for her best friend is clear and she didn't stop at anything to help Kya. However, my feelings for Kya were at the complete opposite end of the spectrum. To me, Kya felt like an absolutely shallow, meaningless girl. She's the character that has had a dark past and everything, and I understand that it's hard to deal with it all, but that's no excuse to treat everyone else differently just because you didn't have a good childhood. The entire time, I constantly asked myself, "Why, Grace, WHY are you still friends with this girl?" That's how utterly loyal Grace is-- she sticks with Kya, even through the worst. The characters in this book turned out to be a pro and a con; Grace made the story very touching and admirable, but Kya made it annoying and hair-pulling.

I definitely have to mention the romance, even though it played second to friendship in this story. It's a sweet, sweet romance, and I don't think I can describe it any other way. Levi, the love interest, was patient, kind, and shy. His hesitation and carefulness with Grace was just to die for. Aside from the romantic relationship itself, I really admired the fact that Gurtler did not over-exaggerate the romance, because, as mentioned, the main idea for this book was friendship. In other words, the romance didn't overshadow the friendship between Grace and Kya.

There were definitely times when I thought that the plot-pacing was very sporadic. The first half of the novel was fantastic. We were introduced to this colorful cast of characters, and Grace and Kya's summer had just begun. My instant reaction was: YES, A PERFECT SUMMER READ. However, towards the middle, I just got plain bored. Nothing was happening, and every description triggered a thought similar to this: Why the heck do I care that she went to the bathroom with her toiletries bag? I was definitely frustrated at this point, but luckily, the last quarter of this book was redeeming and my initial love for this book returned. The book ended on a good note that I was satisfied with, fortunately!

I think a main aspect that readers will enjoy in How I Lost You is the inclusion of paintballing. I've never read any books that involved a sport with paintballing. I think it added a nice little spark to it that kind of made it stand out. The integration was smooth and played a good role in the story.

How I Lost You had it's good times and not-so-good times, but overall, it's a read that I recommend. It has its useful life-lessons and friendship morals scattered about that everyone can learn from. I know for a fact that Janet Gurtler is an author that I look forward to reading more books from!

3.5 teacups for How I Lost You!

*Thanks to Sourcebooks Fire and Netgalley for providing me with a copy to review!*

Interview with Janet Gurtler

1. How similar or different are these character to you? Did you ever experience the issues that Grace and Kya go through?

Grace has a few of my qualities, loyalty the biggest one. She is however way cooler and braver. I never played paintball or had my goals so clearly defined at that age.  Kya is not really like me.  I had a couple of friends who went to things similar to what Kya went through and the emotional devastation manifests itself in so many different ways. I don’t want to give away what it was for spoilers, but something pretty horrible. 

2. Most contemporaries out there today are centered around romance. What made you want to center your novel around friendship?

I tend to write contemporaries that deal with relationships and/or change. Romance is always present in my books, but not necessarily at the forefront. Although, in this story, I think Levi, the romantic interest,  is kind of the catalyst for the changing relationship with Grace and Kya.  But I choose to write about friendship, because man, teen friendship is SO IMPORTANT. In my experience it’s the girlfriends I remember and cherish, way more than the boys I went out with or had crushes on. Girl friendships or platonic male/female friendships are just as important and often more important than romance. In my opinion. :) And the hurt of a best friend break up. Oh. That’s hurt.

3. Which character did you feel a closer connection with while writing HOW I LOST YOU? Why?

I felt a really strong kinship for Kya. I understood why she was doing the things she was doing.  She didn’t mean to be selfish and horrible has is kind of driven by a dark secret in her past that damaged her. She hasn’t dealt with it yet, and until she does she is going to be unable to deal with people or things or herself in a respectful way. She is a wounded little bird, and I wanted to fix her, but she wasn’t ready to be fixed yet.

4. Do you have a some sort of message or moral that you were trying to reach out to readers through this book? If so, what is it?

My message in this book is that ultimately in life, sometimes you have to make hard decisions in order to look out for own best interests.  Grace is the type of person who wants to fix Kya and help her and I think a lot of girls/women have this quality. But we also have to realize that sometimes relationships become toxic and we have to make a choice to put ourselves first sometimes. It’s a harder than for females to do. It’s the nurturing gene.  I want girls to know it’s okay to be strong and also vulnerable, but also strong.

5. What can we expect from you in the future? (What are you currently working on?)

 I have a book coming out in 2014 called Sixteen Things I Thought Were True.  It’s about a girl who has a video of her dancing in her underwear to “I’m Sexy And I Know It’ go viral online.  Ironically , she’s hiding out from the real world online, but when life throws curves at her,  she ends up on a road trip with a strange girl and her mean boss and finds out things about herself and her life that she never knew.

Thanks so much for your time, Janet!

Happy reading, 
Jen xx

Possession Blog Tour: Interview + Giveaways!

Today I'm delighted to welcome Elana Johnson to A Reading Daydreamer for the joint Possession and Surrender blog tour!  She is stopping by for a short interview which you should definitely read! And don't forget to enter the awesome giveaways she has kindly put together.

Possession is a pretty complex book, what was the hardest part of writing it?

The timeline, for sure. When everything happens, when that person goes missing, when this and when that. It was really challenging – and I’m still dealing with it, as I try to make the third book in the series (ABANDON, coming on June 4, 2013) match up with everything that’s already in black and white.

So definitely the timeline of events. There’s just so much of the past in us, you know? And I think characters should base their decisions on who they are. And they become who they based on where they’ve been, and what they’ve experienced. So the past events are important.

All dystopians need to have original 'worlds', how did you come up with the idea of the 'Goodgrounds' and the 'Badlands'?

There’s a lot of tongue-in-cheek stuff in Possession, including the “Good”ground and the “Bad”lands. I wanted to have two places that were direct opposites, and have Vi explore what truly made someone or something good. It was an exploration of labels.

Do you have any memorable moments of when you were putting all your thoughts and ideas on paper?

I remember needing a name for my male lead, and not having one. So I used “Jag” as a placeholder. By the end of the book, I loved it, and didn’t end up changing his name.

What's your favourite scene from the Possession?

There’s one I almost cut, but decided to keep, and it’s when Vi makes herself the birthday cake as she and Jag cross the desert. I don’t know why I like that scene so much, but I do. Maybe I just love birthdays!

Were any of the characters inspired by the people in your life, or even yourself?

Sort of. Mostly, Vi gets to say and do things I wish I could say and do. I’m so non-confrontational, that I don’t say anything to anyone about anything. I want everyone to be happy, and I want to treat others kindly. That usually means that you don’t get to speak your mind, you know? And Vi gets to do that. So I sort of live vicariously through her.

If you lived in Vi's world, would you rather be a Goodie or a Baddie?

Oh, I’d rather be a Baddie. I’d rather get to go out with my friends and wear whatever I choose.

Can you give us a sneak peek of Surrender?

Everyone can read the first 96 pages of Surrender on my Facebook fanpage! https://www.facebook.com/possessionthebook/app_128953167177144

Author Bio:  Elana Johnson’s work, including Possession, Surrender, and Regret, published by Simon Pulse (Simon & Schuster), is available now everywhere books are sold. Her popular ebook, From the Query to the Call, is also available for download, as well as a Possession short story, Resist. School teacher by day, Query Ninja by night, you can find her online at her personal blog or Twitter. She also co-founded the Query Tracker blog, and contributes to the League of Extraordinary Writers. Blog: http://elanajohnson.blogspot.com FB: http://facebook.com/possessionthebook Twitter: http://twitter.com/ElanaJ

a Rafflecopter giveaway


a Rafflecopter giveaway
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Sweet Venom by Tera Lynn Childs UK Blog Tour: Interview

Today, I'm delighted to introduce Tera Lynn Childs to A Reading Daydreamer as part of the UK blog tour for the first book in her Medusa Girls trilogy, Sweet Venom!  I really enjoyed reading it and it's now available so read the following interview and get yourself a copy!

Hi Tera, welcome to A Reading Daydreamer!  Can you tell us a bit about yourself?

Hi A Reading Daydreamer! Thanks for having me. About myself, hmmm... I'm the daughter of theatre folk. I write teen books about mythology, mermaids, and monsters. I'm semi-nomadic, but I call Las Vegas home for now. I'm addicted to TV, have a dog named Daisy, and I'm vegan.

I personally loved reading Sweet Venom and thought the premise and storyline were both really unique.  What inspired you to write it in the first place?

Thank you! The initial idea actually came from a magazine spread about snake themed accessories. I saw a whole page of serpent jewelry and snakeskin leather goods and, while I'm not a fan of snakes, I was intrigued. I pulled the pages out and started thinking. I was already writing about mythology at the time, with Oh. My. Gods. and Goddess Boot Camp, so it was only a matter of time until Medusa sprang to mind. I love looking at things from different perspectives, which is how I came up with the idea of Medusa being a guardian instead of a monster. From there, everything kind of fell into place.

I adored the Greek mythology element, which myth is your favourite?

Orpheus and Eurydice. I'm not usually such a sucker for drama, but the story of him going into the underworld to bring back his wife and then, at the last moment, losing her because he couldn't keep from looking back to check... it's just heartbreaking. 

Which parts were the most fun to write?  Were there any particularly difficult ones too?

All of them. And all of them! Seriously, Sweet Venom was both the most fun and the hardest thing I've ever written. I loved getting to write about such different characters--Phoebe and Lily, from the Oh. My. Gods. and Forgive My Fins series, are both kind of like Grace, but it was exciting to write about a tough chick like Gretchen and a snob like Greer. But, at the same time, write three distinct first person characters was a huge challenge. Plus it was the first book in my first trilogy, so in the end it was like writing twelve books at once! 

Now that Sweet Venom is finally released over here in the UK, you have the pleasure of marvelling the different covers.  Do you prefer the UK or US cover?

Oh, that's an unfair question. I love them both. I love the mystery of the US cover and I adore the kick-butt colors and cityscape of the UK edition. But, from a purely selfish standpoint, I will say that he cover model on the UK book is exactly what I think the girls look like. She is spot on.

I think Sweet Venom has the potential to be one heck of a kick-ass movie too.  If it was turned into a movie *crosses fingers*, who could you see playing the lead roles?

For the girls, I think Hayden Panettiere has the look and talent to play all three roles. For the boys, I could see Adrian Grenier as Milo, a young Paul Walker as Nick, and Brian J. Smith as Thane. 

Out of the three sisters Gretchen, Grace and Greer, who were you most like as a teenager?

I was (and am) definitely a Grace. I like to pretend I'm a Greer sometimes and I wish I was a Gretchen, but I'm definitely the quieter girl with less confidence--although I'm much better about that now than when I was in high school.

If a sea dracaena turned up on your doorstep, how would you react and what would you do?

Slam the door and run for the kitchen. I'd either hide in the pantry or grab a big kitchen knife and a bag of salt to throw in her eyes.

I'm already desperate to read the second book, can you give us a sneak preview? 

Oooh, teasers... In Sweet Shadows there is a lot more action, more monsters, more kissing, more kidnappings. You'll get to see the monster abyss first hand, you'll learn a lot more about Nick, and you'll learn a little bit about more about Thane. And you'll meet a whole new batch of monsters that makes Gretchen rethink everything she knows about the beastie world.

Thanks so much for being here today, Tera!

Many thanks to Templar for organising the blog tour and Tera for answering all my questions!  

Click HERE to read my review for Sweet Venom and once you've done that, don't forget to get yourself a lovely copy - it's a really fun, kick-ass read :D

Happy reading,

Beverley

The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making Blog Tour: Interviews + GIVEAWAY

Today, it's a pleasure to welcome Catherynne Valente to the blog as part of the blog tour for her wonderful book, The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making.  You're in for a treat because I'm sharing an interview with the main character, September, AND Cat herself!  Plus there's also a giveaway at the end...  I really enjoyed reading the book and found it to be a lovely, whimsical read. Click HERE to see my review :)  I hope you enjoy this stop of the blog tour <3

~Interview with September~

Fairy News at Midnight: We’re reporting LIVE from Fairyland and have been granted an exclusive interview with none other than Fairyland’s most famous visitor, September.

You've had many adventures in Fairyland, where’s your favourite place on the island?

Oh, goodness! Everything always happens so fast in Fairyland I hardly have time to see everything, but Pandemonium was just the most extraordinary place. I had to leave so quickly and I’m terribly sorry, I wish I could have wandered the woven streets and seen a fairy parade! I do find cities so marvelous--I’ve only been to Omaha twice, and Pandemonium is ever so much grander and more colorful! Perhaps one day I shall get to go back.

What was it like meeting The Marquess for the first time?

Dreadful! I’ve met unkind girls before, but she was so awfully frightening and strong. I wanted to be brave and good but you just can’t say no to her. She’s like one of those snake charmer’s I’ve seen in picture books. She plays her flute and you sway along. I suppose she is pretty, and I did like her panther, but she made me want to cry and hide and kick her and laugh at her all at once. I suppose that’s what Queens are like. I’ve never met one before! Oh, I know she calls herself a Marquess but that’s what she really is. I wonder if we might have been friends, if things were different and she weren’t Queen of anyplace. She did have such a fancy way of talking.

A-through-L was your most faithful and close companion, any secrets that you can divulge about him for our audience?

Good gracious! Poor Ell wouldn’t like me spilling his secrets all about! Even if secrets DO begin with S and he’s really wretched at keeping them. It’s not much of a secret to say he’s a big, lovely soul who means well even when he breaks things. But I will say that he feels terribly guilty that he’s held up his mother’s side of his heart, being big and lovely and a great thumping Wyvern with fiery breath, but hasn’t carried on his father’s line much. His father was a library, you know, and he hasn’t studied Library Magic even a bit. I think he hopes that once he finds a library that loves him and wants to take him in it’ll all come naturally! I’ve heard from the Green Wind that he’s taken a journey to the outer isles in order to take up an internship with a card catalogue imp, and I do hope it doesn’t take so long that he’s away when I return to Fairyland!

We hear that a new book, The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making was released this month chronicling your adventures. Do you think the narrator tells the story accurately and what do you think of Ana Juan’s likeness of you?

Didn’t Miss Juan draw such nice pictures of me? It was awfully kind of her to make me and Ell and Saturday look so fetching. I do especially like how she drew the Key! The Key is off having its own adventures now, but I hope it peeks into a bookstore’s lock and sees how sharp it’s looking on the cover.

The narrator is funny, isn’t she? She says all sorts of things that I think about, but can never quite manage to find the words for. Sometimes she stops the story to have her say, but that’s all right, sometimes you need to stop and contemplate everything that’s happened! I think if the narrator and I ever met, we’d have the most interesting time together!

What’s the one useful thing a young ravished child could pack before entering Fairyland?

Food or a compass! A good hunk of bread and dried meat would do her quite well, and a compass would help her to get her bearings--not that the directions in Fairyland are an obedient lot! But when you first arrive, everything is so confusing, and it’s nice to know one thing surely, which is to say North, because if you know one thing, other things will come to join it, by and by!

And tell us, what is the best tasting Fairy food?

Oh, just everything in the Autumn Provinces was delicious! I had no idea you could make so many things out of pumpkins!

Isn't September just the cutest?  I don't know about you, but I've had great fun 'getting to know' her!  And now over to Cat herself, who will be answering some of my questions...

~Interview with the Author~

Welcome to A Reading Daydreamer! Can you tell us a bit about yourself?

Hi! Well, I’m originally from Seattle on the west coast of America, but I live in Maine now, which is the very topmost tip of the east coast. I actually live on an island off the coast of Portland, Maine, and I have one husband, two dogs, two cats, and six chickens. I like to knit and play the accordion as well as write. I’ve been writing professionally for about eight years now. Fairyland was my tenth novel, but my first for kids.

When did you decide you wanted to become an author?

I always wanted to write, but that’s not the same as always wanting to be a writer. Originally, I meant to be a teacher, but it turned out I was pretty good at writing books. I decided to try to write fiction (I’d mainly been writing poetry before that) when I was 22 and working in a seaside village as a fortune teller. I just wanted to see if I could--I don’t think I intended to be an author until my fourth book came out.

What inspired you to write TGWCFIASOHOM and how did the idea come about?

Fairyland started out its life as a book within a book in my adult novel Palimpsest. It was the protagonist’s favorite childhood novel. When I toured for Palimpsest, people kept asking if it was real, where they could get a copy, could they find it online--and when I said no, they begged me to write it.

The spark of idea came from my old inability to understand Dorothy when I first say the Wizard of Oz film. I didn’t understand why, when faced with magic and witches and adventure, she wanted to go home to a miserable place where her parents were dead and the Depression was on. I would have wanted to stay--so I wrote a book about a girl who wanted to stay.

What was your reaction when you discovered it was going to be published?

I was over the moon. I could never have imagined that a book which began as a crowdfunded online serial would be picked up by a major press and made into such a beautiful physical book. I’m not going to lie, I cried.

If TGWCFIASOHOM was turned into a movie, who could you see playing the lead roles?

I imagine it might be animated, but I think Amandla Stenberg (Rue from The Hunger Games) or Kiernan Shipka (Sally Draper on Mad Men) would be wonderful as September, though I might prefer an unknown. For the voice of Ell, perhaps Stephen Fry or John Rhys-Davies? For Saturday, I think it’s important to find a middle eastern actor, and that probably means an unknown, as child actors of Arabic descent don’t often get much work in the western media. Abigail Breslin would be an amazing Marquess and I would love to see David Tennant as The Green Wind.

Can you give us a sneak peek of the next book in the series?

The Girl Who Fell Beneath Fairyland and Led the Revels There is about September’s shadow, who has become Queen of the mysterious underworld known as Fairyland-Below, and is causing a good deal of trouble for topsiders. September has to go underground to fight herself and face the consequences of her choices in the first novel

What is your favourite childhood fairytale?

Snow White. My parents divorced early and I had a stepmother who didn’t much care for me, especially as I have dark hair like my mother and my siblings are all blonde. The story always seemed to be about me somehow. Without the dwarves.

If you could meet any fairytale character, who would it be and why?

The witch from Hansel and Gretel. A candy house is a strange idea--I always thought there was more going on with her than she let on. I’d like to sit down for tea. Witches are always the most interesting women

And finally, do you like to daydream?

Daydreaming is, quite literally, my job. I love it.

Thank you to Cat!  I hope you all enjoyed finding more about the author and September and if you haven't read the book, I hope it's encouraged you to check it out soon.

Here's the chance to get your hands on a copy...

The publisher is kindly giving away a paperback copy of the book to FIVE lucky readers!  Read on to see how you have a chance of winning...

Terms and Conditions:

- Fill in the Rafflecopter below - please don't leave your personal details in the comments

-You must live in the UK as the publisher will be sending the books out

- You must be 13 years or older, if you're under 13 please ask a parent/guardian for permission

- Neither I or the publisher are responsible for prizes lost or damaged in the post

- Giveaway ends at 12:01AM EST on 1st July 2012

Good Luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Have a great weekend,
Beverley <3

Book Blogger Month: Interview with Jana!

I am very sorry for not posting a lot this week :( To make up for my short absence, I would like to introduce Jana from The Book Goddess!  Her blog is really beautiful and I LOVE reading all her posts and reviews... it's a fab blog which you should definitely check out for sure :)

Hi Jana, welcome to A Reading Daydreamer!

Hi Beverley, thanks for inviting me!

When and why did you decide to start a book blog?

I started my book blog on the 1st January 2012. After a year of fangirling and stalking everyone's blogs, creating my Goodreads and Twitter, I decided to make one. Also, I had about three (failed) blogs before I decided not to give up on The Book Goddess. And their names were all embarrassingly bad. Like really, what was going on in my mind when I decided I wanted (1) Inside Every Story, (2) Weaving Words, (3) Painting Pages for the names? Not that The Book Goddess is any better, mind you :)

Which blogs still continue to inspire you?

Katie from Katie's Book Blog, Harmony's Radiant Reads, and YA Sisterhood are just among a few. Katie is just so friendly and approachable, Harmony because she's the same age as me and her blog is pure awesome. Also, the YA Sisterhood because they host great tournaments and their reviews are very helpful and funny!

What are the best and worst things about book blogging?

The best things about book blogging, is sharing your love of books with other people. At school, I've only got one friend who reads books, and book blogging has introduced me to so many great people with the same passion and love for reading! The worst thing about blogging? I would have to say that it takes a LOT of your time. It takes dedication. Especially since I'm only 15 and doing my GCSE's examinations this year. Also, the fact that everyone has this opinion and believe that new bloggers are only creating a blog just to get ARCs or free books. Seriously, it's NOT that easy.

What ambitions do you have for The Book Goddess?
Well, I didn't really set out any ambitions or whatever when I started my blog, but I do hope (and want) to continue blogging about YA books for many years. I hope that I won't give up on it, and even though that there are times when school and college will make me super busy, I hope that I'll still continue to blog. I don't want to say that I want to have lots of followers or page views, but that would be a lie, I think everyone wants that, but you do realize that you just love blogging, and talking about books, even if you've got 10, 50 or 1,000 followers.

If you could spend the day with one author, who would you choose and why?

I think everyone kinda expects the answer to be J.K Rowling, or Stephenie Meyer, but I honestly only read the first Harry Potter, and I hate Twilight. Anyway, only recently (well, about 5 months ago), I discovered Jennifer L. Armentrout who wrote the Covenant series (Half-Blood, Pure, Deity, Apollyn) and the Lux series (Obsidian, Onyx, Opal, Shadows). I just love her writing, and how she manages to make the simple plot into something that is original and fresh and HOT. She knows how to create sexual tension, and her kissing scenes are just so steamy, I needed to fan myself. She's also very friendly, and she gives up a lot of time to answer interviews (she's my first author interview actually!), and answer questions for her readers, while writing about a million books. She's got like 6 (or more) books coming out this year!

What genres do you enjoy reading and what are some of your favourite books?
I love all sorts of YA, but especially Dystopian, Paranormal, Fantasy, Contemporary and everything really. But a book has to be heavy on the romance for me to really enjoy it. Some of my recently favourite books are: Divergent, Obsidian, Shatter Me, Hallowed, Blood Red Road, and too many to list!

Do you think you are similar to any fictional characters?

Oh, this is hard. I think I'm quite a bit like Katy (Obsidian), Mara (Unbecoming of Mara Dyer), Clary (The Mortal Instruments series) in terms of personality.When Tris (Divergent) is being brave and selfish, then her too.

Are there any books coming out in 2012 which you are really looking forward to read?
I'm really looking forward to Insurgent (Divergent #2)! I think everyone is really looking forward to that! Also, Something Like Normal (by Trish Doller) sounds like a really funny and strong contemporary. And I can't forget about Onyx (Lux #2), I need me some Daemon! There's lots more, but I'll be here forever if I list them all! LOL

What other hobbies do you have apart from reading and blogging?
I like painting, and drawing. If I need to take my mind off something, I think playing sports really does the job, and because I want to be a graphic designer, I sometimes mess around in Photoshop and Dreamweaver.And before you ask, my social life is non-existent, with loads of school work and my GCSE's coming up! I also write YA stories when I'm bored :P

What would be your dream job?
My dream job... Umm. Even though I'm 15 (nearly 16 in April!), I'm still quite unsure of what I want to do when I'm older. I do want to be a Graphic/Web Designer and to someday work in Publishing in probably the Editorial or Design department. But someday I also want to get published and be a YA author. I love making up characters and stories in my head, so Honestly, I don't really care about the money, I just want to do something I love and enjoy!

And finally, do you like daydreaming?
YES! There are mutiple occasions where I daydreamed during Chemistry, or Maths, that I got told off by my teacher. :)

QUICK-FIRE Q’S

Facebook or Twitter: Definitely Twitter. I don't even have Facebook.
Book or e-book: Umm. I'm I allowed both? Currently, I care for my Kindle like it's my baby. So e-books.
Early bird or night owl: Night owl.
Reading or blogging: I've been a bit lazy with reading, so.. Blogging!
Tea or coffee: Coffee
Pink or purple: Purple.
Summer or winter: Summer.

Thank you Jana!
Thanks for having me, Beverley! Love interviews! :D

***

Hope you'll go along and check out Jana's blog!  It's really amazing, I bet you'll love it :) 

The Look Blog Tour: INTERVIEW (with a twist!)

I am delighted to welcome the lovely author, Sophia Bennett to A Reading Daydreamer as part of the blog tour for her newly released book, The Look!  I really enjoyed reading The Look (click HERE to see my review) and I hope that once you've read the interview below, you'll go out and get yourself a copy!

So you've probably read the typical interview about Sophia and her books but have you ever wondered what she would do if she was approached by a scout or which fashion designer she would like to spend the day with.  If so, read on for an interview with a twist...

Welcome to A Reading Daydreamer, Sophia! Can you tell us a bit about yourself?

Hi Beverley!  I live in London and have four children - two sons and two stepdaughters. I've wanted to be a writer since I was small, but it was only when my first book, Threads, won the Times/Chicken House competition in 2009 that my dream came true. Since then, I've written two more books in the Threads trilogy and my new book, The Look. I was many things before I became a writer - a lobbyist, dictionary researcher, earring packager, tour guide, management consultant ... - but never anything to do with fashion. It's always been an interest, rather than a job.

Fashion appears in the Threads trilogy and The Look, can you explain why this element is significant to you?
 I actually never expected to write about fashion. I've always been interested in art and literature - creative things - and fashion was an extension of that. My family helped. My uncle was a sailor and collected costume dolls from around the world for me. My mother and both my grandmothers knitted, smocked and sewed things for me, too. I think it started there.


Beverley's note: I certainly
don't think Sophia is

rubbish at drawing, do you?

Then, as I grew older I became more interested in how beautiful clothes are made, because there's a real craft to it. It's the craft side that appeals to me, and the history of fashion, rather than the labels. Having said all of that, I don't sew much myself, I'm sad to say. And like Nonie, I'm rubbish at drawing. So the career of a fashion designer was not for me. But I'm fascinated by how you have to work together as a team to create a catwalk show. That was the spark of Threads, really - the idea of creating a show, and all the hard work that went into it.

Also, I wanted to inspire my readers to think about art college, if they were creatively inclined. Nobody ever really talked about it as an option when I was at school, but so many of the people who've shaped our culture went to art school, from designers to musicians. It's worth looking into!



As for dressing - I love it when people dress eccentrically, to express their personalities, and that's what my characters tend to do. Like me, they're not interested in just wearing designer clothes. One of my favourite things is when a fan writes to me to tell me she's started using her sewing machine to make her own designs.

Why did you think it was necessary to include names of real-life designers and fashion houses in your books?

I wanted the books to be secretly educational! I didn't feel the need to invent names and labels when the real ones out there have so much history and are so interesting. I hoped that a reader would know more about the great names in fashion when she finished than when she started. And if she was curious, she could go off and find out more about them. As so often - the truth is more fascinating than any fiction we could invent.

What are your sources of inspiration for the fashion elements?

Working out Nonie's eccentric outfits for all the scenes she's in in Threads was hard work! I'd sit down each morning and think - oh no, what's she got to wear today? I had to stay one step ahead of the crazy It-girls in the papers. I think I'm proudest of the Astroturf skirt. I saw one in a boutique in New York many years ago, and never bought it. I always slightly regretted that. I'd never have worn it, but it would have been so cool to own it. I'd think through all the crazy things I'd never wear to school myself - like wellies, or Lederhosen, and put Nonie in those.

I'm a constant magpie for style ideas - always reading news articles, magazines and books about them, and seeing what people are wearing in London. I have been all my life, so sometimes I use little stories and anecdotes I learned twenty years ago. Plus, I love the Oscars. I was following the fashion on the red carpet long before it became such a big public obsession. In The Look there is actually less fashion because Ted, my main character, isn't interested in it for a long time. I still had to work hard to think of crazy outfits for Tina, the book's big baddie, who's a style guru. But my favourite outfit was the one I created for a lady tramp in New York. That was inspired by a photo from the SartoriaList - my favourite street style blog.

What sort of fashion ‘research’ did you have to do for The Look and tell us about something you learnt in the process?

Fashion research - none! I just kind of know this stuff by osmosis and the endless magazines I read. I might have to check the odd spelling, but that's it. It was very helpful that I attended a fashion shoot for Bliss magazine as a result of writing Threads. I used everything I learned that day in several scenes of The Look. Plus, I had to research the world of modelling and modelling agencies, because I knew almost nothing about them. I did a lot of it on the internet, and watched some of the classic programmes on TV, like ANTM (although you have to take a lot of what they show with a pinch of salt), but the best research was interviewing models - including one who was retired after a very successful career, and one just starting out.

I learned that there's a lot of hard work and rejection involved in modelling. You have to be incredibly tough to handle being told all the time that you're not what they want. It's an unpredictable lifestyle, with potentially lots of travelling (possibly on planes - but often just on public transport around big cities) and financially precarious. The people I've met on shoots were all lovely - creative and friendly. But they're there to do a job, not to be your mother or your teacher. I can imagine an 18 year-old enjoying the life for a while, if she's successful, but I have a big problem with expecting under 16 year-olds to do it. And an even bigger problem expecting 16-18 year-olds to do it without a chaperone or member of their family to help them handle the pressure. The fashion industry adores youth at the moment, but it isn't very kind to it.

What would you do if, like Ted, a scout from a model agency approached you and asked you if you were interested in modelling?

Be incredibly flattered! But if I was younger than 17, knowing what I know now, I would ignore them and get on with my studies and my life. If I was older, check them out and see if they were legitimate - or if it was just a scam to get money off me. If they were legitimate, I would maybe give it a go for a while, as a laugh. But I'd bear in mind that most models are retired by their early thirties. What do they do then? I'd want to make sure I had some qualifications and some money saved up, because there is an awful lot of life still left after you're 30. And if too many people started to nag me about my weight, I would stop. Whatever it says, the fashion industry's attitude to models' weight is not healthy.

Have you ever been to a fashion show?
I have. Since Threads came out, I've been to two London Fashion Week shows. Before that, the only one I'd been to - for research - was run by my local fashion boutique in the back room of a restaurant in Wandsworth. I loved the music, the lights, and the sense of occasion of all of them. But I couldn't relate to the fashion of the two posh ones at all. All the clothes were shown on exhausted-looking, skeletally thin young models, so I couldn't imagine them on me. And I just wanted to take the models home and give them a good meal. I think a great fashion show could be a fabulous event. I'd adore to go to one of Sarah Burton's for Alexander McQueen, for example. The craftsmanship and theatricality there is amazing. But I'd really, really like the models to start looking like women, not underfed young girls.

Sophia's gorgeous wedding dress :)

What is the most expensive item of clothing in your wardrobe? My wedding dress. It's by Alberta Ferretti, and I chose it because it's cranberry red/raspberry pink (one of my favourite colours), and velvet (my favourite fabric). It was a joy to wear. I actually planned to spend money on a pair of Jimmy Choos, rather than a dress, but the pair I most liked were too uncomfortable to wear. So I splurged on the dress instead.

What was your worst fashion disaster?

I've had too many to mention. One after another, basically. My electric blue, needlecord rara skirt was possibly not my best choice. But I was a teenager in the eighties, which were a decade-long fashion disaster anyway. I'm very jealous of my stepdaughters, who have much more natural style than I did at their age. Damn!

What was your fashion sense like as a teenager, were you more of a Ted or an Ava?
I veered wildly and unpredictably between the two. I tried to be an Ava, but often ended up as a Ted. There are many, many outfits I'm not proud of. But if I could go back, I would be more eccentric and outrageous. Your teens are a time to be experimental. Go crazy and have fun!

And finally, if you could spend the day with a famous designer to talk about fashion, who would you choose and where would be the perfect location to do this?

What a fabulous question! Oh my goodness - where do I start? I admire Vivienne Westwood tremendously. She practically invented punk in the 1970s and she's still going strong - dressing Helena Bonham Carter for the red carpet, among other things. But she looks a little bit scary. There's Phoebe Philo at Celine, who used to work for Stella McCartney ... and Sarah Burton at Alexander McQueen, who designed THAT wedding dress .... But I think I would choose Miuccia Prada, who's been designing quirky, lovely things for decades now. I love the way she likes to make one-off dresses with vintage fabrics. She's just launched her collection for H&M and I want ALL the accessories. So I'd pick her, somewhere in Milan (a city I love), ideally close to a stash of her H&M necklaces, so she could kindly give me some before I left ...


QUICK-FIRE QUESTIONS

Louboutins or Jimmy Choos: Louboutins. I have a pair. Woo!
Shoes or handbags: Shoes
Christian Dior or Vivienne Westwood: Very, very difficult. At a push, Dior.
Ted or Ava: Oh no! By the end of the book, Ted.
Jesse or Joe (Drool): Jesse. Joe is mean. No girl should end up with him. (Although he does look rather like Zac Effron.)
Cornwall or New York: Aahh! The things you make me do, Beverley! Can't decide can't decide can't decide. Oh, OK - Cornwall. I got married there, in a little church overlooking the sea. Beat that, New York!

Thank you for letting me be part of your blog tour, it's a wonderful privilege!
Thank YOU, Beverley. It's been great!

***

Remember to go along to Sophia's blog tomorrow for a bonus stop on the tour!

Places where you'll find Sophia when she's not writing:

Check out her website

Read her blog

Follow her on Facebook, Twitter and Goodreads 

Now remember to buy a copy of The Look if you haven't already done so :)

And you can get your hands on one for £3.49 HERE, so you have no excuse not to buy it ;)

Happy reading,

Beverley x

Book Blogger Month: Interview with Cliona!

Today, I am pleased to welcome Cliona from Bookster Reviews for a Book Blogger Month Interview!  Cliona is one of my favourite bloggers and her blog is really wonderful so make sure you pop over once you've read her brilliant answers to the questions...

Hi Cliona, welcome to A Reading Daydreamer!

Hi Beverley! It's great to be here :)

When and why did you decide to set up a blog?

I set up Bookster Reviews in November 2010. I had been re-reading all of my books, and was getting restless, and I wanted to get some book recommendations. So I went on the website of Threads by Sophia Bennett. I saw a link to The Mile Long Bookshelf, a great blog which I still love, and I went it. At the time, I had no idea what a blog was, but after reading TMLB for about a month, I figured it out and decided to set up my own! Thanks to Amber from TMLB who explained it all to me!

For anyone who still hasn’t visited your blog (although I can tell them they’re missing out!), describe Bookster Reviews in five words...
Awww thanks! Hmmm... book reviews for book lovers!

Do you participate in any memes and which one is your favourite?

I participate in two memes at the moment, on/off! They are In My Mailbox (hosted by The Story Siren) and Top Ten Tuesday (hosted by The Broke and the Bookish). I love both of these, but if I had to pick it would be IMM. Not only do I love to post it, I look forward to Sundays because I love to see all the fabulous books other bloggers get!

Have you interviewed any authors or bloggers?
Yes, I have interviewed three authors, Sophia Bennett, Luisa Plaja, and Ellie Daines, who all had brilliant answers to my questions!

You took a break from blogging because it didn't seem as fun as it was when you first started, what advice would you give to someone who finds themselves in the same situation?
Definitely take a break. It really helped me. I was really busy at the time, as well as being a bit bored with blogging, and it was nice to have a break and read some of my own books, with no stress of ' Oh I have to review this! What will I say?'. But now I'm back and I LOVE writing reviews again! I think it's good just to take a short break every once in a while, and get on a bit with real life!

What do you have in store for readers of your blog in the coming year?
I plan to make Bookster Reviews better than ever, posting more reviews, hopefully at least 4 a month. I also want to do more varied posts, like more interviews with authors and bloggers, and discussion posts.

Who are your favourite authors and which books are, in your opinion, the best?

Oooh there are so many! Luisa Plaja, J.K. Rowling, Darren Shan, Sophia Bennett, Sarah Webb, Robert Muchamore, Lauren Oliver, and Sara Shepard are a few! My favourite books are all of the books by the authors I mentioned, as well as Girl, Missing by Sophie McKenzie, Forgive My Fins and Fins Are Forever by Tera Lynn Childs, the Vampire Academy series by Richelle Mead, Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen #1 and #2, and my all-time favourite book is The Sky Is Everywhere by Jandy Nelson. Amazing stuff! And loads more.

If you had the chance to meet a fictional character, who would it be?
Probably Hermione from Harry Potter. I think I' m quite like her and we would get on really well! I would especially love to be her actually - and go on all the exciting Harry Potter adventures!

Are there any books you are looking forward to read in 2012?
Tons! I'll narrow it down to 6 because otherwise we'd be here all day :) The Future of Us, The Statistical Probability of Love At First Sight, Insurgent, Pandemonium and Brothers To the Death, and the one I'm probably looking forward to the most, Zom-B, Darren Shan's new series! Also, I've heard J.K. Rowling is publishing a new book! *OMG moment* It's for adults, but I'll definitely read it anyway! I'm not sure if it's released this year though or in 2013. And I want to read a lot of my own books, clear off my shelves a bit, to make room for new books!!!

What would you like to be when you are older?

I would love to do something in publishing! Like an editor, or the person who decided what books should be published, or advertising the book would all be great! Or maybe a journalist, because I love writing, just not fiction... :) Unlike most readers actually! I wouldn't mind being a nurse, doctor or a policewoman either. A doctor or nurse would be great because biology is really interesting and you could save lives! And, c'mon, a policewoman would be AWESOME. Fighting crime, saving lives - it sounds like something out of my favourite books! Actually, you know what else would be cool? An FBI agent, or a secret spy or a detective! Like in Criminal Minds! Sorry, I watch too much TV :) And clearly have no idea what direction my life is going in!

And finally, do you like to read and daydream?
All the time! But not at the same time! Because then I wouldn't be able to concentrate on my books, and we couldn't have that happening now, could we? :)

QUICK-FIRE QUESTIONS

Book or e-book: Book

Cats or dogs: Dogs

Cathy Cassidy or Cathy Hopkins: Cathy...eh...oh I can't pick!

Sophia Bennett or Sophie McKenzie: Sophia Bennett

Threads or The Look: They're both amazing, but probably Threads!

Reading or writing: Reading

Thank you, Cliona!

Thanks so much for having me at A Reading Daydreamer, Beverley!

***

Thanks again to Cliona for participating in Book Blogger Month and I hope you enjoyed reading this interview :)  Now, I'll count to three and you can go over to Bookster Reviews - one... two... three...