InterestTeen interviews YA author Brinda Berry

INTERVIEW

InterestTeen: Writers are often asked if they have total control over their character’s behaviors. Is this the case with Austin and Regulus? Do you aim to have them ‘play nicely’ but then their personalities take over and they just wanna fight? Can you explain how your characters take on a life of their own.

 Brinda Berry: I always have an outline of what happens in each chapter of a story, but some characters really do take over. Austin has such a vibrant personality. He won't stay meekly in the background when I've planned to put the spotlight on someone else. Regulus, on the other hand, is unintentionally magnetic. He's quiet and self-assured. It's no wonder that they clash. I have little control once they begin talking to one another.

InterestTeen:  As a writer of teen fiction, have you started getting into other areas of multi-media. I know you’re an expert on the book trailer, and I could see The Whispering Woods series as an interactive game. There’s a portal into another world that I’m dying to get an in depth look at. If money was no object, do you dream of doing something like that? Or do you have other multi-media ideas?

 Brinda Berry: I'd love to see a game developer turn this world into a fantastic RPG.  I also think it would be terrific in graphic novel format. Thanks for the compliment on the book trailer. I really have fun with them.

InterestTeen:  What is the weirdest food you’ve ever eaten.

Brinda Berry:  I am always willing to try new foods. The weirdest for me would be dried squid as an appetizer. 

InterestTeen:  I take it your fans have been eagerly awaiting the print release. How has having the books in print changed you, if at all.

 Brinda Berry: I think there will always be a few readers who prefer print books.  Releasing my books in print  also adds accessibility to students who don't own electronic readers. I have two school visits planned next month with book clubs who are reading The Waiting Booth.

InterestTeen:   I know you have Cairn Terriers, and I believe you take part in rehousing Cairn Terriers, is that right? How did that begin and what is the motivation behind it?

Brinda Berry: In the past,  I volunteered with a national rescue organization for Cairn Terriers. I'm not currently a foster home for rescues, but I would love to do that in the future.  We purchased our two Cairn Terriers from breeders before I became aware of rescue opportunities.  Both dogs have given our family so much love. The breed is feisty, fun, and loving. 

InterestTeen:  You’re currently working on Book Three of The Whispering Woods series. How is that coming along? Will this one be the last? And will Regulus remember Mia (nail biting edge of the seat plot development).

 Brinda Berry: The third book in the series is The Wish Keeper.  I'm still working on it.  I find myself measuring against a higher standard every time I write a book. I do plan for this to be the last.  Sorry, I can't disclose any plot secrets.

InterestTeen:  Is there anything else you want to tell the readers? Tips on writing, being good to your parents, dog rescue, absolutely anything you want to contribute is welcomed.

 Brinda Berry: Enjoy every single day of your life.  It could mean giving back to others, writing the novel you've dreamed of, or simply reading a great book. It also means that you shouldn't sweat the small stuff (like bad hair days). 

 

REVIEWS


The Waiting Booth by Brinda Berry

I started reading "The Waiting Booth" and found I couldn’t put it down. Brinda has a nice, steady pace to her writing that keeps the pages turning and the excitement mounting. The suspense was well done. Throughout the book I knew there was someone I couldn’t trust, but I didn’t know who till the very end, which left me nicely surprised.

Book One introduces Mia, an independent girl who already has enough drama in her life, yet she attracts more when she accidentally discovers an interdimensional portal. Her brother is missing and travellers from this portal lure her into helping them find the bad guys by promising to help her find her missing brother. Along the way Mia is thrust head first into more than one dangerous situation. I found myself rooting for her to come out of these experiences unscathed because she is an easy to like character and I became slightly protective of her. There is more to come on “The Waiting Booth” story and I look forward to reading about Mia’s attempt to track down her brother when Brinda’s second book in the series is released.

4 TEEN STARS

Whisper Of Memory by Brinda Berry
"Whisper Of Memory" picks up right where "The Waiting Booth" finishes and we enter a world of paranormal activity and special ops training. The characters go off to a ghost sighting because they believe it is the location of a portal and this section was really interesting. There was a paranormal investigator in the group and I thought, wow what a great job to be a parnormal invetisgator.

In Book Two we learn more about why Mia's mum abandoned her and her missing brother. We learn more of the conspiracies behind the two worlds. This book ends with Mia getting a taste of the cruel aspects to the spy business - but I can't reveal the spoiler. I look forward to the final instalment. Will Regulus and Mia survive as a couple? Will Mia  find her brother? Will she forgive her mother? Will Tiny and Em get together? But I can't helping feeling sorry for poor Austin and Arizona - two guys who love girls who love someone else. What's in store for them?

4 TEEN STARS

BIO: Brinda lives in the southern US with her family and two spunky cairn terriers. She’s terribly fond of chocolate, coffee, and books that take her away from reality.

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Authors and their dogs

It seems that the moment you become a writer you must have a pet. In fact, it’s mandatory. Preferable a dog, too, because dogs need walking and this gets the creative juices flowing. Dogs listen to author's harebrained plots and they never say, "that’ll never work." Cats...well authors would need to be careful what they tell a cat because a cat is likely to take an author's plot, perfect it, then shred it just so no human can ever see the bluepints to pure evil genius.

If you’re a writer, you'd better rush out and adopt or borrow a dog. Here's a look at a few authors and their dogs.

 

DEAN KOONTZ

has a pen name that was inspired by his dog, Trixie Koontz, a golden retriever. Trixie originally was a service dog with Canine Companions for Independence (CCI), a charitable organization that provides service dogs for people with disabilities. Trixie was a gift from CCI in gratitude of the Koontz's substantial donations, totalling $2,500,000 between 1991 and 2004. Koontz was taken with the charity while he was researching his novel Midnight, a book which included a CCI-trained dog, a black Labrador retriever, named Moose. In 2004 Koontz wrote and edited Life Is Good: Lessons in Joyful Living in her name, and in 2005 Koontz wrote a second book credited to Trixie, Christmas Is Good. Both books are written from a supposed canine perspective on the joys of life. The royalties of the books were donated to CCI. In 2007 Trixie contracted terminal cancer that created a tumor in her heart. The Koontzes had her put to sleep outside of their family home on June 30.  After Trixie's death Koontz has continued writing on his website under Trixie's names in "TOTOS", standing for Trixie on the Other Side. It is widely thought that Trixie was his inspiration for his November 2007 book, The Darkest Evening of the Year, about a woman who runs a golden retriever rescue home, and who rescues a 'special' dog, named Nickie, who eventually saves her life. In August 2009 Koontz published "A Big Little Life," a memoir of his life with Trixie. In October 2008 Koontz revealed “...we have adopted a new dog, Anna.” It eventually was learned that Anna was the grandniece of Trixie.”

 

STEPHEN KING

has had many pets over the years, cats, dogs, horses, a turtle. Ms Moderator of the Stephen King website has this to say about The Kings. “Although not the same ones as some have passed on, the Kings have always had a dog and at least one or two cats while I've been working for them. Maturin the turtle is still with them and they now also have 4 horses.”
 

 

MAGGIE STEIFVATER

is the author of The Wolves of Mercy Falls series and the Raven Boys novel and she has four neurotic dogs who fart recreationally.

 

BRINDA BERRY

 

is a young adult fiction author of the Whispering Woods series. She has 2 cairns terriers and doesn't mind being called "crazy dog lady".

 

 

J K ROWLING

has two dogs. She has a Jack Russell named Butch and in October 2007 she adopted a greyhound named Sapphire from the greyhound rescue centre after Sapphire made friends with Butch and the family. Celia Fernie of Greyhound Rescue Fife said "I had no idea at first that the woman who arrived with her family to view the abandoned greyhounds was the Harry Potter creator."

The nasty side of people...
For those that may not be aware, the dog racing industry is horribly cruel. Thousands of dogs are killed every year simply because they're not fast enough, and the ones who stay alive are warehoused in kennels barely large enough for them to stand up or turn around. Many people are adopting greyhounds.

Celia and Jimmy Fernie set up Greyhound Rescue Fife in 2005 in response to the sheer number of unwanted greyhounds reaching the end of their racing careers in the area. Their sanctuary is capable of kennelling nearly 50 dogs. Their dogs are usually vaccinated, wormed, treated for fleas and often neutered.

 

InterestTeen is pro animals. We love people who adopt and rehouse pets and are kind to animals. If you have any photos of your adopted pet, please email them to interestteen@gmail.com along with your story. We love good news stories. And we love J K for helping save a dog's life. Well done JK!


CAROLINE OVERINGTON

is Australia's answer to Jodi Picoult and she has a beautiful black dog, looks a bit like a staffy.