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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Interview with Simona and DL Richardson on Secrete Cartilor from Romania

Interview with D. L. Richardson, author of The Bird With The Broken Wing

You might remember about the post where I wrote a little about The Bird With The Broken Wing byD.L.Richardson. Well, the author was really kind and accepted to answer some of my questions! I really love the answers she gave! Hope you can take a few minutes and find out more about the author and her interesting book!

Secretele Cărţilor: Hello Debbie! Thank you for accepting this interview. How about making a little introduction about yourself so readers can know you better?

DL loves this room!

D L: Thank you for featuring me on your site. I’m an Aussie who was born in Ireland and my favourite things to do are reading and writing, walking through gardens and on the beach, and playing and listening to music.

My dream home would be one that had a massive room with floor to ceiling books shelves on every wall and a grand piano in the centre of the room. It would have French doors that opened to a glass conservatory with a comfy lounge to read my many books. And it would have and a secret door that led into my own private woods.

In the real world, I once played bass guitar and was lead singer in a rock band. Now I live and breathe young adult fiction and I try to come up with unique stories. My next novel titled “Feedback” is coming out in a few months. It also features an element of the paranormal. And the third book I’m currently working on is a ghostly love story. I just love the idea that there is something beyond our five senses.

Secretele Cărţilor: In the past few years, angel related books started to multiply. How did the story of The Bird With The Broken Wing come to your mind? Anything that inspired you in particular?

D L: At first the story was going to be just about mortals who were trapped in Purgatory, only they didn’t know it and they were going crazy from being stuck there for decades. From that sprang the idea of putting a guardian angel in amongst the mortals to see if she could help them to come to terms with why they were there so they could escape. This is what makes this book different to many other angel related books. My story has dark elements to it that many readers have found intriguing and thought provoking.  

As you say, many angel books are now available, some feature half angel/half mortal characters, and others feature angels falling in love with mortals. What inspired me when I was creating the angel character was that I wanted to keep my angel true to what is conventionally known about them. I borrowed a book from the library on angel sightings. Like stories of strangers telling people to get on different buses and they do and avoid being in a crash, or something guides them down a street where they meet a long lost family member. However, a common belief amongst theologians is that guardian angels aren’t meant to intervene. These two opposing views led me to wondering what would happen if an angel knew she wasn’t meant to intervene but did.

Secretele Cărţilor: The name of the book and also the cover are both beautiful! How did you decide on them?

D L: The name of the book took a while to perfect. I had tossed about a few working titles. Mostly these were one-word titles which are really popular with young adult fiction. Titles like Halo, Hades, Fallen, Entangled, Rapture, Shiver, Lament etc. I considered one-word titles like Sanctuary or Heaven, but nothing seemed to sing out to me. Then, when I was walking my dog one day I started a brainstorming session in my head for titles. I thought about what animal an angel might be – a bird - and if someone is doing everything wrong what could that mean – they’d be broken. Hence, The Bird With The Broken Wing.

As for the cover, I’m afraid this stunningly beautiful cover is the publisher’s doing. I waited with bated breath for my publisher, Etopia Press, to send me the cover. Being my first book I wanted the cover to be special. Oh my, when I opened the email and saw the cover I nearly cried because it was so beautiful. So much better than I ever imagined. Being an Irish girl at heart myself I couldn’t have been more thrilled to find the talented artist was Irish girl Eithne O‘Hanlon.

Secretele Cărţilor: We all have a guardian angel out there. What's your book truly about?

D L: My mother told me that when I was four I told her that an angel sat on the end of my bed at night and watched me sleep. She and my father tried to see this angel, but of course they couldn’t. Over the years there have been times when I’ve sensed someone and done something because of this feeling. Some might call it intuition or instinct, Other might say . For example. I’d been wanting a dog for ages but I’d done nothing about it. Then one night at about midnight I was overcome with a need to email the local pound and ask if they had a puppy. They emailed me back the following morning and said they did and requested I come and see her at 10am. I went and got the dog and only found out as she was being signed over to me that she was days away from being put to sleep. I’m so glad I listened to that little nagging voice in my ear because she’s a terrific dog. So if guardian angels do exist then this book is dedicated to mine. BTW - I think my dog has her own guardian angel haha.

  

Secretele Cărţilor: Do you believe in angels? If one day you could meet your guardian angel(s) what would you have to say?

D L: Things happen to everyday people all that time that are unexplainable until later. And then, iIn hindsight we look back and think “Ah, of course.” Whether this moment is called chance, coincidence, intuition, gut instinct, or help from a guiding divinity, humans like to put a face to the name. Angelic faces are more comforting than whatever we can imagine Chance or Intuition to look like. I picture Chance as a shady character with a hoodie and dark scowl, dragging his feet through corridors and making us bump into the answers to our questions.

What would I say if I ever met my guardian angel? Wow, tough question. One of the characters in The Bird With The Broken Wing wants to meet her guardian angel to punch him in the face for standing by and doing nothing while her life went to ruin. I’m older now and with age comes acceptance. If I met my guardian angel I’d say thanks for watching out for me so far and please keep doing a great job.

Secretele Cărţilor: If you would be given the chance to become an angel, would you do it?

D L: Ooh, tough question. Becoming an angel would mean not having to go to work or wash the dishes. But it would also mean no sleeping or eating. If it meant being part of a team that got to battle dark forces I’d probably do it. It’d be like getting a chance to go up in a spaceship. You’d just have to do it because it would an experience of a lifetime.

Secretele Cărţilor: What do you usually like to read? Are there any books that you would never leave behind?

D L: I like to read well written fiction from younger readers to adult fiction. Most genres, though anything with a fantasy element is preferable. I especially love books that move me. I cried my eyes out reading Black Beauty. The Hunger Games fired me up so much that I wanted to start a revolution. The Hobbit is an exceptionally well written story. Harry Potter books are just fun to read.

On the adult side I love Marian Keyes novels because she is one of the most honest writers I’ve ever read. And I like Stephen King and Dean Koontz. I love classics too such as One Flew Over The Cuckoos Nest and The Spy Who Came In From The Cold.

I have many books that I love and still so many more to read to know if I love them too, or not. Hard to choose who would stay and who would go. They’re like parts of me. Most of the books that I don’t like get given away so the books that are left are all the ones I love.

Secretele Cărţilor: What were you listening to while writing your book?

D L: I wish I could write to music, like I’ve read that other writers can. But when I hear music it makes me wanna get up and dance, sing along or break out the acoustic guitar and play long to it. None of these activities are productive when it comes to writing 2,000 words. So when I’m writing, I put music on in the breaks only. The Bird With The Broken Wing is quite a profound storyline, dramatic with dark elements. I listened to more layered, in-depth music like Bruce Springsteen and  Faith No More. My second novel “Feedback” has a lot of action scenes it. So I listened to Guns N Roses and The Offspring. My third book I’m currently working on is a ghostly love story so I’ll be listening to Kelly Clarkson and Adele and love song compilation CDs.

Secretele Cărţilor: What do you think about Romania? What would you like to see here if you come one day and visit my country?

D L: I’d love to see the castles. I simply love gothic architecture. And I’ve read that there are medieval towns in Romania, which I’d love to visit. It’s a pity we still don’t wear floor length gowns made from velvet and lace, and wreaths made of flowers in our hair. The mountains look majestic in the photos I’ve seen. I’ve read that it’s one of the most beautiful countries in Europe so it would definitely be on my list. Plus, you guys have the home of Dracula. How could a writer not want to visit there one day?

Secretele Cărţilor: Thank you for the time you've put in this interview! Tell every angel out there what's on your mind. Anything you think readers would like to know.

D L: Whether you believe in angels or not, listen to that little voice in your head. If something feels right it probably is. And the opposite is true. If something doesn’t feel right then it probably isn’t. Some might call this instinct or chance, but isn’t it better to lift the veil on life’s mysteries and see an angelic face than to lift the veil and see no face at all?

D L Richardson is the author of young adult fantasy novel The Bird With The Broken Wing

When mortals make mistakes they’re forgiven. When angels make mistakes they’re forsaken.

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Seeing Night Reviews Guest Author Post and Giveaway

I guest posted on Seeing Night Reviews where I'm giving away a copy of my novel The Bird With The Broken Wing  http://seeingnight.blogspot.com/2011/10/author-guest-post-giveaway-bird-with.html#more

Update! The winner is Brenda Jean. Congratulations. Her favorite Madonna song is Like A Virgin. She receives a free Kindle copy of my novel.