Personal Demons

Welcome to my very first author interview and give away on my new blog!  Cue music!

PERSONAL DEMONS is Lisa Desrochers debut young adult novel. It was released in mid-September and already getting buzz.  I read her book back in the Spring and give it this blurb: “Fun and entertaining . . . the fight for Frannie’s soul isn’t going to be easy, and the excitement doesn’t stop. Good versus evil shouldn’t be this much fun, but it is! A hot debut.”   Uh... I tend to be wordy with my blurbs...

Leave a comment and/or ask Lisa a question by Monday, October 4th if you'd like to win a signed copy of PERSONAL DEMONS.  I'll chose one winner using Random.org.  I also have the good luck to be meeting Lisa in person next Sunday where we will both be on October 3rd over at the Orange County Children's Book Festival (http://www.kidsbookfestival.com/index.html). We will be at the Teen stage. 

Here's the official cover copy:
Frannie Cavanaugh is a good Catholic girl with a wicked streak. She's spent years keeping everyone at a distance--even her closest friends--and it seems her senior year will be more of the same...until Luc Cain enrolls in her class. No one knows where he came from, but Frannie can't seem to stay away from him. What she doesn't know is that Luc works in Acquisitions--for Hell--and she possesses a unique skill set that has the king of Hell tingling with anticipation. All Luc has to do is get her to sin, and he's as tempting as they come. Frannie doesn't stand a chance.

Unfortunately for Luc, Heaven has other plans, and the angel, Gabe, is going to do whatever it takes to make sure that Luc doesn't get what he came for. And it isn't long before they find themselves fighting for more than just her soul. But if Luc fails, there will be Hell to pay...for all of them.

And now on to the interview:
1.) Why this book? What made you want to write this story?

Honestly, I didn’t have much choice. Luc’s name (Lucifer Cain) popped into my head one day and I thought to myself, what a fun name for a demon. He and Frannie started having conversations in my head. I had two choices: write them down or go totally insane. I opted for the first.

2.) Which authors inspire you? Has that changed over time?

I have some core favorites, but I’m always finding new ones. Melissa Marr recently said on her fan site that Luc reminded her of Irial (from Ink Exchange), which makes sense, I suppose, because she’s always been my biggest inspiration.

3.) Why fantasy? Is there something special about fantasy that draws you to write in the field?

Personal Demons was my first crack at writing urban fantasy. I really enjoyed it. I found it really liberating to be able to explore options that aren’t possible in the real world. In fantasy, there’s a real sense that anything can happen.

4.) What do you find most interesting about Frannie and Luc?

The double entendre title refers to Frannie’s own personal demons, as well as the demon who’s trying to get personal. (That would be Luc, in case you didn’t catch that.) She’s experienced some pretty hard knocks in her young life—the death of her twin brother among the hardest. Because of this, she lives within carefully constructed walls to keep anyone from getting too close. It was interesting to be in her head to get her reaction when Luc started to break through those walls.

One of the things that makes Personal Demons different is that we get the opportunity to hear Luc’s side of the story from his first-person POV. Because we’re in his head, we’re in on his inner dialogue as he muses about things from the unique perspective of a demon. He’s lived a dual life, moving between two worlds, so his perspective is going to reflect that. Through the course of the book, we also get to see how Frannie messes with that perspective as he struggles to define feelings he’s never experienced before.

5.) What else do you enjoy doing besides writing? Interests? Hobbies?

With a day job, a night job, and a weekend job I’m a little short on free time. I enjoy being outdoors and we live very close to Yosemite, so we do some hiking. Other than that, I spend time with my oldest daughter and her horse, and watch my youngest play volleyball. And read, of course.

6.) Did you have to do any special research for this book? What did you learn that you didn't know before?

I did some research for Personal Demons. As the trilogy progresses it dives deeper into angel/demon lore. I find cultural differences surrounding some of our common lore very interesting. The beauty of writing fiction, however, is that you can make up your own lore. A lot of Luc’s history comes from putting a different spin on things I’ve read. Such as his origin. When Luc’s name popped into my head, I started researching the biblical story of Cain and Abel. I found an on-line article that kept using the phrase “creatures of sin,” and it occurred to me that, in my fictional Hell, there could be actual creatures of sin. Luc was never human. He was borne in Hell from sin. He’s a true Creature of Pride.

7.) How did you become a writer? Is this what you saw yourself growing up to be? Or did it take you by surprise?

Surprise would be an understatement. Up until two years ago, the only thing of any length I’d written was my doctoral dissertation. Suffice it to say that ripping my toenails out one by one would have been a more pleasant experience. I didn’t have the slightest desire to write. But, sometimes the universe has other ideas. Along came my daughter, who is an insane reader. (read each Twilight book in a day) I don’t really understand how it happened—a brain aneurysm maybe—but I got the crazy notion to write her a book for her birthday last year. And I did. Without telling a soul, I wrote her a 100K word thriller. She loved it and I caught the bug.

8.) Do you have a writing routine? Talk process for a moment, how do the words get on the page?

I really don’t have much of a routine. My characters have conversations and I write them down. It’s a great system except for when they decide to have those conversations when I’m in the shower or trying to sleep.

9.) Office? Closet? Corner of the living room? Do you have a set place to write? A favorite?

I have my spot. It’s like hallowed ground. Okay, really it’s a loveseat in my family room. I’ve got all my references stacked at one end with just enough room left at the other end for me. (A stack of references sounds better than a “mound-o-crap,” which is what it really is.) My TBR pile is also stacked there for easy access when I need a break from writing. It’s big.

10.) What are you writing now? What's coming out next?

Original Sin, the sequel to Personal Demons, is finished and I’m working on the last book in the trilogy, Hellbent. I don’t write with an outline, and I have to say, Hellbent has taken some twists I never saw coming. I’m a little nervous about it.


Links for Lisa:
www.lisadwrites.com
http://lisadesrochers.blogspot.com

Amazon Link: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0765328089/ref=s9_simh_gw_p14_d0_i1?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=center-2&pf_rd_r=1DEN2C44JN1EZ831RVMR&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=470938631&pf_rd_i=507846 

Comments

  1. Great interview Maria & Lisa! Isn't crazy how that TBR pile just stacks up!

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  2. Oh my goodness! This sounds fantastic. I can't wait to read it. :D

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  3. ooh, the book sounds brilliant :) i'll have to read it x

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  4. I'm not too big on books like this, and I'm not a big fan of love triangles. However, I'll see how the ratings on Goodreads go and decide if I want to read it later. You never know!

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  5. This book sounds really interesting. Seems like I will have to read it. Lisa: Where did the inspriation for this book come from?

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  6. The book sounds interesting and I've heard good things about it from a few bloggers as well. And something about the cover seems familiar. I can't place it. I've never seen it before anywhere else, just the layout of the characters, possibly something I imagined years ago for a story I was writing at the time or something!

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  7. I'm always looking for good books to read and this is a great lead! Thanks so much :) Also, it's good to know that there are people out there who don't plan on being writers, but are able to get published when they end up with a book! I have a friend that is writing a series and is just begining the process of trying to get it published.

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  8. This sounds very interesting, I might just have to read this one!

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  9. This sounds like a great book and I can't wait to read it. I will add this to my goodreads list for sure! :-)

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  10. i've been looking for new authors!! it sounds great!
    Lisa: where did the idea come from? i know you said luc's name just popped into your head, but how did you think of the plot?

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  11. Dear Lisa,
    What has been your favorite book in this trilogy to write?

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  12. Heather and EmmaVivian--As I mentioned, the inspiration for Personal Demons was really Luc. As far as the plot, the characters tell the story and I'm just the poorly paid help with the laptop. I really have no idea where a story is going until it gets there =)

    Dylan Book Reader--I had a ton of fun writing Personal Demons. I play with cliches a lot in that book. Original Sin, book 2, is much darker. It's intense, and in some ways better than Personal Demons, but not as fun. I'm in the middle of book three now, and wrapping up a series is a challenge--especially since I don't outline.

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  13. i am also very excited about this book :) im gonna go to chapters and see if we have it here thx so much :) ill come back to write a review when i have found a read the book :)

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  14. I would be interested to hear what Lisa's writing mantra is in 15 words or less. Thanks :D

    lesly7ch(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  15. Great interview! :D I can't believe I STILL haven't read it :( Lisa: Do you have any plans for future books?

    aprilxu2222@gmail.com

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  16. I can't wait to read this one! Thanks for the interview Maria & Lisa!

    Cassandra C
    cassandra dot crouser at yahoo dot ca

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  17. Llehn--I write only when my characters have something to say.

    April--I'm working on book three of the Personal Demons trilogy now. When it's done I'll start working on a new series that's floating around in my head. =)

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  18. Great interview. Really looking forward to reading Personal Demons.

    What is your favorite part of being a writer?

    Thanks!

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  19. Awesome interview, Would love to read this book.
    To Lisa, Whats the best thing about being a writer for you?
    natcleary@gmail.com

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  20. Wonderful interview. I am so wanting to read this book!

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  21. Usually for trilogies (or for most serieses for that matter) I tend to wait until the end of the trilogy is published before I start reading it because then I can read it one right after another and don't have to wait a year for the next book! But with Personal Demons I might just get tempted to break that rule! :)

    Re-posted your contest at: http://contests-freebies.blogspot.com/2010/10/win-personal-demons-at-maria-v-snyder.html

    Twitted: http://twitter.com/#!/cherrymischivus/status/26199282642

    Cherry Mischievous
    cherrymischif-warrior [at] yahoo [dot] com

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  22. Awesome interview! I found it very interesting.
    How much time do you get to write in a day?
    Do you have a schedule?

    k_anon[at]hotmail[dot]co[dot]uk

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  23. Been hearing a lot of good buzz for this book. Excited to read it!

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  24. thank you so much awesome interview wow that's busy life for a writer can't wait i heard so many marvelous reviews congrats on first give away best of luck http://twitter.com/roguetribute
    shadowcat456[at]hotmailDOTcom

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  25. I would be interested to see how Lisa changes her style for YA novels so please enter me in the giveaway.

    Thanks

    Carol T

    buddytho {at} gmail DOT com

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  26. This book sounds amazing and I really want to get my hands on it. I just recently discovered YA, and I have to say the books I have read, I really enjoyed. I'm a stay at home mom of 3 and never thought YA would have anything to offer me. I'm so glad my eyes have been open. My question for you is...What personl life experiences, if any, inspired you to write this book? Did you take any of your school experiences?

    june111@att.net

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  27. I need to get my hands on PD now! I'm dying without it :)

    Lisa: What advice would you give to people wanting to be an author someday?

    Thank you x

    Hells-lil-saint@hotmail.co.uk

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  28. thetrufflelady@msn.comOctober 3, 2010 at 8:57 PM

    Sounds fantastic, I can't wait to read it!

    thetrufflelady@msn.com

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  29. I am really excited for this series. Is it bad to want the "bad guy" to win? lol

    Lisa: What do you think will surprise readers the most about your series?

    acsimps@gmail.com

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  30. Thank you for the interesting interview! :D I would love to be entered in the contest, but only if it is international.
    Lisa, I hope your book will be published in Italy, too! It sounds so intriguing!

    Giada M.

    fabgiada (at) gmail (dot) com

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  31. oh I'm not sure if this is international. but thank you anyway. feeyonachan at gmail dot com

    Okay, my question. Since you don't write with an outline and you let the story flow itself, what if you can't seem to end it at the 3rd book? What if the characters demand more? LOL

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  32. I liked the interview and I would love to win a copy of Personal Demons.
    Thank you for this giveaway I hope it's ok I entered I can not see if this contest is international.

    forceofstars(at)yahoo(dot)dk

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  33. I found the interview really entertaining! Lisa's writing routine is really interesting =)))

    regietc@gmail.com

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  34. Loved the interview. Would love to win a copy.

    Nicole.Zoltack@gmail.com

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  35. I've been back from LA for a while - just playing catch up with my newsletter, email replies, family and writing! And then there's my blog, which I said in my newsletter that I'm blogging more often - yeah, well...I have the best intentions...Right?

    I had a lovely time meeting Lisa - she's super nice and a ton of fun. We had a wonderful, sunny day at the Book Festival.

    Now onto the winner of Lisa's book! Using Random.org - the lucky winner is.....Crystal!!

    Congrats to Crystal!!

    Crystal please email me your full name and mailing address. My email is maria@mariavsnyder.com

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