Interview with Jeannette Walls, author of the Glass Castle

Today I would like to welcome Jeannette Walls to my blog.

Walls was born in Phoenix, Arizona in 1960. She moved to New York when she was 17 years old, and lived here for a while. Walls worked as a journalist in New York City in over 20 years and had her own column at MSNBC:Com. Today Walls lives in Virginia with her husband.

Walls made her debut as an author in 2000 with the book Dish: The Inside Story on the World of Gossip. Her real breakthrough as an author came with the memoir The Glass Castle, first published in 2005. Walls also wrote Half Broke Horses, which came out in 2009.

The Glass Castle have been translated into a lot of languages, including Norwegian, and this was the reason I recently interviewed Walls.

Here is the interview where Walls talks about her book and how her family have reacted to it, among other things:

Your novel The Glass Castle has just been released in Norway. Can you tell us a little bit about this book?

It’s about growing up with two brilliant, unconventional, complicated parents and trying to make sense of the chaotic world they created. It’s about sorting through that chaos and finding the beautiful gifts they gave me.

The book is a memoir from your childhood. Why did you decide to write this book?

One evening, I saw my homeless mother on the street digging through garbage. I asked her several days later what the heck I was supposed to tell people about her, and she gave me the best advice anyone has ever given me: “Just tell the truth.”

What was the most challenging thing you encountered whilst working on this book?
Rising to Mom’s challenge to just tell the truth. The truth, as anyone who’s compared notes of their childhood with a sibling knows, is a tricky critter and it takes on many shapes. So much of it depends on your perspective and how you choose to see things.

What are you most proud of when it comes to this book?

The Glass Castle is being read in a number of schools – both high schools and colleges. I get lovely letters from well-to-do students telling me that the book has made them see poverty differently. And I get heart-wrenching letters from kids from the wrong side of the tracks saying that after having read my story, they realize that if I made it, they can too. Nothing could make me happier.

How have your siblings and the rest of your family reacted to this book, and what do your siblings do today?

My family has been great. I think the book has actually brought us all closer.

My brother, Brian, was with me from day one. I showed him the manuscript while I was working on it and he gave me feedback. Brian has a steel-trap memory and would have called me on something if I got it wrong. He’s retired from the police force and now works with Habitat for Humanity, building houses for folks who can’t afford to buy one.

Lori was a little ambivalent about the idea of my telling our story. She would never have asked me not to write it, but she couldn’t understand why the heck I would want to revisit some of the darker corners of our past. She is still an artist and still living in Manhattan and has been quite wonderful about the book.

I didn’t discuss the book with my younger sister Maureen because we’d lost touch, but one of the many blessings that’s come about as a result of telling my story and that Maureen and I have reconnected. She has been absolutely lovely about The Glass Castle.

Mom has been pretty darned fabulous, too. I offered to show her the book while I was working on it, but she wasn’t interested. She read it after publication, and was a little upset with my description of her driving, but other than that, she’s been incredibly wise and philosophical, which is to her great credit, because the portrait of her isn’t entirely flattering. She said, “I don’t see everything the way that you do, but I understand why you saw it that way, and you had to tell the truth as you saw it.” Mom, by the way, is no longer homeless; she lives with me in rural Virginia and we’re closer now than we’ve ever been. She’s a hoot and continues to astonish me with her perspective on things, and still paints like a fiend.

I was really moved by some of the scenes in this book, especially the scene where you “get” Venus for Christmas. What was the most important lesson your parents taught you?

Dad taught me to dream and Mom taught me optimism. If you get those gifts from you’re parents, you’re extraordinarily lucky.

Why should the readers in Norway pick up your book and read it?

People have incredibly different reactions to my story. Some readers think I was neglected or even abused, some have actually told me that they were a little jealous of my childhood. Once a man told me that he found the book so upsetting that he could barely finish it, but his wife said she thought it was hilarious and laughed throughout. Many book clubs have told me that my story caused the most heated debate their club has ever had. I’ve stopped trying to guess what people’s reactions.

Do you feel relieved, now that you have told your story to the world? Or, in other words: how has your reaction to having this book published been?

A very wise man once told me that secrets are like vampires: they suck the life out of you, but they can exist only in the darkness. Once they’re exposed to the light, there’s a moment of horror when you see them, but then – poof – they loose their power. I have found that to be very true.

The Glass Castle has stayed on the NYT bestseller list for years, and the rights have been sold to a lot of countries. Why do your think the book have become so popular?

I have no idea. I’m still pinching myself.

Despite the serious topics dealt with in this book, you never point a finger at anybody and the book is not depressing. How did you achieve that?

I love my parents and I believe that they loved me. I’m extraordinarily happy with the way things have turned out for me, and if you are where you want to be, why regret how you got there?

Who are your favorite authors, and which book have made the greatest impression on you?

When I was ten years old, I read A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith. I was pretty much an outcast at the time, and the character of little Francie Nolan became my closest friend. She wasn’t very cute or popular, either, and she also loved to read and write. And Francie Nolan she could adore her no-count, charming, alcoholic, day-dreaming dad, then so could I.

Are there any plans to make this book into a movie?

It has been optioned for a movie and a script has been written. But with Hollywood, you never know what’s going to happen until you see the credits rolling.

Have you found your Glass Castle yet?

Oh yes. Many times over.

Is there anything you would like to add/say to the readers?

We all have a story, and I’m grateful to anyone who chooses to share mine.

Thank you for taking the time to do this interview, Jeannette Walls.

The Glass Castle have received a lot of praise and prizes, including the Christopher Award, the American Library Association's Alex Award and the Books for Better Living Award.

The book is a fascinating, warm and brave retelling of a special childhood. If you have not read this book, I would strongly suggest that you do so. It had me glued to the pages.

Interview: Marie Treanor, author of "Blood on Silk"

Marie Treanor was born and raised in Scotland, but is now living in the UK. She has written many books in the romance genre, and her new novel "Blood on Silk" is now available. The book is the first in a planned trilogy focusing on vampires.

"sensual and thrilling, a wonderful combination of vampire myths old and new. Saloman and Elizabeth's relationship is both amazingly hot and terrifyingly complicated. Readers will fall instantly in love with the world that Marie Treanor has created. You cannot miss this novel!" is some of the praise the novel has already gotten.

I am waiting eagerly to get hold of my own copy, this looks like a real thrilling new series. To shorten the wait, I interviewed the author about the series and her other books. You can read about it here:

Welcome to my blog, Marie and thank you so much for doing this interview. Your new book, “Blood on Silk” has just been released. Can you tell us a little bit about this book?

Yes, I’d love to! It’s about a very ancient, very powerful vampire who was staked back in the 17th century, and is now accidentally awakened by Elizabeth Silk, a rather unworldly researcher. Elizabeth is making a promising academic career out of explaining away vampire legends, and now, suddenly, she’s faced with the reality of their existence, to say nothing of the wicked attraction she feels to Saloman, the vampire she’s awakened!

Saloman, however, wants revenge on those who betrayed him, and he wants to restore his power over vampires and humans. He needs the life-blood of his Awakener to achieve his full strength, so no matter how much she intrigues him, he determines to kill Elizabeth.

The book is the first in the trilogy “Awakened by blood”. How long have you worked on this series prior to the release of this first book?

I began it about a year ago, and now I’ve finished a rough first draft of the third book.

“Awakened by blood” is about vampires. Why do you think we mortals are so fascinated about these creatures of the night?

Very good question! I ask myself this a lot, and I think mainly we’re drawn to the sheer power of vampires, which can be either sexy or scary or, . There’s also the fact that they preferably, a combination of the two look a lot like humans and yet are very different. I think we like the possibility seeing their aloofness broken down, of catching glimpses of them behaving and feeling more like us, and yet knowing they still aren’t like us. And of course, they’re immortal. An existence without the inevitability of death is an attractive fantasy for mortals!

I really love the cover for “Blood on Silk”. Who has designed it?

Isn’t it beautiful? I love it too! It was designed by NAL artists – the designer is listed as Oceana Gottlieb, and the artist as Craig White.

You have written many books before, how many has it been, in total? And do you have any favorites among them?

Yikes, it seems to be 27, currently published, with another ebook to be released at the end of September . I should point out, though, that a lot of these are novellas and short stories. A couple are collections of stories originally published as individual novellas.

I think my favourite tends to be whatever I’m working on at the time! But I do have soft spots for various books for various reasons: Hunting Karoly, my first ever vampire story, because it was just such fun to write; Killing Joe, because it’s such a weird little tale! Loving the Wolf (now part of the City of the Damned Collection) my first werewolf and my first post-apocalyptic world; Ghost Unlaid because it was my first romance and I did love my ghostly hero; Magic Man because it obsessed me when I was writing it, and as my first effort at a futuristic world, it opened my imagination to wider possibilities. I also particularly enjoyed writing the ones with most humour in them – Ariadne’s Thread, Requiem for Rab and Hunting Karoly again.

Can you tell us a little bit about how your writing career got started? Did it take you long to get published the first time?

Actually, it happened surprisingly quickly! I’d always written stories, mostly for my own amusement, but once I’d decided to aim seriously at publication, my first romance, Ghost Unlaid, was accepted by the first publisher I sent it to. This was an epublisher who unfortunately went bankrupt a couple of years later, although I’m glad to say the book is now republished at The Wild Rose Press. I branched out with other epublishers, Changeling Press, Samhain Publishing and Ellora’s Cave, and eventually one of my books, The Devil and Via, caught the attention of a New York agent, who then sold the Awakened by Blood trilogy to NAL

You are a history graduate. Is there any specific area that you are more interested in and know more about than others?

Well, I studied both medieval and modern history, and I could never narrow down my interest to just one era! At university, it was probably the seventeenth century in Britain and Europe that intrigued me most, but since then I’ve been fascinated by very early medieval history and also the history of Hungary and Eastern Europe.

How is a normal writing day for you, and when and where do you write?

On a normal day I begin writing as soon as I’ve taken my daughter to school in the morning, and try to keep going with as few interruptions as possible until I have to pick her up again in the afternoon. Sometimes, if I’m in the middle of something, I try to do more, but it gets increasingly difficult as the house fills up with kids and phone calls and demands for juice/food/fun/friends/money!

What do you do if you need any inspiration during the writing process?

I try to leave it alone and do something else: walk on the beach to clear my head, or read a book, watch a film or listen to music that reminds me even indirectly of my story.

Do you have any favorite authors?

Oh yes – lots! Dorothy Dunnett, Georgette Heyer, Christopher Brookmyre, Ian Banks, Mary Stewart, Lyndsey Davis, Louis de Berniere, Audrey Niffenenger, Raymond Chandler… And lots of romance authors, too numerous to mention here!

What do you associate with Norway? Ever been here?

Vikings, fjords and pine trees. As you can probably guess, no I’ve never been to Norway. Obviously Scotland and Norway have a strong historical connection, which interests me, and I have been very struck by scenic pictures on television etc. For years my husband and I have talked about a cruise to see some of the beautiful Norwegian coast for ourselves. But somehow when we start thinking of holidays, our need for sun takes over and we end up heading south instead of north! One day, though…

Which books are you looking forward to read this autumn?

Whatever catches my eye at the time! But definitely "Blameless" by Gail Carriger, "Cross Your Heart" by Michele Bardsley and the first of Michele Lang’s Lady Lazarus series at Tor, which sounds absolutely fantastic.

And last: Is there anything you would like to say to all the book-readers out there?

Just thank you for reading the interview! And if you read Blood on Silk, I hope you enjoy it.

Thank you, Marie! I am personally checking my mailbox everyday to see if the book has arrived from the bookstore.

You can visit Marie on her website here and on Facebook here.
Here is a contest in the wake of the release

Here is a teaser for the story in the book, sounds great doesn't it?:

While researching vampire legends for her Ph.D. thesis, Elizabeth Silk learns about Saloman, a powerful vampire reportedly destroyed hundreds of years before. When she accidentally awakens him, she unleashes a strong, unscrupulous, and seductive vampire hell-bent on vengeance against those who tried to kill him. Despite her thesis topic, Elizabeth is woefully ignorant. The local vampire hunters teach her everything she needs to know, but they can't help with her out-of-control attraction for Saloman, who finds Elizabeth too intoxicating to kill. The passion between the two is elemental and erotic, but readers will have to wait for future installments to watch their relationship develop, as this volume is all setup with no story progression whatsoever.

Kate Pearce: Interview and giveaway

I am so happy to welcome Kate Pearce to my blog. Give her a warm welcome.

Kate is the author of several novels in the romance genre. She was born in England, and has an honors degree in history from the University College of Wales.

After her graduation, she started working in finance but dreamed of being a writer. She fullfilled her dream when she moved to the United States in 2000, and has written under several pseudonyms.



Recently Kate released "Kiss of the Rose". A seductive and thrilling tale about a female vampire slayer set in the Tudortime:

"Desperate to defeat King Richard III and gain the crown, Henry Tudor made a pact with the Druids binding him and his heirs to the Druids' struggle against vampires. Ever since, the Llewellyns, a vampire- slaying family, have been in the king's employ. Now Henry VIII reigns, and his father's bargain has been almost forgotten-until bloodless corpses turn up in the king's bedchamber. To save the king, Vampire hunter Rosalind Llewellyn must form an uneasy alliance with Druid slayer Sir Christopher Ellis. But soon, Rosalind must face an unthinkable truth: that her sworn enemy may be her soulmate..."

Here is Kate's own thoughts about the novel, her writing and her inspirations:


Welcome to my blog, Kate. “Kiss of the Rose” is the first book in a new series that takes places in the court of King Henry VIII. Can you tell us a little about this book?

This book deals with the time period around the breakdown of the marriage between Henry VIII and his first wife, Katherine of Aragon. There is a rogue Vampire afoot who is threatening to kill the king. Rosalind Llewellyn is from a Druid family sworn to protect the Tudors against Vampires, so she arrives at court ready to do her duty and finds the Vampires have brought in a known-Druid killer, Christopher Ellis. To their horror, Rosalind and Christopher have to work together to kill a deadly assassin and find a deep compatibility that leads to all sorts of trouble.

Where did you get the idea to write “Kiss of the Rose”?

Well, the idea of Tudor Vampires was suggested to me, and I kind of took it from there, using my accumulated college knowledge of Tudor politics, archaeology and myths. It was fascinating to try and blend the supernatural elements in with real events.

How long have you been working on this series prior to the release of “Kiss of the Rose” and how many books can we expect in this series?

This all happened very quickly, about a year from concept, to the publication of the first book, (which is fast by NY publishing standards). I’m already committed to writing three books in the series. The second, “Blood of the Rose” comes out in February 2011 and centers around Anne Boleyn. Rosalind and Christopher will be the main characters in the first two books. The third will be about Jane Seymour and I’m currently writing it.

You have written many books before, how many has it been, in total? And do you have any favorites among them?

I think Kiss of the Rose is my fourteenth published book-but I’m not sure. I love all my books because I learned something from writing every single one. But the first books in a series are usually very special because they are so new and exciting to write. I’m still very proud of Simply Sexual for Kensington Aphrodisia and of course, Kiss of the Rose. I’m lucky to get the opportunity to write different heat levels and time periods which helps keep my writing fresh.

How is a normal writing day for you, and when and where do you write?

I have 4 kids still at home and even though two of them are fairly independent, I’m still constantly monitoring activity, driving the other two to school, and generally trying to be a good mother. I write when the house is quiet during school hours which usually means between about 10 and 2. I also have to fit in the editing, proof reading and promo stuff as well.

What do you do if you need any inspiration during the writing process?

I like to read other types of fiction. I find that very inspiring and I like to get out of the house and walk and breathe.

Is there any real myths concerning the Tudor Dynasty and vampires, or is the lore you use in this series all made up?

Great question. One of the most surprising things about the Tudors is that they came to power in the first place. That was a great starting place to add a bit of magic to the surprise defeat of King Richard III by Henry VII. And another interesting fact was that even during her life, Anne Boleyn was accused of being a witch. I tried to research as much as I could about the Druids, the Tudors, and the Mithras Cult, which are obviously all documented and then I added a little paranormal twist to what we really knew.

Vampires are everywhere these days, it seems. What makes the Tudor Vampire Chronicles different from other series about vampires?

Well, my Vampires spring from an ancient and deadly division amongst the Druids, so I was able to create a conflict from that rather than focusing on what everyone else had done. I thought it was important to make them my own.

What do you associate with Norway? Ever been here?

Hmm... Norway, Fishing, Winter Olympics, Eurovision song contest, long winter nights, Vikings. From that list you' ll probably guess that I've never been there, but that I am originally from the UK.

Do you have any favorite authors?

I have many, including Linda Howard, Diana Gabaldon, Georgette Heyer, Jane Austen, Catherine Asaro, Rosemary Sutcliff, Dorothy Dunnett. I could go on for days,

Which books are you looking forward to read this autumn?

Larissa Illone, Christine Feehan and anything else that appeals to me. I love to read.

And last: Is there anything you would like to say to all the readers out there?

Just keep on reading and enjoying books. We need you. We really do.
Thanks so much for having me!

Thank you so much for taking the time, Kate Pearce.

Be sure to visit Kate on her website and blog.
You can also follow her on twitter.

Kiss of the Rose is a steaming romance novel with a great twist. I will be back with a review shortly. And you could get the opportunity to read the book as well. Kate Pearce will send one copy of her book to one happy reader. All you have to do is follow these instructions:

1. Fill out the form below. You do not have to give me your real name and address now, but we will need it to send you the book should you win. You do not have to be a follower to enter.

2. Answer Kate's question by leaving your comment: What was the first romance novel you read?

3. The contest is international. One winner will be chosen by Random.org. The contest will close at August 27th. The winner will be announced at August 30th.

4. You must be 16 years or older to enter.

Alyson Noel Interview

Today I am very happy to welcome Alyson Noel to both my blogs. Give her a warm welcome!


It is a special day today, because "Evermore" is released in Norway in Norwegian translation this weekend. I am so excited about that. Alyson Noel's series is pure magic. It is one of my favorites, and I hope the Norwegian readers, who haven't read her yet, will also embrace it.


Here is the Norwegian cover:




I interviewed Alyson in June, the interview was aimed at the Norwegian readers. Here is what she told me:

Thanks a lot for accepting this interview, Alyson Noel. You have written 4 books in the Immortals series so far, and they have all been well received. How does that feel?

It feels like a dream come true! Prior to THE IMMORTALS I’d written seven contemporary novels—six for teens, one for adults—and with EVERMORE being my first attempt at paranormal I wasn’t sure how it would be received, so I was completely thrilled to see the way that readers have embraced it!

How would you describe the series to someone who hasn’t heard of it yet?

I would say that it’s an exciting, romantic, paranormal tale of alchemy, reincarnation, mystical dimensions, immortals, ghosts, auras, and chakras, and two star-crossed lovers, Ever and Damen, who’ve traveled across time—across continents—to be together, only to be thwarted each time. But now that they’ve found each other again, they’re determined to overcome all of their obstacles to realize the happily ever after they’ve sought through the centuries.

Where did you get the idea for the Immortals?

THE IMMORTALS was born form grief. Five years ago I lost three people I loved in five months, and shortly after that almost lost my husband to leukemia (he’s in full remission now). Experiencing that sort of intense grief and fear got me thinking a lot about life and death, mortality and immortality, and the binds that tie us to our loved ones even after they’re gone, and Ever and Damen’s story was born from there.

How many books can we expect about Ever and the Immortals?

There will be six books in total. I’m working on the final book now.

How do you go about when you develop a character?

I usually start with a premise—a sort of “what if” scenario—then I come up with a character who is not at all ready to handle the situation and challenge she’ll find herself in, then I create a cast of allies and enemies, then I watch them all grow and change as we head off on the journey!

How is a normal writing day for you and when and where do you write?

I have a home office that I head for each morning, and I pretty much stay there all day, drinking green tea, answering e-mail, twittering, facebooking, myspacing, and, of course, writing! I aim for 2000-3000 words a day, sometimes I’m able to accomplish it in a few hours, sometimes it takes all day, but I don’t stop until I hit it. I keep to this routine seven days a week, including most holidays.

Do you do a lot of research and planning before you sit down to write?

Research is one of my favorite parts of the process, and for THE IMMORTALS I did a lot of it. I read a lot of books on metaphysics, reincarnation, near death experiences, auras, chakras, ghosts, mediums, psychics, crystals—you name it—I also took a three-day psychic development class with world famous medium, James Van Praagh, and I went under hypnosis in several past life regressions as well. All of which was fun and fascinating and revealing, and most of which helped create the world of the books.

You deal with a lot of paranormal subjects, such as life after death, mediums, reading people’s auras etc. Do you believe in the supernatural yourself?

I definitely believe there is more to the world than what we are used to seeing!

“Radiance”, the first book in the spinoff series featuring Riley, Ever’s sister, is coming out in august. Why did you feel like writing a whole new series about her?

Riley was so much fun to write, that she actually ended up with a much bigger role in EVERMORE than I originally anticipated. So when I was approached to create a series told from Riley’s point of view, I jumped at the chance and I’m so glad I did. Writing RADIANCE turned out to be some of the most fun I’ve ever had while writing a book, so I really hope readers enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it!

Is there any authors or books that have inspired or influenced your writing?

Judy Blume’s books inspired me to become a writer, JD Salinger’s books inspired me to keep at it.
Has the Immortals been optioned for television or film yet?

We are in negotiations now for something that could turn out to be extremely exciting . . . my fingers are crossed!

What do you associate with Norway? Ever been here?

I have never been to Norway (yet!) but when I think of Norway I imagine pristine landscapes made of clear blue skies and sparkling waters, the artist Edward Munch, delicious sea food, and beautiful, friendly people—someday I hope to find out if I’m right!

Anything more you would like to add?

I’d just like to thank my Norwegian readers for all of their enthusiasm and support of THE IMMORTALS series—it really means the world to me, thank you!

Thank you so much, Alyson, for taking the time to do this. I am honored to have you on both my blogs today, and I wish you the best for the series about Riley.

If you haven't read The Immortals yet, I suggest you do so. It is really good. I love, love, love it!

Radiance is scheduled for release August 31th. I can't wait to get my hands on that book.

You can visit Alyson Noel's website here.
And here is her blog.






Let's finish off with the trailer for Radiance. It is so beautifully made, and I love it: