Sunday 20 March 2011

Author Interview: Aimée Carter!

Hey! So I promised a special feature for my one month blogoversary and here it is, an interview with the wonderful Aimée Carter, author of the not-yet-released-but-soon-to-be-a-bestseller The Goddess Test. Is there anyone left in the YA blogging world that hasn't heard of, and is craving, this book? Just in case you've been under a metaphorical (or literal) rock for the past few months, here's a description for you:


The Goddess Test by Aimée Carter
Publishing Date: April 19th (Widely available April 26th)
Publisher: Harlequin Teen


Description from Goodreads:


Every girl who has taken the test has died.

Now it's Kate's turn.
 

It's always been just Kate and her mom--and now her mother is dying. Her last wish? To move back to her childhood home. So Kate's going to start at a new school with no friends, no other family and the fear her mother won't live past the fall. 

Then she meets Henry. Dark. Tortured. And mesmerizing. He claims to be Hades, god of the Underworld--and if she accepts his bargain, he'll keep her mother alive while Kate tries to pass seven tests. 

Kate is sure he's crazy--until she sees him bring a girl back from the dead. Now saving her mother seems crazily possible. If she succeeds, she'll become Henry's future bride, and a goddess. 

If she fails..



You can see my review of the Goddess Test here


Aimée  was kind enough to answer some questions for me, and here they are:


Quickfire Questions:



Favourite flower - Lily
Favourite book as a child - I loved the Babysitters Club and the Thoroughbred series like no others.
Favourite smell - Cold leather
Place you’d most like to travel too - I've already been there, but I would LOVE to go back to London someday. Or Ireland. Loved both places.
Favourite fictional character - Remus Lupin, from the Harry Potter series.
Favourite book as an adult - Tie between three - Ender's Game, by Orson Scott Card; Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, by J.K. Rowling; and The Hunger Games, by Suzanne Collins.

Main Q's:

What made you pick the Persephone myth out of all the Greek myths? - I never really consciously picked a myth. The idea of doing something with Hades and Persephone simmered in the back of my mind for more than a decade, and finally I came up with the (well-worn) trope of a girl who makes a deal with the "devil" to save someone she loves. From then on out, putting the two ideas together was easy, though I did play with the mythology to better suit the story. In the end, it wound up being much more of a sequel to the myth of Persephone rather than a retelling, since that myth does play a large role in the back story of The Goddess Test.

Did you write any books before the Goddess Test, and would you try to get them published now? - I have roughly two dozen manuscripts sitting on my hard drive. All of them terrible. Since writing The Goddess Test, however, I have written several more manuscripts that I would love to see turned into books someday. They're a wide variety of genres - all YA though, of course. Dystopian, paranormal, contemporary, and so on.

Who was your favourite character from the Goddess Test to write? - I think Ava was probably my favorite. She practically wrote herself, and I love the energy she brought to the page. Her voice was by far one of the strongest out of all the characters. My second-favorite would probably be Henry, even though he was a much more difficult character to write. Exploring his back story and why he had certain traits was fascinating though, and one of my favorite parts of writing the book.

If you weren’t a writer, what would you be? - Unemployed! Or a very lazy waitress. Really, I went to school for film, so I would likely be doing something in that - probably screenwriting. Or in story development. Writing is the only thing I've ever been very good at, and I can't see ever willfully giving it up, even if all of this never happened.

Do you have any rituals to complete before you sit down to write? (thanks to my mum for this one!)  - Thanks, Caitlin's mum! Mostly I check email and force myself to get my head in the game. Sometimes focusing is easy, sometimes it takes hours. If I'm at a bookstore, I usually get something to drink at the café first, and I always put in ear buds and put a song on repeat to make sure I'm not easily distracted by conversations around me. 

What book/series by another author do you wish you had written? - Hmm. My first inclination is to go with something big, like Harry Potter or Twilight or The Hunger Games. But then I wouldn't have been able to enjoy those series, so this is a tough call. I think, in the end, I'm proud of the books I've written, and with luck they'll be successful enough to warrant more. That's all I can really hope for.

I asked twitter if they had any questions for you, and here were the first 3:

From @geekcdunbar “where are the links to your early FanFic especially the Harry Potter stuff, but I’ll take Hanson aswell”  - I honestly don't think any of my Hanson fan fiction is on the internet anymore. As for Harry Potter, most of it is rotten, and I've lost the links to most of it, but maybe sometime I'll post a short story on my blog for anyone brave enough to wade through its awfulness.

@Caitlingss wants to ask you about the “I wish Henry were Real” support group  - Ha! Best support group ever. :)

And @myshelfandi asks “if you were a box of cereal, what would you be and why” - Something no one eats, so I'd live a long life without losing too much of myself along the way.

Thank you so much for these terrific questions! I had a blast.



Thanks for the great answers Aimée! And for taking the time to answer my questions, it was an honour to have you as my first author interview!!


Because it's my one month blogoversary, and because 100 of you wonderful, wonderful people have followed this blog, I've also decided to do a giveaway...can you guess what I'm giving away?


Yep, that's right, a pre-ordered copy of The Goddess Test!! This will be open internationally, thanks to the Book Depository's awesome shipping, but please make sure your country is eligible before entering!!


***RULES***


It's fairly simple to enter, the only requirement is you must be a follower of my blog! Then post a comment with your name and email address incase you win. Contest is open from...now till 11:59pm Sunday 10th April, at which time I will contact the winner, who will have 48hours to send me their mailing info so I can pre-order their copy!!


Extra entries are up for grabs:


+1 for following the host blog (the Cait Files) **required**
+1 for following my twitter (@CaitLomas)
+1 for following Aimée on twitter (@aimeecarter)
+2 entries for a tweet or retweet of my contest (link evidence is needed, click the timestamp of your tweet to get an individual URL)
+2 entries for a post on your blog about my contest (again, put a link to this in your comment!)


So that's a total of 7 entries up for grabs, just like Kate had to pass 7 tests ;)
Good luck everyone! 







62 comments:

  1. Heyy awesome interview! Ahh I soo badly want to read this book!!
    +1 I obviously follow you ;)

    kelseyanne90@hotmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  2. +1 I follow you on twitter @KelseyBookBlog

    kelseyanne90@hotmail.com

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  3. +1 I follow Aimee on twitter =D awesome person btw!

    kelseyanne90@hotmail.com

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  4. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  5. +2 for tweeting about it =D http://twitter.com/#!/KelseysBookBlog

    yes ok I really wantto win...can you blame me haha

    http://twitter.com/#!/KelseysBookBlog

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  6. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  7. + 1 for following you and following Aimee Carter.
    + 2 for retweeting your link (here)

    And my email address is villanously@gmail.com. Thank you very much!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Follower
    Follow Aimee and you are on Twitter.

    I just finished reading the Goddess Test and I loved it!

    ReplyDelete
  9. This is great! I posted my interview with Aimee Friday night. I love your questions for her. :)

    Already following you so here's my email. *crosses fingers*

    amateurvoice (dot) kp (at) hotmail (dot) com

    ~Kelsa

    ReplyDelete
  10. Follow your blog.
    Follow on Twitter MoonlightReview
    Follow Aimee on Twitter

    Thanks for the giveaway and great post.

    Erika
    moonlightbookreviews@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  11. Hi there! +5 for me please. :) Here is the link to my twitter post: http://twitter.com/#!/SakuraSandra/status/49616058579030016

    And thanks for the interview from her, those were some great questions! I like how she uses the same song on repeat to write. That's a great idea, because it's distracting when a new song comes on and maybe you don't like it or it's not the right tempo/mood, so I will definitely use that trick myself! :)

    -Sandra @ http://sandrathenookworm.blogspot.com

    Thanks for the awesome giveaway and I will ttyl!

    ReplyDelete
  12. Oh and my email address is moonkat11@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  13. Hi! I'm entering this awesome contest!
    Email in case I win: graceonorato at gmail dot co
    +1 for following you on twitter
    +1 for following Aimee on
    + 2 for tweeting about the contest:

    http://twitter.com/#!/Jenica704/status/49622444918571008

    Thanks for hosting this contest and for the great Q & A session!

    ReplyDelete
  14. Hi, what a great interview and a giveaway! I loved the questions.
    My email: ivaondrejkova(at)gmail(dot)com
    Im, of course, following your blog.
    +1 - following you on Twitter (LilyxJames)
    +1 - following Aimeé as well
    +2 - retweeted your tweet about the giveaway: http://twitter.com/#!/CaitLomas/status/49592621189959680

    Thanks for this great opportunity to win this book. I cant wait to read it!

    ReplyDelete
  15. Thanks for the giveaway ~

    I follow your blog through GFC, follow you on twitter (@LynossaDBL) and I also tweeted in here: http://twitter.com/#!/LynossaDBL/status/49657196237164545 (total 4 entries)

    Thanks a lot!
    Lynossa(at)yahoo(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  16. Awesome interview! I can't wait to read The Goddess test! Thanks for the giveaway as well!

    +1 I'm a GFC Follower
    +1 Twitter Follower
    + 1 Follower Aimee twitter (@girlaboutbooks)
    + 2 tweeted: http://twitter.com/girlaboutbooks/status/49658131625684992


    girlaboutbooks@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  17. This sounds like an amazing book! Can't wait to read it.

    andreat78@yahoo.com

    +1 follow blog
    +1 follow on twitter @andrealynnt
    +1 follow Aimee on twitter @andrealynnt
    I did ReTweet but I couldn't get the link : (

    ReplyDelete
  18. thansk for the great giveaway!

    +1 for being blog follower
    +1 for following Aimee on twitter - GirlyKat

    katie_tp@yahoo(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  19. Love the interview!! And thank you so much for the giveaway:

    1 for following the host blog
    +1 for following my twitter
    +1 for following Aimée on twitter
    +2 entries for a tweet or retweet of my contest:

    http://twitter.com/sophieriggsby/status/49676310364172288

    sophie(dot)riggsby(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  20. Great post and interview!

    Ayanami Faerudo

    ayanamifaerudo[at]yahoo[dot]com

    +1 for following the host blog (the Cait Files)
    +1 just started following your twitter
    +1 already following Aimée on twitter
    +2 entries for a tweet or retweet of my contest
    http://twitter.com/#!/fierrayukino/status/49686773328121856

    ReplyDelete
  21. Thank you for this! :)

    +1 follow your blog
    +1 follow your twitter (@precious_shusky)
    +1 follow Aimée on twitter (@precious_shusky)
    +2 tweeted - http://twitter.com/#!/precious_shusky/status/49688219717087232

    precious_shusky@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  22. +1 blog follower
    +1 twitter follower: @rachelmosq
    +1 following aimee on twitter
    +2 tweeted: http://twitter.com/rachelmosq/status/49791156837560320

    toprocrastinate @ hotmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  23. I wanna read this book so bad!! :D
    Follower of your blog +1!
    Follower of you and aimeecarter +2
    Twitter Name - TotalBookNerd
    msKpopper@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  24. Thanks for the giveaway. I follow you on GFC

    and on twitter +1
    zenfoxflowerATyahooDOTcom

    ReplyDelete
  25. Awesome!

    +1 for following the host blog (the Cait Files)
    +1 for following your twitter (@CaitLomas)
    +1 for following Aimée on twitter (@aimeecarter)
    +2 entries for a retweet of your contest

    You can check here:
    Twitter.com/Birdy_books
    https://twitter.com/caitlomas/status/49932563174797312

    ReplyDelete
  26. Oh, and my email! Can't forget that!

    BirdyBooks@ymail.com

    Thanks!

    ReplyDelete
  27. Thanks for the contest!

    +1 for being a follower of the blog (via my Google Reader)

    lisathebooknerd at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  28. Great review & interview! Thanks for the giveaway, I'm looking forward to the book finally coming out!

    +1 I'm a GFC Follower
    +1 Twitter Follower (@Top_cat81)
    + 1 Follower Aimee twitter
    + 2 tweeted: http://twitter.com/#!/Top_cat81/status/50174481527873536

    ReplyDelete
  29. I'm so glad you all liked the interview!! And thanks for entering my giveaway =]

    ReplyDelete
  30. Thanks for the giveaway!
    +1 for following the blog
    +1 for following my twitter
    +1 for following Aimée on twitter
    +2 entries for a tweet or retweet of my contest: http://twitter.com/#!/TrulyBookish/status/50243738647265280
    NC
    bookishlilly@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  31. Thanks for the great giveaway!
    +1 New GFC follower - Andrea I
    +1 Follow you on twitter - @lillieblue613
    +1 Follow Aimee on twitter - @lillieblue613
    +2 Tweeted http://twitter.com/#!/lillieblue613/status/50246121800474625

    lillieblue613(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  32. Great interview!

    +1 GFC follower

    Lisa, bell198@aol.com

    ReplyDelete
  33. Love the interview. I really want to read this.
    +1 as a GFC
    +1 twitter follow you @serifinaxxx
    +1 twitter follow Aimee @serifinaxxx
    +2 tweeted http://twitter.com/#!/serifinaxxx/status/50435426615427072

    deathbooksandtea(AT)gmail(DOT)com
    Nina xxx

    ReplyDelete
  34. SOOO excited for this book! I've been following Aimee on twitter for a while now and I'm super exited.

    Allison Ridley
    joebob1379 (at) yahoo (dot) com

    +1 for following this blog
    +1 for following Aimee on twitter
    +2 for tweeting! http://twitter.com/#!/AllisonRidley/status/50444338869714944

    ReplyDelete
  35. I would love this one!

    I think I am in for

    +3 - Follow blog and both twitters

    Cheers for the giveaway

    Jules


    jules.ablawATgmailDOTcom

    ReplyDelete
  36. Read the NetGalley of this and LOVED it! So need a keeper copy! Count me in!

    +1 Follower

    jessbess2505[at]yahoo[dot]com

    ReplyDelete
  37. +1 for following this blog
    +1 for following you on twitter
    +1 for following Aimee on twitter
    +2 for retweeting!!!! =)
    http://twitter.com/#!/ashtonamo1019/status/50763978355392512

    ReplyDelete
  38. Great giveaway - thanks a ton!

    +1 for following this blog.
    +1 for following you on Twitter.
    +1 for following Aimee on Twitter.
    +2 for retweeting:
    http://twitter.com/#!/CaitLomas/status/50652795510079488
    Since it's a retweet, I only get the link to your post but you can see my picture and click through to my profile (I'm the yellow one: thestoryqueen).

    Thanks again!

    ReplyDelete
  39. I am now a follower...VERY EXCITED :)

    EreadsAndWrites@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  40. Thanks for the great contest! Can't wait to read this book!

    +1 blog follow
    +1 Twitter follow (@mssammydean)
    +1 Aimee follow
    +2 tweet - http://twitter.com/#!/mssammydean/status/51469303836442624
    +2 blog post - http://readmebookmarkmeloveme.blogspot.com/2011/03/great-contests.html

    Lisa - mssammydean(at)hotmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  41. Hello !! I don't have twitter bu I follow your blog. Thanks for the giveaway ! allie_141@hotmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  42. +1 GFC follow-ashley
    +1 twitter follower-@Holt9102
    +1 follow Aimée on twitter-@Holt9102

    +2 Tweeted-http://twitter.com/#!/Holt9102/status/51720712985124864

    +2 Blogged-http://bookcasesiren.blogspot.com/2011/03/go-win-goddess-test.html

    total-7 entries

    ashtreygonesmokeya@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  43. totally follow the blog and @aimeecarter. totally want this :)
    daysedantas@hotmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  44. +1 GFC Follower: Zareen T
    +2 Following @CaitLomas and @aimee_carter on Twitter (@ShiningStar786)
    +2 Tweeted: http://twitter.com/ShiningStar786/statuses/51726408325672960

    Total: 5 entries
    Thanks for the awesome giveaway!

    mizzbookworm@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  45. pia-k@live.com

    I follow you and Aimée Carter (http://twitter.com/#!/Herzensbuecher) and tweeted about the Giveaway (http://twitter.com/#!/Holt9102/status/51720712985124864).

    Would be 5 entries :)

    ReplyDelete
  46. ... and I'm also a follower ;)

    ReplyDelete
  47. Loved the interview, I really do enjoy the story of Persephone and Hades so I can't wait for the modern take on it!Thanks for the giveaway :)

    +1 Blog Follower (Kim)
    +1 Twitter follower (@ksmeza)
    +1 for following Aimee
    +2 Tweet http://twitter.com/#!/ksmeza/status/51741985941372928

    total = 5 entries

    chapis.luvs@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  48. Great interview and thanks for the giveaway!!!
    I am a follower via GFC as Diana
    I follow you and Aimée Carter as @artdem83
    Tweeted: https://twitter.com/#!/artdem83/status/52086118480494593

    artgiote at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  49. I'm dying to read this since I've read the goodreads description. It's on the very top of my TBR list. I love the twist on the Persephone myth. Loved the interview and I like the smell of cold leather too.
    GFC follower (lindadao2060).
    Twitter follower of you and Aimee (linda2060).
    Tweeted:
    http://mobile.twitter.com/linda2060/status/52142498763649024

    ReplyDelete
  50. +1 I'm a new follower on GFC-Lisa Richards
    +1 for following my twitter @alterlisa
    +1 for following Aimée on twitter@alterlisa
    +2 entries for a tweet -http://twitter.com/#!/alterlisa/status/52168329636487169

    (\___/)
    (='.'=)
    (")_(")

    alterlisa AT yahoo DOT com
    http://lisaslovesbooksofcourse.blogspot.com/

    ReplyDelete
  51. +1 I am a new GFC follower (Lexie@BookBug)
    +1 I am a Twitter follower (@LexieBookBug)
    +1 I follow Aimee on Twitter (@LexieBookBug)
    +2 Tweeted at http://twitter.com/#!/LexieBookBug/status/52204598466846720
    lexie.bookbug at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  52. Thank you sooo moch for this interview and giveaway and congratulations on your 100+ follower :)

    +1 became GFC follower (Judit)
    +1 became twitter follower (@judittten)
    +1 following Aimee via twitter
    +2 re-tweeted your giveaway tweet

    judittten at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  53. I saw this book everywhere. I do hope I can read the book also

    aleetha.ally at gmail dot com

    +1 follow the host blog (the Cait Files) (GFC: Aleetha)
    +1 follow your twitter (@aleetha)
    +1 follow Aimée on twitter (@aleetha)

    Thank you for the chance

    ~Aleetha~

    ReplyDelete
  54. gkgrlbk@gmail.com
    +1 following your blog
    +1 following Aimee on twitter(@geekgirlsbkblog)
    +1 following you on twitter (@geekgirlsbkblog)

    Great giveaway! thanks so much!

    ReplyDelete
  55. Great interviw, Aimee seems so nice! Thanks for this contest.

    +1 Following your blog (Rachel S.)
    +1 Following Aimee on twitter (bookshelflust)
    bookshelflustATgmailDOTcom

    ReplyDelete
  56. +1 Blog follower: jayjay
    +1 twitter follower (@thejay2xa)
    +1 aimeecarter follower (@thejay2xa)
    +2 tweet:
    http://twitter.com/#!/TheJay2xA/status/53379738684768257

    +2 Blog post:

    http://technologyinsideit2.blogspot.com/2011/03/cait-files-author-interview-aimee.html

    email: fallendream03(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  57. Awesome interview. I've been hearing a lot about this book lately and I really want to read it.

    +1 Blog follower: Spav
    +1 Twitter follower: (@Sparima)
    +1 Aimee's follower: (@Sparima)
    +2 Tweet: http://twitter.com/Sparima/status/53632380199645184
    +2 Sidebar: http://fictionkingdom.blogspot.com/

    spav05(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  58. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  59. This sounds like a fabulous book! Thanks for the great interview!

    +1 GFC follower!

    readinginthecorner11(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  60. Nice contest!

    I'm a Follower +1
    Tweeter Follower +1
    Aimée Tweeter Follower +1

    you-know-i-dont-know@hotmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  61. Name: Juliana Dias
    email: juiceb0xx@hotmail.com

    +1 Follower (Juliana Dias)
    +1 following @CaitLomas on twitter (@juiceb0xx)
    +1 followeing @aimeecarter on twitter (@juiceb0xx)
    +1 tweeted (https://twitter.com/#!/juiceb0xx/status/57258319122927616)

    ReplyDelete
  62. Aimee Carter has written a book very different from other mythology retellings. She is a new voice in YA literature and a very welcome one. Having read this book a while ago but not blogging right away I've recently reread it and enjoyed it as much as the first time. The second time around I understood the beginning much more clearly. I look forward to the next installment and hope to get to know James a little more and wonder if a love triangle is being created. Recommended for fans of mythology, romance and contemporary fiction. Read as an ebook arc courtesty of Harlequin Teen via Netgalley.

    ReplyDelete

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