Wednesday

Author Interview: Rebecca Maizel

Being vampire week and all around here, I thought it would be great if I interviewed the author of one of my favorite vampire books this year.  

Luckily for me, the very lovely Rebecca Maizel, author of Infinite Days, agreed.  I was so excited she agreed and after doing a little dance, these are questions I asked her:

How did you come up with the idea of a Vampire becoming human?
I connected to my main character, Lenah's voice.  it was so strong; and sinister and tragic.  I wanted to tap into that sorrow and darkness.  I wanted to bring this person, whoever she was back out to light.  It turned out that she was a vampire and thematically, it worked.  Every person out there has done something they aren't proud of.  And whatever that thing is, they have to live with it - forever.  That's Lenah but time about a million!  I just started writing one day and there she was with a motive, a purpose, and some really scary enemies.

Was it hard to create a character who readers can sympathize with, especially one who has been EVIL in the past?
It was hard.  I had to make sure that I showed Lenah in her every day life as a human with good intentions.  When I juxtaposed her evil past to her human life at Wickham Boarding School you're able to see that had Lenah been thinking with her right mind, her human mind, she might have made different choices. 

With so many men in Lena's life (whether they be friends, love interests, or mentors), how hard is ti to actually choose one, kill some off, etc.?  I know as a reader it hard to pick sides - I can only imagine how much harder is it for you as their creator.
Every man in Lenah's life has a purpose, every character in Infinite Days has a purpose and as a writer you need to make difficult decisions but ultimately you need to let the character and her motivations dictate the plot, if you do it the other way around it'll feel forced and uneven.  

Can you tell us anything about the sequel to Infinite Days?  Spoilers are accepted! ;)
I cannot tell you anything! Only that everything, absolutely everything is turned on its head! 

 

What does Halloween mean to you?  Any childhood memories you’re willing to share with us?
I have memories of pillowcases full of candy. I remember dividing up all the different kinds - making a pile for Butterfinger, a Hershey's pile, etc. I always had friends to walk through the neighborhood with - I had a great childhood, Halloween was always an important part of it. Every year on Halloween morning I would come down to eat and with breakfast would be a piece of chocolate shaped like a pumpkin or witch. My mom was great like that. 

This might be a dumb question (with you writing vampire books and all), but are you Team Vampire or Team Werewolf? 
Team Vampire, I gotta support my people!  

If you were able to go trick-or-treating with three authors or characters - who would they be, and what would y’all be dressed up as? 
Hmmm...
I'll pick characters.

Vicken - He'd be a T-Bird from Grease
Harry Potter - He'd be dressed as Nearly Headless Nick. I don't know why but that seems fun to me. 
Daniel from Fallen - He'd go as himself because he is SEXY. 

Any guilty pleasures you’re willing to share with us? 
Coffee. 
Chinese Food 
Any 1990's alternative rock. Wow, I am a BIG dork.  

And last, but not least, (and this is more to satisfy my curiosity)... do the boys in your books wear boxers or briefs? 
Oooh. Hmm. Justin is boxer briefs for SURE. ;) 
Rhode...well. I don't think he wears any! :) wink wink


Rhode... le sigh.  I hope you enjoyed the interview with Rebecca Maizel.  To learn more about  author Rebecca Maizel and Infinite Days, please visit Rebecca's blog at  http://rebeccamaizel.blogspot.com/.

I also have two copies of Infinite Days to giveaway.  This is one of my favorite books this year and I thought why not celebrate its awesomeness with some copies to giveaway.
Lenah Beaudonte is, in many ways, your average teen: the new girl at Wickham Boarding School, she struggles to fit in enough to survive and stand out enough to catch the eye of the golden-boy lacrosse captain. But Lenah also just happens to be a recovering five-hundred-year-old vampire queen. After centuries of terrorizing Europe, Lenah is able to realize the dream all vampires have -- to be human again. After performing a dangerous ritual to restore her humanity, Lenah entered a century-long hibernation, leaving behind the wicked coven she ruled over and the eternal love who has helped grant her deep-seated wish.

Until, that is, Lenah draws her first natural breath in centuries at Wickham and rediscovers a human life that bears little resemblance to the one she had known. As if suddenly becoming a teenager weren’t stressful enough, each passing hour brings Lenah closer to the moment when her abandoned coven will open the crypt where she should be sleeping and find her gone. As her borrowed days slip by, Lenah resolves to live her newfound life as fully as she can. But, to do so, she must answer ominous questions: Can an ex-vampire survive in an alien time and place? What can Lenah do to protect her new friends from the bloodthirsty menace about to descend upon them? And how is she ever going to pass her biology midterm?
GIVEAWAY:  I have 2 copies up for grabs! 

As always, leave a comment for one entry. If you'd like extra entries just say so in your comment or separate comments (extra entries for followers, Twitter, sidebars, Facebook, my spiffy All About {n} button, etc.) Make sure to leave an e-mail address, especially if you are leaving a comment under Anonymous.

Rules: This contest is open internationally! Winners will be drawn Wednesday, November 3.

44 comments:

Zoë said...

This is such a fun interview, I love the question about who to take trick or treating. I have heard such good things about this book I'd really love to win!

I am a GFC follower so I'd love an extra entry of course :) Thanks for hosting this interview/giveaway.

Melissa said...

Thanks for the contest.

I'm a follower

coffeebooksandlaundry(at)gmail.com

A Musing Mother said...

I would love to read this book! What a fascinating new take on vampires - to become human again.

ntaylor228 at yahoo dot com

A Musing Mother said...

I am a GFC follower!

ntaylor228 at yahoo dot com

Tynga said...

Oh please count me in =)
I've heard a lot of great things about this book and would LOVE to read it!
I'm indeed a follower
and I have your button on my blog!

TyngaUF(a)gmail.com

Judy said...

This looks like a very good book. You have really peeked my curiousity.


Judy
magnolias_1@msn.com

Judy said...

I am a GFC follower-Judy



Judy
magnolias_1@msn.com

Judy said...

I am also a twitter follower-@ladymagnolia99



Judy
magnolias_1@msn.com

Myra C said...

Enjoyed the interview and I would love to read this book thanks for the giveaway!!

I am a GFC follower

myra0502@yahoo.com

Tales of Whimsy said...

I love that guilty pleasures list :)

Jolene and Family said...

Wow, an ex-vampire? I am intrigued and would love to read this book. This is a new take on all the vampire books out there. Can't wait to read this, please enter me
GFC follower
Twitter follower(@joleneallcock)
june111@att.net

Anonymous said...

Wonderful interview! I already have Infinite Days, so I'm just commenting for the interview :)

Book Soulmates said...

Ooh, fab interview my friend!! I just started Infinite Days and I already love it. Page 20 and I was sniffling over Rhode =/

{I'm totally with Rebecca on 2 of her 3 guilty pleasures!}

♥Isalys

Linda said...

Sounds like a fun read!!
Please enter me.
I'm a follower.

Princesalinda22@hotmail.com

Unknown said...

I'm an old GFC follower. Thanks so much!

texas_gal45(at)hotmail(dot)com

Anonymous said...

I would love to win this!

+1 Blog Follower
+1 Twitter Follower
+1 Facebook Friend
+1 Goodreads Friend

jessica_kulendran_602@hotmail.com

Thank you!

elaing8 said...

Great interview. i can't wait to read this book.
Thanks for the chance to win a copy.

GFC follower
twitter follower
tweeted http://twitter.com/elaing8/status/28922762494

elaing8(at)netscape(dot)net

Unknown said...

Thanks for the contest. I really want to read this book. It has been on my to be read list. Please enter me in contest. Tore923@aol.com

fs1 said...

Great interview. This one captured my attention. It looks refreashing.. (and I loveeee the cover *blushes*)

I am a GFC follower, so please extra entry here lol

Thanks for the interview/giveway and the wonderful blog

fairy dot morgaine at gmail dot com

karenk said...

great posting....please count me in :)

karenk
kmkuka at yahoo dot com

Chrystal said...

What a fun interview Nely! I would love to be entered to win a copy!

chrystal(dot)mclean@yahoo(dot)ca

GFC follower too!

Reading Lassie said...

Great interview!

Being a vampire fanatic girl that I am, I would really love to read Infinite Days!

readinglassie(at)yahoo(dot)com

Reading Lassie said...

Hello! Here are my extra entries:

GFC follower
Tweeted: http://twitter.com/ReadingLassie/status/28949411325
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/readinglassie/posts/115687135161333
Button on my sidebar:
http://readinglassie.blogspot.com
Sidebar link:
http://readinglassie.blogspot.com

Thank you!

readinglassie(at)yahoo(dot)com

buddyt said...

Well at least the book is different going from a vampire to a human.

I must admit I am startingto tire of all the vampire books coming out lately.

I wouldn't mind trying this one, so pleaseen ter me.

I am a Follower via GFC.

Carol T

buddytho {at} gmail DOT com

babysaffron said...

Hi...
I'm a follower...
Thanks for the giveaway...
babysaffron@gmail.com

Veens said...

Wonderful Interview. We do not have Halloween here, so a pillow full of candies sounds so goooooooood!
And well please enter me for this giveaway, I am an old follower. I have your button on my site :) and I follow u on FB as well.

givingreadingachance AT gmail.com

Erin said...

Great interview.

Please enter me.

Erin
erin(.)dubrock(@)comcast(.)net

CrystalGB said...

Great interview. This book sounds good.
Crystal816[at]hotmail[dot}com

Edna said...

I really love the sound of this book. Thank you for the interview and giveaway!

GFC follower and twitter follower (@ineedsafe)

nalynboni AT gmail DOT com

Spav said...

Great interview. I can't wait to read this book. I've had it on my wishlist since I heard about it!

+1 GFC Follower
+1 Twitter follower: (@Sparima)
+1 Tweet: http://twitter.com/Sparima/status/29033477829
+1 Sidebar: http://fictionkingdom.blogspot.com/

spav05(at)gmail(dot)com

Kathy Habel said...

Please enter me. Looks like a great book.
bkhabel at gmail dot com

Kathy Habel said...

I follow
bkhabel at gmail dot com

Kathy Habel said...

Your button is on my blog
http://iamareadernotawriter.blogspot.com

Kathy Habel said...

follow on twitter @toobusyreading

Kathy Habel said...

Like on FB bkhabel at gmail dot com

Unknown said...

Please enter me and thank you for making it an international one!

Follower

~Chrizette
baychriz at gmail dot com

Unknown said...

Am also a twitter follower (@allthedaysof)

~Chrizette
baychriz at gmail dot com

Unknown said...

And a friend on GOODREADS (Chriz)

~Chrizette
baychriz at gmail dot com

Anonymous said...

Thanks for the contest. I would love to read this book!

+1 GFC Follower
i-love_horse@hotmail.com

Cynthia said...

I just saw this at the bookstore. I would love to win a copy!

Onge said...

I really enjoyed this book. I'd love to own it. I'm a twitter (@chickenherder) and gfc follower.
Thanks for the awesome giveaway!!
chickenherder@hotmail.com

whitewolfreads said...

I would love a copy, thanks for the giveaway!

follower via GFC
Follower on Twitter (@jmspettoli)
Follower on Goodreads (jmspettoli)
Follower on Facebook (Jessica Spettoli)

Tweeted: http://twitter.com/jmspettoli/status/29165053807

spettolij AT gmail DOT com

Michelle said...

Fantastic interview! I really enjoye Rebecca's work and every interview I've read has been witty and enlightening. I'm excited to read Stolen Nights I know it will be just as good as the first.

The_Teenage_Non-Socialite said...

Please enter me! :) It sounds like it's really really interesing! and i love the cover!

Email:
felicialoi@yahoo.com

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