Within the walls of a centuries-old building lies the magical Library of Illumination, a place where books literally come to life. 17-year-old Johanna Charette is the youngest curator ever chosen to oversee the day-to-day operation of the library and she knows, in case of trouble, having an assistant can be invaluable, so she hires 16-year-old Jackson Roth to give her a hand. Jackson gets off to a rocky start, but manages to prove his mettle. Besides, he’s kind of cute and a lot of fun.
Johanna is charming and brilliant—and a natural born leader. She keeps the library operating on an even keel. Jackson is clever and intrepid. He relies on his wits to keep them out of danger when trouble arises. Unfortunately, his derring-do is one of the reasons why they sometimes find themselves in awkward situations. So it shouldn’t be any surprise when his wanton curiosity sparks a journey to a distant realm, where they end up with front row seats in a battle against an ancient foe.
#1 – Do You See Writing as a Career?
Writing is most definitely my career. I work on writing,
publishing and promoting my books every single day. It all started innocently
enough when I was working full time in a newsroom and thought it might be fun
to write a spy novel during my off time. That first book took years
to write, and although I love it like a first-born child, in retrospect
it was awful. My female protagonist was too passive—much like my writing—but I had
to start somewhere. My second novel was more fun to write, but it wasn’t until
I started writing the individual escapades that make up Chronicles: The Library of
Illumination (CLOI) that I began writing full-time. I really enjoy the
extra time to allow my creativity to perk, however, it slows me down when I go
off on a tangent—like when I thought I would write a companion comic book based
on a character in Doubloons, the
second CLOI adventure. It was fun, but it’s not easy boiling a story down to a few
essential balloon quotes and it’s a project best saved for someone who is
talented at creating graphic content.
#2 – What was the Hardest Part of Your Writing Process?
I like to write in a totally quiet environment where I can
talk to myself, read aloud, and even act out scenes if I think that will help.
However, I don’t have a private office and writing in the real world means
there are always interruptions. Plus, I have a terrible memory, so once I’m
interrupted, my muse goes home and I forget where we were heading with the
storyline. Not to mention, it’s harder to laugh and cry and act like a loon,
when there are people about.
#3 – Did you have any One Person Who Helped You Out with
Your Writing Outside of Your Family?
I met Karen Dionne, the author of thriller novels Boiling Point and Freezing Point, at a writers conference she was holding in New
York . When I was looking for a publisher for my
second novel, Evangeline’s Ghost, I
asked her if she would read it and give me her opinion. She opened my eyes to a
writing flaw I had. My manuscript was strewn with passive sentences, and when
she gave me an example of how to correct it, I saw the light (because she took
the time to shine it directly in my eyes).
#4 – What is next for your writing?
Chronicles: The Library of Illumination is the first
book in a trilogy, and I’m already at work on the Second Chronicles of Illumination. I’ve completed The Overseer, and I’m currently writing Myrddin’s Memoirs. While each of these
segments follows its own thread, the escalating war among the realms will link
them (and the adventures that follow) together. Like any series, each segment
builds on the one before it and further develops the characters’ personalities.
There are many challenges awaiting Johanna and Jackson
in future segments, and I’m hoping they’ll be up to the task.
#5 – Do you have an addiction to reading as well as writing?
If so, what are you currently reading?
I think every writer is addicted to reading and I love getting
lost in a book. But I usually read when I’m not actively writing. I read in
spurts. I recently finished Dorchester
Terrace by Anne Perry and before that I spent a weekend reading Divergent, Insurgent and Allegiant one after the other. Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children by
Ransom Riggs is resting comfortably
inside my iPad waiting to be read, but I need to finish writing Myrddin’s Memoir before I’ll allow
myself to read it. I’d also like to read Eleanor
& Park by Rainbow Rowell, and I’m looking forward to The Silkworm by Robert Galbraith due out
in June, and Power Play by Catherine
Coulter in July.
DESCRIBE Your Book in 1 Tweet:
Two teens develop a mutual attraction while facing danger
and excitement in an enchanted library where the books come to life.
This or That?
#1 - iPd
#2 – Chocolate
#3 –French Fries
#4 – Comedy
#5 –Nicholas Sparks
#6 – Fantasy
#7 –Text
#8 – Public School
#9 –Hot Chocolate
#10 – eBook AND Paperback. Why limit ourselves?
Within the walls of a centuries-old building lies the magical Library of Illumination, a place where books literally come to life. 17-year-old Johanna Charette is the youngest curator ever chosen to oversee the day-to-day operation of the library and she knows, in case of trouble, having an assistant can be invaluable, so she hires 16-year-old Jackson Roth to give her a hand. Jackson gets off to a rocky start, but manages to prove his mettle. Besides, he’s kind of cute and a lot of fun.
Johanna is charming and brilliant—and a natural born leader. She keeps the library operating on an even keel. Jackson is clever and intrepid. He relies on his wits to keep them out of danger when trouble arises. Unfortunately, his derring-do is one of the reasons why they sometimes find themselves in awkward situations. So it shouldn’t be any surprise when his wanton curiosity sparks a journey to a distant realm, where they end up with front row seats in a battle against an ancient foe.
#1 – Do You See Writing as a Career?
Writing is most definitely my career. I work on writing,
publishing and promoting my books every single day. It all started innocently
enough when I was working full time in a newsroom and thought it might be fun
to write a spy novel during my off time. That first book took years
to write, and although I love it like a first-born child, in retrospect
it was awful. My female protagonist was too passive—much like my writing—but I had
to start somewhere. My second novel was more fun to write, but it wasn’t until
I started writing the individual escapades that make up Chronicles: The Library of
Illumination (CLOI) that I began writing full-time. I really enjoy the
extra time to allow my creativity to perk, however, it slows me down when I go
off on a tangent—like when I thought I would write a companion comic book based
on a character in Doubloons, the
second CLOI adventure. It was fun, but it’s not easy boiling a story down to a few
essential balloon quotes and it’s a project best saved for someone who is
talented at creating graphic content.
#2 – What was the Hardest Part of Your Writing Process?
I like to write in a totally quiet environment where I can
talk to myself, read aloud, and even act out scenes if I think that will help.
However, I don’t have a private office and writing in the real world means
there are always interruptions. Plus, I have a terrible memory, so once I’m
interrupted, my muse goes home and I forget where we were heading with the
storyline. Not to mention, it’s harder to laugh and cry and act like a loon,
when there are people about.
#3 – Did you have any One Person Who Helped You Out with
Your Writing Outside of Your Family?
I met Karen Dionne, the author of thriller novels Boiling Point and Freezing Point, at a writers conference she was holding in New
York . When I was looking for a publisher for my
second novel, Evangeline’s Ghost, I
asked her if she would read it and give me her opinion. She opened my eyes to a
writing flaw I had. My manuscript was strewn with passive sentences, and when
she gave me an example of how to correct it, I saw the light (because she took
the time to shine it directly in my eyes).
#4 – What is next for your writing?
Chronicles: The Library of Illumination is the first
book in a trilogy, and I’m already at work on the Second Chronicles of Illumination. I’ve completed The Overseer, and I’m currently writing Myrddin’s Memoirs. While each of these
segments follows its own thread, the escalating war among the realms will link
them (and the adventures that follow) together. Like any series, each segment
builds on the one before it and further develops the characters’ personalities.
There are many challenges awaiting Johanna and Jackson
in future segments, and I’m hoping they’ll be up to the task.
#5 – Do you have an addiction to reading as well as writing?
If so, what are you currently reading?
I think every writer is addicted to reading and I love getting
lost in a book. But I usually read when I’m not actively writing. I read in
spurts. I recently finished Dorchester
Terrace by Anne Perry and before that I spent a weekend reading Divergent, Insurgent and Allegiant one after the other. Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children by
Ransom Riggs is resting comfortably
inside my iPad waiting to be read, but I need to finish writing Myrddin’s Memoir before I’ll allow
myself to read it. I’d also like to read Eleanor
& Park by Rainbow Rowell, and I’m looking forward to The Silkworm by Robert Galbraith due out
in June, and Power Play by Catherine
Coulter in July.
DESCRIBE Your Book in 1 Tweet:
Two teens develop a mutual attraction while facing danger
and excitement in an enchanted library where the books come to life.
This or That?
#1 - iPd
#2 – Chocolate
#3 –French Fries
#4 – Comedy
#5 –Nicholas Sparks
#6 – Fantasy
#7 –Text
#8 – Public School
#9 –Hot Chocolate
#10 – eBook AND Paperback. Why limit ourselves?
April 22 - EM Havens Writes - Review
April 23 - Avid Book Collector - Review
April 24 - Shelf Full of Books - Review
April 25 - D'eBook Sharing Reviews - Review/Guest Post
April 26 - Book Junky Girls - Review
April 28 - Paranormal Romance and Authors that Rock - Review
April 30 - Let's Get Booked - Review/Guest Post
May 3 - Rhythem Poets - Review/Interview
May 5 - Sam the Bookaholic - Review
May 6 - RABT Reviews - Wrap Up
April 22 - EM Havens Writes - Review
April 23 - Avid Book Collector - Review
April 24 - Shelf Full of Books - Review
April 25 - D'eBook Sharing Reviews - Review/Guest Post
April 26 - Book Junky Girls - Review
April 28 - Paranormal Romance and Authors that Rock - Review
April 30 - Let's Get Booked - Review/Guest Post
May 3 - Rhythem Poets - Review/Interview
May 5 - Sam the Bookaholic - Review
May 6 - RABT Reviews - Wrap Up
the cover intrigues me the most.
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