Courtney will be giving away $10 Amazon.com gift certificates to two randomly drawn commenters during the tour. So comment today AND follow her tour (if you click on the banner over there on the left, it'll take you to a list of her tour stops) -- the more you read and comment, the better your odds of winning. You could be introduced to a great new author AND win a GC!
Courtney was kind enough to answer my questions. Take it away, Courtney!
Why YA?
I choose YA for the simple matter that I am surrounded by teens almost every single day. I talk with them, and listen to them, and try very hard to understand them. Young Adults are just entertaining people in general. You never know what they are going to say or do. Putting all that character and spontaneity and life into story form was so very fun.
Why fantasy?
I love fantasy. I still build fairy houses around my big trees just for the sheer silliness of it. Plus what if? Right? YAs and Teens, still want to believe in fantasy. Whether it’s vampires or werewolves or fairies, they want to believe. I want to write for someone that still has that belief in place.
Would you share a few world-building tips?
One big one would be to make sure you can see the world in your head. All of it. Not just the edges, but the middle and the corners and the underneath of it all. I am not much of an outliner. Actually I hate to outline, but I did have to check myself when it came to creating Acadia. It was all gray and blurred and that showed big-time in the story. I had to stop, sit down, and really plan out Acadia. Once I did that, it was 100% better and a much better world and story.
Another would be to have fun. You have a chance to create your own world. So…create it!
What do you do when you get writer's block?
Sometimes all I need to do is get away from the story for a bit. Go outside, sit in the sun, walk in the woods, work in the garden, just something. Then when I sit back down to start working I am refreshed and ready to get to it.
Other times, I have to really take a break. Mull over in my brain for a few days what isn’t working or why the story is stuck. I will take that opportunity to get in some reading. Focusing on another story is the best way to get away from your own.
Any fun / strange quirks you have you'd like to share?
Strange quirks, eh? Sadly, I have many. First, I have an addiction to Harry and David Gummy Bears. This addiction is posing a real problem too, as our local store shut down this past fall, and now they are nowhere to be found within a hundred miles. You can’t buy them on line anymore either. It’s a horror story in the making. Second, I happen to be a renowned klutz. Don’t stand to close or I may take you down with me. One good thing to come out of this is that I can firmly say, I know how to fall and do it quite well. I am the only child I know who was removed from ballet class due to being a danger to myself and to others. Sad, but true story. Welp, that’s enough dirt on me for now.
What's one thing about you we'd probably never guess?
I am supremely shy. No really, I am. In writing you wouldn’t know it, but in person, WOW.
Any new stories in the pipeline you'd like to tell us about?
Well, I do have a new paranormal YA novel coming out later in 2012 called: A Howl in the Night. Yes, you guessed it. It’s a shape-shifter story. Not your normal, “Oh No! I’m a werewolf” type, but a “Cool, look what I can do” type. Plus add in a power struggle and two jealous boys and you have quite the fun romp of a story, at least if you ask me *G*.
I am also finishing the last installment of the Shadow Dancer series. Revisions….ick. Since I know you will all just LOVE Shadow Dancer and Shadow Warrior, you'll need to stick around to see the end. The working title at the moment is: Shadow’s End.
You can check my blog to find updates on both of these novels, as I am usually very excited about releases and tend to over spew about them…everywhere.
Sunny finally makes her first jump over to the Kingdom of Acadia that is on the other side of the shadows, for what she hopes is a vacation. Only her vacation turns into quite an unwanted adventure. Aside from new and unexpected issues regarding her relationship with Leif, Sunny meets the rebel group, makes new friends, fights with controlling her powers, and finds herself neck deep within a county that is torn apart by two sides, each fighting for power. Acadia is not quite what she imagined. How is she, one young girl, suppose to unite the Kingdom as well as unseat a King to take her place as ruler of Acadia.
**
"This is going to feel a bit strange," he said, still looking at me.
"Strange, how?" I asked. Strange weird would be okay, but strange pain, would not.
Leif shrugged his shoulders and said, "Just strange."
Then before I could get a better answer out of him, he said, "Here we go. One, two, pull."
I did as Leif instructed. I pulled the shadows up and over me again and suddenly, without warning, I was jerked painfully backward. The world was suddenly dark and grey. Everything was spinning out of control. It was spinning around and around and over and over, and my head clouded and fogged. I felt like I was tumbling and falling, and then we stopped, just as instantaneous as we had begun.
The ground was now solid again beneath my feet. I wobbled once, twice then I dropped to my knees and threw up the entire contents of my stomach. I felt Leif pull back my hair for me and thought absently, that's nice.
My head still spun, even after my stomach finally stopped heaving. I sat back on my feet, my head hung down. A bottle of water was thrust under my nose. I took it and washed out my mouth as I tried to regain my senses. The first real thought that came to my head was, "That felt more than a little strange."
About the author: Courtney Rene lives in Ohio with her husband and two children. She is a graduate and member of the Institute of Children’s Literature. Her writings include magazine articles, short fiction stories, several anthologies, and her Shadow Dancer series, published through Rogue Phoenix Press. For a complete listing, visit www.ctnyrene.blogspot com . Please feel free to contact her at ctnyrene@aol.com .
www.ctnyrene.blogspot.com
http://www.facebook.com/#!/Ctnyrene
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Shadow-Dancer/164433473646449
http://twitter.com/#!/ctnyrene
Remember to leave a comment and be entered to win one of two $10 Amazon GCs!
Thanks for stopping by today, Courtney.
I do like adding new authors to my reading list. I should not have laughed, but your ballet story was poignant & funny at the same time.
ReplyDeleteI'm looking forward to reading SHADOW WARRIOR.
marypres(AT)gmail(DOT)com
Laugh away Marybelle. I have reached that point in time where it is finally funny. Sad but very true.
Deletectny
Thank you for hosting Courtney today.
ReplyDeleteI am happy to be here. I will be popping in and out today and throughout the tour, so if anyone should have any direct questions, I'll be around to answer them.
Deletectny
I have people tell how I am always the first to make contact. It is, strangely, because I am so shy. I don't know what to do in a crowd, so I start talking and then let them take over. It works for me.
ReplyDeleteYes! This is it exactly, but then this leads to foot in mouth disease, where I say something wholy inappropriate. Oh the stories I could tell just from those awful moments. I'm getting better. Still quake in my boots but really I am getting better.
DeleteIs there another type of gummy bears that may taste as good, or even better? You will have to go on a quest to find the lost Gummy! :-) Great to read this Courtney! Really proud of you!
ReplyDeleteI am still looking for a decent replacement, but so far if I get a Gummy Bear attack I will just have to drive out to Jeffersonville. Thanks so much for stopping by.
Deletectny
Great interview, Courtney! You have an amazing YA voice and I truly love to read your work.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on your success! :D
Thanks Denise! For the kind words and for stopping over.
Deletectny
Hi Courtney,
ReplyDeleteYou are a new-to-me author and I plan on following you around this week to learn more about you and your work. My favorite reading genre is historical romances but I have a young niece who is an avid reader...I'm constantly on the lookout for books she would like. I'll be looking closly at your work for Molly.
If your book was to be made into a film, who would you like to see play the lead characters?
Hi Karen: I am a huge fan of historical romance, have you checked out the Outlander series yet?
DeleteThe lead character I would love for Taylor Swift to play. I know she is more of a singer but she is breaking into acting and I think that would be so fun. If she couldn't do it, then I would have to pick Bridgit Mendler ( http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1847099/ ) the chic for Good Luck Charlie on Disney. I like her more and more. Plus has the spunk and moxy that I see in Sunny.
ctny
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteGreat interview! Thanks for the excerpt; it made me want to read the new book NOW! LOL
ReplyDeleteThanks Becca. Glad you stopped over. Hurry up and get your copy!
Deletectny
Thank you for the excerpt it sounds intriguiging :)
ReplyDeleteHappy Valentine’s Day!!!
Emma
E_l37(at) gmx {dot} de
Thanks Emma. I was surprised at how hard it was to pick one excerpt. So far I am still liking this one.
Deletectny
Looks great, Courtney! I really want to hear more about A Howl in the Night...
ReplyDeleteEllen, A Howl in the Night looks to be scheduled to release around June 2012. As we get closer I will be promoting big time as well and you can get all the info you need.
Deletectny
I loved SHADOW DANCER so I'm really excited to read SHADOW WARRIOR. :)
ReplyDeleteThanks Kelly. I hope you like Shadow Warrior as much if not more.
Deletectny
LOL! Now I'm wondering how you could pull off a horror story about gummy bears. (You'd probably pull it off, too.)
ReplyDeleteWonderful interview, thanks.
Hmmm a horror story with Gummies. Its a thought. Hahaha.
DeleteI wonder who would want to publish that.
ctny
Great interview. But...if I talk to you via email, does that mean I'm going to fall down or spill something? LOL
ReplyDeleteOoh, I just saw Carrie's comment about a horror story about gummy bears! Bet that got your mind a thinking, ha.
For those of you who havent read Courtney's books, Shadow Dancer & Shadow Warrior are both fantastic reads and I recommend them both! Teens will definitely love them.
If you ever do fall down or spill something via email, you better let me know as that means it getting worse!
DeleteThanks for the lovely words Allyn. I'm so glad you liked both Shadow Dancer and Warrior.
ctny
Wonderful interview, now I want some gummy bears.DebP
ReplyDeleter.d1@myfairpoint.net
Its a problem....the wanting. Hope you find some good ones. Thanks for stopping by.
Deletectny
I like gummy bears but never had Harry & David gummies. I'll have to try them.
ReplyDeleteI'm also a serious introvert. Professionally, I work at being an extrovert, but left on my own, I'd much rather be alone, away from people.
catherinelee100 at gmail dot com
I am such a Gummy Bear snob anymore. Its really kinda sad. H&D are the best, ever.
DeleteI wonder if its the advent of computers that has turned us all into introverts.
ctny
Wow, you are a busy lady! Good luck with the tour. Great interview.
ReplyDeleteKingdom of Acadia, kind of reminds me of Final Fantasy games, I once played*sigh*
ReplyDeleteInteresting excerpt, it made me want to read the book and find out how it goes after Sunny arrives in Acadia and what happens with Leif.
Lyra
lyra(dot)lucky7(at)gmail(dot)com