Author INTERVIEW and GIVEAWAY: Kenechi Udogu

Hello, there, roses!

Yesterday, you all read my review of The Other Slipper. I loved that book SO MUCH! If you haven't read my review, go ahead and do it now. I'll still be here.

So? Doesn't it sound great?

And now I have an interview with Kenechi, the author of said amazing book. It's a really fun one!

• Hi, Kenechi! Welcome to Sparkles and Lightning.

Hi Annabelle, thanks for having me on your blog. 

• What inspired you to become an author?

I read a lot as a child and it didn’t take long for me to start forming ideas about what I wanted to read. Then I started to write the ideas down and draw comic strips when I was still in primary school. The quality of my work was probably laughable but I knew I had something to share, even if it was just with my family members, so I kept at it. 

• Describe your book in one word for me.

(This is really, really, really difficult!) Enchanted. 

• When did you get the idea to do a retelling of Cinderella—from the other side?

I was heading home from work a few years ago and misread a café sign that said “The Other Side” for “The Other Slipper”. It bugged me that I couldn’t remember what happened to the other slipper after the ball so I made up a story about it on my commute. I decided that someone else found the slipper and had taken it home with serious consequence. Then I decided the person had to have their own adventure, it didn’t have to be a story about Cinderella at all. That really freed me up to write much more than I would have if I had stuck to the original story. I later found out what really happened to the slipper in the original story but it was too late by then, the idea had stuck

• What was your favorite fairy tale growing up?

Argh, if I say, then the other fairytales will find out and never let me retell their stories. Seriously though, I never had a favourite but I was always drawn to the Cinderella story (methinks it was the lure of those glass slippers). It was one of the stories I experimented with in my early teens and I guess I’ve finally done it properly now. 

• Do you think you’ll write a sequel to The Other Slipper?

Funny enough, I’ve been asked that question by other readers. I didn’t start off thinking it would be part of a series but by the time I got to the end of writing it, I knew I had subconsciously left room for that eventuality. The story ends well enough for a standalone book but there are plenty of opportunities in it to pick it up from another character’s view point. We’ll see if my mind can conjure up some more magic to jar their lives again. 

• What’s the best advice you’ve ever gotten?

Don’t give up!

• Tell us about the process involved in writing. 

Sit in front of PC, open document, surf the net for trivia I think I might need, spend ages distracted by random nonsense on-line, snap back to reality and type a few words, stare into space, maybe watch some telly, type some more, play an online game, more typing, decide it’s time to move on to something else. 

• What advice would you give to anyone who wants to be a writer?

Don’t give up! Edit, edit, edit. Join a writing group if you can find the time and get independent people to read your work. 

• How do you spend your time when you’re not writing?

When I’m not at work (I have a full time job), I read a fair bit but I also play far too much computer games (I can’t start to count the hours I’ve wasted trying to burst floating bubbles on my computer screen). If I get the strength to brave the outdoors, it’s usually to head to the cinema or out for dinner with friends. 

• What’s the last thing you said out loud?

Goodnight 

• Anything you can share with us about upcoming books from you?

I have a couple of other YA books out at the moment but I’m attempting to write my first YA paranormal romance. There will no werewolves, angels or vampires in sight as I’m trying to make it a little different from a lot of books currently out there. Wish me luck. 

• Thank you for dropping by, Kenechi!

And now, as promised, it's time for a giveaway!

Kenechi has generously offered me a copy of The Other Slipper to give away to one lucky winner!

Now here's the shocking part.

Annabelle is using Rafflecopter! By choice! o:


I did say I would try Rafflecopter eventually, and now's as good a time as any. Then it will be over with and I can decide if I like it or not.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Good luck, everyone!!

Lovelovelove,

Author INTERVIEW: Daniel A. Cohen

Daniel is the author of Masters of the Veil, which is an awesome book that you should totally read if you haven't already. My review is probably going to up at the end of this month, so keep your eyes peeled, m'kay?

Oh, I know you will. Believe me, darlings, this is the author of a book worth reading.

Hello, Daniel! Welcome to Sparkles and Lightning!

Nice to be here.

What’s something about yourself that you haven’t shared with any other blogs?

I understand that you’re a John Mayer fan (I do my research), and I’m a huge fan myself. [Annabelle's note: Dude, I am so totally impressed right now. If you could see my face it would be like a beam of shock and happiness and being impressed.] I’ve listened to Continuum too many times to count and the song “Slow Dancing in a Burning Room” gets me every time.

Describe Masters of the Veil in one word.

Tenacity. It’s the best way to describe how MOTV came to life.

How similar is Sam to yourself? Were you a lot like him in high school?

Sam and I were pretty much polar opposites in High School. I mostly kept to myself and I was terribly shy around women. Plus, I was a musician (shout out to my boy, Glissandro!). I did play sports, but they were the kind of sports that people only come to watch at gunpoint: Swimming, crew, ballet—DID I SAY BALLET? [Annabelle's note: Now I am even more impressed. I happen to know nine amazing guys who ballroom dance, but I think only like one of them would be caught dead ballet dancing. I am so, so, so impressed and happy right now.] *Nervously tugs collar* Um, I meant lumberjacking… yeah, lumberjacking.

One of my personal favorite parts of Masters of the Veil is the villainy. I love how realistic the villains are. What inspired them?

I guess the Tembrath Elite weren’t really inspired by any group of villains in particular. They just kind of appeared in my mind one day. But I will say that the villainy in the sequel is even more intense. If you liked the Tembrath Elite, then just wait until you see the antagonist in the next book. 

Will we ever learn more about what the Veil really is? Or about what’s behind it?

Yup.

Oh, you want details :)

Well, I’ve just about wrapped up the sequel, “Children of the Veil,” and as far as the Veil goes, the next installment of the trilogy is definitely revealing. PUN!

Are any of the events in Masters of the Veil influenced by something that happened to you?

Absolutely. I wrote MOTV during the darkest period in my life. Creating this story is what got me through some pretty nasty stuff, and even though the book is mostly lighthearted, I used this novel to challenge some of my fears and misgivings about life. The reenactment scene in particular was inspired by what I was feeling at the time.

Do I see the beginnings of a love triangle?

Maybe ;)

So, your characters have the best names. How do you name them?

THANK YOU! I’m so glad you noticed because I put a lot of thought and effort into each one of my character’s names. Whether it’s a play on a historical figure, a celestial body, something from a different language, or any meaningful tidbit I can dig up, I try to give my characters names with a little something beneath the surface. [Annabelle's note: I love seeing that all these names are so well-thought-out! Sooo impressive!]

After this series is finished, do you have any plans for what you’re going to write next?

Last year I started a novel that I was really getting into, but I put it aside so I can concentrate on the Veil trilogy. I think I’m going to tackle that next. I always wanted to write my own fairy tale, and that’s what seems to be emerging. 

What was your inspiration for Atlas Crown?

When I lived in the Czech Republic, my friend Daniel Gaetani and I took a rickety old train into the countryside on a quest to find a place called Cesky Raj—which translates to “Bohemian Paradise.” We had no idea what we were doing, or even what we were looking for. We got to a town rumored to be next to it and we stupidly went out into the woods, no compass, map, or sense of direction. What we found, however, was the most incredible place I’ve ever seen. Hundred foot monumental sandstone pillars, with stone cities, lush green, and a castle built into the rock, like something out of a fantasy novel. So I put it in my fantasy novel :) If you Google Cesky Raj you can get a small taste, but the pictures don’t do it justice. [Annabelle's note: Cesky Raj is indeed beautiful, but they really don't do justice to how I picture Atlas Crown. Still, they are absolutely gorgeous.]

There aren’t many male authors in mainstream YA, although in my opinion there should be more. Was this ever a concern for you?

To be honest, I didn’t actually set out to write YA. I just kind of started writing, and it turned out to be for young adults. So I guess I never thought about it beforehand. I agree though, I think more guys need to tackle this genre.

What is the last thing you typed on your keyboard? (Aside from answering these questions, of course!)

An email to my wonderful editor, Kate Kaynak, about the Book Expo America next month. For those who don’t know, the BEA is like Disneyland for book people; and if you’re in publishing, or you’re a librarian, teacher, author, or blogger, I highly recommend going at some point. 

Thank you for dropping by, Daniel!

                  Thank you, Annabelle! It was a pleasure!

I love doing interviews! They are just so much fun. I could seriously do them like all the time. I even like the formatting part, which usually takes forever because my computer despite being fairly new is kind of dumb.

Ah, well, keep your eyes peeled for my Masters of the Veil review, roses!

Lovelovelove,