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Post by melissadelacruz on Feb 28, 2008 17:49:06 GMT -5
I was wondering when the next book of the Blood Bloods is coming out?? Because I'm dying to know what happens!
-Revelations comes out Dec 23, 2008!
1.) Okay. 1st, could you give me some adivce? I love writting...but the probably is that I believe I'm not really good at it...my goal is to one day write a book. What could I do to make my stories more interesting?
I would say make LOTS of things happen to your characters--put them in danger, have their boyfriends catch them with other boys, make your story interesting by having a lot of CONFLICT and ACTION.
2.) How do you get your ideas for you stories and put them into a book that is so good and a nice read? If that makes sense?
I have no idea. I kind of get what you're asking, and I really don't know. I just like to write about things that interest me, and I like to write about characters whom I really care about. And I love dramatic stories--the stakes have to be really high and also I'm a huge stickler for structure - so if the book is lagging or if there's not enough for me to keep turning the pages, I know I'm not doing my job. What I usually do is write a "blueprint" for the book - an outline, which has all the ACTION that has to happen and all the cliffhangers on each chapter planned out. So I have the foundation of the story early, and then all I have to do is sketch it in.
3.) Is there any books you read to get your ideas from?
I get my ideas from everywhere--books, magazines, tv, movies, conversations with friends, overheard conversations--just being out in the world and being stimulated by living.
4.) Do you have a favorite author?? Mine's Anne Rice, her books are great!
Yes I have TONS of favorite authors. Anne Rice is one of them! Also J.K. Rowling, J.R.R. Tolkien, Dawn Powell, Diana Wynne Jones, Leo Tolstoy, Candace Bushnell, Helen Fielding, Kate Christensen, Cheryl Mendelsohn, Lionel Shriver, I have favorite authors of every genre, from chicklit to fantasy!
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Post by melissadelacruz on Feb 28, 2008 17:57:25 GMT -5
1. how do you name characters? It's different for each book. For Blue Bloods I wanted very old-fashioned names, that sounded very rich, and old New York. Schuyler Van Alen - her last name is the name of an architectural prize given out by the city that was originally founded by the Van Alen family. Schuyler is a very old family name as well. I have this book called "Mrs. Astor's New York" and I would crib names from it to use. I liked the name Mimi because it seemed very wicked, and "Force" was also an old name. Also there's a socialite in New York named Yvonne Force Villareal, and I thought her name was so fabulous. Benjamin "Blackjack" Force - Blackjack is also the name of Jackie Kennedy's dad - her dad was Blackjack Bouvier, which I think is also so glamorous. And I love the name "Jack Force" because it sounds like strength, like a hammer. Jack is blunt and powerful and full of rage. I love the name Oliver, and Oliver Hazard-Perry just seemed so natural. Madeleine Force and Oliver Hazard-Perry were names of real people in history also, which I only found out AFTER I had named the characters. Weird! For the Ashleys, it was simple-they all had to be named Ashley. I chose Ashley Spencer, thinking of Princess Di (her maiden name was Spencer), and then Ashley Li since I liked how the "Ley-Li" sounded, which made her nickname "Lili" easy. Then Ashley Alioto because the Aliotos are a very powerful and rich family in San Francisco, which is where the books are set, so I figured one of the Ashleys had to be an Alioto. Then Lauren Page, who was originally "Laura" because there's three Ashleys and a Laura. Geddit? But I liked "Lauren" better. And "Page" because her dad was supposed to be a big internet mogul, and Sergei Brin and Larry Page founded google, so her dad's name is Sergei Page. 2. when did you first start writing or know you wanted to be a writer? I've always wanted to be a writer. Ever since I could remember. Maybe by the age of eight? 3. what is the worst story you think you have ever written (maybe when you were like in middle school...) Hmm. I wrote a lot of very melodramatic soap-opera stories in high school, based on the show Dynasty, but starring the members of Duran Duran. I wish I could find those notebooks - they were hilarious! 4. do you like dark chocolate (sorry, had to ask that) Sure! I love dark chocolate! I do prefer milk chocolate though. I have a bad sweet tooth.
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Post by melissadelacruz on Feb 28, 2008 18:01:22 GMT -5
Will Jack and Schuler ever officially get together? Or will Mimi and Jack be forever united? And what is going to happen to Oliver? I love Oliver please give him a happy ending! Will Schuler really have to go with the Forces? And last question have you read the Twilight series?
I can't answer questions that will be answered in the series! You'll have to read to find out. :-) I have not read the Twilight series. I can't read other contemporary vampire books. I did try--but I put it down after 100 pages, it felt weird to read about other people's vampires. I heard Stephenie Meyer can't read other vampire books either.
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Post by melissadelacruz on Feb 28, 2008 18:03:38 GMT -5
1) What was your ultimate insparation for Bluebloods?
I've answered this question in a post above.
2) When are you planning to post or exclose the sneekpeak for Revelations on the Bluebloods message board?
I will post a sneakpeek once the book is handed in, copyedited, and ready to ship. Probably in a few months!
3) Are you planning on adding any new characters to the Revelations book? If so will they have a major inpact on the other characters?
Yes, there is a new major character. And it has a lot of impact!
4) Is Dylan going to become a prominant character in the book Revelations?
Yes. Dylan is very prominent in Revelations.
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Post by Question on Feb 28, 2008 18:04:12 GMT -5
3. what is the worst story you think you have ever written (maybe when you were like in middle school...) Hmm. I wrote a lot of very melodramatic soap-opera stories in high school, based on the show Dynasty, but starring the members of Duran Duran. I wish I could find those notebooks - they were hilarious! Ha! That's hilarious! Another question... I write a lot, but I seem to have a problem with sticking to a story. I have about eight beginnings, and while I have an interest in them all while I'm writing them, after a few chapters I get a different, seemingly better story idea and move on. I'm a plot flirt! But I have one that I really, really like and am worried -- especially at the moment, because I just got ANOTHER story idea -- that I'll decidedly move on. It's so hard for me to stick to one story! Is this bad, and if so, do you have any ideas on how to stick to ONE?
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Post by melissadelacruz on Feb 28, 2008 18:04:13 GMT -5
Thanks so much for everyone's questions! And thanks to Compulsive Reader for having me!!!
xoxo Mel
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Post by Kayla on Feb 28, 2008 18:32:20 GMT -5
Hello! i have a few questions... 1. Do Bliss and Sky have the same mother?? 2. In one of the books Jack says something about the vampires can't have a baby??? or was it that they couldn't create a new soul?i'm confussed about that? 3. in the paragraph that you let us read from Revelations as a present for Christmas, was the Jack boy Sky was waiting for?
thank you answering our questions! ;D
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Post by Ashley on Feb 28, 2008 19:28:01 GMT -5
Hiya! Okay, a few questions from an Ashley =] 1.) So you said you had a sweet tooth, but what is your favorite candy? 2.) If you ever got to hang out with movie star, who would it be? 3.) What is you're favorite T.V Show? and 4.) I'm trying to write a rough draft for a novel and I'm on chapter 5's outline right now. Any tips on how to get it publish and make it interesting? Thanks a bunch!
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Post by quannie on Feb 29, 2008 13:54:43 GMT -5
Hi Melissa I just want to say congratulations on the baby. I LOVE the Blue Bloods series!!! They are awesome books and I look forward to Revelations. My question is: Is Kingsley Bliss's other half, like Jack and Mimi? Keep up the good work. I think you are a great author.
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Post by Tirzah Price on Feb 29, 2008 15:50:03 GMT -5
Thanks so much to Melissa! If you guys didn't get your question asked, be sure to read the interview on the main site. Also, if author chats are something you'd like to continue with, please drop me a comment or email!
Thanks again, and keep checking back!
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Post by Chelsea on Feb 29, 2008 16:28:52 GMT -5
Hey Tirzah!
I think more author visits would be awesome -- maybe we could have a scheduled time (like an hour) so that people can respond to the author's answers and such. Like on the readergirlz chats, if you've ever been to one.
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Post by melissadelacruz on Feb 29, 2008 17:20:03 GMT -5
<<I write a lot, but I seem to have a problem with sticking to a story. I have about eight beginnings, and while I have an interest in them all while I'm writing them, after a few chapters I get a different, seemingly better story idea and move on. I'm a plot flirt! But I have one that I really, really like and am worried -- especially at the moment, because I just got ANOTHER story idea -- that I'll decidedly move on. It's so hard for me to stick to one story! Is this bad, and if so, do you have any ideas on how to stick to ONE?>>
Hey! Good question - I would say, work on your first idea so that there is A LOT to interest you, I find if I'm losing interest in my story, that I haven't planned enough ACTION and CONFLICT. Also, *new* ideas are always SO much more tempting to write about because they're all shiny and new and haven't been thoroughly explored yet. It's always easier to think of something new than work on the idea you've already got going. Because once you're "in" the book, you start to question yourself, you start to doubt your story, and it's HARD to keep writing and finish, so you think oh, here's a shiny new idea so let's work on that instead. I would say, keep focused, ask yourself, why am I losing interest in this? And fix your story so it still interests you.
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Post by melissadelacruz on Feb 29, 2008 17:21:47 GMT -5
1. Do Bliss and Sky have the same mother??
You'll have to read the book to find out!
2. In one of the books Jack says something about the vampires can't have a baby??? or was it that they couldn't create a new soul?i'm confussed about that?
Vampires can have babies, but they are just reincarnations of the same people. Old souls. Vampires can't reproduce, they can just carry old spirits in new bodies. But Schuyler is a new soul - her vampire mother mated with a human and they created Schuyler, a new soul, she doesn't have past lives or old memories.
3. in the paragraph that you let us read from Revelations as a present for Christmas, was the Jack boy Sky was waiting for?
Again, you'll have to read the book to find out! :-)
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Post by melissadelacruz on Feb 29, 2008 17:28:37 GMT -5
1.) So you said you had a sweet tooth, but what is your favorite candy?
Mmm. I love chocolate of all kinds! But my absolute favorite is Leonidas Gianduja, this hazelnut praline. Omigod, it is SOOOO good. You used to only be able to get Leonidas in Europe, but now they are everywhere, which is a nice thing and also a bad thing. I like when things are hard to get, they make them more special, don't you think? Like St. Barth's tanning oil, you used to only be able to get it in St. Barth's but now they are everywhere too. Oh well!
2.) If you ever got to hang out with movie star, who would it be?
I would love to hang out with someone fun with a sense of humor...hmmm...Lindsay Lohan seemed really fun until the fun got too out of hand... I think I would probably like to hang out with Tom, Katie and Suri to see if they are normal or just totally freaky like everyone thinks. But that would be out of curiosity. The MOST FUN people to hang out with are gay style journalists. They are a hoot! They are my favorite people and I'm sure are much more fun than any moviestar.
3.) What is you're favorite T.V Show?
Right now I really love Make me a Supermodel. I love how VAIN the guys are! I also like Lost and I love Battlestar Galactica and Project Runway. That's pretty much all the TV I watch. I was a huge fan of ROME when it was on, and I'm still sad that it's not coming back.
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Post by melissadelacruz on Feb 29, 2008 17:32:04 GMT -5
4.) I'm trying to write a rough draft for a novel and I'm on chapter 5's outline right now. Any tips on how to get it publish and make it interesting?
I would by a book called The Writer's Market and follow the guidelines to see what agents would be the most interested in the genre you are writing in. That's how I found my first agent. I don't know if the Writer's Market is still around, but there is SO MUCH information on the web, I'm sure you can find it. All I can say is there are no shortcuts, the way to get discovered is to write a good book. How do you know you're a good writer? I knew I was good because I read a lot and when I compared my stuff to other stuff that was out there, I knew mine would stand out. I also had a lot of positive feedback from a lot of writing teachers, who encouraged my writing and told me I would be published one day.
I would say to make your book interesting, make sure there is a lot of TENSION and that the STAKES are very high. As in, the protagonist had to choose between life or death, or something very deep and dramatic. That usually kicks a story into high gear.
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