Chat With Me Thursday #1: Interview With Isabella Modra

     

       Hey everybody! Today I am doing a my very first Chat With Me Thursday. (Visit my Chat With Me Thursday page for more details.) Anyway today I am doing an interview with Isabella Modra, author of Rouge. (Review here) Anyway, lets get to it.

1. Could you tell me a little about yourself?

       Sure. First things first; I do not belong in this generation. I honestly think that I should be immortal or something, because I would love to live in the 20s, but I would also fit in the 70s because I have a very free spirit and my friends sometimes describe me on a 'hippie'. I'm obsessed with 70s and 80s music and clothing. I am very much between fiction and reality-- being a writer that is sort of a given. But dreaming, to me, is part of everyday life. I want to see the world, I want to meet amazing people, and I want, at the end of my life, to be satisfied that I have given everything and used up of every bit of talent that I have.
       On a less personal note, I love movies, I play guitar, I am a part--time nanny, I see travel as part of my career and I drink tea and eat chocolate like you breathe air

2. How long did it take you to write Rouge?

       Interestingly enough Rouge was a random idea I made up with my friend. We were on the school bus 2 years ago discussing awesome superpowers -- like the nerds that we are-- and came up with the character of Hunter. I'd been writing as a hobby since I was thirteen, and I so I was excited at the prospect of writing about superheroes. From there, it was just a matter of fitting it between school, work and travel. In total, it was just under 2 years before I officially completed it.

3. Out of all the paranormal-ish abilities out there, why pyrokinesis?
     
       I just wanted a badass heroine with a hot superpower. What's more hot then fire? Sure, it's not exactly the most defensive superpower and she isn't completely protected from harm, but that is what makes it fun. And I love the prospect of the fire reacting to her emotions, and especially when things start to get a little steamy withe her boyfriend Eli ;)

4. Who was the most challenging character to write about?
       
       Defiantly Joshua. I didn't write much in his POV because I didn't want to give anything about his personality away. (you have to read the book to understand that!.) But he is such a unique and complicated person, and not somebody I would usually invent, so I struggled to find his voice and get a grip on his motives. Once I found that, it was much easier, and very very amusing. He is one of my favorites.

5. Do you have any weird habits while writing?
     
       Oh dear. I can't believe I'm admitting this. Writing comes naturally to me, so I don't have any weird habits -- The words just flow through my fingers. But when I edit, or re-read a passage, I sometimes read aloud in an accent. Usually American or British. I have NO idea why. I guess it's just entertaining, and it helps me visualize the scene in somebody else's perspective other than my own. Also, my characters are American, so it helps me put myself in their shoes.

6. Any advice for aspiring authors
     
       This is weird because in my eyes, I still consider myself an aspiring author. So my advice to my fellow aspiring authors is to concentrate more on your story than publishing or getting your book out there. I made the mistake of thinking my book was ready and hastily sent out queries to agents. I received 6 rejections and 1 no-reply, because it just wasn't the right time. Then -- after going over my book again and again -- I decided to take matters into my own hands, and I don't regret that at all, because it put the pressure on me to really be sure if my book was ready or not. I don't have an agent to tell me that it sucks or a publisher to make me change things. It's my decision, and that scares the crap out of me. So you have to really be sure that your book is complete, that there's nothing you need to add or change, and that you love your story to bits. That is the most important part.

7. If you could write a fortune for a fortune cookie what would it say?

       "S.O.S -- I'm being held against my will at a Chinese bakery."


Once again, Thank you so much for being my very first interview Isabella, It was so much fun!