Chat with me Thursday (7): Author interview with Isabella Modra #2

       And Isabella is back with me for another interview! Check out the first one,  focusing on her first book here

1. Was writing E&I easier or more difficult than writing Rouge? It easy and difficult in different ways, to be honest. Harder, because I was in Canada and didn't have all the resources I needed at my fingertips, and also because I had to keep checking Rouge to make sure I was following the story whilst also setting things up for book 3. It was easy though because I had a good idea of where I wanted the story to go before I started writing it, so I didn't quite feel so lost. There were a few major changes I made at the last minute, and the cover was certainly harder to create, but I really enjoyed writing E&I. I loved how Hunter transformed through her suffering and learnt to live on her own without Joshua. 2. Are any of the characters you write inspired by people in your life? Um... when I was in Canada, I met a ton of different young people who didn't necessarily 'inspire' the characters, but gave me traits to draw from. Some of the names in E&I are also directly from people that I met :) 3. Is Josh still your favorite charter to write? Joshua-UA :) (haha. Oops!) I actually really enjoy writing about Zac. His comedy in E&I is a relief for the darkness and torture and, to be honest, I could write an entire book in his perspective and have a great time doing it. Joshua, however, is my favorite character to write about alongside Hunter. After doing joint POV in E&I, I was able to explore both characters more than Rouge. And I'm in love with their relationship in book 3, which I'm writing adamantly right now. 5. Many different personalities were introduced in this book, was it difficult to include all these new characters? The difficult part was remembering all the characters amidst the action, because I want to focus on Hunter and her emotions as she watches the events take place, but I have to remember the other characters and what they're thinking and planning and especially their powers and capabilities - they're not on mute while Hunter is in the spotlight. It's hard to give them challenges when some, like Fearne or Ryo, have the most powerful abilities in the ability lottery. I have to cater for them too ;) 6. Overall, how are you enjoying the experience of being an author? I could not imagine doing anything else with my life. I'm at a point now where I'm trying to plan the next few years of my life, but literally all I can see is myself in an apartment in London or Edinburgh or New York writing all day long (which is what I do now, basically). I have big dreams. 7. (now for a fun question) You play guitar right? What was the first song you learned to play? Taylor Swift's 'Fearless'. I was fourteen, and I heard a live acoustic version of the song (this was before she started becoming famous). I thought to myself 'I have to learn that song'. I picked up my dad's really expensive Maton 6-string and taught myself. I sounded like an orangutan playing guitar backwards when I first started, but I kept playing until finally I knew how to strum and sing at the same time :) The girls I taught guitar to last year laugh at how many Taylor Swift songs I know how to play. 8. You also travel a lot. Any favorite places? It's hard to answer that, because some of my favorite places are only my favorite because of the memories I have there. In terms of actual locations, I loved Edinburgh because of its connection to J.K Rowling and how at home I felt there, as with London and New York. I loved Hopfgarten in Austria because of the beautiful hills and the culture. I loved living in Canada and working at the ski resort because I feel like I left a part of myself there and if I went back, it wouldn't feel like travelling, it would feel like home. But if someone were to ask me if I've been to a certain place, and I have, I would say I loved it anyway. Being somewhere else is magical and exciting and I'm addicted to it.        It was a pleasure to have you back here, Isabella!

Goodreads Embers & Ice Giveaway!

     
 

       I'm sure that a number of you have read my review of Rouge by Isabella Modra, (here) and if you have, you should know that I loved it. So, if you've read Rouge, I am very happy to inform you that Isabella is holding a giveaway on Goodreads for the second book. You have a chance to win one of 2 SIGNED ARC's. As of right this second you have exactly 69 days 13 hours 6 minutes and 13 seconds to enter. If you are interested, the link is here:
https://www.goodreads.com/giveaway/show/81841-embers-ice

Cover Reveal: Embers & Ice by Isabella Modra

       I come with my second cover reveal ever. This time, I shall reveal the cover of a book I have been reading for a while, a book I had been desperately awaiting. And when the author, Isabella Modra asked me if I would like to do a cover reveal, I was overjoyed! So without further ado, ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls...

 

       Here is the official description of the book from Goodreads.

Everyone is wrong about hell.

       Vulnerable and weak after her battle with her guardian Joshua, Hunter is snatched up by the Agents who work for a ruthless and cold institution called ICE. There, Hunter is imprisoned with other mutants of different ages and abilities, forced into a nightmare of constant experiments and brutality. 

       Joshua is a mess. Frantically trying to fix the mistakes he made, Joshua embarks on a quest across the country to find Hunter and rescue her. But the company he keeps is continuously distracting him, and Joshua can’t control the strange feelings of love and comfort that begin to boil inside his cold, icy heart.

      Will Hunter escape and find her fire again, or will Joshua and his mistakes find her first?

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!

Rouge by Isabella Modra

Author: Isabella Modra
Format: Pdf.
Pages: 293
Publish Date: August 20, 2013
Published By: Isabella Modra
Author's Website: Isabella's Website 
*Received from the author in exchange for an honest review.

Introduction
       When Hunter's guardian Joshua tells her that she has inherited pyrokinesis from her long dead mother, it seems impossible, but it does make sense. When Hunter is experiencing very strong emotions, things seem to spontaneously catch on fire. But really? Pyrokinesis? It's a little hard to grasp. Then Joshua explains another long hidden secret: What really happened the night of her parents death. Now burdened with all these hidden secrets, plus a new power that she has to learn to control, while also keeping it a secret. Hunter is struggling to hold on to the little bit of normalcy that she had before her life started spinning out of control.

Hunter
       Sometimes, I wanted to run up to Hunter and give her a hi-five, other times I wanted to scream at her. For example, in the beginning of the book before she learned of all this crazy stuff, she met Eli while at a university benefit party for Joshua. After Joshua received his award for his efforts, Hunter thought it would be the best idea ever to leave with Eli and go get a coffee. What?! Why would you even consider leaving? You were at the benefit to support Joshua, and so you leave. Anyway, I liked Hunter...most of the time.       

Cover
       Is this not the coolest cover that you have ever seen? It's one of the coolest I've ever seen.

The Fire Talks!
       Yes. The fire talks. It was a really cool addition to the story. The fire does't have an actual voice or anything. It talks to Hunter inside her mind. It was awesome. Sometimes it will comment on things that Hunter has done in her daily life. Things like,

"That was dumb Hunter."

"Hunter, calm down."

Ending
       I knew it. Not that the ending was predictable, but within the book it hints at what the ending could be, and I just happened to put everything together before Hunter had officially figured it out. Even then, it still had a few twists that I wasn't expecting. I was very happy with the ending.

 Sequel?
       How many pretties do I have to put before please for you to publish a sequel? Even though this book is still technically not even released yet...

Conclusion
    This book was amazing. I loved this book so much that I am considering even buying a physical copy of the book when it is released. Trust me, for me to read a book twice, it has to be pretty amazing. So, CONGRATULATIONS ISABELLA. You have written a book awesome enough for me to read it twice.