Monday, February 14, 2011

Books With Love Hop

Once Upon a Twilight

Welcome to my blog and the Books With Love Hop hosted by Good Choice Reading!! I'm so excited for this giveaway because it's one of my favorite books. Just look at my Slideshow at the top of my blog!! My Valentine's Day is not going to be filled with love because teenage boys suck.....But this interview with the wonderful Beth Fantaskey and a giveaway of her book, Jessica's Guide to Dating On The Dark Side, is helping my wounded spirits!!

Interview:

So, pretend we're in school and have to do one of those annoying ice-breakers, what are a few things you'd tell us to get to know you better?


Hmm... I’ve been in a doctoral program for about eight years now, studying mass communication. I am fiercely competitive at the gym. If you run fast on your treadmill, I will run FASTER. And I have two – soon to be three – daughters, so I spend a lot of time waiting at school bus stops. That’s about it!


Did you name Lucius by his name becuase he's so luscious?? lol

Actually, I picked that name because it sounds a little bit wicked, like “Lucifer,” but actually means “light.” So along with seeming very masculine to me, it also suited a vampire who struggles with the light and dark aspects of his nature. The fact that it’s close to “luscious” didn’t strike me until I had one of his classmates nickname him “Luscious Lucius.”


In Jessica's Guide, what kind fo research, if any, did you do to write such a wonderfully romantic book?

The research part wasn’t very romantic. I mainly looked up things about Romania, Romanian food, vegan recipes, etc. Very practical stuff. One of my favorite things to research was “The Little Red Riding Hood” story that Lucius quotes near the end of the book. I was so happy to find that the original tale was very grim, which fit my story line very well!


Do you have a comfort book? You know, one of those books you pick up when you need to feel better? If not, what do you do for a pick me up?

When I feel sad, I read James Thurber’s “My Life and Hard Times.” It always makes me laugh, and gives me this wonderful sense of comfort and family. My copy, which I’ve had since high school, is completely falling apart.


What one book would you recommend to every reader?

“The Count of Monte Cristo.” I think a lot of people look at it and go, “Ancient classic... yawn!” But it’s incredibly gripping, and the hero is so dark and funny and charismatic. I love that book.


As an aspiring author and reader, I've always wondered if authors are inspired by their favorite authors?

I am more intimidated than inspired. I don’t even pretend to try to live up to my favorite authors. I just read them with awe and appreciation, then go about doing my own thing as best I can.


How long did it take you to start writing your novels after you got the idea formed in your head?

I wrote Jessica’s Guide as soon as the idea hit. I was on a long car ride from Georgia to Pennsylvania, and I started developing the story, scribbling notes on all of these napkins my husband keeps stuffed in his car’s glove compartment. When I got home, I started writing the next morning.


What was your reaction the first time you saw your book in a store?

It was strange. I was so excited, and yet almost intimidated. It’s hard to explain. You’re standing there thinking, “Gee, this is real. I hope some people like it.”

Do you have any future plans for anymore YA or adult novels?

I’m working on one more YA paranormal romance right now. After that, I have no idea what I’ll be doing... aside from waiting at bus stops!


Just a few quickies:
Favorite Movie: A tie between Harold and Maude and The Princess Bride

Favorite Book: The Count of Monte Cristo

Favorite Band: Ooh, toughie! Probably Coldplay

Favorite TV Show: America’s Next Top Model is my guiltiest pleasure

I saw this question on the 30 Days of Insight posts I participated in and loved it. A memory that never fails to make you laugh: Oh, gosh, there are so many! I’m going to randomly say the time my sister opened a jar of chocolate malt powder and it inexplicably exploded all over her face. There was a big “poof,” and a cloud of chocolate, and when she turned around, she was covered in fine, brown dust. Stuff is always funniest when it happens to your sibling, right?



All you have to do is:
  1. comment on the interview below
  2. comment on any of my posts before today (+1)
  3. be a follower (+1)
  4. Spread the word in any other way

30 comments:

  1. I enjoyed the interview very much. I always like to get a little background information on authors I like to read.

    +1 Commented on Try Me by Parker Blue Review
    +1 GFC follower as seriousreader
    +1 Tweeted http://twitter.com/BookOwner/status/37016500330045440

    seriousreader at live dot com

    ReplyDelete
  2. Great Interview, was suprised that she picked The Count of Monte Cristo as her fav book. Good choice

    +1 GFC Follower

    loveangel132@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  3. What a great interview! I really want to read this!
    I follow with GFC and I tweeted the giveaway.
    http://twitter.com/#!/mekyser/status/37159741696253952
    megankyser at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  4. Great interview.
    +1 Commented on In My Mailbox (6).
    +1 GFC follower
    I tweeted: http://twitter.com/CMHPfangrl/status/37268035395915776

    hufflepuffgrl13@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  5. Cool interview :)
    +1 Commented on Try Me by Parker Blue Review
    +1 GFC follower as seriousreader
    +1 Tweeted http://twitter.com/BookOwner/status/37016500330045440
    hense1kk AT cmich DOT edu

    ReplyDelete
  6. Good Interview! I love her funniest memory especially because she is right, things are always funnier when it happens to your sibling.
    +1 GFC follower - wolfluvr240
    +1 Tweeted: http://twitter.com/#!/wolfluvr420
    wolfluvr420 at yahoo dot com

    ReplyDelete
  7. I really enjoyed the interview. This book looks very good.

    I follow Gfc-judy


    magnolias_1[at]msn[dot]com

    ReplyDelete
  8. nice questions!! i always love to learn new things about my authors!

    GFC - Katie

    katie_tp@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  9. Sweet interview! I cant wait to read any of Beths books! Thanks for the giveaway.

    GFC follwer Autum Frailey

    afrailey at hotmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  10. Oh, yeah, how can you not help but feel intimidated by your favorite authors. And now I'm interested in picking up a copy of The Count of Monte Cristo. Awesome interview.

    I have heard so many great things about Jessica's Guide to Dating. I would love to win this book.

    I'm a follower.

    missie at theunreadreader.com

    ReplyDelete
  11. Awesome Interview. I just finished "Jekel Loves Hyde" and absolutely loved it!

    GFC follower (+1)
    Tweeted:
    http://twitter.com/BookNoise411/status/37629485733908480

    Jennifer
    BookNoise at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  12. I love that she wrote her ideas down on napkins on the car trip. I really loved this book. Thanks for the giveaway!

    Courtney
    stilettostorytime@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  13. Great interview! I really love this book :)

    +1 GFC follower (Throuthehaze)

    throuthehaze at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  14. I like your interview style. I chuckled at the "competitive at the gym" part. I'm kinda like that.

    I'm an old GFC follower.

    dee(at)deeswhite(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  15. I enjoyed the interview.
    GFC follower

    lillieblue613(at)gmail.(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  16. Haha! America's Next Top Model is my favorite guilty pleasure too!
    +1 GFC follower (Lexie@BookBug)
    +1 Tweeted at http://twitter.com/LexieBookBug/status/37715445649768448
    lexie.bookbug(AT)gmail(DOT)com
    Thanks for the giveaway!

    ReplyDelete
  17. Awesome interview!
    GFC follower! mommy_to_7

    mommyrds@aol.com

    ReplyDelete
  18. Great interview!

    +1 GFC follower

    allieclark11@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  19. This book sounds really great and I love the cover. Thanks for the giveaway!

    xxsquigglesxx(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  20. great interview
    gfc follower
    meandi09@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  21. Great interview! I love The Count of Monte Cristo, too.

    carolsnotebook at yahoo dot com

    ReplyDelete
  22. Enjoyed the interview - especially the funniest memory part. That would be amusing.

    I'm a gfc follower.

    Thanks!
    crystalfulcher(at)ec.rr.com

    ReplyDelete
  23. Thanks for the great interview! I have three kids, two boys and a girl. I use to spend lots of time waiting at the bus stop, but since we moved to a small town that doesn't bus, I spend lots of time in my car. Miss the bus :( I've had my eye on this book for a little while and would love to get my hands on it and I'm loving the cover, beautiful. Thanks for the chance to win

    New follower
    tweeted
    http://twitter.com/joleneallcock/status/37980912297709568

    june111(at)att(dot)net

    ReplyDelete
  24. Great interview never read the book yet but always wanted to. Great giveaway thank you!
    +1 GFC follower/latishajean
    tishajean@ charter.net

    ReplyDelete
  25. thanks for the giveaway!!! i'm a follower on GFC

    americangirlie1991@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  26. Thanks for the giveaway! Looks like a great book! :)

    I can't wait to see what Beth Fantaskey's next book will be since in the interview she said she's currently working on her next book! :D


    Email: yiliang0124[at]hotmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  27. I'm a GFC follower! :)


    Email: yiliang0124[at]hotmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  28. Great interview! I too love The Count of Monte Cristo. It's such a good book, and definitely one of the ones at the top of my list. And who doesn't lovee The Princess Bride?!

    +1 GFC follower: Dominique S

    couponcookie at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  29. Love how she came up with the name of her characters
    Great giveaway
    follow via gfc + 1
    drakebdog@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete

Thanks for leaving a comment! I read them all!