Interview with Veronica Bane (Author of Mara) + Giveaway!

 

What: Mara (The Unusuals #1) by Veronica Bane

Who: Black Hill Press

When: August 3rd 2013

What It’s All About:

For years, Mara Tucker has used her power of manipulating flames to punish those who have done her wrong. But things are changing in the town of Jericho. Rampant disappearances have forced Mara to seek out others with special powers. In a story that confronts the violence and turmoil of adolescence, Mara and a group of other “unusuals” like her grapple with new alliances and the villains pressing in all around them.

Author Interview!

1. For those who don’t know, what’s Mara about?

Mara is about a group of teenagers who can manipulate different forces of nature. Mara, for example, can wield flames, and she’s been using it since she was a child to punish people who hurt her. This group finds that people like them are disappearing from the town, and they band together to try and put a stop to it.

2. Where did you draw inspiration for the story of Mara?

I wanted to write a story about authentic teenagers. Specifically, I wanted to write about a group of young adults who are flawed and who don’t necessarily use what they can do for good. Inspiration came from my own teenage years, really, because I saw that young people experience a lot of trauma and bad decisions when they’re that age.

3. Which character in Mara reminds you most of yourself? Why?

Interesting question. They all have bits of me in them, but it’s also much easier for me to write about people that are unlike me in a lot of ways. I don’t feel as self-conscious. I would say Miyuki is like me, but I don’t think you see as much of it in this book. You see it in the sequel, which I’ve finished, because she’s very emotional and ambitious like I am.

4. Mara is your debut novel. Do you have any tips for aspiring writers?

Stop reading books on writing and get down to writing. Books like On Writing and Story were very helpful for me, but they were no substitute for a steady flow of reading fiction and writing. You will never write your first book if you don’t just sit down and write every single day. Accept no excuses. Get your book down on paper. Also, read every single day. How can you write if you don’t read?

5. Who is your favourite author, and why?

Oh, there are so many! I’m going to cheat and pick two. J.K. Rowling and Ray Bradbury are my favourite authors. For Rowling, it’s because she is able to weave such an incredible tapestry of story in her books. She has such a clear vision, and I so admire that. For Bradbury, his books have such excellent, compact writing. I’m reading The Illustrated Man now, and he can use description like no other writer. There’s a line about moss growing up through a dead man’s mouth that is so haunting. They’re both masters.

6. Do you plan to make Mara into a series?

Yes, I do! I always envisioned it is a longer journey, and I’m thrilled that I get to make it into one. I can’t say much at the moment, but I’ve finished the next book and my fingers are crossed.

7. If you could meet one person, living or dead, who would it be, and why?

I would have to say J.K. Rowling because I have loved her stories since I was little. I fell in love with those stories in a way I have never fallen in love with other books. It would be my dream to meet her. It really would.

8. Share one interesting fact about yourself!

Most of Mara was written at a small coffee shop in my hometown in San Diego. I love chai tea lattes, and it was so easy to write there. I wish I had one in hand right now!

Veronica Bane grew up in San Diego, California and spent her days writing in local coffee shops and at the beach. Her writing was and has always been fed a healthy diet of chai tea lattes and film scores. Veronica studied Creative Writing at Chapman University and now lives in Los Angeles.

You can find Veronica at the following places: Website – Twitter – Goodreads

Don’t forget to add Mara to Goodreads!

Giveaway Time!

For your chance to win a SIGNED copy of Mara, AND a $25 Amazon Gift Card click here! Please note that this is a tour wide giveaway, and not associated with me personally.

I would like to thank Always Lost in Books for giving me the opportunity to be a tour host for the Mara blog tour!