Contest and Q&A with Author Amanda Hocking

About the Author:

Amanda Hocking is a lifelong Minnesotan obsessed with John Hughes and Jim Henson. In between making collages and drinking too much Red Bull, she writes young adult urban fantasy and paranormal romance. The first three books in her series - My Blood Approves, Fate, and Flutter are available now. The fourth book in the series, Wisdom, will be out August 2010. Courtesy of Amazon.com

Interview:

Welcome to Rex Robot Reviews, Amanda! I'm excited to have you stop by- Thank you for taking the time to do an interview!

1. Tell us about your book! The inspiration behind My Blood Approves?
When I wrote this book, I decided to write about everything I love. I think Minneapolis is one of the most wonderful cities in the world, so it played a heavy role as the backdrop for the story. I've long been obsessed with vampires and Peter Pan, and this romantic idea of eternal youth and energy and fantasy. I love John Hughes, and I can't deny that he hasn't influenced the way I write a teen love story - but he practically invented the genre as we know it.

2. Amanda, which character did you enjoy writing the most and why?

Jack is fun because he's willing to try just about anything, and he's pretty happy and easy-going. He has almost no fear and very little impulse control, which makes him easy to get carried away with. But something about Peter sizzles, in a weird icy, brooding way, and that level of restraint had its own enjoyment.

3. What kind of research went into My Blood Approves?

I research everything. Obsessively. From average temperatures for March in Minneapolis to make sure the apparel and weather is right, to the dates The Cure played at First Ave in the 80's, so I'd have the right date on a poster in Jack's bedroom. I'd say at least a third of the time I spent writing the book involved research.

4. If My Blood Approves had a soundtrack, which songs would you choose?

I especially listened to Blink 182 when I wrote it, but I have a playlist of 100 songs I'd put with it. For time constraints, I'll pick a few of my favorites:
- "Disco Sheets" - Wolf Parade
- "Love Will Tear Us Apart" - Honeyroot
- "Angel in the Snow" - Elliott Smith
- "Help, I'm Alive" - Metric
- "I Will Possess Your Heart" - Death Cab for Cutie
- "She Loves Everybody" - Chester French
- "Love Lockdown" - Kanye West
- "M79" - Vampire Weekend
- "Hardly Wait" - Juliette Lewis
- "Natural Blues" - Moby
- "Back in Your Head" - Tegan & Sara
- "Letter to Elise" - The Cure
- "Chpt XIII" - (+44)
- "Rollercoaster" - Blink 182

5. How would you say that your life experience influences your writing?

Layne Staley once said "We write about ourselves because we know about ourselves," and that's true. Everything that's happened to me, to what I've seen, done, listened to, read, it all ends up in my writing. 

6. What do you do when you aren't writing?

Not a lot really, lol. I read and spend time with friends. I play the xbox or old school Nintendo games. I watch movies and make collages, and that's about it.

7. Where is your favorite spot to read/write?

Reading - in bed or a big comfy chair. Writing - my office. I just got my very first office about 9 months ago, and I'm still obsessed with it.

8. What question have you always wanted to be asked in an interview? How would you answer it?

Q: What lives under your bed? A: Monsters.

9. So, what comes after Fate? Excited about any other releases or works in progress?

I released the third book in the series, Flutter, on May 29th, and I'm hoping to release the 4th book, Wisdom, this summer. I have 2 other series of books I'm working on, as well as a few other urban fantasies, and a graphic novel about cannibal unicorns. I'm planning to release them all eventually, but I'm working on the My Blood Approves series for now. And I'm very excited about all of them!

Thanks again for joining us! Can't wait to read the next book!

Readers, check out My Blood Approves!

Find Amanda Hocking:

 Twitter

Facebook

Website

CONTEST TIME!

1 Copy of My Blood Approves 

How to Enter: 

-Be a Follower! (New/Old)

-Leave a Comment for Amanda

-Include a Valid E-Mail

Extra Entries:

Tweet for +5 (include link!)

Rules: 

-Ends June 25, 2010

-48 hours to get back to me

-If an International Winner- ebook copy

-If a US Winner- Winner's choice of physical/ebook copy

-Book provided & delivered directly from author

-GOOD LUCK & HAVE FUN :)

Contest is now CLOSED and comments have been disabled.  

Thank you to all that participated! We had 87 entries! Winners will be posted on 7/2/2010.