Thursday 26 November 2009

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Mini-Interview with Lauren Kate

lauren kateAwesome news! The wonderful people of Random House made it so that I could have a mini-interview with Lauren Kate, author of Fallen. Thank you so much, Lauren, for taking time out of your busy schedule to answer some questions - and thank you also to Random House for making it happen! Without further ado, on to the interview.

Can you tell us a little about yourself?

I grew up in Texas, moved to Manhattan after I graduated college, and now live in Los Angeles. In fact, I just moved in yesterday to a house high on a hill in Laurel Canyon and I feel sort of like I’m writing from a tree house. I’ve always loved to read and write but my other interests can be kind of chameleon-like, based on my surroundings. For example, growing up in Texas, I was a dancer. I was actually on something called a “kick team.” Very serious business. All we did was go out on the football field during half time and do about a hundred high kicks. It was a short career (too many times smacking my nose against my shin). Later I lived in Paris for a little while and got really into cooking. Now that I’m a southern California girl, I’m feeling the need to learn to surf. See? Chameleon. I just got married this summer and am hoping someone gives me a new puppy for Christmas.

How did you come up with the idea for Fallen?

I first got the idea for Fallen when I came across a line in Genesis, which tells about a group of angels who fell in love with mortal women. In the bible, these renegades are casts out of heaven, end of story. But for me, that was only the beginning. I started thinking about how a normal girl would respond to an angel having a crush on her. Imagine the baggage he must have! And what would her seriously overprotective father think? From there, a whole world unfurled in my mind—only it wasn’t just angels anymore. Demons, secret sects, reincarnations, and the End of Days were also all battling for a piece of the action.

fallen by lauren kate
Vampires, werewolves and fae have been shining in the YA urban fantasy spot light. Why did you decide to go with angels?

It’s strange to say this now that I’ve written the book and pay so much attention to “the market” and what else is being published—but I’m not sure I really thought about vampires or werewolves as I was writing. I’ve read two of the Twilight books. I love Melissa Marr’s Wicked Lovely books, but if Fallen is an answer to those books, it’s just as much an answer to any book that’s ever inspired me. That said, I do love this kind of energy around paranormal romances right now. It’d definitely an exciting time to be participating in the genre. Plus I eavesdropped on a conversation in the bookstore the other day and heard someone say that angels were the new vampires. Sounds good to me!

Although Fallen is incredibly captivating, there are more questions asked than answered. Why did you decide to end on such an excruciating cliff hanger?

It’s the blessing and the curse of writing a 4 book series! When I wrote Fallen, I had a vague idea about what the arc of the series would look like, and it gets clearer every day. I almost feel guilty knowing all the thrilling things I get to write about in the later books and having to hold it back from the readers. I promise, I will make it worth the wait!

Can you give us a sneak peek into what may happen in Torment?

I’m having so much fun writing Torment that it’s hard for me not to spill everything right now so I can say, “Aren’t you excited? Won’t this be great?” But my publisher would probably have my head. So in lieu of that, I’ll reveal just three things:

1. As Luce learns more about her past, she comes into a host of powers she never knew she had—and they might involve the shadows.
2. After the second book comes out, a prequel (which will span thousands of years!) will follow before the final book in the series.
3. Even though, of course, Daniel is Luce’s one-and-only, a very interesting new male character is introduced in Torment that offers him some stiff competition.

Thank you so much, Lauren, for such a fantastic interview! Doesn't she sound like such a lovely lady? I can't wait to read Torment and the rest of the series, and I so hope you get a puppy for Christmas, Lauren!

If you haven't read it already, check out my review of Fallen.

Also, check out these cool sites:
Lauren Kate's Website
Fallen's UK Website

9 comments:

  1. Fantastic interview! Even though I haven't read Fallen (still waiting until December!) The sneak peak into Torment makes me even more excited! I love the sound of revelations 2 and 3!

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  2. Fantastic interview. I need to read this some time.

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  3. One - Thanks, I'm glad you enjoyed it! I knoooow, I want to know who this new guy is, and see... well, you'll know what'll happen in the prequel book after reading the first. I can't wait to see all that happens!

    Juju - Cheers! You do, it's brilliant! I absolutely love it!

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  4. Great interview! I cant wait to read Fallen:)
    So is the third book in the series gonna be a prequel?

    Anya

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  5. Thank you! That's what it looks like. I'm looking forward to it!

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  6. Great scoop! I'm especially excited to hear there'll be a prequel coming out, because as I read certain parts of Fallen I thought I'd really like to read more about them. Hopefully we'll be getting the chance to! I didn't realise that there was anything in the bible about angels falling in love with mortal women. That's really interesting - I love when books make use of existing myths or religious texts in that way.

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  7. Thanks, I'm glad you enjoyed it! I am so excited to read the prequel too, it'll be great to read, err... (trying not to leave spoilers).. the history. That'll be so awesome! I also really like it when books are based on something already existing, makes a nice twist on an something we may have already read! :)

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  8. I liked the interview, though I am crying as I am writing a novel with looks quite the same ... :'( :'( Love the idea ... hate the fact someone beat me.

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  9. Oh no! Well, they might not be exactly the same! Perhaps you can check the book out, and see if they actually are similar? Oh dear, I don't know what to suggest! Hope it turns out ok!

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