Tuesday, October 23, 2012

Author Interview: Audrey's Guide to Witchcraft by Jody Gehrman

audrey's guide to witchcraft
Audrey's Guide to Witchcraft by Jody Gehrman

Falling in love, baking a magical cake, fighting an evil necromancer--it's all in a day's work for Audrey Oliver, seventeen-year-old witch-in-training. When her mother goes missing and her mysterious "cousin" shows up out of the blue, Audrey knows something's gone horribly, dangerously wrong. Now it's up to her to get her own magical powers up to speed before everyone she loves is destroyed by the sorcerer intricately connected to her mother's secret past.
Audrey's Guide to Witchcraft is more than just a novel; it's a book of spells, a collection of easy recipes, a charming coming-of-age tale, an enchanting romance, and an action-packed adventure. As Audrey overcomes her insecurities and learns to protect herself against the wicked black magic of her nemesis, she grows into a heroine we can root for--a witch who knows that true power comes from deep within.




Blkosiner's Book Blog Giveaway
- copy, open internationally
-Fill out Rafflecopter to enter
-Ends on 10/31/2012 11:59 pm EST
-Make sure to check out and comment on our interview below for an extra entry
-If you win a review on your blog and/or amazon is appreciated but not required.

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interview with Blkosiner's Book Blog

Interview (feel free to do any or all of the questions, including or excluding the lightning round)
--The Twitter version: tell us about your book in 140 characters or less.
A 17-year-old witch-in-training must hone her newfound magical powers in order to save her mother from an evil necromancer.
(Yes! With a few characters to spare!)

--How did you get the idea for the story?
As a teen growing up in Northern California, I met a lot of new age mystics and hippies, some of whom practiced witchcraft. I dabbled in spells and ceremonies some myself--just basic stuff--so it felt like the right topic to explore. I wanted to mix what I know about real witches with a fictional world where their power could be even more startling and palpable. There's an amazing force running through nature, and the idea of tapping that fascinates me. I'm glad I set it in my hometown, because it was fun to fill a sleepy little place like Healdsburg with supernatural elements.
--Which character would you most like to have dinner with?
Sadie! She's such a cool mixture of poise and awkwardness. I'd like to ask her all about what it was like to grow up in a magical community. I just love her fashion sense, her stylishness, and her bewilderment in the "mundane" world. I'm not so sure I'd welcome her snake at the table, though, or her iguana.
--Do you have any other works in progress? Any teasers or release dates?
I'm working on the second book in this trilogy, the Audrey's Guide series. The working title is Audrey's Guide to Slaying Zombies and Breaking Hearts.
--What book(s) is your book’s “cousin”? (Similar set-up or style)
Rachel Hawkins' Hex Hall Series and Katie Crouch's Magnolia League books.
--What are some of your favorite books? Do you still have much time to read?
I don't have that much time to read, but I devour audio books, because I can listen to them while I drive, work out or clean the house, which is so great! A huge range of writers have influenced me at different times in my life. Some of my favorites in the realm of “classics” include Nabokov and both of the Brontes (but especially Charlotte). I love hilarious, contemporary British writers like Helen Fielding, Nick Hornby and Sophie Kinsella. In terms of witchy reads, Alice Hoffman's Practical Magic rocked my world. I read a lot of YA; some of my favorite writers are Beth Fantaskey, Nina LaCour, Maggie Stiefvater, Katie Crouch and Stacey Jay. Right now I'm listening to the audio version of a book called Dare Me by Megan Abbott and it's blowing me away.
--Do you need anything to write (music, coffee, etc)?
Lately I'm addicted to nature sounds when I write--mostly waterfall, creek and ocean. It's just enough white noise to block out distractions. I find it plugs me into the story more efficiently than anything else. I can't listen to music with words when I write. Maybe it's because I write songs--I don't know--but I find lyrics way too distracting. I do love me some caffeine while I work--good coffee with condensed milk and honey or strong black tea.

--If you could have any superpower what would you choose?
Flying, definitely. No contest. I guess that's pretty boring and predictable, but I just know it would feel fantastic!

--Besides writing, what do you like to do in your free time?
I like yoga, kickboxing, and swimming. I love going to plays and movies too. I write a lot of plays; going to see something I've written come alive on stage is one of my favorite things to do in the whole world.
Lightning round: this or that?
Vanilla or chocolate?
Chocolate! Duh!
Edward or Jacob?
Jacob! So hot...
Salty or sweet?
Sweet.
Beach or mountains?
Beach!
Dog or cat?
Cat. I have three.
Ninjas or pirates?
Pirates, please.

Bio: Jody Gehrman is the author of seven novels and numerous plays. Audrey's Guide to Witchcraft is her most recent Young Adult novel. Her other Young Adult novels include Babe in Boyland, Confessions of a Triple Shot Betty, and Triple Shot Bettys in Love, (Penguin's Dial Books). Babe in Boyland has recently been optioned by the Disney Channel and won the International Reading Association's Teen Choice Award. Her adult novels are Notes from the Backseat, Tart, and Summer in the Land of Skin (Red Dress Ink). Her plays have been produced in Ashland, New York, San Francisco, Chicago and L.A. She and her partner David Wolf won the New Generation Playwrights Award for their one-act, Jake Savage, Jungle P.I. She is a professor of English at Mendocino College.


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7 comments:

  1. I would love to meet someone who practices witchcraft. It seems so intriguing and fascinating.

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  2. I think pledge sounds like a really good read. Thanks for the giveaway.

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  3. It sounds good, at least I`m interested :)

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  4. It seems like it's an interesting book :)

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  5. I think everyone has felt their loved unreturned. That's when you decide to move on! Thanks for the giveaway!

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  6. My first love the love was not returned.

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  7. When you feel your love is being unreturned then its time to move on ...

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I would love to hear from you! (I always try to visit your blog back) I love links, so feel free to link to your blog or a post you like.
Sorry, but I am award and tag free zone, I do not have the time to return. Comments are reward enough :)