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Sunday, May 31, 2009

Author Interview & Constest with Marlene Perez

This week I have a young adult author as a guest on Amberkatze's Book Blog! Marlene Perez surprised me with her first book in the 'Dead Is' series and I can't wait to read more.

Read my review for Dead is the New Black and then check out the interview and contest!

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Amber - Welcome to Amberkatze's Book Blog! Thank you so much for being a guest. Maybe you can start things off by telling my readers a bit about your paranormal teen trilogy?

Marlene - The DEAD IS trilogy is about Daisy Giordano and her two psychic sisters, who solve paranormal mysteries in Nightshade, California. It has a little romance, a little mystery, and a lot of humor.

Amber - How did you come up with the idea for the trilogy? Was it something that just happened or did it take alot of time to put together?

Marlene - The first line of DEAD IS THE NEW BLACK popped into my mind, fully formed. "Being dead became fashionable approximately forty-five minutes after Samantha "the Divine" Devereaux came back from summer break." And soon after, I thought of the title. I'd read that the actor Poppy Montgomery was from a family where all the girls were named after flowers and it kind of took off from there.

I knew right away that I wanted to write a series. I like that world and those characters so much, which is important. As a series writer, you end up spending a lot of time with your characters. You'd better like them. A series does take a bit of time to put together, especially when you have to create that world. I deliberately melded the high school world with the paranormal, but you have to think about what you want the rules of that world to be.

Amber - Did you have to do alot of research for the trilogy? Talk to alot of psychics? :)

Marlene - I didn't actually talk to a lot of psychics, but my mother used to read tea leaves when I was little, so I've always been a believer in at least the possibility of psychic abilities. I also read a lot of non-fiction about psychics.

Amber - Are you anything like the main character Daisy? Or any of the other characters?

Marlene - Like Daisy, I'm the youngest, but instead of two sisters, I have seven (and four brothers.) I think we always bring a little bit of ourselves into our characters. I can't cook nearly as well as Daisy, though. My husband is the chef in the family. I think I can be a little bit like Samantha, too.

Amber - The dead is books aren't your only novels. How did you end up writing Young Adult books? Is it a genre you enjoy reading yourself?

Marlene - I LOVE reading young adult books. Not only that, but some of my favorite television shows are geared for teens. I read pretty much everything though. I tried writing other things, but when I started writing my first young adult novel, I felt like something just clicked. I think more adults should read young adult novels.

Amber - Whats next? Are there going to be more than 3 Dead is books? Are you working on anything else?

Marlene - The DEAD IS trilogy is now officially a series! There will be two more books in the series, DEAD IS JUST A RUMOR and DEAD IS NOT AN OPTION. DEAD IS JUST A RUMOR will be out in the fall of 2010 and DEAD IS NOT AN OPTION will be out in the spring of 2011. I have a stand-alone contemporary young adult novel, THE COMEBACK, coming out in August. I'm also working on a teen paranormal romance, tentatively titled RIFT, and I'm very excited about that project.

Amber - What books do you enjoy reading? Are there any must read authors or series that you have to have?

Marlene - Mysteries, romance, paranormal, urban fantasy, contemporary ya. I like Charlie Huston's Joe Pitt vampire detective novels, Charlaine Harris's SOUTHERN VAMPIRE series, and a long long list of teen authors like Holly Black, Libba Bray, Mary Pearson, Melissa Wyatt, Nancy Werlin, A.M. Jenkins. The list goes on and on. I also am a big fan of any writer who can make me laugh and cry in the same novel. My goodreads to read list is embarrassingly long, but it's the only way I can keep track of the books I want to read.

Amber - Some authors have playlists for their books. I noticed you have some on your website. Does music have alot of influence on your books?

Marlene - Music has a huge influence on me. I love finding the right song for the right moment. For the paranormal romance I'm working on, I've been listening to Robert Plant/Alison Krauss's album, particularly the song "Please Read the Letter." And the prophetic jukebox in the DEAD IS series is a fun way for me to mention some of my favorite songs and sneak in some clues at the same time.

Amber - How do you like to relax? Any hobbies? Favourite TV programmes you have to watch?

Marlene - I like to read, watch movies & TV (I love my dvr!) but all my favorite shows seem to get cancelled. I loved Veronica Mars, Arrested Development, Freaks and Geeks, and Reaper. Do you see a pattern here? I also enjoy hanging out and having coffee with friends, vacations with my family, and traveling, when I get the chance.

Amber - If you could be any paranormal creature, what would you be and why?

Marlene - That's a tough one. Maybe a psychic. I can't stand the sight of blood, so a vampire is out. And all that hair on a werewolf!

Amber - Thank you so much for answering my questions. I hope you will come back and be a guest again someday!




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Contest Time!


This week there are Three copies of DEAD IS SO LAST YEAR up for grabs!! (US only! Sorry!)

To enter the contest you have to comment here letting me know what music you are listening to lately?

No music = No Entry.

Earn another entry for each place you link this contest on the net. Make sure you add links here for me to confirm your entries!

You can also earn extra entries by emailing your friends about the contest. Just make sure you send a copy of your email or receipt to me at Amberkatzes_book_blog at gmx dot net.

The contest will stay open until Saturday 7th of June 2009 4pm CET and the winner will be picked by a randomizer. Entrants should check back to see if they have won. I do not hunt down winners and will pick new winners for any prizes not claimed within 7 days.

If you are claiming a prize, have emailed me and have not heard back before the 7 day limit is up then post a comment here on the blog. Your email may get sucked into my spam filter.

Enjoy!

28 comments:

Blodeuedd said...

I have discovered White Lies and I am loving them and I can't stop listening to them.
Then there is Kings of Leon, The Killers and Billy Talent.

Great interview, the books look great

Mishel (P.S. I Love Books) said...

I've been meaning to pick up Marlene's first book but just haven't yet *smacks self in head*

Winning this would be plenty of incentive to go out and get the first book ASAP. Otherwise I'll still be getting it, promise!

I'm listening to a lot of (the) Spill Canvas lately. Great band with really great lyrics. I totally adore them!

P.S. I posted a link to this contest on my sidebar (http://creativitygone.blogspot.com)

Thanks so much!

mishtakes AT gmail DOT com

donnas said...

Great interview. Currently I am listening to some classic rock (The Who, Pink Floyd) along with some modern alternative types (Akaline Trio, Offspring, Coldplay)

bacchus76 at myself dot com

Kathy said...

I have tickets next weekend to see George Strait at the new Dallas Cowboy Stadium in Arlington, so I've been listening to a lot of George.

I listed the contest on my blog http://kathyschaos.blogspot.com/2009/05/marlene-perez-contest.html

Thanks for doing these interviews and contest Amberkatze - they are so much fun!

KathyB

Chris said...

I've been listening to The Chrysler and also to Kevin Devine.

Anonymous said...

Great Interview and Contest,
I've been listening to Nickelback new CD Dark Horse.
elaing8(at)netscape(dot)net

LuAnn said...

I don't have a lot of time to sit and listen to music, but my car radio is always tuned to classic rock!

Suzana said...

Great interview, and thanks for the giveaway.
Lately I'm listening Kings of Leon, Glasvegas and All American Rejects

Anonymous said...

I'm listening to Pink's new CD!

Llehn said...

I'm currently listening to the OST to the Lake House.

Stephanie said...

Great interview, thanks! I've been listening to Lily Allen quite a bit this week. A few of the tracks on her new album perfectly reflect how I feel about my job lately.

chey said...

Great interview!
I've been listening to Bryan Adams again.

L said...

Recently, I've been listening to a lot of Lady Gaga's music and Boys Like Girls.

lovinfitch(at)aol(dot)com

Nancy said...

Amber and Marlene, I love the interview. Marlene, I admit to being behind on your series and I'm kicking myself for that!

I haven't listened to anything in particular lately except my "writing" music - natures sounds with some music mixed in. Depending on my mood - or the mood I need to adopt, I might listen to Areosmith, the Beach Boys, Buddy Holly or any chill out music.

Light,
Nancy Haddock
nancy@nancyhaddock.com

Anonymous said...

the band
the eagles
acdc
kid rock
van morrison

Katie said...

I don't stray too much from the music I love. I have been listening to Duran Duran and Manic Street Preachers.

Unknown said...

I'm listening to Tori Amos. I have Dead is the New Black, so I would love to have another. Please enter me.

Dottie :)

gymmom_027@yahoo.com

Dawn M. said...

I've been listening to Green Day - 21st Century Breakdown and Kelly Clarkson - All I Ever Wanted.

Thanks! :0)
librarygrinch at gmail dot com

Enchanted by Books said...

I loved the first book and would be thrilled to win this one to read.

As for the kind of music I like, I like a little of everything. I love David Cook's CD and Chris Daughtry's. Their voices are so hypnotic.

Minding Spot said...

Great interview!

Music - hmm - I have been listening to Journey, Lady GaGa, and Kate Perry

wendyhines (at) hotmail (dot) com

Michelle M. said...

Listening to Kings of Leon mostly in the car. They are the fav right now.

meshe/michelle

Shooting Stars Mag said...

I've been meaning to read the rest of this series (i've only read the first one and it was a lot of fun) so this would be great and give me a reason to get out there and buy the second in the series. I'm so happy to hear there will be more than three though. How cool. The prophetic jukebox in the book is great, I must say, and such a fun idea.

Music is great. I'm always listening. I'm liking Kings of Leon these days as well as this song "Epic Last Song" by Does it Offend You, Yeah? (great band name right??) and Lady GaGa is just fun. I'm also loving Crosby Loggins (kenny loggin's son)


Please enter me. :)

-Lauren
lauren51990 AT aol DOT com

Mardel said...

Hello!
first, all three of your "Dead" books look very interesting, very readable.

Lately I've been listening to a lot of hip/hop and what I call rythym and blues (i'm older, what can i say?) My favorite in the last few months has been Black Eyed Peas- I'm glad they made a new album, and my other favorite song is Calle Ocho, by PitBull.

StyleVamp said...

I'm listening to a few artist..P!nks new album, Love, Keri Hilson, Justin Timberlake, Timberland, Calle 13...I'm liking Lady Gaga too..

usually listen when I'm working out at the gym..and really like Ciarra's new track with Justin..

Unknown said...

I generally listen to Irish and English folk ballads and (said in a low whisper) even Gregorian chants. I think I am going to be a minority of one. When I am in the car, with my husband, I am forced (I am tied to the seat) to listen to country western. I used to hate it now I have progressed to I dislike it. Country music originally had it roots in folk ballads so maybe I will get to the I can tolerate, or I like it, some day.

Unknown said...

I love listening to The Killers, The Kooks or The Pogues when I want to be energized. Yo-Yo Ma helps me to relax.

BTW, I also use Goodreads.com to track my TBR list. I try to keep it under 100 books, but with so many great books coming out it is hard to do!

Kytaira said...

I haven't read any of Marlene's books but would love to try her. The books sound like fun!

I've been listening to a variety of music. A little Celine, Josh Groban, Backstreet Boys, Nickelback, Daughtry, Shakira, Jordan Sparks, Rascal Flatts.

I've told my teenagers they aren't ever allowed to move away because then I won't have anyone to show me how to work my toys for books, music and podcasts.

All This Silence... said...

I've always been a person to choose a song based on how it sounds, not it's genre or artist or anything like that. But lately, I've been really into Michael Jackson's music. It sucks that he's gone. LONG LIVE THE KING OF POP!!!! :D

sarah_bear_38@yahoo.com