Saturday, March 31, 2012

Author Kyani Swanigan Interviews Her Mom About the Journey of Everlife


I know it’s customary for a guest blog to be done on the author but I thought it would be fun to change it up and interview my mother. She’s been on this journey with me since day 1 and knows just as much about Everlife as I do. I also know it will be very interesting to read a different point of view. So without further ado, here is a chat with my mom Angela!

1: First tell us a bit about yourself

I am a single mom.  I work in the financial services industry.  I’ve had the pleasure to raise one of the most amazing young ladies I know. 

2: So what were your thoughts when I first told you I was writing a book?

I was a little surprised – but not really.  While you were growing up, you LOVED writing stories.  You’ve always had a great imagination; even when you were small you could write really good stories.  As you grew up and got into other things you didn’t write as much but it was nice to see you get back to something I knew you cared a lot about. 

3: How did you feel when you first read it?

“Where did this come from?”  LOL.  Seriously, I read it and thought “Whoa – this is like a real story”.  I was impressed by how well written it was. 

4: Who is your favorite character?

I think Birch is.  He’s strong, loyal and protective. 

5: Favorite part?

I liked Rose getting recognition for coming up with the Snow Ball concept.  I didn’t want Pilar to win.  She tried to take credit for the idea but it didn’t work out.  Yaaaay for Rose!

6: Least favorite part?

I don’t know if there were really any parts I didn’t like.  I was a little sad that Rose had to be so secretive with her dad which left him to his own devices when trying to understand her.  After the trauma of losing his wife and then Rose’s rebellion I hated to think of him going through more drama.  He thought Rose was returning to the “dark side” and there was sooo much more to it.

7: What is the effect that the book had on you?

My experience is probably a little different than most.  You’re my kid.  I am certain that I am biased.  I think you wrote a great story and I can’t wait to see where it goes.

8: Would you change anything about Everlife?

I wouldn’t change anything. 

9: I know you give me advice all the time, but do you have any for other authors?

Be true to yourself.  You are really good at that.  I’ve especially seen it in your involvement with the anthologies.   You collaborate with the other authors and when it’s your turn to tell part of the story, you find a way to infuse your “style” in there. 

10: What can readers expect in book 2?

That’s more a question for you than for me.  I am still bracing myself for what’s to come.  Although I’ve read some of what you’ve written, I don’t yet know where you are taking this story.  I’ve had the opportunity to take a peek further down the story line and one particular excerpt actually brought tears to my eyes.  I can count the times in my life that I’ve read a book that made me feel that way.  All I know is that book two is building the road towards that teary excerpt that will be in a later book – I’m ready for the ride, I know it will be fun.  Woo Hoo!
Everlife

By Kyani Swanigan

Blurb:

How do you live your own life, when it was never truly yours to begin with?

After the untimely death of her mother, 18 year old Rose Blakely spent the past two months of her life in the dark, living recklessly, and bringing everyone around her grief.

Now that the storm has passed, Rose is hoping to find the light, and live a normal life. But when a mysterious new guy named Birch Balman enters the picture, along with a crazed woman hell-bent on killing her, things take a drastic turn for the worst.

Keeping up appearances in front of her friends at Halfmoon Bay High and also her father will serve to be a difficult task for Rose, but it’s a small price to pay—when death is now in the equation.


About the Author:


Kyani Swanigan, YA author of the Nyx series. Kyani was always passionate about writing. Even as a child she loved creating characters and writing stories although she considered it more a past time rather than something that she would make a career out of especially through high school, when Kyani aspired to be a stylist and go to FIDM (The Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandizing). It wasn't until a year after graduation that the memory of two fictional characters she had thought up six years earlier resurfaced and began buzzing around in her mind. From there a story just had to be written.

Now, one year after completing her first novel, Kyani is still hard at work telling her character’s story by finishing the rest of the series. She lives in Tustin, California with her mom and fat Blue Russian cat, Pouncer.


Fanpage:
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Kyani-Swanigan-author-of-The-Nyx-Series/264675130231389

Twitter:
https://twitter.com/#!/Kyani_Swanigan

3 comments:

Roxanne Rhoads said...

I think that's cool you interviewed your mom. WE read about the author's journey a lot but never through the eyes of someone else, someone close to them. I love the new perspective. And as a mom I can relate to what she says, I see my daughter's writing and art taking shape and it's amazing.

Anonymous said...

You and your mom are so kool!
~LINNA

rue volley said...

very cool:) xoxo

 
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