Interview With Angie Frazier

Angie Frazier, author of Everlasting, has kindly let me interview her for The Sweet Bonjour! Her book Everlasting is marked on my wishlist and after this interview, I only want to read it more.

Tell the readers who don't know, about your new book, Everlasting.
I’ve yet to perfect a one or two sentence hook, so I’ve found a great summary online that says it best:
Sailing aboard her father's ship is all seventeen-year-old Camille has ever wanted. But as a lady of society her future is set: marry a man she doesn't love or loose her social standing. On her last voyage before the wedding, Camille learns about a life-changing secret that lies in Australia. When their Sydney-bound ship goes down in a gale, and her father dies, Camille sets out to find her long-lost mother and a map that could lead to something even greater and more dangerous—a stone that can bring someone back the dead. Throughout her journey to uncover the truth, the only person that Camille can depend upon is Oscar—her father’s handsome first mate—whom she is inexplicably drawn to despite their differences in social class. Along the way, Camille faces many treacherous obstacles, but nothing so dangerous as forbidden love and an uncertain future.

2. What gave you the idea for Everlasting?
Mostly, it was just the desire to write something fun and adventurous and romantic. The vintage travel posters plastered to the ceiling of a caretaker’s cottage I was renting one winter helped me decide to set the book in Australia, and I chose the 1850s as a time frame because at that time Australia was still mostly unexplored and the gold rush was booming there. I threw in some seafaring excitement, and I couldn’t stop myself from writing it!

3. What kind of research did you have to do?
Nearly every page of the book includes something I did research for. I know I didn’t get everything perfect, but I really do care about historical accuracy and did my very best. The toughest part of my research was when it came to ships and sailing. I didn’t know the first thing about it, and it took years to get comfortable with the parts of the ship and sailing terminology. I probably spent as much time researching as I did writing!

4. What inspired you to write?

I suppose it was for a purely selfish reason: writing makes me happy. It’s a huge part of who I am. When I was working full-time and then staying at home with my children and attempting a network marketing business, I knew deep down that I was neglecting myself. I wasn’t doing what made me happy, and because of it I didn’t feel I was succeeding in anything either. Once I focused only on my writing, everything fell into place.

5. What are your three must-haves when you're writing?

I need a quiet space with nothing to pay attention to--kids, TV, music, husband (grin). I need to have an idea about what I am going to write to be able to get going, even if it’s just a sentence. And I need to be unplugged from the Internet so I’m not tempted to check email when I get stuck.

6. What are some of your favourite YA books of all time?
I’m pretty new to reading YA, since growing up I didn’t really have anything more than Christopher Pike and Sweet Valley High! But I love Libba Bray’s Great and & Terrible Beauty trilogy, Cassandra Clare’s City of Bones trilogy, Sarah MacLean’s The Season, Cindy Pon’s Silver Phoenix, Kristin Cashore’s Graceling, and right now I’m reading Robin McKinley’s Beauty for the first time and am loving it.

7. What is the best part of being a YA author today?
I think it’s the fact that YA is the hottest thing around. Even in the past two years, since I sold Everlasting, I’ve noticed how big YA books have become. Adults aren’t so insecure about admitting to liking YA books anymore, and every time I go to the bookstore the YA section is packed with browsers. It’s great to be debuting right now!

8. What would you say are the hardest and easiest parts of writing a novel?
The hardest part is the first draft. Starting a book and actually finishing it is a challenge. There are many obstacles to overcome, including the “this-idea-isn’t-as-shiny-new-and-awesome-anymore” stage. The easiest part of writing for me is revision. It usually takes the same amount of time as writing the first draft, but it’s easier because I have a whole, written story to work with, instead of half-formed ideas.

9. What's next for you?
My first middle grade book is up next! Suzanna Snow and the Mystery of the Midnight Tunnel is due out in 2011 with Scholastic. It’s a coming-of-age mystery set against the disappearance of a young guest at a grand hotel in New Brunswick, Canada. I love Zanna and am really excited for her story to hit the shelves. Then in summer of 2011, the sequel to Everlasting will be published!

Thank you very much Angie for that interview! Don't forget, Everlasting is out June 1st 2010 from Scholastic Press!