And Another Awesome Author Vist: Terri Clark

Terri Clark is the author of Sleepless and was one of the writers who contributed a story to Breaking Up is Hard to Do. I recently got the awesome opportunity to read Sleepless, but don't have a review up yet, but will definitely link it when I do. What I can say though is that the book is beyond amazing. For some cool information about the book visit the Class of 2k8 blog as they are featuring Terri this week. And what better way to showcase Terri than have her come visit here, so without further ado I present an amazing interview with Terri Clark.

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1. Sleepless seems to be somewhat along the lines of Lisa McMann’s Wake, where the main character can see into other people’s dreams. Have you had a chance to read Wake? If so, what was your take on it?

I did read WAKE and thoroughly enjoyed it. I can see why Lisa has done so well with it. I look forward to her sequel! I think our books are similar because of the dream element, but SLEEPLESS is darker and grittier. It’s a real cat and mouse game in both the real world and in the dreamscape.

2. What sparked the creation of Sleepless?

I’ve always been fascinated with dreams and I think they can be much more than just nonsensical stories our mind plays out. Without making myself sound too kooky, I’ll just say I’ve had some dreams that went beyond the norm. And when I was a kid someone told me if you died in your dreams you would die for real. That always scared me. I started playing with that idea and then I read a series of articles the Denver Post did on dangerous criminals who pretended insanity so they could get locked up in a mental hospital instead of jail. I found the idea so appalling I wondered what would happen if the hospital wasn’t the cake walk they imagined it to be and BOOM I put mental torture and dreamwalking together. Obviously, I have a twisted imagination.

3. What made you want to write for a young adult audience?

A couple years ago by best friend, Lynda Sandoval, suggested I read Meg Cabot’s 1-800-Where-R-U and Mediator series. Lynda’s a YA author and she told me I’d love Meg’s paranormal series and my voice would be well suited to the market. I read the books, fell in love with them and started devouring teen books like crazy. They not only inspired me to write teen fiction, but also to start working as a teen librarian.

3. Do you see a lot of yourself in your characters?

I see some of me, some of who I’d like to be and pieces and parts of people in my life.

4. What’s one of the hardest parts of being a writer? The best?

One of the hardest things about being a writer is rejection. You have to have a tough skin, patience (which I suck at) and persistence. The best is breathing life into characters and creating something from scratch that I hope will positively affect readers.

5. What’s your ideal writing environment?

I write from home. My only ideal is having more time and my kids in school. LOL. It’s a lot harder to get things done in the summer, but I enjoy having them and all their friends around. However, I’m looking forward to having some peace soon!

6. Do you write full time or do you fill your days with things other than pages and pages of words?

Oh, how I wish I could answer this question with a yes, but I do have a part-time job at my local library. I LOVE working with my teens though. One day I hope I can write full time, but in the meantime I have a blast working with the kids. Truly, if I must have two jobs these two work great together.

7. Do you mostly read adult books or young adult, or a healthy mix of both? What are the last three books you read?

I read tons and tons of YA. I should be more balanced, I know, but there aren’t enough hours in the day to read as much as I’d like. Last three books: I’m re-reading Crank by Ellen Hopkins, Personal Demon by Kelly Armstrong (an adult book!) and The Summoning (Kelley’s YA debut.)

8. What’s one quirky thing that you care to share?

Quirky…my family teases me because I have this superstition about calendars. You MUST turn ALL the calendars in the house on the first to the right month or it’s bad luck. I can’t stand to find a calendar anywhere on the wrong date. Don’t ask me why.

9. What can we expect from you in the future?

I’m working on a paranormal romantic comedy right now called Hollyweird. It’s a tongue-in-cheek poke at Hollywood that involves angels and demons and I’m also working on a new beach thriller. Please watch my website (www.terriclarkbooks.com) and blog (myspace.com/terristake) for updates.

10. Are there any questions you wish I had asked?

What supernatural creature do you want to write about that you haven’t? Vampires! I really, really, really want to do a vampire book and I’m dying to write a series.