Interview (and Giveaway) with Kimberly Sabatini

Author photo by Dawn Sela Photography - www.dawnsela.com

Today I have an interview with Kimberly Sabatini, the author of TOUCHING THE SURFACE.  I reviewed this debut novel in November and called it "a good choice for speculative fiction fans tired of monsters and dystopias and looking for something a little quieter, if no less dramatic."

Her official bio:

Kimberly Sabatini is a former Special Education Teacher who is now a stay-at-home mom and a part-time dance instructor for three and four year olds. She lives in New York’s Hudson Valley with her husband and three boys.

Kimberly writes Young Adult fiction and is represented by Michelle Wolfson of Wolfson Literary Agency. TOUCHING THE SURFACE is her debut novel. (Simon Pulse – Simon & Schuster, October 30, 2012)

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1. TOUCHING THE SURFACE is set after Elliot dies for the third time. Why did you decide on three lives? 

This question hasn’t been asked very often, but it always makes me chuckle. After reading TTS, a good friend of mine once pulled out a laundry list of books on different types of spiritual theory. She was wondering if I’d read any of her favorites and if they’d played a roll in my decision to have Elliot die for the third time. I then had to fess up and admit that my sole inspiration (or my soul inspiration) for the concept was the baseball song…’cause it’s one, two, three strikes your out! But I am completely willing to take credit for having been well read if you’d like me to pretend. :o)

2. If reincarnation is real, which life to you think you're on? 

I’ve thought about this—even worried about it a little bit. I’m not sure I can pick an exact number, but I think I might have turned a corner. I feel as if I had a bit of an awakening, almost a Delve, when my Dad died. By getting to the place where I wrote a book and put so many honest feeling out into the world, I may have changed my own trajectory just a little bit. Perhaps I’m finally paying attention to the important things. It sure feels good to be making even a little bit of progress.

At the end of the day, I figure I’m a little bit above an earthworm, but not within shouting distance of Gandhi. I guess I’m the spiritual equivalent of a mid-list author. LOL!

3. Many readers are wary of love triangles, but many enjoy them too. There's a reason they're so popular! How did you approach your love triangle to keep it fresh? 

 Ahhhh the love triangle. Well, first of all, I’m not anti-love triangle. If you watch the world around you and the people in it—there is an awful lot of triangulation going on. I believe it’s more about HOW it’s done, not IF it’s done.

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When I started writing TTS, Oliver was 4-years-old. In fact, he was still four when I sold it. In my mind * SPOILER ALERT * there isn’t a love triangle, between Elliot, Trevor and Oliver in the traditional romantic sense. But there IS love and all the pushing and pulling that go along with it.

When asked to age Oliver up to a teenager, I loved the idea. I could see the benefits of making that change, and to this day, it has been the most fun I’ve ever had revising. Admittedly, I did put small bits and pieces of doubt and angst into the triangular relations ship between Elliot, Oliver and Trevor, but it was because my characters still needed to go through the process of figuring out what they already knew.

 4. I love novels (and other media) set in the afterlife. Where there any depictions of what comes next that influenced the Obmil in TOUCHING THE SURFACE? 

Reading The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold, had a big impact on writing TTS from the point-of-view of a dead girl. Prior to ingesting that book, I’d never thought of approaching the voice of a story from that direction. I was fascinated by what Sebold had done and the creative desire it kicked off in me.

More often than you’d expect, I found my inspiration for the afterlife in rather normal ways. This is Mohonk Mountain House (http://www.mohonk.com/Photos-Videos). It’s a popular place in the Hudson Valley, where I live. After a day of hiking at Mohonk, I couldn’t stop thinking of it as the afterlife location for my novel. I don’t know what it was that flipped the switch, but this is exactly how the Obmil looks in my mind. It’s still on my Bucket List to stay overnight here—while I’m alive. LOL!

Picture taken by Kimberly Sabatini

5. You've been a published author for close to eight months now. How does it feel? What's coming next? 

It is bizarre. Yes, that is the only word I can come up with that takes it all in. Some days I pinch myself because it’s that amazing. Other days I’m knee deep in three-boys-worth of laundry and I’m talking to the underwear saying… “You do know I’m an author, right?” Just so you know—the underwear really doesn’t seem to care.

I’ve come to think of myself like a book-nerdish-super-hero. I walk around doing normal things in normal clothes (which I will later have to wash) but every once in awhile I get to strip off my average self and I get to be the super part of me. I go on school visits, talk to librarians, speak at events and sign books. It’s incredible. I need to get a cape.

But ultimately, most things haven’t changed too much. I still juggle boys and household chores in order to get writing time in. I struggle to find a balance with my marketing and social media. I eat too much ice cream and must spend some of my writing time going for a run or buying new pants. What drives me forward every day, is the same beliefs that I had before I sold TTS.

*I have no choice but to write and be a part of this book community—it is what I must do and where I belong.
*Rejection is a learning experience and quitting is not an option.
*I am open to things happening when they’re supposed to happen, versus when I THINK they should happen.
*I will grow and change for the better with time and practice.
*Sometimes I need to push myself more.
*Sometimes I need to push myself less.
*I cannot compare myself to everyone else and have time to be my best self.
*I WILL make mistakes, it’s what I do after that matters.
*Publishing is a business and I need to be educated on how it works. Writing is everything good in my life and it should be done without the publishing business sitting on my shoulder.
*If ONE person has read something I’ve written and it’s changed them for the better, I’ve accomplished what I’ve set out to do.
*I will always dream bigger than what everyone thinks I’m capable of, because I love to see their faces when I actually do it.

Right now I’m doing a lot of laundry and revising my second novel, THE OPPOSITE OF GRAVITY. I’m also working on my third, CHASING ADAPTATION.

Thank you so much for having me over to your blog and thank you to all the readers who are supporting the Book Tour. Your support is incredible and I appreciate it so much.

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Experience the afterlife in this lyrical, paranormal debut novel that will send your heart soaring.When Elliot finds herself dead for the third time, she knows she must have messed up, big-time. She doesn’t remember how she landed in the afterlife again, but she knows this is her last chance to get things right.

Elliot just wants to move on, but first she will be forced to face her past and delve into the painful memories she’d rather keep buried. Memories of people she’s hurt, people she’s betrayed…and people she’s killed.

As she pieces together the secrets and mistakes of her past, Elliot must find a way to earn the forgiveness of the person she’s hurt most, and reveal the truth about herself to the two boys she loves…even if it means losing them both forever.

AMAZON | BARNES & NOBLE | THE BOOK DEPOSITORY | GOODREADS

  

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There are two options for the giveaway: US and International.  There will be one winner of a signed hardcover of TOUCHING THE SURFACE for each.  Must be 13 years or older to enter.  Must choose which giveaway and leave a comment on a blog tour stop to enter.  There are optional ways to get bonus entries.

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Review: The Eternity Cure

Book Two of the Blood of Eden
By Julie Kagawa
Available now from Harlequin Teen
Review copy

I avoided reading THE IMMORTAL RULES, the first book in the Blood of Eden series, for a long time because I wasn't a fan of Julie Kagawa's Iron Fey books.  But people kept saying that they didn't like the Iron Fey books, but they loved THE IMMORTAL RULES.  So I gave it a chance and liked it.

THE ETERNITY CURE picks up where THE IMMORTAL RULES leaves off.  Allie helped Zeke reach safe harbor, but she's not welcome since she's a vampire.  That's okay because she needs to leave to rescue Kanin.  Since he's her maker she can sense that he's in peril and track him down.  She's not the only one of Kanin's children seeking to help him, but that doesn't mean she can trust her brother-by-vampirism Jackal.

I loved how THE ETERNITY CURE built on the first book.  Characters return in different forms - some friendlier than before, some now enemies.  There's also more uncovered about the plague, and why some might not want it cured.  The romance also proceeds apace.  Zeke and Allie can now be open about their relationship, which means its a good time for them to start exploring the practicality of a human/vampire relationship.  For instance, should Allie turn Zeke if he's dying?

The best part of THE ETERNITY CURE might be that there's more Kanin.  Allie's vampire maker is a fascinating figure and an incredibly likeable one.  He's burdened by guilt, but he does his best to bring positive change to the world.  He refuses to not follow his principles, but he's more careful since he realizes just how big the consequences of his actions can be.

This is a great series for vampire fans.  There's lots of action, a touch of forbidden romance, and complicated relationships in a complicated world.  It's good enough to make me consider reading the Iron Fey again to see if I was wrong about those books.  I'm looking forward to the third book, especially after the dramatic events of the ending of THE ETERNITY CURE.

Who wants to guess what the cover of the third book will look like?  I'm happy this one doesn't have a white girl on the cover, since Allie is half-Japanese, but wish they'd put her face on the cover instead of the front flap after the brouhaha about THE IMMORTAL RULES cover.

Introducing Emblazon!

There's a new site for tween readers opening today called Emblazon.  I haven't read any of their books, but I'm always up for programs geared toward exciting kids about reading.  Plus, a number of their books will be made available for free on August 1st for a Sizzling Freebies bash!  Some are free now.

From the introductory email:

Emblazon is a blog written by a collection of indie and traditionally published authors who care about producing high quality stories for kids. We have a particular focus on ages 11 to 14. We call them Tweens. The purpose of Emblazon is to celebrate tween literature. We want to draw attention to this fabulous genre, interact with other enthusiasts whether child or adult, and encourage new writers.

We hope you’ll join us in kick-starting this fabulous new adventure!
Disclosure: This post enters me for a $100 Amazon GC giveaway.

Review: Saga, Vol. 2

Issues #7-12 of Saga
By Brian K. Vaughn and Fiona Staples (Artist)
Available now from Image Comics
Review copy
Read my review of Vol. 1

SAGA, Vol. 2 continues the tale of Alana and Marko, lovers from opposite sides of an intergalactic war, as told by their daughter Hazel.  Vol. 1 ended with the cliffhanger of Marko's parents showing up armed for bear.

This really is one of the best current serialized comics.  Brian K. Vaughn's storytelling is at its best.  It's compulsively readable, with little hooks at the end of each issue and a big hook at the end of every volume.  It's complex, with a variety of fascinating settings and characters.  There's a lot of worldbuilding and character building going on.  Even the most villainous villain, the robot prince, has a family he wants to go home to.

Vol. 2 goes deeper into how Alana and Marko first met, and how they came to be so careless as to have a child while on the run from two armies.  I liked the role that a romance novel played in their courtship.  Books, even the most ephemeral ones,  affect the way we see our world and the people in it.  A modern beauty and the beast tale opened Alana up to the idea that Marko might not be so bad, despite having horns and lacking wings.  It also introduces Marko's erstwhile fiance, who is not happy he ran off with another woman - even worse, an enemy.

Then there's Fiona Staples' art, which is lush and gorgeous.  Her colors are bright, her lines clean, and the action fluid.  It's not as stylized as David Aja's art for HAWKEYE, the other title that's a possible contender for best current serialized comic.  But I think that's just fine.  Each of their art is perfectly suited for the title they're working on.  I can't imagine SAGA's words going with anyone else's art.

SAGA is a title for mature readers.  In this volume alone there is lots of violence (some of it against innocents) and nudity (possibly the only title I've ever read with more full frontal guys than women).  But I recommend it to anyone who is mature enough to handle it.  It has action, adventure, romance, philosophy, joy, despair.  Bring on Vol. 3!

Movie Monday: Gidget

On Sunday, I turned to one of those channels that's great for when you need something in the background: TCM.  They were showing Gidget, which I had heard of but never seen.  The world's first surfing movie is a cool title, but it just didn't sound like an interesting film.  Well, soon enough I was entranced.  Turns out I even saw it the best way possible since TCM shows the CinemaScope version and Gidget is only available to buy in pan-and-scan form.

Francie Lawrence (Sandra Dee) is sixteen, about to turn seventeen, and it's the summer before her senior year in high school.  All her friends decide to lose their virginity this summer.  But Francie just isn't into dating.  And when she goes manhunting on the beach she discovers the lure of surfing.  Soon enough the guys have dubbed her Gidget (girl + midget) and she's learning to be one of them.  At the same time, she finally discovers boys.  Or, well,  a boy.  She's soon making a plan to get Moondoggie (James Darren) to notice her and take it to the next level.

On some levels, Gidget is quite progressive.  Gidget never lets anyone convince her that she can't do as well as the boys.  Her mom argues with her father that it's all right for her to grow older and explore her sexuality.  When her mom tells her it's up to the boy to make a move, however, she realizes that she needs to make the first move.  She gets pretty aggressive about what she wants.  At the same time, the movie ends with Gidget happy that Moondoggie pins her sweater and gives her a hug.  The Gidget at the beginning of the movie might've been happy with that, but it's a wholesome ending incongruent with her character growth. 

There's a lot of interesting sociological things going on in Gidget, particularly the tension between the middle class and the bohemian surfers.  It's a product of it's time, definitely.  But it only ever dances on the verge of radical, always pulling back to be a fun teen movie.  There's also some cringe worthy stuff.  The stunt surfers are fine, but all close ups are horribly fake looking.  Darren serenades Gidget twice, which is painfully cheesy.

If you haven't seen Gidget, I'd give it a chance.  It's an iconic movie, of course, but less dated than I expected.  Plus, Cliff Robertson is fantastic and rarely shirted as Kahuna.  It's no wonder Gidget uses him to make Moondoggie jealous.