Today I welcome a wonderful author who I’ve had the privilege to get to know. Meradeth Houston is the creator of the new novel, Colors Like Memories:
Julia has a secret: she killed the guy she loved. It was an accident—sort of.
(I also had the privilege of creating the cover for Colors Like Memories, so it’s a special treat for me to interview Meradeth. )
So happy to have you on the Mind’s Eye Meradeth. Can you tell your readers something interesting about yourself AND/OR your favorite character.
I’m really not that interesting of a person, but here’s one random tidbit that I don’t often share: I don’t eat veggies, or at least as many as I can possible avoid :). I know, I know, this isn’t healthy, but I’m just not a fan!
Lol. I’d rather eat cake too. ;-) So, what was your favorite book as a teen? Tell us about it and how it affected you as a person.
I had a lot of favorite books when I was younger! As a teen, specifically, I read a lot of adult books (YA wasn’t as big then, sadly). One that still sticks with me is The Thorn Birds, which I read and loved as a Junior in high school. It was so rich, and lovely, and sad! One of those books that I still carry around in my head.
I love a book that grabs you and won’t disappear from your memory. Tell us about the genre you have chosen to write for. Why do write specifically for them?
I write YA, on the older end of the spectrum (more for the 16/17+ crowd). I write for this group mainly because that the age reading most helped me out. Escaping into a good book during that time really helped me relax and find some peace, and I hope that by providing something fun and interesting to read, I can allow others the opportunity to do the same!
Now the exciting part. Tell us about your new book. How did it come about and share your favorite excerpt/scene.
My book, Colors Like Memories, came about because of a song. I had already written several books set in the same world of the Sary, but then I was driving home one night and heard a Linkin Park song on the radion (Shadow of a Day—an old song now, I know!), and it just kind of hit me, the plot, the characters, the whole thing. And I had to sit down and write it out!
Here’s a little tidbit from the opening: “I greeted his tombstone the way I always did—with a swift kick. The release of frustration was more than worth the sharp pain in my toes. The polished marble tilted to the left because of all my visits; a crooked tooth in the rows of pearly white graves.”
I can’t wait to read it! How has writing affected your life? And what’s your favorite part of being a writer?
Writing is such a big part of my life I have a hard time imagining what it would be like without it! Writing provides me with a release and an escape that I need, especially when the real world just gets too overwhelming. My favorite part of writing is being swallowed by the page, or falling into the story so much I forget that I’m actually writing it, but living it instead :).
What advice can you give regarding the writing process?
Keep writing! Always, just keep getting words on paper. They don’t have to be good, but eventually they will be!
Regarding publication and marketing, what advice can you offer aspiring writers?
Hah! I’m stumbling around in the dark on this one, it seems. I guess, just be friendly. And open to trying new things!
I know you’ll do great with your book, but I’m wishing you all the best with this beautiful novel. How can your fans find, follow or friend you?
I’m all over the web!
www.MeradethHouston.com
meradethhouston.blogspot.com
https://twitter.com/#!/MeradethHouston
www.goodreads.com/book/show/13030422-colors-like-memories
http://www.facebook.com/ColorsLikeMemories
http://pinterest.com/merbear95695/
I also have a contest running for my blog tour—all commenter’s are entered into a drawing for two copies of my book, and one person will win a $25 giftcard to Amazon or Barnes & Noble. There are more details on my home blog, if you want to check it out!
A bit about the Colors Like Memories:
Julia is a Sary, the soul of a child who died before taking her first breath. Without this 'breath of life' she and others like her must help those on the verge of suicide. It's a job Julia used to enjoy, until the accident that claimed her boyfriend’s life—an accident she knows was her fault. If living with the guilt weren't enough, she's now assigned to help a girl dealing with the loss of her mother, something Julia's not exactly the best role model for. If she can't figure out a way to help her, Julia's going to lose her position in the Sary, something she swore to her boyfriend would never happen.
Release date: May 11th 2012 from MuseItUp Publishing.
A bit about Meradeth Houston:
Meradeth’s never been a big fan of talking about herself, but if you really want to know, here are some random tidbits about her:
* She’s a Northern California girl. This generally means she talks too fast and use "like" a lot.
* When she’s not writing, she’s sequencing dead people’s DNA. For fun!
* She’s been writing since she was 11 years old. It's her hobby, her passion, and she’s so happy to get to share her work!
* If she could have a super-power, it would totally be flying. Which is a little strange, because she’s terrified of heights.
Thanks for joining me today Meradeth! And for our readers, be sure to check Meradeth’s web page to be included in her great giveaway! Who wouldn’t want a $25 gift card?
C.K. Volnek
Julia has a secret: she killed the guy she loved. It was an accident—sort of.
(I also had the privilege of creating the cover for Colors Like Memories, so it’s a special treat for me to interview Meradeth. )
So happy to have you on the Mind’s Eye Meradeth. Can you tell your readers something interesting about yourself AND/OR your favorite character.
I’m really not that interesting of a person, but here’s one random tidbit that I don’t often share: I don’t eat veggies, or at least as many as I can possible avoid :). I know, I know, this isn’t healthy, but I’m just not a fan!
Lol. I’d rather eat cake too. ;-) So, what was your favorite book as a teen? Tell us about it and how it affected you as a person.
I had a lot of favorite books when I was younger! As a teen, specifically, I read a lot of adult books (YA wasn’t as big then, sadly). One that still sticks with me is The Thorn Birds, which I read and loved as a Junior in high school. It was so rich, and lovely, and sad! One of those books that I still carry around in my head.
I love a book that grabs you and won’t disappear from your memory. Tell us about the genre you have chosen to write for. Why do write specifically for them?
I write YA, on the older end of the spectrum (more for the 16/17+ crowd). I write for this group mainly because that the age reading most helped me out. Escaping into a good book during that time really helped me relax and find some peace, and I hope that by providing something fun and interesting to read, I can allow others the opportunity to do the same!
Now the exciting part. Tell us about your new book. How did it come about and share your favorite excerpt/scene.
My book, Colors Like Memories, came about because of a song. I had already written several books set in the same world of the Sary, but then I was driving home one night and heard a Linkin Park song on the radion (Shadow of a Day—an old song now, I know!), and it just kind of hit me, the plot, the characters, the whole thing. And I had to sit down and write it out!
Here’s a little tidbit from the opening: “I greeted his tombstone the way I always did—with a swift kick. The release of frustration was more than worth the sharp pain in my toes. The polished marble tilted to the left because of all my visits; a crooked tooth in the rows of pearly white graves.”
I can’t wait to read it! How has writing affected your life? And what’s your favorite part of being a writer?
Writing is such a big part of my life I have a hard time imagining what it would be like without it! Writing provides me with a release and an escape that I need, especially when the real world just gets too overwhelming. My favorite part of writing is being swallowed by the page, or falling into the story so much I forget that I’m actually writing it, but living it instead :).
What advice can you give regarding the writing process?
Keep writing! Always, just keep getting words on paper. They don’t have to be good, but eventually they will be!
Regarding publication and marketing, what advice can you offer aspiring writers?
Hah! I’m stumbling around in the dark on this one, it seems. I guess, just be friendly. And open to trying new things!
I know you’ll do great with your book, but I’m wishing you all the best with this beautiful novel. How can your fans find, follow or friend you?
I’m all over the web!
www.MeradethHouston.com
meradethhouston.blogspot.com
https://twitter.com/#!/MeradethHouston
www.goodreads.com/book/show/13030422-colors-like-memories
http://www.facebook.com/ColorsLikeMemories
http://pinterest.com/merbear95695/
I also have a contest running for my blog tour—all commenter’s are entered into a drawing for two copies of my book, and one person will win a $25 giftcard to Amazon or Barnes & Noble. There are more details on my home blog, if you want to check it out!
A bit about the Colors Like Memories:
Julia is a Sary, the soul of a child who died before taking her first breath. Without this 'breath of life' she and others like her must help those on the verge of suicide. It's a job Julia used to enjoy, until the accident that claimed her boyfriend’s life—an accident she knows was her fault. If living with the guilt weren't enough, she's now assigned to help a girl dealing with the loss of her mother, something Julia's not exactly the best role model for. If she can't figure out a way to help her, Julia's going to lose her position in the Sary, something she swore to her boyfriend would never happen.
Release date: May 11th 2012 from MuseItUp Publishing.
A bit about Meradeth Houston:
Meradeth’s never been a big fan of talking about herself, but if you really want to know, here are some random tidbits about her:
* She’s a Northern California girl. This generally means she talks too fast and use "like" a lot.
* When she’s not writing, she’s sequencing dead people’s DNA. For fun!
* She’s been writing since she was 11 years old. It's her hobby, her passion, and she’s so happy to get to share her work!
* If she could have a super-power, it would totally be flying. Which is a little strange, because she’s terrified of heights.
Thanks for joining me today Meradeth! And for our readers, be sure to check Meradeth’s web page to be included in her great giveaway! Who wouldn’t want a $25 gift card?
C.K. Volnek
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