I’m so excited to have Karen Akins with us today! Not only is she an
amazing writer, but she’s also a really awesome person. Her debut, LOOP, is so
much fun. I love her take on time travel and I’m usually pretty anti-time
travel, so that’s saying a lot. I’m currently halfway through the sequel, TWIST,
and loving it even more than LOOP. I just need more hours in the day so I can
read until the wee hours of the morning and
be mentally present at work the next day. ;)
Welcome, Karen!
How do you manage your writing time with two little ones to keep
you busy?
Magical elves. Oh, WAIT. That's the fairy tale version of my life.
I started writing, period, soon after my older son (who is now six) was
born. He was a great napper, and it wasn't too difficult to find two-hour (or
more) chunks of time in which to write.
Then, the same week that I received my editorial letter for LOOP, I
found out that I was pregnant with our second son. Having a second child threw
my whole writing system out the window. That first year with revising LOOP,
drafting and rewriting and revising TWIST, and then launching both of them into
the world was rough.
I tend to snatch snippets of writing time where I can find it--ten
minutes in car line, twenty minutes while my toddler is playing nicely with his
cars, jotting down ideas as I'm ironing.
Do you have any unusual writing rituals?
I don't know that it's a ritual, per se, but I find that I'm most
creative when I sit (or stand) somewhere other than my desk. So when I'm stuck
on a scene, I'll take my laptop and curl up on the floor.
Do you prefer drafting or revising?
Basically, whichever I'm not doing at the moment. Just kidding.
Sort of.
There are things I like about each. I like the unfettered possibility
of a brand-spanking new story. I always hit around 25K, though, and go,
"Blerg. What was I thinking?" My inner editor is a loudmouth.
With revisions, I love that it's like a logic problem. I know the raw
material I have to work with. I know what I want it to look like by the time
I'm done with it. To me, revising almost feels like piecing it together
backward. Which is great when the pieces are fitting well but stinks when I
have to rip the whole thing apart.
What is your favorite type of scene to write? And your least
favorite?
I love writing action scenes and rapid-fire banter. Hmm...least
favorite? Probably dense monologues. Not many of those in LOOP or TWIST. :)
What authors do you like to read? What book or books have had a
strong influence on your writing?
Oh, goodness. I'm pretty eclectic in my tastes. I devour anything
by Jane Austen, Agatha Christie, and Daphne du Maurier. And then, I love anyone
who can make me laugh.
I'm a fan of Meg Cabot's Mediator series, and when I met her at RT, she
mentioned she's releasing an adult installment next February. Yeah, I basically
tackle-hugged her.
Right now, I'm reading TINY PRETTY THINGS by Sona Charaipotra and
Dhonielle Clayton and really enjoy it. It follows three dancers competing for
the top slot in a prestigious ballet school. It's one of those books that makes
you cringe at all the self-destructive decisions that the main characters make,
but at the same time, you're rooting for all of them, even the antagonist.
Is there a published book you wish you could have written?
I'm sure this will sound cliche, but Harry Potter. Not the
worldwide phenomenon aspect of it. It's just that every time I re-read it, I
catch new, minute details in the earlier books that she weaves into the later
books. I'm in awe of her scope of vision.
What writing advice do you have for other aspiring authors?
I can't remember who originally said this. I read it in a blog post
years ago. (I want to say, maybe Aprilynne Pyke?) Basically, she (it was
definitely a she) said: Write the best story you can. Revise it until you think
it's perfect. Then put it away for six months and come back and revise it
again. I think she even mentions trashing it and starting over. It was painful
to read that at the time, but there was wisdom in it.
Oh, and get as MUCH feedback as you can. You won't have the opportunity
to get as varied feedback once you're under contract and on deadlines. And
you'll miss it.
Are you working on anything new? Any exciting news you want to
share?
I am working on something new. Unfortunately, I can't talk about it
on the internets yet. All I can say is that it's fun. No time travel, but I
think the LOOP gang would fit in well in this world.
Just for fun:
Paper and pen or
computer monitor and keyboard? Paper and pen for revising. Monitor and keyboard
for drafting.
Paperback,
hardcover, or ebook? Ebook. I like to fall asleep reading.
Favorite caffeinated
beverage? Coke.
Chocolate or bacon?
YOU CAN'T MAKE ME CHOOSE.
Favorite TV show?
Sherlock
If you had a
superpower, what would it be and why? Teleportation. Obviously, for the
vacation possibilities. Plus, my hubby's family lives twelve hours away. I'd
love to be able to see my nephews and in-laws whenever I wanted.
Anything else you want to share?
Thank you so much for having me on Operation Awesome today! I hope you
and your readers enjoy LOOP and TWIST. <3
Thank you, Karen, for joining us!
LOOP Synopsis:
At a school where Quantum Paradox 101 is a required course and history
field trips are literal, sixteen year-old time traveler Bree Bennis excels...
at screwing up.
After Bree botches a solo midterm to the 21st century by accidentally
taking a boy hostage (a teensy snafu), she stands to lose her scholarship. But
when Bree sneaks back to talk the kid into keeping his yap shut, she doesn't go
back far enough. The boy, Finn, now three years older and hot as a solar flare,
is convinced he’s in love with Bree, or rather, a future version of her that
doesn't think he’s a complete pain in the arse. To make matters worse, she
inadvertently transports him back to the 23rd century with her.
Once home, Bree discovers that a recent rash of accidents at her school
are anything but accidental. Someone is attacking time travelers. As Bree and
her temporal tag-along uncover seemingly unconnected clues—a broken bracelet, a
missing data file, the art heist of the millennium—that lead to the person
responsible, she alone has the knowledge to piece the puzzle together.
Knowledge only one other person has. Her future self.
But when those closest to her become the next victims, Bree realizes
the attacker is willing to do anything to stop her. In the past, present, or
future.
2 comments:
Thanks for the interview! I loved LOOP and I can't wait to read TWIST. :)
Thanks, Melanie!!
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