Kimberly Derting is one of my new favorite authors (one day, I'll make a list), and she was gracious enough to answer a few questions for us here at YALR. I'm sure I could've found several more questions, but with her fabulous book, The Body Finder, out now and her the sequel, Desires of the Dead, in the works, we couldn't take up too much of her time.
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What's the best part of having a book published (so far)?
For me, the absolute best part has been hearing from all the readers! I’ve gotten some wonderful letters (hand written even!) and emails from readers who loved THE BODY FINDER. How freaking cool is that?!?! That is by far my favorite part of getting published!
Not only is this a paranormal YA, but it's also a very good mystery novel. Did you draw on any other books for inspiration as you were writing this?
I’ve always loved a good mystery, although my original inspiration is probably more along the lines of true horror. As a teen, I pretty much read everything Stephen King had written.
Was it difficult to write Violet and Jay's relationship?
I wouldn’t say it was difficult, although when I first started writing The Body Finder, their relationship wasn’t going to play such a big role in the story. Of course, the more I got to know Jay, I simply couldn’t keep him away from Violet! :)
Why did you choose to have Jay in on the secret of Violet's ability?
Violet definitely needed someone she could confide in. And when she shared her secret with Jay (at such a young age) I think it showed just how deep their friendship went. That bond between them was important, especially when they started to explore their true feelings for each other.
There are parts in The Body Finder that are definitely on the darker side of YA. Do you ever have trouble processing those parts, emotionally? Why did you feel it was important to include the killer's perspective?
Call me creepy, but these were actually my favorite parts to write! I loved letting readers see glimpses of what was going on inside the killer’s head. The first version of The Body Finder had fewer chapters from the killer’s POV, but thankfully, my editor wanted more which made my incredibly happy! (Okay, that even sounded creepy to me!)
What do you hope readers will take away from The Body Finder?
I really hope the readers feel a connection to the characters, and I guess it wouldn’t hurt if they were a little scared here and there!
Oh, and don’t talk to strangers!
Can you tell us anything about the sequel, Desires of the Dead?
I may get in trouble for telling you this but… someone will definitely die!
Seriously, though, here’s the short synopsis: When Violet Ambrose's morbid ability to sense the echoes of those who've been murdered leads her to the body of a young boy, she draws the attention of the FBI. She is reluctantly pulled into an investigation that will endanger more than just her secret... but her relationship and possibly her life as well.
If you could put your name on any book ever written, claiming it as your own, what book would you choose and why?
Despite everything I’d tried for many, many years, my oldest daughter was simply a non-reader… until she read Twilight. Now, she’s a huge reader. So yeah, I would love to have written the book that finally hooked her! Plus, if I wrote Twilight, I’m pretty sure I could introduce my youngest daughter (9-years-old) to Robert Pattinson, which would score me some huge mommy points because she’s totally Team Edward!!
For me, the absolute best part has been hearing from all the readers! I’ve gotten some wonderful letters (hand written even!) and emails from readers who loved THE BODY FINDER. How freaking cool is that?!?! That is by far my favorite part of getting published!
Not only is this a paranormal YA, but it's also a very good mystery novel. Did you draw on any other books for inspiration as you were writing this?
I’ve always loved a good mystery, although my original inspiration is probably more along the lines of true horror. As a teen, I pretty much read everything Stephen King had written.
Was it difficult to write Violet and Jay's relationship?
I wouldn’t say it was difficult, although when I first started writing The Body Finder, their relationship wasn’t going to play such a big role in the story. Of course, the more I got to know Jay, I simply couldn’t keep him away from Violet! :)
Why did you choose to have Jay in on the secret of Violet's ability?
Violet definitely needed someone she could confide in. And when she shared her secret with Jay (at such a young age) I think it showed just how deep their friendship went. That bond between them was important, especially when they started to explore their true feelings for each other.
There are parts in The Body Finder that are definitely on the darker side of YA. Do you ever have trouble processing those parts, emotionally? Why did you feel it was important to include the killer's perspective?
Call me creepy, but these were actually my favorite parts to write! I loved letting readers see glimpses of what was going on inside the killer’s head. The first version of The Body Finder had fewer chapters from the killer’s POV, but thankfully, my editor wanted more which made my incredibly happy! (Okay, that even sounded creepy to me!)
What do you hope readers will take away from The Body Finder?
I really hope the readers feel a connection to the characters, and I guess it wouldn’t hurt if they were a little scared here and there!
Oh, and don’t talk to strangers!
Can you tell us anything about the sequel, Desires of the Dead?
I may get in trouble for telling you this but… someone will definitely die!
Seriously, though, here’s the short synopsis: When Violet Ambrose's morbid ability to sense the echoes of those who've been murdered leads her to the body of a young boy, she draws the attention of the FBI. She is reluctantly pulled into an investigation that will endanger more than just her secret... but her relationship and possibly her life as well.
If you could put your name on any book ever written, claiming it as your own, what book would you choose and why?
Despite everything I’d tried for many, many years, my oldest daughter was simply a non-reader… until she read Twilight. Now, she’s a huge reader. So yeah, I would love to have written the book that finally hooked her! Plus, if I wrote Twilight, I’m pretty sure I could introduce my youngest daughter (9-years-old) to Robert Pattinson, which would score me some huge mommy points because she’s totally Team Edward!!
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A huge thanks to Kim Derting! If you haven't already, check out yesterday's review of The Body Finder, here on the blog. And if you'd like to get your own signed copy of the book, here's how:
- Tweet, Facebook, or blog about this contest.
- Follow us on the blog and/or on Twitter.
- Leave a comment on this post with your name, age, and a link to your tweet/FB/blog, along with the reason you'd like to read The Body Finder.
Deadline to enter is September 29, 2010. Along with the autographed book, you'll receive a Body Finder tote bag and bracelet. Good luck!
Until next time, go read something!
~ Vilate
Posts
I loved The Body Finder! I cannot wait until Desires of the Dead!
ReplyDeleteI follow you on Twitter and I tweeted here: http://twitter.com/DustMiteBunny/status/25271227301
My name is Casey Harris-Parks, I'm 18, www.twitter.com/DustMiteBunny is where you can find me. I would love to reread The Body Finder because I'm in love with Jay and the book was the perfectly blend of creepy and love story. It's one of my favorite novels ever (and I'm a big time reader).
Eek the Body Finder was amazing! Thanks for the chance to win it :) I would love to be able to read it again!
ReplyDeleteAm a twitter and blog follower
I tweeted: http://twitter.com/ramen_addict/status/25274160806
April Xu, age 15, my twitter: http://twitter.com/ramen_addict
aprilxu2222@gmail.com
Hi! :) My name is Melissa Miranda and I'm 17 years old. I'm a huge fan of YA books. I would really, really love to win The Body Finder book.I'm a huge fans of romance and mysterious/dark books ever since I got my nose into books. I've read the awesome reviews you and some people have made and I've fallen in love with Ms. Derting's book. :) My friends have been talking about TBF EVERYWHERE! And I feel like I'm left behind because I've not read it yet.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for interviewing Ms. Derting. I swear I tried not to read the part where she mentions the second book but my eyes betrayed me, lol, what can I say, I'm just a teebager. :)
I follow you on twitter (@Minamostaza) and here is my post about this contest: http://twitter.com/Minamostaza/statuses/25343884799
My email is: meli_963@hotmail.com
Again, a huge thanks for doing this contest and also for writing your review for The Body Finder. If anything, it only fed the hunger to read TBF even more. :D
Thank you so much for this giveaway! I love The Body Finder, in the middle of reading it and am part of a Desires of the Dead ARC tour, but everything seems so much more special when it's signed for some reason.
ReplyDeleteIvy Hawthorn
ivy@ivyhawthorn.com
Tweeted: http://twitter.com/ivyhawthorn/status/25360465215
Thanks for the chance to win! Great interview!
I'm Ashley. 26 years old. I love to read YA even though I'm not exactly in that age bracket. The Body Finder is on my TBR list because it had gotten a lot of good reviews and I love the cover!!
ReplyDeleteTweeted: http://twitter.com/#!/ferretvamp14/status/25466028406
My name is Justine Rychlik and I LOVED LOVED LOVED The Body Finder! I'm 18, I can't follow on Facebook or Twitter because I have neither (I find them annoying, plus I'd rather read :D) but I do follow your blog! (Is that enough? I really hope so because I do so love TBF). I want to reread it so I can enjoy it's amazingness all over again XDD
ReplyDeleteI'm Judit, 22 years old, loving YA paranormal and paranormal romances.
ReplyDeleteI follow you on twitter (@judittten) and via GFC (Judit).
I'd love to win The Body Finder because I keep reading this amazing interviews with Kimberly Derting and reviews of TBF and Desires of the Dead and they make me want to read it so bad :)
Please enter me only if the contest is International (I hope it is) as I'm from Slovakia.
Thanks!
judittten(at)gmail(dot)com
The Reason i want this book, honestly i've been chasing this book around from months ago. intrigued by the story coz i had read so many great reviews about it.
ReplyDeleteI'm Mariska H, 30 yos.
- i tweeted : http://twitter.com/becunique/status/25641081354
- Follow you on the blog and on Twitter (@becunique)
uniquas at ymail dot com