Author Interview & SIGNED Copy of "Neon Graveyard" + Poker Chip Giveaway w/ Vicki Pettersson!

 

Hello everyone!

Please help me welcome one of my favorite authors to the blog tonight!

Vicki Pettersson is here to talk about the end of The Signs of The Zodiac series and she has been awesome enough to offer an amazing giveaway!

Enjoy!

• How are you feeling now that you are done with the Signs of the zodiac series? Will you miss that world and characters?

It’ s definitely odd not having them roll around in my gray matter every free (and working) moment. It feels a bit like a graduation, with everyone moving in different directions in order to pursue their individual dreams. Yet I also feel that, like graduation, it’ s time for that. We’ ve learned all we can at this time in this place with these people. So I can’ t say I’ ll miss them because they’ re not really gone to me. They’ re just in my periphery, rather than direct sight. I dunno … maybe we’ ll reconnect someday on Facebook. ;-)

• I have to say that you came out with a bang for the finale and that I for one am not ready to say goodbye to Joanna and co. Any plans to revisit that world in novellas?

None right now, but never say never. I’ d need the characters to approach me, though. I’ ve learned through trial-and-error that I don’ t like to write anything unless I really feel I must. So it has to be a story that touches (or guts) me in some way – and can compete with what I have going on creatively now - even (or especially) in a shorter format.

• Did you always have a plan for things to go the way they did or did things fall into place with time?

A little of both. I knew most of the major plot twists, as well as the series’ ending, and that’ s how I was able to plant clues and red herrings from the first book to the last. However, getting from A to Z was in many ways a mystery, and that’ s one of my favorite things about writing. Some things only make themselves known when you’ re seeking specificity. That’ s when characters or themes unexpectedly pop up, yet somehow appear as if they were always meant to be. The entire troop of grays were like that for me. I’ d originally conceived of the series as a battle solely between Shadow and Light, yet
what else could Joanna ultimately be, but gray? So while I write with an end in mind, and I plot for my own mental comfort, I’ ve learned to leave ample opportunity for mystery and surprise.

• Which was your favorite character in the series?

I don’ t think it would come as any surprise that it’ s Joanna. She’ s hard and cynical, tough and moody, stubborn and justified, broken and thoughtful. But for all her faults, she’ s really trying, you know? She wants to be a good person, and to do the right thing in a hard world, yet she’ s not afraid to pull the trigger when it comes to protecting what’ s hers. She decisively makes tough decisions when pressed, and while I still admire the strength that has been her hallmark from page one of the first book, her willingness to open up and be vulnerable even after so many betrayals and hardships is so attractive to me. I’ ve learned from Jo that being soft and hopeful is not the same thing as being weak. What a great lesson to hold on to when facing life’ s inevitable obstacles and changes. Do the best you can, and retain your hope and humanity through it all. I love that.

• Which was your least favorite?

My instinct is to say the Tulpa – after all, he’ s the Big Bad, the ultimate evil – but the more nuanced evil is somebody like Warren, who was trusted and embraced, and who then betrayed that trust. His
character growth surprised even me, it was so slow and organic, but as I peeled back more and more of his layers, it became clear that his actions were based on beliefs that were just as extreme as his enemies’ beliefs, and a mind that was just as inflexible as well. He’ s a great example of someone who is more emotionally invested in being right than being compassionate, understanding, kind … in being
human.

• Which character will you miss the most?

I loved Cher and Suzanne. Their uncomplicated, unconditional friendship was such a balm to Joanna’ s soul. She was so mistrustful and emotionally shattered at the beginning of the series, and their friendship helped heal her in those ways. A great deal of her being able to eventually open herself up to love was because of them.

• Any plans for "Signs of the zodiac" Graphic Novels? I mean, with all the talk of comic books in the series it must have crossed your mind at some point, no?

Not at this time. There’ s been talk now and again, but I don’ t concern myself with that. I just write the novels.

• What are you planning for us next? Can you tell us a little bit about it?

Next up is THE TAKEN, the first book in my new Celestial Blues trilogy. The series has a slightly different focus than did Zodiac – more supernatural noir than pure urban fantasy – but it still retains the dark romance, gritty setting, and worldbuilding that I find such great fun. I’ ve long loved detective fiction, so coupling that genre with the supernatural has let my mind go all inventive and twisty. I’ ve just handed in the first draft, so it should be on shelves around spring of 2012.

Find Vicki Pettersson Online:

Website/Blog | Twitter

Facebook

Buy Vicki’s Books:

Amazon.com | Book Depot | Barnes and Noble

Check Out:

My ARC Review of Cheat The Grave!

My ARC Review of Neon Graveyard!

 

 

To Enter:

 

Leave a comment about anything in the interview above

Fill Out THIS Form!

Extra Entries in The Comments WILL NOT COUNT!

*please read my Contest policy*

 

 

Extra Entries:

• +5 Google Friend Connect Follower {Follow Publicly}
• +5 Networked Blogs Follower
• +5 Subscribe to The Blog by Email (Form near the top of the Right Sidebar)
• +3 Follow me on Twitter (@larissa_sarah)
• +3 Follow Vicki Pettersson on Twitter (@VickiPettersson)  
• +2 “Like” Larissa's Life on Facebook
• +2 Be my friend on Goodreads
• +1 Add all your entries! (including this one!)

 

INTERNATIONAL!

Ends May 31st!

Good Luck!

 

Don’t Forget to Vote for Next Week’s {May 29th} Theme for

The TOP 5 Sundays Post on the Poll at the left sidebar!

Check Out My Design Blog:

Great Anti-Piracy Badge Up for Grabs!

*Great Freebies Available!

AWESOME Giveaway!

&

Sign Up for…

 

Thanks so much for tuning in and I’ll see you soon!

xoxo,