Interview & Giveaway: Tracy Deebs “Tempest Rising”

A big welcome to author Tracy Deebs today!  Tracy is the author of the soon to be released Paranormal YA novel TEMPEST RISING (May 10th 2011 by Walker Books for Young Readers).  I reviewed TEMPEST RISING earlier this week calling it “…the perfect book to sink into over the summer. Romance and adventure abound in this mermaid tale that’s a fin above the rest.”  Tracy was kind enough to answer some of my questions about her book including who she would cast in a movie version (I agree with her completely), and her publisher has provided a giveaway too. See details below.

First off, I’d like to thank Abigail so much for having me. I love this blog and it’s great to be back so soon

ATUF: How would you describe TEMPEST RISING to someone who had never heard of it?

TD: Tempest Rising is a dark mermaid paranormal, with a kick-butt heroine, a love triangle with two hot guys, a battle between good and evil and a wrenching emotional decision. Oh, and surfing. Lots and lots of surfing

ATUF: One of my absolute favorite things about Tempest was her refusal to feel sorry for herself in the face of the terrible choice she had to make. How important was it for you to have a character who didn’t mope?

TD: Hugely important. I know that a bit of self-pity is normal in a situation like Tempest’s, but at the same time, I wanted to show a heroine who was in control of herself even when everything else in her life was spiraling out of her control. Tempest wants to stay human, but when things happen that make that desire seem impossible, I love that she doesn’t whine about it, but instead does everything she can to make things turn out well for everyone involved in her dilemma.

ATUF: Most of the names in TEMPEST RISING have meanings that describe their characters. Did the names come first or did you search for names that fit your characters?

TD: A little bit of both, actually. Tempest’s name was really difficult for me to come up with—she went through three or four different names, and finally I had taken to calling her mermaid girl in my own head when I finally left it up to her and Tempest just popped up. Her powers and abilities all came to me after I’d named her, and definitely stemmed from that and not the other way around. The other characters were easier for me to name, and yes, I had an idea of who I wanted them to be before I named them, so I looked for names that represented who I wanted them to be.

ATUF: What was it that drew you to mermaids?

TD: Honestly, I have been a fan of mermaids FOREVER! When I was little (like three) my mom bought me a VCR tape of Hans Christian Anderson’s The Little Mermaid. I watched that video at least once a day for three or four years. My mom swears she still has the dialogue memorized. From then on, I watched or read every mermaid movie, book or story that I came across. So, when I told my agent that I wanted to write a dark paranormal YA, though I wasn’t sure what I wanted it to be, and she came back a few days later with the comment “How do you feel about mermaids …” I was off and running. Within a week I had the beginnings of a proposal ready and within three months, we’d sold Tempest Rising (though at the time, it was called Rip Tide).

ATUF: You also write Paranormal Romance under the name Tessa Adams, and Romances under the name Tracey Wolff. How different is it writing YA?

TD: Wow, YA is completely different and yet not. I say this because I really believe YA is one of the most exciting markets to be writing in today. There are so many possibilities, so many new and fantastic ideas, that I feel really blessed that I’m able to be a part of it. For me, I think the hardest thing wasn’t structuring a YA novel, as to a certain extent, the structure is the same whether you are writing for adults or a younger audience. At the same time, writing in first person, and trying to get Tempest’s voice just right, was a little more challenging for me, simply because I had never written a first person narrator before. More than once, I wanted to be in other characters’ heads, and it chafed that I couldn’t. At the same time, I think it made the book stronger because I had to work so hard and be so careful in order to get across the feelings I wanted to show.

ATUF: I'm a cover art junkie. What can you tell us about the cover art for TEMPEST RISING. Do you know who the artist is?

TD: I do know who the artist is. Walker has been absolutely fabulous to me with Tempest Rising, and part of that was that they hired an outside artist to do the cover. I fell in love with her paintings as soon as I saw them. Her name is Katarina Sokolva and here’s a link to her portfolio. http://www.alanlynchartists.com/katarinasokolova.html

ATUF: The ending of TEMPEST RISING is not a cliffhanger, but I can see potential for more Tempest books, are there plans for more? What other projects can we look forwarding to reading from you soon?

TD: Oh, I really hope there will be more Tempest books. I’ve always planned on it being a trilogy, as I have many more plans for Tempest and her guys, but right now we’re just waiting to see how Tempest Rising does. If things go as planned, there will definitely be more books ;)

As for what you’ll be seeing from me next on the YA front … in January 2012, The International Kissing Club by Ivy Adams hits the shelves. Two of my closest writing friends and I wrote this story about four small town girls who become international exchange students in search of life, love and facebook fame. And in Fall 2012, the first book in my dystopian Pandora trilogy will hit. It’s tentatively called Zero Day and is a modern re-telling of the Pandora myth, except instead of opening a box, my main character opens an attachment and hearkens technological Armageddon. I’m writing it right now and having so much fun destroying the world via virus and video game.

ATUF: If TEMPEST RISING were ever made into a movie, who would your dream or, to keep things interesting, nightmare cast be?

TD: TD: Oh, I don’t know. I have friends who totally cast their book as they’re writing it, or even before they start, but I’m so not one of them. Off the top of my head, I would love to see Emma Stone as Tempest—she’s one of my favorite young actresses today. For Kona (formerly known as Kai) , I think Thomas McDonnell would be interesting and for Mark, Chase Crawford

ATUF: Finish this statement with as much/little detail as you like: You'll like TEMPEST  RISING if you like...

TD: …surfer movies, dark paranormals, hot love triangles and mermaid heroines …

ATUF: Thanks so much for stopping by Tracy.  Come back anytime!

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Tracy Deebs lives with four men, teaches writing to local college students and spends as much time as she can manage immersed in worlds of her own creation. Married to the alpha hero of her dreams for twelve years, she is the mother of three young sons who spend most of their time trying to make her as crazy as possible.

Visit Tracy online: Website|Blog|Twitter|Facebook

One copy of TEMPEST RISING by Tracy Deebs

Available on May 10th 2011 by Walker Books for Young Readers

Tempest Maguire wants nothing more than to surf the killer waves near her California home; continue her steady relationship with her boyfriend, Mark; and take care of her brothers and surfer dad. But Tempest is half mermaid, and as her seventeenth birthday approaches, she will have to decide whether to remain on land or give herself to the ocean like her mother. The pull of the water becomes as insistent as her attraction to Kai, a gorgeous surfer whose uncanny abilities hint at an otherworldly identity as well. And when Tempest does finally give in to the water's temptation and enters a fantastical underwater world, she finds that a larger destiny awaits her—and that the entire ocean's future hangs in the balance.

Click HERE to read an excerpt

GIVEAWAY GUIDELINES

1. Open to US only
2. Leave a comment for Tracy about why you love mermaids & way to contact you if you win
3. Winner will be announced on May 15th

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