End of Summer Read-a-Thon: Interview and Giveaway with Eileen Cook

The End of Summer Read-a-Thon is finally here! If you haven't signed up yet, you can do so here. You have until tonight (Friday) at midnight. For the first day of the read-a-thon I'm so happy to have Eileen Cook, author of The Almost Truth, Unraveling Isobel and The Education of Hailey Kendrick. If you guys are looking for a quick mystery to read on a rainy day, I highly suggest Unraveling Isobel. I had the chance to ask her a few questions and here are her answers!

Your Writing:

1. What has been your favorite character to write out of all your books?

Oooh, hard question.  I like all of them. The most honest answer is that I love the main character of the book I am writing at that time the most.  It's only fair we're spending all of our time together.  When I'm writing a book I spend hours in the head of that character so they get the favorite nod.  That means that right now it's a girl called Kalah.  You haven't met her yet, but I think (hope) you'll love her. 

2. You have a middle grade series out already, but do you have any plans to write a young adult series? (If you do? Can you tell us what genre it would be?)

You must be psychic!  I am working on a YA series that right now is called Vanished (but the title may change).  The series will be three books long and I would describe it as a thriller.  Sort of a Gone Girl meets Pretty Little Liars.  The main character, Kalah, is so much fun to write. I almost feel bad about all the difficult situations I keep putting her into. 

3. Unraveling Isobel is a fantastic mystery and I devoured it in a day, how different was writing a book with a paranormal spin compared to your other more contemporary books?

I'm so glad you liked the book.   I find that some books come to me with the idea first and I have to figure out which character would be best for the story. Other books, like Unraveling Isobel, started with the character.  I had a very clear idea of who she was and then I had to figure out what type of story would best push her to her limits. I enjoyed doing the paranormal parts of the story, it was fun trying to figure out if I could scare myself. 

Your Summer:

1. What was your favorite memory of this summer?

There is an off leash park not far from our house right on the beach.  We've had great weather so I've loved taking my dog Cairo down there. He runs around like crazy and does his best to find some dead stinky thing to rub in and I like sitting there soaking up the view. It's a win-win situation for both of us.  I find my best summer memories are usually small things, sitting on a patio with friends or reading in the sunshine. 

2. Hopefully you've read some great books this summer. Out of all the books you read, which is the one book you would push on everyone if you could?

 

Can I really only pick one? Terra Elan McVoy's  Criminal was really good- I'd encourage people to read that one. It's the kind of book you want to talk about with someone once you finish it. .   I was also behind the times, so I just read John Green's An Abundance of Katherines and I think pretty much everything he writes is genius.  

3. Summer always goes by so fast! What do you still hope to read in the final weeks of summer?

  

My to be read list is about a mile and a half high.  I need a much longer summer!  Some books I am looking forward to include:  The Silent Wife (an adult thriller),  The Song Will Save Your Life by Leila Sales,  and Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell (but it doesn't come out until early September.)

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Thanks again for being on here! Hopefully you guys are as excited for Eileen's new young adult series as I am! It seems right up my alley, being a thriller and all. I'm also excited for Fangirl and This Song Will Save Your Life. Eileen was nice enough to offer a signed copy of any of her recent books.

Giveaway:

Must be 13 years of age or older

Giveaway ends Monday, August 12th at midnight

Winner will be announced 8/13/13

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