Title: WE’LL NEVER BE APART
Author: Emiko Jean
Release
Date: October 6th, 2015
Pages: 288
Publisher: HMH Books for Young Readers
Formats: Hardcover, eBook
Find it: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes
& Noble | iBooks
Murder.
Fire.
Revenge.
That’s all seventeen-year-old Alice Monroe
thinks about. Committed to a mental ward at Savage Isle, Alice is haunted by
memories of the fire that killed her boyfriend, Jason. A blaze her twin sister
Cellie set. But when Chase, a mysterious, charismatic patient, agrees to help
her seek vengeance, Alice begins to rethink everything. Writing out the story
of her troubled past in a journal, she must confront hidden truths.
Is the one person she trusts only telling her
half the story? Nothing is as it seems in this edge-of-your-seat psychological
thriller from the debut author Emiko Jean.
We welcome Emiko for an interview today!
1. Did you always know you wanted to
be a writer or did you want to be something else?
2. How long does it take you to write
a book from start to finish?
It
takes me about 6-9 months to write a book from start to finish. I spend two
months on the concept and outlining and then another three or four on actually
drafting. The rest of the time is used for revisions.
3. How do you come up with themes for
your stories?
4. Do you have a schedule of when you
write?
When I’m drafting I write six days a week. I take one
day off to take care of general “life” things. I don’t have a set structure
everyday when I write but I do have a strict word count goal, about 2,000 words
a day.
5. How are you able to balance other
aspects of your life with your writing?
Last year I taught full time and wrote full time. It was
crazy! This year I’ve transitioned to writing full time and I have a much
better balance to everything. Luckily for me I have a wonderful partner who
supports my writing by helping with everyday “life” stuff.
6. What elements do you think make a
great story line?
I think no matter what, a story must have conflict and
tension. It is what keeps the readers turning pages. Character development is
also so important. If done correctly well-developed characters will make a
reader invest emotionally in your story. Even better, well-developed characters
will stay with the reader long after the final page.
7. What was the hardest thing about
writing a book?
For me revising is the most difficult part. I absolutely
love drafting it’s kind of a like a beautiful summer love affair, everything is
so exciting and fresh and new. Revision is after the summer ends. The
excitement has worn off and things have gotten … complicated. That being said,
revision is an invaluable tool in the writer’s tool box. It is what can elevate
a novel from good to great.
I’ve completed three full-length manuscripts. Two have
been shelved, for now. I’m pretty fickle with my manuscripts and whatever I’m
working on in the present is my favorite J.
9. Where do you write?
Anywhere! Most of the time I write from a desk. I have a
lovely home office with big bulletin boards where I story board whatever I’m
working on. However, I think it’s important not to get “tied” to a place so I
force myself to write in other locations.
10. When deciding on how to publish,
what directed you to the route you took?
With any career I think it’s important to have goals.
When I wrote my first book I set the goal to someday have a book in print. That
goal is what drove me to the right route … finding an agent and publishing
deal.
11. Have you gotten feedback from
family about your book(s)? What do they think?
I won the family lottery! My siblings and parents and
in-laws are extremely supportive of my writing. So far only a handful of my
family members have read WE’LL NEVER BE APART (only because I haven’t given the
rest a copy yet) but their response has been so positive.
12. What kinds of things do you like to
do outside of writing?
Of course, I read. A lot. If left to my own devices, I
would read a book a day. I also have a really embarrassing addiction to reality
television. I don’t watch a lot of T.V. when I’m drafting, but after I binge
watch shows I missed. I also walk/run four to six miles a day.
13. What kinds of advice would you give
to someone who wants to start writing?
Do it! I believe if you feel a strong drive toward
something you are obligated to answer the call.
14. What is your favorite book?
favorite author? Do you have an author that inspired/inspires you to write?
I I have lots of favorite books and authors. When I was younger I read a lot of
poetry and I still go back to it for inspiration. I have a complete set of Shel
Silverstein’s works and re-read those often.
15. Do you have any go to people when
writing a book that help you with your story lines as well as editing, beta
reading and such?
Unfortunately I don’t have a wide range of beta readers,
just a few select confidants I trust for honest feedback. My amazing agent
reads all my manuscripts and offers suggestions for revisions.
16. Are you working on anything
now?
I am always working on something! Right now I have
another thriller on the docket but that’s all I’m willing to say J!
Thanks so much for stopping by today, Emiko. So great having you here with us!
Thanks so much for stopping by today, Emiko. So great having you here with us!
Emiko Jean is an elementary school math teacher, whose work with children in foster care inspired her debut novel, We'll Never Be Apart. Aside from reading, writing, and teaching, Emiko is passionate about bugs. She can often be found in the remote forests of the Pacific Northwest, where she lives with her husband, hunting giant moths and cataloguing rare insect colonies. -
Tour Schedule:
Week 1:
9/28/2015- Bookish
Lifestyle- Interview
9/29/2015- Curling Up
With A Good Book- Review
9/30/2015- Paranormal
Book Club- Excerpt
10/1/2015- The Candid
Cover-Review
10/2/2015- A Dream
Within A Dream- Guest
Post
Week 2:
10/5/2015- YA Book
Madness- Review
10/6/2015- The Cover
Contessa- Interview
10/7/2015- Falling For
YA- Review
10/8/2015- Fangirlish- Guest
Post
10/9/2015- Literary
Meanderings- Review
I am so excited about this book. I can't wait to find out Alice's buried secrets.
ReplyDelete