Title: DIG TOO DEEP
Author: Amy Allgeyer
Release Date: April 1, 2016
Pages: 272
Publisher: AW Teen
Formats: Hardcover, eBook
With her
mother facing prison time for a violent political protest, seventeen-year-old
Liberty Briscoe has no choice but to leave her Washington, DC, apartment and
take a bus to Ebbottsville, Kentucky, to live with her granny. There she can at
least finish high school and put some distance between herself and her
mother--or her former mother, as she calls her. But Ebbottsville isn't the same
as Liberty remembers, and it's not just because the top of Tanner's Peak has
been blown away to mine for coal. Half the county is out of work, an awful lot
of people in town seem to be sick, and the tap water is bright orange--the same
water that officials claim is safe. And when Granny's lingering cold turns out
to be something much worse, Liberty wonders if somebody at the mine is hiding
the truth about the water. She starts to investigate and is soon plunged into a
world of secrets, lies, threats, and danger. Her searches for answers and
justice lead to even tougher questions--should she turn to violence and end up
like her mother? Give up her quest for the sake of keeping the peace? Or keep
fighting until the mine is shut down for good?
Today we welcome Amy for an interview!
1. Did you always know you
wanted to be a writer or did you want to be something else?
I guess the answers are ‘yes’ and ‘yes’.
I’ve always wanted to be a writer, but I also wanted to be an architect and
that’s the career path I first pursued. I’ve been doing architecture for
twenty-three years. I only started (seriously) writing about twelve years ago.
2. How long does it take you
to write a book from start to finish?
Sometimes a few months. Sometimes a couple
years. It depends on how much other stuff gets in the way, how easily the book
comes together, and how much research is required. Each book is so different.
3. How do you come up with
themes for your stories?
Those usually come first for me. I’m a quiet book writer, so I rarely have a
giant hook to write around. In DIG TOO DEEP, one of the themes I wanted to
explore was the idea of helping people—when it matters and when it doesn’t, and
whether it’s possible to hurt people, even when you’re trying to help.
4. Do you have a schedule of
when you write?
Not really. I write when I’m inspired or
when I have a deadline.
5. How are you able to balance
other aspects of your life with your writing?
That takes some effort! With a family, my
architecture firm, writing, and volunteer work, it’s tough to get everything
done. I sacrifice cleaning the house first, and then (sadly) reading. There are
times when I go weeks without reading a book, which sucks because I think
reading is the most important thing we can do to improve our own writing.
6. What elements do you think
make a great story line?
Relatable characters. If the reader
doesn’t care about the character, they’re not going to care about the book.
7. What was the hardest thing
about writing a book?
Rejection. Writing is so full of
rejection, it’s really tough to keep getting back up every time someone says,
“No.”
8. How many books have you
written so far? Do you have a favorite?
All together, published and non-published,
I’ve written seven books and a couple halves. My favorite is actually a funny
middle-grade that I’m hoping to revise someday. I love writing humor.
9. Do you have a favorite
character?
Junie B Jones. That girl’s got spunk.
10.
Where do you write?
At my dining room table. Which hasn’t had a meal served on it in
years because it’s always covered with books.
11.
When deciding on how to publish, what directed you to the route
you took?
I always wanted to be traditionally
published. It’s really difficult to do self-publishing well, and it takes a ton
more time and effort to get it right. With my schedule, there just isn’t the
time.
12.
Have you gotten feedback from family about your book(s)? What do
they think?
From family? No, they haven’t read it yet.
They’re waiting for release day…just like I am!
13.
What kinds of things do you like to do outside of writing?
I love to travel, read, play volleyball,
shop, eat cookies, fix up my house. I love games! And I love hanging out with
my family.
14.
What kinds of advice would you give to someone who wants to
start writing?
Don’t plan for overnight success. For most
writers, it takes years to sell a book. And don’t give up. To quote Winston
Churchill, “Never, never, never give up.”
15.
What is your favorite book? favorite author? Do you have an
author that inspired/inspires you to write?
I started writing books because I loved
the Harry Potter series so much. I’ve read each of them many times, and I go
back to them when I want a comfort read. I should probably send JK Rowling a
thank-you note.
16.
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?
Absolutely! I have four writer friends I
couldn’t imagine being without. And many other close friends I use for betas or
idea-storming. If you’re going to write, the most important thing you can have
is a tribe.
17.
Are you working on anything now?
Supposedly. But with my launch coming up in a matter of weeks, I
don’t have time to even think about writing anything unless it’s on Facebook or
Twitter.
18.
Tell us 5 things that make you smile.
My son.
My fiancé.
Thinking about the future.
Betty White.
Kittens.
19.
Tell us 5 things that make you sad
Politics.
People who don’t listen.
Friday afternoon meetings.
Flat beer.
BBQ sandwiches without slaw.
20.
If you could travel anywhere in the world to visit a place so
you could use it as a background for a book, where would it be?
I have a long list of places I want to go,
but to research for a book I guess I’d have to say Cappadocia. It’s a region in
Turkey with insanely cool rock formations. People have been living in caves
there since the Bronze Age. Some of the caves have been
turned into really beautiful modern homes. Seems like a super cool setting for
a great mystery!
Thanks so much for being here today, Amy. It was great having you!
The
youngest of seven kids, Amy has been writing stories since she first learned to
make her letters face the right way. Her work has appeared in Family Fun, A Fly
in Amber and Stories for Children. As an architect, she spends her days
restoring hundred-year-old homes in Boise where she lives with her son, a feral
house cat, and a fake owl named Alan. She hates chocolate, but loves
vegetables. She also loves travelling to foreign lands and the smell of
honeysuckle on humid Southern nights. Amy is represented by the lovely and amazing Danielle Chiotti of Upstart Crow Literary.
Just a note...DIG TOO DEEP releases April 1st.
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