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Interview and Giveaway with Wendy Delsol, author of Stork!
The lovely and talented Wendy Delsol, author of Stork, The McCloud Home for Wayward Girls, and the upcoming Frost, was kind enough to answer a few questions for me on the blog today! She’s also generously offering up a copy of Stork and some swag to one lucky winner. Please see the giveaway details at the bottom of this post!
Please welcome Wendy to the blog!
For those that haven’t read Stork, your first YA fantasy, can you tell us a bit about it?
Stork is the story of smart and sassy Katla (Kat) Leblanc, a 16-year-old L.A. fashionista whose life is upended after a move to Norse Falls, Minnesota—her mother’s hometown of Icelandic heritage. As if being the new kid isn’t challenge enough, Kat is mysteriously drawn to an ancient order of bird women with the extraordinary task of soul delivery. Complicating things further is Jack Snjosson, an aloof classmate. Given their relationship’s rocky start, Kat would never believe they share a history—never mind destiny.
In your bio, it says that you were never particularly bookish growing up. What made you decide to give writing a try?
Growing up, I was an average reader, not the stereotypical bookworm by any definition. In our family of three girls, I was considered “the tomboy.” Still, there were certain books that I considered worth the one-mile hike to our local library; Trixie Belden, Nancy Drew, The Happy Hollisters, and the Little House on the Prairie books are examples. In fifth and sixth grade, I won school-wide recognition for my creative writing. My stories were funny and even slightly edgy. To this day, I remember getting a huge laugh for a “ladies, burn your bras, but remember to take them off first” line. Perhaps I should note that this was during the 1970s, the height of the women’s movement. Many years later, after six years as a stay-at-home mom and when contemplating a second career, I admitted to a long-held and secret dream of writing a novel. So I sat my butt down and wrote one; it was awful, but I loved the process. Stork was the fourth full novel I wrote and first published.
Is there anything you need in order to write?In order to write, I require a spiral notebook. I begin each day by jotting down the date and my starting word count. I use the notebook to sketch out the day’s scene, map out upcoming chapters, and play with wording, synonyms, similes, etc. If my overused right arm is tired, I will even write scenes longhand and later retype them onto my laptop. By the end of a novel, I will have gone through two or three notebooks.
Anything in particular that gets the creative juices flowing?
For me, it’s more that there is plenty that can disrupt the creative juices. I find public places too distracting, for instance, which is why I generally write from home. I don’t listen to music, either. I concentrate best and keep on task in a still and quiet environment. Boring, I know, but productive.
I read that one of your fave novels is The Accidental Tourist by Anne Tyler. It’s one of mine too! What are some of your other favorites?
I devoured The Hunger Games trilogy this past summer. The first book, in particular, was pure genius. Major kudos to Suzanne Collins. The Help by Kathryn Stockett was wonderful. I also have great admiration for Anita Shreve; The Weight of Water is my favorite of hers.
When you started writing Stork, did you have a number of books in mind that you’d like to write in the series, or did you just plan to see where the story took you?
It began as a stand-alone novel, but early on I knew I had enough material to stretch the story into a trilogy. Moving into the YA genre (from women’s fiction) had a lot to do with this decision. YA readers are well known for their loyalty to series and characters.
When you’re not writing, and playing tennis, what do you like to do to unwind?
So you’re aware of my small tennis addiction. When not writing or hitting tennis balls (hence the overused right arm), I like to watch tennis on TV (OK, so I also like Survivor and Idol). Weather permitting, I walk a lot. I read, naturally. And I love to travel.
Frost, Book 2 in the Stork Trilogy, is due this fall. Can you give us a teaser?
In book two, Kat’s magical abilities are tested after a deadly snowstorm brings to town a mysterious and beautiful weather researcher. When Jack becomes wrapped up in the visitor’s studies, Kat must unravel the alluring stranger’s true motives. The book is inspired by Hans Christian Andersen’s The Snow Queen.
Thanks so much for joining me on the blog, Wendy! It was a pleasure!
Well, thank you for having me. The pleasure was all mine.
Read my review of Stork
Visit the author at her website
**GIVEAWAY DETAILS**
1.Giveaway is for 1 copy of Stork with swag to one winner
2.Please leave a comment to enter along with a way to contact you.
3. I LURV my followers, so please let me know if and how you follow this blog (GFC, Twitter, Facebook, Email, etc) and I’ll give you an extra entry!
4.Must be at least 13 to enter
5.Giveaway is open to US ONLY
6.Giveaway ends at 11:59 PM CST on May 17th, 2011
55 Responses to “Interview and Giveaway with Wendy Delsol, author of Stork!”
Author comments are in a darker gray color for you to easily identify the posts author in the comments
Thanks for the giveaway.
GFC Follower (Melissa)
coffeebooksandlaundry(at)gmail.com
I really want this one. I have Frost, but haven't read Stork. o_O
GFC follower – I Read Banned Books
Twitter – @jenbigheart
I follow Wendy as well.
jenbigheart at yahoo dot com
Jen
This sounds like a really good book, I would love to read it.
gfc follower-debbie
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great giveaway
follow via gfc
drakebdog@gmail.com
I would love to be entered. I follow via gfc and twitter.
Jen
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Http://lratrandom.blogspot.com/
Thanks for the giveaway.
NC
bookishlilly(at)gmail(dot)com
Thanks for the giveaway!
GFC Follower- Kimberly M.
kmcfarland15(at)yahoo.com
Sounds great!!!
gfc follower
vidishamun@gmail.com
I really want to read Stork, it looks great! Thanks for the chance to win a copy of it and thank you for the interview! I am a GFC follower!
seescootread[at]gmail[dot]com
Coll author, can't wait to read her book!! I'm a GFC follower!! Thanks!
emmanemgirl@gmail.com
I can definitely relate to the need to be alone in a quiet environment in order to write. I can't even concentrate in a library because of the mere presence of other people. Anyways, I'd love a chance to check this book. The premise sounds very interesting.
Thanks for the giveaway!
GFC Follower – Marg K.
gosia727(at)gmail(dot)com
Fabulous giveaway!
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Vivien
deadtossedwaves at gmail dot com
Stork sounds like a wonderful story and I'd love to win a copy.
Barbed1951 at aol dot com
GFC follower
Thanks so much!
GFC follower
thegirlonfire27 at gmail dot com
Sounds like a wonderful book. Thanks for chance!
Old GFC follower.
truebookaddictATgmailDOTcom
I've had my eye on this book for a few weeks now…so thanks for the giveaway!
Amy // amyismyfriend at aol dot com
I'm a GFC Follower (artsybookishgal) and I subscribe to your RSS feed on Google Reader.
Thanks for the giveaway! I've been wanting to read Stork for a while but for some reason I still haven't picked it up. I am a GFC follower (Kate)
readsbyflashlight@gmail.com
I've heard a lot about this book! I'd love to win this!
GFC follower
rootml1 AT hotmail DOT com
Sounds really good. I'd love to read it. Thanks for the giveaway! I follow on GFC(Erinberry) and twitter(Erinberry12).
erinberry12 at charter dot net
great interview! this books sounds really cute
please enter me!
Diana
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I love the cover of these books! They sound really good.
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thanks!!
i follow on GFC and on twitter. @lindsaycwrites
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Wow, I love the cover! Thanks for the giveaway!
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Thank you for the awesome giveaway!
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I am a GFC follower: Krystal Larson. Thank you for doing this author's interview, I loved Story and I cannot wait for the second installation! I was surprised that the author wasn't more of a reader when she was younger, but I guess she found her calling anyway! I am also an email subscriber as edysicecreamlover18@gmail.com and I follow you on Twitter as Icecream1891
Love this cover!
rickimc[at]aol[dot]com
I loved Hunger Games as well (who doesn't), but haven't read any of Anita Shreve. Adding to my list now.
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Thank you for the giveaway!
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Awesome giveaway hun thanks
GFC follower – Jessica ( frellathon )
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I am a follower and email subscriber. Please enter me in contest. I really want to read this book. Sounds very good. Tore923@aol.com
I am excited to read this series.
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delivery dot RN at gmail dot com
Thanks for the giveaway! I am a GFC follower (Brittany)
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Thanks for this! I'd love to be entered!
GFC – Hannah
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~Hannah
I follow you on GFC, Twitter, Facebook and email because I don't want to miss a thing!! I love supernatural books very much, in case you can't tell
)
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This book sounds really good. Thanks for introducing me to a new author.
Follow my email
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I looove the covers of this series! Thank you for the contest!!
+1 gfc follower!
inthehammockblog at gmail dot com
Id love to read this.
Im a gfc follower
Chllybrd(at)gmail(dot)com
I love how she didn't start as your everyday bookworm. I always thought they just went hand in hand, but obviously I was wrong. And can everyone stop mentioning The Hunger Games. It is killing me that I haven't started it yet and talking about it drives me mad LOL! But this what a great interview, definitely an author I need to get into. Love the covers by the way especially to Stork. Thank you guys so much
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(on the right hand sidebar)
Thanks for the giveaway. I'd love to read this.
+1 I follow on GFC (Melanie L), Twitter (Melanie_2006) and subscribe by email.
peacelily_2006(at)yahoo(dot)com
Great giveaway, thanks! katklaw777 at yahoo dot com
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I really really want this, sounds like an amazing read. Thanks for the giveaway and chance to win
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thanks for the giveaway!
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The books look really good. I really enjoy the Snow Queen legend.
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marlenebreakfield(at)yahoo(dot)com
Thanks for the giveaway~ the book looks great!
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sophiayunjin at gmail dot com
Sounds like a great books.
GFC follower: Scarlet Kira
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thanks for the giveaway!
Blogger is having issues today. I keep losing my comments after submitting them and getting an error. Grrrr!
Thanks for the giveaway! Please count me in.
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Thank you for hosting this giveaway!!
the giveaway looks great!
Twitter facebook and GFC follower
starlightgirl678 at aol dot com
Great contest!
treerose AT yahoo DOT com
Love those covers! The Hunger Games is next on my list once I finish the series I've already started.
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Thanks for the chance!
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