.jpg)
Blurb:
They say college is a lot of things; a
haven, a four-year party, the place you met the girl – or guy – of your dreams.
What they don’t tell you is, the best part of college is the drama YOU bring to
the table! After all, that dirty little secret, that not-so-little white lie,
and those texts you wish you could erase from cyberspace can’t stay hidden
forever. At CU, someone’s always watching, and you better hope there isn’t a
camera phone on hand when you get caught.
It’s the Spring Semester, but it’s not
all fun in the budding sun for Jon and Franz. Follow them as they delve through
the politics of secret societies, the inevitable drama of the F-word (that’s
FAMILY, for the uninitiated), creepy Resident Advisors, creepier residents and
girls who don’t always say what they mean. Who wouldn’t need two months to
recuperate?
Cheers! And GL!
Interview:
- Where did you get the idea for the novel?
Well, I was
inspired by my freshman year in college; it took me by surprise, how so much
could happen in so little time. There were parallel stories in my year and that
laid the foundation for the series and the way these books are being written.
The first book, The Life and Times of Elizabeth and the Duchess, was written
from the perspective of the girls in this series, Elizabeth and Judith. This
book, The Life and Times of the Heir and the Keeper, is more so the guys’
story. Jonathan and Francis get their time in the limelight and, if I do say
so, they have as much drama as the girls. The entire series will chronicle
their college experience, from start to finish, as each character grows or even
stays the same.
- Your title. Who came up with it? Did you ever change your title?
The title came to
me right after I finished the first book; I had just written, what was the
epilogue, from Jon’s perspective and I had called his chapter, “The Heir.” And
in many ways he is; his responsibilities, his attitude, he’s very much the
disgruntled prince. And then there was Francis, the Keeper. His character came
to life from Judith’s story and I knew I wanted to explore him. I never changed
the title, I never even considered it.
- Which came first, the title or the novel?
The title did; I
knew the story though, so perhaps that came first. I knew what it would be
called before I started writing, because I knew what I wanted to write.
- Since becoming a writer, what’s the most exciting thing to ever
happen to you?
Besides completing two full novels, I
think it has been exciting to get so many positive reviews! I’ve always enjoyed
writing and it’s something I see myself doing for a long time, but there’s
something amazing about having complete strangers compliment your work. It’s
satisfying and I’m sure every writer would agree.
- What book are you currently reading or what was the last book you
read?
To be honest, the last fictional work
I read was about a month ago; Dead and Gone, by Charlene Harris. I love the
Sookie Stackhouse novels, so I’ll go back to them once in a while. Now, I haven’t
gotten much of a chance to read since I’m currently studying for the biggest
exam of my life: The Medical College Admission Test. Odd? No, I’ve always been
interested in medicine, I just absolutely love writing.
- What was your first book that you ever wrote (very first one you
wrote, not published)?
I’ve written several stories (20? 50?
100?), but I’ve never finished an entire book, so my first book was my
published book. My stories are in every genre imaginable, from fantasy to
science fiction, from westerns to historical romance, from thrillers to young
adult fiction. I simply write.
- What is your writing process?
Once I’m inspired by something, I can
pick up a pen and begin writing. I get inspired by a lot; people, movies,
clothes, events. My mind will take the scene somewhere else and I can imagine a
story.
- Who are your favorite authors of all time?
Georgette Heyer, Jane Austen, Lisi
Harrison, Judith McNaught, Jodi Picoult, Tamora Pierce, J. K. Rowlings…and a
few other names I can’t quite recall. But if I discover an amazing author, I
try to find everything he or she has written.
- At a book signing, do you just sign your name or do you write a
note? How do you come up with stuff to say?
I like notes, since they are mini
stories and can make people think of you, more so than a signature. I think of
the funniest thing I can imagine then tone it down considerably ha!
- What is something people would be surprised to know about you?
That I was a biology major in college
and never took a single writing class and plan on applying to medical school
once I’ve completed the MCAT.
- How do you react to a bad review?
I can’t say that I’ve ever gotten a “bad”
review – knock on wood – but I’ve received critical reviews in my writing. I
usually go back to the story and figure out what happened and what I could
change – if I felt there was need for a change – to fix the “problem.” Critical
reviews are extremely helpful, and never bad.
- How did you celebrate the sale of your first book?
Doing a little dance! I really did!
About the
Author:
Etta King is the author of the Caspian
University novels, a series chronicling the life and times of a group of
wealthy teens who inevitably discover the various flavors of college drama.
Etta writes from her personal experiences as a college co-ed and as the product
of an all-girls prep school. Here she witnessed the very eccentricities and
foibles which she depicts in her novels.
In a home filled with books, it was no surprise
that Etta grew to be an avid reader, and that translated into writing when she
was thirteen. She wrote simply for the fun of it, whatever would come to mind,
from fantasy to thriller to romance, and shared her stories with her friends.
In 2010, at twenty-one and just as she
was about to graduate from college, Etta began writing "The Life and Times
of Elizabeth and the Duchess." This was a story which had first taken
shape in 2008, after her freshman year, but had been put on hold. With
graduation looming, Etta recalled the characters, and the events which had
inspired them, and took pen to paper. Literally, as Etta enjoys writing out her
stories before typing them out. Soon the first book had been completed and the
series was born.
"The Life and Times of the Heir and
the Keeper," comes as the sequel to "Elizabeth and the Duchess,"
and serves as the second semester of these teens' college saga. Etta is
currently working on the third book, in what will be an eight-part series.
Etta King lives with her family in
Westchester, New York.
This was great! Loved this interview! Thanks so much for having me here, Alisia. I really appreciate your getting involved in my blog tour!
ReplyDeleteAnyone who'd like to read and review could also find me on Goodreads! (Etta King) or email at etta@ettaking.com. I love new readers about as much as I love reviews! Cheers! ^_^