The awesomeness of Andrea Cremer, author of Nightshade

Winner the ARC of Firelight (by Sophie Jordan)

Cleaverly Inked

Congrads! Email me your address at sjohannes@bilaninc.com!

O.K. so Nightshade was one of THE books to get at BEA.

Not only is it a gorgeous, amazing, kick-ass cover but it is an amazing read!

Comment and answer the questions at the bottom to win an ARC of Nightshade, not released until Oct 2010!

Today, blogger buddy and history buff, Andrea Cremer, has stopped by to talk to us :)

Hi Andrea! Thanks for coming by! Tell us about Nightshade and your journey?

Nightshade will be in stores October 19, 2010 (Philomel/Penguin Teen). The first in a gritty and spellbinding series, the world of Nightshade is filled with living shadows, sinister forces, and dangerous magic. Alpha Guardian Calla Tor must unravel mysteries that will lead her down a path of love and treachery where she is forced to choose between the life she believed she was destined for and the secret desires of her own heart. Wolfsbane (Nightshade #2) will be published in summer 2011 and Bloodrose (Nightshade #3) in spring 2012. The trilogy will be followed by a prequel, scheduled for publication in fall 2012!

My journey has been an odd, wondrous trip. It started when a horse jumped on my foot in the summer of 2008, setting me on crutches for eight weeks. I couldn't do anything so I decided I'd finally try writing a novel - something I'd always dreamed about doing but had never given myself permission to try. Once I started writing I couldn't stop - and I knew there was no going back. It was terrifying - knowing I had a dream that I wanted so much and yet had no idea how to make it happen. I was a complete publishing "noob." There's a myth among aspiring writers that you can't get published without connections. It really is a myth. When I made the commitment to publish Nightshade even if it took everything I had, I didn't know anything about that world. I did research. I learned about agents, practiced writing queries. Submitted to the agencies that seemed the best fits for my work. And my ms was pulled out of the slush pile. No connections whatsoever. To get published you need patience, an iron will, and belief in the value of what you've written.

The premise for Nightshade rocks! How did you get the idea?

Nightshade is Calla's story and she was the inspiration for the book. I tend to write from characters and Calla was floating around in my head for a week or two before I started putting her story onto the page. I knew she was a girl who was also a wolf. I knew she was strong, but also in serious trouble. I couldn't figure out how someone so powerful could be in that sort of a fix. That's where Nightshade's world emerged, it was all about building a history and society that explained Calla's predicament.

Not that you are published, what do you wish you knew before you got a agent/book deal?

Biting your nails, waiting by the phone, and most of all not writing something new, while you're on submission is such a waste of time. Let it go and focus on doing what you love instead. Or else find a new hobby.

What is one thing we don’t know about you that you want us to know but might be afraid to say?

Like many other writers, notably JK Rowling, I suffer from chronic depression that started in my teens. It's actually an important issue to talk about, but the fact that depression is often misunderstood and mental illness still carries some social stigma makes me sometimes hesitate to be open about it. I did, however, do a blog post about authors and depression last year - but it was before Nightshade was on many radars so I'm guessing a lot of my readers haven't seen it. But it's an important, and often neglected, issue that many people face and I want my readers, especially teens, to know that you can have this struggle and still find your way to happiness and a healthy sense of self worth.

Thank you so much for sharing that. One last thing, if you believe in past lives – what/who do you think you were and why?

Past lives and most other 'beyond the veil' subjects I tend to approach with a gigantic question mark. Do I believe in them - I just don't know. If I did have a past life I think it was in the highlands of Scotland because whenever I visit that part of the world it feels like coming home.

Thanks Andrea!

Thanks Shelli!

You can follow Andrea on Twitter, her awesome blog, and Facebook! You can also follow PenquinTeen on Twitter!

Comment for a chance to win Andrea's ARC. (don't 4get, my only request to getting gifts is that you are a follower :) (wait, not in general - be a leader - just be a follower of mine! ;)

Tell us, like Calla, what life do you think you were destined for and why?