A Beautiful Dark Blog Tour with Author interview
Oct •
6 •
2011
1) Can you share a little of your current work with us?
Yes! I’m currently writing book 2 in the A BEAUTIFUL DARK trilogy. It continues where book 1 left off, so people who are mad at me for that crazy cliffhanger ending will hopefully forgive me. 🙂
I’m also working on another YA novel that’s completely unrelated to the ABD trilogy…
2) I love that this book included great elements of biblical history. What kind of research did you do? Did you travel much?
The inspiration for this book came from a lot of different, random places.
I grew up immersed in a lot of Judeo-Christian bible stories and it definitely influenced the mythology ofthis book. In high school, I spent a summer backpacking in Colorado, and I totally fell in love with it. The Rockies are purple and majestic, just like in the song! When I started working on A Beautiful Dark, I knew immediately that I wanted to set it there. The natural world plays a big role in the mythology of the books, and the mountains just felt right as a backdrop for Skye’sstory.
As I was writing book 1, in an unrelated and very fortuitous travel-related turn of events, I had a chance to go to Israel. I was definitely inspired by the landscape, people, and culture, and came home with a whole new perspective on the book! I love travelling for exactly that reason—you come home and see your own world a little differently.
3) Which is easier? Writing the first book or the second?
Neither one is easy! The first book was hard because you’re building a world—place, characters, mythology—entirely from scratch. I wanted it to feel epic, but believable, so the world is very grounded in reality. Book 2 was easier in the sense that I had all of those pieces figured out, and the knew the characters like the back of my hand. The hard part was keeping up that momentum from book 1, and figuring out how to weave together all of the plot elements from book 1, and that I knew were coming in book 3. A lot changed from the outline I’d done of book 2 once I actually started writing. It’s important to leave room to surprise yourself.
4) I loved that the main character Skye has a real backbone. Is she based on some one you know? Is Skye anything like you?
All of my characters have little bits and pieces of me in them. Skye is way more level headed and no-nonsense than I am. I’m like Cassie in the sense that I was more artistic and dramatic in high school, whereas Skye is a driven athlete (I am the worst at sports). But growing up, it was always really important for me that I stay true to myself, and so I wanted Skye to be a heroine who wasn’t necessarily bad-ass, but who wasn’t easily pushed around. It was exciting for me to see how she handled all of the crazy things that were being thrown at her. But I always knew that Skye wasn’t someone who would let herself change fundamentally as a person just because everything else in her life was.
5) What books are you excited to read this year?
Many supertalented friends and colleagues of mine have books coming out in the next year or so that I can’t wait to read! Two of my good friends actually have books coming out the weeks before and after mine (Anne Heltzel’s CIRCLE NINE, and Leila Sales’ PAST PERFECT), so those are up next. 🙂
The A BEAUTIFUL DARK book cover: http://www.harpercollins.com/harperimages/isbn/large/6/9780061990656.jpg
The A BEAUTIFUL DARK book trailer:
Dark Days Tour Schedule:
Catch Jocelyn Davies live on the Dark Days tour in the following cities:
Friday, October 14th
7:00 PM
Tattered Cover
Highland Ranch, CO
with Claudia Gray (FATEFUL), Kiersten White (SUPERNATURALLY), Amy Garvey (COLD KISS) and Jocelyn Davies (A BEAUTIFUL DARK)
Saturday, October 15th
1:00 PM
Barnes & Noble
Boulder, CO
with Claudia Gray (FATEFUL), Kiersten White (SUPERNATURALLY), Amy Garvey (COLD KISS) and Jocelyn Davies (A BEAUTIFUL DARK)
Sunday, October 16th
2:00 PM
Anderson’s
Naperville, IL
with Claudia Gray (FATEFUL), Kiersten White (SUPERNATURALLY), Amy Garvey (COLD KISS) and Jocelyn Davies (A BEAUTIFUL DARK)
Book Synopsis: Skye first sees dark, charming Asher and golden, reserved Devin on the night of her seventeenth birthday. She has no idea what they want, or why they seem to follow her every move. They even know things about her that strangers could never know. Soon she begins to question not just the identity of the two boys, but also the truth about her own past. Skye’s torn between the one she can’t help falling for and the one she can’t stay away from. The consequence of her choice will reach further than the three of them could ever imagine.
About Jocelyn Davies: Jocelyn Davies was born and raised in New York City, where she now works in Young Adult publishing and foregoes sleep in favor of writing. This is her debut novel. You can follow her on twitter at twitter.com/jocelyndavies.
Thanks so much for being here today Ms. Davies!
Happy Reading!
6 Comments
Categories
Currently Reading
Spread the Bite…
So excited book 2 picks up immediately where book 1 ends, that was a massive cliffhanger and I need to know what happens next like it’s nobody’s business:) Now she’s got me all curious as to what changed so much from her original outline of book 2, maybe after it releases she’ll tell us:)
Se, now I want to read the book. Great interview, Savy!
Yes, I agree. Colorado is majestic. I haven’t been there since I was very little, but I still have vivid memories of the landscapes. Can’t wait to go back for a visit. 🙂
Thanks for the interview. Looking forward to reading this book.
I recently got book one and am so glad book two is here LOL and I will not have to wait 🙂 Thank you for taking the time to share with us today.
As a Coloradan, I have to bore you with a fact… ;D That song was written on top of Pikes Peak (or at least inspired there). Boring factoid over. lol
Love the interview. I can also see that each book in a series would present it’s own problems therefore none could be considered easy! 🙂
AHH! I need book too now. She is so torturing us. 😉 Sigh.