Author Karri Thompson has stopped by for an interview for the Amateur Angel Blog Tour
About the Book:
Give me the blurb for the book in 140 characters or less:
Upon Ashley’s death, she mistakenly enters the wrong line in the afterlife and is sent back to earth as an untrained guardian angel, assigned to protect Cannon Michaels, a famous rock star.
Do you have a favorite character? Why is he your favorite?
Cannon Michael’s is definitely my favorite character. Yes, he is cocky and selfish, but there is a softer side to him as well, and in many scenes his reckless behavior adds humor and suspense to the book. Oh, and did I mention that he is drop-dead gorgeous as well.
What do you hope readers will get from your book?
I want readers to see Amateur Angel as a fun and exciting read, but at the same time, get a good sense of one of the book’s major themes – not to judge others too quickly because people always have more than one “side” and they may surprise you. I also want the readers to wonder if they have a guardian angel and what their G.A. looks like.
About the Author:
What/Who inspires you?
I am definitely inspired by my students. As a high-school English teacher, I have more contact with teens than the average person. I love my students. They are all so unique and fabulous in their own ways. I get a lot of ideas from observing them. Thinking back to my own high-school years also helps me relive the life of a teen.
Hardest aspect of writing?
Coming up with a new book idea that my agent will like is the hardest aspect of writing for me. When I’ve spent weeks writing a synopsis and the first 20 pages of what I think will make a great novel, and my agent comes back and says that she didn’t connect enough with the character or that she doesn’t think she can sell it to a publisher, it’s a bit heart breaking, but I trust her instincts. I save the file for later, just in case publishing trends change, or I decide to rework it later.
Best/Easiest?
The easiest aspect of writing for me is the actual writing of the book itself. Once I have the whole story in my head, I could sit down and just write and write all day long, but of course, being a mother, wife, and teacher does not give me that luxury. So far, I’ve never been plagued with writer’s block. I can only hope that will never happen.
Who is your writing hero?
Don’t laugh, but my writing hero is Charles Dickens. Yes, he’s a bit wordy – my writing style is definitely not like his—but I love his descriptive writing. I could read the opening scene with Miss Havisham in Great Expectations over and over again.
About the Future:
What’s next for you?
I’m currently editing a sci-fi I wrote last year. I don’t want to say too much about it yet, but my agent loves it! I’ve also written the sequel to Amateur Angel – no word on what’s happening with that yet though. And the story-line to a third “angel” book is already in my head.
One outrageous goal for the future?
You said outrageous goal, so I’m going to be outrageous – for Amateur Angel to become a movie where I get to cast all of the characters and be on set anytime I want during its production. Yes!
Do you have any advice you'd like to share with other aspiring writers? Aspiring writers have probably heard this advice before, but it really is true – do not give up! Every writer has been rejected more times than he or she wants to admit to. Rejection is the nature of the business. You also need plenty of patience because the publishing business runs as slow as molasses. My last bit of advice for aspiring writers is to join a critique group, so they can get sound advice about their own writing, learn from other people’s writing, and share their experiences and frustrations with others going through the same thing. A critique group is also a support group.
Randomness:
Sweet or salty?
Salty – I’m not big on dessert. I drink tea and coffee without sugar. Every once in a while, I’ll crave a Sprinkles cupcake, but for the most part, I’d rather enjoy something rich and savory than rich and sweet.
Beach, plains or mountains?
Mountains – I live in San Diego, so most would be surprised that I didn’t say “beach” but I grew up going to the beach all the time. I literally live on a mountain, and I’m still only a 20 minute drive to the beach, but I prefer the serenity of the mountains over getting my car full of sand.
Online, letters or in person?
Online is more convenient, but there is nothing better than communicating with someone in person. A person’s tone is often misread in emails, and one’s body language reveals so much.
Ebook or print?
I have a Nook, but I still need to say “print” when it comes to my own novels. I want to hold my books in my hand and flip through the pages. It’s cool to see it electronically, too, but for me it’s not the same – it doesn’t seem as real.
As a
first-time author, I cannot express- not even in words- how excited I am about
the release of my debut novel, Amateur
Angel. It took a lot of hard work and
sleepless nights. There were many disappointments and rejections along
the way, but in the end, my persistence and determination eventually paid
off. In many ways, I think writing a novel is easier than finding an
agent to represent it and then a publisher to buy it. Two years ago, I
almost gave up on my dream to become an author, but then my son, Kyle, wrote a
special poem for me, and it inspired me to write a new book and try
again. The new book was Amateur
Angel.
Here is
his poem:
You fail and you fail,
You fix and you fix,
You wait and you wait,
Until you succeed.
I hung this poem in my closet and read
it every day when I was getting ready to go to work and each night before I
went to bed. It is still there and
always will be. I know what I’m about to
say will sound like a cliché, but based on my own personal experience, the best
advice I can give anyone is to always believe in your abilities, hold your head
high, swallow your pride, accept criticism and then learn from it, and most
importantly, never give up.
I grew up in San Diego County and
attended San Diego State University, earning a bachelor’s degree in English, a
master’s degree in education, and my teaching credential. I am a high-school English teacher in the
East County of San Diego where I also live with my husband, our son, and two
dogs.
Being a lover of Victorian literature,
my favorite author is Charles Dickens although I haven’t quite finished reading
all of his books. Someday I’ll finally
finish David Copperfield- I
promise. If you are one of my students,
you are either laughing or shaking your head at this.
I lead a very busy life, but when I’m not teaching, grading
papers, or attending my son’s soccer games, I find time to write novels, my
greatest passion.
AUTHOR'S LINKS:
Website
Purchase on Amazon
Purchase on Barnes and Noble
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