Come and meet the fabulous Veronica Bane

I'm thrilled to have Veronica Bane with me today. She's just one of those gals that you click with, you know?
Anyway, on with the interview...

Can you tell us a little about your latest book?

Miyuki is the sequel to my first book, Mara. Like the first book, it follows a group of young adults who can manipulate different parts of nature. They are still grappling with the responsibility of these powers. While the book still explores all of the different characters from the first book, the focus is on Miyuki, a half-Japanese girl who can wield water.

What inspired you to write it?
I think teenagers in books and films are often given these great powers, and they always seem to rise to the occasion. I wanted to write a story where the characters were flawed and broken; I didn’t want to write about a smooth transition. I wanted to write about how teenagers would really react to powers like these.

If it was made into a movie, who would you like to play the main characters?
Oh, I love this question! At the same time, though, I have no idea how to answer it. I didn’t see actors and actresses when I was writing these characters. Ideally, I would love a cast of unknowns.

Why do you write in this genre?
I wanted to tell a story that appealed to young adults and adults. I wanted to tell a fantasy where the powers were important but secondary to the characters themselves. It was an interesting balancing act.

What made you want to become an author?
I love stories, and I love storytelling. It’s been my dream for as long as I can remember. I can’t imagine a life where I don’t write.

Name one of your all-time favourite books?
The Illustrated Man by Ray Bradbury is absolutely thrilling. He weaves a story like no one else.

Who, or what, inspires you?
Reading inspires me. Films inspire me. Music inspires me. Friends and family inspire me. In short, life inspires me.

Where is your favourite place to write?
There is a coffee shop in my hometown that is the absolute best. I wrote most of Mara there when I was on vacation. I have tried to find a similar coffeehouse in Los Angeles, but they’re not the same. I’m hopeful, though!

What is your favourite movie that was based on a book?
Jurassic Park. My love for that film knows no bounds. I am obsessed.

Who is your favourite author (s) and why?
I have so many! I love J.K. Rowling, though. She’s my hero.

If you could have a dinner party with any authors from any time in history, who would you choose and why?
Margaret Atwood, Mary Shelley, J.K. Rowling, Ray Bradbury, and Salman Rushdie. It would be amazing. I wouldn’t be able to talk because I would be enamored with them all. I would just sit there eating brie and making them uncomfortable with my awe. I actually have met Salman Rushdie, and it took all of my will not to turn into a puddle.

Tell us a random fact about yourself.
I can do an excellent impression of Stitch from Lilo and Stitch.

Who would play you in the movie about your life?
Someone small and blonde. Also, awkward.

Tell us something interesting about the area where you live.
I live in Los Angeles where there is something interesting everyday. You would think the stories have all been told about this city, but we’re not even close. It’s an adventure.

Book Description: In the town of Jericho, a group of misfit teenagers haunts the underbelly of their society. Armed with the ability to manipulate different parts of nature, these teenagers fight for their right to stay alive. In the months following an attack on their lives, danger still lurks around them. Those behind the original strike have risen from the ashes, and new powers are beginning to reveal themselves. With this mysterious threat imminent, Mara, Miyuki, and the rest of the Unusuals must stand together to fight. However, time is running out for the group, for someone—or something—is hunting them, and this time around, not all of them will survive.

Veronica Bane grew up in San Diego, California and spent her days writing in local coffee shops and at the beach. Her writing was and has always been fed a healthy diet of chai tea lattes and film scores. She studied Creative Writing at Chapman University and now lives in Los Angeles.

Mara on Amazon: http://amzn.com/0615846130

Miyuki on Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/20557540-miyuki

Mara by Veronica Bane

When I read about this book by Veronica Bane, I just knew I wanted to help spread the word about it. So here it is. Mara... doesn't it look and sound amazing!

Title: Mara
Author: Veronica Bane
Publication date: August 3, 2013
Publisher: Black Hill Press
Series: Mara is part of a planned series. More details soon~
Book Links: Goodreads / Amazon

For years, Mara Tucker has used her power of manipulating flames to punish those who have done her wrong. But things are changing in the town of Jericho. Rampant disappearances have forced Mara to seek out others with special powers. In a story that confronts the violence and turmoil of adolescence, Mara and a group of other "unusuals" like her grapple with new alliances and the villains pressing in all around them.
“A tale of teenage rebellion in the tradition of classics ranging from The Outsiders to The Hunger Games, Veronica Bane’s fantasy novella explores the timeless themes of growing up, finding one’s inner strength, and discovering where one belongs. The titular antiheroine and her flawed-but-lovable band of “unusuals” are characters that will resonate with teen audiences and older readers alike.” –Ashley Heaton, Editor

Ten facts about Mara, the characters, and me

1. I feel closest to Miyuki’s character. I studied Japanese in high school, and we had to choose a Japanese name for class. Miyuki was the name I chose. To this day, I can sign the name “Miyuki” in Kanji.

2. For some reason, it was very important for me to know what kind of music each character liked and what they listened to when no one was watching them. For example, Mara is a huge AC/DC fan, but she would never tell anyone.

3. All of the characters’ powers were specifically chosen to reflect who they are. Mara is the most obvious: she’s angry and wild and unpredictable, just like fire. But similarly, characters like Max and Terry have their specific powers because of who they are. Max is often unreadable and guarded, like stone, and Terry is grounded, like the earth.

4. Alex had a different name when I wrote the first draft of the book.

5. Characters who have similar powers will feel a kinship to each other. Characters with opposing powers (like Mara and Miyuki) will always clash.

6. Miles would love comic books like Y: The Last Man and Runaways.

7. Mara hates horror movies.

8. I love movies. Some of my favorite movies are Jurassic Park, The Untouchables, and Terminator 2: Judgment Day.

9. The first scene I wrote for the book was something I scrapped early on. Mara set fire to the church and watched it burn while a murder of crows streaked across the sky. It didn’t end up fitting into the story, but it was a blast to write.

10. I took a screenwriting class in college that really helped to mold me as a writer. It taught me to focus on action and dialogue instead of internal thoughts, and that particular lesson has been key to my writing style.

Author pic by Roxy Rodriguez

Veronica Bane grew up in San Diego, California and spent her days writing in local coffee shops and at the beach. Her writing was and has always been fed a healthy diet of chai tea lattes and film scores.
Veronica studied Creative Writing at Chapman University and now lives in Los Angeles.

Author Links: Site / Twitter / Goodreads

GIVEAWAY
a Rafflecopter giveaway