I am delighted to welcome Adrienne Clarke to the blog for an interview and my review of her book: Losing Adam. Here's a little about Adrienne:
A lover of faerie tales, fantasy and gothic horror, a thread of the mysterious or unexpected runs through all my work. My dream is to find readers who will gather round and let me tell them stories that will become a part of their life the way they have become a part of mine.
A past winner of the Alice Munro short fiction contest, my work has appeared in numerous publications including, New Plains Review, Silly Tree Anthologies, Kyanite Press: Fables and Fairy Tales and in the e-zines The Devilfish Review, Rose Red Review and the Long Island Literary Journal. My first YA novel, Losing Adam, garnered a silver medal in the 2018 Independent Publisher Book Awards.
To find out more about Adrienne visit her at www.adrienneclarkeauthor.com
And onto the interview!
Do you read your own genre? Is it a favourite?
I enjoy reading and writing different genres, but YA is definitely one of my favourites. I’ve always been drawn to YA fiction for its passion and idealism. One of the beautiful things about being a young adult is believing that dreams, even seemingly impossible ones, can come true. I think that’s one of the reasons YA fiction is so popular with adults as well as teens; it keeps us in touch with some of that idealism, and perhaps, helps to keep us from becoming too cynical.
If you had to describe your style in three words, what would they be?
Romantic, lyrical and haunting.
Was writing always your dream choice of career?
Writing is definitely my dream job. Aside from my family, it’s the one constant of my life. I have always been in love with stories and storytelling and I knew that no matter where life took me I would always carve out a sacred space for writing. I’ve experienced quite a few ups and downs in my writing life, especially on the business side things, but disappearing into the imaginary world of story always makes me purely happy.
Which social media do you see as a must for writers?
I suspect that a strong social media presence across the major platforms is important for most writers. However, unless you’re someone who enjoys being online 24/7 (I’m definitely not) it makes sense to focus on the platform that you enjoy interacting on the most. I appreciate the way Twitter allows writers to share their beautiful words – not necessarily to sell books, but to illuminate the beauty of language.
Where do you hang out most online?
My favourite online hangout is Pinterest because it’s completely stress free. A fantasy and fairy-tale fanatic, Pinterest provides endless inspiration for my stories and novels. If I’m feeling a bit flat creatively, or I’m looking for a writing prompt, I can always find beautiful image on Pinterest to get my hand moving again. I also appreciate the ‘quiet’ of Pinterest. I can enjoy my time there without feeling pressure to engage with anyone.
What’s your favourite book you’ve read?
It’s impossible to choose just one, but a definite favourite of mine is a darkly romantic YA novel called Lady Keturah and Lord Death by Martine Leavitt. I feel a powerful connection to the heroine, Keturah, who reminds me a bit of myself. On the surface, Keturah and I have little in common, she’s a peasant girl living in the middle ages, and I’m a modern woman with two children, however, I powerfully relate to her need to tell stories, particularly stories about true love. Keturah is fascinated with true love and I guess I am too; it’s the theme I always come back to. I think I feel compelled to write young adult novels because I’m still very close to the girl I used to be – someone who doesn’t expect miracles but hopes for them anyway. I loved Keturah’s character so much I named by daughter after her, Juliet Keturah Clarke.
Morning or evening writer?
I’m absolutely a morning writer. Most days, I try to wake up at 5:00am to write before I do anything else. Those precious early morning hours when the house is quiet and still are when I’m at my most focused and creative. This is pure free writing time: no emails or editing or social media. On the mornings I get in my writing time I feel wonderful for the rest of the day. On the mornings I don’t write, I feel off kilter and unproductive. Despite my efforts to protect my writing mornings, life sometimes gets in the way and I need the extra hours of sleep!
If you had a hashtag for your books, what would it be?
#wordsthatshine
Winner of the Silver medal (YA category) in the Independent Publisher Book Awards (IPPY).
What happens when the person you love most in the world suddenly becomes a stranger?
Adam and Jenny's world is falling apart. Their dream of attending college together away from home quickly becomes a nightmare when Adam begins hearing the voice of the Snow Queen. Adam's startling transformation from popular drama student into a withdrawn, suspicious stranger leaves Jenny frightened and confused. How can the person she loves most in the world suddenly become someone she doesn't recognize? As Adam drifts farther and farther away into the Snow Queen's mysterious world of ice and snow, Jenny believes she must fight to bring him back or risk losing him forever.
Vividly narrated by Adam and Jenny, the struggle to understand the impact of Adam's mental illness, forces both characters on a journey of self-discovery that leads to understanding about life's uncertainty, the power of first love and the pain of letting go. Drawing on elements of The Snow Queen fairy tale, Losing Adam is a unique combination of drama and romance.
Adam and Jenny's world is falling apart. Their dream of attending college together away from home quickly becomes a nightmare when Adam begins hearing the voice of the Snow Queen. Adam's startling transformation from popular drama student into a withdrawn, suspicious stranger leaves Jenny frightened and confused. How can the person she loves most in the world suddenly become someone she doesn't recognize? As Adam drifts farther and farther away into the Snow Queen's mysterious world of ice and snow, Jenny believes she must fight to bring him back or risk losing him forever.
Vividly narrated by Adam and Jenny, the struggle to understand the impact of Adam's mental illness, forces both characters on a journey of self-discovery that leads to understanding about life's uncertainty, the power of first love and the pain of letting go. Drawing on elements of The Snow Queen fairy tale, Losing Adam is a unique combination of drama and romance.
My Review: 5 stars
I loved the cover and blurb of this book and picked it up. I adored it from the first chapter. Jumping into a love story when it seems to be already established, Jenny and Adam both starting college and finally getting to do all those things together without their parents around, but something happens to Adam, he changes, and with it, so does the whole narrative. I loved how well this story was told, how Adam's change was portrayed, how real it was, and very much enjoyed it. Highly recommended for those who love a little heartbreak, but also some really good mental health rep.
I loved the cover and blurb of this book and picked it up. I adored it from the first chapter. Jumping into a love story when it seems to be already established, Jenny and Adam both starting college and finally getting to do all those things together without their parents around, but something happens to Adam, he changes, and with it, so does the whole narrative. I loved how well this story was told, how Adam's change was portrayed, how real it was, and very much enjoyed it. Highly recommended for those who love a little heartbreak, but also some really good mental health rep.
Thank you so much for hosting me on your blog! And for your lovely review!
ReplyDelete