Tuesday, December 7, 2010

Interview + Giveaway: Dia Reeves


Quick! Describe Slice of Cherry in 7 words or less!
 Dexter-ish sisters in the Twilight Zone (It's hard to describe my books without comparing them to The Twilight Zone. :D)

What makes your characters unique from other YA characters?
I don't write about "typical teens". I don't even know what that means. My teens are always weird, but proud to be weird. There's none of that, "Oh why can't I be like everyone else?" kind of crap. But no matter how strange my kids are, they want what everyone wants: to be loved and accepted for who they are.

What inspired you to write Slice of Cherry? 
I wanted to write about a family, about the love/hate relationship between sisters in particular, and about the pain of growing up and letting go of childish things in general. But to keep the book from reading like an Afterschool Special, I made the sisters serial killers. Forcing people to root for the bad guys is how I get my kicks.

Do you have any small teasers you can share from Slice of Cherry?
There are two sisters--Kit and Fancy. Fancy is the youngest and keeps a dream diary. This is an excerpt from it:
I died. I don’t know what of. I was in a crate in the Pikachu costume I wore for Halloween when I was seven. Kit was dragging me from house to house trying to get somebody to take me in and bury me, but nobody would.
Being a serial killer, Fancy tends to have very dark dreams.

What do you absolutely need in order to write a novel (example: caffeine, music, et cetera)?
I'm very analog still, so I need notebooks and pens--I always write my ideas on paper first. I also need music, but it needs to be unobtrusive, like classical or trip-hop. Philip Glass, Schumann, Massive Attack, and Tricky are my go-to artists when I'm trying to create.

What kind of story are you working on right now (or planning to)? 
I'm working on book three now, which I'm going to finish during NaNoWriMo this year. Like my other books, it takes place in Portero and is about a girl born without a heart who has to steal them from living people in order to survive. There are hot, creepy twins, mechanical creations, a big spooky house--I'm very excited to get cracking on this one. :)

Ooh, that one sounds intriguing! Thanks so much for dropping by to answer some questions, Dia! 

Want to learn more about Dia and her books? Visit her website! Her debut novel Bleeding Violet is now in paperback, and her newest novel Slice of Cherry is available for pre-order (releases January 4th! I can't wait!)

***
Onto the giveaway! Since I loved Bleeding Violet (I adored this book - so wild and unique), and I know Slice of Cherry is probably going to rock, I've decided to have a giveaway! 

Giveaway Details:
  • US ONLY (sorry, but shipping is out of the country is something I can't afford right now).
  • TWO winners: One for a paperback copy of Bleeding Violet. One for a hardcover copy of Slice of Cherry
  • ENDS January 2nd, 2011 at Midnight
To enter, fill out the form HERE 
(will open in a new window).




39 comments:

  1. Awesome interview. I am dying to read Slice Of Cherry and Dia's next book. I loved Bleeding Violet. =]

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  2. Oh my gahhhhh...I'm dying to read Slice of Cherry, and Bleeding Violet sounds fabulous, too! I love that the authors starts with a paper and pen...that's how I begin :D

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  3. Slice of Cherry sounds so unique, which I love and I can't wait to read it! Can't wait to hear more about the book she's currently working on, sounds very creepy!

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  4. Love Dexter! Love The Twilight Zone! Love Bleeding Violet! I seriously can't wait for Slice of Cherry. I just know it's going to be amazing! I love the sound of book three. Thanks so much for the giveaway.

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  5. You had me at Twilight Zone...I loved that show! Slice of Cherry looks so cute, but then you realize that it isn't. Lol!

    Jen @ I Read Banned Books

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  6. I've been wanting a YA book like Dexter. Dexter is amazing. I loved loved loved Bleeding Violet and can't wait to get my hands on Slice of Cherry (which I'll hopefully win in the giveaway? :) )

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  7. Bleeding Violet was so good! It was nice to read about a crazy and weird main character. I hope Slice of Cherry is just as nuts!

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  8. WANT. I read the first chapter of SoC when Dia posted it and cannot WAIT! :)

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  9. Bleeding Violet was one of my top reads for 2010: such a strong, amazing, unusual protagonist, and what a great setting. Can't wait for Slice of Cherry!

    Thanks so much for the interview!

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  10. I love this interview! I haven't read Bleeding Violet yet, but the fact that Dia writes her characters so uniquely and without the need to really fit in has me very interested. Thanks for the giveaway.

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  11. Bleeding Violet was such a great book! I can't wait for Slice of Cherry!!!!!! Great interview, by the way!

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  12. Ah, man, this interview makes me want to read Slice of Cherry even more! So excited for its release. :)

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  13. I am really looking forward to this one! Great interview!

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  14. thanks for sharing this interview! i absolutely cannot wait to read slice of cherry!!! :D

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  15. Ah! I love Dia! Great interview! I was wondering where she got her inspiration from and I'm really looking forward to the 3rd book!

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  16. I'm really excited for Slice of Cherry! Thanks for the interview and giveaway!

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  17. This is a book I have been dying to read. If I don't win a copy somewhere it will have to be bought on the day it comes out!!

    I have a now have an Igor working for me at Mad Steampunkery & Book Reviews, & I currently have a giveaway that will end on the 10th.

    Mad Scientist
    http://madsteampunkery.blogspot.com

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  18. I want to read Slice of Cherry SOOOO badly and Bleeding Violet looks super unique! And I love that Dia compares her books to The Twilight Zone- that makes them just that much more interesting! :)

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  19. Omg!! I love Dia Reeves, shes just so unique and weird. But thats what i love!! :)

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  20. proud to be weird, i love it!! who wants to read about normalcy :) thank you for the contest!

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  21. Cannot wait for Slice of Cherry! Loved Bleeding Violet ridiculous amounts.
    Love Kelley

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  22. Wow! Slice of Cherry sounds creepy but very interesting!

    I've been wanting to read Bleeding Violet!

    There is nothing wrong with being weird! I love how Dia incorporates that with her characters!

    Thanks for hosting this giveaway! :)

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  23. I adored Bleeding Violet! Can't wait to read Slice of Cherry. Thanks for the great interview :)

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  24. I absolutely loved Bleeding Violet! I was truly one of the best YA books I read this year. I can't wait for Slice of Cherry. The next book she's working on sounds really awesome too. Can't wait! :)

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  25. I can't wait to read both books! And the cover of Slice of Cherry is just STUNNING!

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  26. I featured Slice of Cherry for one of my Waiting on Wednesday posts. I have yet to read Bleeding Violet but have heard really great things about it. Both books sound amazing and I really enjoyed the interview!

    Thanks so much =)

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  27. Nice interview.
    the book sounds amazing :D
    and i love, love, love the cover.

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  28. Thanks for the contest! I love how she describes it as Dexter-ish meets The Twilight Zone and also from making it sound like an Afterschool Special she made her sisters serial killers! Love it :)

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  29. Awesome interview. I just started watching Dexter and I'm hooked! The third book in the series sounds really interesting too!

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  30. I can't wait to read Slice of Cherry! Kit and Fancy sound like awesome characters!

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  31. awesome interview! I really want to read Bleeding Violet and Slice of Cherry sounds great as well!

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  32. Slice of Cherry looks creepy good! Kind of Dexter for YA. And I'm loving the premise of her next one. Great interview!

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  33. great interview. I can't wait to read Slice of Cherry, and I love that she still needs to use a pencil and paper, I totally know that feeling.

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  34. Great Interview, sounds like some cool books.

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  35. This is such a great interview. I can't wait to read Slice of Cherry.

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  36. sounds interesting cant wait to read

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  37. Dexter-ish sisters? Shoot, I'm already sold, lol! Ggreat interview ♥

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  38. Great interview thank you so much I still have not read Bleeding Violet! I heard it was good and still want to read it. Great giveaway thank you! Happy New Year :)

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  39. 'Dexter-ish sisters in the Twilight Zone'? Oh this is gonna be good. lol. And that excerpt is both creepy and humorous. Great interview and thanks for the giveaway!

    ~Briana

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