Author Interview: Kimberly Sabatini

I managed to interview the amazing Kimberly Sabatini who debuts this year with her YA novel, Touching the Surface! It definitely sounds amazing and has a BEAUTIFUL cover!

Fiction Freak: Let’s start with the classic: What inspired Touching the Surface?

Kimberly Sabatini: About seven and a half years ago my father passed away. After he died I started to write to make sense of the loss. I also decided that since he died young, this was my wake up call. I needed to crawl out of my own box of insecurity and fear and begin to chase down some of my dreams. I'm not sure I knew at the time that I was writing, that by puzzling through my thoughts on his death and the afterlife that I'd really written a very long love letter to my dad. It was a very proud moment to write the dedication to him. <3

FF: What's your funniest moment?

KS: In the book--I think the funniest moment for me involves a dinghy. That scene always makes me smile. You can let me know after you read it. :o)

FF: What made you decide to write about the afterlife?

KS: Aside from my dad...fear. I've always been the kind of kid and later adult that worked very hard to NEVER do anything wrong. Elliot does something very wrong in TOUCHING THE SURFACE and I wanted to explore one of my biggest fears. What would it be like to be a very good person, but make an epic, unforgivable mistake? Basically, I wanted to know if I was still capable of being loved if I ever screwed up really bad. I grew a lot from writing this book. I'm not sure I've completely conquered this fear, but I know that I've grown in a healthy direction.

FF: Some authors write while listening to music. Did you? And if so, what songs/type of music?

KS: I write to music when I draft, but not when I revise. In fact, sometimes I can't even write if I don't have the right song to set the mood for me and I may play that one song over and over again for hours. *head thunk* My only prerequisite on what I listen to is that it has to be meaningful to me and the story. So I never know what I'm going to end up with, it could be anything from Broadway to Rap. I'll give you one song that is on my playlist but also plays a big role in the book...Little Bird by Annie Lennox.

FF: Your cover is absolutely GORGEOUS, but I'm curious: do the birds represent anything or are they just there to add more prettiness?

KS: The origami birds are very relevant to the story. I LOVE that they were represented on the cover.

FF: Quick: first word that pops into your head when you think of first getting published.

KS: Jump (as in up and down for a long time in a lot of places.) My husband wanted to take me out but I told him that what I really wanted to do was jump up and down for a little while longer. LOL!

FF: Your book is at the top of many, MANY, wishlists (including mine). How does that make you feel?

KS: Humble and hopeful. It feels like such an honor. I know that not everyone will love my book--it's not possible for everyone to love any one thing. But the idea that there will be some people who connect with me and what I wrote--what I poured out on the page.  *sigh* That makes my heart want to burst through my chest just like it does for the Grinch as he's riding back into Whoville.

FF: What aware you currently reading? What are your thoughts so far?

KS: Right now I'm reading about 10 different books between my Kindle, audio books, what I read to my kids and what's on my night stand. I'll give you one...MY LIFE NEXT DOOR by Huntley Fitzpatrick...LOVING IT!!! I find myself staying up way too late reading every night.

FF: What is your most anticipated read of 2012 or 2013?

KS: Hmmmm There are sooo many but I'll pull from the Wolf Pack (My fellow pups represented by Michelle Wolfson) and say MIND GAMES by Kiersten White, PIVOT POINT by Kasie West and WHEN YOU WERE HERE by Daisy Whitney. They all sound incredible.

FF: Give us a teaser of Touching the Surface? Please?

KS: Here's the first paragraph...

My body smacked the water. Thoughts scattered like a handful of beads dropped on a bare wood floor. I gasped for air and the current rushed in. My throat burned. Panic, thrashing, spots of light exploding in my head. Surrender. I sank softly down...until...fingers wrapped around my wrist, yanking me out of the water. As my head broke the surface it all became clear. I had died...again.

FF: Any last words to readers/bloggers/aspiring writers?

KS: First and foremost--thank you so much for all the support and early buzz you are creating for TOUCHING THE SURFACE. I am an absolutely believer that word of mouth is what really sells books. I cannot thank everyone enough for passing on their excitement. As for aspiring authors (because there are no aspiring writers) you either write or you don't. :o) I just want to remind you that while there are lots of things to learn and understand about the publishing business, in the end we are just like snowflakes--completely unique in how we craft a story. Don't chase down someone else's dream...chase your own. Celebrate what makes you...you. Leave yourself on the page because that is the one thing that no one else can do. (((hugs))) Thank you so much for having me over to your blog. I had a wonderful time. <3

Touching the Surface Blurb:

Experience the afterlife in this lyrical, paranormal debut novel that will send your heart soaring.When Elliot finds herself dead for the third time, she knows she must have messed up, big-time. She doesn't remember how she landed in the afterlife again, but she knows this is her last chance to get things right.
Elliot just wants to move on, but first she will be forced to face her past and delve into the painful memories she'd rather keep buried. Memories of people she's hurt, people she's betrayed...and people she's killed.
As she pieces together the secrets and mistakes of her past, Elliot must find a way to earn the forgiveness of the person she's hurt most, and reveal the truth about herself to the two boys she loves...even if it means losing them both forever.



Short Author Bio:

Kimberly Sabatini is a former Special Education Teacher who is now a stay-at-home mom and a part-time dance instructor for 3, 4 and 5 year olds. After her dad passed away in 2005, she used writing as a way to make sense of the experience and discovered that she’s full of questions that need to be answered. She lives in New York’s Hudson Valley with her husband and three boys. Kimberly writes Young Adult fiction and is represented by Michelle Wolfson of Wolfson Literary Agency. She is thrilled to be part of the "Wolf Pack." TOUCHING THE SURFACE is her debut novel. (Simon Pulse - Simon & Schuster, October 30, 2012)

Contact Info:

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