So excited to announce my interview with Jessica Shirvington, the author of Embrace, called the “Hottest YA Debut of 2012”.
Fiction Freak: What inspired Embrace? What were you thinking when you decided to write it?
Jessica Shirvington: At the time I started writing Embrace I'd been reading a lot and had reached the point where I wanted to try and craft my own story. There were things I was looking for in my reading experience that I wanted to be able to put into a story. It's strange how some things happen. I just sat down at the kitchen table, opened my laptop and started to write a story. I didn't know what it would all be about, I didn't know if I would get past the first paragraph let along a full novel. The idea that it is now a published series is mind-boggling!
I knew when I started the story process I wanted my heroine to deal with 'the big issues' and a perfect way to manifest these into a story is to incorporate the paranormal. This led to the use of angels. I realize there is now a number of YA angel themed books in the marketplace but when I started writing Embrace, there were none. I loved the idea of exploring the theme of angels and of choice and consequence. From there the research began and the story started to take shape.
FF: What is one of the funniest moments you've witnessed?
JS: Actually it was one I was involved in. My best friend and I were in Portugal, in a little seaside town. We decided to hire a moped for the day and explore. Anyway, we were only about 18 at the time and made a huge deal of which bike we wanted to hire, which helmets we thought looked the best. All in all we took about an hour of laughing and deliberating in the hire shop before we were ready to go. The guy hiring us the moped asked if we'd ever driven one before and we were like "ah...no. But we'll be fine!" He ran through a few quick tips and then my best friend jumped on the back and I was driving. We made it to the end of the little road (about 10 meters) before we needed to turn ... To this day I swear there was something wrong with the bike. It just wouldn't turn. And, ok, I forgot to use the brake. Long story short - we cruised right into a brick wall. I stood up, picking the bike up from under us. My best friend stood up, the broken-off side mirror dangling from her hand. The second I saw her standing there with a piece of the bike in-hand - in her perfectly selected helmet - I lost it. Needless to say, our moped experience ended there, but it's now fifteen years later and we still crack up whenever we relive the story.
FF: How does it feel to have YOUR book called "The Hottest YA Debut of 2012"?
JS: Incredibly flattering. I'm so passionate about this story and the characters. I love them so much and so naturally, I want readers to care for them too. That's what it's all about. :)
FF: When your book became international, we readers were excited, but how did you feel?
JS: Excited is a good word for it. Overjoyed, delirious, ecstatic, nervous, and humbled are also words that would apply!
FF: Lets approach the subject of your characters; Phoenix or Team Lincoln? (I'm a Phoenix all the way.)
JS: I love them both. Unlike Violet I don't have to choose and unlike Violet, I know all of their secrets and motivations so I feel differently about them. That's not to say that at times I don't feel like one would be the better choice for her or that one is behaving very badly. They all, Violet included, make their fair share of mistakes!
FF: Your take on angels is different than most fallen angel stories. What gave you the idea of exiles and light and dark as equals/balances?
JS: It comes from considering how any one event can at the same time produce a good result for one person and a bad result for another. It happens in all aspects of life - like getting a job. When one person gets a job, it's great for them and you never know just how important it is to them or how desperately they needed the income for themselves and their family, BUT, what about the other person who didn't get the job - what if they were down to their last $50 and this was a make or break moment. For the person that got the job they might think they had someone looking over them at that point, but what about the person that didn't get the job? And what does this mean for each of these people's futures and the people in their lives? This led to the idea that if angels played an active role in our universe and in the function of influence over our wills, then there had to be both good and bad that came from them, otherwise it simply couldn't work. (if that makes sense...!)
FF: How did it feel to know that Embrace was receiving such positive responses in another country?
JS: Awesome. Positive response makes it all worthwhile!
FF: What do you do in your regular day?
JS: The interesting thing about writing is that every day is different. Sometimes I am in draft and writing constantly. Sometimes my time is dictated by research, sometimes by editing, and at other times with publicity. Basically, there is always a lot going on so the main constant in my regular day is that once I get the kids off to school, it is very busy.
FF: Did anyone ever recognize you in public? If so, what did they do?
JS: Every now and then. Mostly if I'm with my husband (he's a TV personality / ex-Olympian). They tend to recognize him and then put two and two together if they have read my books. Usually they just want to say hi, or have a chat about the books or writing, which are two of my favorite subjects so it's all good.
FF: Describe your book in 9 words.
JS: Exiled angels are vengeful. Violet must choose her path.
FF: Last one, why don't you live in the US?! ;)
JS: Actually, I've been asking myself that question as well lately! I love the US and will be there in September for the release of ENTICE and am hoping to visit as many cities as possible. I'll also be back there in December to holiday with my family. So, whilst we don't live in the States, we do plan on visiting as much as possible!
Embrace Blurb:
It starts with a whisper
“It’s time for you to know who you are…”
Strange dreams leave her with very real injuries and there’s a dark tattoo weaving its way up her arms. The guy she thought she could fall in love with just told her he’s only half-human—oh, and the same goes for her. And she keeps hearing a distant fluttering of wings.
Violet Eden is having a very bad 17th birthday.
But if angels seek vengeance and humans are the warriors, you could do a lot worse than betting on Violet Eden…
Short Author Bio:
Jessica Shirvington is the author of THE VIOLET EDEN CHAPTERS also known as THE EMBRACE SERIES. An entrepreneur, author, and mother living in Sydney, Australia, Jessica is also a 2011 finalist for Cosmopolitan’s annual fun, Fearless, Female Award. She’s also one of the lucky few who met the lover of her life at age seventeen: Matt Shirvington, a former Olympian and current sports broadcaster for FOXTEL and Sky News. Married for almost eleven years with two beautiful daughters, Sienna and Winter, Jessica knows her early age romance and its longevity has definitely contributed to how she tackles relationships in her YA novels. Previously, she founded a coffee distribution company, Stella Imports, in London, and before that was involved in the management of restaurants Fuel Bistro and MG Garage in Sydney. Jessica is not a full-time novelist and living her dream.
Contact Info:
Jessica Shirvington's Goodreads
