Author Interview & Giveaway-- Emmy Laybourne

Thursday, September 6, 2012 12:01 AM Posted by Enna Isilee , 35 Comments
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Connect with Emmy:
Goodreads | Website | Twitter

Emmy Laybourne drew me in with her thrilling plot, diverse characters, and HILARIOUS personality. Seriously. This woman is so so so so so funny. When I met her she literally did an interpretation of a woman who has an inner ear problem walking around in heels. I've never laughed so hard. Hope you enjoy her interview! I did.

Did you have to do much research while writing M14? If so, what did you research the most?

I did a lot of research into catastrophes that could cause natural disasters like massive hailstorms and earthquakes. The volcano eruption on La Palma, a small island off the Canary Islands off the coast of North Africa could cause a mega-tsunami similar to the one I describe in the book. Here is an interesting site to check out: http://www.armageddononline.org/tsunami.php But I think the very tone of the site itself should put your mind at ease - the chances of something like this happening are slim. (So New Yorkers shouldn't feel the need to evacuate!)

There were slight changes to the cover between the ARC and the finished version of M14. What made you or the publisher decide to make these changes? Any particular reason?

I absolutely love the cover of Monument 14! One of the things I love about it is that the identity of the characters is a bit ambiguous. Is the center character Dean or is it Niko? The girl in the bleached out jeans is Sahalia, but is the boy in the plaid shirt Brayden? He could also be Dean. However, the girl in the skirt has to be Josie, if only because Astrid would never wear a skirt! When I mentioned that to my editors, they reshot the silhouette to add Josie’s signature "Giraffe bump" hairstyle.

You gave a great answer to this question when I saw you in person, but I didn’t write it down! So I hope you don’t mind answering again: why the move away from professional acting? And why did you decide that writing was the next frontier?

Oooh, personal question! But I'll give you my answer again - here in the written word - for all the world to see! I loved acting - I still do. But as an actor I was always very critical of my body. I dieted and was always highly conscious of my weight and very hard on myself. The way I spoke to myself about my body was harsh and ugly - I would never have spoken to another human being that way - and yet I berated myself almost all the time.

Once I became pregnant my relationship to my body changed. I LOVED being pregnant. I felt like a walking miracle! The bigger I got, the happier I was! For the first time in my life, I felt proud of my body. Once Elinor was born, I just didn't want to submit myself to my own violent thinking. I stopped acting for other reasons - the lifestyle was difficult for me to lead with a baby, and I also had a strong, STRONG desire to write, but I think that the impetus came from the new peace I'd found with my body.

I started in the graduate program in screenwriting at UCLA when Ellie was 3 months old and graduated when I was pregnant with my son, Rex, three years later. Getting a degree in screenwriting was great for my career as a novelist! I was trained in story structure and to write active, visual scenes.

Was Monument 14 always the title? Were there other titles floating around? If you could go back and change the title, would you?

The original title was "We Are Val-U-Mart." I kind of still love this title, but it has too playful a tone, I think. We decided to change it and then my agent Susanna Einstein and I did a lot of brainstorming. I can't remember which of us came up with Monument 14, so I'm going to give the credit to Susanna!

The next book is told from two different POVs (yes?). Did you find this harder or easier than a single POV?

Yes, Monument 14: Sky On Fire had two narratives describing two different story lines. It did offer some challenges!

I wrote Alex's narrative first, from start to finish. It took me some time to find his voice. Alex is younger then Dean - only 13 - and yet he's not like your average 13 year old. He has a technical knowledge about computers and electronics - a certain amount of logic over emotion - that needed to come through in his account of what was happening.

Dean's narrative came very easily. When I started writing him, it was like he pulled up a chair to my desk and started giving dictation!

Why did you choose to make the main character a boy? Was it hard to make his voice authentic (you know… since you’re not a boy?)?

It's so funny - I never for a second considered making the narrator of Monument 14 a girl! I think this is because I started thinking about who would be in the story and Dean just stepped forward in my mind, to be the narrator. If I had made the narrator a girl, a lot would have been different - perhaps the story would have developed as a love triangle between the narrator, Jake and Niko! As it is, Dean is sort of torn between Niko's serious, boy scout mentality and Jake's playboy attitude. But of course, it's not a love triangle between them! More of a buddy triangle! (Note to self: Write movie called Buddy Triangle!)

Mad lib time! Credit for this idea goes to Everead!
Josi, Niko, Brayden, and I picked fiercely outside the subaru doors. Eventually Alex came out scuttling two cherries. He whispered each by the grip, nun facing down, held out away from his body. He held them the way you might hold a couple of orange rats.

!!Giveaway Time!!

You can win a copy of Monument 14! Today's giveaway is hosted by Book Cover Justice. Head on over to win. This giveaway is open INTERNATIONAL



All review content © Enna Isilee, Squeaky Books 2007-2012

35 comments:

  1. Christina K.September 6, 2012 at 2:01 AM

    Everyone has given this book awesome reviews! I like how Emmy knows Dean so well it's like he was talking to her:) This seems like a very different disaster book - it will be interesting to see how they all interact:)

    Great interview:)

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  2. AnonymousSeptember 6, 2012 at 4:35 AM

    This is such a great interview! I love the questions and answers, particularly the cover information and about previously acting and deciding to stop! Such an awesome Q&A!

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  3. Marie O.September 6, 2012 at 5:24 AM

    This book looks really good. I'm going to have to pick it up!

    Thanks for the interview and giveaway!

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  4. teddySeptember 6, 2012 at 7:57 AM

    I can't wait to read this book!

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  5. KamiSeptember 6, 2012 at 8:03 AM

    I've been wanting to read this since I saw Emmy at the Fierce Reads event. She is hilarious!

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  6. Fall Into BooksSeptember 6, 2012 at 8:38 AM

    I've been wanting to read this book for a long time. Great interview! :D

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  7. Texas Book LoverSeptember 6, 2012 at 1:31 PM

    I have heard great things about this book! looking forward to reading it!

    I am happy you were able to step back from acting and pursue writing. I think it is a shame how much stress society puts on us to keep up a certain image.

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  8. MirriamSeptember 6, 2012 at 1:58 PM

    I'm really interested in this book now; I hadn't heard of it before!

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  9. GayleSeptember 6, 2012 at 3:16 PM

    Thanks for another great interview! I love the mad libs too -- so funny! I definitely have this book on my list!

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  10. VivienSeptember 6, 2012 at 3:20 PM

    So exciting that the next book will have different povs!!!

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  11. Lexi EdwardsSeptember 6, 2012 at 4:51 PM

    I'd ove to read this! I've heard great things about it :) Great Interview!

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  12. DeeDee GriffinSeptember 6, 2012 at 5:27 PM

    Thanks for the interview! I'm excited to read this book, and I love how the cover turned out.

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  13. hsSeptember 6, 2012 at 8:32 PM

    I love the title "We Are Val-U-Mart" XD

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  14. nurmawati djuhawanSeptember 7, 2012 at 2:22 AM

    i like pov from hero and heroine....
    it's great monument 14 did too...

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  15. Aline TobingSeptember 7, 2012 at 4:47 AM

    Hi, Emmy. Nice interview!
    And I love the cover, kind of mysterious ^^

    I love how you describe the relationship between the characters as "buddy triangle" since there's lots of YA books out there with the "love triangle" theme. "Buddy triangle" is surely refreshing! :D

    I don't read many books written from a guy's PoV. I think I'll enjoy Monument 14 :)

    Thanks for the chance to win a free copy, Emmy!

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  16. Roxana ZuziacSeptember 7, 2012 at 8:05 AM

    I love the cover, I love the story, I really need to read Monument 14! I know I'll enjoy this book. Thank you for the interview, Emmy!

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  17. HollySeptember 7, 2012 at 9:24 AM

    Buddy Triangle, sounds like it would be a parody for the Love Triangles. I love it! I've really been wanting to read Monument 14 since I first found it on Goodreads. It sounds fantastic!

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  18. book queenSeptember 7, 2012 at 10:41 AM

    I really really like the cover of Monument 14, just can`t wait to read it, the story seems interesting.

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  19. Ariell LarsonSeptember 7, 2012 at 8:08 PM

    I always enjoy hearing the authors perspective on their writing. I liked the part where you discussed the POV. Looking forward to this "Buddy Triangle." :)

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  20. LilianSeptember 9, 2012 at 5:16 AM

    Only now did I realize Josie's hair style changed from the ARC, and I always thought the minor changes in colors was really just computer monitors, or different lighting!

    Lilian @ A Novel Toybox

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  21. AnonymousSeptember 9, 2012 at 3:26 PM

    There are times when reading an author interview makes me want to have the book in hand right this second. This is one of them! I'm ordering it right now and splurging on one-day shipping. Can't wait to read it!

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  22. Laura HSeptember 9, 2012 at 9:35 PM

    I want to read this!! Kinda reminds me of The Mist.... my boyfriend at the time made me watch that movie with him because he loves Stephen King. He kept saying it was so scary and he would hold my hand because I would be so afraid... except that was just his plot to get to cuddle with me. It wasn't that scary ;) This book sounds similar but I guess that's just because of the take shelter in a super market thing. It sounds much better/creepier than The Mist!! :)

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  23. Kimberly @ Caffeinated ReviewerSeptember 10, 2012 at 12:39 PM

    Awesome interview, I loved learning about Dean and your writing process for him. I like the title you went with better :)

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  24. SuzanneSeptember 10, 2012 at 12:45 PM

    I really really want to read this book! Have the sample waiting on my Kindle :)

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  25. ThePixieSprinklesSeptember 11, 2012 at 1:47 AM

    Thank you for the interview! Even though I have not read the book...yet...I completely agree that the title "We Are Val-U-Mart" would have conveyed the wrong message. While a funny title, I would have had a totally different idea about what the book was entirely.

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  26. Maji BookshelfSeptember 11, 2012 at 3:42 AM

    omg i never really noticed the difference in the covers! lol! Lovely interview!!
    - Farah @MajiBookshelf

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  27. VeronikaSeptember 12, 2012 at 2:39 AM

    I'm dying to read Monument 14! It's already on my TBR list and I'm going to pick it up soon! I'm in love with the cover!

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  28. graceloSeptember 12, 2012 at 8:44 PM

    I love books in a guy's voice. Sometimes, that girly voice gets a little old. I haven't read Monument 14 yet, but I've heard nothing but raving reviews about it!

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  29. PamMSeptember 14, 2012 at 6:39 AM

    Val U Mart would have been awesome to for a title.

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  30. HannahSeptember 17, 2012 at 1:43 PM

    HAPPY BIRTHDAY ENNA! I've heard good things about this book! Thanks for the fun interview! More excited to read it! :D

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  31. UnknownSeptember 20, 2012 at 2:40 PM

    This looks like a great book.

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  32. Mary PrestonSeptember 21, 2012 at 4:38 AM

    I always appreciate it when writers put the effort into their research. The story is always better for it.

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  33. Lisa MandinaSeptember 21, 2012 at 4:11 PM

    Why did I not know she was an actor before? Very interesting interview!

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  34. Montana @ The Book BellesSeptember 21, 2012 at 5:02 PM

    I love the interview! It's so cool Emmy was an actress. Also, Monument 14 sounds amazing :)

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  35. UnknownSeptember 21, 2012 at 8:50 PM

    great interview

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Thank you so much for commenting! I read each and every one.

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