Greetings readers, bloggers, geeks, and authors and welcome to The ToiBox of Words. I’m your host Toi Thomas, author of Eternal Curse, and today I have a treat to share. A while back, I had the pleasure to interview a wonderful author named, Megan O’Russell. A good time was truly had by all, and here’s how it went down (be sure to stick around for the Kindle Fire & eBook giveaway at the end).
Toi: Hi there Megan! It’s so awesome to have you here at the ToiBox Blog. I’m excited to learn more about you and your work.
Megan: It’s good to be here Toi. I can’t wait to get started.
Toi: So tell me, who is Megan O’Russell?
Megan: I am Megan O’Russell, and I have three young adult series, including the Girl of Glass series. Book two in that series, Boy of Blood, was released on April 10th and I am thrilled to send this new story out into the world!
Toi: Wow, three YA series. I see you’ve been busy.
Toi: Well before we dive into your special message today, let’s get to know you, the person inside the author.
Toi Thomas: Who is so you and why?
Megan: I had to take a poll. The answers I got were Betsy Ross and Susan B Anthony… they may have been kidding.
Toi: Those are quite interesting. Guess that makes you a cross between a patriotic seamstress and an activist.
Toi: So, what makes you geek out?
Megan: Hamilton, Harry Potter, and Disney are the three biggest geek loves I have at the moment. If I had to choose only one, it would be Harry Potter, though I would feel like I was betraying the other two.
Toi: Ah, the struggle is real when you have to choose between the things that make you geek out the most. For me, it’s books, movies, and comic books.
Toi: What was your favorite book or story, pre-teen years?
Megan: Anything Madeline L’Engle. I love all of her books. There’s something in the way she wrote that was just so welcoming.
Toi: It’s hard to believe I haven’t read her books, but I’m very familiar with them. I bet you were excited to get A Wrinkle In Time movie.
Toi: Now, in terms of interviews, whose brain are you just itching to scratch?
Megan: Leigh Bardugo, author of Six of Crows and the Grisha Trilogy. It would be wonderful to sit down with such a brilliant contemporary.
Toi Thomas: Ooo, that’s a good answer. Those are both really popular series. For me, at this moment, I’d probably like to interview Marissa Meyer for her Lunar Chronicles.
Toi: Now that we know a little more about you, the person, let’s learn about you, the author, and dive into your special message.
Toi: Whacha got for me today?
Megan: Boy of Blood is the second book in my Girl of Glass series. Taking place in a mid-apocalyptic world with chemically induced vampires, the series takes a look at the fall of society from the point of view of the upper one percent.
Toi: This sounds like a unique twist to both the vampire and apocalyptic story tropes. Kudos to you.
Toi: Who’s starring in this 2-dimensional script read of Boy of Blood?
Megan: Nola Kent is my protagonist. She’s spent her life living in the safety of the domes, secure in the knowledge that she is protected. When watching those on the outside of the glass suffer becomes too much, she is drawn into a world of darkness she never imagined.
The thing I love most about Nola is her heart. She doesn’t do everything right–she sometimes hurts people–but even when she screws up, she always began her actions through a place of compassion.
Toi: Sounds like you have a pretty solid, strong female character to lead your series.
Toi: Now, what’s so special about this story that’s going to reel in the readers?
Megan: We’ve all seen dystopian worlds from the point of view of those starving on the street. The Girl of Glass story twists that trope. The question then becomes how much suffering can you watch before it is your obligation to help?
Toi: That’s a great selling point, and you’re right; that’s not a perspective we often receive in stories such as this. I’m intrigued.
Toi: Past, present, future, is there a rhyme or reason to your writing?
Megan: At the moment, I’m purely working on the Boy of Blood book release fueled by massive amounts of coffee and queso. After life calms down, I’ll be back to editing book three in the series, currently titled Night of Never.
Toi: Oh, I can totally relate. Sometimes the book release can be more grueling than the whole writing process, but it all pays off in the end.
Toi: What author(s) has most influenced your writing? Why or how?
Megan: Madeline L’Engle for her sense of engaging wonder.
Toi: I can see that. It’s got to be hard being a fan without also being influenced as a writer.
Toi: Now this is where the questions get a little kooky; are you ready?
Megan: Yeah, do that.
Toi: If you could only watch one movie for the rest of your life, what would it be?
Megan: Big Hero Six because Baymax brings me joy.
Toi: I know what you mean. Wish I had a Baymax in my life.
Toi: When the soundtrack of your life is playing in your head, what songs express your glee and what songs bring out your rage?
Megan: Basically, Mumford and Sons Pandora station for Joy, Flogging Molly Pandora for Rage.
Toi: Wow. I guess it’s good Pandora offers so much variety; everything you need for joy and rage is right there.
Toi: Let’s play zombie urban survivor. What 3 things do you need to survive a black-out in Central Park the day zombies attack?
Megan: I’d want a hunting knife, rope, and matches.
Toi: I like it. Forget about flashlights; let’s light some stuff on fire. LOL!
Toi: What’s the most fun experience you’ve ever had, to date?
Megan: My husband and I took a two-week road trip through Ireland. That was the most relaxed and joyful I have ever been. Live music, wonderful scenery, amazing people. I would go back in an instant.
Toi: That does sound nice and relaxing. I haven’t been anywhere as special as Ireland yet, but I too love those quiet, intimate road trips with the hubby.
Toi: Last question of the day; here we go.
Toi: Not that you can see into the future, but in your opinion, what does the future hold?
Megan: I’m going to err on the hopeful side. In five years, we’ll all have realized that all humans are humans, nothing more nothing less. I personally will have a thriving publishing career and own a house near the water… and a cat.
Toi: Now, that’s a future I can get behind. I wish you all the best.
Toi: Thank you so much, Megan, for spending time with me today.
Megan: Thanks for having me, Toi. It was tons of fun.
Okay readers, bloggers, geeks, and authors, that’s all for today. Be sure to follow this blog to see who will be visiting next time. And don’t forget to check out this cool Kindle Fire & eBooks GIVEAWAY. For more from Megan O’Russell, check out these great links:
Website: MeganORussell.com
Blog: Life Beyond Exaggeration
Facebook: ORussellauthor
Twitter: @MeganORussell
Purchase links for Boy of Blood: Amazon | Barnes&Noble | Kobo | iTunes
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Thank you for taking the time to read this post. If you like it let me know and share it with others. See you next time, Toi Thomas. #thetoiboxofwords
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