Welcome to this stop on Laura's virtual tour of Phantom. I love all things having to do with The Phantom of the Opera, so I jumped at the chance of reviewing this book. I must say it was an absolutely delightful read!! You can take a look at my review here: http://closeencounterswiththenightkind.blogspot.com/2012/06/review-phantom-by-laura-deluca.html I was also fortunate enough to catch Laura in an interview. Let's take a look at what she had to say:
How old were you when you first realized you wanted to
write? I was writing poetry in kindergarten and wrote my first play in second
grade, so writing has definitely always been in my blood.
Most authors have an unusual story or way that they come up
with their ideas for books…Do you have one? Certain scenes and characters might
be influenced by the places and people around me, but I think my muse visits me
at night. Most of my main ideas and plots come from dreams. I’ll have the
strangest dreams, and usually I’m not even in them.
What was your biggest influence that steered you towards
writing? A psychic once told me that my
gift for writing clung to me from my previous life. It seems reasonable since I
wanted to write for as long as I can remember.
I have to ask, what are the hardest scenes for you to write?
Death scenes can be tricky. In YA literature, you can’t be too gruesome, but
you still want to shock people and scare them a little. It really has to be
worded just right to achieve this with the limitations you encounter in young
adult novels.
Are sex scenes difficult for you to word? Sex can only be
implied in young adult novels so I haven’t really tried to write a detailed sex
scene yet.
Do you see yourself writing in another genre? I am considering branching out and writing
adult novels in the future.
Has your family been supportive? My family is amazing. They read my books back when they were just
unpublished manuscripts, and helped check for mistakes. Even my eleven year old
daughter is becoming an editor. My husband gets the most credit though. We have
so little time without kids, and I spend most of it in front of my computer,
but he never complains.
Are any of your characters reflective of you? There usually
at least one character that has some similarities to me. In Phantom, the
heroine, Rebecca, has some of my qualities, like her nervous energy, and her
love of the Phantom of the Opera. But in
the end, she morphed into her own person, and surprised even me with her
metamorphosis.
What do you like to do when you're not writing? I love to
read, go the beach, go on nature trails, meditate…And now I want to get off the
computer and go do all those things! (Comes back two hours later to complete
this interview)
Who is your favorite book heroine? I love Morgana from the
Mists of Avalon by Marion Zimmer Bradley. She is a strong, independent woman. I
especially loved reading about her life as a priestess in Avalon. It was
reading this book which helped me to discover my own spiritual calling in this
life.
Do you have any unusual habits that revolve around writing?
I always handwrite my first draft. Other writers’ think that’s insane in
today’s modern world, but it just flows better for me that way. Plus, I can do
it anywhere at any time, and I don’t need electricity.
What is your favorite mystical creature? I have a thing for
werewolves, probably because my husband looks like one. Or maybe he looks more
like Chewbacca…..
What were some of your biggest challenges at the beginning
of your career? Just getting your foot
in the door is a challenge. Most agents and publishers judge your work based on
a five paragraph query letter, and it’s hard to get them to want to see more
when you’re unpublished. But if you keep trying, eventually your work will find
its home.
How do you feel about reader comments? I love to hear what my
readers think of my work! Both the positive and the negative comments are read
and appreciated because I can’t grow and become better without criticism.
Do you have any advice for new authors? Learn to take
criticism and use it to improve your work. This is a harsh business at times,
and I have gotten some rejections that made me want to cry. But when I really
listened to what they were saying, I could see where my work needed
improvement, and it’s made me a better writer, which has subsequently led to me
getting published.
Where are your books available? Amazon, Barne & Noble,
Smashwords, and Pagan Writers Press
What can we expect from you in the future? I am currently
working on a fantasy novel called Morrigan. Morrigan is a teenage witch who has
been shuffled from one foster home to another all her life. Now she is about to discover she is a
princess from the mystical land of Tír Na NÓg. The handsome werewolf Filtiarn
guides her through countless perils to find her mother, Ceridwyn, and
grandmother, Hecate. Only together can they complete the magical triad and save
their world.
Where can we reach you and become informed of updates?
Twitter:
www.twitter.com/authorldeluca
Book Trailer on YouTube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s_p6Qtq7Ivs
(Trailer for the sequel is not ready yet, but should be before 6/11)
When her high school drama club decides to produce the
musical phenomenon, “Phantom”,, Rebecca finds herself in the middle of an
unlikely love triangle and the target of a sadistic stalker.
Rebecca lands the lead role of Christine, the opera diva.
She finds herself torn between her two co-stars—Tom the surfer, who plays the
lovable hero, and Justyn, the strangely appealing Goth who is more than
realistic in the role of the tortured artist.
Almost immediately after casting, strange things happen both
on and off the stage as people are hurt in true phantom style. Is Justyn
bringing to life the twisted character of the phantom? Or are the roles of the
hero and the villain reversed? Rebecca doesn’t know who to trust, but she knows
she’s running out of time as opening night draws closer. To reveal the identity
of the real-life Phantom, Rebecca must strip away his mask—and in doing so,
risk her own life
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8 comments:
I have seen Phantom of The Opera live...there is nothing like it. Everyone should see it.
andieleah78@gmail.com
I own the movie and love it!! My favorite part is when she meets the phantom and hes takes her to his lair :) and I love musicals
I have the movie and ive watched it a hundred times or more. I love it! I really love the plot, the music, the romance... *sigh* I always feel bad for the Phantom. :/ Poor guy. Love this movie! This book sounds awesome! Definitely gonna have to grab a copy. Thanks for sharing!
I havent read the book or seen the movie .My favorite classical story is Great Expectations
I saw the most recent movie and just thought the dude who played the phantom was super hot...his voice was SO sexy!!!!!
Angie aka Tofu Fairy
14earth at gmail dot com
My favorite thing about Phantom of the Opera is the beautiful songs.
who won?
Is there a place where you post winners' names? I could not find this info anywhere. Thanks!
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