Friday, August 10, 2012

Author Interview with Gina Rosati and Giveaway

  Gina RosatiAuracle 
 Gina Rosati was born and raised in Boston suburbia, and now lives in Merrimack, New Hampshire with her husband, two teenage children and two chubby guinea pigs. Gina is a long time volunteer at her local middle school library, and a member of SCBWI, the Apocalypsies and the Class of 2k12 debut author groups.  
                                                           
                                                                 Auracle Synopsis

16 year old Anna Rogan has a secret she's only shared with her best friend, Rei; she can astrally project out of her body, allowing her spirit to explore the world and the far reaches of the universe.

When there's a fatal accident and her classmate Taylor takes over Anna's body, what was an exhilarating distraction from her repressive home life threatens to become a permanent state. Faced with a future trapped in another dimension, Anna turns to Rei for help. Now the two of them must find a way to get Anna back into her body and stop Taylor from accusing an innocent friend of murder. Together Anna and Rei form a plan but it doesn't take into account the deeper feelings that are beginning to grow between them.
 

1.  Is there going to be a sequel to Auracle?  Why or why not

No, Auracle is a stand alone novel. If I decide to continue Anna and Rei's story, they'll be secondary characters in a companion novel told from Callie's POV (which would flesh out Seth's story), but that's so very up in the air right now.


2.  How did you come up with the idea of the main character, Anna, being able to astrally project?  And the story as a whole?

I used to have recurring nightmares that were very vivid and always accompanied by a deafening buzz in my head. I researched them and came up with lucid dreams and sleep paralysis, which can be caused by stress. Years later, I was reading a book by psychic Sylvia Browne, and she described my dreams right down to the buzz. She said this occurs during an out-of-body experience, when you wake up half in, half out of your body. She also says to take from her books only what resonates with you. Since I don't do stress well, I still think they were caused by lucid dreams/sleep paralysis, but the writer in me wondered, "what if?" Then, of course, I wondered whether someone could get into an abandoned body, and I took a walk to a local waterfall, and the story unfolded from there.


3.  I'm sure this story took a lot of research and thought.  Can you give us insight on your writing process and how much research went into the story?

I drafted Auracle one summer five years ago, then I tucked it into a drawer until January 2nd, when I spent 4 months revising. I love research. My first real job was as a page in the reference section of a library, and I currently volunteer in a middle school library, so I do have mad research skills, and lots of resources. I spent a lot of time researching Auracle because it was so much fun to research. As a result,. I have an extra 300+ pages that never made it into the story because it was all needless detail that slowed the story down. Among other things, I researched astral projection, energy (physics), energy (metaphysics), some of the coolest places to explore on earth (and in the known universe), addictive personalities, and I even got a tattoo for research (although they are addictive, so now I have three :)


4.  What are you currently working on or in the future?

I'm working on a historical/fantasy/speculative/sci-fi/romance. I'm really looking forward to all the research needed for this one!


5.  What was your favorite aspect on writing this story?

The love story!! I'm such a sucker for a love story.


6.  If you could trade places with one character in your book who would it be and why?  What character would you trade places with one day from another story?

I'd want to trade places with Anna - I'd love to be able to astral project! Plus, she gets to hang out with Rei.
And from another story?
Considering how we authors are so awful to our characters, I'd have to say absolutely, positively, it would have to be Eloise from The Plaza, because I'd love a day to skip around The Plaza, ring the bell whenever I like and annoy people in such a charming way. Although if George R.R. Martin wasn't torturing Arya Stark on every other page, I'd choose her because you don't get more awesome than Arya Stark.
   

                                                          Giveaway

There will be three winners for this giveaway.
  1st winner-will receive a SIGNED hardcover copy of Auracle
   2nd and 3rd winners will receive an Auracle swag pack created by Gina herself.  
This giveaway is International.

Auracle
SIGNED
 



a Rafflecopter giveaway

34 comments:

  1. Congrats on your first giveaway, Kristina! Welcome to the wonderful world of book blogging - an good luck! ;)

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  2. Thanks for the giveaway! I'm hard pressed to read this, it looks spectacular! Happy first giveaway!

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  3. Thank you both of you!!! I am very excited about this. Gina Rosati was very nice for providing me with the swag packs and signing the book for me. This book was fantastic!!! You will love it!!!

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  4. I am excited for your blog and and great giveaways! Love ya Kristina.

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  5. Very beautiful intereview! This book sounds really good and thank you for the giveaway!
    Artemis

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  6. Thanks for the interview and contest!! Can't wait to read Auracle. :)

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  7. Thanks for the giveaway. I've been dying to read this book for so long.

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  8. WOW! Welcome to the world of book blogging! <333 What a great start! I hope you enjoy it! <3

    Ashley @ FireStarBooks

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  9. WHOO HOO! Thank you for the interview and giveaway!

    Although I often have lucid dreams (I used to "train" myself to be lucid so that I could get away from nightmares), I've never had sleep paralysis, which I heard was just frightening.

    Lilian @ A Novel Toybox

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  10. Thanks for the giveaway, Kristina :)
    Great start to the blog, and I'm looking forward to seeing more of you in the blogging community :)

    Dani
    Pen to Paper

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  11. Thank you so much for the giveaway! I've been dying to read Auracle! :)

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  12. Thanks for the giveaway!
    Would love to read this book, sounds interesting! :)
    Best regards, Diana.

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  13. Thanks for this generous giveaway!!

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  14. Ohhh, I've been wanting to read Auracle since I first heard about it. It sounds fantastic! x

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  15. This has been on my list and I'm super excited to get my hands on it! Thanks so much for the giveaway!

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  16. I love this book's cover!! I can't wait to read it, sounds great! Thanks for the INT giveaway!

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  17. Oh my! I just want to read this book! A LOT!!!
    Thanks for the chance!

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  18. Can't wait to read this! Thanks for the great giveaway and review of the book:)

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  19. Thanks for the wonderful giveaway~! ♥

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  20. Great interview :) and your next book sounds also like a book I'd love :)

    Thanks for the opportunity to win Auracle!

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  21. Thanks for the giveaway. :)

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  22. EPIC GIVEAWAYY!
    Thank youuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu!
    Keeping my fingers crossed!
    (Ileana-rafflecopter)

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  23. Thanks for the giveaway! I love the look of the book and those sway packs look adorable.

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  24. This book is awesome! Thanks for the giveaway!

    -wni

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  25. Thanks for the giveaway! I read this book for a book tour and loved it! Hope I can own a copy.

    --Markella

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  26. Well I for one am very glad you decided to untuck this book. It sounds like a really interesting story and I am looking forward to the journey.

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  27. Thanks so much! I'm really glad.
    I've already sent you my address. Did you get it?

    - Ester Almeida

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  28. Hey there! I’m a fellow blogger/writer looking to discover great blogs, and I’ve gladly added myself to your followers! I would also love ot invite you to check out a great Giveaway I’m having right now, that I think would be right up you alley!

    Hope to see you there, and thank you!
    - Martin

    http://www.meyersauthor.com/2012/09/5000-giftcard-giveaway.html

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