Today I have the pleasure of having Lisa Desrochers, author of the Personal Demons trilogy and the upcoming A Little Too Far. I have read and loved Lisa's YA trilogy and I am beyond thrilled at the propsect of reading more from this author and can't wait to get my hands on a copy of A Little Too Far. But for the time being, I have Lisa hear to talk about the writing YA and paranormal vs. New Adult and contemporary. Be sure to keep reading for your chance to enter a pretty awesome giveaway.
How is writing new adult contemporary different from writing young adult paranormal?
Honestly, there's really very little difference in the process. For me, all writing is just getting into character. Whether that character in a millennia old demon (Hi Luc!) as in my YA books, or a woman in her twenties, as in my New Adult novels, it's all a matter of connecting with them and understanding what makes them unique. The things that make a demon (or vampire or angel) tick are going to be different, so you need to understand what they are and how they'll affect that character's decisions, actions, and reactions. But honestly, once you're literally inside your characters' heads, the writing process doesn't change. What changes is what you'll find in there. (Writing from inside a demon's head for my YAs was an interesting experience.) As long as you're true to your character and their voice, and you understand their motivations, you'll be able to keep them "real." Because, let's face it, no matter who we're writing, they're all really fictional, as alive as they seem in our heads as we're reading/writing them. If you can get them to leap off the page into the reader's heart, any fantastical creature, such as a demon, can be just as "real" as a normal twenty-year-old woman. The beauty of fantasy, however, is that anything's possible as long as you make it believable, so you can make stuff up that doesn't exist in the real world. For my contemporaries, I do a lot more research. I'm always very concerned that things happen in the way they would in real life.
As far as New Adult versus Young Adult, both are dealing with the same firsts. The difference is that, with New Adult, the characters are dealing with them in an environment with non of the safety nets that most young adults have (family, teachers, etc.) to support them. They're usually handled in a slightly more mature manner, and because I'm writing for an adult audience, there are no holds barred. There is no fade to black or softening of language. You can be one hundred percent true to the character without worrying about the audience.
"More than a ridiculously sexy, HOT read, Desrochers takes you on a wild ride of self-discovery and bittersweet romance."
— JENNIFER L. ARMENTROUT, #1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLING AUTHOR
Have you ever gone just a little too far?
Yep. She just had mind-blowing sex with her stepbrother. In her defense, she was on the rebound, and it's more of a my-dad-happened-to-marry-a-woman-with-a-super-hot-son situation. But still, he's been her best friend and confidant for the better part of the last few years…and is so off limits. It's a good thing she's leaving in two days for a year abroad in Rome.
But even thousands of miles away, Lexie can't seem to escape trouble. Raised Catholic, she goes to confession in hopes of alleviating some of her guilt…and maybe not burning in hell. Instead, she stumbles out of the confessional and right into Alessandro Moretti, a young and very easy-on-the-eyes deacon…only eight months away from becoming a priest. Lexie and Alessandro two closer, and when Alessandro's signals start changing despite his vow of celibacy, she doesn't know what to think. She's torn between falling in love with the man she shouldn't want and the man she can't have. And she isn't sure how she can live with herself either way.
About the author:
Lisa Desrochers lives in northern California with her husband, two very busy daughters, and Shini the tarantula. If you'd told her five years ago she'd write a book, she'd have laughed in your face. As it turns out, she'd owe you an apology. Writing has become an addiction for Lisa and
A Little Too Far, courtesy of HarperCollins, is her first novel for adults. She is also the author of the young adult Personal Demons trilogy from Macmillan.
Giveaway
The prizes:
- An iPad Mini - one winner
- A knowledge pendant, tote bag, and tattoos (Trent's tattoo!) - one winner
- A signed copy of HarperCollins' BETWEEN THE COVERS sampler with the 1st two chapters of A LITTLE TOO FAR annotated, knowledge tote, and tattoos - one winner
- A signed copy of BETWEEN THE COVERS with the 1st two chapters of A LITTLE TOO FAR annotated, and tattoos - two winners
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Want to find out more about A Little Too Far? Be sure to also visit The Irish Banana to find out one reader's opinion on the book!
