Sunday, April 22, 2012

AWESOME INTERVIEW & SIGNED GIVEAWAYS WITH LAUREN OLIVER AUTHOR OF DELIRIUM SERIES , BEFORE I FALL AND LIESL AND PO




I would like to welcome Lauren Oliver to Novels On The Run and thank her for taking time to answer my questions. I would also like to thank her for totally braining us with Delirium and Pandemonium’s cliffhanger endings.....OMG!! * faceplant* ...then starts searching for Requiem’s countdown widget:D



Michelle:   Lauren , in 10 words or less could you please describe Lauren, the author to us?

Lauren:  Driven, passionate, melodramatic, silly. Likes good food and great company.

Michelle:   Please describe an average day in the life of Lauren Oliver?

Lauren:  There really is no such thing as an “average” day for me. When I’m in Brooklyn, I get up at 7:30 and try and get my writing done early. My days are often filled with meetings, publicity demands, gym time, and social obligations. In the evening I like to cook for friends or hang with my fiancĂ© on the couch, and I always try and get to bed by 11 p.m. But I’m often travelling, and when I’m on tour, anything goes! Right now, for example, I’m typing this from an airport in Korea.

Michelle:  What character in either Delirium or Pandemonium was the hardest for you to give a voice to and why?





HODDER & STOUGHTON AUSTRALIA
Lauren:  I initially had trouble giving voice to Julian, because at the start of Pandemonium he is so strictly regimented in his views, so orthodox in his philosophy, and I had trouble sympathizing with him. I had to find his humanity within that.


Michelle:   I ask a lot of authors this, I find it very interesting their responses to the music. I like to find the lyric vids and put in my interviews. Becca Fitzpatrick gave me some wonderful songs for her characters.

What song would describe : Alex & Lena's Relationship, Lena & Julian's friendship, Lena, Alex, Julian?



Lauren:  Alex and Lena’s relationship 

 Romeo and Juliet, by Dire Straits




Lauren:  Lena and Julian’s friendship

 Lucky Now, by Ryan Adams


Lauren:   Lena  

Strong by Kelly Clarkson


Lauren:  Alex 

Resistance, by Muse




Lauren:  Julian 

 So Alive, by Ryan Adams




"So Alive"

Today I watched the boats
Moving through the harbor
Walking on water
In your arms I'd stay
Forever if I could
Forever if I may
Keeps me in your thoughts, don't disappear

I am on your side
And so alive
So alive it isn't real

If this is how I feel
Then nothing now is true
And nothing now can ever be taken away from you
Sinking in the past
The things that shouldn't last
Just put to bed and stand beside me
Stand beside me

Always on your side
I'm on your side
And so alive it isn't real

I am on your side
And so alive
And so alive
And so alive

I am on your side
I am on your side
I am on your side
And so alive
So alive


Michelle:    Both Delirium and Pandemonium are intense reads. I think Pandemonium more so. How did you ‘feel’ when you were writing Pandemonium? I was quite tense the whole time reading the book, I oftened wondered where an author goes to, to write such emotion into their writing?

Lauren:  I sometimes get emotional, definitely, although I think my primary emotional state is usually one of anxiety. I worry, especially during very important scenes, that I won’t be able to translate the vision in my head to the page—that the words I find will be insufficient or won’t convey everything I want to convey. This anxiety gets aggravated the more intense the scene. Sometimes I actually have to get up and walk around and give myself a break—otherwise, I get too paralysed with anxiety to write at all!


Michelle:   Now, you don’t have to answer this but I have to ask...hehe!

Do you and the publishing team have a good ol laugh at us readers before the book is released, knowing the cliffhanger at the end of the book is going to almost kill the reader. Like seriously....I just face planted my desk and watched my grey hairs sprout on my head for the next year long wait...cruel ..people!! hehe! Seriously, it is a brilliant cliffhanger to wait out. And , yes this is a question, I just tangented.

Lauren:  No, I don’t laugh! I don’t take pleasure in a reader’s pain...at least, I don’t take very much pleasure in it. It’s funny, because I was so consumed with the arc of the book, and the act of writing and conceiving the trilogy as a whole, that I never stopped to think about the fact that the end of Pandemonium was such a cliffhanger! I know it seems improbable, but it didn’t really occur to me...I just knew I had to end the book that way.


Michelle:  Are you able to give us a non spoiler quote from ‘Requiem’? Just a tit bit for the pain we are all feeling for a year. I don’t need to know even who said what...just an itsy bitsy.....non spoiling tit bit with a big cherry please on top.


Lauren:  Sure! I’m not going to tell you who says it, though. 

“I remember feeling just like that. . .torn apart by feeling, split in two, caught between loyalties and desires. That’s how the diseased world is. That’s how it was for me, before I was cured.”


Michelle:   Australia, I need to ask a couple questions. You toured here recently and tried the wonderful food we have to offer. What is the weirdest or yuckiest food you have tried?

Lauren:  I came directly from the Philippines before arriving in Australia. There, I tried fried pig intestine and chopped pig snout on toast. So really, no Aussie food struck me as particularly strange.  I did try Vegemite, and I loved it! 
We have a winner! A Vegemite lover:)


Michelle:  What was the most delish Aussie food you tried and want a care pack every month delivered?


Lauren:  I love Lamingtons, although I admit I’ve had them before! I didn’t actually get to try Kangaroo steak and I’m quite upset about it, so I’d love that delivered in a care package.


Michelle:   What was the first thing you can remember an Australian saying to you and you just looked at them and asked them to please explain?

Lauren:  Shemozzle! I had never heard that word before and now I’m obsessed with it. (The usage was: “Well, that was a bit of a shemozzle, wasn’t it?) I also got confused when someone asked me if I wanted a durry!
AAhhh, yes, the shemozzle....bit of a mess, bit of confusion.
Durry = cigarette, rollie

Michelle : Thank you Lauren very much for answering my questions. I hope you had a lovely , fun trip here , sounds like the Vegemite was agreeable. Like seriously, nothing like a toastie with vegemite in it, or a bacon and vegemite baguette. Just don’t spread it like you are putting cream on a pavlova..... nice and easy is the way to go.


Michelle


GIVEAWAY TIME

I HAVE 3 SIGNED 6" X 8" PRINTS

3 WINNERS

INTERNATIONAL!!!

FOR THIS PARTICULAR GIVEAWAY I HAVE CHOSEN A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT EDITION COVERS FOR DELIRIUM SERIES. I HAVE MOST COVERS SIGNED BY LAUREN .



WITH FLASH ON


WITH FLASH OFF

THESE ARE THE EXACT PRINTS WINNERS WILL RECEIVE. IN MY MAD IMAGE EDITING SKILLS....HA! I MADE THE CORNERS ROUNDED. EACH PRINT IS REGULAR CUT CORNERS FOR FRAMING, LIKE PANDEMONIUM PRINT ( CENTRE)

PLEASE FOLLOW OUR BLOG
- GFC NAME IN COMMENTS

PLEASE LEAVE EMAIL ADDRESS

TELL ME WHAT PART OF INTERVIEW YOU LIKED THE MOST

GIVEAWAY STARTS NOW

ENDS 11TH MAY 2012 MIDNIGHT

GOOD LUCK!!

Michelle





38 comments:

  1. What an amazing giveaway and interview!
    I really liked to know about the songs that she picked for the characters.
    Thanks a lot for the chance to win the books :)
    GFC: Evie
    by.evie at yahoo dot com dot br

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hey Evie,

      Thanks! I love authors who have a goodtime with interview Q's.

      It is kind of my signature Q I always ask now as I LOVE hearing the music that matches their character or character relationship. I LOVE music and hearing new songs.

      :D:D

      Michelle

      Delete
  2. What an incredible giveaway!
    My favourite part of the interview was the non-spoiler quote from Requiem.
    And yay for lamingtons, they're absolutely delicious!
    GFC follower: rachchan2006
    Email: rachchan2006@yahoo.com.au

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. ĂŤ love a spoiler quote ...it was great ..not sure who saying it though??

      :D

      Michelle

      Delete
  3. Thanks for the giveaway.
    I loved the 'relationship' songs - a great idea.
    GFC: Nicki J Markus
    nickijmarkus AT y7mail DOT com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I love asking this question when I can. Some books you can't ask it in an interview. I find it fascinating finding out what authors think. It's my signature Q :D

      Michelle

      Delete
  4. Thank you for this giveaway :D Would love to win. <3
    I liked all the questions/answers about Australia :D Wish I could go there.
    Love, Carina ~ carina-olsen@hotmail.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I am always intrigued to hear something that authors who don't live in Australia or not visited here, what something has left an impression on them:D

      Michelle

      Delete
  5. Thanks for the giveaway! I love Delirium! I love the songs that were shared for the characters. I think books and music go together. :)

    -Len of Musings of a Reader Happy
    maidenveil(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It's got me to a point where I try to think of a song that would suit a character when I am reading a particular book. I love finding out what author thinks about the character they created.
      It's one of my fave questions to ask a each time it is a unique answer as there is so much music out there in the world:D

      Michelle

      Delete
  6. I really enjoyed this interview, thanks for sharing it with us!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Thanks for the giveaway! :D Like almost everyone I loved the songs she picked for the characters. It gives you insight into their mind. :)

    GFC: mimz
    xjustakidx(at)hotmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It does give awesome insight into their mind. Glad you all love this question. I think it is rather a brilliant question, not sounding ego or anything, it just has so many possibilities:D

      Michelle

      Delete
  8. I love where she is typing the interview from the airport in Korea! And the songs... yeah I love music that goes with characters

    GFC - SupaGurl
    supagurlheather @ gmail[DOT]com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hey Heather,

      I have to admit that made me giggle...Korea!! I was having my interview q's answered in Korea..WOW!

      :D

      Michelle

      Delete
  9. I love the fact that she described Alex with Resistance by Muse, this is one of my favourites bands ever and I love that song! My sister says that this song really suit me so maybe Alex and I are quiet similar!
    Thanks for this giveaway!
    Love, Ruty

    GFC as Ruth Benitez
    rutyla10(at)hotmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I thought it was a brilliant choice of song for Alex too:D

      Michelle

      Delete
  10. Amazing giveaway and interview!
    I really liked the songs (I think that "Resistance" by Muse and "Romeo and Juliet" by Dire Straits are PERFECT for the books!) and the fact that she is typing the interview from the airport in Korea! XD
    and I loved the quote from ‘Requiem’! can't wait to read!!! *-*

    GFC - Tal
    kyo.chan31@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I love how authors don't discount the 80's songs, sometimes there is a lot of inspiration in them:D I love hearing them chosen.

      Michelle

      Delete
  11. Great Interview & giveaway!! :)
    I LOVED the songs! :)
    I also loved the fact that the interview is an insight to the author
    sian barnett
    s.barnett87@live.co.uk

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Sian,

      I loved how open and amusing Lauren was in the interview:D

      Michelle

      Delete
  12. GFC - Catherine Jaworski
    Email - bambii.j96@hotmail.com
    I liked the songs the best

    ReplyDelete
  13. Great interview. I think my favorite part was about when writing you books your emotional state. I find that I get really tense also. I have trouble translating things I see in my head into words on a page. Thanks for the post and I would love to win.

    rachel at thejeepdiva dot com
    GFC Rachel Vessar

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I couldn't help thinking...where does Lauren or any author go in their head when writing a book filled with emotion , especially when it is an intense read. I am glad you liked that Q & A too:D

      Michelle

      Delete
  14. This is on my must read list too!

    My favorite part was her Philippine food experience, I'm Filipina and I was missing those exotic dishes she tried since we don't have that here in the US. LOL I wonder if she liked it?

    GFC: Braine Talk Supe
    talksupeATrocketmailDOTcom

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi B,

      Well yes we don't know if it was tasty or not??

      Michelle

      Delete
  15. I love the songs especially the video clips (so I don't have to search for them myself :) )

    GFC:Tien
    tienha(@)iinet(.)net(.)au

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hey Tien

      ( go TeamKittyKat)

      I add the clips and try to find the lyric clips, so thankyou to all those wonderful people who make the lyric clips, I use them!!
      I like to hear the song , read the words and not be distracted by the vid clip. I think it means more without the distraction:D

      Michelle

      Delete
  16. Amazing interview! I loved your questions but my favorite was the question about what songs would describe the characters and their relationship. "So Alive" is so good song.
    GFC follower as Diana

    Thank you for the giveaway!
    artgiote at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I love learning about new songs. So Alive I had not heard of, so that is another bonus for asking this Q, I find new songs to listen to. I sometimes while typing away at my computer go to a particular interview where I loved the songs picked by the author and use them as background music while I am working:D

      Michelle

      Delete
  17. Such an amazing giveaway and interview!

    My favourite part of the interview was getting to know what songs Lauren picked for the characters/story. In my own writing, music plays such a HUGE role and drives me to write those characters!

    Anyway, thanks a lot for the giveaway! :)
    GFC: Erin W.
    little_dhampir@live.com.au

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Go Erin!!! The music Q is my fave repetative Q I ask as it has so many possible responses. I love knowing what the authors heart is telling them about their character. I have been told by some authors it makes them think!

      MIchelle

      Delete
  18. I have yet to read Pandemonium and find out who this Julian is! I thought Lena liked this Julian guy or something.. so when I found out it was just a "friendship" I was relieved.

    I haven't seen that cover before (the Delirium one) of the posters! I wonder what language it is..

    I really loved the songs. I think it's a good way to explain their relationships. Oh, and I also really liked the quote!

    Really LOVED the interview and thanks for the giveaway! :D
    GFC: Teresa
    treechanie(at)hotmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Teresa,

      I think for somebody who hasn't read the books, I think it would help sway them to reading the books if they connect with a song in the interview and it tells them a lot about the character from the lyrics. Music has a lot of power:D

      Michelle

      Delete
  19. Thank you for the amazing interview and giveaway! Great song picks! I love Romeo and Juliet by Dire Straits soo much! Thanks for sharing. :)
    And Kangaroo steak? Really??

    I'd love to read Delirium :)
    GFC: Cayce
    cayce006 at yahoo dot com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hehe!! I am Aussie and I haven't gone near the Kangaroo...I am a little ...ooo I would be eating a symbol of Australia...nah!! We have the emo and the kangaroo ...eeepp!!!

      :D

      Michelle

      but each to their own:D

      Delete
  20. Thankyou to everybody entering and taking the time to have a read of the interview and comment:D

    Now for the winners!!!
    SIAN - Delirij = Delirium

    NICKI - Pandemonium

    EVIE - Before I Fall


    I will email you all for addresses now:D

    Michelle

    ReplyDelete

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