Interview and Giveaway: Elle Casey author of The Changelings (WAR OF THE FAE: BOOK 1)

Today we have Elle Casey stopping by to chat with us:

1. How did you come up with the concept for this book?

Well, it was a combination of things, actually. The two main characters in the first part of The Changelings, Jayne and Tony, are loosely based on me and a friend of mine in high school (poor Tony - I really did harass him a lot before he finally capitulated). Originally, the book was going to be about runaways that try to earn money by participating in a test in a forest that is a playground for vampires - but when I started to write the story, it evolved on its own and became much bigger than I originally anticipated. My characters took on their own lives and create their own realities. At this point, I just take dictation. They are the bosses of the stories.

2.How did you come up with the names for the characters?
Jayne's name was inspired by the band Breaking Benjamin and their song "Diary of Jane". It's very haunting and really grabs me, every time I hear it; even after hearing it probably over a thousand times. Music and the mysterious lyrics in a lot of songs make me think of the most amazing things sometimes - like what if? Tony is a real person, or at least who he was in high school many years ago.

3.How much are you and the characters alike?
I am much like Jayne. I try to tame the sharper parts of the personality for the outside world, but I don't have to do that in the books. It's very cathartic, actually, to be able to just say whatever you're thinking the way she does. :) So Jayne lives in my head, but she's not me. She's an alter ego of me, maybe.

4. Do you read a lot and what are you reading now?
I used to read a ton, but with all the writing I'm doing, I don't read nearly as much since there aren't enough hours in the day. I'm in the middle of Samantha Young's Fire Spirits series right now.

5. What made you decide to go Young Adult?
I love to read YA books myself and I love the enthusiasm of other readers who enjoy this genre. YA readers, whether actually young adults or older ones, tend to really fall into the stories and live them right along with me. I love their obsessions.

6. How did the cover come about?
I am an indie author, so that means that I have to do all the work of getting my books out myself or finding other professionals to help me. So a book cover artist is an expense I can't really budget for yet. I found some photography that I loved, that I thought carried the emotion and mystery of my stories, and bought a custom font to use with it, and hired someone to put it all together for me.

7. So what is your next project and when is it due out?
War of the Fae: Book 3 will be out this weekend. War of the Fae: Book 4 is next - publish date April 30th. I have just finished my first novella, My Vampire Summer, and that is now part of a 4-novella series. The next one, My Vampire Fall, will come out just before Fall, August or September. Then one new one will be published each season for the next year. I also have plans for a post-apocalyptic series, tentatively titled "Apocaplysis" that I am starting after I finish the 4th War of the Fae title. Then after that, possibly a new series based on the War of the Fae - kind of a continuation of the series, but with a different focus. Tentative title for that series is Clash of the Other worlds. I have some vague ideas for that series, but it's not all congealed yet. Any reader of my books won't have to wait more than a month for a new title to come out. I'm obsessed with writing!

8. Do you have a daytime job or are you a full time writer?
I am a university professor at two universities, one a law school and one an international business school, both in Paris. I work at each, one day a week. So 2 days a week I teach, and 5 days a week I write. I never take a day off. I love writing so much, it's not really work for me.

9. How did you get into writing novels and were you worried about peoples reactions to your books?
I have been writing all my life, but have never finished a full novel until the end of last year, 2011. I had read some articles about people finding success with self-publishing for e-readers and decided it was time for me to finally finish a novel and see what would happen. I've never submitted anything to an agent or publisher because I just figured it was like winning the lottery; and I'm not a very patient person, so the idea of waiting years for a book manuscript to make it through the process was just too depressing for me. Now I am in control of the whole process, and I can put books out in six weeks or less, not a year. It's amazing the way the industry is in the middle of a major revolution right now. Yes, I was worried about people's reactions to my work. Jayne is a strong character and her language worried me. But it's who she is, so I couldn't change her. Plus, while I may be confident in other areas of my life, I need constant validation as a writer. Every piece of fan mail, every good review I receive, it means so very much to me. It keeps me writing.

10. One last thing do you collect anything personally?
It's not much of a collection, but I have several jeweled boxes I love. I also collect books! Oh, and this might be corny, but I've printed out every kind word anyone's ever said about my books and put it in a binder. I read it when I need inspiration. :)

Thank you Elle for stopping by and letting us get to know you better.
Find more of Elle Here:
www.ElleCasey.com
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