Monday, November 1, 2010

Interview with Young Adult Romance Author Angela Morrison

(Book Give-Away November 1 - 8: for those interested in Sing Me To Sleep, leave a comment about this interview with your e-mail. U.S. and Canada.)
As a child, Angela dreamed of being a veterinarian, having ten kids and a hundred cats. None of it came true. She did marry the man of her dreams from Ontario Canada, but ended up with only four children and no cats! She plays the piano and is a licensed scuba diver. Angela said, “I’m a compulsive reader and have to ration myself or I won’t do anything else, including eating, sleeping, and interacting with other humans in any way.” She claims to be a vagabond, moving from place to place such as Switzerland and Singapore, etc, and now lives in the desert lands of Arizona. 

Hello Angela. My oldest daughter is named Angela. I understand that you write Young Adult Romance. Please tell us about Sing Me To Sleep.

SING ME TO SLEEP is about Beth, who is the ugly girl at school. All the guys call her "The Beast." She's got one friend--a short nerdy boy named Scott. But Beth can sing. When she gets the solo part in the elite girls choir she belongs to, her choir friends decide she needs a massive make-over. They’re off to Switzerland for the choral Olympics and Beth gets swept off her feet by the gorgeous and talented tenor soloist from the Amabile guys choir just across the border in Canada. Derek makes her feel like she's never felt before. Loved. Cherished. Valued. When she gets home, though, Scott tells her he's always loved her. And Derek starts acting suspicious. He's got a secret he won't let Beth in on that threatens to tear them apart.

Your novel sounds like it has a bit of mystery to it. Where did you get your inspiration for your novel? Do you ever use real life experiences?

For me, writing a novel is like a tidal wave hits my life. It takes everything I've ever done, seen, read, sung, watched, imagined, dreamed, and breaks it all up into tiny little pieces. When the wave retreats, all those pieces are lying on the sand. It's my job to fashion a story out of those pieces.

When we lived in London, Ontario, my daughter sang with the Junior Amabile Singers--a competitive all girls choir. I always wanted to write a novel using that unique setting, but I didn't have a story. A few months before my editor decided Razorbill wanted me to write a new novel for my second book, something happened to one of my daughter's best friends in the world-famous Amabile Young Men's Ensemble. You should hear these guys sing. They are so amazing. You'll find them on my website.

Anyway, she was still hurting--in fact the whole Amabile family of choirs was still dealing with a heartbreaking tragedy. That inspired me to start writing. My editor loved the idea and got it approved. The young man's mother and Amabile Choirs got on board and were fantastic support. It was the most intense artistic experience I've ever had. I wrote the first draft of SING in a single month. I know I had help from unseen hands. I feel blessed to have been the tool for it's telling.

I listened to the CD on your site. It's wonderful. I encourage all my readers to go to Angela's website and listen. It's so beautiful. What does your family think about your writing?

They think I've become an insane hermit, but they are all patient and supportive. My sons think it's weird that their mom writes romances that are kind of on the steamy side. (I love to write romantic kissing scenes--what can I say? My books aren't explicit, though. Just achingly romantic.) My daughter lets me pick her brain. And my husband paid for my MFA. If that's not love, what is?

So you’re a romantic at heart! Please tell us something about the real you that we’ll never forget.

I wear pink ballet shoes instead of slippers and write all my novels on pale pink paper.


Pink? Hey, I should have known since you’re a romantic. Now we know the real you, who sits around in pink slippers and writes novels on pink paper.

20 comments:

fredamans said...

Sounds like a beautiful book. Thank you for entry.

freda.mans[at]sympatico.ca

Angela said...

Thanks so much for hosting me today, Linda. It's great to be here. Your readers might also be interested in checking out what I'm doing over http://caymansummer.blogspot.com Razorbill decided not to publish the sequel to my debut novel, TAKEN BY STORM. My readers were so upset that I went ahead and released UNBROKEN CONNECTION independently so they could read it. I'm writing CAYMAN SUMMER, the third and final book in Michael and Leesie's saga right now AND BLOGGING EVERY BIT OF AS I GO as a gift to my readers and up and coming writers who are interested in learning from my creative journey. Please stop by and take a look at what we're doing.

Bidisha said...

<3 Angela to death!

Minas said...

Awesome interview! I would love to read this book. Thank you for the giveaway.

minas_1989(at)hotmail(dot)com

apple blossom said...

Pink we're all on the same page. I love pink. Nice interview. thanks
Love to win this book
ABreading4fun [at] gmail [dot] com

Anonymous said...

Thanks for the interview and for having a drawing for Sing Me To Sleep.

Helen Kiker
hdkiker@comcast.net

Anonymous said...

Makes me think of Susan Boyle. I would love to read this. Thank You!

alekee02[at]yahoo[dot]com
Maureen Timerman

Linda Kish said...

This sounds like a wonderful story.

lkish77123 at gmail dot com

Gayle said...

Pink! How cool! I just discovered Angela's other books and am devouring them -- I'd love to read this one too!
bgh@byu.net

Tina said...

I've been wanting to read this book! Thank you for the great interview and the chance to win.
melodiousrevelry (at) gmail (dot) com

Anonymous said...

IT IS A GREAT STORY THAT TOUCHES YOUR HEART.

HOOTS33@ATT.NET

Kai Agito said...

I just finished reading Angela's Taken by Storm and its so beautiful. I cried when I finished reading it. Something about Angela's writing is just hauntingly...amazing. I want to read Sing me to Sleep next, I just can't get enough of Angela's writing! My one favorite part of Angela's website was that section where I can listen to Beth's song over and over.

thanks for the giveaway!

amaterasureads AT gmail DOT com

Elizabeth Morgan said...

Sounds like such a wonderful book.
4everareader AT comcast DOT net

Anonymous said...

I love this book! The writing is beautiful and the story...memorable and achingly romantic! Angela you're inspiring! Thanks for your stories and for the chance to win!
citybaker1@aol.com

Andrea I said...

Thanks for the interview. I like the pink paper and pink ballet shoes.

andrea.infinger@gmail.com

Mutti said...

I would love to read this one! Thanks for the interesting interview.

bison61 said...

I read the interview and a romance book with some secrets and mystery sound like a great read

tiramisu392 (at) yahoo.com

Cindy W. said...

Sing Me to Sleep sounds like a great book. I love the cover art too! Would love to win a copy. Thank you for the chance.

Smiles, =D
Cindy W.

countrybear52[at]yahoo[dot]com

Lexie@BookBug said...

I have wanted to read this book for a long time. Sounds like a good one!
lexieamay(AT)hotmail(DOT)com

Linda Weaver Clarke said...

Thanks Everyone, for participating in this book giveaway. It was so much fun to read everyone's response to this interview. Congratulations, Mutti, ada Linda Badurek. You are the winner of this sweet young adult novel. Stay tuned for new giveaways each Monday.