Author Interview: Michelle Gagnon (author of Strangelets | Don't Turn Around)

17-year-old Sophie lies on her deathbed in California, awaiting the inevitable loss of her battle with cancer…

17-year-old Declan stares down two armed thugs in a back alley in Galway, Ireland…

17-year-old Anat attempts to traverse a booby-trapped tunnel between Israel and Egypt…

All three strangers should have died at the exact same moment, thousands of miles apart. Instead, they awaken together in an abandoned hospital—only to discover that they’re not alone. Three other teens from different places on the globe are trapped with them. Somebody or something seems to be pulling the strings. With their individual clocks ticking, they must band together if they’re to have any hope of surviving. 

Soon they discover that they've been trapped in a future that isn't of their making: a deadly, desolate world at once entirely familiar and utterly strange. Each teen harbors a secret, but only one holds the key that could get them home. As the truth comes to light through the eyes of Sophie, Declan, and Anat, the reader is taken on a dark and unforgettable journey into the hearts of teens who must decide what to do with a second chance at life.

Release date: April 9th 2013

Publisher: Soho Teen

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Today, I have the lovely Michelle Gagnon on Bookcase to Heaven™ as part of the blog tour hosted by Shane from Itching For Books. Shane hosts some awesome tours, so do remember to check her out!

Michelle writes amazing books (especially crime fiction) and she had her first Young Adult debut last year-- Don't Turn Around. I was so excited for that book that I actually emailed her several times. This time round, I'm really glad to be able to help promote her second YA novel which deals with some pretty strange teens (and hence the title) along with some stirring secrets.

Hope you enjoy the interview!

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YOUR BOOK

You are advertising your book on TV, come up with a catchy tagline! 

It’s Cloverfield meets 12 Monkeys. Sort of.

Describe:

Sophie-- an old soul.

Declan-- devilish but sweet.

Anat-- tough, gorgeous, scary.

What role does time travel play in this book?

SPOILER ALERT.

(Sel says: Hint, guys, time travel must play a critical role in the tale!) 

If your characters had the chance to talk to you face to face, what would they each say? 

“What did we ever do to you, that you would put us in such a crazy, dangerous situation?”

What was your inspiration for this book? And, why write it with multiple POVs?

I tend to prefer writing in multiple POVs, because that way the reader gets to experience the story from a number of different perspectives. The initial germ of an idea for the book started with a group of teens trapped in a hospital that’s more than it seems.

Sophie, Declan and Anat are each from a different country in the book-- America, Ireland and Israel. Did you choose these places on purpose?

I did. I have dual Irish citizenship, and a special affinity for Eire. Sophie harkens from the Bay Area, where I currently live; also special place for me. And Anat is based on a friend of mine who was strong and tough and yet such a sweetheart. I was completely blown away by the stories about her military service in Israel. 

What was one unexpected thing that surprised you in the process of writing this novel? 

I really didn't expect the monsters to appear—that was a shocker. 

YOU

If Hollywood made a movie about your life, whom would you like to see play the lead role as you? 

Oh my, this is tough. I’m a huge Cate Blanchett fan, so she’d be my dream alter ego.

If someone wrote a biography about you, what do you think the title should be? 

“My Life in France,” on the off chance that many people would confuse it with Julia Child’s autobiography, guaranteeing respectable sales.

Tell me about the worst date in your life. 

I almost choked to death on a french fry when I was sixteen years old, and the guy had to give me the Heimlich maneuver. It was mortifying.

If you could travel back and forth in time, which era or time period would you choose? 

I'm really curious about the future- I’d love to check out what everything’s like in 2113. You know, after we've all been enslaved by apes.

Kiss. Kill. Marry. (Take your pick!) 

Ugh, I’m terrible at this game! Let’s keep it fictional. I’d love to kiss Heathcliff from Wuthering Heights. I’d definitely kill Voldemort. And I’d marry Jamie from the OUTLANDER series.

THIS OR THAT

- Heels or sneakers? Sneakers, definitely.

- Thrillers or Romantic Comedies? Thrillers hands down.

- Big Bad Wolf or Prince Charming? Big Bad.

- Thai food or Chinese food? Thai for sure.

- Twilight or Harry Potter? Harry Potter; for whatever reason, the Twilight books never grabbed me. 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Michelle Gagnon is a former modern dancer, bartender, dog walker, model, personal trainer, and Russian supper club performer. Her bestselling adult thrillers THE TUNNELS, BONEYARD, THE GATEKEEPER, and KIDNAP & RANSOM have been published in North America, France, Denmark, Spain, Argentina, Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Australia. BONEYARD was a finalist for a 2009 Daphne du Maurier Award for Excellence in Mystery/Suspense.

Official site | Twitter

Oh and I just heard that J.K. Rowling is continuing the Harry Potter series! (EEK. Major fangirl moment.) She's going to write a spin-off story based on Albus Potter :) It's all over the Web!

xoxo,

Sel

(Okay. So I was joking about the Harry Potter thing. Happy April Fools'!)