Author Interview with Karen Amanda Hooper + Giveaway!

Hey everybody! This is our first interview and we had the great pleasure of interviewing one of our favorite authors, Karen Amanda Hooper, the amazing genius behind Grasping at Eternity.

Without further ado, here it is! 😀

1. Give us a 140 word long blurb of your book Grasping at Eternity.

Maryah did an unthinkable act that devastated her soul mate: She erased all memory of him and their previous lives together.

Now, at seventeen years old, Maryah’s clueless that her new adoptive family has known her for centuries, that they’re perpetually reincarnated souls, and that they have supernatural abilities. Oh, and she’s supposed to love (not despise) Nathan, the green-eyed daredevil who saved her life.

Nathan is convinced his family’s plan to spark Maryah’s memory is hopeless, but his love for her is undying. He hates acting like a stalker, but the evil outcast who murdered Maryah in their last life is still after her and inching closer.

Maryah has to embrace the magic within her, Nathan must have faith in the power of their love, and both need to grasp onto the truth before they lose each other forever.

(140 words exactly! Do you know how hard that was?)

2. Why did you want to write Grasping at Eternity?

I couldn’t not write it. The story hit me so hard and fast that I was sort of obsessed with it. I wrote the first version (150k words–it was a rambling mess) in 3 months. I’ve been in love with the kindrily characters since the day Ella Fitzgerald’s song, Someone to Watch Over Me, caused Maryah and her crew to come barreling into my life.

3. If Grasping at Eternity were made into a movie, what would be your dream cast?

I get asked this a lot and I honestly have no clue. I’m thinking the cast would be a bunch of unknowns because I can’t really picture any current film stars (that I know of) who look and act like the characters in my mind.
Remember how Channing Tatum looked in She’s The Man?
He SORT OF resembles my vision of Nathan, but Nathan is hotter (OMG hotter than Channing! I know, but in my mind he so is). And Channing is too old now to play Nathan so…the search continues.

4. What are your plans for the upcoming books in the Kindrily series?

I’m working on book 3, Fighting for Infinity, right now. There will be a book 4, and I’m hoping to wrap up the big questions in books 3 and 4. But the series will most likely continue with the main focus shifting to other characters in the kindrily.

5. Is there a message in your novels that you want your readers to grasp?

There’s probably always going to a message of “love conquers all” in my books because that’s the kind of stories I love to read, so it’s also what I love to write.

6. What would you say to anyone that’s hesitant to read your books?

Hmm. I’d probably ask them, “Have you ever had deja vu? Have you ever gazed at the stars?” If they say yes to those questions I’d tell them to read my books to gain a magical What If perspective on what it all means.

7. How do you react to negative comments on your books?

The negative comments which are delivered professionally, I consider constructive criticism. I read them, consider them, and many times they make my writing stronger and my future books better.
The really mean negative comments where there’s cursing and all that other “stuff” I just sort of shrug them off. Most of the time if the person isn’t professional with their comments I don’t take them seriously or value their opinion.

I realize books are art and art is subjective and I will never write a story that EVERYONE loves. People and their tastes are just too different. And that’s what makes the world an interesting place. I’d never expect all of my reviews to be positive for any book I ever write. It’s just not rational.

8. Is there anything you find particularly challenging in your writing?

Action scenes! *head desk* I struggle with them big time.

9. Do you experience writer’s block? And if you do, how do you deal with it?

Not really (knock on wood). And it’s probably because I don’t write in linear order. I jump around from scene to scene and somehow put the pieces together so they make a whole book. If I get stuck on one scene I’ll just jump to another. I wrote random scenes for books 3 and 4 while I was still trying to finish book 1. My mind works best in creative chaos.

10. What is your favorite book and why?

Taking Back Forever because of all the romance and magic. Ha. Oh wait, you mean a book that I didn’t write?
Clearly, I love Diana Gabaldon’s Outlander series since I reference it in Taking Back Forever. I also love pretty much anything Gayle Forman writes.

11. What books have influenced your life the most?

Judy Blume in my early years. I still remember reading about periods and stuff in her books and my jaw dropping. lol. I was so innocent back then!
In my late teens is when I discovered Diana Gabaldon. The second Claire was sucked back in time through the Stonehenge, I was hooked. Those books have always stuck with me.

12. Is there anything else you would like to add that we haven’t included?

Yes, I’d like to add that you gals are awesome and I adore you. Thanks so much for your support. *Hugs*

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Author Bio:

Author of YA paranormal and fantasy. ~TANGLED TIDES by Rhemalda Publishing.
~THE KINDRILY series by Starry Sky Publishing.

I was born and bred in Baltimore, frolicked and froze in Colorado for a couple of years and I’m currently sunning and splashing around Florida with my two sweet and adorable dogs. I’m addicted to coffee, chocolate and complicated happily-ever-afters. When I’m not writing I can be found reading, people watching at Disney World, hanging with my amazing friends and family, listening to music, dancing, traveling, pondering the Universe, or enjoying breathtaking sunsets and a good glass of white wine. Feel free to friend me. I love meeting other book lovers and I like seeing what people are reading!

Website | Goodreads | Twitter

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Grasping At Eternity

Grasping at Eternity (The Kindrily, #1)

Leave it to Maryah Woodsen to break the one rule that will screw up eternity: Never erase your memories.

Before entering this life, Maryah did the unthinkable—she erased. Now, at seventeen years old, she’s clueless that her new adoptive family has known her for centuries, that they are perpetually reincarnated souls, and that they have supernatural abilities. Oh, and she’s supposed to love (not despise) Nathan, the green-eyed daredevil who saved her life.

Nathan is convinced his family’s plan to spark Maryah’s memory is hopeless, but his love for her is undying. After spending (and remembering) so many lifetimes together, being around an empty version of his soulmate is heart shattering. He hates acting like a stalker, but has no choice because the evil outcast who murdered Maryah in their last lifetime is still after her.

While Maryah’s hunter inches closer, she and Nathan make assumptions and hide secrets that rip them further apart. Maryah has to believe in the magic within her, Nathan must have faith in the power of their love, and both need to grasp onto the truth before they lose each other forever—and discover just how lonely eternity can be.

X-MEN meets MY NAME IS MEMORY in Karen Amanda Hooper’s latest young adult release.

Check out our review for this book by clicking here.

GIVEAWAY!

From July 15th until July 29th we’ll be hosting a giveaway from our awesome friend and author. Karen will be giving away to the lucky winner an ebook set of the two novels of her Kindrily Series. Also, to honor how we discovered the books, the winner will receive an ebook set for a friend of their choosing so that they can read it together like Marianne and Jennifer.