Q. Kale, we all adore him, can you tell us a bit about how he came about? Is he based on someone you know?
He’s not based on anyone I know. Kale is all Kale 😉
I started with the opening scene (originally right where Dez and Kale met). I had two character personalities burned into my brain. An adrenalin junkie who had a volatile relationship with their father. And a lifelong prisoner, used as a weapon and completely ignorant to things in the outside world.
There wasn’t much more planning that went into creating him other than that. He wasn’t there one minute, then poof. There he was, along with Dez. A lot like the book in general. One second I was sitting there wondering what to work on next, the next I had this awesome jumping point that just exploded right from sentence one.
Q. How was it to switch to his point-of-view for Untouched; was it hard to write from a Male’s perspective?
Writing from a guy’s POV wasn’t hard for me—but writing from Kale’s proved to be a little tricky. Untouched went through a lot of drafts before I really felt I’d gotten it right. It’s very natural to me to write the snarky, jaded, sarcastic character. But someone who sees the world like Kale? That was an adjustment. He doesn’t use slang—doesn’t really understand it, doesn’t lie or see the purpose in it, and even the simplest things are amazing to him. It was so much fun, though. There’s a purity in how he sees most of the world. It was an awesome chance for me to do something so different.
Q. What goes into building a world with so much mystery and paranormal elements?
This is a hard one for me to answer because this world developed over such a long time. The Denazen universe was something that was first born when I was nineteen. I wrote three books and seven short stories revolving around this world and the Sixes (though not called Sixes at the time). Granted they will never see the light of day, but they did bring me deeper into the universe. I got to know every corner, every rock…
So, to me, this is like home. I know it so well. From the trees lining the employee parking lot of the Denazen building, to the main drag where the Blueberry Bean sits. It’s all so clear in my mind.
I think the most helpful aspect of world building is spending time in your world…
Q. We’re all dying for Toxic, can you give us a hint on what we can expect that’s not already on the blurb? (Pretty please)
Well… We’re going to learn more about Dax. He’s not at all who Dez thought he was. I’m not telling if that’s good or bad 😉
It kinda goes without saying IMO, but I’ve seen people debating so I’ll clear up that, yes, we will be seeing Alex again—which should make a few of you very happy 😉 His feelings for Dez are still there—as are her lack of feelings for him.
We’ll also meet two of my favorite new Sixes. Aubrey and Able. Goth twins who work for Cross and give new, creepy meaning to the term yin and yang.
Q. What’s on your reading list this summer?
OMG. There’s so many awesome things coming out!
Insurgent by Veronica Roth
Inbetween by Tara Fuller
Shine by Jeri Smith-Ready
Onyx by Jennifer Armentrout
Before I wake Rachel Vincent
Flawed by Kate Avelynn
Seriously…I could go on and on… And on and on and on and… You get the point.
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