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Friday, 8 February 2013
Wildflowers by Schledia Benefield {Interview & Top Ten}
We are celebrating the release of Wildflowers by Schledia Benefield. In honor of this release Paperback Princess has Schledia Benefield visiting us today with her Top Ten Favorite list and an Author Interview. Read til the end for your chance to win a $50 Amazon Gift Card courtesy of Schledia.
About the Author
Schledia Benefield
Top Ten Favorite Items
- Coffee, the first thing I go for after brushing my teeth in the morning.
- Water, I drink about a gallon and a half a day.
- My laptop, a must have for writing
- A story in my head. I spend so much time indulging my imagination; I would be lost without a story to ponder upon.
- A good book to read
- Music. I come from a musical family, so music has always been a part of my life.
- Dancing
- Facebook. I admit it; I’m an addict. I’m not a technology person. I had the same cellphone for five years. I remember hesitantly handing it over to the woman in exchange for my Blackberry, but I had to have that Blackberry because I could use it to get on facebook!
- Art. I appreciate and love great works of art, including photography.
If you had
to persuade a reluctant reader to read Wildflowers what would you
say?
Hmmm…I guess it would depend upon why they were reluctant. For instance, if they happened to be reluctant because they don’t really care for graphic romance scenes, I would assure them that it doesn’t go there. I would tell them that it’s really more about how the love blossoms between the two characters and where that leads them. I would and have told potential readers that it is a beautiful love story between two young people considered to be an unlikely match; she’s sweet and innocent, and he is quite the opposite. Life has left him cynical, harsh, and struggling with an inner demon of violence. If you like books that grab your heart and pull on your heartstrings, then you should read Wildflowers.
You also write
Middle Grade Fantasy books under the pen name SB Scrillum, what made
you write in the MG and YA genre over say Adult Fiction?
Well, you kind of
have to have a target audience when you begin writing (not that it
can’t be a crossover novel), but you have to know who you’re
writing to. The stories I have written to date were written with that
in mind. My fantasy book is meant to show young people that they can
make a difference in this world. There are a wide range of characters
with varying ages in that book, so I had to focus on the middle
ground. My YA novels tell stories of young adults and the struggles
they face in their childhood as well as their teenage years, so they
were meant to reach out to those in the midst of those issues. I’m
not saying that I would never venture into Adult Fiction, but
honestly, I prefer reading books categorized as YA and MG. I do read
Adult Fiction, but I don’t like the descriptiveness that can be in
them. I’d rather leave some things to the imagination. I’m really
not a rated R person. I don’t like a lot of foul language, and I
don’t like explicit sex scenes.
Why the pen name?
The Called Ones
(And the Keys of Sight)
is written as if one of the characters within the story has written
it although you don’t actually meet her in the first book. You just
get to read something else she has written. I’m about three-fourths
of the way through the second book in that series.
Which do you enjoy
writing more, YA or MG? What would you say is the differences
between the two?
Young Adult,
probably due more to the fact that they are contemporary fiction.
They are realistic stories. The Middle Grade story is fantasy, which
is more difficult for me to write. Yeah, it’s fun, but it is harder
for me to stay in a fantasy world. I can put on a CD of music that
relates to the contemporary story and stay in that world for great
lengths of time.
If you were
stranded in a deserted island and could only choose one character
from Wildflowers to accompany you, who would it be and why?
Definitely Aster. I
love him. My heart breaks for him and the things he’s been through
in his life. He’s handsome with a dark side. Every girls dream,
right.
Three alternative
careers that you'd like to do if you weren't an Author?
- An algebra teacher. I love algebra. When I was in school, I helped others understand it.
- A counselor. I have a heart for teenagers struggling with depression and self-esteem issues.
- A wedding planner. I LOVE weddings. I helped my best friend plan her youngest daughter's wedding. When she saw the movie, The Wedding Planner, she called me and told me that I had to see it because it reminded her of me, the wedding planning part, not the love story part.
(Schledia that's what I always wanted to be. I'm a perfectionist so I think I'd be perfect and I'm very organized and love all pretty things.)
Must have items
when your writing?
Coffee, a fresh mind
(I write first thing in the morning), quiet (outside of music to
inspire me), and an empty house. I don’t know why, but if my
husband and kids are home, there is just too much chaos for me to
write. During the summer, my kids sleep late, so I write before
anyone else wakes up.
How do you combat
writer's block?
Music is a big tool
for me. I usually have two projects going at once. When I hit a block
in fantasy, which is easy for me to do, I switch over to the
contemporary work. I haven’t experienced a block in writing
contemporary YA yet, and I stress the yet. That is probably due to
the fact that I can easily slip a CD in and start feeling the
emotions that I’m trying to relay.
Any upcoming
projects we should look out for?
I’ve had a couple
of people ask me to write a sequel to Wildflowers. I am seriously
considering doing that. I’ve already laid out in my mind where
things would go from where it ended. I’m planning to interview a
homeless Vietnam Vet about his life. He has asked for me to tell his
story, so I will be starting the interview process as soon as
possible.
In hindsight, would
you change/do anything differently with Wildflowers?
Hmmm…being a
perfectionist, I think that I would embellish all of my works more,
but I think most writers (the ones I’ve talked to anyway) always
feel that way, but you have to come to a place where you are
satisfied with where it is, otherwise you’d never publish anything!
I wouldn’t change anything about the plot or the characters though.
About The Book
Title: Wildflowers
Author: Schledia Benefield
Publisher: Three Keys Publishing
Release Date: February 8, 2013
Pages: 336 (paperback)
a Rafflecopter giveawayHave you ever feared what may be hiding deep within you?
Darkness often skulks in the blood of unsuspecting victims, but Aster McGrath is acutely aware of the violence coursing through his veins. After all, he is the son of a murderer, and everyone in the town of Bayville, Mississippi says he will end up just like his father.
When Susan Blackman moves into town, Aster has already embraced his brutal nature, but her gentle spirit draws him in and slowly melts the icy exterior of his heart. Taming his savagery, she professes her love, but will the good within him be able to overcome the evil lurking deep inside? Or will the fiend break free of its fetters and seek blood?
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2 comments:
Thank you so much for having me, Angelica! I enjoyed the interview. I also think it's kind of cool that you always wanted to be a wedding planner. It is so much fun to do, and watching two people in love make that committment is beautiful. I'm also a firm believer that the bride needs to feel like a princess that day!She should feel like the most beautiful person in the room.
I love the look of your blog. How did you get the Goodreads add book button? I've been looking for something like that.
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Thank you for stopping by at Paperback Princess. I always appreciate comments and feedback so please do leave one, and I will always endeavour to return the favour.
xoxo
Angelica