The Misfit Interviews: Lance Rubin

So yeah! Hi there Misfit Booknerds! Been a while, yeah? I know! Oh right, yes, I'm doing an interview with one of my new favorite authors, Lance Rubin! He's new, so be nice to him, okay? Okay! Let's continue!

1. What is your favourite color? 

• Blue. That’s such a boring answer. But it’s the truth. 

The Misfit Interviews: Fun Facts with Jennifer E. Smith

Hi there Misfit Booknerds! Sorry I have been under the radar lately. I have been on both a blogging and reading slump, however, I have found a way to get back on the groove when Jennifer E. Smith replied to my interview for #JenniferESmithMonth! YAAAY! 

Anyway, here are some of the questions I asked Jennifer, and maybe this will allow you guys to know her better! 

If you end up stuck in an island, all alone, what 5 things would you probably have on your bag when it happens?

• Well, if I were packing for such an occasion, I'd probably have all sorts of practical things like food and water and sunscreen and books. But if I were to get whisked away out of the blue and had only the things I'm usually carrying around in my bag, I'd end up with stuff like bubblegum and a phone and loose change and cherry chapstick and a broken comb. But the good news is that I'd still have books. I never leave home without them!

What TV show or movie do you want to be warped into?

• Friday Night Lights, because Coach Taylor.

Fan Interview: Dianne of Oops I Read A Book Again (#JenniferESmithMonth)

Hello there Misfit Booknerds! It's another day for #JenniferESmithMonth. Now I know I only posted again till recently because something came up with school. I will talk about it in a separate post because I'm actually quite excited for it! Anyway, I will extend this event till the 2nd week of April, so there'll be more time to join the giveaway and also to read my posts! :)

So anyway, in partnership with my good friend, Dianne of Oops I Read A Book Again!, I ask her questions on Jen E. Smith's books and more!

Which of Jennifer's books is your absolute fave and could you tell us why?

{BLOG TOUR} The Misfit Interviews: Catherine Doyle

Hello there Misfit Booknerds! For a blog tour, I got to interview the amazing Catherine Doyle, author of Vendetta! Check it out!

What's inspired you to write Vendetta?

• I’ve always been really interested in movies about the criminal underworld. Some of my favorites are about the mafia: The Godfather, Goodfellas, The Departed, Casino. But, I’m also a die-hard fan of everything Disney, and epic romance in general. I wanted to marry the two ideas in a new way for a teenage audience. I just wasn’t sure how. Then one night as I was trying to fall asleep, an image popped into my head. It was five boys doused in shadow, standing side-by-side in front of an old crumbling mansion. I was looking at them through the eyes of someone else – a girl, who was wondering who they were and where they had come from. They were the exact characters I needed, I realized, and they were ready to tell their story. I started writing Vendetta that night. 

How does it feel to finally see your hard work in print?

It is the strangest, most amazing feeling. It really is a dream come true.

How much of Sophie's character is like/unlike you?

The Misfit Interviews: Jasmine Warga

Hello there Misfit Booknerds! It is indeed my pleasure to interview the amazingly talented Jasmine Warga and talk to her about her quirks and most especially her debut novel My Heart and Other Black Holes! Alright! Let's get it started!

SOME DEETS

If you can be stuck in another country or any city in the US besides your hometown, where would you like to be?

• Right now I’m going to say St. Lucia because it is freezing here and I’m desperate for some sunshine and warm weather.

Who is your fictional crush?

• Most recent fictional crush? Maven from Victoria Aveyard’s RED QUEEN. All-time? Pacey from Dawson’s Creek.

What is your guilty pleasure?

• I don’t believe in guilty pleasures. I’m not embarassed of any of the media I enjoy, but I probably watch too much TV so I’ll go with binge-watching TV.

If you have a TV show you’d like to come back on the telly (not Netflix of course) then what will it be?

• Dawson’s Creek! I don’t know how that would work, but I want it. Also, I want a Sons of Anarchy prequel.

How was the #EpicReadsTour in the Harry Potter World? 

• MAGICAL. AMAZING. It was seriously the best. 

Who is the author you wish to work with if you are given the opportunity?

• Victoria Schwab or Nova Ren Suma. Both are brilliant and they write such genre-bending stories and I’d love the opportunity to get a glimpse into how their genius works.

AUTHOR Q'S

Again, congratulations! My Heart and Other Black Holes is a literary success and my friends are starting to go crazy for it. As always, I want to ask, what initially made you write this story?

• Oh, I’m so glad to hear your friends are enjoying it! I initially started to write the book after the unexpected death of one of my closest friends and I woke up with Aysel’s voice in my head. But while my grief served as a chief inspiration, I think the book is ultimately about love (in all its forms, self-love, friendship, etc) and the true saving power of human connection.

Aysel is such an amazing but distraught character. And she has such an unusually honest voice. What would you say makes her different from YA characters that go through these stages of depression?

The Misfit Interviews: Jennifer Niven

Hi there Misfit Booknerds!!! It's been a while since I got to interview and author for the blog but this is clearly an amazing time to introduce to you a wonderful author and dear friend, Jennifer Niven!  I'm sure some of you know her already but let's get to know her a lot better.

SOME DEETS

What's your morning ritual? Or are you more of a night owl? 

•  I’m definitely a night owl!

Do you collect anything? 

• I love ABBA, and so I have all sorts of weird ABBA stuff like ABBA clogs and ABBA dolls and ABBA soap and perfume. I also love the golden age of Hollywood, and have a small collection of movie star jewelry (Bette Davis’s earrings, Carole Lombard’s bracelet, Ava Gardner’s cigarette case, which I use to carry my business cards) as well as a vanity set belonging to Jean Harlow and Lana Turner’s alarm clock from her days at MGM.

How tall are you? 

• 5’7”

Your celebrity crush? 

• Jared Padalecki!

(DAMN YES JENNIFER! YAAAS!)

If you could work with an author for a collaboration, who would it be? 

• David Levithan. Not only is he an amazingly brilliant writer, he’s one of the loveliest people I’ve ever met.

If your name weren't Jennifer, what would it be? (Btw, I really would love to be a Charlie, but my parents love the letter J so. Hahaha) 

• My parents almost named me Larkin, which I’ve always thought was pretty. But I think I’d be something chic and adorably British like Imogen or Clementine.

AUTHOR Q'S

All The Bright Places is such a poignant and heartfelt book. What made you tackle the theme of mental disorders? 

• Thank you! Years ago, I knew and loved a boy, and that boy was bipolar. I witnessed up-close the highs and lows, the Awake and the Asleep, and I saw his daily struggle with the world and with himself. The experience was life changing. Back then, I didn’t talk about it, but it’s important to talk about. I experienced firsthand the stigma associated with mental disorders—both from his perspective and from mine—and I realized that we need to make people feel safe enough to come forward and say, “I have a problem. I need help.” If we don’t talk about suicide or depression or mental illness, how can we expect anyone to reach out for help when they need it most? 

How was your emotional and mental process when writing about Finch? How about with Violet? Who did you love writing best? 

• A young writer asked me recently, “How did you write All the Bright Places without crying over it?” The answer is that I did cry while writing it, but I also knew that it was okay to cry because that meant I was tapping into all of the emotion that was going to help me write what I needed to write. This was true whether I was writing Finch or Violet. But I most enjoyed writing Finch because he was so different from any character I’d ever written before, and also because he arrived so fully formed with such a strong, vivid voice. 

Finch is such an amazing, mysterious character and I couldn't thank you enough for him. Did you ever think that an alternate ending could've happened? 

• While I wanted to create a happier ending for Finch and for Finch and Violet, I knew in my bones that the only ending could be the one I wrote, not just because too many stories about teen mental health are tied up in neat little packages with bows on top, but because it’s the ending I lived with the real-life Finch. It was the story I knew. 

You were on a book tour for the release of All The Bright Places and I love every bit of it! (DO COME TO THE PHILIPPINES!!!) What was your best or most memorable fan encounter? 

• I would LOVE to come to the Philippines!! The book tour really has been wonderful so far, and the highlight for me is meeting readers of the book who have related to it or to Finch in some way. The most memorable of these was meeting a teen in Georgia who has struggled all her life with self-harm, depression, and suicide. She came to an event to tell me that the book had changed her life, that it made her realize she wasn’t alone, and that it made her want to live again. 

Germ Magazine and even EleanorandViolet.com are real websites right now! How do you explain Germ further to those who have read the book, and would like to submit their thoughts or thank you's? 

•  Germ is a magazine for girls—high school and beyond—that celebrates beginnings, futures, and all the amazing and agonizing moments in-between. The website (www.germmagazine.com) was originally created on the pages of the book, when Violet gets an idea for a new web magazine, one that would inspire and entertain, educate and empower, tackling issues big and small, serious and funny, hard and helpful, while also encouraging young writers and artists and other creative types to share their work. After I wrote the first draft of the book, I thought: What if Germ were real? We launched in January 2014 and work on a strictly volunteer basis. At this moment, we have forty-five staff members, most of whom are between the ages of fourteen and twenty-six. We began in Los Angeles, but we now have staff writers from all across the US, as well as England, Hungary, the Ukraine, and the Philippines (!!), and we have readers all over the world. In addition to being a lifestyle magazine, Germ is also a literary magazine, and we welcome both creative writing and journalistic submissions from readers. We would love to hear from you! (For details on how to submit, please visit the Germ site.) 

What advise could you give to those going through their mental disorders? How do they get help? 

• I want readers to know that help is out there, that it gets better, that high school isn’t forever, and that life is long and vast and full of possibility. I want them to know that they would be missed, that they matter, and that there are others in the world who understand their thoughts and feelings and their pain. I want them to realize that suicide is not a solution and that it can’t be undone. It is a permanent “fix” to situations and feelings for which there are help. And I want them to speak up, to tell someone how they’re feeling—a parent, a sibling, a trusted friend or teacher or adult. (For resources on suicide prevention, please see http://www.germmagazine.com/links/.) 

Are you writing anything new right now that has a chance to be published? Some deets please? 

• I’m working on my second YA novel (which will also be published by Random House and Penguin UK). It’s an unconventional love story of a boy who can't remember faces and a very visible girl who feels invisible. It’s about seeing, being seen, and learning to recognize what’s important. It’s about what makes us love someone. 

And finally, what advise could you give aspiring writers, like myself, who wish to write stories that are outstanding like yours, even be at par with yours?

Thank you so, so much Jennifer! I love you and I'm sure your fans and booknerds everywhere love you too! Thank you for sharing these fun facts about you and your experiences! I am sooo excited for your new novel, you have no idea! And I hope you guys too!

Follow Jennifer on Twitter and on Instagram and like her Facebook page! Also don't forget to check out the Germ website and of course, read her beautiful, lovely book! Thank you Misfit booknerds!

Artist Interview: B I B L I O D U C K S, A Graphic Collaboration

Hi there Misfit Booknerds! How you've been? It's been some time since I featured some very special talents here in the blog and I have been lucky enough to be acquainted with some of them and two of which I'll be featuring right now. Meet Sayyeda and Drei of BIBLIODUCKS.

Sayyeda Shah is the graphic illustrator for SAII Illustrations while Drei San Juan manages Aegisdea. Both gruel their time in making amazing graphic illustrations and layouts. Though they have different aesthetics and styles, they decided to work together to form BIBLIODUCKS, a page dedicated to provide fanarts of fictional characters, may it be from books, favorite TV shows and the likes. They print out posters and bookmarks lately but damn these guys should include t-shirt printing to their roster!

I decided to stalk them for a bit and ask them some questions! Here it is!

All photos and illustrations used in this post are copyrighted and owned by the designers. I received permission to use this for the interview. 

1. Hi there guys! So, were you always inclined to art at an early age?

Sayyeda (S): Oh gosh no. Haha. The only art I was into before was poetry lol. But visual? Not so much. I guess I haven't discovered the joys of digital art yet, but back then I didn't see myself doing art when I grew up. I only decided to do art when I was around my third year in highschool.

Drei (D): Hullo! Well according to my parents I have been inclined to it since I was 5. The only memory I remember though was when I sas 7 years old and Voltes V was showing on the telly and since then I aspire to draw things anime!

2. How did you guys meet or get to know each other and how did the collaboration start?

S: I met Drei last year at the fandom group of TMIPH. Haha. She was posting pretty awesome character illustrations back then so I decided to add her. The collab started when I was planning for Marie Lu's booksigning here. I remember her doing character illustrations for The Young Elites so I thought it would be cool to turn them into posters.

D: Well, it was back in 2013, when I was a total noob in the TMI fandom (Or in the YA fandom in general). I did not expect people to like my drawings when I shared it in the Filipino Shadowhunters group, Ate Dianne and Saii were one if the few people who caught my attention. They were kind and they fangirl a lot! Saii had Stark as her surname so I instantly added her as a friend (To be honest, I don't remember if I was the one who added her). Little did I know that she was an illustrator too. So here I was, silently liking her entries from the shadows (I love how she does her eyeliner hahahaha). We didn't get to talk much up until now, I'm also a very awkward person in online chatting. But I'm happy to have met her! And I'm very excited for our collaboration!

3. As graphic designers, how do you set yourselves apart from other's works? Would you say your style has changed over the years?

S: My style is mostly vector. I know there are a lot of vector artists out there too, but lately I've been going for more colorful illustrations. And I've been playing with brushes in Illustrator too.

D: It's funny because it was only 2014 that my style became very consistent in comparsion to the previous years.

4. Why start BIBLIODUCKS? What things did you consider first before starting this collaboration?

S: After Marie Lu's signing, a lot of people were asking me if we will be selling the posters cause they'd definitely buy it. Drei and I talked about it and decided that yes, we'd be releasing posters for sale. I guess the biggest thing we needed to consider was the production of these posters and if we'd have time to do so. Since I am in charge of the printing and shipping, I decided to do all those on the weekends since I have work and have no time on weekdays.


D: Well, it all started when Marie Lu went ti the Philippines. Saii pm'd me and asked if it's okay to use the fanarts I made for TYE. I was like, "SURE". I was truly happy that Saii considered using my drawings for fan banners in the event. I mean even though I can't go to the signing at least my artworks can, riiight? Riiight?

After a few days, when Saii posted a picture of the printed posters she made, people have been asking if we're going to sell them. At first I was too shy to talk to Saii about it, since I'm aware how tiring managing an online store is plus we're a state away from each other, printing and payments will become a hassle. But then people keep on talking about, so that basically motivated me to talk to Saii about it. It's really overwhelming to know that people loved the posters that she and I made.

5. What specific things inspire you as artists?

S: For me it's anything, really. What's fun and a bit frustrating though, is that ideas and inspiration come at the most random and unexpected moments so once the idea hits me, I really have to write it down or else I'll eventually forget about it.

D: A lot of things inspire me!

Artists and their etiquette and style inspire me. The people who believe I have the potential in art inspires the hell out of me. Being an aspiring illustartor has lots of ups and downs and It's overwhelming to know that majority of the people who sees my artworks believe that I'm going to go places and that idea just inspires me to work hard, learn more stuff and improve my craft more!

6. Starting a business such as poster and bookmark printing is pretty rare! What other merchandise do you guys wish to sell and the same as being artists, how will you set yourselves apart from the competition since the market of the fandom business is rampant out there?

S: We're not really sure about these plans yet. For now we're just doing prints. Maybe shirts someday? I guess what sets us apart are the works are more of Illustrations. Like, you see other shirts are more on typography or simple vector designs. Also, the designs were really made by us, so there's an extra personal touch to that.


D: Starting a business such as poster and bookmark printing is pretty rare! What other merchandise do you guys wish to sell and the same as being artists, how will you set yourselves apart from the competition since the market of the fandom business is rampant out there?

- It'll be awesome if we get to print our stuff on tshirts, mugs and totebags!

We're different from the rest because we have our original works on our side!

7. Issues about copyright and crediting the artist for one's work is been going around lately. What are your thoughts?

S: Crediting is not enough. People have to ask permission from the artists to use their work, that's why when I got the poster idea I consulted with Drei first if she would allow me to use her illustrations.


D: I still don't get why people have the nerve to steal artworks and sell them without the permission of the artist.

I believe an artwork is a part of an artist's soul that was picked out and honed aeasthetically for the world to see and feel its creator's vision and feelings. Reposting/stealing an artwork without any credits is like mutilating an artist limb by limb. Okay, that sounded gruesome, but you get my point!

8. Finally! What are your messages to other graphic artists out there who wish to go into business or just with their art?

S: Find your style and develop it. Refine it. Make it your own. Love that style because that is going to be your identity as an artist. You are your worst critic so don't be so hard on yourself. If you feel that you artwork is not enough, keep on practicing until you become satisfied

D: Finally! What are your messages to other graphic artists out there who wish to go into business or just with their art?

- KEEP ON DRAWING GUYSSSS! There will be a lot of ups and downs, but that will pass! Practice will make you better! And don't be ashamed to be heavily inspired and influenced by other artists! Don't hesitate to dream big!

Love you lots! Don't give up!

Well there you go! That's it for the interview part! Let's see more of their works! 

By the way, I do not tolerate any form of usage of the photos that will be featured in this post for any personal or business purposes. They are copyrighted material, so please, if you wish to purchase or use the photos in any way, you may contact either Sayyeda or Drei. I will leave their Facebook pages for you. Thank you!

Adelina Amouteru and The Reaper from The Young Elites

Khaleesi! *cries*

Simon and Clary from The Mortal Instruments

THIS EPIC GIF OF TEREN FROM THE YOUNG ELITES

Badass Tyrion!!! 

Cute original from Saii! 

To buy from BIBLIODUCKS, like their Facebook page and inquire: BIBLIODUCKS or email them at biblioducks@gmail.com

To know more about Sayyeda's SAII Illustrations, check out her Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/saiiborg.art

 Behance website: http://behance.net/sayyeduck

Drei's Aegisdea's Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/aegisdea

Tumblr website: http://www.aegisdea.tumblr.com/
Society6: http://society6.com/aegisdea

I do encourage some authors to contact these wonderful graphic artists because they have talent and yeah, they are amazing! As for all the Misfit Booknerds out there, help spread the word out! Thank you!!! Support amazing artists like them! :)

The Misfit Interviews: Fun Facts with Alex London

So before Alex London heads to the Philippines for his book signing, I decided to ask him a bit about himself! And he cracks me up...most of the time! Here are some things you might want to know about Alex London! :)

1. Do you play any kind of sport?

• I played soccer in elementary school, ran track in middle school, and briefly played lacrosse in high school. I was terrible at all of them.

2. Do you type your manuscripts or write them on paper?

• I type them, using a program called Scrivener

3. Favorite kind of pet?

• DOG!

4. Breakfast combos?

• Coffee and...anything!

5. Pet peeves?

• I can't stand the sound of nail files. For some reason, it's torture to me. 

6. Inspirations for writing novels?

• That question is too big for this answer.

7. Coffee or tea?

• See above.

8. Favorite place to read in?

• Anywhere except the shower. That would not work out well.

9. Favorite TV show binge?

• I always like discovering a new show, but I can always binge on 30 Rock.

10. I really do think you look a bit like John Green, what do you say about that?

• I suppose that means we're both terrible handsome, eh, but I'd love for my book sales to look like his too.

11. What types of music do you listen to?

• Pretty typical nerdy white guy rock-Arcade Fire, Neutral Milk Hotel, Spoon. Also I like the show tunes from Broadway.

12. Odd or weird habits?

• Oh so many...

13. Do you like exercise?

• Like it? I dunno. I do it and feel good afterwards but it does take some effort to get up and run or work out.

14. What's the first thing you bought when you received your first pay check (please say books.LOL)

• Well, one of my first jobs was in a bookstore, and yes, my first paycheck went largely to books, especially because I got a discount for working there!

15. What are you working on right now?

• Writing more books!

So that's it! But PS! I have one question from a friend! :) Her name is Eriele! (Shout out to Eriele! WOO!)

1. Do you get to hang out with David Levithan? Check out DavidLevithanPH on Twitter, coz we die for him and we want him to know how much we love him. :) 

• Ha! Yes, he's an old and dear friend! He'll actually be at my wedding 3 days before I visit the Philippines. I'll tell him y'all said hi. :)

EEEEP! That last one tho! HE'S GETTING MARRIED!!! WHAT THE!? WHAT SHOULD I GIVE HIM!? Anyway, he's gonna have a book signing at SM Aura on August 30th! It's a Saturday, so I'm hoping I can see some of you there! :) Do leave comments below if you are! For more information, check out this post...

See you there! And Alex, thank you to the moon (where we can have coffee for like, 30 minutes?) and  back! :)

The Misfit Interviews with Marissa Meyer

I never thought this day would come when I can interview one of my favorite authors, Marissa Meyer, author of The Lunar Chronicles. It was a May evening when I asked her if she was willing to do an interview with me and said YES!!! I felt like I won the lottery, I threw a fit at my Aunt's house! Anyway, here is my interview with her! Enjoy!

AUTHOR STUFF

1. What made you write the Lunar Chronicles? Was it a certain fascination towards princesses or something more than that? 

The Misfit Interviews with Bethany Crandell

So, one of my newest author favorites, and my band manager for The Flail Hesitations, Bethany Crandell, joins us in another episode of The Misfit Interviews! Enjoy this one, coz it's a HOOT!

• How many books are in your bookshelf as of 2014?

I just glanced across the room to said bookshelf, and I’d say there are about 50 books on it, however some of those are my kiddos’ books that have migrated into my bedroom. (Much like the Goldfish cracker crumbs under said bookshelf) I’d say 35 are mine. 

• If you had a chance to name a pizza, what would it be?

It would be called, ALL MINE!

And it would have grilled chicken breast, roasted red peppers, provolone cheese, pine nuts and a pretzel crust. This pizza actually does exist. You can find it at The Idyllwild Pizza Co. (Idyllwild, CA) and when we get it…it is, ALL MINE!

•  I guess this is a quintessential, what is your favorite color?

Dusty lilac

•  Writing rituals?

Spearmint Orbit gum. Fire Jolly Ranchers. Quiet.

• If you could be an author for a day, who would you like to be?

I’d like to be me, just without any housework. 

AUTHOR STUFF

The Misfit Interviews with NATALIE WHIPPLE

Hi there Misfit Booknerds!!! This is a monumental occasion! I got to interview Natalie Whipple, author of Transparent, Blindsided, House of Ivy & Sorrow and her newly released book, Relax, I'm A Ninja! And since I'm excited to read her new offering, let me share with you the talk I had with Natalie, here at The Misfit Interviews!!!