You guys, I am insanely excited about today's guest author. I totally loved her debut novel which had themes of sci-fi mixed with fairy-tales. Any idea? YES! It's Marissa Meyer! ( ugh you just looked at the banner didn't you? ;) She was so kind to let me send her some questions! Her answers were very fun to read. And they are right below for your enjoyment!

~MARISSA MEYER HERSELF~

Marissa is the genius author behind the series called the Lunar Chronicles. She's wanted to be a writer since she realized the job existed and has been writing ever since. In addition to her slight obsession with books and writing, she's big on road-tripping, wine-tasting, and hunting for antiques. She lives in Tacoma, Washington with her husband and two cats. 

~MARISSA'S BRAIN CHILDREN~

CINDER
Published: 1.3.12
Pages: 387
GOODREADS / PURCHASE


Describe your book in 5 words:
Cyborg Cinderella saves the galaxy.

In one sentence, what makes your books unique?
It’s a fairy tale that goes far beyond your traditional retelling by introducing an independent heroine, a deadly plague, and the threat of an intergalactic war.

Hardest part of the writing process for you?
The writing process is made of ups and downs. When it’s going well, I feel like the books are amazing and brilliant and readers are going to love them. But when the story is struggling, it’s easy to get caught up in doubts and panic and begin to worry that the characters are all flat, the pacing is slow and boring, and that idea you thought was genius is actually predictable and dull. Every writer has moment like this and it’s important to just keep working through it until the story begins to shine again—but even knowing that it’s natural and these feelings will pass, it’s still a tough period in the writing process!

You're stranded on a desert island with one book. What is it?
Pride and Prejudice. It’s the only book I’ve ever read more than twice… I think I’ve read it five times now and feeling overdue for a sixth.

Why did you choose to write for YA?
I don’t feel this was so much a choice as I just fell into it. I started writing my first novel when I was 16—about a 16-year-old princess who was naturally based on me. I never finished that novel, or the novel after that, or the novel after that. I continued to grow up and went to college and got a job, etc., but I kept writing about teenage protagonists. I think it’s the thrill of first loves and the idea that the most powerless people in our society can be the ones to save us—often because they’re not jaded and angry like some adults become. There’s something really powerful in that.

Deciding to make Cinderella a cyborg was a very unique twist, but how did you come up with that particular detail?
It actually came to me in a vision as I was falling asleep one night (as corny as that sounds). I’d had the idea in my head to combine science fiction with fairy tales for a few months, then one night I saw her—Cinderella—but as a tomboyish mechanic with prosthetic limbs that caused her lots of problems. Amazingly, she fit both the fairy tale trope of a downtrodden servant toiling away for her wicked stepmother, as well as the futuristic world I wanted to set the story in, so I ran with it.

Is there anything you can hint to about Scarlet?
Scarlet will continue Cinder’s story while also introducing readers to new characters inspired by Little Red Riding Hood. Scarlet is an 18-year-old girl living on a farm in southern France with her grandmother, except her grandmother has mysteriously gone missing. The only person who has any information is a street fighter from the city who goes by Wolf—and as you can imagine, he’s entirely trustworthy…

Will we get to find out how Kai and Cinder resolve?
Yep! But… it’s gonna take us a few books to get there. :)

M&Ms or Skittles? 
M&Ms – especially the peanut butter ones!

Root Beer Floats or Ice Cream Sundaes? 
Ice cream sundaes.

Book or Movie Adaption? 
Usually the book, although there are a select few in which I preferred the movie (such as Devil Wears Prada).

Plaid or Polka Dots? 
Plaid.

Mess or Organization? 
Organization… I get neurotic about too much clutter.

Glass Slippers or Talking Mirrors? 
Talking mirrors. Seriously, glass slippers just sound painful.

Cyborgs or Lunars? 
Lunars—although I like to think I wouldn’t abuse the power, being able to convince people to do things for you could come in awful handy sometimes.

Thanks so much to Marissa for taking time to answer questions!

It was a lot of fun to do this interview! I hope you all enjoyed this as much as I did. And I hope you enjoyed Marissa's books Cinder as well! It is one fabulous book and if you haven't read it yet you should. Never fear, you have a chance to get it! Cinder has been added to the list of the books up for winning in the GIVEAWAY OF EPIC PROPORTIONS.

So what do you think? Isn't Marissa fab? Tell her hi or how excited you are for Cinder/Scarlet!! Happy Tuesday! XOXO,