Sunday, October 23, 2011

Colette Ballard

Today’s blog post is an interview with our very own, Jus Accardo, whose debut novel has just been released!! First of all, a big congratulations to Jus, as well as a shout out to the cover artist: )

TOUCH

Touch

A DENAZEN NOVEL - Book One - by Jus Accardo

When a strange boy tumbles down a river embankment and lands at her feet, seventeen-year-old adrenaline junkie Deznee Cross snatches the opportunity to piss off her father by bringing the mysterious hottie with ice blue eyes home.

Except there’s something off with Kale. He wears her shoes in the shower, is overly fascinated with things like DVDs and vases, and acts like she’ll turn to dust if he touches her. It’s not until Dez’s father shows up, wielding a gun and knowing more about Kale than he should, that Dez realizes there’s more to this boy—and her father’s “law firm”—than she realized.

Kale has been a prisoner of Denazen Corporation—an organization devoted to collecting “special” kids known as Sixes and using them as weapons—his entire life. And, oh yeah, his touch? It kills. The two team up with a group of rogue Sixes hellbent on taking down Denazen before they’re caught and her father discovers the biggest secret of all. A secret Dez has spent her life keeping safe.

A secret Kale will kill to protect.

1.Touch has a very interesting premise. Where did the idea for your book come from? Honestly? A coffee drive-through line. Totally serious. I was sitting on line, waiting for it to move (which it wasn't, in case anyone's wondering) and I was staring off into the woods. I got the picture in my head of a girl being chased through the forest. She was barefoot and everything she touched--trees, branches, the ground beneath her feet--all shriveled and died. It all just kinda snowballed from there. Three weeks later, the first draft was done.

2.When did you first know you wanted to be a writer? And how did you decide on YA? I've wanted to be a writer or a chef since I was really little. Growing up I was either in a corner with my nose in a book, or in the kitchen with my grandparents. I actually started out writing adult paranormal and UF. The first book I queried was an adult urban fantasy. But thanks to the genius of one of my critique partners, it was pointed out that my voice is more YA than adult. This was fine with me because 90 % of what I read is YA anyway :D

I get more out of writing young adult. There are so many firsts... Experiences and strong emotions. In reality, first kisses don't always make you swoon. Going to prom isn't always the best night of your life. Meeting the one isn't always sunshine and puppies and singing angels. It's fun! Tons of painful, messy, angsty emotion.

3.What is your writing process like? My process is a little funky...being I don't really have one. Not a normal one, anyway. I don't plot--it screws me up. The most I start out with is a vague list of scene ideas that I've seen in my head (because yes--I not only hear voices, but see things, too) I know it might sounds strange, but I've tried to plot. It doesn't work. All the twists and plot points come out as I'm writing. If I try to get it planned before hand, I just sit there staring at the screen. It's not pretty. There's even drool involved...

As for how often I write... It's every day. I can't not write. There's too much going on in my head and lemme tell ya...it gets crowded in there. I start around 5 or 6 when my husband leaves for work, and usually go until midnight. I run errands in between, of course. That many hours straight in front of the computer would probably turn my brain to pixel particles.

I average anywhere from 6 to 10k on a normal day. People always flip when I say that, but really, when you think about it, that's not that much. This is my full time job. It's what I do all day (and night sometimes) Plus, my 3 kids are the fuzzy, four-legged variety and don't require trips to soccer or ballet. They've happy as can be to just chill at my feet all day as I work.

4.Your book was sold as a trilogy, many writers speak of hitting a wall after they sell the first one. Have you experienced this? If so, how did you overcome it? When I sat down to start book two, for five days, all I did was kind of sit there and pull my hair out. I'd worked myself up over it so badly, that I just couldn't think. It was like my brain shut down. As soon as I relaxed though, it all flowed nice and easy and book two poured out (almost) as quickly as the first.

5.Anything you'd like to share about what readers can expect in book two? Hmm... Well, Dez and Kale aren't going to have it easy. (cue evil laughter). They went through a lot in TOUCH and things aren't going to get any simpler. You can expect more secrets, some surprising betrayals--even some side switching. Oh, and there's a chance someone might die... ;)

6.Who are some of your favorite authors and why? Kelley Armstrong, Rob Thurman, Mary Stanton, Lili St. Crow, Rachel Vincent... There are SO many. The thing they all have in common is that their books are full of characters I can't stop thinking about. Stories that stay with me way past the final page of the book.

7.Oh, and how much do you love your cover?? : ) OMG. My cover... Look at it and tell me you don't want one of him for your very own?!!? I love the colors, the guy--and those eyes. He's the perfect Kale.

Thanks so much for letting me hang out on your Sunday, Colette! This was a blast :)

To read an excerpt of Touch and for ordering information, go to Entangled Publishing at:

http://www.entangledinromance.com/2011/10/10/get-your-jus-on-with-touch-buy-it-now/

OR to be entered in a drawing for a FREE SIGNED COPY….

Leave a comment below and like her on facebook from now until 10/29:

http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/JusAccardo/118357108246769

For more on Jus, check her out on:

Twitter

Facebook

Website

37 comments:

Katie McGarry said...

Thanks for sharing with us Jus!

Ishita Singh said...

Great interview and thanks for the giveaway!! :D

coffee_ishita@yahoo.com

here is my blog :
http://omgitsfishy.blogspot.com/

Lea Nolan said...

What a great interview. I can't wait to read your book -- and then the next two!

Kristin Lenz said...

We're all looking forward to the debut of Touch - thanks for the sneak peek, Jus and Colette!

Erin W. said...

I'm looking forward to reading this book. Great interview and thanks for the giveaway!

little_dhampir@live.com.au

Giselle said...

YES! I Loved Touch and I would LOVED a signed copy! Great interview I got to speak with Jus a couple times and she's a great lady!

Giselle
Xpresso Reads
xpressoreads at gmail dot com

Shellie said...

Thanks for sharing all this with us, great interview. I would LOVE to have a chance @ getting a signed copy. None of my books are signed =(
-shellie
deviantzangel@gmail.com
creativereads.blogspot.com

Anonymous said...

I'm really looking forward to reading this...and the cover...AWESOME!

loniflowers@yahoo.com

Kurt Hampe said...

Good interview Colette.

Jus, my hat is off to you for consistently writing a high word count. You reminded me of a short conversation I had with a would-be writer.

Him: For new writers, the editors limit the stories to only 10,000 words.

Me: So what are you going to write next week?

Him: (eyebrows through the ceiling)

CYP @ A Bookalicious Story said...

Thanks for sharing! And for the great giveaway!:)

CYP
cypsays_hi@hotmail.com

Kristen Simmons said...

Woo hoo! Congrats girl! Great interview! Cannot wait to read this book! Sounds fantastic!

christy said...

Love the interview.
It makes me even want to read the book more.
Loves that Kyle is a bit weird. Male leads are always so perfect. A brillant and interesting change.
My review page is my goodreads page.
I don't have a facebook account.
My twitter account is rmoex--my goodreads the same.
Thank you.

Anonymous said...

Great interview! Waiting in lines I never enjoyable, but you prove they are actually good for something other than getting on people's nerves :-)

I already liked your facebook page a while back. Thanks for the chance :-)

Brinda said...

Great interview! Story came to you in the line for coffee, huh...I'll have to try that. *grin* Congrats on all your success.

Read Between the Lines said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Natalie Aguirre said...

Great interview. Jus, your book sounds fantastic. I can't believe how many words you write everyday. I'd love to win it. Thanks for the giveaway.

Colette Ballard said...

So glad everyone is enjoying the interview!

Ashley C said...

I compleltley agree with your opinion of the cover ;)

ashley [dot] christiano [at] gmail [dot] com

my blog: http://www.ashleychristiano.wordpress.com

Unknown said...

Great Interview and Thanks so much for another book that looks to be a great read going into my TBR Pile :)

Pao Martinez Parente said...

Hello! omg i'd love to win this book!! Looks AMAZING!!! The easiest way to contact me is by twitter: @PaoMtzP Thanks!!

LizzieBeth said...

Great interview! Enjoyed it very much. Best of luck always with the giveaway and your book.


LizzieBeth1095@sbcglobal.net

Tammi said...

I cannot wait to read this book!

yafictionbookreviews@gmail.com

Read Between the Lines said...

I loved the interview and I am waiting to do my interview this book totally rocked and I hope I win the Signed Copy

berrylicious_cutie(at)hotmail(.)com

or twitter @amdase

Unknown said...

Wonderful interview! Definately going on my TBR list!

kristinaparmenter51(at)gmail(dot)com

mromero said...

Great interview, I can't wait to read the book I already pre-ordered it on amazon. Also liked facebook page.

mromero2012 AT gmail DOT com

Alison B said...

Great interview! Thanks!

Jellybellys78 said...

Fantastic interview! I have not read or heard of this book until now but I am really interested in reading it ;)

Jamie Manning said...

I'm currently reading TOUCH for the blog tour and it is amazing! Talk about having the teen voice down! I would love to win a signed copy, so thanks for the chance!

Unknown said...

Great post! I love to learn where authors get their inspiration.
Thanks!
andreat78@yahoo.com

CYP @ A Bookalicious Story said...

That was a great interview! Thanks for sharing! I'd love to have the physical copy of the book. Lol.

CYP
cypsays_hi@hotmail.com

Valia Lind said...

Great interview!! And thanks for the chance to get a signed copy!!! :-)

Lisa Tapp said...

Thanks for this interview, Collette. And Jus, I'm going to order Touch right now. Can't wait to read it.

Unknown said...

I would love a copy!! Thanks for the giveaway!!

thriftshopgrrl@hotmail.com

Unknown said...

Awesome interview! Thanks for the giveaway :)

supagurlheather@gmail.com

A.J. said...

Thank you! :)
I liked on FB.
naruto_and_hinata(at)hotmail(dot)com

Elis said...

Thanks for the giveaway, sounds very good.....
i liked your FB
Whoevery did the cover has a magic touch. i wish that i was that good

dancingG11@aol.com

Shirley said...

Touch sounds amazing!!! I can't wait to read it :) Thanks for the giveaway!

shiirleyyx@gmail.com