Monday, May 7, 2012

Interview Week: Cole Gibsen, author of KATANA

Welcome to Interview Week!
All this week, I'm interviewing awesome authors--and giving away a copy of their book! Come back each day this week for another author and another chance to win an awesome book.

Quick Stats on Today's Author:
  • Cole Gibsen is the debut author of KATANA
  • Her blog has the awesome name "Hair Dye and Samurai"
  • Cole is also the author of BREATHLESS
  • Cole claims to not be a ninja, but I'm not sure I believe that.

YOU
We can read all about your life from your bio in the jacket flap of your book. So, what's a completely random fact about you that most people don't know?
Last year, after Dragoncon, I was sitting in an Applebees in the Atlanta airport when I saw Nicholas Brendan walk by. Much to my brother and husband’s embarrassment, I screamed, “I LOVE YOU, NICHOLAS BRENDAN!” at the top of my lungs. He smiled and waved. As if that wasn’t awesome enough, I grabbed my brother’s girlfriend and—like stealthy ninja—the two of us stalked Nicholas all the way to his gate.  (Okay, maybe not like ninja. He totally saw us and I think was on the verge of calling security.)

As a kid, what was your favorite book? Have your tastes changed since growing up?
My favorite book was, without a doubt, Bunnicula by James Howe. Twenty years later, I’m still go fangirl over vegetable-draining vampire bunnies. Seriously. Who doesn’t?

In your book, KATANA, the main character Rileigh finds herself thrown into a world of martial arts and ninjas. Does this draw from any passions in your own life? Are you secretly a ninja?!
Two things to know about me:
1. I absolutely adore martial arts.
2. I suck at martial arts.

Seriously. I’ve taken several different styles (karate, taekwondo, kick boxing, tai chi, etc.) and I’m terrible at them all.

It wasn’t until I received my second black eye and split lip that I decided it would be more fun (not to mention better for my heath) to write about martial arts instead of actually doing martial arts.

YOUR BOOK
It's the inevitable question: what inspired KATANA? 
The above black eye and split lip. After having my ass handed to me in yet another sparring match, I remember looking at a poster of Bruce Lee on the wall and wishing his spirit would possess me so I could kick a little butt for once.

Obviously, that didn’t happen. But it did get me thinking about the possibility of a spirit granting sudden martial arts expertise. That was when the idea for KATANA was born.
 
Can you tell us a little bit about the process--particularly the timeline--of writing & publishing KATANA?
Oh boy. I definitely wasn’t one of those overnight success stories you sometimes read about. It took me two books, two years, and over two hundred rejection letters before I landed my agent. After that it took me another year of revisions and submissions before I had my first offer. It would then take another two years before KATANA would sit on a bookstore shelf.

If your reader could only take away one emotion, theme, or idea from KATANA, what would you want it to be?
Fun. When was seventeen, I was kicked out of my house and lived out of my car for a short time. During that period, my only source of entertainment came from the books I checked out from the library. It was those books that got me through that difficult time by allowing me to forget about my problems for a short while. If my book can do the same by giving a teenager a couple of laughs or allowing them to temporarily forget about their problems, then I accomplished what I set out to do.

YOUR WRITING
What's the most surprising thing you've learned since becoming a writer?
Patience. I’ve never been a patient person and I hate going into situations that I can’t control. This does not bode well for a career in publishing.

My agent told me that the slogan for publishing should be, “Hurry up and wait!” and truer words have never been spoken. At first, the whole thing made me a little crazy. Luckily, I’ve since found my inner Zen about the waiting game. And when I do find myself starting to crack, I’ve found that wine helps. A lot.

Beyond the typical--never give up, believe in yourself--what would be the single best advice you'd like to give another writer?
Read books in the genre you plan to write. And then read some more. And after that, read some more. 

What do you think are your strongest and weakest points in writing?
Wow. That’s a really tough question to answer about yourself. I don’t know if it’s my strongest point per say, but one of my favorite things to write is snarky dialogue. I also enjoy writing out a good fight scene.

As far a weak points, when I read books by other authors, some of them have such talent for creating vivid imagery with setting. I’d love to improve in that area.

 And now for a giveaway! Leave a comment with your email address below to be entered to win a copy of KATANA! One winner will be picked next Monday; sorry, but this needs to be North America only. 

36 comments:

Tessa said...

These both sound interesting. Adding them to my to read list :)
mokeypokeyrocker@yahoo.com

Kay said...

These sound like great books! Thanks for the giveaway. kaymcgriff at gmail dot com

Vivien said...

I absolutely love Martial Arts!!! I've had my eye on both of these novels for some time. They sound fantastic :D

Vivien
deadtossedwaves at gmail dot com

Shannon O'Donnell said...

I love both covers! They are alredady on my wish list, so I'd love to win. :)

Katja said...

Haha, Cole sounds like a cool author. Thanks for the giveaway!

Bookcat16@yahoo.com

Matthew MacNish said...

Cole is the best! We have so much in common. Channeling martial arts suckitude into characters who rule at it is a big theme in my own writing.

But, who is Nicholas Brendan?

mattmrush(at)gmail(dot)com

Anonymous said...

Just the name and the cover of this book make me excited, haha!

And Cole is a St. Louis author like Heather! :) Much love to you guys <3

-Kate

kate_reads(at)yahoo.com

Patricia T. said...

Cole, you've had some interesting life experiences, which I'm sure add considerably to your writing. I enjoyed the interview very much with Beth, and found Breathless, very interesting! Great job ladies.

Katie said...

Great interview! I'm in the querying process, so to hear that she got so many rejections makes me feel better. Definitely encouraging! :)

onepagereviews@gmail.com

Kayla Beck said...

That was such a fun email to read! Cole is absolutely hilarious, and I cannot wait to read Katana now. Thank you for the giveaway!

pherlaithiel (at) gmail (dot) com

Jill Kaplan said...

Woot! Finally a YA ninja book :) Thanks Beth, this week is going to be awesome!

booklovingal@gmail.com

Diana Julianna said...

SUPER awesome interview and giveaway, Beth! Thanks and you ROCK! <3

thereviewsnews(at)gmail(dot)com

Cole Gibsen said...

Thank you so much for the kind words, everyone! And thank you, Beth, for inviting me here!

Cecily White said...

I love you, Cole Gibsen!!!
...almost as much as I love Nicholas Brendan, but in a completely different and far less creey way.

BTW, Matthew MacNish, do you SERIOUSLY not know who Nicholas Brendan is???
Young man, sit thee down and watch thee some Buffy, ASAP!

XO Babe!
(And thanks, Beth!!!)

Leigh Smith said...

Yet another great interview, Beth! Cole, you are hilarious! Thanks for the giveaway!

blackeyedsue21 at(gmail)dot(com)

Cate said...

Katana sounds so interesting, especially the japanese culture. Thanks for the interview and giveaway!

Cate
razzberripop@aim.com

Drina said...

I like that Katana sounds so different - if I don't win, I'll have to find a copy!

schmetterlinge85@gmail.com

Katie said...

These sound intriguing! ilovebooks795@yahoo.com

Susan Light said...

I loved Bunnicula as a kid too. I can remember my well read paperback copy. Congrats on the book!

Susan Light
books4susie at aol dot com

Roseywinter said...

Yet another awesome interview that has me utterly intrigued & eager to read another book! Another book to add to my to-read list, yay! :3

- Esther
http://roseywinterrose.blogspot.com

email: inkypaper1 (at) gmail (dot) com

Anonymous said...

Sounds like a good read :)

Thank you
Svs2789@aol.com

Alyssa Susanna said...

I think this book is awesome! I haven't read it yet, but this may give me and opportunity to! Thanks for hosting Ms. Gibson!

Alyssa Susanna
lilleetleet(at)verizon(dot)net

Sonnie said...

I love those covers! Very vibrant! Katana sounds awesome!

-Sonnie
SonnieHogan@hotmail.com

Bleuette said...

ooh, I've been meaning to give this one a try!

tirachii(at)yahoo(dot)com

Gabic said...

Can' wait to read this!

gabicbahr@yahoo.com

Daisy said...

Going to have to add this to my To Be Read List...looks awesome.
daisykr_99@yahoo.com

J. said...

Yes! I can't wait to read this book!
nym1997@aol.com

Marieru said...

Like the author I love martial arts but I don't suck at it maybe because I've never practiced :)
Thanks for the giveaway!

mademar01(at)gmail(dot)com

Bethany said...

I'd love to read this book! Thanks for the giveaway! :)

bethany0728 @ gmail dot com

Lily Sooklal said...

WOW! I've seen this book around, but never read it. Thanks for the chance to win!

Lily Sooklal
lilypi(at)verizon(dot)net

Anonymous said...

Thanks for the giveaway!
hopenoellewalker@gmail.com

Lena said...

NINJAS!!!! YEAH!!!

lmarste at yahoo dot com

Anonymous said...

Sounds Awesome!! (when are ninjas not??)
Thanks for the Giveaway :D

lisa(dot)x0x(at)hotmail(dot)com

StacyUFI said...

I have not heard of this one.. Thank you for the giveaway

Chllybrd(at)gmail.com

Unknown said...

Great interview! Met you at RT 2012 and you were so nice and chill. Bought Breathless at RT 2012 but Katana was sold out.

Thank you for the giveaway!

mirelyr@gmail.com

Mary Shoemaker said...

Katana already on my goodreads to-read list. Can't wait to read it. Thanks for the interview with Cole and for the giveaway.

P_Sykette(at)hotmail(dot)com