Wednesday, June 11, 2014

Author Interview: Stacey Kade


I'm so pleased today to welcome author Stacey Kade back to the blog to answer a few questions about the second book in her Project Paper Doll series, The Hunt. I absolutely adore this series, especially protagonists Ariane and Zane, and can't recommend it enough to those of you who have yet to give it a try. If you enjoy smart characters, a little romance and more than a few sci-fi twists, then the Project Paper Doll books should not be missed. Thanks so much for stopping by today Stacey!

We’re lucky enough to get the perspectives of both Ariane and Zane in this series. What’s the trickiest or most fun aspect of switching from one character’s head to the other’s when writing?

I love being able to write in both perspectives. I feel like it helps pull me into the story more deeply. The hardest parts, though, are 1) making sure I’m not repeating too much when I’m switching POV in a shared scene and 2) determining whose POV we should be in for a particular scene or moment.

Generally speaking, you want to be in the perspective of the person who has the most to lose or the person making the decision. But sometimes with two main characters, both of whom have goals and needs, that’s not so clear cut. I must confess, I’ve started plenty of scenes only to get a few paragraphs in and realize it doesn’t “feel” right and that I need to be in the other POV. :)

Ariane has an advantage over Zane in that she can hear what he’s thinking and is always aware of how he’s feeling. If he were gifted Ariane’s ability for one single moment in The Hunt, what moment would he have most wanted the opportunity to hear thoughts?

Oh, Zane, poor guy. I think it would help him so much just to understand HOW she thinks at any time and that she cares for him deeply, regardless of what she feels obligated to do. But specifically, I think he would have most wanted that ability to understand what she was thinking right after they meet the hybrids. Or, perhaps at the end, when he realizes Ariane’s rescue plan is too risky and not what he thinks it should be. (I’m trying to be careful to avoid too many spoilers!)

We get to meet a few of the other hybrids in this book. What’s one word Ariane would use to describe each of them? One word Zane would use?

For Ariane, I think she’d describe Ford as protective, Carter as shy, and Nixon as inscrutable.

For Zane, he’d describe Ford as dangerous, Carter as manipulative, and Nixon as…well, probably creepy.

Though Ford, Carter, and Nixon’s lives growing up with Dr. Laughlin were clearly as difficult as Ariane’s life with Dr. Jacobs, their experiences were also very different. Having spent time in both labs, how curious and/or terrified would Ariane say she is about the hybrids and the lab belonging to the mysterious Emerson St. John?

Ariane would be loath to say that she’s grateful to Dr. Jacobs for anything…AT ALL. But I think she can see that he, quite unintentionally and not for her benefit, gave her a better life by sending her to live with Mark rather than keeping her in the lab for all those years.

That being said, she’s extremely curious about the hybrids. They are the closest thing she has to siblings, to true family. Sometimes I think we look to our families to help define ourselves. “My family is good at music.” Or, “my family loves to read.” Ariane doesn’t have that. So, I think she’s looking to them for further definition of herself. She’s seeking similarities. But their upbringing was so different, it’s really difficult for her to tell what is nature and what was nurture. 

Ariane and Zane would probably love nothing more than to get away from everyone pursuing them and strike out on their own without fear of being caught. If they could set up a new life anywhere in the world, where would they most like to end up?

Ariane has repeatedly brought up the beach and the ocean. Wanting to see it, at least. Zane, being someone who enjoys outdoor sports, is probably sick of the endless Wisconsin winters. So, somewhere in California, perhaps? San Diego, maybe. I’m betting Zane could get into surfing. :)

We’re left with things a bit up in the air for Ariane and Zane. What book has the cruelest cliffhanger you’ve ever come across and how long was the wait for the next book in the series?

Oh, gosh, I’m trying to remember now. I love Sarah Rees Brennan’s books, and I’m fairly certain she is the master of cruel endings and reader tears. (But in the best way possible!)

As a writing exercise, let’s say you’re asked to write yourself into any one of your books. Which book would you choose and what role would you play?

You know, it’s funny, I think most authors would admit that there’s a little bit of us in each one of our characters. Not just protagonists, but the villains and secondary characters too. And honestly, such horrible things happen to the characters in my books, I’m not sure I would want to be in any of their shoes! :)

That being said, weirdly enough, the characters I relate to the most, the ones who make mistakes that I’ve made are Lily in The Ghost and the Goth and…I’m almost reluctant to admit it, Jenna in The Rules. High school was not a happy time for me, and I made some decidedly unwise choices. :) I think both of them reflect that in different ways.

But for fun and melodrama, I’d love to play Rachel Jacobs. She’s just awful, and that would be a blast to enact. I think this is why actors always want to play villains! 

• • • • • • • • • •

STACEY KADE

(photo: Vania Stoyanova)

As a former award-winning corporate copywriter, Stacey Kade has written about everything from backhoe loaders to breast pumps. But she prefers to make things up instead.

She lives in the Chicago suburbs with her husband, Greg, and their two retired racing greyhounds, Tall Walker (Walker) and SheWearsThePants (Pansy).

WebsiteBlogTwitter

• • • • • • • • • •

THE HUNT
 

Ariane Tucker has finally escaped GTX, the research facility that created her. While on the run, Zane Bradshaw is the only person she can trust. He knows who-and what-she is and still wants to be part of her life.

But accepting Zane's help means putting him in danger.

Dr. Jacobs, head of GTX, is not the only one hunting for Ariane. Two rival corporations have their sights set on taking down their competition. Permanently. To protect Zane and herself, Ariane needs allies. She needs the other hybrids. The hybrids who are way more alien and a lot less human. Can Ariane win them over before they turn on her? Or will she be forced to choose sides, to decide who lives and who dies?

Goodreads  • AmazonB&N

38 comments:

  1. I said it before, i most definitely need to pick up these books. I love the sound of it and it has a slightly creepy feeling that I think can be highly fascinating! And I'm very curious about Nixon now :)

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    1. I think you'd really like this series Danny! I love the romance and all the plot twists and turns:)

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  2. I reallu should try this book, I heard many great things about it. Thanks for the interview!

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  3. Ooh, I'm not a fan of cliffhangers (though I have to agree that SRB is cruel, cruel, cruel!), so I'll be waiting till this series is done before picking it up. I enjoyed Kade's Ghost & the Goth books and these seem just as fun, so I'll hopefully be checking them out soon. Fantastic interview questions and thanks for sharing, Jenny!(:

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    1. Cliffhangers are evil. But I love this series anyway!

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  4. I haven't heard much about these books but if you highly recommend them... I need to add them to the list ASAP!
    As always, fantastic interview Jenny! I'm quite intrigued about the world created in the books, and the characters!

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    1. I hope you give them a try Pili, I really, really enjoy them:) So glad you liked the interview!

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  5. SRB really is the queen :P

    I actually had this book on my TBR and book 1 was definitely an anticipated read for me but I never really got around to reading it.

    I am regretting that decision now because this series really sounds like something I would enjoy if not love!

    Thanks for sharing, Jenny! :)

    Rashika @ The Social Potato

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    1. I hope maybe you can make time for it in the near future Rashika. They're quick reads, I had trouble putting them down:)

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  6. Oh, I really enjoyed The Rules and can't wait to find out more about the other hybrids, and get more Zane and Ariane time! Thanks for the wonderful author interview, Jenny :)

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    1. Woo hoo! So looking forward to your thoughts Kim!

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  7. Your interviews are always wonderful. I'm even more curious about this series than I was before, and trust me--I was already HIGHLY curious ;)

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    1. *blushes* Thanks Jessica! I would love to know what you think of these if you get the chance to read them:)

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  8. I need to get a start on this series soon, Jenny. It sounds really interesting and the characters especially sound great.
    I can imagine how writing dual POVs must be hard. Not only do you have to make sure that the voices are different, but you have to make sure that there isn't much repetition like the author said. But she sounds like she knows what she's doing! :)
    Thanks for sharing, Jenny!

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    1. I couldn't do it Nick! I would get my POVs confused, I just know it. I'll stick with little 4 paragraph reviews and leave the creative writing to all the amazing authors out there:)

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  9. I always love your interview questions Jenny you come up with some great ones that always make me think. I never though about how hard it could be writing in dual POVs and I think the author nailed her answer about the good and the bad of doing so.

    Wonderful interview!! Thank you so much for sharing it with us. This is a series I really need to make time for.

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    1. Thanks so much Ali! I hope you find the time for these books, I adored them:)

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  10. I've seen this series around a bit lately, and I'm definitely intrigued. Great interview! :)

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  11. I love getting the different POV's in books, especially when it's a male and female. I really need to read this 2nd book!

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    1. Me too Candace! It's really nice to get both Ariane and Zane's POV, especially since Ariane is in Zane's head sometimes too. It's a party in there ;-)

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  12. Yet another series for my TBR!

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  13. Oh I love the sound of it. I also like that she seemed to have developed the other characters... even the villains. I do love a good villain. :D Great post!

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    1. I love a good villain too, and there are lots of villains in these books:)

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  14. I have been eyeing this series for awhile now, it sounds so creepy and interesting. Thanks for the author's perspective.

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    1. It is both of those things Heidi! And I just loved the characters, both Ariane and Zane are fantastic:)

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  15. I'm excited to hear from Zane because I didn't really *get* him last time. He ran away with her why? And Stacey Kade really is NOT nice to her characters. Not. Nice.

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  16. Amazing interview! I'm always so impressed when an author can write two POV's well and manage to not overlap too much plot and to keep the voices distinct. It sounds like Stacey has given this a lot of thought! I keep reading great reviews for these books so I need to make time for them!

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    1. Thanks Lauren! And I think she did an amazing job with the dual POVs, I love Ariane and Zane:)

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  17. Ugh, I'm so mad at myself for not reading the first book sooner. I remember being excited for it before it was released. I need to get on it soon.

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  18. Oh gosh, I cannot believe I haven't heard of this series, especially since I hardly read sci-fi and this sounds absolutely amazing! I love the premise for this series, and I cannot wait to meet both Ariane and Zane, and see how their relationship develops. And even though I am not a fan of cliffhangers, I am so excited to pick up this series and devour it. Plus, I love that creepy cover! (Is it weird I find it creepy?? I mean look at all the same girls,...its giving me the shivers! O.o) This also reminds me of Jennifer Rush's Altered in a way, with the lab and experiments and altered people (LOVE it! <3). Fabulous interview, Jenny! And thank you for introducing this series and author to me!

    ~ Maida xxx
    Literary Love Affair 

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    1. I am not a fan of cliffhangers either, but everything else about this series is amazing Maida, so I highly recommend it:) Just have some chocolate near by (or whatever food you like to help you cope with stress) and you'll be good to go:)

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