Eileen Cook Interview!

I have been fortunate enough to be able to ask this amazing author Eileen Cook a few questions about her books and writing!

1. In Unraveling Isobel, We see that Isobel goes through a big change in her life. She thinks she might be going crazy and of course an element of love is thrown into the equation.  How did you come up with the concept of internet dating + ghosts + craziness to equal an amazing book?   For me, books start out with one question, in this case I wondered what I would do if I saw a ghost. Would I think it was real? Would I think it was a trick? Would I think I was going crazy? That question led me to thinking about a character who has a history of mental illness in her family, so has extra reasons to worry about what she's seen.  Once I had Isobel, the story grew from that starting point.  There are times when it is bad to have a really vivid imagination, I'm always worried about something, but it comes in handy when writing fiction!  2. "What would Emma do?" Is another one of your fantastic books. It has to do a lot with religion and Emma's morals and personal conscious. How did you create Emma's character? Do you have a personal connection with her character?    Thank you, I love this book too.  I have a few things in common with Emma, I grew up in a small town, so I'm very familiar with the idea of everyone knowing what you are up to and having an opinion about it.  I'm also really interested in how some people have twisted religion so that it is about being "with us or against us."  I am quite sure that if there is a God he/she cares a lot less about what religion someone says they are and way more about how someone lives their life.  3.  Out of all the marvelous books you have written, can you pick one to be your favorite? If so why that one?   This is such a hard question! There are things that I like about every book and also things that I have learned with each book.  I love the process of writing, coming up with characters and watching the story grow.  When a book is finished I start picking it apart, there are always things I would do differently.  I think this is what stops a lot of people from writing. What is on the page never seems quite as good as what was in your head before you started.  I think this is why my favorite  book is always the one I am currently working on.   I am finishing up a book called The Almost Truth. It is about a teenage con artist named Sadie.  When she notices that she looks like the age enhanced photo on a missing child poster she decides to pull the ultimate con, until she begins to suspect she might actually be the missing child.   It will be out in December.   As soon as I have it all done I will be in love with the next project.  4.  When I write, I sometimes get inspired by the music I listen to. Do you have favorite bands or certain songs that get you in the mood to write?   I love music too, but I can't listen to it when I write. If music is playing I start singing along and get distracted.  Not to mention I am a TERRIBLE singer.  I sound like someone stepped on a cat.   5. Now a question that you probably get asked all the time, What advice can you give to inspiring authors? And what made YOU want to become a writer?    I can give two pieces of advice. The first is to read.  Books are the best teacher. Take a book you like and look at how the author set up the story.  Who is the main character? How would the book be different if it was told from someone else's perspective.  Imagine if Dumbledore told the Harry Potter story, or Voldemort!  When do things happen in the story? Why then?  You can learn tons by reading.   My second piece of advice is to believe in yourself.  Publishing is a REALLY hard business. There will be tons of people who will tell you that it can never happen.  You have to remember that it won't happen if you don't try. If you try you might not reach your goal, but if you stop trying you won't reach it for certain.    As for what made me a writer, my parents were always big readers so I always remember loving books.  As soon as I understood that there was someone who got to make up all the stories in books I knew that was what I wanted to do.  I didn't really get serious about my writing for a long time.  I suddenly realized if it was ever going to happen it was up to me.  I put my butt in the seat and started to write more seriously, taking classes and writing longer projects.

                   

Thanks for having me!!!

Thank You Eileen! It was a pleasure, and keep on writing fantastic books!!

Hallowed by Cynthia Hand

  This book picks up right from where it left off in Unearthly.  Clara and Tucker are madly in love and Christian is still on the outskirts of it all.  Clara hates having these little thoughts and feelings toward Christian but she cant help it, there destined for each other, its part of their purpose.

  Clara starts having this recurring dream about a funeral.  She doesn't know who's funeral it is but every time, Christian is there, supporting her.  She tells her precious angle-blood best friend, Angela about the dream and at one of her "Angel-club meetings" She tells Christian about Clara's dream.  Later that night, he flies to Clara's house and tells Clara that it isn't a dream she is having, its another vision and he has had the same one.  Through out the book they gather clues about what will happen in the next stage of their purpose.

  Concluding to the end of the book we find out who will die, some shocking moments that you will NOT see coming, introductions to new characters, and ultimately, Clara makes a decision about her purpose that will change her life.  Hallowed by Cynthia Hand was an AMAZING read.  It was definitely worth the wait and just breathtaking. A MUST READ hands down.

Remembrance by Michelle Madow

    Remembrance is about a girl, Elizabeth, who seems to have a great life. The bestest friend anyone could ask for, a super hot boyfriend who is co-captain of the soccer team and great grades.  This all changes the first day of school when a hot mysterious guy moves into her town of Pembrooke, New Hampshire.  As soon as he enters Elizabeth's classroom she feels an instant connection towards him.  Her heart beats faster and her palms start to sweat and she cant control her breathing.  Now who could make Elizabeth feel this way when she already has a smokin' boyfriend? A super hot guy that has a super hot name, Drew Carmichael. (Maybe it's just me but the name Carmichael makes me melt hehe.)

  Drew and Elizabeth are seated next to each other in their AP French class.  Drew can speak fluent French but Elizabeth cannot.  Drew offers Elizabeth his help and she of course accepts.  Every time their hands make contact or they accidentally touch each other, Elizabeth feels a shock run across her skin and the thought that she has met Drew before wont escape her mind.  Chelsea, Elizabeth's best friend, pounces on Drew.  He is after all the hot new guy who has the mysterious vibe to him.  Drew and Chelsea start dating and Elizabeth acts like she doesn't mind it but inside it is eating her up.

  Drew is like fire and ice when it comes to Elizabeth now that he is dating Chelsea.  He makes suggestive comments that he cares about her or offers her help then a minute later he is saying things that are cold and horrid to her.  Towards the middle of the book I couldn't help the feeling that I was reading Twilight again. Drew is like Edward and Elizabeth is Bella.  Edward tries avoiding Bella, saying mean things to chase her away.  Some scenes as well when Drew gets Elizabeth in his car and there hands touch on the heating dial.  The details behind his and his mothers cars, they are super rich with a gigantic house.  I tried shaking off the comparisons but it was really hard to.  But I have to say this was my only complaint about the book.  For a young women's first novel, everything was written amazingly!  The character's inner thoughts were connectable, you felt for Elizabeth and the struggle she had between her boyfriend, Chelsea, and Drew.

  The ending was expectable, you never want an unhappy ending, but it was great.  I read this book in three hours.  I didn't stop once to eat or go to the bathroom, it had me at the edge of my seat at some parts and in awe at others.  For a debut novel, I say this is a must read!

Starcrossed by Josephine Angelini

Ok so I DO judge a book by it's cover, but hey how else to you get into a book. So the cover is gorgeous and let me tell you this book was AMAZING! And I dont say it that often. If I could I would give this 6 stars it's that good. 

The tension of love and hate between Lucas and Helen is so intense you feel their frustration. I love corny jokes and let me tell ya this book will make you laugh to the point you'll get strange looks from your family (personal experience lol) I could not set this book down and even when I finished it I re-read parts.

This is a must read I am telling you guys for a debute novel she has done an amaing job. A mix of greek mythology and modern types the trojan war and the love between Helen and Paris ( Anybody see a connection in names? lol) This book will be one you cant get out of your head!

Silence by Becca Fitzpatrick

  Silence is the third installment of the Hush Hush series by amazing and talented author, Becca Fitzpatrick.  In Silence Nora loses her memory after being Kidnapped.  She doesn't remember what happened between the time of her abduction and the time of being found. Her mother and Mr.Miller are getting closer and Nora cant help but feel like whats going on is natural.  


  Nora cant help but feel like something isn't right.  She keeps dreaming and thinking about a boy. A boy who she has never met but feels a draw and connection to that she cant explain. Throughout the book we see Nora regain her memory and also her love she has for the oh so hot bad boy, Patch.  With Patch's help, Nora remembers everything that happened in the 11 weeks that she was missing.  Scott comes back for a small part to befriend Nora and you cant help but think "I love this guy!" He is exactly the same loving and caring guy that we see at the end of Crescendo.


  Tensions build, Sides are taken, and in a war only one side can prevail.  Silence is definitely the best book  in the series as of yet.  Action packed, Romance galore, and too many scenes to count that will leave you at the edge of your seat, I couldn't set the book down once I started page one.  Becca Fitzpatrick is at her finest.