Author Interview: Heidi R Kling

Hello people of the interwebs....today I have a fun treat for you! Heidi R Kling, author of Sea has agreed to stop by and answer some random (and hopefully fun) questions. Sea was released on 10 June 2010 by Putnam Juvenile.

GFY: First off…tell us a little about you? 

HRK: My name is Heidi. I was named after the character in the story. You know, the one who lives in the Swiss Alps with her grandfather. I’m still looking for a house with a circle window loft.

GFY: Please describe your latest (or upcoming) release in as few words as possible. (Bonus points if you can do it in 5 words or less!) 

HRK: SEA : Hope after tragedy 

#sexahmagicbook: Romeo & Juliet with magic 

GFY: Oooohh well done...you did it for TWO books...and did one in 4 words....TWO gold stars for you!! When you finish writing a book who reads it first?

HRK: Several of my author friends read #sexahmagicbook in its first couple of drafts. My mom and my agent and my son are the only ones who read the revised. Oh, scratch that, a couple members of my new critique group just finished it as well.

GFY: And with those words you've made many who stalk you on twitter very jealous and wanting to join your crit group! Which line do you find more difficult to write? The first or the last?

HRK: I have no problem with first or last lines. I sort of love those. I have problems with the middle. All of those lines in there. ;D

GFY: So many lines live in the middle too...so those are kinda important. Good thing you do end up finding them. :-) When you write, which comes first title, plot or character(s)? 

HRK: I usually know my title, plot and a bit about my characters from the get-go.

GFY: Which of your characters is most like you? Are any based on real people? 

HRK: Sienna in Sea is a bit like I was at that age; Lily in my fantasy is like how I wish I was. If I had magical powers and wasn’t stuck in this boring human body. (Just kidding, I like my boring human body just fine, though I wouldn’t mind trading with Heather Morris --#GleeBrittany—for a day. Or a decade.

GFY: What do you mean? You can totes pass for Brittany....that is until you opened your mouth and sounded smart. Not that Brittany isn't smart, but she does live in her own little universe. lol If we were able to take a peek at your nightstand, what book(s) might we find there? 

HRK: I have a gigato stack of half-finished books. Currently, The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake is in there. Beckoning me to finish with its wafting yellow citrus.

GFY: You know, I've heard that lemon citrus is so last year and that orange cake is what all the hip kids are into these days. I wonder if we could call for a title change? No? Ok let's move on. What’s something that made you laugh out loud today?

HRK: Kelsey Dickson’s Tweet about giving Ian Somerhalder a copy of Sea for him to sign for me. And that laugh was shaped like YES PLEASE. 

GFY: I can't get you a Sea signed by Ian....but would Ian in front of the sea looking all sad that he doesn't have Sea work? 

What is the book that you most want to read again for the first time? 

HRK: Struts & Frets by Jon Skovron. I only read the ARC, have never read my inscribed finished copy because our mutual friend (frenemy?) Laurel Pilar STOLE it.

GFY: So not cool Laurel.....not cool. What’s a book you’ve been a book bully for? (ie one you’ve liked so much that you practically beat people over the head just to get them to read it) 

HRK: My own book. Because I’m shameless. After Sea, I’d say Flash Burnout and Twenty Boy Summer are two of my Read This Now faves. And the Hunger Games series. I just can’t believe it when someone hasn’t read those. Like who ARE you? Okay, not that bad. But yes, highly recommend!

GFY: haha you don't need to pimp your own book not when you have The Book Cellar to do it for you. That girl is relentless! Are you for or against literary pieces being made into movies? If yes, what's your favorite adaptation? The worst?

HRK: No. Not at all! I would love for my books to be made into movies. And I love the current YA trend of taking over the Cineplex. I think the Twilight adaptations are decent—especially the third installment. I disliked the adaptation of The Boleyn Sisters because they removed two of my favorite plot lines. I haven’t seen any of my friend’s books adaptations yet. If they badly screw up Shiver or Forest of Hands & Teeth I may be sad.

 GFY: You’re trapped on a desert island, which swoon worthy book character would you want with you? (there are no ages on this island so that isn’t a factor. Also please say the book he/she comes from as well, thanks!) 

HRK: Deni and Spider from Sea. Logan and Jasper from #sexahmagicbook <-- Real title has not been revealed yet. Can we also have a few guitars and S'more makings, please? And I get to be 15 right? I mean, bringing my family along might ruin some of the fun.

GFY: lol Told you there are no ages on the island so you can be any age you want. And guitars and s'mores....well they are a given aren't they? Well...you know if you like s'mores which I don't so you can have all of mine. 

GFY: You have been selected for Survivor: Author Edition. How far do you think you’ll make it before you are voted off the island? Who would you like to see as your competitors?

HRK: Hahahaha NICE.

I think I would be a threat because I have talked about Author Survivor on Twitter. I would immediately form an alliance with total badasses like Maggie Stiefvater, Tessa Gratton, Saundra Mitchell, Courtney Summers and Carrie Ryan who just have incredible survival skills. I would be in a secret alliance with Jon Skovron and Sarah Ockler and Josh Berk because they are stealthy and would stay under the radar better than I would. I would bring along new writer Martha Flynn for her amazing survival skills. The ultimate competitors for the group listed above would be Melissa Marr, Holly Black, Sarah Rees Brennan and that whole #SmartChicks crowd. Who would all kick my ass. Unless Libba Bray and I joined forces, but as I’m still on her waiting list for BFF’s, it would be unlikely at this juncture. 

I haven’t thought about this at all. As you can tell. 

GFY: No...I don't think you've spent ANY time thinking about this at all. Nope. None. Speaking of Courtney Summers she has named you as a competitor in her Survivor Author Edition. How do you think you’d do against her? Would you be Allies to the end or Rivals?

HRK: LOVE that Courtney said that. I would want to be in an alliance for sure. She knows the game and she could bat her lashes at Jeff and distract him. Bam!

GFY: I think that Courtney is more likely to attack Jeff and kidnap him than anything else. lol

The Zombie Apocalypse has started, do you have a zombie plan? Can you share your it with us? And if you could have any of your characters with you when the Apocalypse starts, which one would it be? Why? 

HRK: Martha Flynn knows what to do. Seriously. I would just hide behind her and take orders. I would want Lily and Logan from #sexahmagicbook because they haz powers. Zombie Killin’ powers.

GFY: Can you share with us anything about your current project(s)?

HRK: Sea is available now! It’s an IndieNext Pick and a recent Cybils Nominee. (Yay!) I’m contributing to two anthologies: The Visitor’s Guide to Mystic Falls Vampire Diaries, out on 05 October 2010 with Smart Pop Books, and Truth Or Dare, which will be released in both the U.K. and the U.S. next year sometime. Hope I can announce the #sexahmagicbook title and release date soon! It’s a fantasy about estranged witches and warlocks set in a modern day beach town. It’s a proposed trilogy. Book 1 is finished, I’m starting book 2. 

GFY: Any parting words? 

HRK: Yes. I’m looking for someone to donate a blue, VW, well-running hippie bus for a future road trip with my author and blogger friends and Ian Somerhalder. If you have one, email me.

For more on me and my projects: http://heidirkling.com
Twitter: heidirkling
Facebook: Heidi R Kling

;-)

Thanks, Irish! 

GFY: Thanks Heidi for stopping by! And I am so down for that road trip if it ever gets off the ground!! I call SHOT GUN. :-) I'm also looking forward to your upcoming books. I hope everyone who stopped by enjoyed the interview. Please leave a comment if you have anything to say.