My guest this week is the amazingly talented Caitlin Kittredge whose debut book Night Life
left me wanting more. Well my wait is nearly over because book two in the Nocturne City series, Pure Blood
, is due out this week and I have had my copy on pre-order for a few months. I want to thank Caitlin for taking the time to answer my questions and to wish her a happy release week!
If you are interested in winning a really cool prize then read through the interview and make it to the end to find out what Caitlin is giving away and how to enter.
---------------------------------
Amber - Thank you so much for being a guest here on Amberkatze's Book Blog! Can you start things off by telling my readers a little bit about your 'Nocturne City' books?
Caitlin - The Nocturne City novels follow Luna Wilder, a werewolf homicide detective who always seems to end up embroiled in supernatural crime whether she likes it or not. Nocturne City is a dangerous place, but Luna can be dangerous herself, so they're a match made in heaven.
Amber - Night Life
came out in March and Pure Blood is released in a couple of days. Was it hard getting two books completed and ready to go in such a short time?Caitlin - Not really, if you want the honest answer. I write pretty fast when I'm in the groove and stuff like copyedits, page proofs and the like...you just have to bite the bullet and whip them out, even if they're not the most exciting things on earth.
Amber - With the second book in the series out this week what else can we expect from the 'Nocturne City' series? Are there more to come?
Caitlin - There are three more books contracted right now, and I feel confident in saying that each of the three takes Luna to some new and unexpected places and that the cast of upcoming characters has to be seen to be believed. Things are just going to get worse for our heroine. (I like to say I graduated from the Jim Butcher School of Character Torture--poor Harry Dresden never gets a break either.)
Amber - Your first book Night Life
had alot of different paranormal creatures on offer. Why paranormal? Do you have a favourite paranormal creature?Caitlin - I love the unseen and the unexplained, and I always loved thinking about how it would manifest in the real world, so that lead me to writing urban fantasy pretty naturally. I really do love shapeshifters, hence why I made my heroine a were-creature, but I just like paranormal as a whole, so I can't pick a favorite.
Amber - Nocturne City is a fictional place...but is it based on anywhere in particular? Where did you get the idea?
Caitlin - I decided to use a fictional city because there was no real-world city that was quite what I needed for a story setting. Nocturne is based on Seattle, Boston and San Francisco, which are my favorite US cities. If you're a native, you can definitely pick out the references.
Amber - Are you like any of your characters? Are they based on people you know?
Caitlin - I'm really not, and I'm glad of that! My characters all have a lot of problems, sometimes of the life-and-death variety. Certain elements of Luna's personality come from me, but she more came from my desire to have a strong female heroine who wasn't a raving bitch or a cardboard tough girl who'd fold up the minute an alpha male came along. I'd been having a hard time finding a protagonist who behaved like a real person, so I wrote Luna. Certain supporting cast members are based on real people, but I'm not telling!
Amber - Do you have any other projects you are working on or want to tell us about?
Cailtlin - I have two new series coming out in 2009--the Black London volumes, which are a much darker, spookier take on urban fantasy and the Icarus Project series, which I co-wrote with Jackie Kessler. That one is superhero fiction.
Amber - What books do you like to read when you have time? Do you have any favourite authors?
Caitlin - I love Neil Gaiman and Stephen King, and I get a lot of free books from my publisher, so my TBR stack is always huge. I don't do a lot of re-reads, and when I do, they tend to be classics...I have an H.P. Lovecraft collection that's well-loved.
Amber - Alot of writers have playlists in their books. Are there any particular songs/artists that you associate with your books?
Caitlin - As a matter of fact, the Nocturne City books are the only ones that don't have a specific playlist. I designed a mix for each of my other projects to help me get in the mood. It tends to be stuff I already listen to, and artists that have a touch of the macabre or the fantastic in their work are a plus. I end up putting on a lot of Nick Cave, early David Bowie, things like that.
Amber - How did you get into writing? Was it something you always wanted to do?
Caitlin - I think I got into writing because of Nancy Drew. I ADORED the Nancy Drew books as a wee sprog and I never lost that desire to immerse myself in a story, but as I got older, I wasn't finding things that I wanted to read. (The YA market, even five years ago, was nowhere near the size it is now.) So I started to write at about age 13, really, REALLY terrible science fiction, but fortunately no one has ever read that first novel. I think it would cause ocular bleeding.
Amber - What kind of atmosphere do you need when you are writing? Any little touches that help eg. coffee, chocolate, silence....etc
Caitlin - I don't really need a particular atmosphere--one of the tricks of the successful writer is adaptability. I've written in airports, coffee shops, the car (when someone else was driving), but when I'm at home I tend to sit either at the desk or on the office sofa, and I do like a cup of strong tea to keep me alert and save me from making too many typos. I usually have music or the TV on softly to provide some background noise...a bit of distraction actually helps me focus.
Amber - If you got stranded on a desert island what 3 things would you like to have with you?
Caitlin - Seriously? Waterproof matches, an axe and iodine tablets. Not so seriously? A bikini, a sun umbrella and a great beach book.
--------------------
Contest time!Caitlin has been extremely generous and is giving away one copy of Night Life
and one copy of the new release Pure Blood both signed!!! She has also said that she will throw in a few other goodies for the winner! I just wish I could enter...
To enter this contest make a comment on this thread telling me what books did you read when you were younger? or what books got you interested in reading?
No comment with an answer, no entry!
Earn yourself an extra entry by posting about this contest somewhere on the web! Don't forget to post a link so I know where you posted!
The contest is open till Sunday 31st August 4pm CET. You need to check in and see if you won and if the winner doesn't claim the prize within 7 days I will draw another winner.
Good luck to everyone!!
Labels: Author Interviews, Caitlin Kittredge, Contests
I can't remember which books started it for me, but I remember reading EB White's Charlotte's Web all the time. My parents had to buy me another copy since mine was getting to worn.
When I was 13ish, I found my mother's romance books and somehow got hooked.
And seriously, do you think I haven't posted about your interview yet? :) It's up there (or will be in the next few minutes)
At 24 August 2008 at 11:13, 
Susan B.
I started reading anything with horses but especially The Black Stallion series by Walter Farley. Then I found Romance books when I was 13 started with Johanna Lindsey & she is still one of my all time favorites.
Paranormal now is one of my favorites with werewolves at the top!!!!!
Thank you,
Susan B.
sbussey AT windstream.net
At 24 August 2008 at 11:26, katayoun
c.s. lewis narnia books, and i was just young enough to love them without being put off by the moralizing tone. nancy drews, i loved that girl. and any enid blyton that i could find, the something seven and the something five series, i loved them and my teacher not really liking them and thinking them advocating bad manner just added to the pleasure! :)
I started with great ones like Frances and Frog and Toad. I moved to Nancy Drew and read all of those and then I think I read everything by Roald Dahl over and over. My favorite book as a child was "James and the Giant Peach." I read that so many times! I've always loved reading!
doot65{at}comcast[dot]net
Elizabeth
My parents have read to me since I was a wee baby....Dr. Seuss was a favourite.... When I got older I read Nancy Drew, Hardy boys, R.L. Stine, Sweet Valley High....When I was about 9 I started reading my mom's books. I started with Jean M. Auel. Now I am a cheesy romance addict, and I love it! I do read some fantasy/sci-fi.
At 24 August 2008 at 17:10, Cherie J
I have loved reading from being a small child and having my mom read to me. One of my favorite books from that time was The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein. I also loved Dr. Seuss. As I got older and could start reading on my own I got into reading mysteries. I enjoyed the nacy Drew books and then I also got into Phyllis A. Whitney's books. As I got to my preteen years I added on Harlequin books and then Silhouette.
At 24 August 2008 at 21:00, Kimberly B.
I think that Freaky Friday and the Pippi Longstocking books were among the first novels I read. My favorite author as a kid was Zilpha Keatley Snyder, who is perhaps best known for The Egypt Game. Our library had an autographed copy of one of her books, and I thought that was the most exciting thing ever!
At 24 August 2008 at 21:18, Katherine Hazen
When I was young I read a lot of the Babysitters Club and Boxcar Children books. Then I went through a phase for five or six years where I couldn't finish any books I picked up. What started my ravenous reading habits were Austen and fantasy (my boyfriend gave me Terry Goodkind as my first fantasy series) which I think explains a lot about my love of urban fantasy.
At 24 August 2008 at 21:25, Lori T
I have always loved reading. I had great parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles who always read to me.
I loved reading Nancy Drew, Trixie Beldon, S.E. Hinton...The Outsiders was one of my favorites. I then found romance and I was hooked.
I am really looking forward to reading these and have heard such great things about them. I have really come to love urban fantasy and cannot seem to get enough of it.
Keeping my fingers crossed!
At 24 August 2008 at 21:54, Calliope
I remember being bedridden after a surgery in grade 2 and reading a Sweet Valley High novel, but other than that I think Babysitter's Club and Animorphs dominated til high school, then there was a total branching out. It was Kate Forsyth's Witches of Eileanan series that really got me into the fantasy scene, though. I reread them so much I had to buy a second set when the first set literally fell to pieces.
At 24 August 2008 at 22:10, annalisa
Books that I read when I was younger.....Nancy Drew, Annette, Trixie Beldon, Phillis A. Whitney, Mary Stewart, Emilie Loring, Ian Fleming's James Bond, Carrie by Stephen King, Sweet Savage Love by Rosemary Rogers, The Wolf and the Dove & The Flame and the Flower by Kathleen Woodiwiss. Once I discovered romance books, I loved them. Can't quite remember which paranormal book got me hooked on paranormals, but I am so glad that there is such a variety published today. I would have to say that paranormals are my favorites. :)
When I was just a little girl, my grandma used to read to me; mostly books written by Enid Blyton. I continued reading them and was a great fan of "The famous Five", "Secret Seven" and the "Adventures"-Series. Later I read the Enid Blyton's girl-books (not sure what they are called in English?) "Dolly" and "Hanni & Nanni".
I was also really into horse books, especially Walter Farley's Black Stallion series.
At 25 August 2008 at 03:04, DawnM
These sound good.
Earliest books I remember Enid Blyghton (?sp) Natch. More of a Famous Five fan. Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew. Then I found Elinor M Brent-Dyer and the Chalet School books. Prob around the same time as I discovered Narnia and The Hobbit. Around 11 or so I found adventure books by Willard Price. Yes you've prob never heard of his books as I've never met anyone who has read them. But they must have been reasonably popular at that time because I never had any problems getting them from a bookshop. There was no Amazon back in those days.
At 25 August 2008 at 05:43, Tez Miller
The Baby-sitters Club, Sweet Valley (in its many incarnations), Nancy Drew, Virginia/V. C. Andrews...I was a trashmonger then ;-) And now...now I want to try the Gossip Girl series, if I can. In short: nothing's changed ;-)
Have bought Night Life, and am awaiting the rest to show up in Australia...
Have a lovely day! :-)
At 25 August 2008 at 07:17, Rebekah E.
I started reading R.L. Stine in sixth grade. I tried his books beacuse We had the same initials. My name being Rebekah Leah Stine. It turns out that I love his mysteries. This was even before he wrote fearstreet or goosebumps. Then he change and started writting for younger kids and I just branched off from there and haven't stopped reading books since.
Rebekah E.
At 25 August 2008 at 10:35, Ruth Schaller
I was read to when I was younger and my family always bought me books. When I was younger, I started getting into all the horror and paranormal stuff. So I read the Fear Street series by RL Stine, then moved onto Stephen King and more. Now I'm all over the place with my reading, but I still prefer horror and the paranormal. Especially anything to do with vampires or ghosts.
Amber I see you enjoyed Me and My Ghoulfriends too! I loved that one. And I can't wait for more from her. Rose was interviewed over on my site: www.ruthiesbookreviews.blogspot.com
At 25 August 2008 at 11:28, Minding Spot
When I was younger, I always thought I was sneaking around the adults reading Grandma's harlequins - so grown up. I had to see what was going on in them! Over the years, my reading tastes have changed a bit. My favorite genre is now paranormal and thrillers, but I still love my romance mixed in with those two !
Great contest, and wonderful interview !!
At 25 August 2008 at 14:36, Shooting Stars Mag
Oh gosh, I'd love to win these books. But lets see...I read a lot when I was younger (still do), but I can't think of the first book I read or anything you know? I know I loved the picture book The Rainbow Fish, and I got into the babysitter's club series and things of that nature...I read a lot of standalone stories from the library and whatnot of course as well.
-Lauren
At 25 August 2008 at 14:41, Deirdre
I was always a reader as a kid - my mother used to give us books for Christmas. The ones that stick in my mind were Enid Blyton's Mallory Towers and St Clair's Series; the Chronicles of Narnia (the subtext make me less fond of them these days but I almost read them to bits) and L M Montgomery's Anne of Green Gable series (which I really should rescue one of these days)
The books that started me reading fantasy and SF were Andre Norton's Witch World series and Anne McCaffrey's Pern novels, a loan from a neighbour.
At 25 August 2008 at 16:53, Book Sp(l)ot
I've been thinking about and thinking about getting Night Life for the longest time...and her next books sound absolutely great, too :)
When I was younger I never did read Nancy Drew books but I did read the Boxcar Kids (or whatever exactly they were called) books and those Goosebumps books (by RL Stein, right?)
At 26 August 2008 at 04:43, Shelbycat
I've always read for as far back as i can remember. The first book i can definately remember reading was The Hobbit when i was about 7. I really loved Sweet Valley High & Nancy Drew books, i used to save up my 20ps and get a stamp from the school book shop saving scheme then when i had enough money i'd buy a book. I still have loads of my old books from childhood but i've never re-read them because there are always too many more books to read!
At 26 August 2008 at 06:15, Stephanie
I was hooked on books from the very beginning when I learned how to read Dr. Seuss's Fox in Socks. I started reading thicker books after meeting Ken Thomasma, thinking he was a pretty neat guy, and reading all of his historical books about Native American children one summer. Later I got completely obsessed with all those horse books.
Thanks for the interview!
Zosime
At 26 August 2008 at 18:52, Enchanted by Books
I've always read books even when I was very young. My favorite books from my teenage years was:
Babysitters Club
Sweet Valley High
Christopher Pike
RL Stine
Judy Blume
Nancy Drew
I see alot of people mentioned some of the same books. Does anyone remember the Babysitter's Club movies?
''Say hello to your friends...Babysitter's Club...'' Loved the song! LOL
At 26 August 2008 at 23:12, ReadingIsSoMuchFun
Hi Caitlyn, great interview :-) I enjoy learning more about a new to me author. I look forward to reading your books they sound great and I love the covers very nice :-)
I use to read Sweet Valley High, Baby sitter's Club, Dr. Seuss's books and more but can't think of them all now LoL.
I have pimped about the interview & contest on my blog over at http://readingissomuchfun.blogspot.com/
Hugssss
LindaH
At 26 August 2008 at 23:12, Caffey
Oh both these books I'm off to get this weekend. I love urban fantasy series and always looking for more!!
Some I loved to read as a teen were:
Nancy Drew
Hardy Boys
Little House
Little WOman
Most I read where anything I could grab. I know I read more but there were less series out then, and more single titles. My son tho, loves series and reads so many of them even as a young adult now! They are fun to look forward to!
As a kid, I pretty much read as much as I could. I read Bunnicula and Little Bear. I went on to Mrs. Piggle Wiggle and Pippie Longstocking. I even read Jurassic Park just for fun even though my class didn't have to do that assigment. Loved Christopher Pike and R.L. Stine as well as the Laura Ingalls Wilder series. I asked my godparents for that one.
I'm really into paranormal and vampires right now but again, I am very versatile in what I will read. I love series and I love authors that can really create a world for their characters that is believeable.
I don't know where I'd be if I hadn't of started reading at an early age. Books rock.
At 27 August 2008 at 06:42, Daelith
Thank you for the interview!
Reading through these post has brought back a lot of memories. I used to read anything that had to do with horses. I was a horse nut when I was little.
I also read:
Nancy Drew
Hardy Boys
Beverly Cleary
Stuart Little
The Borrowers
Anne McCaffrey's Pern books - started my fascination with dragons with the Dragon Singer trilogy.
Some of my favorite books as a kidlet were My Side of the Mountain, Island of the Blue Dolphins (I guess I had a fantasy of getting away and living on my own, which I did at 16)The Secret Garden, all the Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys books, the Homer Price series, Kon-Tiki (more for my escape fantasy!)the Hiroshima Diary, and many many more I can't recall by name at the moment. By 4th grade I had read every book in our school library and was starting to read books from the Library where my Dad was a professor. Nowdays I read everything except Mathmatic textbooks! At this exact moment I'm reading Predator by Patricia Cornwell.
At 28 August 2008 at 05:08, MsValerie
Wow! In thinking about this, I realize I've been a glommer since I started to read!
VERY young--4 years old: Anything by A.A. Milne. I learned to read with "Winnie the Pooh."
As I got a little older, during elementary school, I was passionate about mythology, Nancy Drew, The Hardy Boys, and then anything about witches (guess I was into paranormals even then).
Just before puberty, I discovered Victoria Holt's books, and THEN I found my mother's hidden copy of "The Story of O."
I can see now that I was destined to read hot paranormals and contemporary romances.
At 28 August 2008 at 12:23, Unknown
I think I started to read as soon as I could spell the first letters..lol
And of course I started to read german books (english was out of question that time) like "Die kleine Hexe" (The little witch), "Das kleine Gespenst" (The little ghost). You see I was addicted to the paranormal genre even as a small child.. and it didn´t change...
Once I had taught myself to read at the age of 4, I wanted to know more! I knew there was something more to the world than what I was being told.
So, off to my local library I went and found a place full of love, war, information, fun, languages and so many other things I knew it would take more than one life to fulfull my wish to know absolutely everything I've ever wanted to know. But I knew one thing for sure: books were the very first things to begin with; the basis the raw materials that we need to start off with our education. Where we go from there is up to us.
Books are now my passion. I collected them, I devour them, I savour them, I love them. They are my life and love and without them I would not be able to breath for they are my air that I inhale, they are eternally there when I am lonely, need a laugh, they make me cry and think too.
Reading is my life, I can't live without it.
At 31 August 2008 at 02:17, Caffey
I so was into Little House books! I remember wanting to find every one of them (and even going back to the library a couple of years ago and seeing the book on display and picking it up and reading it in a sitting again!)
Too I loved Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys! I was teased because I read the Hardy Boys alot! Then High School I loved reading Victoria Holt and her gothic books! I used to keep a checklist of every book she wrote and checked off when I read them. Makes me want to go back and re-read!
by Kelley Armstrong
I've always loved to read, and was a huge Nancy Drew fan too. Some of my early favorites that determined my love of romance were The Witch of Blackbird Pond, Mary Stewart's books, as well Georgette Heyer and Mary Cartland.
caity_mack(at)yahoo(dot)com