The Reckoning by Kelley Armstrong

THE RECKONING

(Darkest Powers Series)

by Kelley Armstrong


Paranormal Young Adult

Harper Collins
www.KelleyArmstrong.com


3 Autographed Copies will be given away on Friday, April 16, 2010!




About The Book:

Only two weeks ago, life was all too predictable. But that was before I saw my first ghost. Now along with my supernatural friends Tori, Derek, and Simon, I'm on the run from the Edison Group, which genetically altered us as part of their sinister experiment. We're hiding in a safe house that might not be as safe as it seems. We'll be gone soon anyway, back to rescue those we'd left behind and take out the Edison Group . . . or so we hope.



Read our Exclusive Interview with the Author!

1) This would make a great film. Any talks of turning your book into a movie?

Not right now. With films, it's a matter of Hollywood coming to the author, and I’m still waiting for that to happen!

2) When did you first know that you wanted to be a writer? Have you had other jobs along the way?

Growing up, I never thought 'writer' was a valid career choice, probably because my parents didn't. They fully supported it as a hobby, but didn't think it was something you should plan to make a living at. So I went to university for psychology. As I was preparing for graduate school, though, I realized I was heading into a career that would leave me no time to pursue a dream of publication. So I switched gears and went into computer programming, which gave me a 9-to-5 job that paid the bills while I took writing courses, joined writing groups and worked at improving my craft. I sold my first novel in 1999 (it came out in 2001) and started writing full-time in 2002.

3) Considering a book from the first word you write to the moment you see it on a bookstore shelf, what’s your favorite part of the process? What’s your least favorite?

There isn’t any part that I dislike, but if I had to pick my favourite, it would be writing the first draft. It’s the creative process of seeing an idea unfold into a story that I like best. Next would be editing—the chance to polish the story. Least favourite would be proofreading, because by that time, I’ve read it so often I know what every line should say and I don’t catch the errors.

4) When you start a new book, do you like to outline the entire story or fly by the seat of your pants? What about your characters? Do you figure them out entirely before you start writing or do they reveal themselves to you along the way?

My process is constantly evolving. Being published means having a schedule, so it's become very important to learn what methods work best for me. I've discovered I work best from an outline. My finished novel never completely follows the outline though. Better ideas arise during the first draft and I follow them wherever they lead. The first draft is a very intense process for me, and during that time, I'm rarely without my notebook. When the first draft is done, I ease back into a more relaxed editing mode.

It’s a similar process with new characters. I start knowing them quite well, but they continue to evolve as they come to life on the page.

5) If you could have one super power what would it be?

I would love to be a werewolf because I think it would be amazing to experience life—temporarily!--in a different form. The secondary characteristics would be cool, too, but those "extras" also make it hard for werewolves to blend, so being practical, I'd go with spell-casters. Their powers take work to learn, but overall they have fewer drawbacks.
6) What's up next for you?

2011 will see the release of the first novel in my new YA trilogy. The trilogy will be called Darkness Rising and the first book is The Gathering. You’ll notice a similarity to the first one: Darkest Powers and The Summoning. That’s because they’re set in the same universe. The Gathering will introduce subjects in another Edison Group experiment, and the characters from the two trilogies will eventually meet up.

About the Author:

Kelley Armstrong has been telling stories since before she could write. Her earliest written efforts were disastrous. If asked for a story about girls and dolls, hers would invariably feature undead girls and evil dolls, much to her teachers' dismay. All efforts to make her produce "normal" stories failed. Today, she continues to spin tales of ghosts and demons and werewolves, while safely locked away in her basement writing dungeon. She's the author of the "Women of the Otherworld" paranormal suspense series, "Darkest Powers" young adult urban fantasy trilogy, and Nadia Stafford crime series. She lives in southwestern Ontario with her husband, kids and far too many pets. Visit her website at: www.KelleyArmstrong.com.

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