Welcome back to the 4th month of The New Authors on the Block! This month we are introducing debut author Lucy Keating the author of Dreamology and today we have an interview with Lucy!
Interview:
Where did your inspiration for Dreamology start?
I've had curious sleep habits my entire life. Really bad nightmares as a kid, walking, talking, even moving furniture around. I still wake up sometimes in the middle of my bedroom with no idea how I got there! I don't have as many actual nightmares anymore but I do have wild dreams with strong narratives. The older you get and the more you realize this doesn't happen to everybody, it makes you think about a character whose dreams actual might mean something a little more special.
What is your favorite Element of the story? Why?
- I love that it takes place in downtown Boston, where I grew up, where I've always felt was a pretty special place. And now I get to walk around there and imagine these characters I've created living there too!
- I also love their time at The Center for Dream Discovery and Alice's talks with her neuroscientist father. I really enjoy bringing in science to shed light on things we consider emotional, like dreaming and heartache.
Which character can you relate to the most?
I definitely relate to Alice the most. She's a little strange, she's an overthinker, and while she's nice, she can be bit feisty at times.
What makes Dreamology stand out from other YA books?
This is a tough one for me to answer, but I'm pretty sure it has to do with how unapologetically weird it is, and Alice's sense of humor as she describes her world. There's a certain warmth about it that I'm really proud of.
Where did the ideas for the dreams come from?
They're partly modeled on dreams I've had, but as I wrote them I'd just think, okay, what is the nuttiest thing that could possibly happen next, that still feels like kind of an extension of what's happening? And obviously I kept them positive, as the point is these dreams are meant to be happy and in a way, soothing.
How does it feel to be a debut author?
It is only just starting to feel real, but it's just pretty amazing to get to work on something that you love so much, and then get to share it with other people.
Do you have any other writings in progress that you can share?
I just finished the first draft of my second book. It's called LITERALLY, and it's about a girl who discovers she is the main character in a famous YA Author's book, and so the author is essentially controlling her life. It's been a lot of fun to write, but you'll have to wait a little while to read it!What's been your best experience as a new author so far?
When people tell you how much they love a character. You've spent a couple years with this fake person, caring a lot about them, and only a few other people (your editors, your agent) have been able to share in that. It's like someone coming up to you and saying they met one of your best friend's and think they're awesome.What's your advice to fellow debut authors?
Publishing takes a really long time. There will be moments when you want to rush through something - final notes, a last read through, to keep the process moving. Don't do that. The process will be just as slow and you will only be annoyed later about things you didn't fix. Also, take a moment to remind yourself how awesome this is, and that you earned it. Someone told me that the other day and I'm really trying to take it to heart. Usually I'm too caught up in all the other stuff I want and have to do and write.Try and market Dreamology in 140 characters or less:
A girl meets the boy she's been having dreams about her whole life, only to walk into a new school and discover he is very real.
Name 3 songs that help get you in the writing mood:
Let's do bands instead! Lord Huron, because they create such an adventurous, magical vibe with their music. The Cure because it's about love and pining but it's upbeat and cool. Lucius because they tell love stories that are at once beautiful, romantic, yet totally modern.
About Lucy:
Lucy Keating is a New Englander who fell in love with California, and now splits her time between San Francisco and Venice Beach. When she's not writing, Lucy can usually be found outside with her dog, listening to music, or eating ice cream. Almost one of these things is always true, and on a good day all are true.
Connect with Lucy: Website / Instagram / Twitter / Goodreads
About Dreamology:
Title: Dreamology
Author: Lucy Keating
Genre: Contemporary, Science Fiction, Fantasy
Publisher: HarperTeen
Publication Date: April 12th 2016
Summary:
For as long as Alice can remember, she has dreamed of Max. Together they have traveled the world and fallen deliriously, hopelessly in love. Max is the boy of her dreams—and only her dreams. Because he doesn’t exist. But when Alice walks into class on her first day at a new school, there he is. It turns out, though, that Real Max is nothing like Dream Max, and getting to know each other in reality isn’t as perfect as Alice always hoped. When their dreams start to bleed dangerously into their waking hours, the pair realize that they might have to put an end to a lifetime of dreaming about each other. But when you fall in love in your dreams, can reality ever be enough?
What to expect this month!
April 3rd: Introduction of Lucy and Dreamology + Giveaway
April 10th: Interview + Giveaway
April 17th: Excerpt + Giveaway
April 24th: Character Interview + Giveaway
Giveaway:
Check back next week for an excerpt!
This interview is so cool! I love Lucy's answers for all of them, especially the three songs (I always discovering new songs!) and how she came up with the concept was super interesting!
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