Monday 10 November 2014

Dorianna by Catherine Stine: Interview + Giveaway




Dorianna by Catherine Stine

Genre: YA paranormal/horror
Publisher: Evernight Teen
Cover Artist: Sour Cherry Designs

Internet followers, beauty, power. It all sounded good.

Until it transformed into a terrifying reality Dorianna couldn’t stop.  

Dorianna is a dark twist for the Internet generation on A Picture of Dorian Gray.  

When her father is jailed, her mother ships lonely, plain Dorianna to her aunt’s. There, Dorianna yearns to build a new identity, but the popular Lacey bullies her—mostly for getting attention from her ex, Ander.

Ander takes Dorianna to Coney Island where Wilson, a videographer, creates a stunning compilation of her. She dreams of being an online sensation, as she’s never even had a birthday party, and vows she’d give anything to go viral. Wilson claims he’s the Prince of Darkness and warns her the pledge has downsides.

Dorianna thinks he’s joking. She has no idea of how dire the consequences might be.
 
 
 
Catherine Stine’s novels span the range from science fiction to paranormal to contemporary. Her futuristic thriller, Fireseed One won finalist spots in YA and Sci-Fi in the 2013 USA News International Book Awards and an Indie Reader Approved notable seal. Its companion novel, Ruby’s Fire was a finalist in the 2014 Next Generation Indie Awards. Her paranormal YA, Dorianna launches with Evernight Teen in October. She also writes new adult fiction as Kitsy Clare. Her new adult Art of Love series includes Model Position and Private Internship. She loves all things spooky, exotic and edgy, including travel to unusual locations. She also loves hearing from readers. 
 
 
 


Q & A with Author Catherine Stine

Q:  Tell us a little about your main characters
Dorianna starts out as a plain, lonely sixteen year-old from Indiana, who is shunned when her father is jailed for a serious misdemeanor. Sent to live with her aunt and attending a new Brooklyn school, she makes a valiant attempt to blossom, but it doesn’t work. That is until she makes a dark vow with a mysterious guy named Wilson from Coney Island who claims he’s the Prince of Darkness. Dorianna doesn’t believe in his magic. Yet, she becomes beautiful, attracts the eye of Ander, a classmate she longs for, makes friends, many online followers, and even becomes the ultimate party hostess. All too soon though, her shadowy side emerges and scares her. In fact, it’s almost its own entity—kicking her from the inside out, screaming at her, though no one else can hear. The beast, as she nicknames it, seizes Dorianna’s mind, her entire life in its manic chokehold.

 
Ander is her crush, and she does manage to attract him, especially after the vow’s magic makes her beautiful. She makes a silent promise never to manipulate Ander with her magic, but all bets are off when she learns from his brother that he cheated on her.  
Wilson is the sexy, charismatic agent of the devil who corrupts Dorianna. He’s a senior in high school, but is already living on his own in Coney Island, and making money creating and selling videos to Getty Images. When he makes a supernaturally exotic music video of Dorianna, she is lured into his trap. Wilson, Dorianna, and Ander become an out-of-control toxic love triangle, as Dorianna becomes desperate to quell her inner beast.  
Q:  Describe your ideal writing spot.
I have a few spots and it depends on my mood as to which one I use. I belong to a writers’ space in Manhattan. This is nice because the sound of other people typing spurs me on. I also have a small studio in my house—handy for late night writing in my PJs. Sometimes I go to the Catskills and write there as well. I really love to write in nature—except for the mosquitoes!

Q:  Who designed the cover for your book and what was that process like for you as the author?
For Dorianna, Evernight uses a designer who goes by the name Sour Cherry. Don’t you love that name? I did have some say in the design—I the girl on the cover was one of maybe five photos I sent them to choose from. And I was able to ask that they move the blurb lines up a bit. But I think the designer did a fabulous job don’t you?

Q:  What is the best advice you have been given?
Don’t rush a novel. Make sure the outline and plot is tight and the characters are compelling and draw us to them—even the villains! Keep adding layers to deepen the story. Your gut will tell you when it’s truly done. Make sure to get in a writing group and have trusted writers read and edit your novel. Writing a novel takes you, but polishing it takes a community.

Q:  How do you keep busy when you're not writing?
I teach creative writing workshops, I travel, I read (a LOT) and hang out with friends. I may look like I’m daydreaming or lazing around, but I’m more than likely plotting out my next novel!

Q:  Which do you prefer: paperbacks or ebooks?
I hate to admit it, but I read mostly on my Kindle Fire. There was no way I could hold up all 900 and something pages of Justin Cronin’s novel while I read in bed! That said, I read paperbacks when I teach writing. I lovingly mark them up with all kinds of highlighter notes.

Q:  What book are you reading now?
I am proofreading one of my own novels to ready it for inclusion in a boxed set. I’m also re-reading Dr. Faustus to get ready to teach it in December. Plus, I’m reading a novel called The Thinking Woman’s Guide to Real Magic by Barker—too long but entertaining.





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