Blog Tour: These Broken Stars-Interview with Amie Kaufman!

Today I'm thrilled to be taking part in the Australian Blog Tour for These Broken Stars by Amie Kaufman and Megan Spooner thanks to Allen & Unwin! Though I'm yet to post my review of These Broken Stars, I adored the book and was really excited over the prospect of chatting with one of it's authors--Amie Kaufman!

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Hi Amie and thank you SO much for agreeing to sit down and answer some of my questions! I'm super excited to pick your brain today about your writing experience and all things These Broken Stars :) 
Thank you so much for having me!

First off I have to say congrats on These Broken Star’s release! I recently had the pleasure of reading it myself and LOVED it—I'm very excited for the next book. Let's talk about the inspiration behind These Broken Stars. Where did the storyline stem from? 
That’s lovely of you to say! The storyline came about because I’ve always had a fascination with shipwrecks and castaways, and Meg and I both love stories set in space—we toyed with ideas just for fun, and that’s where the seed for These Broken Stars showed up.

This was obviously the first time you had ever worked with another author when writing a novel, how did you find the experience? 
We both love it. We’re great friends, and we’ve been flatmates. We always say if we can negotiate who’s going to do the dishes, writing a novel was going to be easy.

What was the typical writing process between you and Meagan? Did one of you write predominately Tarver and the other Lilac, or did you switch back and forth? 
During first drafts I write Tarver and Meg writes Lilac, but during revision we both edit every chapter, so by the time we’re done we’re often not sure who wrote a specific line.

Whose initial idea was it to write together? 
We’ve been writing together for so many years, I honestly couldn’t tell you!

I've noticed that you plan on co-writing another series too in the future with Jay Kristoff. Obviously it's something you enjoy, but what do you feel is the biggest pro and con when writing with another person?
I honestly don’t think there are cons—I just love it. The biggest pros are that you’ve always got someone to brainstorm with when you get stuck, and you’re often surprised by the twists and turns of your own story!

Can you describe both Lilac and Tarver is one sentence each?
There’s a lot more to Lilac than her spoiled, society girl exterior would suggest. Tarver’s about to face a bigger challenge than any he’s seen on the battlefield.

Can you share with us your favourite quote from These Broken Stars?
My favourite line changes regularly, but here’s only I love today. Meg wrote it, and it’s when Lilac’s having a terrible time on a hike and is thinking about how she must look to Tarver:
 “Only a little further, Miss LaRoux. You’re doing well.”
I’m not doing much at all. I might as well be a rag doll. Comes complete with matching shoes. Spine sold separately.

Now, I don’t want to give away any spoilers for those who haven’t read the book yet, but there’s quite a twist involving Lilac at one point throughout These Broken Stars that shocked me ten ways from Sunday. Where did THAT come from? 
That came from Meg’s brain—she’s awesomely evil sometimes. Writing Tarver’s point of view for that section was one of the harder things I’ve done.

I imagine emotionally it really would have been--that's certainly a hard time for Tarver! Who or what have been your biggest influence throughout your life? 
People. My parents are smart, strong, independent and resilient. My sister’s an epic adventurer. My husband’s a kind, funny, thoughtful guy. Possessions don’t matter—people do.

For those of us like myself who are dying for the next book, can you throw as a bone and give us a hint as to what we can expect? 
In This Shattered World, you’ll meet Captain Jubilee Chase, a soldier with a fearsome reputation, and Flynn Cormac, the leader of the planetary rebellion. It’s set on a planet called Avon, and if you read These Broken Stars carefully, you might catch a mention or two of Avon!

Oh, wow! So the whole series isn't going to feature Tarver & Lilac! That's quite interesting. [Note: I've since learned the trilogy will be a set of companion books featuring different couples--very exciting!]

6 Quick Questions:
1. Summer or Winter? Summer! I love the sun.
2. Singing or Dancing? Both, every time I take a writing break! Stops me getting a sore back from sitting at the computer for too long.
3. Favourite Colour? Blue.
4. Favourite Movie? Right now, Midnight in Paris.
5. Lucky Number? 14.
6. Hero or Heroine? Heroine.

Thanks again Amie for taking the time to chat with me - I certainly appreciate it. I'm very excited for the next book in the Starbound Trilogy and wish you luck with all your future writing endeavors!

 

It's a night like any other on board the Icarus. Then, catastrophe strikes: the massive luxury spaceliner is yanked out of hyperspace and plummets into the nearest planet. Lilac LaRoux and Tarver Merendsen survive. And they seem to be alone.

Lilac is the daughter of the richest man in the universe. Tarver comes from nothing, a young war hero who learned long ago that girls like Lilac are more trouble than they’re worth. But with only each other to rely on, Lilac and Tarver must work together, making a tortuous journey across the eerie, deserted terrain to seek help.

Then, against all odds, Lilac and Tarver find a strange blessing in the tragedy that has thrown them into each other’s arms. Without the hope of a future together in their own world, they begin to wonder—would they be better off staying here forever?

Everything changes when they uncover the truth behind the chilling whispers that haunt their every step. Lilac and Tarver may find a way off this planet. But they won’t be the same people who landed on it.

Add on Goodreads!

Purchase:

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Amie Kaufman is the co-author of These Broken Stars, the first in the Starbound trilogy, and writes science fiction and fantasy for teens. She lives in Melbourne, Australia with her husband, their rescue dog, and her considerable library. She is represented by Tracey Adams of Adams Literary.

Visit Amie:

Website | Goodreads | Twitter | Facebook

Meagan Spooner grew up reading and writing every spare moment of the day, while dreaming about life as an archaeologist, a marine biologist, an astronaut. She graduated from Hamilton College in New York with a degree in playwriting, and has spent several years since then living in Australia. She’s traveled with her family all over the world to places like Egypt, South Africa, the Arctic, Greece, Antarctica, and the Galapagos, and there’s a bit of every trip in every story she writes.

She currently lives and writes in Asheville, North Carolina, but the siren call of travel is hard to resist, and there’s no telling how long she’ll stay there.

In her spare time she plays guitar, plays video games, plays with her cat, and reads.

Visit Meagan:

Website | Goodreads | Twitter | Facebook

I'd like to thank Aimee Kaufman once more for joining me today. She and Meagan Spooner have written something special with These Broken Stars! Published by Allen & Unwin, These Broken Stars is available online and in all good bookstores. Grab your copy--you won't regret it!