MFT Guest: Interview with Anne Osterlund and Giveaway of Aurelia

Today I have Anne Osterlund on the blog for My Favorite Things.  We managed to have a fun (ny) interview and there's a giveaway at the end!  

I recently read Aurelia and really enjoyed it! (Find my review HERE.)  It's a young adult fantasy but feels more like a historical fiction, just in a fantasy world.  So light on the fantasy ;)  

For some reason blogger isn't letting me put pictures throughout the post so here are the covers of Anne's books (pretty, huh?).

   

Can you describe Aurelia in 10 words or less?
Headstrong
Stubborn
Impatient
Caring
Determined
Afraid
Insecure
Demanding
Idealistic
And LOUD

She also happens to be the crown princess of Tyralt. At least she was when I first met her. Though she’s never been very fond of the title. Her—and Robert’s—series is a young adult fantasy about a princess who should not be a princess. Her first book, Aurelia, is kind of Cinderella inside out, with an assassination plot. The summary for the brand new sequel,Exile, is below.

Now can you tell us about yourself in 10 words or less?
No. I require eleven.

“Voyeur of the magical realm of the written word.”

And . . .

“Cat person.”


What was your inspiration for Aurelia? How did it come to you?

My characters always introduce themselves. I first met Aurelia several years ago, on a yellow notepad, when she began complaining about being stuck at a boring party with an itching ankle. Her entire story stems from that scene, which is posted on the excerpt page of my website if you would like to read it. http://anneosterlund.com/favorite.html

Aerin, the main character in my second novel, Academy 7 (a young adult science fantasy about two teens who risk everything to attend the most prestigious school in the universe) was gazing in a mirror, removing her headband, and contemplating the vast question of whether she could scrub away the person she had been in order to become someone different.http://anneosterlund.com/aerin%27s_dilemma.htm

All my characters have their own voices. My job is to listen.


When you wrote Aurelia did you know it would become a series or did you write it as a stand alone?
Aurelia has always been very forthright about the fact that her story is a trilogy. Publication, of course, is a whole other dream and one neither she nor I ever take for granted; but in my head, her story has always been a complete arc. At least since my initial imaginings umpteen years ago.


What was your biggest obstacle to overcome when writing any of your books?
Time.

Time is always the greatest obstacle.

Though finding out who the villains are is quite a challenge. Because, you know, they lie.


What are some books you’re finding yourself constantly recommending?
I recommend all the books on the recommended books page of my website: www.anneosterlund.com

Especially . . .

Alanna, the First Adventure by Tamora Pierce

Mara, Daughter of the Nile by Eloise Jarvis McGraw

Witch of the Glens by Sally Watson

The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton

And Poison Study by Maria V. Snyder

I’ve also been recommending The Hunger Games to all sorts of people this year.


If you could be one paranormal creature, what would you pick?
I’m rather fond of Falkor, from The Neverending Story, butI’d truly rather be a person who could fly a la Peter Pan.


Do you have anything in the works that you’re allowed to share with us?
Exile, the sequel to Aurelia, is out now! April 28th. Aurelia, Robert, and I are so excited. We’ve been waiting forever! Here’s our personal pitch.



Exiled. From the weight of others' expectations, the responsibilities of being crown princess, and the pressure to marry, AURELIA is finally free to travel the kingdom and meet the people of Tyralt. If only ROBERT, her expedition guide, would stop pestering her about her safety and just kiss her. But then their journey erupts in a fiery conflagration, and with both of their lives and the fate of the kingdom at stake, she and Robert must determine whether they have the strength, and the will, to complete their mission. And face the darker side of exile.

I’m also currently hip deep in my first edited revision of Salvation, a young adult contemporary novel which is scheduled to come out with Penguin Books next spring. Pitch number two:


SALVA (Salvador) RESENDEZ is at god a Liberty High School. Quarterback. National Honor Society Member. ASB Vice President. His Mexican immigrant family has high expectations, and Salva is prepared to fulfill them—mostly—but what he really wants is to blend in with his friends and enjoy his senior year. A goal bound for destruction when an asinine requirement forces him into AP English with the teacher from hell. And with walking disaster area, BETH COURANT. Who may be his salvation. But what neither Salva nor Beth knows is that the cost of salvation is mortality.

Believe it or not, Salva is just as stubborn as Aurelia. Though fortunately he has more patience. Everyone has more patience than Aurelia.

The Giveaway:

One person will win my copy of Aurelia.
Open to US/Canada only
Must be 13 or older to enter
Ends July 5th, 2011

To Enter:

Leave a comment.  Remember contact info!

For the schedule and list of Giveaway for The Favorite Things event check out the schedule post.  And make sure you head over to My Bookish Ways to see what she has going on today as well!