Michelle Zink Interview

The oh so wonderful Michelle Zink let me interview her. Thank you Michelle! You're awesome. She's the first in a small series of 2009 Debs interviews that will be showing up on the blog this month. Whoooooo.

Michelle is the author of the upcoming book Prophecy of the Sisters. Here's a summary of the book (from Amazon):

Sixteen-year-old Lia Milthorpe has just recently lost her father, leaving her parentless. But when a strange mark appears on her wrist, she realizes she is being branded with much more than her newfound title of orphan. Lia and her twin sister, Alice, are part of an ancient prophecy that has turned generations of sisters against each other.

Lia hides this discovery from Alice and even from her beloved, James, but to escape from the burden this secret bestows she must end the prophecy--before her sister. Only then will she understand the mysterious circumstances of her parents' deaths, the true meaning of the mark on her wrist, the lengths to which her sister will go to defeat her, and the downfall the prophecy could bring.

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And now, the interview:

1) Your book has yet to be released. BOOOOO. Have you already begun to prepare for the release? If so, how?

I'm just starting to kick into gear on the marketing front. For a long time, I felt like I was an engaged bride-to-be trying to plan a wedding two years in advance; there's just no point, you know? Heh. But seriously. By the time my book hits the shelves, it will have been almost exactly two years since it sold. So now I'm about four months out and I'm starting to realize it really *is* going to happen. I've always had a solid presence on Myspace and Facebook dealing directly with teens, but lately I've reworked my blog and have been more active in reaching out to the blogging and review communities. I'm fortunate, though, because Little Brown Books for Young Readers has an amazing marketing plan for Prophecy of the Sisters. They've thought of everything! Anything I do is like icing on the cake. I feel incredibly fortunate to be with such a great group of people who believe so enthusiastically in my book.

2) Your book has much to do with a prophecy. Why are you so interested in prophecies? Did you do a lot of research about them before writing? Do you find anything strange about them? TELL!

This particular story grabbed me because it orginates with the real legend of the Watchers, angels who were banished from heaven because they had relations with mortal women. A lot of my work starts with an ancient myth or legend. But then I twist it into something freaky and scaaaaary! Ha! Anyway, I read the story of the Watchers and asked myself what would have happened if the children of the angel/mortal union were forced to carry on through generations, answering in some way for the mistakes of their angelic ancestors.

3) The prophecy in your book has to do with sisters fighting each other (at least, that's what I gather from the description. Correct me if I'm wrong.) Why did you decide to write about sister-rivalry? That stuff can get ugly.

As an only child, I've always been fascinated with the sibling connection. Somehow the story of the Watchers and my twist to that story just seemed to lend itself to the mysterious and profound connection siblings seem to share. The dynamic between the two sisters also allowed me to explore the theme of pre-destination versus free will, and that's a theme that I feel very passionately about because it plays a part in all our lives, particularly the lives of teens. When you're a teenager, it seems everyone has an idea of where they want you to go, what they want you to do, who they want you to be. There's so much expectation, and sometimes that is an awful burden when you're still trying to figure out who you *really* are. My main character, Lia, finds the courage to be who SHE knows she is instead of who everyone tells her she is, and the sister relationship was a great background for that struggle.

4) Prophecy of the Sisters is the first book in a trilogy. Are you at work on #2 or #3? How's that going?

Book two, The Guardian and the Gate, is complete. I'm working on revisions with my awesome editor, Nancy Conescu, now. She has such a gift for seeing things that I just can't see, and it's always a revelation to see my work get tighter and cleaner and better through her suggestions. That's the part I actually enjoy about revisions! The manuscript-induced haze and caffeinated twitching... not so much! Book three hes been loosely outlined and I'll be starting on that one sometime in the next few months. But I already know how it all ends! Working with an outline stifles my creativity, though, so I usually just start writing and clean up the mess later.

5) Some people I know have already read your book. Have you gotten any feedback from them that makes you a happy little author or calms any nerves you might have about the book's release?

I'm SO nervous about how the book will be received. Really. So. Nervous. It never ends. So every time someone tells me they loved it or it kept them up at nght or made them cry... well, I just want to jump up and down (in my house we call it the Girly Jump, and it is reserved for things like book deals and first kisses. So I refrain). That said, I *know* the criticism will come, because writing is art and all art is subjective. I'm bracing myself for that and reminding myself that I don't like every book that my friends like - even the friends that have great taste in books! All I can say is that this is my book. It's the book that spoke to me and kept me up nights and had me living in a dark and terrifying and mysterious world for a long, long time. I hope it connects with you in some way, or at the very least, brings you enjoyment!

6) You're a part of the 2009 Debs livejournal community group thingy. What's it like being a part of that? Have you found oodles of support from the wonderful people there?

I have. It's a wonderful group of people, and because we're all going through more or less the same thing at the same time, it's been very helpful to have people to share it with. Sometimes you just need to say "waaahhhhh" to someone who knows where you're coming from, you know?

7) What are you looking forward to the most about having your book being released?

Seeing it on the shelf when I walk into my hometown bookstores! Petting the cover and kissing it before I go to sleep. Tucking it in under my pillow at night. Ha! Just kidding! *not a freak*

8) Come up with your own question and answer it! :D

Gah! Okay, I'll ask a question close to my heart; What advice would you give teens who want to make a career out of writing?

It's like this; you can do it. I know a lot of people will tell you that it isn't practical. That it's unlikely you'll ever make a living doing it. That the money will be sporadic, if at all. And they might be right in some cases. But you should live the life *you* want, not someone else's version of life. If you are more concerned with waking up fulfilled and happy every day than driving an expensive car and living in a huge home, then you can arrange your life so that you can *afford* to do the thing you love. And then, if you really, really, work at it and become financially successful, well... that will just be a bonus. And if you *want* the big car and the big house, there are LOTS of jobs that will keep you immersed in the world you love and also earn you a living. In publishing there are editors and marketing coordinators and distribution experts and agents and publicists and foreign rights agents. In music there are band scouts, producers, sound experts, etc., etc. The list goes on. Point being. Do what you love. And be who you are. There's no happiness without that, kiddos. <3

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Thanks again, Michelle! Fabulous job answering the questions.

And to everyone else: Prophecy of the Sisters will be out August 1! Way too far away if you ask me. But until then, you can check out Michelle's blog and the great music scores Michelle's son did for the book. You can also stalk Michelle on Twitter.