Author Interview: Kirsten Miller + Contest

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Today here at Hope's Bookshelf, I'm lucky to have an author interview with Kirsten Miller.  Kirsten is the author of the upcoming book The Eternal Ones, coming August 10, and of the Kiki Strike series.

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When did you know you wanted to be an author?


It was never a conscious decision. I’ve always written crazy stories, but until my first book was published, I never thought anyone would ever get a chance to read them. I figured I’d just stuff all my manuscripts into an old bureau where they’d eventually be discovered by one of my descendants, who would then start to wonder what kind of screwed-up genes I might have passed on.

To this day, I don’t know if I’d consider myself an “author.” I’m just someone who has gotten very, very lucky. (Wow, that sounds really disingenuous, but it’s TRUE!)

Where did your inspiration for The Eternal Ones come from?

I’ve always been fascinated by stories of very small children who claim they were once someone else. Such tales are far more common than one might imagine. Unfortunately, the kids’ recollections are usually dismissed as flights of fancy. (And sometimes they’re not. Just google James Leininger.)

I personally know someone who says she remembered a previous life when she was a small child. She would tell her siblings that she had once been “a mommy” who lived in a certain town (can’t remember the name) with her four children. When challenged, my acquaintance was absolutely adamant. She could even remember the names of the kids she’d once had. Apparently she scared the heck out of her present family.

Do you listen to music when you write? If yes, what kinds? If no, why?

I wish I could listen to music as I write, but I need absolute silence in order to concentrate. I mean absolute—I wear earplugs to block out all background noise. Plus, I’m one of those people who always listens to the lyrics, so if I had music on while I wrote, I’d probably end up inadvertently plagiarizing Britney Spears. (Just an example. I’m not a huge fan of Ms. Spears.)

Why did you choose to write for young adults and not adults or children?

I’d like to think I write for everyone. My books are labeled YA because the protagonists are young and the writing is fairly accessible, but I think adults would get a kick out of them as well. After all, I write to entertain myself, and I’m an adult. (I think.)

Are you working on any more books at the moment?

I just turned in the first draft of the sequel to The Eternal Ones. Now I’m finishing the third Kiki Strike book, The Darkness Dwellers. Once that’s done, I’m going to take a very, very long nap!

In five words, how do you describe yourself?

Tough, impetuous, funny (I hope), fair, and eccentric.

What are your favorite books?

A Little History of the World, by EH Gombrich
Rebecca, by Daphne du Maurier
The Works, by Kate Ascher
The Poisons and Antidotes Sourcebook, by Carol Turkington
His Dark Materials (trilogy) by Philip Pullman

What was the weirdest time you ever got inspiration for a story?

This is a great question. My life is filled with weird little moments. (Thank goodness.) But I also find inspiration in my dreams. Especially the nightmares. Somehow my sleeping brain is able to concoct the most terrifying scenarios imaginable. I have a few that I’m dying to work into a book someday. (I’d tell you what they are, but I don’t want to shock you!) In fact, I’m thinking of writing a horror novel as soon as I’m finished with my current projects!

Is anything in The Eternal Ones based (even loosely) on things in your life?

It’s my autobiography. (JK) My books are all filled with characters and incidents from my life. But I share more with Haven Moore, the main character in The Eternal Ones, than I do with most of my heroines. Haven and I both grew up in small Southern towns that left us feeling a bit claustrophobic. Much like Haven, I always had a hunch that there was someone or something out there that I needed to find. And we both packed our bags and set off for New York to search for it.

Unlike Haven, I didn’t discover a billionaire playboy who claimed to have known me in countless lives. But I think I found what I was looking for!

Ask yourself a question and answer it. :)

If you won the lottery, what would you do?

Devote my life to writing strange books, lending a hand on archaeological digs, and searching for Bigfoot.

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Before you leave, I have a few other cool things related to The Eternal Ones to share with you:

First is the trailer for the book:



And to learn more about the book, visit these sites:
The Eternal Ones Website
The Ouroboros Society Website

Be on the watch for The Eternal Ones, coming to a bookstore near you on August 10.

Also, as an added bonus, I have a contest for you today to!  The contest is for on of Penguin's Big Five slipcases.  I do believe I mentioned what was in it a while back, but just in case I didn't, here's the five books it includes:

1. The Eternal Ones by Kirsten Miller

2. Sapphique by Catherine Fisher (sequel to Incarceron)

3. The Replacement by Brenna Yovanoff

4. Matched by Allie Condie

5. Nightshade by Andrea Creamer

I've read most of these books already, and I can tell you right now that the ones I've read are fantastic.

Now, the rules to enter:
1. You must be a US resident to enter. 
2. You must be over the age of 13 to enter. - If you are under the age of 13, I need your parents approval for you to enter.
3. Fill out the form below. :)