Author Interview & Giveaway with Sean Cummings

Sean Cummings, author of The Valerie Stevens series is joining us today to answer questions about his upcoming new novel, Poltergeeks which hits stores and online retailers everywhere October 2, 2012. 

Hi Sean! Thank you for joining us today, can you give us the Elevator pitch for Poltergeeks? 

Thanks for joining in on the blog tour! Elevator pitch, huh? A teen witch with an independence streak a mile wide along with her dorky best friend help a little old lady with a poltergeist infested house only to find themselves thrown into a do-or-die mystery where lives are at stake and only hours to save a person’s soul.

Was it harder for you to write this Young-Adult novel than your Urban Fantasy Valerie Stevens series? 

You bet it was – I’m writing for a younger audience and so there’s the need to make all my younger characters sound authentic. That took a bit of work and a boatload of help from my agent Jenny Savill and my editor Amanda Rutter.

What actors would you choose to play some of your characters if your book were made into a movie or TV show?

That’s a neat question, okay let’s see. For Julie, I’d like to see Elle Fanning who was in Super 8. For Marcus, I can’t think of anyone off the top of my head – Jay Baruchel immediately comes to mind but he’s way too old. For Julie’s mom, I think that Laura Linnie would be awesome. For Betty I’d like to see Andrea Martin doing her Edith Prickly character because that’s basically who was in my head as I wrote Betty. 

Is Poltergeeks a standalone or a planned series? 

It’s the first book in a series. The second book is STUDENT BODIES and it comes out next fall.

Do you have a certain writing routine? 

Yep. I’m up early every day as I have a day job so I write at around four in the morning – I’m a morning person. I just can’t write at the end of a full day worth of work. I write on the weekends – again first thing in the morning. It’s the curse of being a morning person.

Sean Cummings (via Author's site)

Tell us three interesting things about yourself that can’t be found in your biography section.

1)      I have a terrible sweet tooth

2)      I wanted to be an editorial cartoonist and I still dabble

3)      I originally wanted to be a children’s author

If you were shipwrecked on a desert island what 3 books would you want with you?

1)      An infantry field craft manual so that I can survive.

2)      Different Seasons by Stephen King because it’s a fantastic book

3)      A book about how to build a raft

What are you currently reading right now or what are some books in your TBR pile?

I’m currently reading MOCKINGBIRD by Chuck Wendig. A fantastic follow-up to BLACKBIRDS. Miriam Black is a train wreck of a character and I just can’t help but watch.

Valerie Stevens #1

What other projects can we look forward to reading from you in the future?

As mentioned, the follow up to POLTERGEEKS is STUDENT BODIES and it comes out next fall. I’m working on revisions for the first in a post apocalyptic trilogy called THE NORTH – another YA book. My agent is going to being shopping TIM REAPER – he’s an amoral death spirit in human form. A bit of a detective, a bit of a bounty hunter. He’s a fantastic character and I could write TIM REAPER books until the cows come home because he’s fun as hell to write.

Do you have any advice to aspiring writers?

Yes. Get an agent. Seriously, get an agent. I know there’s a handful of self-published authors who’ve met with great success in 2012, but they’re the exception and not the rule. An agent is a sounding board for ideas and they understand the market far better than an aspiring author because that’s their job. An agent gives you the swift kick in the pants that you need to make your story just that much better. They have the connections in publishing that you don’t. They are everything that you’re not and you simply need an agent if you plan to meet with any kind of success in this business.

Finish this statement: You’ll enjoy Poltergeeks if you like…

Action movies on the printed page. Non-stop action where the stakes are high and time is running out.

**Lighting Questions**

Facebook or Twitter?: Twitter. I’m on Facebook but Twitter is the more influential social networking tool in my view.

Valerie Stevens #2

Coke or Pepsi?: Doctor Pepper. Preferably in Big Gulp form from 7-11

Favorite Paranormal creature?: Werewolf – of the kind that rips you apart and eats you. Thomas Emson’s MANEATER is a brilliant example of what a good werewolf novel looks like.

Morning or Night?: Morning – it’s when I am most creative.

Harry Potter or Lord of the Rings?: Lord of the Rings. It’s epic. I like epic stuff.

Favorite junk food?: Sour Cream and Onion chips.

Baked or Fried?: Baked

Valerie Stevens #3

E-reader or physical book?: E-reader. I love physical books but I prefer my ereader because my eyes aren’t as great as they once were and I can adjust the font.

Comedy or Horror?: Horror Comedy – A good example is An American Werewolf in London.

All time favorite movie?: Lillies of the Field starring Sidney Poitier. That movie can’t not make you smile in your heart. It’s a movie about hope. It’s beautifully filmed in the desert. It’s got strong characters and an underlying message about love and the spirit of generosity that exists in all of us. I absolutely adore Lillies of the Field.

Thank you for being here today Sean! 

Sean Cumming's

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GIVEAWAY
A prize pack which includes one copy of SHADE FRIGHT, FUNERAL PALLOR, UNSEEN, and POLTERGEEKS by Sean Cummings.

To enter this amazing prize pack, click here to Sean's blog for more details!