Author Interview w/ Chanelle Gray

I've had the great pleasure of interviewing the author of My Heart Be Damned, Chanelle Gray. My Heart be Damned will grace us with it's presence in the Fall of 2012. Let's get to know this Apocalypsies member better shall we?!

1.) Tell us a little about yourself

 Hi all! I'm a twenty-something girl from London. Huge animal lover, huge book lover. I also like shopping and all that jazz. I write YA - anything to do with YA and I'm reading or writing about it. I think it's such a great time in people's lives; it can really mould and shape the person you're going to become. No kiddies or husband yet, but I do have an adorable nephew who I look after whenever I begin to feel broody! Oh, and I have a degree in psychology and counselling.

2.) Not only are you an author, but a reviewer as well. What are some of your favorite books?

 Oooh difficult question. I have to mention Harry Potter. They came out when I was about nine or ten and they were the first books that got me reading. We read it in school and then once I left school, I continued to buy them to read. That series will always deserve a mention. Then we have, in no particular order, Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins. That book has got to be one of my favourite contemporary YA stories of all time. Unearthly by Cynthia Hand. Perfect Chemistry by Simone Elkeles. Anna Dressed in Blood by Kendare Blake. The Girl of Fire and Thorns by Rae Carson. The Body Finder by Kimberly Derting and ANYTHING by Lauren Oliver.

3.) Have you always had a passion for books?

No, not really. It only came when I realised I wanted to be a writer. All the advice out there said to be well read in your genre, so I started buying more books. I barely had enough books to fill one shelf on my bookcase! But then I'd start hearing buzz about books coming out so I bought more and more and then started to review them. Now I have so many books and so little time!

4.) What was your first idea for My Heart Be Damned?

I always wanted to write a book about a girl who could kick some serious ass, but I held off because if I wrote about her fighting vampires, it would be too Buffy and plus vampires were dying out. Demons were done. Zombies were dying. You can't really kick ass against ghosts, unless you make them corporeal. And of course werewolves are done. So I sat on this want to create a supernatural, fighting story until one day I thought 'why not create my own supernatural creature?' Thus 'Damned' were born. Evil souls from hell that take residence in human bodies. And the rest came from there. A mystery that needs solving, a romance, and lots of fighting scenes :D

5.) Do you have a favorite writing place?

 Not really. I've been writing on my laptop in bed recently. It's comfortable and snuggly. But I don't have a study or office, or even like a Starbucks I visit. I'm boring that way!

6.) Hobbies or special interests?

 I used to own horses, and I will do so again one of these days. Just need to not have a day job! I love socialising and watch a lot of TV and movies. Oh and I am so into food its unreal. A good meal can really put me in a great meal. 

7.) Will we be seeing more of Amerie and Marshall?

Hopefully! I'm working my way through planning a sequel now :)

Great stuff Chanelle! I can't wait to see your book cover when it's released!

If you want to know more about Chanelle, you can check out her blog, and follow her on twitter.