Easter Hop Giveaway #2 - The Immortality Virus Giveaway and Author interview

The winner has been contacted, thank you for following and entering the giveaway.

Here is my interview with author Christine Amsden, writer of The Immortality Virus, I hope you enjoy getting to know her a bit more and maybe it will inspire you to pick up her book.

What made you decide to write a book?

I don't remember ever deciding to write a book. For me, that would be like deciding whether or not to breathe. I have to write, and when I'm not writing, I'm thinking about what to write next. Even now, when I spend many hours a day promoting my book, I have to carve out an hour to work on my new novel, for the sake of my sanity.

How long did it take to write not including edits?

I first dreamed up the idea in the summer of 2006, at which point I wrote a novella-length story that I always knew needed to be a novel. I spent most of the next year working on other projects, including the promotion of my debut novel, Touch of Fate, then I picked it back up in the summer of 2007. I wrote a full draft that summer, then once again, worked on other things until August of 2008, when I finally wrote the last draft. This was something of a summer project because I was involved with a summer critique group for a while. All together, if I carve out the times I set it aside to work on other things, I probably spent 9-12 months on it, but as you can see, the math isn't all that simple. :=)

What inspires you or who inspires you?

In 2003, I attended a by-audition writer's “boot camp” with Orson Scott Card. Aside from being a wonderful science fiction writer, he's a very good teacher, with a presence and authority that captivates his audience. Plus, he's a nice guy. I learned a lot from him, and that boot camp marked the beginning of what I call my decision to “write seriously.”

Would you want to live forever? or maybe how long beyond normal life?

Forever is an awfully long time, and I suspect that if I were alone in my immortality, I would be pretty miserable. On the other hand, as I explored in my book, if everyone lived forever (or at least, didn't age), we would all be miserable.

I want to live a respectably long life. I want to hold my grandchildren in my arms, and even my great-grandchildren. But more than that, I want to have lived a good life, so that no matter when I go, It will all have meant something. That's why I have two beautiful children, who are the most important part of my life. I try to do well by them. In fact, I believe caring for the next generation (not necessarily by having children) is a form of immortality.

And I have to admit, in my daydreams, I hope that my books will outlive me, thus keeping a part of me alive for years to come.

What is your favorite movie of all time?

The Neverending Story, because it plays to my love of books.

If a movie was made of your book, who would you like to play Grace?

Sara Michelle Geller. I don't know if she still looks young enough to pull off a twenty-something (though I suspect she can), but as Buffy, I always saw her as soft on the inside, hard on the outside, which is exactly how I see Grace.

If you were filthy rich what is one thing you would do?

Hire a full-time housekeeper. So I had more time to write.

What is your favorite ice cream flavor and why?

Chocolate chip cookie dough because it makes me feel slightly less guilty than eating actual spoonfuls of cookie dough.

Coke or Pepsi?

Sugar Free Kool-Aid

All right, all right...Coke, but I really only have soda once a month or so.

Soylent Green, that just brings back memories. Are you a sci-fi movie buff? If so what is your favorite sci-fi movie or book series?

I enjoy science fiction in movies, television, and books, although I wouldn't call myself a buff. I also enjoy fantasy, romance, and anything else with characters I can get behind, which leaves me too busy to settle deeply into one genre and “buff up” on it. :=)

My all-time favorite is a TV series, actually: Babylon 5. Like many science fiction series, they didn't have a huge budget, and the studio made some difficulties for them, especially in the first and last seasons, but other than that – J. Michael Straczynski built a complex but believable world, created an amazing and wide array of characters, and he let those characters grow and change over the five seasons. That is what strikes me most about it, and why I have rewatched it from start to finish at least five times – the character journey.

What was your favorite book as a child?

A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle....Meg reminded me of me – at the time, an awkward and unattractive girl who wasn't sure where she fit in – then later, I realized she only felt like an awkward and unattractive girl who didn't fit in, which still described me.

Anything you would like to tell readers about your book?

Obviously, it's a dystopian look at the cost of immortality, but it's also about how people choose to live the life they have. Grace is a warrior, entirely too cynical, and at the beginning of the story she's lost touch with the things that make life worth living. She's been playing it safe with her heart, and losing.

Christine thank you for your time and for the opportunity to read your book, good luck with your writing.  

  Christine has been kind enough to offer an ebook to one lucky winner of this Easter Hop.  Contest starts now and will end April 25th at Midnight.  Winner will be announced on the 26th.  Thank you and hop on to other great giveaways.  Happy Easter Hop!  This is an ebook so it can go to anyone with an email address.

Giveaway entries:

1 - Follow the blog and comment with your email address so we can contact you if you win.

Extra entries:   2+ for commenting on The Immortality Virus review yesterday or 
                         commenting on something you learned about the author today.

                       2+ for linking this giveaway on your blog.

                       1+ for Tweeting about this giveaway.  Be sure to tell us and leave a
                        link in the comment you leave. 

 Thanks and thank you for looking us up today.