This week’s interview is with the amazing Angie Frazier author of Everlasting, copyright 2010 by Scholastic books.
How did the idea for Everlasting come to you?
It came to me in pieces, but originated with the vintage travel posters that were on the ceiling of the caretaker’s cottage I was renting one winter. My fiancé (now husband!) and I were pretty much snowbound a lot that winter and I spent a lot of time inspecting those posters for lack of entertainment! There were a bunch for places in Australia, and I knew I wanted to set the store there. I was looking to write something fiction and adventurous, and it all came to me from there.
What songs do you imagine playing through the book?
I am a huge movie soundtrack and classical kind of gal so most of the
time the music that inspired me was that. The score from The Patriot,
Cider House Rules, Braveheart and Last of the Mohicans to name a few.
Are Oscar and Camille reminiscent of any other literary or real life characters?
No, not really. When I wrote their characters I paid close attention to not modeling them after real life people. I did give Oscar my husband’s awesome, muscular shoulders (waggles eyebrows) but other than that, they are their own creations!
What has been the most rewarding part about being a published author so
far?
There is so much! But I’d have to say the most rewarding part is receiving emails from people who have read the book, loved it, and been inspired
to write their own story. One of these emails came from a girl in Australia,
actually, and to know that someone all the way around the world has been
inspired by my book and characters totally blows me away.
When you are not writing what do you enjoy doing?
I am so restless when I’m not writing. But it’s healthy to take breaks, so I
sometimes take reading breaks where all I do is read. Or I attempt to be a
domestic goddess (for all of one day), or I just sit around and play with my
two little girls. Then I get back to writing!
What research did you do for the book if any?
I did a ton of research. It feels like a literal ton, too. Just about everything on every page had to be researched, and I very much enjoyed it. Especially the ship and ship life aspects. Those were the most challenging!
Favorite scene to write or read?
So many! The best scene to write is one that happens near the end that I can’t talk about since it’s a lot spoilery. But let’s just say I was crying as
I wrote it. The best chapter to read is when Camille, Oscar, and Ira are
traveling through the mountains and stop at a pool of waterfall runoff.
I love when Camille sees Oscar’s scars on his back for the first time.
Is Umandu based on a real legend or any other folklore?
It isn’t based on any specific legend, though I know there are plenty of
stories and mythologies surrounding the restoration of life. We see it everywhere: in books, in movies, in fairytales. I think I chose to weave a new legend because I’ve always been fascinated by life and death, what waits for us beyond, and the loss of control people have over when and how they die.
Where did the sailing influence come from?
I honestly don’t know! I am so not a sailor and knew nothing about it. I think one of the vintage travel posters had a tall ship on it and that’s where I got the idea to make it a high seas adventure. Talk about a challenge…
In your mind’s eye who does Oscar resemble?
He doesn’t really have a face. Isn’t that terrible? I know what his body looks like, I know how he moves, his expressions and how
he holds himself, even his voice. But I can’t clearly picture his face.
Favorite all time-reads?
I could re-read Pride & Prejudice once a year, along with Ethan Frome by Edith Wharton. I also loved M.M. Kaye’s Trade Wind. More recent books I love include The Season by Sarah MacLean and The Winter Rose by Jennifer Donnelly.
Thank you so much to Scholastic books and Angie Fraizer for the interview. Comment on this post to
enter to win an 8×12 of our Ship’s sail photo (see above) from the
LittleredReads Everlasting inspired collection on Etsy. Original photography by Heather Zahn Gardner.
Contest ends September 17, 2010 and is open internationally.
Today’s Infinite Days inspired giveaway is a vintage version of the onyx ring I imagine Lenah wearing in her previous days as the Queen. Thanks to Etsy shop Beadedfashions for donating it!
