The Escapist: Celebrating Debuantes: Author Aimee Agresti (Interview + Giveaway)

Saturday, December 22, 2012

Celebrating Debuantes: Author Aimee Agresti (Interview + Giveaway)

Author Aimee Agresti

"Thanks so much for featuring me as a 2012 Debutante and a huge thank you to all the readers out there for making 2012 such a special year for me with the release of ILLUMINATE! On its surface, ILLUMINATE is about a teen angel named Haven, who's forced to battle a pack of soul-stealing devils and falls in love with one of them. But, at heart, the book is really about a girl learning to have confidence in herself. I believe there's something so universal in that journey and I'd love to hear what you think. Take a look and let me know!"

- AIMEE AGRESTI, debut author of 2012

How was the feeling of being a published author, at last?

It's so thrilling! And I think it's even sweeter because I spent so many years chasing this dream. I'm the daughter of a librarian so I grew up reading everything in sight and always wanted to write novels. Before writing ILLUMINATE, I had actually written another novel that was never published and a bunch of short stories, but I know that all of that work helped make me a better writer!

(Sidenote: You are so lucky to grow up in a world books!)

What is/are the best thing/s that happened after your book was published?

There's nothing more exciting than hearing from readers. It means so much to me when someone takes the time to send an email my way to tell me that they related to a character or that the book spoke to them. It makes my day! So, feel free to get in touch with me at my website, aimeeagresti.com, anytime!

What are you up to when you're not writing?

When I'm not working on Book Three of the Gilded Wings trilogy, I'm busy chasing my 16-month-old son!

Did you plan, all along, to write/publish a book with the genre of what you got right now?

My favorite books are still the ones that I read and adored as a teen--The Catcher in the Rye, Little Women, Alice in Wonderland. Through all the trials and tribulations of growing up, I always looked to books for guidance, comfort and escape, so I love getting to write for the YA audience now.

Who is the character on your book who has the most response from your readers?

Definitely Haven, since the book is really about her evolution. She may start out unsure of herself but she becomes a force to be reckoned with. I love when readers tell me they relate to Haven's insecurity and that they love watching her overcome it.

Fave character from a book (not yours)?

Nancy Drew is my all-time favorite! I devoured that whole series and I wanted to BE Nancy: she was so fearless, smart, and adventurous. I just loved her!

What's your next project?

The sequel to ILLUMINATE will be out in March! It's called INFATUATE and this time Haven and her pals travel to New Orleans to battle a new pack of devils. Expect plenty of action, drama and romance!

What's the recent thing that made you cry?

Most recently, it was when I went to see "The Perks of Being a Wallflower," which was such an amazing adaptation that I couldn't help but get misty at the end. And then I just had to re-read that fantastic book the next day and, of course, I cried all over again. That was an unusually teary couple of days for me!

When's your birthday?

July 10. My sign is Cancer.

Do you read/believe in horoscopes?

Just when they tell me things I want to hear. Ha! But I must admit, I do tend to exhibit some pretty classic Cancer tendencies: I like to hide in my shell and I can be kind of emotional. (Case in point: my answer to the crying question!)

Fave movie?

It's a toss-up between "Breakfast at Tiffany's" and "Roman Holiday." I'm an Audrey Hepburn fanatic!

Fave artist/song?

I love to write to Coldplay, 30 Seconds to Mars and the XX. I made a soundtrack for ILLUMINATE. Check it out here!: http://aimeeagresti.com/blogs/the-illuminate-soundtrack/

How did you celebrate the publishing of your book? :)

Feasting on cupcakes with family and friends!

*****

Aimee Agresti was voted “Quietest” of her high school class–probably because she spent too much time with her nose buried in books. Clearly, becoming a writer was the only possible choice. She now happily toggles between the realms of fact and fiction. The author of the young adult novel ILLUMINATE, she’s also a former Us Weekly staff writer and entertainment journalist whose work has appeared in People, Premiere, DC Magazine, Capitol File, The Washington Post, Washingtonian, The Washington City Paper, Boston magazine, Women’s Health and the New York Observer to name a few. Aimee has made countless TV and radio appearances dishing about celebrities on the likes of Access Hollywood, Entertainment Tonight, E!, The Insider, Extra, VH1, MSNBC, Fox News Channel, Headline News, A&E, and ABC News Now. She graduated from Northwestern University with a degree in journalism and lives with her husband and son in Washington, DC, where she can often be found skulking around the Smithsonian museums on slow writing days waiting for inspiration to strike.

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The debut

Illuminate
by Aimee Agresti
(Gilded Wings #1)

Published: March 6th 2012 by Harcourt Children's Book

Summary (Goodreads):

Haven Terra is a brainy, shy high school outcast. But everything begins to change when she turns sixteen. Along with her best friend Dante and their quiet and brilliant classmate Lance, she is awarded a prestigious internship in the big city— Chicago—and is sent to live and work at a swanky and stylish hotel under the watchful eyes of a group of gorgeous and shockingly young-looking strangers: powerful and alluring hotel owner Aurelia Brown; her second-in-command, the dashing Lucian Grove; and their stunning but aloof staff of glamazons called The Outfit.
As Haven begins falling for Lucian, she discovers that these beautiful people are not quite what they seem. With the help of a mysterious book, she uncovers a network of secret passageways from the hotel’s jazz-age past that leads her to the heart of the evil agenda of Aurelia and company: they’re in the business of buying souls. Will they succeed in wooing Haven to join them in their recruitment efforts, or will she be able to thwart this devilish set’s plans to take the souls of her classmates on prom night at the hotel?
Illuminate is an exciting saga of a teen’s first taste of independence, her experience in the lap of luxury, and her discovery she may possess strength greater than she ever knew.

Buy Illuminate now!

The sequel

Infatuate

by Aimee Agresti

(Gilded Wings #2)

Expected publication: March 5th 2013

by Harcourt Children's Books

Summary (Goodreads):

Haven Terra is still recovering from an internship that brought her literally to the brink of hell when a trip to New Orleans leads to more trouble. Graduating early from high school leaves the spring semester free, so Haven and her friends Dante and Lance head to the Big Easy to volunteer with community service projects. But their true mission becomes clear when they run across an enclave of devils known as the Krewe. New Orleans is a free-for-all for these shape-shifting devils, who are more reckless and vicious than any Haven, Lance, and Dante have encountered. And they soon discover their French Quarter housemates are also angels-in-training, and together they must face off with the Krewe in their quest for wings. But Haven’s resolve is tested when Lucian, the repentant devil with whom she was infatuated, resurfaces and asks her for help escaping the underworld. Can he be trusted? Or will aiding him cost Haven her angel wings—and her life? Thrilling, romantic, and full of surprises, this gripping sequel to Illuminate takes the battle of good and evil to the next level.

Pre-order Infatuate now!