Celebrating Debutantes: Author Elizabeth Norris (Interview + Giveaway)

We're down to the second to the last debut author!

Today, let's welcome the author who wrote a sci-fi novel, next project is a contemporary mystery and has plans into writing a fantasy, middle grade and adult book!

Author Elizabeth Norris

"Someone was quoting Unraveling and me, and I just feel really awed. I couldn't stop smiling that whole day."

- ELIZABETH NORRIS, debut author of 2012








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

It's a strange feeling. There's so much waiting and then so much whirlwind craziness when it comes to publishing a book. When Unraveling first came out I was so excited but also so nervous. I hadn't even let my family or friends read the book, and I was really afraid they wouldn't like it. I think my best moment and the moment when it really sunk in that I was a published author(!) was when I was on tumblr and I saw a post with a cool quote...that seemed really familiar. And then I realized it was familiar because I wrote it! Someone was quoting Unraveling and me, and I just feel really awed. I couldn't stop smiling that whole day. 

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

The MTV news was really cool. I can only imagine how awesome it would feel to see my book on screen as a TV show. But I think the best thing that happened after publication is much more personal. My long distance relationship became not long distance, and I gained more confidence in my writing. 

Are you interested in writing with different genre or audience?

Some day I'd love to write a middle grade book or an adult book. I have ideas, it's just a matter of having the time. I also have a fantasy idea that is my baby. It's that book that I've been working on and thinking about since I was 18. Who knows if it will ever get published or if it would fit better as YA or adult, but it's definitely a labor of love in the back of my mind.  

Do you read reviews about your book?

Not really. If bloggers tweet or email them to me I read them, but I don't seek them out. I'm really glad I've written something that makes people feel things, but reviews are for people who want to decide whether they're going to read the book. Not really for me.

What is your (best/fun/unforgettable) moment with a fan?

I was in San Diego at Mysterious Galaxy for a signing and two fans brought me a carne asada burrito from Roberto's--which is what Ben gets for Janelle (it's her favorite) in the book. Also at that same signing, a fan gave me a letter inviting me to Hogwarts (I'd totally be Ravenclaw) and it was awesome. 

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

Janelle and Ben. People either really like or really don't like Janelle. (I think that's a strong personality thing). Then a lot of people really love Ben, which is great. I love him too. 

Was there any book/s from other debut author of 2012 that you loved?

There were so many--Two highlights of my reading from debut authors though were Born Wicked by Jessica Spotswood and Brain on Fire by Susannah Calahan (an insanely good adult memoir).

Did you read your book (like, from first page to last)? If you did, what did you felt? 

I read it from first page to last in several stages, but when it was actually the final book, I didn't. I was in the middle of editing the sequel when it came out and I was trying to get everything to fit together right and I didn't want to somehow mess that up. I'm actually about to do my first pass pages (the almost final step) of Unbreakable and I'm going to sit down and read it out loud from first page to last because that will help me catch any errors. 

Tell us about your next project.

So obviously, there's Unbreakable, which is the sequel to Unraveling. That comes out April 23rd. Then the project I'm finishing up right now is my novella, which is three stories from Ben's POV which will actually come out before Unbreakable on March 15th. Then my next project is a contemporary mystery that I'm really excited about. It takes place in a seasonal beach town that's famous for things like homemade fudge, boardwalk carnivals, saltwater taffy, and the high profile abduction of a six year old girl. The book opens eleven years later when she comes back--alive. 

Share us one embarrassing moment you've had.

This is pretty embarrassing (and not the smartest thing I've done), but I was a competitive swimmer, and when I was a junior in high school I was at a meet in upstate NY and swam the first event Friday night and then was hanging around with a bunch of friends for the right of the meet. We ended up playing a card game where the winner had to dare the loser to do things. When I lost, I was dared to moon the pool deck from this small room upstairs (it had a window that looked down on deck). I thought no one would see me because no one would really be looking up there. But right before I did it, my friend pounded on the glass and everyone on deck looked up--and everyone in the stands (all the parents) looked over and saw me. I had a write an apology letter which my coach taped up to a bulletin board on the main entrance for the next two days of the meet.

Fave joke?

One of my best friends from high school always used to tell this joke about a guy who bought a hundred bricks to build a wall, but it only takes 99 so he throws the last one up in the air. It's not funny at all, but she would just laugh hysterically while she told it which made it really funny. Then of course she'd tell another joke which ended with a brick crashing through a window. (Still not funny unless she was telling it) 

What's the recent thing that made you cry?

I'm terrible. I cry all the time. Last night I watched Scandal and got all teary during a flashback between Olivia and Fitz.

When's your birthday?

March 

Do you read/believe in horoscopes?

I read them. I only believe them when they're good. 

Fave movie?

There are so many, but one of my all time favorites is Donnie Darko. 

Fave artist/song?

I love anything by Adele and Florence + The Machine, but right now I'm really into Lights by Ellie Goulding. It's sort of the theme song for something I'm working on. 

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

I invited a bunch of friends to join me at Flute, a champagne bar in NYC and we hung out and had drinks.  

*****

Elizabeth Norris briefly taught high school English and history before trading the San Diego beaches and sunshine for Manhattan's snowpocalyptic winters. She harbors dangerous addictions to guacamole, red velvet cupcakes, sushi, and Argo Tea, fortunately not all together. Unraveling is her first novel.

Blog * Tumblr * Facebook (Author / Unraveling Series) * Twitter

The debut

Unraveling
by Elizabeth Norris
(Unraveling #1)

Published: Published April 24th 2012 by Balzer + Bray

Summary (Goodreads):


Two days before the start of her junior year, seventeen-year-old Janelle Tenner is hit by a pickup truck and killed--as in blinding light, scenes of her life flashing before her, and then nothing. Except the next thing she knows, she's opening her eyes to find Ben Michaels, a loner from her high school whom Janelle has never talked to, leaning over her. And even though it isn't possible, she knows--with every fiber of her being--that Ben has somehow brought her back to life.

But her revival, and Ben's possible role in it, is only the first of the puzzles that Janelle must solve. While snooping in her FBI agent father's files for clues about her accident, she uncovers a clock that seems to be counting down to something--but to what? And when someone close to Janelle is killed, she can no longer deny what's right in front of her: Everything that's happened--the accident, the murder, the countdown clock, Ben's sudden appearance in her life--points to the end of life as she knows it. And as the clock ticks down, she realizes that if she wants to put a stop to the end of the world, she's going to need to uncover Ben's secrets--and keep from falling in love with him in the process.

From debut author Elizabeth Norris comes this shattering novel of one girl's fight to save herself, her world, and the boy she never saw coming.



Praises for Unraveling:

“This high-stakes thriller—complete with mind-bending sci-fi twist—will hook you and never let go.”— Pittacus Lore, #1 New York Times bestselling author of I Am Number Four

“If Veronica Mars snatched a case from Mulder and Scully, you’d get this fast-paced page-turner. With a heroine full of moxie, wicked surprises around every corner, and non-stop action, UNRAVELING is an irresistible thriller.” - Andrea Cremer, New York Times bestselling author of the Nightshade trilogy 

“Leav[es] the reader wanting more and begging for a sequel to this multilayered debut.” - Voice of Youth Advocates (VOYA)

“Readers will enjoy the nonstop action and romance.” - School Library Journal

“A satisfying puzzle full of novel twists and provocative clues.” - Publishers Weekly

Buy Unraveling now!

The novella 

Undone by Elizabeth Norris (Unraveling #1.5) 

Three stories from Ben's perspective, one that takes place a year before Unraveling, one that takes place during Unraveling, and one that takes place between Unraveling and Unbreakable.

The sequel

Unbreakable

by Elizabeth Norris

(Unraveling #2)

Expected publication: April 23rd 2013

by Balzer + Bray

Summary (Goodreads):

Four months after Ben disappeared through the portal to his home universe, Janelle believes she’ll never see him again. Her world is still devastated, but life is finally starting to resume some kind of normalcy. Until Interverse Agent Taylor Barclay shows up. Somebody from an alternate universe is running a human trafficking ring, kidnapping people and selling them on different Earths—and Ben is the prime suspect. Now his family has been imprisoned and will be executed if Ben doesn’t turn himself over within five days.

And when Janelle learns that someone she cares about—someone from her own world—has become one of the missing, she knows that she has to help Barclay, regardless of the danger. Now Janelle has five days to track down the real culprit. Five days to locate the missing people before they’re lost forever. Five days to reunite with the boy who stole her heart. But as the clues begin to add up, Janelle realizes that she’s in way over her head—and that she may not have known Ben as well as she thought. Can she uncover the truth before everyone she cares about is killed?

Pre-order Unbreakable now!

GIVEAWAY!

- win a SIGNED copy of Unraveling AND pre-order of the digital novella, Undone

- open INTERNATIONALLY!

- one winner will be picked via Rafflecopter entries.

- the winning entry will be CHECKED. So please be honest in entering each one of them--you never know, it might be the winning entry.

- if the winner has not responded within 48 hours, another winner will be picked.

- all personal details will be kept privately and deleted after.

- Elizabeth and I are not responsible for any lost or damaged packages.

- ends January 13th

* I would like to thank Elizabeth Norris for droppin' by today and for the donation of her books for the giveaway!

Previous author (Dec. 27th): Rachel Harris
Next author (Dec.29th): Ingrid Paulson
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