Author Interview: Josephine Angelini (Author of the Starcrossed trilogy)

Hey guys! We have a very special person on visiting our blog today! We're so very excited to have her with us today... and we're seriously trying to hold in our fangirling. Without further ado, presenting the very lovely JOSEPHINE ANGELINI!

Josephine Angelini is the International bestselling author of the Starcrossed trilogy. She was born in Nantucket and can totally drive a badass tractor. You can contact and chat her up at her blog, Facebook and Twitter as well!

Are these covers gorgeous or what?

Check out her books: Starcrossed and Dreamless, the first and second book of the Starcrossed trilogy! (Both which we've reviewed: Geraldine's review of Starcrossed, my review of Dreamless.)

And watch out for her third and the final book of the trilogy, GODDESS, coming out May 2013.

And we're so very happy to have her here today with us for an interview!

Check it out:

Hi Josie! Welcome to The Soul Sisters and thanks for agreeing to do this interview with us!

Hi Louisse!  I'm so happy you asked me.  If I answer all the question really, really good, can I get honorary Soul Sister status? (<-- Why yes, yes you may.)

What inspired or made you choose Greek mythology as the basis of your first book series? Did you originally have trouble picking out what to base your books on?

I studied classical theater at NYU (yes, that is an actual major) and so I was familiar with all the Greek plays.  The most common advice for new writers is, "write what you know" and Greek tragedy is something that I felt comfortable using as a jumping off point for my first book.  I've also always loved fantasy and science fiction.  I grew up reading a lot of Greek mythology so I had already done most of my research-- which was very convenient!

So far, I haven't had any problem picking what to base my books on but check back with me in about three or four years and I may have a different answer!

Do you ever feel like you need to change anything or fix parts of Starcrossed and Dreamless? And which of the two is your favorite or made you the most satisfied?

Neither books are perfect, but I am so grateful that I got published in the first place that I can't help but think I wouldn't change a thing.  I think all writers look back on their work and think, "who wrote that unbelievably cheesy book?" at some point, but just to have something published is something to be proud of.

Of the two books, I think Dreamless is more satisfying because of the ending.  I'm really pleased with how that turned out. 

Is it weird seeing your books in bookstores or when random people see you and scream, "OMGODS!! IT'S JOSEPHINE ANGELINI!! CHASE HER!!!!"?

I get really shy when I see my books in stores.  I know I'm supposed to introduce myself to the bookstore staff and ask if can sign the stock, but most of the time I chicken out.  I always think they'll be like, "who are you?  No, you're not important enough" and I end up slinking a side door.

I haven't been followed by rabid fans just yet, but when I do will you be my Penguin bodyguard? (<-- The answer to this is yes. I'll totally bust out my ninja moves too!)

Can you give us any hint on what might happen in Goddess? Like, we dunno... if Helen were to ditch Lucas for Orion? Just a suggestion. ;)

Helen and Orion get their moment.  You'll just have to wait and see.  ;)

If Lucas were to go on a smackdown with either Edward Cullen or Percy Jackson, who do you think would come out victorious? And if shirtlessness were involved, who'd be the hottest? Ooooh.


The best part about writing about Greek gods is that the phrase "most beautiful man EVER" is totally applicable.  If Lucas were to take off his shirt while fighting, he'd win.  He'd blind the competition with his hotness.  On top of that, I've never really seen Edward as a fighter--he's more of a brooder, don't you think?  Now, if Lucas were to fight Percy I think we'd have a bit of a stand off for a sec, but Lucas would eventually win.  He's older and bigger than Percy.

Do you enjoy it when readers tell you you're evil and that you made them cry because of a certain part of a book? Because a little birdie did tell me that authors feed on their reader's tears...

Yes, I really enjoy hearing that I've made readers cry/stay up all night reading/made them a book junkie.  And yes, authors do feed on you tears.  They're like literary Red Bull.  They make us type faster.
Whenever you write, are there times when you feel like your characters don't always agree with you? Are there times when you just want to hit them on the head and choke them to death but you know you can't 'cause they're important or are they usually agreeable and you get your work done easily?

My characters never wander away from my outlines-- or at least they never wander far, although I do tend to build on them as I go.  There are characters that I love to hate, though.  But even the evil ones are sort of dear to me because I understand why they're doing what they're doing.  There is one character that I really enjoyed killing, though.  I don't want to ruin it for any new readers, but I get him really good at the end of Dreamless.  

Quick questions:

Sweet or Spicy?  Spicy

Coffee or hot chocolate? Coffee

Comedy or Horror?  Probably comedy.  Wait, what kind of horror?  I'm not into slasher movies.  I love movies like 28 Days Later, Alien-- action based horror with really good directing.  The problem is that I secretly love horror, I just get wicked nightmares and usually chicken out, but when I watch them I want to see them over and over.

Left or Right?  Left

Up or Down? Up up up.

Lucas or Orion? (Just had to put that there. LOL)  Lucas.  Although Orion is pretty tempting.

Cats or Penguins? (O.o)  Aw Penguin!  I'm going to have to go with cats.  

Any books you'd like to recommend to your readers? :) 

 Lately I've been telling everyone to read Eve by Anna Carey. But I think they already have. :D

Thank you so much for dropping by and we hope you continue to make swoon-worthy and heart-poundingly awesome books! :)

Me too!  :D  Thanks so much for the interview.  Big Hug from LA!