Reading Teen is so excited to have Alexandra Monir here today to answer some questions about our Reading Clean Spotlight "Timeless". This singer/songwriter, actor and amazing author sang the songs for the book. Check it out on iTunes. TWO very lucky followers will receive her CD along with the giveaway of this book, so be sure and fill out the form. Reading Clean Spotlight link below!
Click on these links...
RT: What inspired you to write this book?
AM: History is one of my biggest passions, and I've always wished I could go back in time myself- so writing about time-travel was a bit of wish-fulfillment for me! I also loved the concept of two people from different centuries finding each other and falling in love, and that was an idea I really wanted to explore.
RT: I loved Michele Windsor, did someone inspire you as you developed her character?
AM: Thank you! As I developed Michele's character, I knew that I really wanted her to be someone that readers could both relate to and look up to. Since she goes through so much in the story, it was important to me that she be a strong and inspiring person, to have a solid sense of self, and to maintain her sense of humor and optimism. So rather than basing her on someone specific, it was more about me creating a character that I really liked and wanted to spend time writing.
RT: Who was your favorite character in this book?
AM: I love Michele and Philip, but my favorite character has to be Lily- she was just so much fun to write!
RT: You and Phillip Walker share a passion for music, would you like to expand on that?
AM: Music is my first love! I've been a singer/songwriter since I was a teenager. I love combining music with storytelling, such as writing and recording the original songs for Timeless.
RT: Will Timeless be a stand alone or have a sequel?
AM: I'm currently writing the sequel! It's called THE TIMEKEEPER and it publishes next year.
RT: What ritual did you have while writing Timeless?
AM: I always listen to music in my headphones when I write. I had a special TIMELESS playlist, with certain songs corresponding to particular scenes I was writing, which helped me get extra immersed in the story.
RT: Did you have a favorite snack while writing?
AM: Candy! I think I did a pretty solid amount of typing while munching on Swedish Fish.
RT: If you could go back in time, where would you go and why?
AM: I have a whole list of places I'd love to go! Definitely the eras I wrote about in Timeless, especially the Gilded Age and the 1920s. But I'd also really want to go back to the 1950s and meet my grandmother, who passed away before I was born.
RT: What did you do in celebration when you finished writing Timeless?
AM: That was such an exciting time! I remember treating myself to a couple hot stone massages and pedicures.
RT: Can you tell us a snippet/teaser from your favorite part of this book?
AM: My favorite part is definitely when Michele sees Philip in person for the first time. After all these years of dreaming about this mysterious handsome stranger, to discover that he was real was such a huge moment and I loved writing it.
RT: The girl on the cover is a perfect Michele, did you have a part in the design?
AM: I wasn't involved in the cover design, other than giving a worshipful "Thank you!!" to the Random House team who put it together. I absolutely love it!
RT: I know you sang some songs for the book, which came first the music or the book?
AM: The book came first. While I was working on the scenes where Michele & Philip write music together, that's when I wrote their songs.
Again, a big thanks to Alexandra Monir for taking the time to answer some questions about our Reading Clean Spotlight for the month of June.
Don't forget to click on those links above and be sure to enter the giveaway for this amazing romantic time-traveling novel.
~ Amy
Omg! I love this book! The cover was so pretty and I agree that the girl was a perfect Michelle :]
ReplyDeleteAwesome interview ladies! Alexandra seems such a nice person! And it's so cool that she's a singer AND an author... I'm sure the two complete each other perfectly!<3
ReplyDeleteHaha, I like munching candies when I;m working too!:D
I love the cover of Timeless, I can't wait to read it! (It's been on my wishlist for a while now)
xoxo