Welcome to the blog tour for The Chemistry of Fate by Meradeth Houston! Today is my stop, and I have a review HERE, interview, and giveaway! Enjoy!
Introducing... Meradeth Houston!
A: Hi, Ms. Houston! Thank you so much for doing this interview with me!
M: Thanks so much for having me! It’s a treat to be on your blog.
A: So! How does it feel to be a published author for a second time?
M: It’s a little more nerve wracking, to be honest. I kind of know more of what to do, but I also know more of what to expect and that can be a bit daunting!
A: Why young adult? What draws you to this age level?
M: When I was a teen, books were a huge part of my life and totally vital to my sanity. Writing for young adults is kind of my way of giving back.
A: Do you ever read reviews of your books?
M: Sigh. Yes. I can’t stop myself. I know sometimes I should just leave it all well enough alone, but it’s kind of like knowing someone’s written something about you on the bathroom wall. Even if it’s in the guy’s bathroom, you’re going to find a way to figure out what it says!
A: What book or book series has been particularly influential to you? What’s your favorite book or series?
M: Madeline L’Engles’ A Wrinkle In Time, and all of the accompanying books were, and still are, my favorites. They were very influential in making me want to make up stories that were so cool. Also, the Harry Potter series was also something I adored and made me want to write, too!
A: How has your personal life impacted your writing, or the content of your books?
M: Other than the most obvious of attempting to find time to write while finishing my degree, and now teaching a huge class load, my scientific background really influenced me. I love finding little science-related things to fit into my books J. And of course, working with all college kids, all the time, helps to keep me in the loop, especially for The Chemistry of Fate.
A: How did the Sary come about?
M: The Sary are a rather random mix of a bunch of different things, scrambled, blended, and chilled for several years in the back of my mind. Originally, I remember reading Many Waters by Madeline L’Engle, and the characters gave me some of the original ideas for winged beings, and the rest came together bit by bit as I wrote and explored the world.
A: How is writing a companion novel different from writing a sequel, or a new novel?
M: Well, Chemistry is set before Colors Like Memories, which means I can’t mix up my timelines. But other than that, Chemistry stands on its own without Colors—they have separate characters, plots, though they are set in the same world.
A: What, if anything, are you currently writing? (If it is not an officially contracted manuscript, can you tell us a little bit about your project?)
M: I’m currently working on the third Sary book, which I’m attempting to edit and get ready to send to my editor. Praying that gets done this summer sometime! I’m also working on another sci-fi New Adult book that I’m just starting to send our queries for—cross your fingers for me please!
A: *crosses fingers, toes, arms, legs*
A few non-book-related questions…
A: Tell us an interesting story from when you were in high school?
M: Hmm, how about an entirely embarrassing one? In 9th grade (which is still Junior High where I’m from, but close enough!). Anyhow, I had to take a math test I’d missed during my lunch period, but my math teacher also taught boy’s PE, so I was taking it in the gym with him. Because it was noisy, he decided to let me take it in the PE office, which happened to be in the boy’s locker room.
Can you guess where this is going?
He forgot me there, and the boys returned and started showering. Mortified, I hid under one of the desks until he remembered me and came back. Instead of letting me hide (I couldn’t see anything!) he dragged me out, towel wrapped around my head, and led me out in front of all the boys in my class. Can I just say I was mortified? Thank you, Mr. Morelli.
I still hear about this one every time I go home and run into old classmates….
A: What’s one of the most embarrassing things you’ve done in college?
M: Just one? I did a LOT. Probably the worst was going on a late night people scavenger hunt at Wal-Mart. (Don’t judge, but this involved finding people with certain, er, traits, and taking photos with them, though they couldn't know why you wanted to take a photo with them. My friends were strange, but it was fun!) Anyhow, there was a guy in Wal-Mart with an incredible mullet, which was one of the items on our list. I had to take the photo of my friend, but couldn't stop laughing. Mullet-man caught on to us being up to something, got upset, and we ran away, crying we were laughing so hard. Strange, and now that I look back on it, entirely too embarrassing!
A: What is something that you have done that you wish every person could do!
M: Take an anthropology class! Seriously. Okay, that, or visit a foreign country (or more than one, but I’ll start simple). But, really, take an anthropology class and learn about human history and all the variability that exists.
A: Where is one place in the world that you would love to visit?
M: I would love, love, love to go back to Japan. I adored it there. But, I’ve never been to anywhere in Africa yet, and that’s something I’d like to rectify sometime soon!
A: And that's it, folks! Thank you so much for joining us today, Ms. Houston!
About the Author:
Meradeth’s never been a big fan of talking about herself, but if you really want to know, here are some random tidbits about her:
>She’s a Northern California girl, but now lives and teaches anthropology in Montana.
>When she’s not writing, she’s sequencing dead people’s DNA. For fun!
>She’s been writing since she was 11 years old. It's her hobby, her passion, and she’s so happy to get to share her work!
>If she could have a super-power, it would totally be flying. Which is a little strange, because she’s terrified of heights.
The Giveaway:
I tried when I was little and just didn't have the will power.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the giveaway!
mestith at gmail dot com
Thanks for joining in!
DeleteI tried to as a youth buy I had siblings that would read it and them give me grief, so I stopped.
ReplyDeleteOh no! That's terrible. Siblings are difficult when it comes to stuff like that :/
DeleteThanks so much for posting this interview!!
ReplyDeleteI tried when I was in highschool but my entries were spaced about six months apart
ReplyDeleteThat's cool! Might be fun to check them out again some day!
Deleteyes ever since i was little. I still do. It helps sometimes just to get words out... and its fun looking back when i was younger.
ReplyDeleteI think the exact same thing!
DeleteI have numerous journals but...I'm really bad at actually writing in them, it's true.
ReplyDeletelol, you're not he only one! :)
DeleteI have started several journals but never completed them. I will have to try now that I'm older and the kids are in school
ReplyDeleteI'll bet your kids would thank you for it later :)
DeleteI kept one when I was little and then one in middle school. Sometimes I go back and read them and want to throw them away but I know I'll always get a laugh from them so I keep them haha
ReplyDeletelol, love this answer! You'll definitely get a good laugh from them someday :)
DeleteI have kept a journal off and on for years...I wish I had kept it up more...especially when the kids were little and write down the funny stuff they said or done
ReplyDeleteIt's hard to keep up with, but it's fun!
DeleteI did when I was little, and then as a teenager I had one online..well more than one on Deadjournal and goodjournal =)
ReplyDeleteI kept a journal in my teenage years but that was long ago.
ReplyDelete:(
I hear ya there! :)
DeleteI kept a journal when I was a younger teen (middle school-ish age), but it was so embarrassing to read it later that I quit writing in it. Plus I had siblings that would've tortured me with details I wouldn't have wanted to share ;)
ReplyDeletelol! I really hope no one reads mine until long after I'm gone!!
DeleteI've never heard of Xanga--sounds interesting!
ReplyDeleteI kept a journal in jr. high/high school for awhile. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteThanks for joining in! :)
DeleteNo I have never kept a journal but was actually thinking about starting one. Thank you for the amazing giveaway!
ReplyDeleteI hope you do! :)
DeleteI used to keep a journal when I was younger, but the most I've been able to do in recent years is keep a photo journal on my phone! Thanks for the giveaway!
ReplyDeleteI love the photo journal idea! That's seriously creative :)
DeleteNo, I've never kept a journal.
ReplyDeleteDigicats {at} Sbcglobal {dot} Net
Thanks for joining in :)
DeleteI have MANY journals, but I do better at keeping up with blogs.
ReplyDeleteThat's cool! Glad to hear it :)
DeleteYes! When I was a girl and even a teenager, it's so fun to read what I wrote that time...
ReplyDeleteThat's awesome :) I definitely love going back and reading what I wrote.
DeleteYup(: I still keep one now!
ReplyDeleteThat's cool!
DeleteI have not kept journal, but has always wanted to.
ReplyDeleteI hope you get a chance to :)
DeleteI used to keep a journal when I was a pre-teen, but my sister, who I shared a room with, kept finding my hiding places and would read it, so I gave it up.
ReplyDeleteMaybe I'll take it back up again!
Little sisters are fun like that :) I hope you do take it up again!
DeleteYes, I still keep one, but I rarely write in it.
ReplyDeleteThat's cool though!
DeleteI've kept alot of them!
ReplyDeleteThat's awesome!!
DeleteI kept a journal when I was in grade school/Jr. High and had about 5 pages written in it :-)
ReplyDeletelol, I have a few of those myself :)
DeleteI used to keep one in middle school/elementary school. I couldn't stay committed to it for long, and one day I reread it and thought it so dumb I decided to get rid of it :/ Now, though, I'm thinking of starting perhaps not really a journal, but something along the lines of a scrapbook.
ReplyDeleteScrapbooks are awesome ways to journal, I think :)
DeleteI have always TRIED to keep journals. I usually am pretty good about writing in them for the first few weeks then I start to forget and my journal lays unused. Now since I been in school, I do keep journals for class notes and such. lol
ReplyDeleteI know how that goes! School journals can be interesting to look back on too, I think :)
DeleteI have kept a journal off and on for years.
ReplyDeleteThat's cool :)
DeleteI journal daily. It's a way for me to relax.
ReplyDeleteMe too! :)
Delete