Purchase STRUCK: Amazon
Add it to your TBR: GoodreadsIn two days, I'm going to be meeting this amazing woman and I am so excited!!! She's been nice enough to visit Literary Exploration today, so take some time to learn more about her and her book! You can check out my 4 star review here: STRUCK by Jennifer Bosworth
1. Convince us to read STRUCK, Twitter style (in 140 characters or less!)
A teenage lightning addict faces down against two warring doomsday cults in an apocalyptic battle for earth.
2. What was your inspiration for writing STRUCK?
There were quite a few, but the most important was, simply, lightning. It’s a mysterious phenomenon, but people take it for granted because it’s so common. Most people have no idea what lightning is capable of, and the fact that there are actual, real-life human lightning rods fascinated me. I had to write create one of my own.
3. Did you grow up in a religious household?
I did, and in a religious state, as well. I was raised Mormon in Utah, the heart of Mormondom. When I was really young, I didn’t understand that there was any other way to be than Mormon. That’s why I love living in L.A. now. There is every kind and every color of people here. I like being able to walk down the street in L.A. and have no idea what people’s stories are.
4. Are any of your characters based on someone you know in real life?
Does it count if I based the main character, Mia, on me? Not on purpose, but she definitely inherited a few traits, especially my cynicism.
5. Who was your favorite character to write? Who was your least favorite?
I love villains, so Prophet was one of my favorites to write. Katrina, who plays another antagonistic role in Mia’s life, was another favorite. I might be a bit of a sadist. I love creating characters that will torture my heroine.
Least favorite . . . I’d have to say Mia’s little brother, Parker, because he’s so good. I’m a big fan of flawed characters, but Parker isn’t all that flawed. He’s an angel who always wants to do the right thing. I prefer writing characters who make terrible choices.
6. There aren't a lot of close family relationships in STRUCK, what was your relationship with your family like?
You catch Mia at a point in her life when family relationships that used to be close are now crumbling. She’s holding on to what her relationships used to be, even though her mom and brother have other priorities, and they’re pulling away from her.
My relationship with my family is ever-evolving. Growing up, I always felt like an alien among them, although I wasn’t sure why. I just felt like I was . . . different. I’m not sure my family ever understood me, or that I understood them, but we got along for the most part, and we still do.
7. Mia is a lightening addict, what are some of your addictions?
Haha. I love this question. I have an extremely addictive personality, but luckily I’ve never been addicted to anything truly dangerous. I’ve been addicted to popcorn, and used to eat it for at least one meal a day. I’ve been addicted to Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Back when it was on air, I’d record each episode and then watch them over and over again. In junior high I was addicted to making out with boys. Okay, high school, too.
8. Who has been your biggest support during this experience?
My husband, Ryan, for sure. Ryan tells me that he knew the moment he first saw me that I was meant to do something special, and he’s always supported me as a writer. I honestly don’t know if I’d have made it to this point without him believing in me, and convincing me to believe in myself. He also directed and did all the post and VFX on the book trailer for STRUCK, which took months of intensive work. I couldn’t ask for a better husband and supporter.
9. What's sitting on your night stand RIGHT NOW?
Stephen King’s new Dark Tower book, The Wind Through the Keyhole. The Dark Tower series has been my biggest inspiration, so when King released a DT 4.5 novel, I almost cried tears of joy.
10. What kind of advice can you give teenagers? Writing or otherwise.
Never let anyone else do your thinking for you. Not your parents, not politicians, not religious leaders, not your friends. Question everything. That’s how you discover who you really are.
***** I'd love to thank Jennifer for stopping by today and letting us into her a life a little bit :) I can't wait to meet you on Thursday!!!!