Interview/Giveaway: Anne and Henry by Dawn Ius

Please welcome Dawn Ius, author of Anne & Henry! She’s visiting A Book and a Latte today for an interview to celebrate the release of her YA novel, Anne & Henry. Check out my Q & A with her below, and be sure to enter the giveaway!

Anne & Henry by Dawn Ius

Publication Date: September 1, 2015
Publisher: SimonTEEN

Q & A with Dawn Ius

In the length of a tweet (140 characters), tell us about your book.

Set in a modern high school, ANNE & HENRY reimagines the intensity, love, & betrayal between one of the most infamous couples of all time.

What was your favorite book when you were a child/teen?

I have three—and it’s impossible to narrow it down any further. They remain my three favorite books today: Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl, The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton, and Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll. I loved the wonder that Dahl’s chocolate factory created (and it might explain my current chocolate addition), The Outsiders for it’s brilliance (written by Hinton when she was just 16!), and Alice because her sense of adventure has always inspired my own. To this day, my mom still calls me “Alice”—her little dreamer.

Is there a song you could list as the theme song for your book or any of your characters?

I created an entire playlist for ANNE & HENRY on Soundcloud and played it so often my husband jokingly (I think) considered divorce: https://soundcloud.com/dawnius/sets/anne-henry. But the one song that always gets me back into the ANNE & HENRY mindset (and was on repeat while writing about a third of the book) is called Flash of Light by Parade of Lights: https://soundcloud.com/dawnius/sets/muse.

What advice would you give to aspiring authors?

Cliché, perhaps, but also vital: read and write. I once saw an inspirational talk by New York Times Bestselling author Bryce Courtney where he introduced the concept of “Bum Glue.” And really, that’s what it’s about—keeping your bum in the chair. I also recommend reading Stephen King’s no-nonsense book, On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft.

 What’s your favorite quote?

“Imagination is more important than knowledge.” — Albert EinsteinThe quick backstory on this is that my sister is an academic—a brilliant forensic psychologist with “doctor” added to her name and everything. As a “creative” kid, I always felt…inadequate. I liked school, I went to University and have had great jobs as a Journalist and communications / PR specialst—but I’m definitely not an academic. My sister showed me this quote once, and when I sold ANNE & HENRY, I had it tattooed on my arm, a reminder that it’s (more than) okay to dream.

Who or what inspired you to become an author?

My Grade 5 teacher, Mrs. Kratky. We called her Mrs. Crabby, because, well, she was—and the entire class feared her. One day, she asked us to write a short story. A week or so later, she handed our stories back, and like all of my peers, I was anxious about my mark. Her grades often made students cry. I flipped through the entire story, but it wasn’t until the back page that I found a personal message to me written in red pen: Please see me after school. Your parents have been invited. More terrifying words have never been written. As it turns out, Mrs. Kratky wanted to give my parents the heads up that she thought I had “talent” and that they should consider nurturing it. She even enlisted me in creative writing classes. Best. Teacher. Ever.

What TV show is your guilty pleasure?

24. I’ve probably watched all seasons five or six times, and have been known to rearrange my living room to binge watch an entire season in a weekend. That said, TV is one of my favorite ways to unwind and my tastes are varied and borderline obsessive. My current faves include everything from Penny Dreadful, Game of Thrones and Orphan Black, to The Voice, UnREAL, and perhaps a close second to 24, Sons of Anarchy. But even looking at that list, I’m cringing about the shows I haven’t mentioned that are so good—like Mr. Robot! It’s a really great time for TV right now.

What is something people would be surprised to know about you?

I LOVE sports cars and all things to do with car racing. My favorite car is a 1967 Shelby GT 500, otherwise known as Eleanor from the movie Gone with 60 Seconds.

Do you have any pets?

I have an amazing English Mastiff named Roarke—who is pretty much the most gentle giant of a dog you can imagine. I’m convinced he thinks he’s human. I also have three bearded dragons (call me Khaleesi!)—Imoji, Jaspar, and Topaz.

Do your friends or enemies ever find themselves in your books?

Friends? Yes, absolutely! Enemies? Hm…I’d love to tell you, but… 😉

Where is your favorite place to write?

I am ridiculously spoiled in that my husband is a construction worker and actually built me a small cedar writing cabin that takes up a lot of room in our small back yard. In it, I have a desk, a reading bench, a giant whiteboard, and a healthy-ish stash of snack foods. From Spring until late Fall (it’s insulated, but I live in wintery Alberta, Canada), this is where I am happiest—but I’ve learned to write in hotels, on planes, at the kitchen table, in campgrounds, or wherever I can find a bit of extra time, even if that means jotting something down in a Moleskin notebook while waiting in the bank line.

Are you working on something new? Can you tell us what’s coming next?

I am super excited for OVERDRIVE (Fall 2016, Simon Pulse), loosely described as Gone in 60 Seconds for young adults. This book encompasses so many of my favorite things—hot muscle cars, street racing, heists, a steamy romance, and a killer cast that includes Julia Parish, a former-ballerina-turned-car-thief with the kind of stealth that’s earned her the street name, Ghost. I’ve loved writing this book and can’t wait to share it.

About Dawn Ius

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Many thanks to Dawn for stopping by and answering my questions, and SimonTeen for the opportunity!

Giveaway

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