My thanks to Emlyn Chand for stopping by The Character Connection for an author interview during the blog tour for her book, Farsighted. Author Interview
1. Who is your favorite character?Definitely Shapri Teak, daughter of the woman who runs a psychic shop in a small Midwest town.
2. Why is he/she your favorite?
Not only is she the most fun of all my characters, but she’s also the kind of the person I wish I could have been like back when I was younger. She’s strong, always true to herself, and won’t let anyone disrespect her. Sure, she has fears, but we all do. Shapri is the kind of girl I would love to be friends with. You know she’ll always go to bat for you when you’re too tired to step up to the plate.
3. How did you come to create him/her?
For each manuscript I write, I have one minor character who refuses to remain minor. These players take over the stage and throw-out my previous plans. In Farsighted, this character was Shapri. I just openly admitted to her being my favorite and many readers adore her as well, but she was not supposed to be a main character. She demanded it, and I’m so glad I listened!
4. When did he/she first enter your mind?
I wanted a character who could channel spirits to round out my psychic gang, but I didn’t anticipate her being in more than a couple of scenes. When I wrote the scene in which she first appears, I was hooked and knew she would become one of the most important characters in the series.
5. Where was he/she given life in the creative process?
Shapri first appears in chapter 3 when she meets the main character Alex in her mother’s psychic shop. She becomes increasingly important as the story progresses and later in the series she will narrate her own volume.
6. What do like the most about him/her and what do you dislike the most about him/her?
I love Shapri’s realness to herself and others. She knows who she is (for the most part), and she demands that others accept her for it. She’s also incredibly intelligent but not at all pretentious. On the negative side, she takes some getting used to. She moves around a lot and is kind of all over the place. Some people find her quite annoying.
About the BookFarsighted
Book Details:
Publisher: Blue Crown Press
Published: October 2011
Genre: Young Adult
Pages: 224
Format: paperback, ebook
Price: $12.95 paperback, $0.99 ebook
Buy Links: Amazon, Kindle
Blurb:
Alex Kosmitoras's life has never been easy. The only other student who will talk to him is the school bully, his parents are dead-broke and insanely overprotective, and to complicate matters even more, he's blind. Just when he thinks he'll never have a shot at a normal life, a new girl from India moves into town. Simmi is smart, nice, and actually wants to be friends with Alex. Plus she smells like an Almond Joy bar. Yes, sophomore year might not be so bad after all.
Unfortunately, Alex is in store for another new arrival--an unexpected and often embarrassing ability to "see" the future. Try as he may, Alex is unable to ignore his visions, especially when they begin to suggest that Simmi is in danger. With the help of the mysterious psychic next door and new friends who come bearing gifts of their own, Alex must embark on a journey to change his future.
Excerpt:
Simmi and I arrive at this rally point together from Mrs. Warszynski’s to wait for Shapri. Several minutes go by. I want to suggest we leave without her but don’t think that’ll score me any points with Simmi.
“You didn’t want Shapri to come tonight, did you?” Simmi asks.
“Well, I—no, I mean, it’s fine. I’m glad she could come,” I sputter.
“You’re such a horrible liar,” Simmi teases, pushing me playfully.
“Hey, that’s not fair. I can’t hit you back. You’re a girl.”
“I’m just teasing you.” Simmi blows a raspberry and pulls her body up onto the circular wall surrounding the flagpole area. I hesitate before pulling myself up too. Simmi scootches over so we touch at the hip. She loops her hand through the crook of my arm and places her head on my shoulder. “I never would have gotten away with this in India,” she says. “But I’m glad I can here. I’m a psychic feeler. I need to be in touch with others.” She pauses and strokes my arm with her free hand. “You know, when I touch someone I can make them feel what I want them to, but I can also sense their existing emotions. It’s almost the same as being able to read minds. Everything important has to do with the heart, not logic.” She lightens her tone. “But don’t tell Dr. Brown I said that, he’d take marks off of my next chem exam out of spite.”
I laugh nervously. Is she like Miss Teak in a way? Can she read my feelings for her? If she can, why hasn’t she said anything? I contemplate reaching over and kissing her, so I can know for sure how she feels. But I’ve never kissed anyone before. I’m not sure how I’m supposed to initiate it. Do I take her out for dinner and a movie first? Or make some lengthy speech declaring my intentions? Do I kiss her, just like that? Or do I ask for her permission before making my big move?
I decide to ask if it’s okay. Simmi is a classy girl. She needs respect. I swallow, hoping the motion will open up my airway, because right now, I’m kind of having trouble catching my breath. “Simmi,” I start.
“Yeah, Alex?” She lifts her head and links her hand in mine, nudging her slender fingers in between each of mine.
“Would it be okay if I…”
“There you two are!” Shapri says, running over to us, panting heavily. “I thought we were meeting in the commons.”
“No, we agreed on the flagpole,” Simmi says, hopping down from the wall.
The moment is gone. I don’t know when I’ll get the chance and the nerve again. My opinion of Shapri transforms from cautious indifference into outright hatred. Why did she invite herself along?
Shapri clears her throat. “Did I—Did I interrupt something here? Maybe a little romance?”
“What? No, no,” Simmi says shaking her head adamantly. “Nothing like that, Alex is like a brother to me.”
Ouch. Pain. Stabbed in my heart. I’m like a brother to her? I guess this means romance is off the table…
Blurb:
Alex Kosmitoras's life has never been easy. The only other student who will talk to him is the school bully, his parents are dead-broke and insanely overprotective, and to complicate matters even more, he's blind. Just when he thinks he'll never have a shot at a normal life, a new girl from India moves into town. Simmi is smart, nice, and actually wants to be friends with Alex. Plus she smells like an Almond Joy bar. Yes, sophomore year might not be so bad after all.
Unfortunately, Alex is in store for another new arrival--an unexpected and often embarrassing ability to "see" the future. Try as he may, Alex is unable to ignore his visions, especially when they begin to suggest that Simmi is in danger. With the help of the mysterious psychic next door and new friends who come bearing gifts of their own, Alex must embark on a journey to change his future.
Excerpt:
Simmi and I arrive at this rally point together from Mrs. Warszynski’s to wait for Shapri. Several minutes go by. I want to suggest we leave without her but don’t think that’ll score me any points with Simmi.
“You didn’t want Shapri to come tonight, did you?” Simmi asks.
“Well, I—no, I mean, it’s fine. I’m glad she could come,” I sputter.
“You’re such a horrible liar,” Simmi teases, pushing me playfully.
“Hey, that’s not fair. I can’t hit you back. You’re a girl.”
“I’m just teasing you.” Simmi blows a raspberry and pulls her body up onto the circular wall surrounding the flagpole area. I hesitate before pulling myself up too. Simmi scootches over so we touch at the hip. She loops her hand through the crook of my arm and places her head on my shoulder. “I never would have gotten away with this in India,” she says. “But I’m glad I can here. I’m a psychic feeler. I need to be in touch with others.” She pauses and strokes my arm with her free hand. “You know, when I touch someone I can make them feel what I want them to, but I can also sense their existing emotions. It’s almost the same as being able to read minds. Everything important has to do with the heart, not logic.” She lightens her tone. “But don’t tell Dr. Brown I said that, he’d take marks off of my next chem exam out of spite.”
I laugh nervously. Is she like Miss Teak in a way? Can she read my feelings for her? If she can, why hasn’t she said anything? I contemplate reaching over and kissing her, so I can know for sure how she feels. But I’ve never kissed anyone before. I’m not sure how I’m supposed to initiate it. Do I take her out for dinner and a movie first? Or make some lengthy speech declaring my intentions? Do I kiss her, just like that? Or do I ask for her permission before making my big move?
I decide to ask if it’s okay. Simmi is a classy girl. She needs respect. I swallow, hoping the motion will open up my airway, because right now, I’m kind of having trouble catching my breath. “Simmi,” I start.
“Yeah, Alex?” She lifts her head and links her hand in mine, nudging her slender fingers in between each of mine.
“Would it be okay if I…”
“There you two are!” Shapri says, running over to us, panting heavily. “I thought we were meeting in the commons.”
“No, we agreed on the flagpole,” Simmi says, hopping down from the wall.
The moment is gone. I don’t know when I’ll get the chance and the nerve again. My opinion of Shapri transforms from cautious indifference into outright hatred. Why did she invite herself along?
Shapri clears her throat. “Did I—Did I interrupt something here? Maybe a little romance?”
“What? No, no,” Simmi says shaking her head adamantly. “Nothing like that, Alex is like a brother to me.”
Ouch. Pain. Stabbed in my heart. I’m like a brother to her? I guess this means romance is off the table…
About the AuthorEmily Chand
Emlyn Chand has always loved to hear and tell stories, having emerged from the womb with a fountain pen grasped firmly in her left hand (true story). When she's not writing, she runs a large book club in Ann Arbor and is the president of author PR firm, Novel Publicity. Emlyn loves to connect with readers and is available throughout the social media interweb. Visit emlynchand.com for more info. Don't forget to say "hi" to her sun conure Ducky!
Connect With Emlyn:
Web Site
Facebook
Twitter
Goodreads
Google +
Novel Publicity
Connect With Emlyn:
Web Site
Goodreads
Google +
Novel Publicity
About the TourGoddess Fish Promotions
GIVEAWAY:
A $50 Amazon gift card to one randomly drawn commenter during the tour. Follow the tour and comment; the more you comment, the better your chances of winning.
Tour Participants:November 28: Lisa Haselton's Reviews and Interviews
November 29: I Just Wanna Sit Here and Read!
November 30: BK Walker Books
December 1: The Character Connection
December 2: The Book Sisterhood
December 5: Judge Not By The Covers
December 6: A Bookish Affair
December 7: A Pen and Fire
December 8: Hope. Dreams. Life... Love
December 9: The Plot Thickens
December 12: Fresh Pot of Tea
December 13: Reader Girls
December 14: City Girl Who Loves to Read
December 15: Dawn's Reading Nook
December 16: Good Family Reads
December 19: This is the Life
December 20: We Fancy Books
December 21: It's Raining Books
December 22: Sarah Ballance
December 23: J.C. Martin, Fighter Writer
I'm looking forward to meeting Shapri Teak. The name interests me.
ReplyDeletemarypres(AT)gmail(DOT)com
Thank you for hosting Emlyn today.
ReplyDeleteThank you for hosting me today! I loved having the opportunity to chat about Shapri :-D
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed watching your video today. What sort of obstacles did you face when you decided to place your blind hero, Alex, in a public school? Sorry if that question sounds totally un-PC, but I believe there are schools for the blind in many states. Being many years out of school myself, I never heard of a blind youngster attending a public school.
ReplyDeleteIt's funny how characters just take over their own creations. I don't know how many times I've created a minor character that turns into a major character. One even got a book of his own!
ReplyDeleteMy pleasure, Emlyn & Goddess Fish.
ReplyDeleteMarybelle, Karen and Erica - thanks for stopping by.
I love what I read sounds so good would love to read more! Thank you for the great giveaway!
ReplyDeletetishajean@ charter.net