Colleen’s Comments (group member since Apr 21, 2014)

Colleen’s comments from the Colleen Houck Book Club group.

And the winner of the Alexandra Monir prize pack is Sandra! Congrats! I've msgd you on Goodreads so get back to me asap and I'll send out your prize. Don't forget to join me next month where my featured author is April Genevieve Tucholke! This time the chat will be on my blog. See you there!

Alexandra wrote: "Colleen, that is beautiful. What a powerful story of something amazing coming out of something difficult. I <3 you!

My journey to writing began when I was really little- reading was my favorite pa..."

That is so amazing. I've always wanted to sing but my voice is almost a Tenor I think. (The only reason I know that is because I sing comfortably with Josh Groban and Journey). I'm at least an Alto but I can only hear Soprano so that's what I attempt and its pretty sad.

Hannah wrote: "Wow, that's really inspirational! Do you think the Reawakened series will be the last thing you'll write?"

Alexandra wrote: "Colleen wrote: "Alexandra wrote: "Thank you so much Tawney, and great questions! I got the idea for the story from my love of the classic suspense novel REBECCA- I wanted to come up with a unique r..."

No, not at all. I have lots and lots of books planned. I'll probably write until my brain doesn't work anymore. =)

Alexandra wrote: "Thank you so much Tawney, and great questions! I got the idea for the story from my love of the classic suspense novel REBECCA- I wanted to come up with a unique retelling of this gothic novel, for..."

How did you add a hyperlink to your answer? I can't figure out how to do it.

Sarah wrote: "Hi! I'm a big fan of both Alexandra and Colleen. When did you first know you wanted to write? When did you start writing? What inspired you?"

For me there are two incidents that contributed to my writing. The first was around 2003 or so. I found out I couldn't have kids and started writing to channel my emotions. At that time I wrote a few children's books about my dog and a family recipe book, but I wasn't really serious about it. Then in 2008 I read Twilight and discovered YA. I immediately wanted to read another book like that and couldn't find anything else like it. I read about the author and figured out she was a lot like me. That's when I decided to give writing some serious thought and six months later Tiger's Curse was born.

Alison wrote: "So I just read your comment about writing the poems yourself and I just wanted to say that they are incredible! I normally don't like poetry but I stole Kelsey's idea of leaving poems with food for..."

=)

Alexandra wrote: "I think I do gravitate more towards Happily Ever After books, but at the same time, I do love a dark and twisty tale too. Overall, I just want to end the novel with a satisfied feeling. :)"

I'm the same. I don't mind having sad things happen but I want it to feel like that's the way it should have been.

Montse wrote: "In the new reawakened is there gonna be a love triangle? Or square considering there are two other brothers?"

Good question. I think you'll have to wait and see.

Trisha wrote: "Ok I have read through all the other comments and questions and I have not found where my question was asked, so here goes:
Just out of curiosity, did you write all the poems that Ren gave to Kelse..."

In fact, one poem, the one Kelsey wrote about grooming was one I wrote years before I even thought of writing Tiger's Curse. I wrote that one when I was interpreting at a high school in North Carolina. I remember it was while the student was taking a test. =)

Trisha wrote: "Ok I have read through all the other comments and questions and I have not found where my question was asked, so here goes:
Just out of curiosity, did you write all the poems that Ren gave to Kelse..."

The poems that Ren actually wrote (the ones that don't have another author listed at the bottom) were poems I wrote.

Alison wrote: "Is there any news on when Tiger's Dream is coming out???????"

It's my next project so expect news coming soon.

Nightshade6 wrote: "Hi there, do you know if you will be doing a book signing for the Tigers Curse series in Kansas City or somewhere near it this year."

The next tour hasn't been planned yet but you can always reach out to my publisher, Delacorte, and ask them about having me stop there.

Do you gravitate more towards Happily Ever After books? I have to admit, I do.

I love the setting in Suspicion! At the end of the book you talk about it in the notes. Have you been there? Love the idea of doing an onsite research trip.

Alexandra wrote: "Hi Colleen! I did live in New York City part-time while writing and researching my first series, TIMELESS. I moved back to LA full-time since, but I still visit NY frequently- it's my favorite place!"

I've loved the few times I've been there. Do you have some favorite restaurants there?

Was researching the Dukes and Earls difficult? Historical fiction scares me. I'm not sure I could wrap my head around all the titles.

Do you now or have you lived in New York? I noticed Suspicion is partially set there and I know your other series is too.

Welcome to the group! Alexandra will be answering questions during the month of January 2016 in this thread only. In the meantime if you have a question for the author or just want to introduce yourself feel free to do so in this thread.

And the winner of the Diana Peterfreund chat this month is Miranda! Msg me with your mailing address so I can ship out your prize. Thanks for all the great questions! I'll be sending you my own personal copy of Omega City, Across A Star-Swept Sea, and Rampant, as well as one of my books. Congrats! Don't forget to check out my next chat where I'll be featuring author Alexandra Monir!

You do a ton of research for your books! With Omega City there's a lot of conspiracy theories. It would take me a year to research all of those! How long did it take you for this one? Do you research ahead or do a little as you go along?