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

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

I love the drama of having the best friend change his mind and try to date the heroine after he had ever chance in the world and blew it. Who was your first crush? Can you tell?

Do you get freckles in the sun like your character? I just burn. No tanning for me.

If given the opportunity, would you ever be a celebrity on Dancing with the Stars and, if so, who would you pick for your partner?

So you've written apocalyptic and contemporary and paranormal and probably more I don't know of yet. Do you have a genre you like to sink your teeth into more than others? Do you like to read one more than another? What kinds of books do you personally gravitate towards?

Ann wrote: "Actually I was watching videos on YouTube and I saw an original song/music video that Alex Brouwer (the artist I collaborated with) had done, inspired by the Hunger Games. Video here: https://www.y..."

That is such a cool idea. I always learn so much from you!

I'm at the part where we're at the salon thinking about getting a new cut and/or highlights. So what's the most dramatic change you've ever done with your hair?

I just discovered the music videos! I love that you wrote the song lyrics too. How on earth did you recruit a band? Did you know any of the members personally or are you just cool like that? ;)

Imasha wrote: "Dear Mrs Houck

I am a huge fan of your books and am anxiously waiting this august for the release of reawakened! My question is what genres will the new book fall into?"

REAWAKENED is the same genre as Tiger's Curse. It's a paranormal/fantasy/mythology/romance mashup. =)

Kristi~Lost in My Own Head~ wrote: "Hi Colleen!
I have read your series and am in LOVE with your Tiger's Curse books. I binge read them all the time. The ending of your most recent book, however, left me in tears. I know that you pl..."

You will absolutely see Kishan again. Did you read Tiger's Promise? There's a sneak peek of Tiger's Destiny in there. If writing is something you love then definitely pursue it. It only takes your own determination to be an author. Getting published is a whole other story. =)

Natalie (Never trust a duck) wrote: "Hello Colleen!!!!
I just got through another reread of your Tiger's Curse series and I was wondering if you ever wrote yourself into a corner, how'd you manage to get out of it?"

I have gotten stuck once or twice but one of my hidden skills is finding creative solutions to problems. I give myself a day or two to think about it and something always pops up. =) It's especially tricky for me because I layer in a lot of foreshadowing to books I haven't even written yet. Sometimes I don't even know how I'm going to tie it all in together but a solution almost always appears.

Miranda wrote: "Before you read Twilight did you want to be a writer? "

That's a tough one. I was happy with my job as an interpreter and felt like that was my calling in life. My talents were with sign language. I liked writing and had already written a few children's books about my dog but I didn't take it seriously until after Twilight. Until that time I didn't know YA existed. I remember asking my husband, "Why aren't there more books like that? There needs to be more books like that." That's what really pushed me to start.

In Mortal Danger I really liked the concept of becoming your best self when the heroine wished herself beautiful rather than just looking like someone else. I thought that was brilliant.

I really like the idea of a post-it note girl leaving little positive comments on people's lockers. I use post-its all the time when writing. You too?

Ann wrote: "I would live in your love as the sea-grasses live in the sea,
Borne up by each wave as it passes, drawn down by each wave that recedes;
I would empty my soul of the dreams that have gathered in me,
I would beat with your heart as it beats, I would follow your soul as it leads.

Sara Teasdale (1884 – 1933)"

Love it!

I love the poetry in Mortal Danger. Were you always a poet? Who is your favorite poet or what type do you like the most?

When are you coming to Oregon again?

I am a HUGE fan of your Razorland series. Is there any possibility of you returning to that world at some point? Maybe a prequel?

You deal with suicide in Mortal Danger. That's a difficult topic to handle but I think you did an amazing job. Did you have reservations about it? How did it go when you presented it to an editor?

Ann wrote: "Colleen wrote: "Will we ever see you set a book in Mexico?"

My urban fantasy series is partially set in Mexico. It starts in Mexico where the heroine, Corine Solomon, runs a pawn shop. The series ..."
Love those titles!

Miranda wrote: "Hi Colleen,
I'm sure you get asked about your favorite part of writing, but what is the thing that you dread the most or dislike about writing?"

Editing. Hands down. I loathe cutting anything from the story.