Laurie Faria Stolarz (Author of The Touch series) Q&A event--Jan. 27-30th

[Laurie]

Monica wrote: "How exciting! I will admit that I haven't had a chance to read any if your work but I really want to! It would be so awesome to win!! I have so many questions but I'll save some for other people lo..."

My first book was Blue is for Nightmares. I wrote it in grad school and it took me about 2 years to draft it. After that, I spent another good year ripping it apart, editing, deleting, changing, adding. I learned a lot in that process. It took me another year to sell it. Perseverance is key.

[Laurie]

Vicki wrote: "Hi Laurie, first, let me thank you so much for this opportunity. You are a new author to me, and I already had a buddy read planned for today to read this book in another group, so when I saw that ..."

The cover wasn't up to me, but I absolutely love the Touch book covers. I think the art is beautiful. I was really lucky.

I love first person. I feel it's the most immediate and in suspense I strive to have the reader feel as though they're right there with the character. I also love to change POV's, still using first person, but telling the story from the POV of alternate characters. We all have such different motivations and perceptions. I love the challenge of getting into the heads (and creating the voices and psychology) of complex characters.

Thanks so much for giving my work a try. I hope you'll enjoy it!!!

[Dre]

Hi Laurie! So awesome of you to let us ask you loads of questions! :D


- For Touch series, are experiences based on someone you know, or events in your own life? Or was it purely a fascination with the supernatural?

- Out of all the books that you have read in your lifetime, who is your most favorite monster/villain? Why? (Include the title of the book and author)

[Laurie]

Jenny wrote: "Yay, Kelly!!

I just bought a used copy of Deadly Little Secret for a reread! Hopefully I'll get it read before the Q&A!"

Thanks, Kelly!

[Laurie]

Jenny wrote: "Lstolarz wrote: "Jenny wrote: "I'm so excited you are hanging out with us this week, Laurie! I totally fell in love with the Touch series and read them back to back very quickly!

So, the MC of th..."

I thought that making her a potter - something that's so creative and physical and artistic - was the perfect vehicle for her power. I wanted the power to be an extension of who she already was, rather than something that seemed foreign to her. Being artistic is a gift, and her power was an extension of that.

[Vicki]

Lstolarz wrote: "Vicki wrote: "Hi Laurie, first, let me thank you so much for this opportunity. You are a new author to me, and I already had a buddy read planned for today to read this book in another group, so wh..."

Laurie, I have just finished chapter 15 and I love it so far. I am really intrigued by Ben. I enjoy reading his POV very much. In fact, it seems like (view spoiler)[they are all diary entries. I hope I'll find out later in the story if they are or if it's just his first person POV makes me feel like he is talking to me. After reading his "entry" in ch. 15, I don't know if he is stalker status or just crushing hard. He knows too much of what she does! (hide spoiler)]

Was Ben's POV created to give him more mystery for the reader? Do we ever find out in this book if he (view spoiler)[ really killed his girlfriend, or if he did was it an accident? Don't tell me the answer! I just want to know if we find out definitively. (hide spoiler)]

[Jenny, Always smiling! :-D]

I don't want to give away any spoilers, but yes you do find out the answers you were asking, Vicki!

[Vicki]

Yay! Thank you. :)

[Jenny, Always smiling! :-D]

I know almost nothing about Laurie's new book that comes out this summer. Can you tell us more about your new book, Welcome to the Dark House?

[Diana ❀ ☺]

I just wanted to say how great your books are and how I enjoy reading them! Would you want any of your books to become into a series of movies?

[Laurie]

Jenny wrote: "From January 27-30th, bestselling author Laurie Faria Stolarz will be coming to our group to answer questions about her bestselling Touch series (Deadly Little Secret, Deadly Little Lies, Deadly L..."

Trying to answer the new questions here - can't find anyplace to post the answers. Here goes...

The Touch books are totally fiction. There are always little character traits I might take from real life, i.e. a character who carries around chopsticks wherever she goes because she prefers them over a fork, but that's about it. The rest is imagination.

My favorite villain of all time is Hannibal Lecter.

Welcome to the Dark House is about a group of horror fanatics(fans of director/writer/producer Justin Blake). They enter a contest in which they have to describe their worst nightmare. They get flown from all over the country to claim their prize, only to discover they have to live their nightmare out, for real.

[Laurie]

Diana ❀ ☺ wrote: "I just wanted to say how great your books are and how I enjoy reading them! Would you want any of your books to become into a series of movies?"

Thank you so much! I would love that. The Blue is for Nightmare series was optioned for a TV show by Mandalay Entertainment and sold to ABC Family. It made it to the pilot stage but stopped there. It was a fun process. Maybe next time.

[Laurie]

Jenny wrote: "I know almost nothing about Laurie's new book that comes out this summer. Can you tell us more about your new book, Welcome to the Dark House?"

Welcome to the Dark House is about a group of horror fanatics(fans of director/writer/producer Justin Blake). They enter a contest in which they have to describe their worst nightmare. They get flown from all over the country to claim their prize, only to discover they have to live their nightmare out, for real.

[Laurie]

Vicki wrote: "Lstolarz wrote: "Vicki wrote: "Hi Laurie, first, let me thank you so much for this opportunity. You are a new author to me, and I already had a buddy read planned for today to read this book in ano..."

Yes, you'll know soon enough. Thanks so much for reading it!!!

[Laurie]

Jenea wrote: " What made you cone up with the idea for the books? "

I wanted to embark upon another supernatural/romantic series in which I grow a character over several books. I came upon the power of psychometry, the ability to sense the past or future through touch, and thought it had a lot of potential in terms of drama, romance, intrigue, and suspense.

[Trisha]

Hello Laurie Faria Stolarz! I wanted to just say Thank you so much for stopping by and giving us your time to answer our questions!

I am also just starting your series, Touch

I don't want to give anything away about the book, but I'm curious what drew you to psychometry? Was there a specific moment where the idea got started?

also

What is the most memorable book you've read recently?
I know above you said you were reading Sharp Objects. I loved that one! I hope you are enjoying it!

[Kelly]

I just finished Deadly Little Secret last weekend and loved it! I have two questions:

Does psychometry or any of the paranormal sciences play a part of your everyday life?

What type of research was involved for your books, and how much time do you spend researching before you begin the writing process?

Thank you so much for coming and answering our questions!

[Sherrie]

Hi Laurie,
If Deadly Little Secrets became a film who would you cast in the movie roles and why?

Thanks,
Sherrie

[Jenny, Always smiling! :-D]

Okay, booklovers, we are down to our last few hours to ask Laurie any questions you may have!

Laurie, thank you so much for coming and hanging out with all of us this week, it has been so much fun!!

Tomorrow I will draw our winner randomly and notify the winner! A reminder that the giveaway is for US only!

[Vicki]

I just want to say that I finished the book and I enjoyed it very much. It was a pleasure to come on here and read the questions/answers.

Question: In book 2, from whose POV is it and do you introduce any new, significant characters?

[Karen’s Library]

Thank you Laurie for a fabulous Q&A! VERY enjoyable! :)

[Jenny, Always smiling! :-D]

Congratulations to Kelly of Woodstock, GA! She won the giveaway! WOOT WOOT!!

[Karen’s Library]

WOOT WOOT, Kelly!!! Fabulous prize!!

[David, Mr. Blue Eyes; He's the Best--Ain't no lie!! ;)]

Ah congrats Kelly, that's amazing!!! And a huge thank you to Laurie for donating such an AMAZING and GENEROUS prize!!

[Diana ❀ ☺]

Lstolarz wrote: "Diana ❀ ☺ wrote: "I just wanted to say how great your books are and how I enjoy reading them! Would you want any of your books to become into a series of movies?"

Thank you so much! I would love ..."

Thank you for answering my question and everyone else's. I really appreciate it. And I hope to see any one of your series as a movie or tv show one day. I know it will happen!

[Justine]

Congrats Kelly!

[Kelly]

Thank you so much! I am so excited! I would like to thank Laurie for donating the books and Jenny for organizing the Q&A. I love these Q&A's as they have exposed me to so many great authors.

[Vicki]

Congrats Kelly!

[Jenny, Always smiling! :-D]

You're so welcome, Kelly! I'm so happy people are enjoying them so much :) They are fun for me, too!