Tuesday, March 29, 2011

Interview+Giveaway: Angie Smibert and Memento Nora


I'd like to extend a huge Supernatural Snark welcome to Angie Smibert today, I'm excited to have her on the blog answering a few questions about her young adult dystopian novel Memento Nora. I was able to get a sneak peek at this one (you can read my review HERE), releasing April 1st from Marshall Cavendish, thanks to the Cornucopia of Dystopia Blog Tour and I'm just lucky enough to have a copy to giveaway to one lucky commenter. Please see the bottom of the post for details and I hope you guys enjoy the interview!

Memento Nora deals with memories, the ones we want to keep and the ones we often wish we could forget, what is your favorite memory so far of the Memento Nora writing experience?

So far, nothing has beaten getting that first letter (or email) from the publisher saying they wanted to publish Memento Nora. I was so excited I couldn’t remember phone numbers (or that I had a cell phone with all the numbers programmed in). Thank goodness for old fashioned speed dial.

The world of Memento Nora is rather bleak, is there one aspect in particular you found most unnerving while writing, or one you think readers might find most thought-provoking?

Yes, the world is a bit bleak under a façade of glossiness. The unnerving part was realizing how close that world is to ours. I’m not predicting that’s what’s going to happen, but it’s not outside the realm of possibilities.

If you knew you were going to be forced to take the pill to forget something important, where might you write the information and leave it so your post-pill self would find it again?

Good question. I’d probably never find it unless I posted it on the whiteboard above my desk.

Both Micah and Winter are gifted artists, do you have any artistic ability in terms of illustration, sculpture, or design?

Not really. I dabbled with drawing when I was younger. I can fake my way through a half-way decent website design if I don’t need to do any actual drawing or heavy-duty photoshopping.

What’s one trait each of the three main protagonists possesses that you admire most in them?

Possibly because I have none (see above), I do admire Micah’s and Winter’s artistic ability. I also admire Nora’s ability to step outside her comfort zone and take a risk.

If it were possible to romantically match Nora, Micah or Winter with a character from another YA novel, who would it be and why do you think they might work as a couple?

If Winter were dropped into Scott Westerfeld’s Levianthan / Behemoth world, she might develop a crush on Dylan / Deryn Sharp. Winter would recognize “Mr.” Sharp’s secret, and she might be doing the same thing on the Clanker side.

If Memento Nora didn’t have a description on the back cover and could only be marketed to readers using a single quote or line from the book, which one do you think would most pique their interest?

On my bookmarks, I used “In the future, it doesn’t pay to remember.” It’s not exactly a quote, but one of the minor characters does say something very similar.


Thanks so much for taking the time to answer my questions Angie! If you are interested in learning more about Angie and her books, you can find more information here:

Website
Twitter
Facebook

GIVEAWAY
To enter the giveaway, please leave a comment on the interview as well as a valid email address so I can contact you if you win. This giveaway will run through midnight on April 8th after which time a winner will be chosen by Random.org and announced on the blog. This giveaway is open to US and Canada only as I already have the book in hand, sorry! Good luck everyone!

57 comments:

  1. Great interview, Jenny! After reading your review, I am more interested in the book now.
    “In the future, it doesn’t pay to remember.”

    That's a great and attention-grabbing tagline for the book.

    Don't enter me for the giveaway. I am International.

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  2. Whoa. Does it every pay to remember?

    I think the fact that you write about something that is possible makes it not only bleak but a bit terrifying. I forget enough as it is on my own; I sure a pill would only make my brain more mushy.

    Fun questions. I often like thinking up ways to pair up my favorite characters from different books.

    Thanks for the giveaway! How exciting.
    missie at theunreadreader.com

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  3. The concept of this book has intrigued me as I watched reviews online. I would love to read this book. The interview really inspired me to read it even more. thank you.

    terilhack at yahoo dot com

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  4. Memento Nora sounds awesome, I love dystopians. I loved the question about pairing Nora with a character from another book. I love to read those answers!

    danceislove27(at)gmail(dot)com

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  5. I really want to read this one! Too bad I can't participate in your giveaway, I'm international :(

    Great interview!

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  6. This makes you wonder if in the future there actually will me a memory wipe pill. I'm just saying, I could totally see it happening. And it's a little disturbing. But the book sounds amazing and I can't wait to read it!

    britneywyatt[at]gmail[dot]com

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  7. Great interview with some very interesting questions.

    As appealing as being able to forget certain memories may be, I don't think I would want to have that option. The good/bad events in our lives(and how we deal with them) help shape who we are. For example, I was tormented by kids in my neighborhood for being different. I cried so much and hated that time in my life, but now I truly believe that the experience helped make me a lot more open-minded, accepting, and appreciative of other people's differences.

    gosia727(at)gmail(dot)com

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  8. Great interview. I'm dying to read this book.

    amanda(at)lettersinsideout(dot)com

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  9. I'm so excited for this book! I haven't read too much in the way of dystopians. But I do love watching dystopian movies and playing dystopian games. The idea for Memento Nora sounds really unique and interesting!

    I'd love a chance to win
    jacqueline.c.goodman AT gmail DOT com

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  10. I enjoyed the interview. It always makes reading the book so much more interesting when you know something about the author. I would love to read this book.
    twoofakind12@yahoo.com

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  11. This was a really great interview! I've had my eye on Memento Nora for a while, and reading this only makes me more excited to read it!

    preternaturalprimer(AT)hotmail(DOT)com

    Check Out This Week's Teaser Tuesday!

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  12. I adore dystopian fiction. It's really is my cup of tea. I also love Scott Westerfeld. Uglies is the cornerstone for my dystopian obsession.


    Vivien
    deadtossedwaves at gmail dot com

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  13. loving dystopians right now. I'll have to pick this one up, I'm intrigued

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  14. OH I love artistic beauty in dystopia fiction!!!!

    ashtreygonesmokeya@yahoo.com

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  15. Not entering since I can't. but nice interview :)

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  16. Gosh a pill to make you forget? How horrible! Thanks for bringing this book to my attention Jenny =)

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  17. Really want to read the book

    vidishamun@gmail.com

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  18. What a fantastic interview. I've been so intrigued by this book for a while now - I keep seeing it pop up on blogs all around. Something about the title just makes me want to fall in love with this book. ;D

    And thanks for hosting a giveaway for it! Totally awesome.

    tealeafreview (at) gmail (dot) com

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  19. I can't wait to read this book, it sounds really intriguing. Angie - I can see how you would always want to remember getting that first letter saying Memento Nora was going to be published. What an exciting moment! Thanks for the interview and giveaway Jenny!

    seescootread[at]gmail[dot]com

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  20. Fantastic interview. I really want to read this book. It sounds fantastic.

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  21. I really want to read this one-- love dystopia. And Leviathan-- any character who would get along with Deryn is awesome by default! Great interview; really unique questions. :)

    aveelachild@gmail.com

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  22. This book sounds Awesome. SOunds like a different sort of world as well. Love books like this
    vampireprincess2468@yahoo.com

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  23. Don't feel bad, I have absolutely no artistic talent...at all.
    Love the interview (lots of food for though).

    Orchid
    The Haunting of Orchid Forsythia

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  24. Eep, for got my email.
    hauntingorchid(at)aol(dot)com

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  25. I'm looking forward to reading this! Especially because of the description of the society, a "bleak under a façade of glossiness" - it makes me think of the Gilded Age, haha!

    blissfulrains(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  26. Gah, I so love a good dystopian novel. This one sounds bleak like the author says, but I love that it's almost close to ours...creepier for sure!

    iswimforoceans at gmail dot com

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  27. Okay, love this review and I'm officially interested. Bleak. Does it make me weird that I like that? :)

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  28. I love the question about where you'd leave a note to yourself. It seems so simple, but if you don't know to look for the note and you don't want anyone else to find the note, that can be pretty tricky! I like that this book has already got me thinking on so many different things and I haven't even read it yet.

    imagesandwords @ optonline dot net

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  29. Ahh!!*tworls around*I soo want this book!!!So please enter me:)

    Lisa
    life_is_unpredictable29@yahoo.com

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  30. Please enter me in contest. This book sounds very interesting. Great interview. Tore923@aol.com

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  31. I love dystopian novels! And they are scary because many of them do reflect elements of our society.
    Thanks for the giveaway!
    lexie.bookbug at gmail dot com

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  32. Thanks for the giveaway and interview! Scary how those forget-me pills could be possibly made in the future.

    mendyha26@gmail.com

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  33. Thanks for the giveaway and interview!
    alisoncanread at gmail dot com

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  34. Terrific interview! Love that quote and that she would like to hook up her character's with Scott Westerfelds!

    (not an entry)

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  35. Great interview Jenny! Great questions!
    jacindahinten(at)gmail(dot)com

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  36. Great interview! I really loved this book! And thanks for the giveaway!

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  37. I've just recently gotten into the dystopian genre. Thanks for the giveaway.

    If i was forced to take the pill, I would send an email to myself so I would have the info post-pill.

    monagarg@yahoo.com

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  38. This book sounds so intriguing! Thanks for the giveaway Jenny!

    Avery
    averys.book.nook@hotmail.ca

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  39. I love the phrase she chose to use for the bookmarks, "In the future, it doesn't pay to remember..." If that's not calling out for a deep movie trailer voice to be announcing an upcoming movie, I don't know what is!!
    ireadtorelax@yahoo.com

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  40. Great interview, Jenny! I really admire people with artistic ability too since I have absolutely none. I used to get some of my friends sometimes to do my drawings for projects for me :)

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  41. The interview really inspired me to read the book. I've read so much review about the book and it was all positive review though it really intrigues me. So after doing some research about Website design Los Angeles, I must find a copy of this book if there is in store.

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  42. Cool interview! I really can't wait to read it! :D

    hense1kk AT cmich DOT edu

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  43. What an original concept! I'm very intrigued. (Hope I'm not too late to enter the giveaway; I didn't see an end date.)

    b(dot)cardone(at)hotmail(dot)com

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  44. There are a few movies on this kind of subject and it's always so interesting and mysterious. I would really like to read this. I love the cover as well.

    midnytereader(at)gmail(dot)com

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  45. Great questions! I enjoyed reading the interview! I would love to read this, thanks for the chance to win!

    chibipooh(at)gmail(dot)com

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  46. Great interview. The line, "It doesn't pay to remember," makes me think about the saying those who forget the past are doomed to repeat it. Looking forward to reading this one.

    Thanks for the giveaway.

    candicerjames (at) gmail (dot) com

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  47. Sounds intriguing, I'm going to have to check it out.

    ceelees(at)hotmail(dot)com

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  48. great giveaway
    follow via gfc
    drakebdog@gmail.com

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  49. Thanks for the interview & giveaway!

    chloe.hope.bookie(at)gmail(dot)com

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  50. great interview! this book sounds so interesting. I can't wait to read it. Thanks for the giveaway!

    alice13188(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  51. great interview and thanks for the giveaway

    rubyyusra(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  52. I think it's interesting that her characters are artistically gifted, when she said it wasn't really her forte. I think it would be hard to get into the character's heads...but I guess thats what writers do all the time :)

    arallison at gmail dot com

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  53. Great interview. This book look interestig. Thanks for the giveaway.
    flaka.077@gmail.com

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  54. I have no drawing related artistic ability either. I am a pretty good whistler though. Thanks for offering this book up, it sounds excellent!

    Emily
    whatbookisthat at gmail dot com

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  55. I think it's so interesting that they can take a pill to forget! Thanks for the giveaway! This looks like a great read!

    TaraTagli at gmail dot com

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  56. Like Angie, if I had made a note about the memory that I was going to lose, I'd probably never find it. After all, with memory completely intact, I still forget where the heck I put stuff. lol. Excellent interview and I've really been wanting to read this one!

    ~Briana
    thebookpixie[at]yahoo[dot]com

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  57. I'm looking forward to reading this one.

    Nora

    ivesiana [at] yahoo dot com

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