Becca Fitzpatrick Interview & Giveaway

Recently we had the chance to interview Becca Fitzpatrick, author of Hush, Hush & the soon to be released book, Crescendo (which is so good).

With Hush, Hush being a beloved book with so many readers, did you find it was easier or more challenging to write Crescendo?

More challenging by a landslide! I had five years to write Hush, Hush, which is probably my ideal amount of time to write a book. Of course, publishing schedules and author's wishes do not always coincide, ha! I didn't realize how difficult it would be to write a book in a year, but I'm thankful for the experience, because it taught me a lot. I've learned so many things since Hush, Hush was first published one year ago, and that experience is invaluable. For example, I now know that a fairly hefty revision in a small amount of time is not beyond me, and that flexibility and determination go a lot further than stubbornness. I feel this terrible nervous excitement about Crescendo's release. I want it to be out there, so I can finally discuss it with readers. But at the same time, it's quite frightening! My readers feel so strongly about my characters, and I don't want to disappoint.

What was your most challenging scene to write?

The climax was hard for several reasons. For starters, I was on a deadline (what author isn't!) so there was the time crunch. I'd been working so hard and so fast on Crescendo, and by the time I hit the climax, I could feel myself running out of steam. Second, the climax is always difficult for me, because that's where everything has to come together. My books are very plot-driven, and by the end of the climax, the reader needs to understand everything in the story that leads up to that point. All red herrings and clues must play out, and that's easier said than done. I always want my readers to look back and say, “Ah-ha! Yes, now I see why this is the only way the story could have ended!” Finally, the climax was emotionally taxing. So many crazy things are thrown at Nora in those chapters, and it would have been much easier to get rid of those things and make Nora suffer less. Of course, that option would have been far less satisfying.

I was more emotionally invested with Crescendo and I wondered how you as an author separate yourself from the emotions of a scene in order to be able to write it?

Oh, gosh, good question! I don't know that I'd say I'm very good at it. When my characters are having a hard time, I'm often having a hard time too. I think part of being a writer is submerging myself into my characters lives and experiencing their hopes, joys, sorrows and trials. I draw heavily from personal experience in my books, and when I'm writing a scene, I often try to remember where the emotion I'm putting on paper stems from. When have I felt jealousy before, and how can I use that? What did it feel like to first kiss a guy I was in love with? That kind of thing.

What are three things you must have in order to write?

A tall glass of water, (relative) silence, and lots and lots of index cards for plotting.

If you could put any favorite fictional character into Hush, Hush or Crescendo, who would you write in and why?

Laughing! Love this question. I've always been in love with Jamie Fraser from the Outlander series. It would be fun to bump into him during one of my flashback scenes. Perhaps Patch spent a few years in the Scottish Highlands...

I'm going to have to read Outlander, as I've heard a lot of great things about it. Thank you so much Becca for your time and to Simon & Schuster for providing a SIGNED copy of Crescendo to giveaway!

This giveaway is open to US residents only, as Simon and Schuster will be mailing the prize out. One entry per person please.

You can find out more about Hush, Hush & Crescendo on Becca's site here http://beccafitzpatrick.com/

You can find out all the latest Hush, Hush & Crescendo news by joining Fallen Angel (a Hush, Hush & Crescendo fansite) here