The time it was all about Ben Michaels

Posted February 26, 2013 by Stacee in Giveaways, Interviews | 48 Comments

Have we all learned by now about my love for all things Elizabeth Norris and Ben Michaels? After countless posts about both of them, I feel like this is information that is well known.

After I won the arc for Unbreakable, I really wanted to do something with Elizabeth.  She’s always so so so nice and so so so amazing.  Somehow I got it in my head to ask for an interview and she said yes!!

But, before we get to that, did you know there is going to be a novella?

I’ve been waiting forever to use this gif

 

It’s called Undone, it comes out on March 5th.  Did I mention that it’s all Ben POV?Before the accident. Before their universes collided. Before they fell in love.

Riveting and romantic, Undone: An Unraveling Novella contains three short stories set in the world of Unraveling, the first book in the gripping sci-fi duology by Elizabeth Norris.

Before Ben Michaels saved Janelle Tenner’s life, Janelle saved Ben when he stumbled through an interuniverse portal into a completely new world. That day, he fell in love with the girl of his dreams. And he never forgot her.

Through three stories told from Ben’s point of view, learn how Ben and his friends discovered their ability to travel between worlds, how Ben first met Janelle, and how he pined for her for years before he actually got the chance to meet her, save her life, and capture her heart. And find out what happens to Ben between the cliff-hanger conclusion to Unraveling and the beginning of its heart-stopping sequel, Unbreakable.Doesn’t that sound amazing?

Okay.  Let’s get to Elizabeth now…

1. Was it easier or harder to write in Ben’s POV?

It was definitely a little harder. I think Janelle’s voice is a little closer to my voice (apparently I swear a lot) so I had to really make sure I thought about the differences in their character and the differences in his voice through out the whole process, and especially when editing. I also had my boyfriend read through the short stories and answer questions to make sure Ben didn’t sound to girlie. At one point, I even believe we had a conversation that started with me saying, “Hey so if I died and you found me dead and all messed up, what would you be feeling?”

2. Did you see Ben as a character right away or did he grow in response to Janelle?

Ben was always a character in his own right. I think in my head, neither one of them could have existed without the other. Janelle was who I wanted to be when I was 17 and Ben was the guy I wanted to find in high school (but didn’t), and then of course there’s some sci-fi in there as well…

3. When you started writing Unbreakable, did you know the ending right away?

Yes. I almost always know the ending when I start writing. It’s the middle and the opening scene that sometimes take a little longer for me to figure out. (I rewrote the beginning to Unbreakable four or five times). When I started writing I of course knew where I had left all the characters at the end of Unraveling and I knew a little of what I was going to put them through in this one–but I knew where I wanted them to end. Even when I was contemplating whether to write a third book in this series or write something new for my third book, this is still where this story would have ended.

4. When you’re writing the swoony lines, do you sit back and laugh at the flails you know you’re responsible for making happen? :D[I had planned to post an amazing swoony flail quote from Ben in Unbreakable, but I decided to let you find it all on your own. Also, I couldn’t pick just one.]

Haha, no! I have no idea. A lot of the time when I’m writing, I think I’m in some kind of weird trance where I’m just typing away. Sometimes a scene just sort of comes together in my mind and I have to write it–I do a lot of typing in the notepad of my iphone, sometimes in the most random places, like bathrooms, the subway, department stores. And a lot of the time, I think those tend to be some of my best scenes.

I actually wrote part of that scene while I was walking down 6th avenue (I am that person that uses my phone and tries to walk at the same time. Once I walked into a street sign because I was checking my email and I hit my head so hard I ended up with a concussion, but it hasn’t stopped me).

5. Who are your favorite swoony boys?

Jonah from Jellicoe Road, Po from Graceling, Adam from Where She Went, Adrian from the Vampire Academy books. And admittedly I was Team Edward and really wanted Hermione to end up with Harry instead of Ron.

Speed round:

1. You’re in San Diego for one meal. Where do you go and what do you order?

It depends on how much money I have. If I don’t have much, I go to Roberto’s in Del Mar and get a carne asada burrito and guacamole with chips. Or I’d go to Miso Harney’s in Old Town and ask Mike (he’s an amazing sushi chef) to make me something spicy. He’s like a wizard.

2. If you could wake up one day, just knowing how to do something, what would it be?

Dance. And I mean like So You Think You Can Dance dance.

3. What are you reading right now?

I just finished Pretty Little Liars which I had never read before, and I’m about to start Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn.

4. Are there any authors out there that you fangirl over?

So many. I met JK Rowling at her signing for Casual Vacancy in NY and I was so in awe of her. I also totally fan-girled Melina Marchetta, Gayle Forman, and Kristin Cashore when they did a signing together, and I think I probably always will.

*sigh*

Isn’t she just awesome?

Huge thanks to Elizabeth for taking the time to deal with my fangirling answer my questions!!

Now.

Remember when I mentioned winning an arc of Unbreakable? I actually won the grand prize in Elizabeth’s contest and the chance to name a character in Undone. [There is actually a hilarious story that goes with this, but I’m far too lazy to go into the specifics.  Just know that it was funny.]

Let’s all take a guess as to what name I picked.

And this last part is just bragging, but I’m gonna tell you about it.

Ben was the very first boy that was given to me, thanks to Kassiah.  After winning the arc of Unbreakable, I was on a quest to get an arc of Unraveling to complete the collection. I posted it on Twitter and a friend told me that she was working on it, to give her some time.  Less than a day later, she told me that she had found a copy, but wouldn’t give me the details via text.

Turns out, she got me an arc straight from Elizabeth.  From her personal collection.

 Yah, I kept the post-it.

Anyways…

To celebrate the release of Undone, I’m giving away stuff! There will be three winners.  The grand prize winner will win a hardcover copy of Unraveling, an e-book of Undone and a hardcover copy of Unbreakable [when it is released on 4/23/13]. Two winners will get an e-book of Undone.

The grand prize winner will get books from The Book Depository. Winners of the e-book copies will choose between Barnes & Noble or Amazon for delivery.

Rules for the giveaway are listed under the “terms and conditions” on the Raffelcopter widget.

Good luck!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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48 responses to “The time it was all about Ben Michaels

  1. OMG, lucky you!!! It must be so awesome to get to interview and interact with someone you idolize so much! That is so cool that you got the ARC directly from Elizabeth – I don't know if authors really are different now than they used to be in terms of interaction with their fans, or if we just hear about it more because of social media and the internet, but I have to say it's a VERY cool thing! What a lovely inscription she wrote for you (and hells yeah, girl, I would totally be keeping that post-it note too. Please.). I've heard from other bloggers that she is as much of a doll as you found her to be. I actually haven't read Unraveling O_O BUT it's NEXT on my TBR list! I have it checked out from the library and, after tweeting with a couple other bloggers, am convinced I'm going to love it so much I should read it ahead of all the brand-new releases I've got. I can't wait!

    So, what swoony boy would I want to own… well, this is kind of a weird choice, but… it would probably be Heathcliff from Wuthering Heights. Yes, I know, for a lot of the book he can be a real a$$, but still, I grew up reading classics (especially love the Bronte sisters) and I guess I like my boys dark, brooding, and a little bit dick-ish (can I say that on TV?!). Seriously, he was the first boy who really made me SWOON, way (way, waayyy) back when I was a wee lass of 11 or 12. Sigh. This trip down memory lane really serves to remind me that I need to read WH again. Seriously soon.

    Thanks for the great post, it was a blast to read! (not to mention the giveaway!)

  2. I love that she met JK Rowling. I think I'd probably swoon at her feet or something equally embarrassing lol.

    As to swoony boys, I'd probably go for the Darkling. If that was feasibly possible without dying.

  3. Hi Holly!

    Elizabeth is one of the nicest authors I've met. She is definitely one of my top 3 favorites. And Unraveling is amazing, I can't recommend it enough. Unbreakable is just as good, if you can believe it.

    Thanks for reading and commenting, I'm so glad you liked it! Hope to see you around!

    :D

  4. I do try to use only gifs of the Doctor Who variety! It takes some time, but definitely worth it. I mean, there's no such thing as too much David Tennant!!

    I'm so happy you enjoyed the post and I hope to see you around the blog!

    Good luck and thanks for entering!!

  5. I don't even think I'd be able to walk up to JK Rowling. She's pretty amazing.

    Good choice picking the Darkling. He's awesome.

    Thanks for the comment and good luck!!

  6. When I read an interview with an author I love, I get very, very excited. Since reading Unravelling, it has become one of my favourite books. She is one of those authors I have to meet and greet, along with Richelle Mead and J.K. Rowling (jealous!).

    I'm excited about Unbreakable and Undone as much as you and everyone else are!

    (This is awesome!)

  7. Oh, Elizabeth is fantastic. I hope you get to meet her one day!

    Unbreakable is so good, I can't wait for it to be out in the wild so I can flail with everyone about it.

    Thanks for reading and good luck!!

  8. That's great, Elizabeth is sooo nice!! I'm so excited for Unbreakable…and I would like Noah from Pushing the Limits or T.J. from On the Island. ooorrr omg this is so hard! LOL

    Thank you for the giveaway, fingers crossed. :)

  9. OMG OMG!!! I've been waiting for this book since I read Unraveling, which was one of my favorites from last year, not even lying. I can't even. You don't know how excited I am. I *need* Unbreakable in my life. Ben is my book boyfriend forever and always. But if I have to pick another, I suppose it would be Noah from Unbecoming because, um, that accent. Need I say more?

  10. *cough* Ben and Noah are mine. I have proof. *cough*.

    Unbreakable is so so so good. Just as fantastic as Unraveling. I need people to read it so I can flail with someone.

    Thanks for entering and good luck!!

  11. No worries, I had to start moderating the comments because I was getting spammed and no one likes the captcha.

    Thanks for reading the interview and good luck!!

  12. I would LOVE to own either Will or Jem from The Infernal Devices series or definitely Noah Shaw from The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer Series. <3
    Thank you so very much for this interview!

  13. I haven't read the Infernal Devices yet, I have the first book in my TBR stack, but haven't gotten to it yet.

    Annnnnd, Noah is mine. I have proof. ;)

    Thanks for entering and good luck!!

  14. You can't ever go wrong with David Tennant! And to answer the blog question I was supposed to respond to, right now I'm completely in love with Noah Shaw from The Mara Dyer trilogy. But Four from Divergent is probably my top book boyfriend.

  15. This one is easy (especially if I can't use Ben (: ) – Sam from Altered by Jennifer Rush. If you haven't read it yet – definitely put it on your TBR list.

    Elizabeth is easily one of my top 5 authors – and I love, love that she interacts with her fans. :)

  16. OMG, Unraveling saved me during a really loooong, everything-horrible-happened roadtrip with 3 screaming kids! I am dying to read Unbreakable and Undone!! The wait is killing me. Other than Ben my heart belongs to Four from Divergent and Jace (seriously he grows on you) from The Mortal Instruments series! What a fantastic giveaway :)

  17. I want Aiden St. Delphi from The Covenant series all to myself!

    I haven't had the chance to read this series yet, but I've heard nothing but great things about it. I think its awesome that you had someone to help you complete your collection!

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