Author Interview: Erika Mitchell

One of the true marvels of being a blogger is connecting with people from all over, regardless of age, location, or life experience. I started reading  Erika’s blog when I was a baby bloggerling, and was immediately drawn to her wit and fellow geek-girldom. I mean, of course I was hooked when she decorated her son’s nursery in a Mario Bros. theme. Can you think of anything cooler?!

Luckily for me, we struck up a blog-friendship that has lasted a few years, two children (for her) and now two published novels! Oh, and she’s not even thirty yet. Let me pause and let that sink in. (Really, I’m pausing while I re-evaluate my life goals. Don’t judge, y’all.) I had so much fun doing a Week of Erika Mitchell when PWNED came out that I jumped at the chance to do it again for Blood Money.  But enough of me blabbing…. Erika was kind enough to answer my questions about life, the book, and everything in between.

I really have to ask- what gave you the idea to make the protagonist of this book an accountant?? After reading it, it makes perfect sense, but I’m dying to hear about your ‘lightbulb moment.’

Accountants never get to be the hero, you know? They’re kind of like the gears inside a watch, they keep everything going but you never see them. When I was coming up with this story, I knew the protagonist had to be someone no one would ever see coming, someone in a position to do some real damage. It just goes to show you: Never turn your back on an accountant.

 I make absolutely no secret of the fact that I’m an unabashed anglophile, and loved that the beginning of the book was set in London. Why did you choose to make that Omar and Azzam’s “home base”?

Whenever I write a book, the main character kind of just walks up to me and introduces him/herself. Azzam had an English accent right from the start, and it was up to me to figure out how my Iraqi accountant came to sound like he hailed from London. It puzzled me at first but I figured it out eventually. Since London is an international business hub, it made sense to me to have Sun Corp headquartered there. I’ve never actually visited the city in person, but I’ve had a craving to go ever since I wrote the first draft of this book.

You and me both, obviously. Only if we can do a wee bit of royal watching in the process. Princess Kate Baby Bump Whaaa?

*Ahem*

The amount of research that went into this book had to have been immense. (Unless you are actually a secret Muslim counter-terrorist accountant in your free time.) Did you ever feel overwhelmed as the scope of the book got bigger and bigger? 

Ha! No, not overwhelmed. God bless Google. I mean seriously, what did writers do before Google? I spent so much time Googling everything from pound/dollar exchange rates to how long it would take to ride the Underground from Hampstead Heath to Charing Cross to biological weapons, and even to how to use C4. It was a lot of fun to find out things I thought I knew from movies (like how long it takes to pick a lock) are wrong (it takes a few minutes, even if you’re pretty darn good at it).

Did you have the plot for Blood Money mapped out from the beginning, or did you learn about events as you wrote them? Does a character or plot twist ever come out of nowhere and surprise you?

I had the seed of an idea when I first started writing this book, I was as surprised as anyone about what happened as I went along. I remember when I was about three quarters of the way through the first draft when an idea tackled me in the shower and I raced out all sopping wet to jot it down on a notepad before I forgot it. That idea turned out to be a pretty big twist in the story, but it truly came out of nowhere. It was awesome.

I felt like Blood Money was a very sensory experience. From the floor of the mosque, to Azzam’s greasy American food, to a certain hard wooden chair, I really enjoyed all those details that kept the reader sucked into the story. Is that something you focused more on in this book?

Yes! It tickles me that you noticed. I took a writing seminar in 2011 and the presenter said something that stuck with me. She said that modern novels are nowhere near smelly enough, and I took that to heart. It’s fun to write that way, using all the senses to tell a story.

I would say that you definitely accomplished that! As well as giving me fast food cravings multiple times throughout the story.

If this book were made into a movie, who would be your dream cast? For some reason I was picturing Azzam as an older Dev Patel the entire time I was reading it. Which is totally the wrong ethnicity and why I’m not a casting agent.

When I was writing, I kept picturing Shah as being played by Naveen Andrews (he played Sayid Jarrah on Lost). He has the look and the body type and would play that part perfectly. I’m not sure who would play anyone else, though. Who would you cast?

Is it wrong to suggest Maggie Grace for Ashley? It could be that I am really behind the rest of the world and JUST saw “Taken,” but she is who immediately springs to mind when you need someone who could be both vulnerable and have the emotional steel needed for that role. Plus, she’s really got a “girl-next-door” quality that Ashley needs.

…Which also just happens to be a perfect segue into my next question: Ashley shows remarkable strength and composure throughout the story. Would you picture yourself handling her situation similarly?

I hope so, I really do. Ashley is a very special character in that I felt her emotions deeply when I was writing her scenes. To a somewhat alarming degree at times. I had a lot of fun thinking about what I would do in that situation and problem solving in as realistic a way as I possibly could. It was a fantastic theoretical exercise.

When you wrote your first book, you were balancing writing and being a mom to a busy toddler. Now you’ve got TWO little ones at home. Has the juggling act changed for you at all?

Oh my gosh yes. When I wrote Blood Money I had just the one tiny human and I wrote that book during his nap times. Now I have two tiny humans whose nap times don’t always happen concurrently. That means I work in fits and starts and frequently lose track of what I was doing or thinking about. This is why I haven’t written any new novel-length stuff lately, it’s just not possible for me to work like that. My kids are adorable distractions.

You are fabulous at coming up with unlikely combinations for your heroes (Azzam, Sean, and your ballerina jewel thief notable among them). Have you thought of some other protagonists that you haven’t shared with the world?

I literally have a running roster of main characters (and villains) I’m just waiting to get to know better. An autistic college student who saves the world from the zombie apocalypse, an unemployed social media marketing expert who runs PR for a guy who overthrows despots, you name it. The minute I have more spare time I’m going to let these characters run wild.

Both of your protagonists so far have been male- was that intentional, or were they just clamoring for their stories to be told? Do you find it easy to write from a male point of view?

I don’t know why, but yes. I do find it easier to write from a man’s point of view. I’m not averse to writing a woman’s story, I just haven’t had many female protagonists snag my attention. I really liked Ashley from Blood Money, and enjoyed her streak of quiet courage, but I’m still waiting for that one special lady who can carry a whole story on her own.

When I talked to you about PWNED, you mentioned that you’d started writing a third novel. How’s the progress on that? Is it the same story that you worked on during NANOWRIMO this year?

You are talking about my unfinished novels number three and four and unfortunately they’re both languishing on my hard drive, unfinished. I love them, though, and I miss them. I’ll finish them someday when my kids don’t need my help/attention/boobs every five freaking minutes.

 I have to admit, I had a little literary crush on Bai. He was level-headed, capable, and just a little bit mysterious… Would you ever consider a sequel following him to his next assignment? (Please say yes!)

You liked Bai, huh? He was the most fun character of the novel, for sure. Just for you, Brooke, I will consider writing a sequel following his exploits post-London. It would definitely be fun to spend more time with him.

*Updated to Add*:

If it happens on Twitter, it has to be true!

As always, Erika, it has been a real pleasure. I eagerly await the further results of your literary endeavors, however long they may take.  Thank you for “stopping by”!

Just as a reminder, Blood Money is available to download via Amazon, OmniLit (in a variety of formats), Kobo and directly from the publisher, Champagne Books.

(author photo courtesy of E. Mitchell, other photos via Google)

WATCH THIS SPACE!!!

Happy Super Bowl Sunday, any and all faithful readers who continue to check my poor neglected blog despite months of radio silence.

I wanted to crank up my line to the Interwebs a little early this week to let you know that I’ve been scheming with Erika Mitchell again, and we have an exciting week planned for the release of her new book!! *Squee!!*

Please check back Tuesday for my review of Blood Money, as well as links to buy your own copy. Wednesday, I’ll have an exclusive interview with Erika herself, which I couldn’t be more excited about.

Just to further entice you, here is a photo of Henry Cavill, shirtless.

He does not appear in the book, but this is not at all gratuitous. Not at all.

*drool*

Update for those Male readers*:

*-Yes, CJHannas. I’m talking to you. That’s as gratuitous as I could get with an Olympian… but gotta give the girl credit. She looks cute in a swimming cap. (Bathing cap? Diving cap? Head-swimmy water-maker-faster-thing?)

(Image via here)

Who NOT To Trust As A Housesitter

This past weekend we made the trip up to New Hampshire for my cousin’s beautiful wedding. We sent Wesley off to the puppy spa, locked up the house, and turned off the water. We thought we had everything pretty well under control.

For some reason, I totally forgot to make sure that America, You Sexy Bitch was somewhere that it couldn’t get into any trouble.

And then I come home to these.

Sleeping pills + Twitter = BAD IDEA

Crocs Heaven <3

Supporting Our Troops

Exercising Its Second Amendment Rights

I definitely expected this book to challenge some of my perceptions… but, erm?

AYSB, you are SO grounded.

Final Music Selections for the Not-So-Royal Wedding

One nugget of wedding wisdom that gets passed around is that when you’ve found your dress, STOP LOOKING. Don’t continue to ogle dresses in magazines, or watch countless episodes of “Say Yes to the Dress.” The only think you’ll do is confuse yourself with more choices. Since I found my dress 13 months before the wedding itself, I had plenty of time to get confused.

The same tenet should hold true for most decisions that are wedding related. Go with your gut, choose your songs/readings/colors and then stop looking. For music, that was a little harder than other things. We’re constantly surrounded by music, whether it’s on the radio, on tv or in the movies we choose to watch.

At the end of the last post, I’d practically decided to use the “Love Theme” from “Elizabeth: The Golden Age” for my entrance. The only problem that I was having was turning my brain OFF and leaving “bridal music mode.”

One evening, Army Boy and I were curled up watching Starz’ reboot of “Camelot” on Netflix, and ANOTHER song jumped out at me. I couldn’t get the plaintive melody out of my head ALL night, and I knew I had to download it. It probably didn’t help that it was played when Guinevere was marrying Leontes, and the lyrics were really lovely as well.

(ps- The video is captioned wrong… but I wanted the actual wedding scene because it was so effective in context.)

“And if the storm howls through our land

I’ll be your shelter, I’ll be your shelter

If you’ll be my light, If you’ll be my light.

And if the world should fall to winter

I’ll be your warmth

If you’ll be my light

And if the skies should cloud to darkness

I’ll be your light

If you’ll be my light.”

It’s primal, and sweet, and basic…but I started to wonder if I wasn’t veering just a little bit too far on the theatrical side. While my more music-loving friends in the crowd would appreciate it, I wasn’t sure about Army Boy’s traditional Christian family, or my Catholic relatives.

So we’d decided on a recessional, some pieces for the prelude, and the entrance of the bridal party, but still nothing for my entrance. Through my various searches, I’d gotten closer and closer to what I was looking for, but was just missing the mark. By millimeters. I definitely wanted orchestral pieces, like Princess Kate chose for the Royal wedding. I was in love with warm strings and lush harmonies, but didn’t want anything as obviously “genre specific” as the “Braveheart” love theme or “Be My Light.” I wanted a little bit of dissonance, like the suspensions in the piece from “Elizabeth,” but not an overwhelming air of sadness (because, DUH, wedding.)

I wish that I could tell you exactly what sparked my lightbulb moment… but one evening I felt an overwhelming urge to download ANOTHER soundtrack by  James Horner (one of the most prolific movie composers of our time, and composer of the “Braveheart”soundtrack) off iTunes. I listened to the whole thing incessantly, until I had it narrowed down to TWO selections. One of those is now with my DJ, ready for my walk down the aisle with my dad.

The best part? He doesn’t know what it is. Neither does Army Boy. And honestly? Neither will you. Because I am an evil evil girl who drew out my music selection process over 3 posts only to clamp the safe shut

I will, however, permit guesses. And give you two clues- NO, it’s not from “Titanic.” Nor is it from ANY movie about space travel, or the theme for the CBS Evening News.

Actually, by my count, that’s three clues. Now you can’t say I wasn’t generous.

In case you weren’t studiously taking notes, some of the selections that we will be using throughout the day are:

Prelude:

“Dawn”~ Jean Yves Thibaudet (from the “Pride and Prejudice” soundtrack)

“El Noi de la Mare”~ Jean Felix Lalane & Muriel Anderson (from the “Vicky Christina Barcelona” soundtrack)*

“Love Theme”~ Craig Armstrong & AR Rahman

Reception Highlights:

“Marry You”~ Bruno Mars

“One Last Drink”~ Enter The Haggis

“I Do”~ Colbie Caillat

“The Way You Look Tonight”~ Harry Connick Jr

“Marry Me”~ Train

*This would make a gorgeous processional too!

What We’re Probably Doing Right Now (And All Weekend)(If Not Sleeping)(Or Cleaning Poo)

We Interrupt This Program…

I have to take a brief break from contaminating the internet with overwhelming cuteness to acknowledge the significance of this weekend.

When I started working on the Medicare team at BigInsuranceCompany a year and a half ago, Genius Boy suggested that I should start talking to The Yezel.

“Seriously. You guys have a ton in common. Including being obsessed with Twilight.”

We did, and we were, and we’ve been ridiculous ever since.

She was there to witness the whole online dating saga, and was one of the people who gave me a kick in the pants to start blogging about it. She’s been there from the beginning when I started dating Army Boy, and probably figured out that I was going to marry him before I did.

Since the beginning, she’s been planning her wedding to Mr Yezel, and I’ve gotten to go along for the ride. We talked invites, centerpieces, bridesmaids’ dresses and the frustration of People Who Don’t RSVP. (Invaluable for me… Because I would probably have turned into a raving harpy and made screamy phone calls to anyone who had the nerve to ignore my response card.) We’ve agonized over honeymoons and hairstyles, engagement pics and makeup. We laughed over the Catholic church’s “Engaged Encounter,” and laughed HARDER at the unexpected visitor at her Bachelorette party. (Anyone want a pizza?)

Suddenly, without warning… time is up. She’s getting married THIS WEEKEND.

And then deserting me for two whole weeks and going to Mexico.

(Wench.)

All this was really to say that she and Mr Yezel are one of THOSE couples. The type that you emulate when you’re dating someone, and hate when you’re single. They’re driven, obscenely organized and smart beyond their years with finances. They have insane chemistry. There’s no question that they’re going the distance.

Oh, and I love them to death.

So Internet, I want to raise our collective glasses (of whatever you have handy- water, pinot grigio, cold coffee… ew?) in a toast to them- to a lifetime of laughter and love. May their wedding be an incredible day that marks the start of the rest of their incredible lives.

Cheers, you guys.

Wordless Wednesday- EwGross Edition

Because I am an obnoxious, obnoxious girl… Hey look, we got some of our engagement photos back!

Txting Mr Darcy Reads: “The Passage” & “Mockingjay”

Oh the joy! The rapture! I have returned two book reviews of two different post-apocalyptic novels.

Also, possibly related: I am terrified that the world is going to end.

That’s a story for another day.

I KNOW! You totally thought that I forgot about that page.

I figured that I’d either find my way back to it, or end up nixing it all together at the end of the summer.

And then. The book of all books came along- one that I was so excited to read, finish, and share with everyone (aka- tell you that you’d better read it or we can no longer be friends, for serious.)(No, I’m kidding, we can still be friends.) that I was forced to get my ass back to book reviewing.

Here goes.

Scenes From The Bedroom: I BLAME TWITTER

(Scene: La Casa Bedroom. Brooke and Army Boy, getting ready to sleep. Brooke looks anxious.)

Brooke: I’m really disturbed by something I saw today. I need to share it with you so you’ll be disturbed too.

Army Boy: (sleepily) Um?

Brooke: Someone on Twitter mentioned “clock spiders”. And I Googled it.

Army Boy: What is it?!

Brooke: A spider the size of a wall clock. A couple only found it because its legs were peeking out from under the clock.

Army Boy: I freakin’ HATE spiders.

Brooke: I KNOW. So there.

Army Boy: Feel better? (Brooke nods.) Get some sleep.

(Brooke looks pensive.)

Brooke: Um?

Army Boy: Mmmph.

Brooke: That just made me think of camel spiders.

Army Boy: Those are some ugly mothers.

Brooke: I read that they MAKE NOISE. They get so pissed that they scream at you.

Army Boy: It’s more like a hissing. Then they charge you.

Brooke: …. OHMYCRAP You SAW SOME. In IRAQ.

Army Boy: I saw a few. I heard they’re worse in Afghanistan.

Brooke: How big are they??

Army Boy: Only a little bigger than a tarantula.

Brooke: *shudders*

Army Boy: Did you hear the story about the guy who accidentally brought one home from Afghanistan in his gear? And it got out and killed the family’s dog?

Brooke: Please tell me that is not true.

Army Boy: It’s probably just an exaggeration. I got stopped at customs for a pebble in my boot. I can’t imagine they’d let a spider through.

Brooke: You’re right…

Army Boy: Sleep Now?

Brooke: Okaaaay… (twitches feet nervously)

Army Boy: Whaaaaaat.

Brooke: What if there IS one in your gear!? And now it’s IN OUR BASEMENT?!

Army Boy: Our climate is too cold for them. It would have died.

Brooke: Maybe it got OUT of your footlocker and is living IN OUR DRYER. Where I put our CLOTHES.

Army Boy: Babe, Iraq was 4 years ago. If there were a hypothetical camel spider in my gear, I’m sure it’s dead by now. Or maybe still living in the Ex’s basement.

(They exchange an evil smile.)

Brooke: Ok but. What if it IS still down there. Hibernating.

Army Boy: They’re bears now?

Brooke: Or in Cryo-sleep?

Army Boy: (turns to look at her) Who ARE you?!?!?

Brooke: Don’t stop being my friend, ok?

(They burst into hysterical laughter. Brooke is banned from Google images forever after.)

(End Scene.)

The Nerd’s Summer Playlist

It seems like this week we’re finally shaking off the cold, rainy days of early May. The temps are shooting up into the 70s in the morning and steadily climbing throughout the day. We’ve turned on the A/C in the Casa, and are expecting to keep it on for the rest of the summer.

This has also given me reason to start breaking out the music that says “summer” to me more than the rest of the albums on my iPod. It’s music for road-tripping, music for dancing in flowy skirts and flipflops, and music for chilling outside by the light of a fire and sipping cocktails.

All I have to do is select one of these albums, even on a snowy day, and I can practically feel sand between my toes. Some you’re probably familiar with, and others you may not be.

“Twenty-Three” and “Hello…X”- Tristan Prettyman

I first heard Tristan in 2006 when I went through an insane music-buying phase. It was post-college, and I really turned to music to identify with the minor identity crisis that comes with finally being launched into the “adult” world. I read about her smoky tone and sun-drenched songs in an issue of “Paste” magazine, and out of the many albums I sample that year, she’s one of the few that I’ve kept listening to.

“The Makepeace Brothers EP”- The Makepeace Brothers

This trio opened for Jason Mraz when I saw him live, and their laid-back acoustic sound is earthy and sunny. Since they’re brothers, they have similar-sounding voices which make their harmonies killer.

“Coco” and “Breakthrough”- Colbie Caillat

I love her, obviously. Her sultry alto voice combined with the acoustic guitar brings to mind humid summer nights and fireflies.

“We Sing, We Dance, We Steal Things”- Jason Mraz

I love him. That’s really all. And an album that goes from the bouncy ukulele-driven “I’m Yours” to the sexy “Butterfly” and back to the sweet duet “Lucky” pretty much guarantees itself a spot on repeat. There’s something for any mood.

“Amanda Leigh”- Mandy Moore

After seeing her guest appearance on “Grey’s Anatomy” the other night, people were asking what happened to her career. In the last year, she released this gem of an album, which features her delicate voice over some awesome musical arrangements. I love that there’s a track dedicated to how she came up with each song, and “Merrimack River” is achingly lovely.

“Volume 1” and “Volume 2”- She and Him

Another actress/musician, Zooey Deschanel intrigued me with her singing voice in the movie “Elf.” When I heard that she’d recorded an album, I couldn’t resist. Rather than sticking to lower, torchy sound of her register, she’s all over singing bright, retro-pop. I don’t know if that’s a term, I just made it one. They dabble in folk and pop, purposely using certain recording techniques so that it doesn’t come across as “too polished.”

“Vampire Weekend”- Vampire Weekend

This record hooked me with its catchy, unusual rhythms and the band’s collective nostalgia for Cape Cod summers. I didn’t feel the same connection to “Contra,” their second offering, possibly because it wasn’t as mind-blowing after hearing the first. The album is an intellectual’s dream, both in their creative use of the English language and the variety of instruments used.

“Curiouser”- Kate Miller-Heidke

I raved about this after I heard her perform with Ben Folds in March. It’s my current music love affair, and fortunately fits in with my summer mood. I even paused to compliment the music counter employee at a local bookstore when I heard it playing over the store sound-system. Her classical training is surprising and exciting when she unexpectedly busts out with insane operatic runs. I also love how she can switch back and forth from sass (on “God’s Gift to Women” and “Politics in Space”) to sentiment (“Our Song.” Simple and lovely.) .

What are your summer music loves? Please leave comments- I need some ear candy for the coming weeks at work while I count down to vacation! I’m officially under a month, and we’re into the most important AND most tedious part of my job- formulary review and submission. Pages and pages and pages of spreadsheets… GAH.

(images courtesy of Amazon)