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Thursday, March 4, 2010

Q and A with RAVEN author, Allison van Diepen


A big thank you to author, Allison van Diepen, for being so awesome and taking the time to answer a few of the fan questions, and to those of you who submitted all the great questions. We received a large volume so we apologize if yours wasn't posted. If you haven't done so yet check out the RAVEN thread under Featured Fiction on the forum to chat with other fans and see the book trailer. It's an amazing book!

*Warning, this post contains some spoilerish info. Also, forgive the formatting on this post, Blogger wouldn't cooperate this evening.

Q. Do you know how to breakdance or just enjoy watching?

A. I LOVE to dance. And though I’d like to think I have some pretty cool moves, I’m definitely not a breakdancer. But I’m fascinated by the way breakdancers move – and the risks they take with their bodies. To me it’s just amazing.


Q. What inspired you to delve into the paranormal?
A. I’ve always been interested in the paranormal. My friends will tell you I’m the first to suggest telling ghost stories. I do believe there are aspects of this world that are “paranormal”, and I take them seriously. Because of that, I don’t dabble – no séances, Ouija Boards, etc. No, thank you.


Q. Do you have tattoos?

A. No. I’m not into body art, though I have nothing against it. Tattoos are too permanent for me. I’m someone whose interests bounce around, and I just can’t picture any tattoo design that I wouldn’t get tired of.


Q. Why did you choose to label Josh as Ghost?

A.
If you’ve ever had a family member leave – through death, addiction, mental illness – your family still remembers them, still feels them, as if they’re a ghost moving through the house. The ghost is someone you can’t see, but you can feel, and who’s still in your heart.

Q. Why did you decide to write a paranormal story (RAVEN) after the more "realistic" STREET PHARM and SNITCH?

A. As I mentioned above, I’ve always had an interest in the paranormal. Street Pharm and Snitch were written while I was teaching at a Brooklyn high school, so naturally that dominated my creativity at the time. If you think Raven is different from my first two books, wait till you see my next two, The Oracle of Dating and The Oracle Rebounds. They represent my lighter side (believe me, I do have one!)

Q. I’m really curious about Josh. Any hints on where you see his life going? If there is a sequel will we get to see more of him?

A. I don’t know if there’s going to be a sequel, but if so, Josh would be an important character in it. Though Josh has so much love and beauty in him, he’s prone to getting caught up in things that aren’t healthy. I could see him getting involved with some Jiang Shi who don’t care whether the humans they’re taking souls from are dying or not…

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