Author Interview: Rebecca James & Beautiful Malice giveaway!

Today I have an interview with Australian author Rebecca James who has written one of my favourite reads of this year Beautiful Malice.  Read on for your chance to find out more about Rebecca and for a chance to win an ARC of Beautiful Malice.

About Rebecca James:
from publishers website

Rebecca was born in Sydney, Australia, in 1970. She spent her early twenties working as a waitress, her late twenties teaching English in Indonesia and Japan, and most of her thirties having babies and working as a kitchen designer.

She has started several university degrees but has yet to place any letters after her name. Despite her highly developed procrastinatory skills she has somehow managed to finish writing a book or two - and plans to spend her forties, fifties, sixties, seventies, eighties and nineties finishing several more.

She lives in Armidale, Australia with her partner and their four sons.

Find out more about Rebecca:

WEBSITE

BLOG

TWITTER

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Q:  Beautiful Malice is  a publishing sensation having sold to 37 countries and you are being hailed as the new J.K Rowling by the Wall Street Journal.  It must be a very exciting time for you! How has your life changed since your book was sold, and how did you celebrate when you heard that you were going to be published?

A: Yes, it has been an incredibly exciting time - exciting and terrifying and surreal all at once! My life has changed most significantly in that I'm now a full time writer - which is a great privilege indeed and I couldn't be happier. I've had several celebrations in the last 10 or so months and most of them have involved a lot of champagne, plenty of delighted squealing, and even, once or twice, a few happy tears.

Q: You've written a wonderful psychological thriller in Beautiful Malice. I was totally engrossed in the story and the characters. Where did you get the inspiration for the story? Were there any particular people or certain events in your life that you drew inspiration from?

A: Thank you. I guess I'm just really interested in dysfunctional relationships - and the numerous different ways they can manifest. I'm also fascinated by the fact that so many people tolerate toxic friendships and love thinking about the reasons why. What makes a person vulnerable? And equally interesting, what motivates the bully - what personal demons might they be dealing with themselves?

Personally, I've had quite a few less-than-perfect friendships. My best friend in pre-school used to pull my hair daily! But, thankfully, I've never met anyone quite like Alice.

Q: Was Beautiful Malice written as a Young Adult book or did you have an adult audience in mind when you wrote it? The book is being published as Young Adult in Australia, but as an adult book in the US, while the UK is marketing it towards 15-30 year olds. What was your intended audience?

A: I didn't really think about the audience much until I was nearing the end and wondering how to pitch it to agents. My agent, Jo Unwin, eventually pitched it as both an adult and YA novel and that's reflected in how it's being published.

Q: I think Beautiful Malice would make a great movie.  As I was reading it, I was playing casting director in my head.  Is there any possibility of a Beautiful Malice movie? Have the movie rights been optioned?

A: I'd love it to be made into a movie - but there's nothing concrete yet ! It would be great fun to cast Alice...

Q: Your next book is a thriller called Cooper Bartholomew is Dead. Can you give me any further details on this one? 

A: Top secret - well, not really, just not ready to talk about it until it's in better shape. 

Q: What prompted you to start writing? Was it something you always did in your spare time, or was it because you had a great idea for a book that just had to be written?  How long did you spend writing Beautiful Malice from start to finish? 

A: I started writing in my thirties when I had four very young sons  - I  think I needed an escape, and a creative outlet. Beautiful Malice took about two years to write from start to finish.

Q: Can you recommend a great book that you think everybody should read and let me know what you're reading at the moment?

A:  I can thoroughly recommend Vilette by Charlotte Bronte  and  I'm currently  reading So Much For That by Lionel Shriver.

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WIN, WIN, WIN!
*Contest closed!*

Thanks so much to Rebecca for taking the time to answer my questions.  To be in with a chance to win an ARC of Beautiful Malice, all you have to do is comment on this interview.  If  you comment and don't want to be entered into the competition, please state this. :) You don't have to be a follower to enter, but if you don't follow, please remember to check back here on Monday, June 7th to find out if you've won.  I'll be picking a winner then who will have 48 hours to email me with their contact details before I pick a new winner.  This contest is international.

BEAUTIFUL MALICE ON GOODREADS

READ MY REVIEW OF BEAUTIFUL MALICE