Wednesday 4 May 2011

Delightful Debutantes #17: Amy Plum & Die for Me.

Today's Delightful Debutante is Amy Plum, author of Die for Me. As you may have noticed if you read my review, I adored Die for Me - it's one of my favourite books of 2011 and I would highly recommend it to all fans of Paranormal Romance - you won't be disappointed!

Today, Amy tells us more about the book and explains all about those Revenants...


 I first heard Die for Me described as ‘Twilight…in Paris…with zombies.  I then heard it was about Revenants, and immediately thought ‘ghosts!’ For the record, I hate zombies, but heart Revenants, so for anyone who is confused as to what a Revenant actually is (zombie or ghost) can you explain it to them?

Sure! If you look up the word “revenant” on WordReference.com (the site I use for translating), the principle definition is “spirit of a dead person/ghost”. However, in my very first draft of Die for Me, I called my monsters “zombies” because they animated after death. In actual fact, my revenants are neither.

Let’s say you, Leanna, are a revenant in the Die for Me universe. You start out as a human, and you die sacrificing your life for someone else. But after three days you animate, coming back to life as an immortal.

From that point on, you live on a different cycle than humans. You don’t sleep, and for three days a month you are dormant, which is when you go back to a dead state. And as a revenant, you will spend the rest of eternity (unless you are destroyed...cough...) saving humans from premature death.

Sometimes saving lives necessitates your being killed. When this happens, you reanimate at the age you died the first time. But saving lives isn’t a choice for you. It’s a powerful compulsion that you cannot resist.


François Goeske - the perfect Vincent?
 I read that you were inspired to write Die for Me after watching the movie version of Twilight. Since I always like to ask the movie cast question, if Die for Me ever does hit the big screen, who would you pick to play Vincent and Kate, the main characters in your book?

Actually, I watched the movie version of Twilight and was so mesmerized that I read the books. Twice. It was at that point that I was looking for a subject to write about, and decided to try to craft something in the same manner.

As for hypothetical film casting—that is such a hard question because I don’t know many teenage actors. But I loved Hailee Steinfeld in True Grit. And in a couple of years she’ll be Kate’s age! As for boys, I think I would want a French actor. Like the French/German actor François Goeske. Although if Robert Pattinson had a younger, French, dark-haired brother I’d vote for him in a second!

 Vincent is a scene stealer – funny, sexy, romantic and best of all, French, he is going to be on everyone’s book crush list!  Who is on your book crush list?

I’m sure I’m leaving out some important crushes. But off the top of my head: Aragorn (from Tolkein’s Ring trilogy). Mr. Darcy (sigh). Edward Cullen (I can’t help it). Iorek Byrnison from Northern Lights (disturbingly enough, since he is a polar bear). Newland Archer (Edith Wharton’s Age of Innocence). Eric Northman from Charlaine Harris’s Sookie Stackhouse series. Mark Darcy in Bridget Jones’s Diary. And I know this is really weird, but I’ve always had a crush on Willy Wonka.

 For me, the city of Paris is magical, and the perfect setting for a Paranormal Romance.  How would you spend one perfect day in Paris?

I would get up early and take a walk along the river to watch the sunrise on the surface of the water. Then I’d head for a café and have a croissant and a grand crème (strong coffee with steamed milk, no foam). I would go to Deyrolle and look at the taxidermied animals. And then I would head to a museum. Probably the Musée Jacquemart André, which is located in a stunning 19th century mansion.

Then I would head over to the Marché des Enfants-Rouges, the oldest market in Paris, and have lunch at one of the little cafés inside. After lunch I would wander down rue Vieille du Temple and down the rue des Francs Bourgeois to peek in the shops. Then through the Place des Vosges and down to the Village St. Paul to do more peeking (this time in antique and vintage shops).

I might go down to the quay of the Ile St. Louis and read a book for a couple of hours while listening to the water and watching the boats go by. Then I’d meet up with a friend (or perhaps my best friend, Laurent) and go to dinner somewhere wonderful. Like Chateaubriand, where the chef chooses the food for you. And then if we could somehow teleport to the steps in front of Sacre Coeur in time to watch the sunset, it would truly be the perfect end to the perfect Parisian day.



 One thing that really impressed me about Die for Me was the depth of characterization and sense of history attached to the characters.  We learnt a lot about Vincent’s background in the first book. Do you intend on telling us about other characters’ back stories in further books?

Yes, I do! I actually included Ambrose’s history in Book 1—along with Vincent’s and the twins’—but it was cut. Jules’s story is in the current draft of Book 2. (I hope it stays!) I would like to tell Ambrose’s in Book 3, but if it doesn’t work with the story at that point, I will find some other way of letting my readers know. Gaspard also has a fascinating background, as does Geneviève. (You get to know her better in Book 2).

Can you name three books that readers of your book might enjoy and let me know what you are reading at the moment?

I’ve just finished reading the books by my fellow Dark Days of Summer authors: Divergent by Veronica Roth, Starcrossed by Josephine Angelini and Hereafter by Tara Hudson. Since I’m getting to know them, I find it hard not to be prejudiced towards their stories, which I really enjoyed. Luckily, they both stand on their own so I am even more happy to talk them up!

But if I had to give three non-DDoS books: two Paris-themed books I’ve enjoyed lately are Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins and Revolution by Jennifer Donnelly. As well as a really fun YA romance that I read last month: Saving Francesca by Melina Marchetta.

 Finally, can you tell me anything about Until I Die (Die for Me book #2)? Any sneak peeks as to what happens next?

Well, as you know from the end of Book 1, a couple of the characters will be leaving, so there will be a slight change of cast. We will find out more about the revenants and what they are. Add to that a bit more magic than in Book 1, some great fights, and a make-out scene that one of my Beta readers claimed was Smoochie Award-worthy. (I had to look that up, never having heard of it!) My husband likes Die For Me 2 better than 1. And he likes action. So there you have it—I hope those clues are enough!


Thanks to Amy for the wonderful, wonderful interview and for being a truly delightful debutante! I think Die for Me is going to be a huge hit for Amy! I can't wait to read Until I Die - I'm counting down the days already!

Have you seen the Die for Me book trailer?












10 comments :

  1. I am definitely going to check out Die For Me! It sounds deliciously good! François Goeske is definitely eye candy. And that crush on Willy Wonka is not as weird as you think ;)

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  2. Can't wait to read Die for Me! François Goeske is swoon-worthy :D
    I agree with almost all of the author's fictional crushes - Mr Darcy (!!), Aragorn(!!!), Eric and Mark Darcy.

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  3. Fabulous interview. I just realised I have read all the Dark Days of Summer books. Just finishing Hereafter now.

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  4. brilliant review. i didnt know all that revenant stuff. i really can't wait to read this one (and that's saying a lot coming from me ~ i am not normally drawn to this genre)

    also ~ I LOVE her pick for the love interest. verrry nice!

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  5. I am so excited to read this now! Thank god I pre-ordered it. You know that I love that this book is set in Paris. I was sold from that point on, but reading the background on revenants peaked my interest even more. Thanks for sharing this interview, Leanna!

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  6. What a fantastic interview! I can't wait to read this book, it looks utterly amazing:) I have to say Amy has fabulous taste in fictional men as Aragorn, Mr. Darcy, and Eric Northman are all on my list of book crushes as well (Vincent is sure to be an addition as well once I get my hands on him, er, the book).

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  7. Fab interview! ;) I already added this book to the list and I cannot wait to read it. Sounds good.

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  8. I loved this book! I found it fascinating & really loved the storyline.

    Amy has a great taste in literary crushes! I certainly crushed on Vincent whilst reading this book!

    xoNat
    bookbabblings.com

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  9. Wow...that's interesting...I thought it was the revenants were zombies! Now, I'm really intrigued. I definitely have to read Anna and the French Kiss. Glad she liked it! Great review. Love your questions!

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  10. Yes I absolutely see Vin like that. Good job picking him out.

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