An Interview With Jeaniene Frost + Giveaway

The Beautiful Ashes (Broken Destiny, #1)

Buy The Book:
In a world of shadows, anything is possible. Except escaping your fate.

Ever since she was a child, Ivy has been gripped by visions of strange realms just beyond her own. But when her sister goes missing, Ivy discovers the truth is far worse—her hallucinations are real, and her sister is trapped in a parallel realm. And the one person who believes her is the dangerously attractive guy who's bound by an ancient legacy to betray her.

Adrian might have turned his back on those who raised him, but that doesn't mean he can change his fate…no matter how strong a pull he feels toward Ivy. Together they search for the powerful relic that can save her sister, but Adrian knows what Ivy doesn't: that every step brings Ivy closer to the truth about her own destiny, and a war that could doom the world. Sooner or later, it will be Ivy on one side and Adrian on the other. And nothing but ashes in between…  -Goodreads


As readers wait with baited breath for her newest release, a New Adult story entitled The Beautiful Ashes.  WTF Are You Reading? was lucky enough to snag a bit of best selling author Jeaniene Frost's time for the chat below.

WTF:  What made you venture into the world of New Adult while at the same time embarking on a new series?

Jeaniene:  Back in 2007, when I first got the idea for The Beautiful Ashes, the New Adult (NA) genre didn’t exist. All I knew was that my heroine, Ivy, was too old for high school, yet too young to fit the “adult” mold that existed at the time. I ran into a similar issue back in 2006 with Halfway To The Grave. In my original draft, Cat was nineteen, but I was told by my agent that I had to age her up to sell.  Thus, in the published version, Cat was twenty-two, which was still far younger than many heroines in the adult market. With Ivy in The Beautiful Ashes, however, her age wasn’t really flexible. At twenty, Ivy is old enough to make adult decisions and deal with very adult situations, but she’s still finding herself on the inside. The fact that Ivy has to find herself while being thrown into a war between angels and demons, not to mention having a supernatural destiny that she’s unaware of, makes things that much more complicated.

WTF:  Do you find it easier/harder to write NA versus Adult?

Jeaniene:  NA eclipses the time frame between high school and “real” adulthood, or around the 18 – 25 range. So many significant things happened to me during that time period (moving out, first job, getting married, first death of a friend, etc) that I think it’s rife with emotional tension and significance. I didn’t find much difference between writing NA and Adult, actually. Perhaps it’s because, as I mentioned above, my heroine from my debut series was almost the same age as Ivy in The Beautiful Ashes. I do think NA provides a great way to explore all the drama of first loves, first heartaches, and being on your own for the first time, all while not being quite sure if you can handle everything that life throws at you. Who can’t relate to that?

WTF:  Where were you when the inspiration for The Beautiful Ashes struck?

Jeaniene:  Where I usually am when I get my best ideas – asleep. Seriously, ever since I was a child, I’ve had vivid, detailed dreams.  As I teenager, I used to write them down and make little stories out of them. Later, when I turned thirty, I took a vivid dream about a half-vampire woman arguing with a Master vampire man about why she’d left him years ago and turned it into the Night Huntress series.  With The Beautiful Ashes, my dream was about a girl who could see realms just beyond our own, but of course, everyone told her she was crazy.  When she ended up trapped in one, she found out all her “hallucinations” were real and that the other realms she’d glimpsed were inhabited by demons.  I switched things up a bit with that dream to make Ivy’s sister the one who’s trapped in the demon realm.  That way, the setting wasn’t stationary, and it gave Ivy motivation to go looking for a weapon that could take down demons. Of course, the only person who can help Ivy find this weapon is Adrian, a man with ties to the demons and a destiny that’s in direct opposition to Ivy’s.
WTF:  What is your favorite part of the writing process?

Jeaniene:  My favorite part is discovering more about my characters.  When I write, I have a sparse, general outline, much like you get with Mapquest directions.  Those might tell you where to go, but they don’t tell you what you’ll see, feel or experience along the way.  That’s how my writing process is. When I start out, I know the direction I’m headed in, but all the details come to me as I write, not before I write. That makes the journey fun, exciting and surprising for me.

WTF:  You seem to have a love affair with the written word.  When and how did it begin?

Jeaniene:  When I was twelve years old and I read my first romance novel!  Before anyone judges me, there was no YA genre back then.  You had Sweet Valley High, Judy Blume or Nancy Drew, and that was pretty much it. I wanted books with more depth, more emotional highs and lows, and romance novels gave that to me.  Then, I wanted to write something that would make other people feel the same way I had felt when I was reading them. It took me a while, but I hope that I finally did it.

WTF:  Do you concentrate on one project at a time, or are you working on several at once?

Jeaniene:  I have the writing equivalent of tunnel vision, so I concentrate on one project at a time.  Granted, I may have to do revisions on Book C while still writing Book B because with my release schedule, overlaps are unavoidable.  But I don’t write two new stories at the same time. I get very involved with my characters, when I write, so it’s too hard for me to split my attention between different stories/characters except to do the necessary edits.

WTF:  Have you ever solved an issue that you had with one story line while writing another?

Jeaniene:  No, probably for the reason I stated above. When I write, I am fully absorbed in the story in front of me.  I love those characters the most, I love that world the most, and I don’t even want to think about other stories. Then, when I’m done with that book, I move on to the next set of characters/story and abandon the one before it. Call me a literary two-timer *wink*.

WTF:  How does it feel to know that people are now having love affairs with your characters and your stories?

Jeaniene:  It is such a cool thing! Writing sometimes feels like forcing the voices in my head to earn their own living, so knowing that other people connect with these characters the same way that I do is a wonderful feeling.  Otherwise, I’m just a borderline schizophrenic who makes up different adventures for people who only exist in the dark recesses of my mind. I’d much rather call myself an author instead :).


About Jeaniene
Jeaniene Frost Jeaniene Frost is the New York Times, USA Today, and international bestselling author of the Night Huntress series, the Night Prince series, and the upcoming Broken Destiny series. To date, foreign rights for her novels have sold to twenty different countries. Jeaniene lives in North Carolina with her husband Matthew, who long ago accepted that she rarely cooks and always sleeps in on the weekends. Aside from writing, Jeaniene enjoys reading, poetry, watching movies with her husband, exploring old cemeteries, spelunking and traveling – by car. Airplanes, children, and cook books frighten her.

For information on Jeaniene's books, reading the first 20% of each book free, book trailers, deleted scenes, creature mythology, and more, please visit: www.jeanienefrost.com


The Giveaway! 

Jeaniene is giving away two copies of 
The Beautiful Ashes
If you would like the chance to win,
leave a comment with a valid email address below telling us
your favorite Jeaniene Frost Book or Character.

This Giveaway Ends 8/26/2014

58 comments:

  1. Cat and Bones are my favorite characters.

    bacchus76 at myself dot com

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  2. all of her books are my Favorites!! I have read them so many times I could recite then to you.. Bones is my absolute favorite character out of all the books Ive read!!..
    dmbossert@hotmail.com

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  3. Bones is my favorite character!

    ekaf2022 AT gmail (dot) com

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  4. My favorite character si Vlad.

    saretta74550 AT gmail DOT com

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  5. Cat is my favourite character, hands down! She is also a great role model :)
    tmejia@ryerson.ca

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  6. Vlad is my favorite character :). Thank you.
    vsloboda(at)gmail(dot)com

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  7. I hope this doesn't post twice. Just in case it does, I'm sorry.

    My favorite characters are Vlad and Marie Laveau. Why? Because Jeaniene Frost took characters that are considered old fashioned and washed up, and breathed new life into them. She made them new and exciting, and raised the standard even higher for them.

    TheWebWeaver8@gmail.com

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  8. I read Halfway to The Grave last week so Cat and Bones are my fave characters thus far.


    taccb(underscore)1981(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  9. Sorry, I forgot my email, Pam: blomette@yahoo.com (I still love Cat)

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  10. Love Cat and Bones series. I think Ian is my favorite.
    shannonhemerick@gmail.com

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  11. That's a hard question. Between Vlad, Bones and Ian it's hard to choose. But if I had to choose one I think it would be Bones.
    valeridavila@yahoo.com

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  12. I love vlad and his naughty attitude lol

    Nicola.mitchell19@yahoo.co.uk

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  13. Mencheres is my favorite. There is something so mysterious about him. Eternal Kiss Of Darkness is my favorite book I've listened to it many times. Vlad is a close second.

    VDubLove83@gmail.com

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  14. I love book #2 and Bones is my favorite! I love his naughty attitude. Thanks for the giveaway!
    ~Krista
    pinkbonanza{ AT }gmail{ DOT }com

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  15. Cat! When I began reading the Night Huntress series Cat and my personality couldn't have been more different. I was a very timid and shy girl. But I looked up to Cats character. As I got more engrossed in the series I began to channel a little bit of Cat in my day to day life. I believe the series has made me a stronger person. I'm sure I'll love Ivy ALMOST as much as I love Cat lol.

    Wcke3000@aol.com

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  16. One Foot in the Grave is my favourite! :D the scenes with Bones and Justina were some of the funniest I've read :) and the emotional sides to two characters who have been apart for years and how it's changed them was great to read :) is the giveaway open internationally?

    amieesnow(at)gmail(dot)com

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  17. Cat & Bones are the perfect team. It's impossible to pick just one of them.
    aleyana@gmail.com

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  18. My favorite character is definitely Bones.
    skroldanx92@gmail.com

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  19. Bones...He is so yummy!

    jld0316@yahoo.com

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  20. My favorite character is Cat. She is a kick-ass heroine!
    bludvan@gmail.com

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  21. I love Twice Tempted and my favorite character is Vlad followed closely by Leila and Marty!!

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  22. Opps forgot!!! iluvekats@msn.com

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  23. Though I love Bones and Cat I think Vlad is my favorite! Landavazo 1 (at) gmail.com

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  24. I would like to be entered in the Beautiful Ashes contest. My favorite Jeaniene Frost character is Vlad. I'm really excited for the next Vlad and Leila book as well. My email is smokey05121 at aol.com

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  25. Lchardesty at yahoo dot com
    I love Cat and Bones, but Ian is super interesting!

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  26. Vlad, and Ian!

    ashver84@gmail.com

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  27. Cat and Bones are always going to be my faves, but always eager for something new from a beloved author! Still waiting on that Ian book too! LOL!

    jessica(DOT)agreatread(AT)gmail(DOT)com

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  28. Love Bones! A go to author for me!

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  29. Obviously I love Cat and Bones. However, if I had to choose a favorite character it would be a toss up between Ian and Spade. Both for reasons of their own.
    jessfrank0909@hotmail.com

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  30. I enjoyed Cat very much, but of course there are many more fantastic character's in Jeaniene's books and I love them all, especially Vlad. :D

    Barbed1951 at aol dot com

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  31. My favorite Jeaniene Frost book is her second Night Huntress book, "One Foot in the Grave". I loved the wedding scene when Bones and Cat see each other again for the first time in four years. I also love the deleted wedding scene that Jeanie Frost posted on her blog. My email is: firesoren90@gmail.com

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  32. how can you pick just one? I guess I have to say Vlad; after all, he's so hot!

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  33. Vlad - definitely!!
    swensies@gmail.com

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  34. I love Cat the most, but Vlad, Bones and Ian are all right there. Would love to see Tate and Ian to get their stories told. I know Jeaniene said maybe. I hope it is able to come true.

    Can't wait to get into this one to see what new world Ms. Frost has in store for us.

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  35. I too love Mencheres! Mysterious Egyptian.... MMMMMmmm
    sdakan@uark.edu

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  36. I love her books! Night Huntress is definitely my favorite series, and I am so excited for The Beautiful Ashes!

    I love so many favorite characters! I love Cat, Bones, Tate, Spade, Dave, Juan, but the two who are really fun to have around are Ian & Vlad!

    Thanks for the giveaway!
    nancyl9108 [at] gmail [dot] com

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  37. I hope this doesn't post twice or multiple times because I can't seem to post my comment on here, so if it does, I'm really sorry about that!

    I'm in love with Halfway to the Grave. It's my favorite book and I'm planning to reread it soon!
    My favorite character must be Bones, although I have to admit Vlad is growing on me too. How can he not? :P
    I'm really excited for The Beautiful Ashes! I can't wait to read it!
    chokola@hotmail.be

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  38. I'm so excited to read this, I love Cat and Bones and can't see what the author does with this book.
    rushtond123@hotmail.co.uk

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  39. VLAD he is just yummy

    Shawty-k@hotmail.com

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  40. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  41. I have to say Vlad! I think I'm not alone!! Shmootakitty@yahoo.com

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  42. I love Cat and Bones. I've enjoyed following their love story along the way and the books that have branched off.

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  43. My favourite character is Vlad. I can't wait to read the third instalment of this series. But then again who am I kidding, anything with Jeaniene's name on it I will read :)

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  44. I love Cat the best because she is fearless and funny. I also love Helsing ,cool pet ,cool name

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  45. Halfway to the grave is my favorite book. I've read many books I like by other authors, but Jeaniene's stories just stand above the rest in my opinion. As one of many aspiring authors, the second I read it I felt a connection. This is how I want to write, this is how I wish I could tell stories. Even better, her books are not like movies where only the first is good. I honestly love anything and everything she writes and I always pre-order her books (I do that only with a very select few authors). I look forward to the next creation from her incredible mind!

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  46. Halfway to the Grave

    Melissa.victoria621@gmail.com

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  47. My favorite was Halfway to the Grave, because out of all of the books I've ever read, it had the biggest effect on me :)
    mikki-mano@hotmail.com

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  48. Bones and Cat are my fav, but I must say I have this devilish love for Ian.

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  49. VLAD---OMG----VLAD (Bones come in a close 2nd)!

    tracytiernan@hotmail.com

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  50. Cat and bones will always be my favorite. Lisamarksonreviews@gmail.com

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  51. Julie
    Cat and Bones are my favorites

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  52. Julie
    Cat and Bones are my favorites

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  53. I love Spade!!! bluepooh1@hotmail.com

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  54. Bones is my favorite character.
    jmcgaugh (at) semo (dot) edu

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Thanks so much for stopping by. I love comments, so please leave a few.