Patrick Carman Author Interview

Photo Content from Patrick Carman

Patrick Carman is the award-winning author of many books for young adults and children. He grew up in Salem, Oregon, and graduated from Willamette University. His birthday is February 27th, 1966. He spent a decade living in Portland, where he worked in advertising, game design, and technology.

Patrick Carman writes books for young adults and children for Scholastic, Harper Collins, and Little Brown Books For Young Readers. His bestselling books and series includes The Land of Elyon, Atherton, Elliot’s Park, 39 Clues, Floors, Trackers, Thirteen Days to Midnight, Dark Eden, Pulse, 3:15, and Skeleton Creek. Mr. Carman’s books have been translated into approximately two dozen languages.

Mr. Carman spends his free time supporting literacy campaigns and community organizations, fly fishing, playing basketball, golfing badly, doing crosswords, watching movies, dabbling in video games, reading (lots), and (more than anything else) spending time with his wife and two daughters.

        

Series: Pulse (Book 2)
Paperback: 384 pages
Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books; Reprint edition (January 27, 2015)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0062085816
ISBN-13: 978-0062085818

Praise for TREMOR

“Filled with action, suspense, and some welcome humor, this is an accomplished second volume in Carman’s Pulse trilogy, and fans will eagerly await volume three.” ―Booklist

“The second installment in this trilogy keeps the pace moving and provides additional background to flesh out the characters’ back stories. It all leads up to a tantalizing glimpse of what’s yet to come in the final volume.” ―Kirkus Reviews

“Everything happens in this book so fast, the revelations will make you gasp, the love will make you swoon, and the ending will just push you over the edge wanting the next book immediately.” ―Melissa Murray, Mysteries on Main Street

“The conclusion sets up an exciting, climactic confrontation in the final volume, for which fans will be eagerly awaiting.” ―School Library Journal

Was there a defining moment during your youth when you realized you wanted to be a writer?
I didn’t figure out I wanted to be a writer until I was 30. Late bloomer!

Beyond your own work (of course), what is your all-time favorite book and why? And what is your favorite book outside of your genre?
When I was 5 my favorite book was Where the Wild Things Are. When I was 10, it was Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. In high school it was The Catcher in the Rye. College, The Once and Future King. And as an adult, my favorite book overall is Frankenstein. In each case, these were simply the books that I responded to the most, the books I remember the most.

In your book; TREMOR, can you tell my Book Nerd community a little about it?
TREMOR is the second book in the PULSE trilogy, which takes place in 2051. I’ve envisioned a not-too-distant future where the entire population of the United States lives in one of two super cities. Scientific advancements have uncovered a one in a million trait: some people have a second pulse that allows them to move things with their minds. Faith Daniels has a second pulse, and she becomes our central figure in a plot that may or may not save one of the two super cities from total annihilation: 300 million people.

For those who are unfamiliar with Faith, how would you introduce her?
Faith is an independent, strong female character who finds herself with a power she didn’t choose. She has a lot of growing up to do, and her journey takes her to some dark places. Ultimately she finds happiness, but it comes at a tremendous cost.

What are some of your current and future projects that you can share with us?
I just turned in the last PULSE book and I’m not sure what comes next. A YA trilogy is a major undertaking, so right now I’m contemplating a long winter’s nap!

If you could introduce one of your characters to any character from another book, who would it be and why?
This is such a strange idea! I wouldn’t mix any of my characters together outside of their own world.

What was one of the most surprising things you learned in creating Dylan?
Dylan has a better sense of humor than I thought he would when I first started writing his voice.

What's the most memorable summer job you've ever had?
Working on a farm, an experience that convinced me I had to go to college. Farming is way too hard.

Who was your first girlfriend?
This would have been fourth grade and, sadly, I can’t remember her name. But I do remember she gave me an Andy Gibb record on Valentine’s Day and I gave her a giant Hershey’s Kiss.

Tell me about your first kiss
It was fifth grade and I remember it was all very planned out – where we would meet, what time – and every other fifth grader knew about it. It was headline news.

When was the last time you cried?
I don’t know the exact time, but I’m certain it was during a movie. That’s usually when I lose it – at the movies.

What decade during the last century would you have chosen to be a teenager?
I was a teen in the 1980’s and looking back I think it was kind of perfect. The 60’s would have scared me. 70’s would have been no better or worse than the 80’s, and anything after that sounds very complicated socially. And I can’t even relate to the 50’s or earlier, so those decades were the first to go. 80’s all the way!

What is your greatest adventure?
Being a dad – it’s challenging, scary, inspiring, hilarious, and fulfilling all at once. And a thousand other things! Being a parent is the ultimate adventure.

In the year 2051, some people have a second pulse…

Like all who have “the pulse,” Faith Daniels and Dylan Gilmore have telekinetic powers—they can move objects with their minds. But there are five “second pulses” in the world who have an even greater power: Almost nothing can harm them. They are virtually indestructible.

Both Faith and Dylan have the second pulse. But the other side has second pulses, too, and they’ve been training for a war that has been brewing their entire lives. As Dylan executes a plan to infiltrate enemy grounds, he’ll have to face his only weakness, and a family secret that will threaten his very existence.

Together, Faith and Dylan are the only hope this world has left, but they must go their separate ways in order to accomplish their plan. Will their love survive?

With richly developed characters and heart-pounding action scenes, the second book in Patrick Carman’s Pulse trilogy continues the electrifying dystopian story of love and revenge.

You can purchase TREMOR at the following Retailers:

    

And now, The Giveaways.

Thank you PATRICK CARMAN for making this giveaway possible.

4 Winners will receive a Copy of TREMOR by Patrick Carman
5 Winners will receive a Surprise ART Bookmark by James Vallesteros.

WEEK ONE

MARCH 4th TUESDAY Jean BookNerd INTERVIEW

MARCH 5th WEDNESDAY Chapter by Chapter TENS LIST
MARCH 6th THURSDAY Beauty and the Bookshelf GUEST POST
MARCH 7th FRIDAY Curling Up with a Good Book REVIEW
MARCH 8th SATURDAY Me, My Shelf and I RANDOM THINGS
MARCH 9th SUNDAY The Cover Contessa REVIEW
MARCH 10th MONDAY TTC Books and More REVIEW & THIS OR THAT

WEEK TWO
MARCH 11th TUESDAY Mother/Gamer/Writer DREAM CAST
MARCH 12th WEDNESDAY Ex Libris GUEST POST
MARCH  13th THURSDAY Beneath the Cover REVIEW
MARCH 14th FRIDAY Nerdophiles REVIEW
MARCH 15th SATURDAY Never Ending Stories REVIEW
MARCH 16th SUNDAY Frankie’s Bookshelf REVIEW
MARCH 17th MONDAY A Dream Within a Dream MUSIC PLAYLIST
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