Suzanne Lazear Author Interview ~ JeanBookNerd

Photo Content from Suzanne Lazear

Suzanne Lazear writes books that end in "punk." Her new elfpunk THE SECRET LIVES OF ROCKSTARS (book 1), releases from Shine 9/26/16. She is also the author of the fairytale steampunk series The Aether Chronicles. INNOCENT DARKNESS, CHARMED VENGEANCE, and FRAGILE DESTINY, are all out now from Flux. Suzanne lives in Southern California with her daughter and the hubby where she’s currently attempting to make a raygun to match her ballgown. Learn more about the Aether Chronicles at http://www.aetherchronicles.com

What was your first introduction to YA literature, the one that made you choose that genre to write?
I was originally reluctant to write YA because I wasn’t sure I could do all the “fun thing” you could do in adult books. Some teens in my dance class brought mw Wicked Lovely, A Great and Terrible Beauty, and City of Bones, and my perception of YA changed. Fast.

What’s one thing that readers would be surprised to find out about you?
Up until about a year and a half ago I was a competitive Irish Dancer. I had the dress and curls and everything. Okay, I still have them under my bed.

When did you write your first book and how old were you?
I wrote my first book in the 3rd grade. It was a cookbook.

How would you describe yourself in three words?
Sparkly.

Did you learn anything from writing Innocent Darkness (Aether Chronicles Series #1) and what was it?
I found myself doing a ton of research of Los Angeles and San Francisco history, on asylums and Victorian torture methods, how steam engines work, the Victorian era in general, and of course, faeries. I even took a class on law enforcement so I could figure out how to write the scene when Noli get’s pulled over by the hovercop. One of the more horrifying things I learned was that in that era, young women were actually institutionalized for things such as “youthful disobedience”, “willfulness”, and “hysteria.:

For those who are unfamiliar with Noli Braddock, how would you introduce her?
Noli is a spunky sixteen year old who’d rather read a book than go to balls and wants to save her family by going to the university, not marriage. She liked to fix things and garden and even after six years, hopes her father is still alive.

What part of Steven "V" Darrow did you enjoy writing the most?
V is such a “fussy old bodger” as Noli would say. Even for a gentleman he can be a bit prim and prudish at times. However, he has this incredible since of loyalty and honor. He will go to great lengths to protect those he loves. He also likes to read and write poetry. Guys who read are sexy.

How many books have you written?
I completed nine other manuscripts before selling INNOCENT DARKNESS, most were really bad. Apparently, books need plots.

You have the chance to give one piece of advice to your readers. What would it be?
If you want to be a writer, write every day – even if it’s for five minutes.

What's the worst summer job you've ever had?
In graduate school I was an intern at a non-profit and I stuffed over ten thousand envelopes standing up. It was quite far from me and they’d promised to pay me a stipend at the end of the summer. They never did.

When was the last time you cried?
A few days ago.

Wish. Love. Desire. Live.

Sixteen-year-old Noli Braddock's hoyden ways land her in an abusive reform school far from home. On mid-summer's eve she wishes to be anyplace but that dreadful school. A mysterious man from the Realm of Faerie rescues her and brings her to the Otherworld, only to reveal that she must be sacrificed, otherwise, the entire Otherworld civilization will perish.

Suzanne Lazear’s Innocent Darkness is an impressively written Steampunk novel. It takes place in the year 1901 where there is little or no freedom at all for women. The confident Magnolia Braddock (Noli) is determined to attain independence in a man’s world. She likes to work on engines and dreams of going to college to become a botanist. Since society has barred women from doing this, the strong-willed Noli does not abide and gets caught in trouble with the law. She is sent to a reform school with a new determination of not allowing it to break her spirit. Soon she is caught in a web of abuse and lies but finds help from the most peculiar person, a faerie.

Starting off as a great steampunk novel, it falls into a dark faerie novel. Suzanne has done a remarkable job of giving details in providing a brilliantly executed shift in the book’s theme. Her writing style is stunningly creative with delivering great details of a steampunk novel without having to go overboard in explaining it all. The triangle romance between Noli, Kevighn and Steven (“V”) is done well with Noli making a sensible decision and readers are not thrown into a state of confusion and frustration with the girl not making up her mind.

Innocent Darkness is a remarkably written novel that will have readers talking about it long after it is read. Suzanne is an author to look out for. She has a talent of trapping her readers into her amazing world without any signs of escape.

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