Photo Content from Joelle Charbonneau
To be honest, I never thought I’d be a writer. My best friend in high school was the writer. I wanted to be a stage performer. Funny, but it was when I was doing a dinner theater production of Evita that I had an opening line of a book pop into my head. For some reason, I decided to take a whack at writing that book (which NO ONE should ever read). I’m glad I took that chance because I learned that writing stories was just as rewarding as telling them on the stage.
Why is storytelling so important for all of us?
I think the most important thing we can do in life is ask “What if”. The best medical discoveries, dinner recipes and baseball line-ups are created that way. J Storytelling is all about asking “What if” and it is the journey of looking for those answers that makes us think more critically about the world around us. And on a less intellectual note – storytelling is just plain fun. There just isn’t enough fun in the world!
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?
Ugh! This question trips me up whenever someone asks because the answer changes from day to day depending on my mood. Since I am in a children’s book phase (my 5 year old and I are doing lots of reading together), I guess my answer today would be The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe for the sheer wonder that story holds. I first read that book when I was in second or third grade and it still holds me captive to this day.
And if we’re going way out of my genre, I’d say one of my favorite reads is The Six Wives of Henry VIII by Allison Weir. I love history and Henry VIII is a truly colorful character. The book is historical fiction, but I’d wager a guess that the historically accurate parts are harder to believe for most people than the stuff the author created around it. (I’m also found of my copy because it is signed by Herman’s Hermits…if you look up their most famous song you’ll understand why.)
What is the best piece of advice you ever received from another author?
Writers write. That sounds simple, but it’s the truth. To be a writer you need to make a habit of writing. There is so much that can get in the way of putting words on the page-family, blog posts, e-mails, shopping, friends, etc.. But to be a writer, you have to put a priority on your writing. It’s not always easy, but it is necessary. It’s a lesson I learned early and I am so grateful that I did.
In your book; The Testing, can you tell my Book Nerd community a little about it?
The Testing is the world’s worst SAT. One hundred years after the Seven Stages of War, the United Commonwealth is working hard to rebuild and recolonize the country. In an effort to select people who can continue that effort – they have created The Testing – the one opportunity for high school graduates to potentially receive a college education and become one of the country’s next leaders. Cia Vale desperately wants to be chosen for The Testing. However, when she is chosen, she discovers that leadership isn’t always about getting the right answer…it is sometimes about how far you will go to succeed.
For those who are unfamiliar with Cia, how would you introduce her?
Cia is the youngest member of a very loving family. She has pushed hard in school in an effort to be chosen for The Testing—as her father was years ago. She is smart and loyal—sometimes to a fault.
What are some of your current and future projects that you can share with us?
Currently, I’m finishing revisions on GRADUATION DAY – the third and final installment of The Testing trilogy. After that, well…I do have an idea of what I’d like to work on. It’s another YA suspense series with a science fiction bent. Here’s hoping I get to write it!
If you could introduce one of your characters to any character from another book, who would it be and why?
Oh – I’d love to introduce Will to meet Draco Malfoy. Something tells me Draco would underestimate Will. That would be fun to watch!
What was one of the most surprising things you learned in creating Tomas?
Hmm… I was quite surprised at Tomas’s untrusting nature. He and Cia come from the same colony, but while she is inclined to see the best in people, Tomas looks for the dark corners and is must slower to feel comfortable with new people or to trust.
When asked, what’s the one question you always answer with a lie?
Are you getting enough sleep?
What’s the best advice you can give writers to help them develop their own unique voice and style?
I’m going to adopt the same advice I was give…write. The more you write, the better you will get. It wasn’t until my 3rd manuscript that I started to really find my voice. It might take you 1, 3, or 10 manuscripts—don’t give up until you find your voice and style. Investing time in creating something that foundation is truly worthwhile.
What's the most memorable summer job you've ever had?
Well, I don’t know if I’d call it a job since it didn’t pay, but I manned the cotton candy booth for about 7 hours straight one forth of July. While my arm being tired was memorable, I would say even more so was feeling as if I was melting when I finally stepped into the shower after my work was done.
Who was your first boyfriend?
A guy named PJ. We were in 7th grade and didn’t have a single class together. He asked me “out” on the phone….not on a date…just to go out….I’m still not clear why that was a thing, but there you have it. I said yes because I didn’t want to upset him by saying no. I think he broke up with me on the phone about 36 hours later after all of our friends expressed their shock that the two of us were a couple. I’m still not sure I even saw him during the time we were “going out”. Does that kind of thing still happen? Or was it just something that happened to me?
Tell me about your first kiss
It was at a Christmas dance under the mistletoe. While that sounds wildly romantic…and probably could have been…it was made less so by the fact my older brother was nearby. Ah well…
What would be harder for you, to tell someone you love them or that you do not love them back?
Oh – it would be way harder to say I don’t love someone back. I’m a performer and a writer. I’m used to putting myself out there for rejection. I’m less skilled at the rejection part.
When was the last time you cried?
I cry at the drop of a hat. Movies. Books. Hallmark commercials. Television shows. Sadly, I haven’t had a good cry in about 2 weeks. I guess it’s time for me to pull out a great book and let the tears flow.
What decade during the last century would you have chosen to be a teenager?
Yowzah! You want me to go back to being a teen? I NEVER want to have to sit for the SATs again. But I guess if I get to time travel, I’d love to be a teen in the 50s. There was so much happening both politically and culturally. I think growing up in that time would have been fascinating.
What is your greatest adventure?
Being a mom. My kid is awesome!
The Seven Stages War left much of the planet a charred wasteland. The future belongs to the next generation’s chosen few who must rebuild it. But to enter this elite group, candidates must first pass The Testing—their one chance at a college education and a rewarding career.
Cia Vale is honored to be chosen as a Testing candidate; eager to prove her worthiness as a University student and future leader of the United Commonwealth. But on the eve of her departure, her father’s advice hints at a darker side to her upcoming studies--trust no one.
But surely she can trust Tomas, her handsome childhood friend who offers an alliance? Tomas, who seems to care more about her with the passing of every grueling (and deadly) day of the Testing. To survive, Cia must choose: love without truth or life without trust.
Dystopian novels have become a hot commodity but without the essential elements, it will fall hard and flat. Charbonneau’s The Testing does not fall victim to that as the world she has created provided the right setting for an incredible post-apocalyptic war story. This post-war United States is well-written and gracefully described. Every detail she placed in this world is what I imagine it to be and she leaves no conflicts of how things have become. With a perfectly-written setting, the story of a post-war world comes naturally.
Readers will be intrigued to the inclusion of how people used modern technology to help them with their necessities. Hybridized crops and mutated creatures are just a sample of how this world differs from most dystopian novels. Charbonneau’s writing style is able to relay a full understanding of how things that seem far-fetched feel very realistic.
Malenica (Cia) Vale’s narration was the perfect voice for this type of story. She is highly intelligent and has an aptitude for science, particularly in botany. She craves knowledge and takes education seriously. Although she sounds like Ms. Perfect, she has her own flaws which remind us that she’s still a normal person.
The Testing is an amazingly written post-war story that puts emphasis on details. From the characters to the social make-up of what was once the United States, it is clearly apparent that Charbonneau has put a lot of research and effort into her book. I appreciate her attention to detail as it provides clear comprehension of things going on which made the book that much more enjoyable. I see a bright future for this series and I certainly cannot wait to dive back into Cia’s world.
You can purchase The Testing at the following Retailers:
And now, The Giveaways.
Thank you JOELLE CHARBONNEAU for making this giveaway possible.
1 Winner will receive a Copy of The Testing by Joelle Charbonneau.
Great review and interview! I too enjoyed reading The Testing. Looking forward to the next book :)
ReplyDeleteI insisted that our library get a copy of The Testing when it was released but I haven't had a chance to check it out yet.
ReplyDeleteI definitely would like to read this book. Thanks for the giveaway!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the giveaway! I was fortunate enough to meet Joelle at BEA! She was awesome!
ReplyDelete