Author Interview: Anna Carey

in case you missed my glowing, fangirling review of Eve by Anna Carey, be sure to check it out.

as part of the blog tour hosted by The {Teen} Book Scene, i had the opportunity to ask Anna Carey, author of Eve, a few questions. turns out, she's pretty awesome. but i'm sure you already knew that, based on my glowing review of her book.

anyway, off we go!

1. About You - I see you're a dance off enthusiast. What song is YOUR song to dance your fiercest?

I could probably dance for hours to Firework by Katy Perry. That song gets me revved up.

2. About the Book - Eve is bombarded with new experiences and challenges. Where does she find the strength to deal with the life-threatening drama?

The reality is, there aren’t any real options for Eve in the wild. Giving into her fear would mean giving up—not even trying. As terrifying as it all is, as overwhelming and confusing, she refuses to let herself die in the wild. She loves life too much. And despite everything that’s happened, she does believe in the goodness of people.

3. About the Characters - Which character do you feel you most connect with in EVE, and why?

I connect to all the characters in different ways, and feel for what they’re each going through. That said, I think Arden was the most natural to write. I’ve had friends like Arden. I see parts of her in me. She’s incredibly brave, but she’s also proud. She doesn’t want to rely on anyone else. She doesn’t want to expose too much of herself to any one person. But she’s also fiercely loyal, and loves more intensely than most people are even capable of. She’s one of those friends who takes a while to win over, but once she’s on your side she would do anything for you.

4. About the Process - Dystopian is one of the hottest trends in YA lit right now. Why do you think that is?

Obviously we all owe a lot to The Hunger Games, which has created much of the recent excitement for the genre. But I don’t think that’s the only reason. Dystopian novels speak directly to the feelings of helplessness so many teenagers encounter in high school. I had a positive experience overall, but I remember feeling really trapped. You don’t have control over your life—who’s “popular” and who’s not, who’s being bullied and what’s being said. Even some teachers can be inappropriate (the minority, of course, but it happens). Everything can feel kind of arbitrary. Like something you must be a part of though you’d never actively chose to be. Dystopian novels explore those feelings. They show characters stepping outside of the roles the world has created for them. That’s inspiring.

5. Random! - The cover is gorgeous! Did you have a hand in making that happen?

The cover Gods have smiled upon me. All credit and thanks go to designer Elizabeth Clark. She came up with so many gorgeous covers I’m thinking about hanging them all in my apartment. 

BONUS NEWS: Anna has said that Florence and the Machine was a part of the writing process. I love it so much and I can't wait to re-read EVE while listening to Lungs on repeat. 

contest closed 10/8

thanks to Anna for sharing more about who she is and what she's about. AND thanks to The {Teen} Book Scene for hosting this tour! for more on all of the Anna Carey and Eve goodness, check out Kari's interview with Caleb over at her blog, A Good Addiction, tomorrow. HOLLA.