Publication Date: March 18, 2013
Synopsis:
Alyssa opened her eyes to darkness. And in the first flash of light provided by a gathering storm, she could make out a ring of bodies surrounding her.
With no memory of who she is, Alyssa stumbles into a dark world populated by witches. The witches are powerful, and demonstrate frightening powers, but even more terrifying are the monsters who rule over the land. Vampires, werewolves and other awful creatures of the night have taken over, forcing the witches behind stone walls, afraid to venture outdoors. But Alyssa finds that as she kills certain monsters, memories return to her, memories of a life on Earth, and the boy she left behind.
The quest to collect her memories and piece together the puzzle of what has happened to her is a daunting one, with betrayals and sacrifices every step of the way. But Alyssa is determined to fight for a world that is not her own, destroying powerful monsters along the way, so that she can return home to the boy she is coming to love through the memories she recollects.
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Interview:
What inspired you to write about witches?I've always really liked the YA books I've read featuring witches. LJ Smith's "The Secret Circle" was one of my favorite stories when I was a teen, and other books like Cate Tiernan's "Sweep," and Daniel Parker's "Dark Hearts" trilogy further inspired me to tell stories about magic. When I had this great idea to have a story take place in a world of witches, I looked at all of the different forms of magic out there, and came up with different covens based around them. It was fun - everything's more fun when magic is involved.
Why did you choose to write a YA novel?
I grew up immersed in YA. Back then, it was all slasher books by writers like Nicole Davidson and Diane Hoh, but I couldn't get enough of them. When an author like Christopher Pike or LJ Smith released something with supernatural elements, I loved it even more. I was really happy when the big YA boom took place and the category finally got the recognition it's always deserved, and I'm happy to see that there's such a wealth of diversity now too. I think that the age of the protagonists, when they're teenagers just learning about who they are and what kind of person they want to be, is a really important time in life, and can make for great stories.
How long did it take to write and then publish Dark Genesis?
"Dark Genesis" took about five months to write. I set it down in October, after I'd finished it, so I could look at it with fresh eyes in January and February to make any changes I felt might be necessary. I think that stepping away from a project can be a good thing since, as an author, I'm so close to the projects I'm working on that it's kind of hard to remove myself from them. A little time gives you a new perspective. So, from typing out that first sentence, to publishing it in March, it took about ten months total for "Dark Genesis" to see the light of day.
What was the biggest challenge you faced while writing?
I did a massive rewrite after I'd finished the first draft, taking into account some feedback that I got from my boyfriend that I agreed with. I have so many ideas sometimes that it's hard to reign them in and tell the story that I'm trying to tell, and Patrick knows just what to say to get me on the right track. So, of course, having to do a big overhaul is frustrating, but I think the story is much stronger for it, even though I do love some of the scenes that I had to cut.
Is there a song you would consider the theme song for your novel?
I listen to music when I write (and to get me in the mood to write), and I kind of got inspired for some scenes by songs I was listening to, but if I had to pick one song that I probably played the most during that time, that sort of evokes the tone of "Dark Genesis," I would point to "Crows + Locusts" by Brooke Fraser. It's moody and atmospheric, with a strong female at its core. And it builds toward a powerful crescendo.
This or That Section:
Write to music or not?
Music. Sometimes I need some quiet, but almost always music.
Kindle of Nook?
Nook. I work at Barnes & Noble for my day job!
Summer or Winter?
I like things about both, but ultimately I have to go with Summer on this one, just because the long days of gray skies can get depressing in Winter after a while.
Paperback or Hardback?
Hardcover. I hate when spines on paperbacks get creased from overuse.
Write to music or not?
Music. Sometimes I need some quiet, but almost always music.
Kindle of Nook?
Nook. I work at Barnes & Noble for my day job!
Summer or Winter?
I like things about both, but ultimately I have to go with Summer on this one, just because the long days of gray skies can get depressing in Winter after a while.
Paperback or Hardback?
Hardcover. I hate when spines on paperbacks get creased from overuse.
Emily: Oh my gosh I hate that too!!
Pencil or Pen?
Pen. I'm a pretty finished writer, so when I put something down, it tends to be well thought-out.
Pencil or Pen?

Author Bio:
Dave Ferraro grew up in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota, where he was warped by a steady diet of comic books, horror movies and young adult novels. He is the author of the paranormal fantasy series "Hunters of the Dark," as well as the gay teen paranormal romance "Twice Bitten." He graduated with a B.A. in English and creative writing from Saint Cloud State University, and currently resides in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Dave Ferraro grew up in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota, where he was warped by a steady diet of comic books, horror movies and young adult novels. He is the author of the paranormal fantasy series "Hunters of the Dark," as well as the gay teen paranormal romance "Twice Bitten." He graduated with a B.A. in English and creative writing from Saint Cloud State University, and currently resides in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Giveaway:
a Rafflecopter giveaway
It's really nice to hear YA authors say they write YA because they love it and read it, too!
ReplyDeleteI love the cover, will keep an eye out for this book!
Having trouble with the Rafflecopter but I'll come back and try again.
ReplyDeleteYay for booksellers -- I try to buy as much as I can from Barnes and Noble and my local indie because I want there to always be bookstores around!
Jen @ YA Romantics
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