Raised on comic books and classic novels, Leigh Ann developed an early love of science fiction and literature. As an adult, she rediscovered her love for not only reading, but also writing the types of fiction that enchanted her as a teen. Her debut novel, ONE, is about a girl with only half a superpower, the boy who makes her fly, and her struggle to make herself whole.Leigh Ann, her husband, and four children live in Columbus, Ohio. When she’s not immersed in the world of fiction, you can find her obsessing over the latest superhero movie or using her kids as an excuse to go out for ice cream (again.)
Thank you so much for hosting me on your blog today! I’m so honored to have been invited.
A crazy thing happens when someone asks a writer to name her top ten author inspirations, sort of like a cacophony of voices. To me, every single author I’ve read is an inspiration, each for a unique reason. So I had to sit awhile and try to pick out the voices that spoke loudest on this particular day. So, without further ado, and in no particular order, my top ten author inspirations:
Beth Revis
Her debut, ACROSS THE UNIVERSE, took a brave step into a mixed genre – a sci-fi murder mystery - that paid off in the form of being a NYT bestseller. Also, it was her tenth manuscript- there’s a whole lot of persistence involved in her career.
Hannah Moskowitz
Hannah stares every stereotype about teenagers not being capable of writing good stuff and says “eff you.” Rightly so. Her books are some of the most gorgeous I’ve ever read, including my favorite, BREAK.
Kristin Cashore
In a publishing market that almost demands intense interaction with social media, and in a society that depends on technology for nearly everything, Kristin Cashore doesn’t tweet or Facebook and writes her novels longhand in notebooks. I admire her for writing the way she needs to write, no matter what. Also, her GRACELING is one of my favorite books ever.
Trisha Leigh
I admire her for taking self-publishing by the reins and being a total badass at it. I picked up WHISPERS IN AUTUMN, the first in her “The Last Year” series, and was blown away by what she’d done. I wouldn’t have ever been published without her influence.
John Green
His “Don’t Forget to Be Awesome” movement is a true testament to the power of YA books and authors. I admire for growing such an amazingly positive movement for his readers.
Isaac Marion
For writing about a pop culture topic in a way that is stunningly literary. His use of language, metaphor, and theme in WARM BODIES completely blew me away.
Elana Johnson
for being super classy and interactive with her readers and unpublished writers, even though she wrote the gorgeous and popular SURRENDER series with Simon and Schuster.
Jane Austen
For making fun of society with her books, and being smart enough about it that nobody rioted. And for writing hilariously witty stuff about characters so real you either wanted to hug them or hit them. Or both.
Madeleine L’Engle
For this quote – “You have to write the book that wants to be written. And if the book will be too difficult for grown-ups, then you write it for children.”. If I was a tattoo-getting type of person, I would think of getting one of that quote. Just brilliant.
Laura Hillenbrand
Who was incapacitated by Chronic Fatigue Syndrome for years, and researched/wrote much of the NYT Bestselling SEABISCUIT one painful word at a time from her bed over a period of several years. I get impatient when it takes me more than a couple months to write a book.
When having two powers makes you a Super and having none makes you a Normal, having only one makes you a sad half-superpowered freak.
It makes you a One.
Sixteen-year-old Merrin Grey would love to be able to fly – too bad all she can do is hover.
If she could just land an internship at the Biotech Hub, she might finally figure out how to fix herself. She busts her butt in AP Chem and salivates over the Hub’s research on the manifestation of superpowers, all in hopes of boosting her chances.
Then she meets Elias VanDyne, another One, and all her carefully crafted plans fly out the window. Literally. When the two of them touch, their Ones combine to make them fly, and when they’re not soaring over the Nebraska cornfields, they’re busy falling for each other.
Merrin's mad chemistry skills land her a spot on the Hub's internship short list, but as she gets closer to the life she always wanted, she discovers that the Hub’s purpose is more sinister than it has always seemed. Now it’s up to her to decide if it's more important to fly solo, or to save everything - and everyone - she loves.
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2 comments:
One sounds like a lot of fun!
Super Heroes! Super Powers! Yeah, baby! Those are the two best reasons that I want this book. And the awesome cover doesn't hurt, either!
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