Bookshelf Confessions: Author Interview: Courtney Vail (Kings&Queens)

I am very honored today to interview Courtney Vail, the author of Kings & Queens.. Thanks so much Ms. Vail for giving us your time.>:)

First, here's something about the book:

Kings & Queens Synopsis

Seventeen-year-old Majesty Alistair wants police to look further into her father's fatal car wreck, hopes the baseball team she manages can reclaim the state crown, aches for Derek...or, no...maybe Alec...maybe. And she mostly wishes to retract the hateful words she said to her dad right before slamming the door in his face, only to never see him again.

All her desires get sidelined, though, when she overhears two fellow students planning a church massacre. She doubts cops will follow up on her tip since they're sick of her coming around with notions of possible crimes-in-the-works. And it's not like she cries wolf. Not really. They'd be freaked too, but they're not the ones suffering from bloody dreams that hint at disaster like some crazy, street guy forecasting the Apocalypse.

So, she does what any habitual winner with zero cred would do...try to I.D. the nutjobs before they act. But, when their agenda turns out to be far bigger than she ever assumed, and even friends start looking suspect, the truth and her actions threaten to haunt her forever, especially since she's left with blood on her hands, the blood of someone she loves.

Check out my interview of Kings & Queens. And tell me what you think!..:)

Now onto the interview!

Reason behind the title "Kings & Queens"?

The title Kings & Queens relates directly to events and people in the book. My novel is like live chess in a way, where there’s manipulation and conspiracy at every turn, and every move made affects what others do or don’t do. The roles of King, Queen and Pawn are constantly in flux, so even those who think they’re in control may not be at all. And there are deeper royal things beyond that. After reading it, readers will know and understand exactly why it’s called that. There’s really nothing else my book could be called. Kings & Queens is IT to a T.

If you would become one of the characters of your book, who would it be?

Skye: she’s only four so she hasn’t been corrupted yet. She has issues, like night terrors, but overall, has so much sparkle and joy. So many of my early readers loved her to bits, so, I made her one of the main characters in Sapphire Reign, the sequel to Kings & Queens that’s coming out this summer. She’s 15 in it.

If this would turn into a movie, who would be the main cast?

Majesty: It’s hard to pick Majesty, but on my website I picked Lucy Hale. I could see her in a more kick-butt, tomboy role, just to break out of the type she normally plays. She’s so pretty and she’s usually glammed up on Pretty Little Liars, but I’ll bet she can also rock a more low-maintenance style too and look really girl-next-door.

Lucy Hale

Derek: So easy. No contest. Matt Lanter. Drool. Back when I was still editing the book, I saw him on this episode of CSI, and that was way before his more notable roles in 90210 and Vampires Suck, and I was like, uh, Oh! My! Gosh! That’s him! That is totally Derek. I didn’t know his name and had never seen him before, so I had to hunt down the episode and I finally found his name. There were some pics of him already in IMBD and I was nodding and nodding. I’m like, yes, that is Derek all the way.

Matt Lanter

Alec: Tim Urban. Yes, the American Idol contestant who got trashed at nearly every turn, but is actually very talented, in case you don’t know. You must check out his youtube channel to see what I mean. He is too flippin’ adorable and his cover tunes on iTunes are melt worthy. Not only does this dude look like Alec, his personality is an exact match. It’s very creepy. Alec has golden brown hair, and that’s really the only difference. But, the charm, the smile, the muscles, the sweetness … that’s Alec in the flesh.

Tim Urban

Preston: I have Erik Von detten on my site, but he’s really too tall in reality, but if we’re going on face looks and body, yeah, him. He needs to look more cute-faced than typical, cocky jerk, but someone wh could swing either way, and I think Erik is a good match for that.

Erik Von detten

Blake: I’m going to go with Kellan Lutz. He has the steely eyes. I don’t really describe Blake more than that, but he’s a close match to what I see in my mind’s eye.

Kellan Lutz

Warren: It’s hard to find a goth who is cool, intense and nerd all at the same time, but I think Michael Pitt is a pretty good combination of that.

Michael Pitt

One/Two word/s that describe your book?

quirky, complex

One sentence: Why we should read your book? Because there’s nothing else in all of bookdom like it.

Music or Book?
You’re making me choose between my two favorite passions? Seriously? Hmm, I guess music. I could live without books much longer than music.

Love or Life?
Love. Because life isn’t life without love.

Reality or Fantasy? Why? Fantasy. There’s no limit to the imagination.

<Complete the sentence>

If I can’t sleep, I would: work.

The craziest thing I did: was getting a blank parking ticket from campus security and tricking my college roommate into thinking she owed a $150 fine for under-pressurized tires and litter near her car. She flipped out, tears and everything. She was going home for Easter weekend, so she stormed off and left one of our friends there who was supposed to hitch a ride. It was classic!

My greatest dream is: to have fan girls create a page for me on Facebook or to land in the Wiki

The place I’d like to go someday is: Heaven

One thing people don’t know about me is: I’m petrified of large knives. I have a hard time watching them even be in a scene on some show. I like to watch cook-off shows sometimes, for instance, and I’m always cringing and peering through a squint when someone is chopping wildly with a chef’s knife.

I wish I had written: The Hunger Games trilogy, only because I would’ve ended it differently.

Anything else you'd want to say? The eBook of Kings & Queens is currently on sale for $0.99, yay, and is available in all formats at most online stores.

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Thanks so much for having me! This was an awesome and fun interview. I really enjoyed it.

AUTHOR BIO: COURTNEY VAIL writes totally twisted YA and adult suspense. She enjoys braiding mystery, suspense & romance with some kind of weirdness. Her addictions to crazy coffee concoctions, Funny Bones, Ben & Jerry's, and bacon keep her running and writing. She currently lives in New England with a comedian stud and a wild gang of kidlets.