An Author A (Mon)day: Trish Doller

This week's guest is actually an author who's been previously interviewed for An Author A (Mon)day, the talented Trish Doller. When I interviewed her last year, we focused mainly on her debut novel, Something Like Normal; this year, I invited Trish to come back because I loved her 2013 release, Where the Stars Still Shine. She is also one of the nicest people I've tweeted with, as well as a very talented contemporary author. Without further ado -- my 2013 interview with Trish!

Alexa: Welcome back to the blog, Trish! To get things started, tell us - how different/similar was the process of writing Something Like Normal and Where the Stars Still Shine? I personally feel like these books are entirely different in story, but also have similarities among the characters.

Trish: Writing Stars was both easier and more difficult. With Something Like Normal, Travis' story poured out of me rather quickly. He was a character with a lot to say and a voice that demanded to be heard. Callie was a quieter character so I had to shut up and listen carefully. On top of that, I was writing with reader expectation in mind in a way that I didn't with Something Like Normal. I wrote Travis in kind of a little bubble, but with Callie, my internal critic was going crazy. So it took a lot to turn off that voice and just write.

Alexa: I can imagine that having the pressure of readers anticipating your next novel would definitely affect how you write it. Moving on, why don't you tell my readers a little bit about Where the Stars Still Shine? (Bonus challenge: Do it in 1 sentence!)

Trish: It's the story of a broken girl who comes home to a family she doesn't remember and must learn about family, forgiveness and love.

Alexa: Awesome! You did a great job summing it up. What are you currently reading? And what do you plan on reading before the year ends?

Trish: I'm not reading anything right now because I'm on a tight deadline for my third book, but I have a TBR mountain for December that includes We Were Liars, Bright Before Sunrise, Open Road Summer, The Killing Woods, Dangerous Girls, and a couple of new adult titles from Sophie Jordan and Viv Daniels.

Alexa: I've been meaning to read Dangerous Girls too, and I'm looking forward to We Were Liars and Open Road Summer when they're finally out! Now it's time for a little future talk - what's up next for you in terms of writing? I know that you're working on Arcadia Falls, which sounds very different from these first two books you've written.

Trish: I'm putting the wraps on the book formerly known as Arcadia Falls (we don't have a new name just yet) and I have a couple of projects on deck, including a YA romance set in Berlin, Germany, and an adult novel. Neither of them are officially books, so this isn't news. Just some things I have up my sleeve.

Alexa: I'm very intrigued by all of your upcoming projects! They sound like books I'd definitely want to read. And now, a bonus question because of the holidays -- what was/is your favorite tradition for the holiday season?

Trish: I love advent calendars (and wreaths) and I love, love, love Christmas carols. It won't be long before my Pandora station is set to Santa Baby radio!

Alexa: Once Thanksgiving is over and done with, I definitely put on my holiday music too -- especially the NSYNC Christmas album! It's perfect for the season.

Thank you so much for dropping by my blog (again) today, Trish! It was a pleasure to interview you again, and to be able to chat a little more about your current and future projects. I'm sure everyone (myself included) is anticipating them all now! If you want to find out more about Trish, you can check her official website, her Twitter, her Tumblr, her Facebook page or her Pinterest!

MORE ABOUT WHERE THE STARS STILL SHINE

Where the Stars Still Shine by Trish Doller
Publisher: Bloomsbury USA
Publication Date: September 24, 2013

Stolen as a child from her large and loving family, and on the run with her mom for more than ten years, Callie has only the barest idea of what normal life might be like. She's never had a home, never gone to school, and has gotten most of her meals from laundromat vending machines. Her dreams are haunted by memories she’d like to forget completely. But when Callie’s mom is finally arrested for kidnapping her, and Callie’s real dad whisks her back to what would have been her life, in a small town in Florida, Callie must find a way to leave the past behind. She must learn to be part of a family. And she must believe that love--even with someone who seems an improbable choice--is more than just a possibility. (from Goodreads)

Why should you read this book?

I devoured Where the Stars Still Shine in nearly one sitting, stopping only to use facilities and eat and work. It's an incredibly moving book, and I fell in love with Callie's story. One of my favorite parts? The setting. It was depicted so well, and made me want to visit the little town. Another big highlight was Callie's (new) big Greek family! For more of my thoughts, you can check out my official review of Where the Stars Still Shine, but I've included a quote from it below:

Where the Stars Still Shine is one of the most incredible books of this year. Callie's story is heartbreaking, but also hopeful; I was completely invested in it from start to finish. What makes this novel moving is how Doller skillfully tackles things that many of us might face in real life: shifting family dynamics, new friendships, and the promise of romance. Underneath all this, of course, is the heart of the book: Callie's journey towards making peace with her past, her present and her possible future.