Very recently, I finished Crash by Nicole Williams and instantly I knew it was going to rank high up there with my top favorites so without a doubt, I had to feature the wonderful, Nicole Williams, on BOB today! Crash is such an amazing and oh-so-heartwarming novel that you seriously cannot miss it! And luckily for all of you bookworms, there will be a special giveaway for all of you to enter at the end of this post! So, let's get to it and welcome Nicole Williams to Books Over Boys!
BOB: Crash is your first YA Contemporary. How was it to switch from a YA Paranormal state of mind to write about regular, human people (aka how I refer to Contemporary when I’m not talking to bookish people, lol)?
NW: I thought it would be difficult to transition from the paranormal side of things to write “everyday” characters, but I was so wrong. I’d actually written the first couple chapters last summer and set the book aside to work on a couple other projects. But the characters haunted me, almost everyday, begging to have their story told. So a few months ago I buckled down and revisited CRASH and once I did, the story spilled from me. I finished the first draft within a matter of three to four weeks. I was a writing fool. To sum it up, it was incredibly easy to transition between the world of paranormal to the world of the “everyday” character.
BOB: I know most authors generally get asked, "What inspired you to write so and so...?" and you know, that's what the Book section and the FAQ on the author's site are for, right!? Lol, so instead, let’s pretend this is twitter for a second. How would you pitch Crash in 140 characters or less?
NW: I love this question! How about . . . “Lucy’s always been a sucker for a hard luck case. Her latest one just so happens to be a smokin’ hot bad boy by the name of Jude Ryder. Let the heartbreak begin.” Was that around 140 characters?
BOB: Omg, that was so not 140 characters. I took that and plugged it into twitter and it ended up being -21. You're so over, lmao!
BOB: Okay, and because I’m really curious, where did the inspiration for Crash come from? Haha!
NW: Ah, you got me! I’m a girl who loves any kind of star-crossed lovers tale with a twist. I also love a solid bad boy/good girl love story. So I decided to take two of my passions and meld them into one. The rest just came together late one sweltering hot summer night. I was actually in the process of writing UNITED EDEN and the story for CRASH just started pouring out of the grey matter, so I started outlining it out.
BOB: And because I’m so heavily in love with Jude Ryder, how in the world did you create this bad-yet-oh-so-tortured-boy!? How did you make him so perfect in the most broken way possible?!
NW: Oh, goodness, that’s a question I still ask myself. In my other novels, I’ve always written about the “good” guys. I’m a sucker for an old fashioned, all-American good guy, so I wanted to challenge myself to visit the other side. And you know what? Bad boys are more fun to write about. Don’t tell the Eden trilogy fans who are team William, because I still love a good guy, but as a writer, a bad boy is easier to write. A good guy can get boring because he always does and says the right thing, so you have to find some way to keep him interesting so the readers don’t want to gag. A bad boy is instantly interesting because he gives the bird to every social standard and expectation known to man. With Jude, I wanted him to be a character you knew you should hate, but couldn’t help but love. I wanted him to come across as realistic, but just enough unreal. I toed a lot of fine lines as I created Jude’s character, but I knew once he’d won over my heart, I’d hit the mark.
BOB: So yeeeeeah...our wedding is still on for August--don't miss it! ;)
BOB: What was the easiest and hardest part of writing Crash, seeing that it was different than what you were probably used to? Did you have to do any weird research? Did you have to do something that you’ve never done before while writing Crash?
NW: Actually, in comparison to my other books, CRASH was one of the easiest to write in terms of research and outlining. In paranormal or dystopian, you’re creating a world, and have to make sure to keep all the facets of that world straight, but when writing a contemporary, there isn’t a lot of world building that goes into it. For example, readers get what high school was/is like, I don’t have to spend time building that setting for them.
BOB: I hardly ever ask this question because well, it’s kinda like what right do I have to ask but, I was just wondering why you titled the book Crash? It’s probably very obvious (or not) but I’d like to know the reasoning behind it. How did you come about choosing that title?
NW: Back when I first started writing CRASH, there were a bunch of titles I was toying with, but none of them felt right. CLASH was on that list and as I was reading the titles suggestions off to my husband, I read it CRASH, and that’s when I knew that was the right title. When I think of the word crash, I think of a violent impact, I think of instantaneous, I think of inescapable, and Lucy’s and Jude’s dynamic relationship fits into all of these buckets. I guess, in the end, it was one of those gut feelings. I went with it and I’ve never doubted the title, so that’s how I know it was the right one.
BOB: When you write, do you use outlines or do you just know where to start and end the story and everything else in between just comes as you write?
NW: The age old debate, to outline, or not to outline. I fall right in between the two. Before I start a novel, I write out several pages of notes on the characters, the plot, specific scenes I want to include, and then I start to write. Usually before I tear into a new scene, I’ll jot down how I want the scene to go, what my objectives are, and certain lines of dialogue that jump to mind. I like to let my mind run away with the story a little too, hoping my characters will get themselves into a little trouble. And they always do!
BOB: If there was/is a first draft for Crash, how did the final draft differ from the first? Were there any major plot changes? A different beginning? A different ending? Different subplots?
NW: There is a first draft, but very little changed from the first to the final. That’s pretty rare for me, usually I have pretty significant plot changes in the process of cleaning up a manuscript, but I had a pretty solid outline of where I wanted Lucy and Jude to go and stuck to it. It made my life a lot easier!
BOB: Oooh, this is a fun question that I always try to ask: What literary character (from any book) would you snog, which would you marry, and which would you avoid?
NW: Oh my goodness, this could get me into trouble. So I’d snog Beau Vincent from Abbi Glines’ THE VINCENT BOYS series or Patch from the HUSH HUSH series. You kiss the bad boys, but you marry the good ones, so I’d pick Peeta from THE HUNGER GAMES to marry. That boy just makes my heart swell. And I’d stay away from Damon Salvatore because that boy’s every right kind of wrong and I’d be in big trouble if I didn’t avoid him. BIG trouble.
BOB: Which story genre do you like to read or write the most?
NW: So my reading preferences change with the weather! In the summer/warmer weather, I prefer to read YA contemporary romance. When fall hits, I transition to the paranormal/dystopian side of things. Haven’t analyzed the reason why this is, but I’m sure a psychologist could have a field day with it. In terms of writing . . . I truly can’t decide right now. I loved, loved writing CRASH so much, but paranormal was my first love. The wonderful thing about writing fiction is that you can write whatever you want. It is the ultimate dream job for me.
BOB: HEY! I'm exactly like that too, with the whole seasons thingy! Like right now I'm totally into Contemporary because it's summer--just seems more fitting, I guess!
BOB: I know you have a few novels published already but Crash is your most recent release. Is there anything new that you’re working on right now? If so, could you elaborate a bit for us? Or…are there any sequels you’re currently working on?! ;)
NW: Hint, hint??? Right now I’m working on finishing the final book, FUSION, in THE PATRICK CHRONICLES. From there, I’ve got another YA contemporary romance outlined and I’m dying to get to this one, but I’m about a quarter of the way done with a dystopian series that has been a ton of fun to write. And who knows, because I know you won’t rest until it becomes a reality, there may be another story in Jude and Lucy’s future!
BOB: Omg everyone, I am dying for a sequel to Jude and Lucy! I'm starting a petition--#NeedMoreJudeDude--let's get Nicole to whip up book two! PLEASE!
BOB: And lastly, fill in this blank: "And I'll state something rash. He had the most amazing...__________!"
NW: Posterior. Again, a psychologist would have a field day with this answer, but I like to think it’s because my husband has a phenomenal one.
BOB: I always try to not get so crazy with my author interview questions but by the time I know it, I’m way past the allowed amount of questions I should be asking, haha! But it’s only because I’m so in love with your book that I really couldn’t help myself! Thank you so much for stopping by BOB; it was a great pleasure and we would love to have you back anytime!
NW: Don’t even worry about it. I really enjoyed all of your questions and I mean it when I say I’m honored to be featured on Books Over Boys. Thank YOU for taking the time to review CRASH and interview me.
And now, onto the giveaway! Nicole Williams is sponsoring this giveaway, so please tweet her (
@nwilliamsbooks) and say thanks so much for the BOB sponsored giveaway...or something like that, haha!
Title: Crash
Author: Nicole Williams
Publisher: Self-published
Release Date: July 20th, 2012
Find Nicole Williams Online:
Blog |
Facebook |
Twitter
Southpointe High is the last place Lucy wanted to wind up her senior year of school. Right up until she stumbles into Jude Ryder, a guy whose name has become its own verb, and synonymous with trouble. He's got a rap sheet that runs longer than a senior thesis, has had his name sighed, shouted, and cursed by more women than Lucy dares to ask, and lives at the local boys home where disturbed seems to be the status quo for the residents.
Lucy had a stable at best, quirky at worst, upbringing. She lives for wearing the satin down on her ballet shoes, has her sights set on Juilliard, and has been careful to keep trouble out of her life. Up until now.
Jude's everything she knows she needs to stay away from if she wants to separate her past from her future. Staying away, she's about to find, is the only thing she's incapable of.
For Lucy Larson and Jude Ryder, love's about to become the thing that tears them apart.
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Related Posts: Book Review | Momo's Crash Playlist | Teaser Tuesday
The Deets:
- Must be 13 years or older to enter.
- Winner(s) have 48 hours to respond before a new winner will be chosen.
- Giveaway ends on August 1st, 2012.
- Open Internationally.
- Good luck!
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