Interview with Carol Snow
By: Lauren
Website: http://www.carolsnow.com/
1. Both of your young adult novels (Switch and Snap) deal with some kind of paranormal element. Did you set out to write in this genre or did the ideas simply arrive this way? And you have switching bodies and ghostly images…what would you like to tackle next in the paranormal/fantasy world?
The first teen novel I attempted didn’t deal with the paranormal at all – it was more like a watered-down version of my adult books, which are basically romantic comedies. Then I had the idea for Switch and discovered how much fun it could be to make up my own rules of the universe. When I started playing around with ideas for a second teen book, I knew I wanted to go paranormal again, both to appeal to Switch readers and because I enjoyed stretching my imagination. As for what comes next: right now I’m playing with some ideas for a ghost love story.
2. What about Snap was the hardest to write? What about the easiest?
I had a terrible time deciding what, exactly, Madison Sabatini was doing in Sandyland. In my first take, her father was involved with some criminals who burned down their house, so they ran away in the middle of the night and changed their identities, and – oh, it was awful. The easiest part was writing the dialogue between Madison and her friends. In general, dialogue comes pretty easily to me.
3. Do you find writing for teens is a lot different than writing for adults? Do you find you have a preference?
For the most part, writing is writing. I come up a premise and characters, and then, page by page, I build a narrative. I don’t really have a preference between adult and teen books; I enjoy writing both because it keeps me from getting in a rut.
4. Reviews are great for authors when they are positive, but what are your thoughts on negative ones? Do you feel they hinder a book’s sales? Where (site, magazine, newspaper) was one of the best places you’ve been reviewed?
I value negative reviews as much as positive ones because they give me the opportunity to learn and grow. Ha! Kidding! Like most – okay, all – authors, I hate negative reviews and have been known to say some very bad words at my computer screen. However, I have long since accepted that not everyone will like my work, and bad reviews come with the territory. Anyone who can’t accept that shouldn’t be a writer. (And anyone who becomes a writer should know enough to avoid double negatives.) With that said, if I hear the same criticism from multiple reviewers, I do try to learn from it. I don’t know how much harm bad reviews do. What I really fear are no reviews! So many books disappear from the stores before anyone’s even heard about them. With four books currently in stores, I’m fortunate to have had a lot of people say nice things about my work. Probably the biggest honor was having the American Library Association choose Switch as one of their “Quick Picks for Reluctant Readers.”
5. Who would be at your ideal party (dead or alive)?
My grandparents — three of the four died far too young, and I wish I could have gotten to know them. Besides, what’s a party without a few ghosts around to liven things up?
Giveaway-
Prize: Signed ARC of Snap
Open To: U.S. and Canada
How to Enter: Comment on something related to the interview above
Ends: Friday, September 11
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I love how Carol Snow likes Negetive reviews as much as Positive ones. Their will probably be many Negetive reviews and it's good that Carol says she learns from them.
-Liz
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Hi Lauren! I'd like to enter this one 🙂 I liked the question about reviews- it's interesting to hear an author's perspective.
Kim
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-Liz
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+1 I posted about this at http://butterflybookreviews.blogspot.com/2009/06/book-contests.html
Kim
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I also liked how she likes negative reviews as well as positive. I know that sometimes when I read a book I just have nothing nice to really say about it..
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That's a great outlook on reviews! (and even better of course that you've been getting lots of positive ones). Congrats on the "Quick Picks for Reluctant Readers" reccomendation!
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"In general, dialogue comes pretty easily to me."
Lol, because that is the same way I feel. I have a hard time writing in first person. My haven'ts and hadn'ts get all messed up. 🙂
Please enter me!
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That is such a great take on reviews!
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Shawna Lewis
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I think it is cool that she is ok with a bad review here and there. I love how she would like to invitie her grandparents to the party so cool… I feel the same way!!!
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I posted this on Facebook!!!
I agree that both positive and negative reviews are valuable.
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Ooh great interview. I am really wanting to read this book.
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great interview! i agree about positive/negative reviews
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I like her idea for the ideal party. I'd love to meet the grandfathers I never knew.
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Interesting about the negative reviews and no reviews being worse than that. I would have thought authors would never want a negative review. At least she knows not all people like all books. Some authors take a lot of humbrage if someone even slightly criticizes their book.
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Both books sound interesting.
RJ
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I like how she describes writing paranormal as " make(ing) up my own rules of the universe"
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I love how honest she is about the reviews lol
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She sounds really stright forward in the interview thanks
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I agree that a negative review is better than no review at all. As a reader, I will often look at what the reviewer is saying they didn't like about the book. Oftentimes, things they found annoying may be things I don't mind so I'll give the book a go anyways. Also, sometimes when you're ready for certain elements that others may not have liked, you can overlook that to enjoy the story itself.
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I like how she writes for teenageers and adults the same. I tend to read books before i give them to my teen and i bet we would both enjoy this.
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Please include me.
And I would love to read a ghost love story if that idea continues to grow.
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I would like to see her romantic comedies to compare to her supernatural.
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I definitely enjoyed reading Carol's comments about negative v. positive reviews. As book bloggers we're often very worried when we have to post a critical review of a nice author's work, so I'm happy to hear that authors will definitely take all sorts of reviews into consideration, without being offended or angry.
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I'm already a follower, of course. 🙂
And I've linked to this giveaway in my sidebar. Thanks for the opportunity!
Please enter me in this contest! I am really excited about this book. I love books dealing with the paranormal. Also, thanks for the review and interview. I love learning more about the authors. I thought it was really amazing how she has written both for Young Adults and Adults. Also I am a follow +1.
It's great to read that there is no preference to writing to a particular audience. Writing is writing, after all.
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Thanks for the giveaway!
Limerick
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I completely agree with the answer to question #4.
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I love how she accepts negative reviews just as much as positive ones. Not everyone is going to like the same thing. Great interview.
Casey
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Casey
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Great interview. I look forward to a ghost-love-story! 😉
sara
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I love Carol's answer about her ideal party! I wish I could see my dead relatives too.
-Marisa
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-Marisa
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I would love a chance to win.
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It's comforting to know authors sometimes struggle to get their books started!
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I like that she's honest about not liking negative reviews.
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She's writing a ghost love story?
I'm SO there. 🙂
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Annabelle
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I would love for my grandparents to still be around. I didn't meet one of my grandads and my grandmother died very young on that side. It would have been nice to have them around too. Thank you for the giveaway!
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I follw your blog daily! great stuff!
Your review was VERY good!! I LOVE it!!!
I would LOVE to win this!!!!
Thankyou!! :D:D:D
-Lindsay
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Great review. I would love to be entered. Thanks!
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I think it is amazing how young adult books have really taken off – I wish they had when I was younger!
Thanks
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I'd love to have a party with my grandparents too.
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I would want a party with my grandparents as well — I really miss them!
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Oh! I didn't realize she had another book out; Switch.
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I would pick the same people to be at my idea party…my grandparents
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thanks for the giveaway! I think its cool that she values negative reviews, i think its helpful. people take negative things in a bad way, you should use them and improve whatever needs improving. To do better at something is never a bad thing.
Ashley
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I've been wanting to read this!
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Thanks 🙂
Negative reviews… I try not to write a truly negative review. I list the things I didn't like, but emphasize what I did like about a book. I don't generally like reading reviews that are full of hate (unless it's a hilarious Twilight rant.)
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it makes sense about what she said about like writing for both adults and teens ,then she doesnt get in a rut…thanks
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I think it's interesting how the author switched(no pun intended) from writing adult books to teen novels.
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I agree with author that negative reviews are hard to take, but they are necessary. They help a person grow as a writer.
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