Meet the author: Daniele Lanzarotta

Daniele Lanzarotta is the author of the Young Adult series, Imprinted Souls. She also wrote the newly released, Wide Awake: Academy of the Fallen. She was kind enough to take some time away from working on Blood Bound, the fourth novel in the Imprinted Souls series, to answer a few questions.

How long have you been writing?
I really started taking writing seriously in 2008 when I wrote Imprinted Souls, but if you count short stories written just for myself… I would say for as long as I can remember!

What inspired you to write your first book?
Other YA novels were definitely an inspiration. I got lured into the paranormal world and once I started working on Imprinted Souls I could not stop. Not long after that, my own characters became a major part of my inspiration. I’m way too attached to my fictional people. *laughs *

When you wrote Imprinted Souls, did you plan for it to be a series?
Not when I first had the idea, but from the moment I started writing it, yes. I got attached to the characters right away, and I knew I wouldn’t be able to let them go anytime soon. I guess I will just always be a ‘serial writer’, but I truly believe that character development is crucial to any story. Being attached to the characters just makes the writing so much more fun!

Which of your characters do you relate to most and why?
*Laughs * I always get the feeling that this answer will make me sound bad, but… it is Nicholas. Yeah, I know… he has a bad reputation, so let me explain... I have Nicholas’ sense of humor and sarcasm. I also have this thing with speaking whatever is on my mind.

What is a secret about Nicholas that nobody else knows?
Let’s see… one secret about Nicholas… He just has so many! *Laughs * Clearly he is hiding a lot, and there is a lot more to him than it seems, but I promise you will get the answer to this question in Blood Bound, the fourth book in the Imprinted Souls Series.

If your real life as a teenager was a Young Adult book, what would you, the main character, be like?
Wow. I definitely have never been asked this question before. I think I would be a mix of many main characters that are out there at the moment. Let’s see… I would be the girl who gets along with everyone… plays sports even though she hates it *laughs *, is a member of school clubs, has crush on the bad boy, dates best friend for like a week, but then goes back to being friends… you know… the usual stuff.

What book have you read too many times to count?
Well… If you see my TBR list you will understand why I only read books once. *laughs* Usually I have a pretty good memory too. I guess you could say that the books that I have read too many times to count are my own, but that is what happens when revisions start.

What is the best piece of writing advice you ever received?
To not worry about writing the chapters in order. I know a lot of authors follow an outline and write chapter by chapter, but truth is, there are days when you are in the mood to work with certain characters. I also tend to write the final chapters and then go back to the beginning. Just write what you feel like writing at the moment, and then it is just a matter of putting the pieces together.
You can learn more about Daniele Lanzarotta and where to purchase her books at her website and blog.

Also, you can follow her on Twitter as well as like her fan pages, Imprinted Souls Series and Academy of the Fallen on Facebook.