Today is another exciting day for me as a
reader. I get to host an author
interview for a book I loved, what can be better. I mean aside from instantly becoming a billionaire
who could quit my job and devote as much time as one wanted to reading,
writing, baking, etc…so until then my next best thing. I got to interview Colette Ballard who wrote Running on Empty and is getting ready to
celebrate the release of the paperback version, May 6th (that's in 2 days
people). So enjoy and don't forget to
pick up your copy.
How would
you describe Running on Empty in your
own words?
When River kills her
boyfriend in self-defense she must leave everything behind—including the boy
she'd do anything to protect.
Simple and
intriguing, I love it. Did you have a
particular source of inspiration for this story?
Just an insane love for my
characters and a desire to write this story.
Your book
has been out for a while and the paperback version is getting ready to come
out. Has being published changed
anything for you?
Yes, it came out digitally
at the end of November 2013. Print comes
out May 6th.
I
find it a challenge balancing social media type promo and all things dealing
with ROE, while simultaneously carving out time and staying focused on writing
the next book.
Running on Empty takes place in a small
judgmental town, where its pretty much who you are or who you're close to. I have lived in an area much like what is
described, and ironically worked for law enforcement on the civilian level, and
feel it was captured particularly well.
Did you grow up in a small town where people had an opinion about you
before they even met you?
I did grow up in a small
town and it's true that news travels fast.
But I think that no matter where you live people often judge each other
before they really know them—whether it's by the clothes you wear, the vehicle
you drive, or the company you keep. I
think in a small town, people just know your name and face more often so the
judgments are perhaps quicker. That
said, after moving a few times I moved back to the same small town I grew up in
so obviously it works for me. J
True, I can
see that now and I didn’t get to far away myself, not yet. For me the strongest thing in this story is
friendship. Two best girl friends who go
on the run to save their friend. Sure
they weren't leaving the lap of luxury but there is a solidarity there. Do you have any people you would go on the
run for/with? Or who you think would do
the same for you?
Now that I have kids, I
think my answer would be different because I wouldn’t leave them to go on the
run with a friend. But pre-kids
probably. I am very fortunate enough to
have a few amazing friends I know I could rely on in a crisis and who know they
could rely on me.
Oh yes well
kids would change things, but its good to know you have those kinds of
friends. And if you did go on the run,
what charge would it be?
Ummm…I'm not really planning
on breaking the lay anything soon. But
if anything changes, I'd probably keep that one to myself. ;)
Oh yes, I
would plead the 5th too ;) Speaking of
the relationships in this story. There
was a good balance of healthy relationships and then the clearly not so healthy
ones. What are your thoughts on what
makes people get in/stay in unhealthy and destructive relationships?
I'd say the bottom line is
lack of self-esteem. Often, I believe,
the manipulator senses that and it's how they're able to get away with
things. Manipulators are smart enough to
offer that person something they're not getting anywhere else—or at least the
appearance of it anyway.
In
River's case, she didn't feel loved and she craved what she thought was Logan's
attention and love.
I already
mentioned that friendship is a major part of what wrapped this book in my heart
but there were so many other things in it for me. The battle to stand up for oneself even when
the odds are against you, who doesn't love a good underdog story, or is power
and money more powerful than truth and justice to name a few. What do you want readers to take away from
this beautifully written story?
That there's home in every
situation.
That
true friends will stick with you through the good and bad.
That
sometimes you have to learn to give yourself what no one else can—unconditional
love.
I can see
each of those things shining through in the story with so many more little
things as well. For me I love a good
story, but it has to have characters I invest in, like River, to enjoy. What came first for you? Was it the idea of the story itself or with a
character and the story flowed from there?
Cliché as it sounds, this
story started with a very vivid dream where three teenage girls were running
away. It was so intense I couldn't stop
thinking about what would possibly cause young girls to make such a dramatic
decision. I came up with the answer
fairly quickly and then began to build the story and characters around it
simultaneously.
I can't say
anything there my dreams are beyond crazy and sometimes I can't help but wake
up and think, wow I have to write this down it would make an amazing
story. Dreams are the imaginations
playground. Speaking of characters…if Running on Empty was being made into a
movie and you could cast anyone to play the characters who would you pick to
play River, Billi Jo, Kat, and Justice?
And anyone else you want to share ;)
River: looks-wise, there's an actress in the Blake
Shelton music video, She Wouldn't Be Gone, that I think looks her—especially
her amazing Siberian Husky blue eyes.
Billi
Jo: I haven't seen a TV personality who
reminds he of her yet, but she does look like the picture on the profile cards
on my blog.
Kat: Megan Fox reminds me of her—she has her
figure and green cat eyes.
Justice: looks similar to the adorable actor on George
Strait's video, The Seashores of Old Mexico.
Except Justice is a little taller and lankier. He also reminds me of the actor on
Smallville.
Charlie: Robert Duvall has always been in my head for
him. He's one of my favorite actors of
all time!
River's
fake dad, Jack: Sam Elliot I a dead
ringer from him (the way he looks and acts in the movie, Prancer.)
What type
of books do you enjoy reading? Favorite
author, series, or genre?
I love to read YA, but also
contemporary adult fiction, romantic, suspense, even historical.
My
favorite author is S.E. Hinton. She
writes the most amazing characters and voices!
The Outsiders is my favorite book of all time.
I
also love Katie McGarry's books, John Green, Trish Doller, Simone Elkeles…many
more. I'm a character person and these
authors do a fabulous job making their characters come alive!
I'll have
to look them up, my TBR list just expanded.
Do you have any new books kicking around in your head waiting to be
written and shared with the world?
Always! I'm excited to say that I'm writing Kat's
story and am loving it. She is such a
tough, complex character, so it's lots of fun.
Glad to
hear and I can't wait to read Kat's story.
I will have to keep updated on this so I can stay on top of it. Thank you so much for taking the time to do
this interview and I am anxiously awaiting ordering my physical copy of Running on Empty Tuesday May 6th.
Great questions!
Thank you so much for having me on your blog today—I really appreciate
it! J
Now to all of my readers, would you like your very
own copy of Running on Empty to
read? I am hosting my very first book
giveaway! In honor of the paperback
release that is the format I plan to deliver to the winner, and me being me some baked
deliciousness. How do you enter this giveaway, well that is simple,
below is the nifty little do-dad from Rafflecopter. There are more than one way to get entries so
do as many as you can/want before the close date. As the release of the paperback doesn't come
out until Tuesday May 6th, and I want people to have plenty of time to check
this out, I'm leaving it up and open until next Sunday (Mothers Day).
a Rafflecopter giveaway
