Hey guys! I am part of a blog tour right now for this awesome book called Dare to Dream. I've got all the info and the deets, and I've interviewed the author for us. Super excited, so let's get straight to it!
Blurb:
The world was going to end. Of that, Maggie Trafford was certain. Fourteen-year-old Maggie Trafford leads a normal life. Well, as normal as being crammed in a three-bedroom house with four siblings and a single parent can be, anyway. But despite being somewhat ignored at home, Maggie excels, earning top grades, a best friend who would do anything for her, and stolen looks from a boy in Maths.It’s not until the dreams start that Maggie realizes “normal” is the least of her problems. Every night, she lives the same nightmare—red lightning, shattered glass, destruction. But nightmares are just that, right? No one believes her when she says it’s an omen. At least, not until the already mysterious pillars of Stonehenge start falling. No longer alone in her fear, Maggie and the world watch with bated breath as one after another, the historic stones tumble, like a clock counting down. But only Maggie knows what it means: when the last stone falls, destruction will reign. And when the world ends, there’s only one option left—survive.Horrifying and raw, Dare to Dream is equal parts tragedy and hope, detailing the aftermath of apocalyptic catastrophe, the quest for survival, and the importance of belief.
INTERVIEW:
Hi, and thank you for answering my questions today. To start off, would you like to
give a brief description about yourself?
Hi! Thanks so much for having me on your blog today.
My name is Carys Jones. I’m a writer who lives in Shropshire, England with my beloved dog, Rollo, my one eyed guinea pig Roger and my husband. I have an unhealthy addiction to jelly babies and Grey’s Anatomy and am a wannabe Disney princess at heart.
Book questions:
So, Dare to Dream...What inspired you to write this book?
A while ago I read Cormac McCarthy’s The Road. If you’ve not read it, it’s quite a bleak tale
about a post-apocalyptic world. You’re never really told what happened to the world, you just
endure the exhausting quest for survival with the MC and his son.
The challenge of writing about a destroyed world really appealed to me. But I wanted to give
my own story some more context, I wanted to describe what happened to the world and
experience the destruction first hand. Then I started thinking about what if someone knew
the world was going to end? And what if no one would listen because they were just a
fourteen year old British school girl? And from those initial thoughts Dare to Dream was
developed.
What makes this book stand out from others?
I think what makes Dare to Dream unique is how the story follows the main character,
Maggie’s, journey through Armageddon. A lot of books focus on either the before or the after
but I wanted the reader to experience everything that happens right along with Maggie.
Also it is written in third person which is quite unusual for YA. I’ve just always preferred both
writing and reading in this style.
Writing Questions:
When did you decide/know you wanted to be a writer?
Looking back I’m not sure there was one particular moment where I chose to be a writer,
deep down it was always something I dreamed of doing. I was always writing short stories, I
have drawers full of old notebooks of stories that I started but never finished. I used to love
buying a new notebook and starting a new story on that very first page and wondering where
it would take me…
Where do you write?
I write in my pink, Disney themed study. My desk is covered in loads of cute trinkets and
pictures of me and my friends and on the walls are programmes from all the ballets I’ve been
to with my Mum. I like to surround myself with things that make me happy, it really helps
when writing a tough scene to immediately be able to look up and see something which
makes me smile.
What genre of books do you like to write and why?
My favourite genre to write is YA. As a genre it offers writers unlimited creative freedom
because readers are so voracious and eager to devour a wealth of stories. This means that
when I’m writing a YA book I can let my imagination run wild, which isn’t always the case
when I’m working in another genre, like romantic suspense.
What do you think is the most challenging and the most freeing about writing?
The most challenging aspect of writing is time. There really just isn’t enough of it. What with
deadlines and contractual obligations I’m left having to cherry pick what projects I can work
on. I have a huge list of books that I am desperate to write, my goal is to hopefully get
through my list but since I’m adding to it on a weekly basis I don’t see that happening in the
foreseeable future…
The most freeing thing is being able to lose myself in a story. I find writing extremely
cathartic. I’m at my happiest when I’m writing.
Any advice for aspiring writers?
Write the story you want to read. It’s easy to consider which books might sell or be popular
but stay true to yourself. Write the stories which excite you and your passion will show
through in your work and connect with readers.
Also, write as much as you can. Once you’ve finished one book dive right on in to the next
one! With writing, like anything else, the more you do it the better you’ll get.
Reading Questions:
Did you always like to read before you found writing?
My Mum instilled in me a love of books from a very early age. When I was younger my
favourite part of the day was the half hour before bedtime when I’d get to read. I can still
remember the books which really captivated me back then like Little House on the Prairie
and Ballet Shoes.
Who are some of your favorite authors?
I’m a big fan of Jodi Picoult and John Green but have recently discovered Becca Fitzgerald
and am eager to read more of her books. I like stories that are driven by emotion. Whilst
action is important I need the pathos within a book to be able to enjoy it. Picoult and Green
are great at developing empathy between the reader and the protagonist.
What genres do you like to read and why?
I mainly read YA, pretty much for the same reason I like to write within the genre; the
limitless potential. I like a book to surprise me. When I turn the page I don’t want to
anticipate what is coming. A great book should always leave you slightly stunned at the end,
like We Were Liars. I love that feeling, when you close the book and just think; ‘wow, what
did I just read?!’ I rarely get that from anything other than YA.
Thank you so much!
Find more of Carys Jones on her website, like her on facebook or follow on twitter.
She seems so awesome, guys. I really hope you read this book. I'm currently in the middle of it and it is AWESOME. I'll get a review out ASAP.
