The Author:Laurie Faria Stolarz is the author of DEADLY LITTLE SECRET, DEADLY LITTLE LIES, DEADLY LITTLE GAMES, and the upcoming DEADLY LITTLE VOICES, as well as PROJECT 17, BLEED, and the bestselling BLUE IS FOR NIGHTMARES series. Laurie was born and raised in Salem, Massachusetts, attended Merrimack College, and received an MFA in creative writing from Emerson College in Boston. She loves Indian food, vegetarian cooking, aromatherapy, and The Black Eyed Peas.
You can read more about Laurie on her website, on her blog, or by following her on facebook and twitter.
The Book:High school juniors Camelia and Ben have discovered a powerful bond: they both possess the power of psychometry, the ability to see the future through touch. For Ben, the gift is a frightening liability. When he senses a strong threat or betrayal, he risks losing control. Camelia’s gift is more mysterious. When she works with clay, her hands sculpt messages her mind doesn’t yet comprehend. Before either one has a chance to fully grasp their abilities, a new danger surfaces, but this time, Camelia is not the target. Adam, a familiar face from Ben’s past, is drawn into a puzzle he can’t solve. . . and his life is on the line. As the clues pile up, Camelia must decide whether to help him and risk losing Ben or do nothing and suffer the consequences. But in these games, who can be trusted?
TeenReads calls Laurie "a master creator of suspense and romance." TeenReadsToo agrees, and says the books are a "must-read for fans of romance, suspense, and mystery." Kirkus Reviews called DEADLY LITTLE LIES's romance and suspense "a winning combination." The books have been honored with several awards and selections such as the ALA 2010 and 2011 Reluctant Reader Quick Pick nominee, CBC 2010 Teen Choice Book of the Year nominee, and Teen Reads Too Gold Star Award winner.
The Interview:
Have you ever had your numbers done? Did they reveal anything about you?
Yes, they were done by the fabulous and talented Linda Gerber and it was fascinating and eerily accurate.
Are you superstitious in any way?
Yes, people have to leave my house the same way they came in, i.e. through the same doorway or entryway. If not, it takes the luck out of the house. I grew up with this superstition. I was also taught that birds in the house – either real or fake (including pictures of them) – is considered bad luck.
What inspired you to write THE TOUCH SERIES?
I wanted to write a story where the main character has to struggle with the idea of falling in love with someone who could potentially be dangerous. I tinkered with this concept in the first three books of my Blue is for Nightmares Series [(Blue is for Nightmares (Llewellyn 2003), White is for Magic (Llewellyn 2004), and Silver is for Secrets (Llewellyn 2005), as well as in Bleed (Hyperion 2006)]. In Bleed, in particular, there’s a young male character who was convicted for the murder of his girlfriend. His next relationship consists of pen pal letters he exchanges with a young girl while he’s in prison. Without giving too much away, the relationship is briefly pursued once he is released, but I wanted to bring this concept to another level.
Additionally, I wanted to continue experimenting with the supernatural (which I also use in my Blue is for Nightmares Series as well as in Project 17), showing how we all have our own inner senses and intuition, and how with work we can tap into those senses and make them stronger.
I started researching different types of supernatural powers and discovered the power of psychometry (the ability to sense things through touch). The concept fascinated me, and so I wanted to bring it out in a character, showing how sometimes even the most extraordinary powers can also be a curse.
Lastly, I wanted to apply these concepts to be part of a series. I love the idea of growing a main character over the course of several books.
Are any of your characters based on real people that you know?
No, though sometimes I’ll steal a character quirk from people I’ve known. For example, in the Blue is for Nightmares series, Amber carries around a pair of chopsticks for whenever she’s eating out. I once knew someone who did that.
What excites you?
Feeling like I’ve made a difference. Seeing people happy. Hearing success stories and stories of triumph.
What turns you off?
Narrow-mindedness, intolerance, ignorance, cruelty.
If you could invite anyone you wanted - living or dead - to hang out with you at a weekend retreat, who would you invite and why?
Gary Zukav. I find his insights and perspective on life fascinating.
What's your favorite quote?
Perseverance is key.
The Freebie:
To be entered to win a copy of DEADLY LITTLE LIES, leave a comment below, telling us - if you could have one supernatural power, what would you want it to be? This drawing will remain open until Wednesday, January 19.
