Leigh Ann Kopans (Author Interview)

*Today new YA author Leigh Ann Kopans stops by for a fun interview Q&A style! Her debut novel One just released and you can pick it up HERE!*

*Presented by: InkSlinger Blog Tours*

~Author Interview~ 

Leigh Ann Kopans 

Raised on comic books and classic novels, Leigh Ann developed an early love of science fiction and literature. As an adult, she rediscovered her love for not only reading, but also writing the types of fiction that enchanted her as a teen. Her debut novel, ONE, is about a girl with only half a superpower, the boy who makes her fly, and her struggle to make herself whole.

Leigh Ann, her husband, and four children live in Columbus, Ohio. When she’s not immersed in the world of fiction, you can find her obsessing over the latest superhero movie or using her kids as an excuse to go out for ice cream (again.)

AUTHOR LINKS: BLOG | WEBSITE | GOODREADS | TWITTER | FACEBOOK !

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It's really great to have you here Leigh Ann!

Thanks so much for having me over to your blog today! I’m so excited to be here.

1. What made you want to write about teenagers with superpowers?

Ohhh I’m so glad you asked that question! I think teens with superpowers are an awesome exaggerated allegory for teens in general – there are all these things about them that they’re not even quite aware of how to cultivate and use in the best way. Superpowers make kids awkward, but when they figure out how to use them, superpowers make kids awesome. I think it’s great symbolism for the awkwardness that is being a teenager, even in normal life.

2. Have you ever wished that you had a special ability? If so what power would you want and why?

Yes, of course! Who hasn’t? I would KILL to need less sleep, or even no sleep at all. I love the dark, I love the quiet, and I love being in my house when everyone is calm and asleep. I get so much done at those times, but I need to sleep too, and it’s a huge bummer! Think of how many books I could write if I just. Didn’t. need. Sleep!

3. What are your favorite reads?

I really do write what I love to read – YA Sci-Fi, romance, and sometimes even fantasy. In recent years, I’ve loved Elana Johnson, Beth Revis, and Trisha Leigh’s books, I recently read a YA romantic mystery called TORCHED by Andrea Colt that I adored, and one of my top ten favorite reads of all time is GRACELING by Kristin Cashore. I’m also a sucker for the classics – A Tale of Two Cities, Pride and Prejudice, Jane Eyre, Little Women, and The Count of Monte Cristo are all favorites of mine.

4. Do you have any other books planned for the future?

Yes! The sequel to ONE, called TWO, will be out on October 8^th, and I even have something up my sleeve for early 2014 – a YA romance! I’m  very excited.

5. What are your top five favorite movies?

Clueless, Pride and Prejudice (with Kiera Knightley!), Mulan, And ALL the superhero movies. Except Batman. I don’t like those. (I’m strictly a Marvel girl!)

6. How much of yourself goes into your characters?

I think different parts of me go into each of them. You could probably find all of me if you put my characters all together! LOL. But seriously, the way I draft is through hearing conversations between characters – I’ll “hear” them talking to each other, and I’m sure it’s just different parts of ME talking to other parts of me.

Seriously, though, we write what we know. Every single thing I write, characters and plot, is a reflection, in some way, of something I’ve seen or experienced. So, the answer is…a lot of myself goes into everything I write, including characters!

7. Favorite superhero of all time?

Jean Grey. She was literally one of the most powerful mutants in history, and she was so badassed about it that she didn’t even need a superhero name. I’ve loved her since I was a kid.

8. What's the hardest obstacle you had to face while writing?

That pesky TIME again! LOL. I have four small children and my life is lived entirely in bits and pieces. So I’ve had to learn to write anywhere, any time, on any of my electronic devices. It’s quite the feat.

9. If your book were to be made into a movie who would you cast for your characters roles?

Alexis Bledel looks a lot like Merrin, even though she’s obviously a bit too old…and Cameron Mitchell from the Glee Project looks a lot like Elias, even though he’s a little short. I’m afraid I don’t know a ton about teen actors, so I’m sure these answers are not the best they could be. LOL

10. What type of music do you listen to? & Has a song ever inspired you to write?

I listened to ALL types of music for writing ONE – my playlist was about sixty songs long, and I absolutely needed it on in the background to write.  There are so many songs about the sky, flying, and escaping – Fly Away by Lenny Kravitz, Up Up Up by the Givers, Oh! Gravity by Switchfoot, Meteor Shower by Owl City, Such Great Heights by the Postal Service, Wake Up by Arcade Fire, Kiss Me by Sixpence None the Richer…and those are just the ones off the top of my head!

I’m also really lucky that I have a good friend, Nick Flora, who is releasing an album soon, and agreed to write a song just for the novel as part of his Kickstarter!  Check it out here (It’ll be available for purchase soon.) 

Thank you so much for inviting me over to your blog today! It was a pleasure to be here, this was a really fun interview! - Leigh Ann

Thank YOU!