Blog Tour: Jennifer Murgia Interview

1. In what ways do you relate to your main character, Teagan? Were any of your characters inspired by people you know in real life?

Teagan and I share a lot of similarities. We’re both quiet and insightful and both enjoy watching the world from the sidelines a bit. Growing up, I only had a few close friends in high school. I was never the one to have a crowd around me and I was okay with that. I also grew up as an only child, just like Tea.

Were any characters fashioned after real life people besides her? Nope, they were strictly from my brain.

2. Your covers are simple, yet eye catching. What was your reaction to them when you first saw them? Were they what you had imagined them looking like?

I gushed when I saw them! I sat for the longest time in front of my computer staring at them, shrinking them to thumbnail size, then enlarging them, staring a little longer. Then of course as each book came out I made each cover my wallpaper background on my computer.

I love their simple elegance. Both were designed based not only on the symbol portrayed in each book but after jewelry I own. I own both an octagram and lemniscate necklace so the fact that they are on my covers is entirely special to me.

3. Did you have to do any research on angels before writing?

I had my own beliefs and a general idea of how I wanted to format the mythology for the books but yes, to make everything as plausible as possible I did research on my subject. Surprisingly I found I wasn’t too far off with my ideas!

4. If you could sit down to lunch with three other authors (living or dead) who would you choose and why?

Anne Rice – I would love to pick her brain! Her descriptions are amazing! She has an uncanny ability to transport her readers to her settings and can shift from the beautiful to the menacing with such skill.

Milan Kundera – because for a long time I thought he and I shared a brain.

Jeff Kinney - who would most likely make me laugh and shoot soda out of my nose. I think people watching with him would be an unforgettable experience.

5. Why did you decide to write YA? Did you ever consider writing for adult or middle grade audiences instead?

I’ve tried all three but YA is my niche. It’s what feels comfortable. I’d like to try a MG again – I actually have an idea brewing in my head, but all in good time.

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Thanks so much, Jennifer! Be sure to check out her website for more info, as well as my review of Angel Star!