Interview with Andrea Cremer, Author of Nightshade

I loved Nightshade, so when Andrea Cremer agreed to do an interview I was really excited! I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.


Pick six words to describe Nightshade. (Spoler-free, of course.)

Thrilling, seductive, mysterious, steamy, twist-laden, and addictive.

Where did you get the idea for Nightshade?

Nightshade is Calla's story and she was the inspiration for the book. I tend to write from characters and Calla was floating around in my head for a week or two before I started putting her story onto the page. I knew she was a girl who was also a wolf. I knew she was strong, but also in serious trouble. I couldn't figure out how someone so powerful could be in that sort of a fix. That's where Nightshade's world emerged it was all about building a history and society that explained Calla's predicament.

Do you listen to music while you write? Do you have a playlist for Nightshade?

Yes! I create soundtracks for all my books. For Bloodrose (Nightshade #3) I've been listening to a lot of Florence and the Machine. You can see songs from the Nightshade playlist here: http://www.andreacremer.com/soundscripts.html

On your way overseas, your boat crashes. You see a small island, but before swimming to it, you decide to take four books along to accompany you for who knows how long. Luckily, this boat has just about every book. Which four books would you choose?

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Watership Down, The Mists of Avalon, and a Botany Guide so I don't eat poisonous plants.

Team Zombie or Team Unicorn?

Team Unicorn

Aside from reading and writing, do you have any other hobbies?

Yoga, playing World of Warcraft, and cooking

Which one of your characters would you say is most like you?

Probably Ansel, Calla's younger brother, because he's loosely modeled on my younger brother and my brother and I are a lot alike.

Do you plan to write more YA books after you've finished the Nightshade series?

Definitely! I have lots of ideas, but the project I'd like to work on first is a steampunk series set in an alternate 19th century U.S. where the American Revolution failed and the world is ruled by the British Empire; I'd actually describe it as historical dystopian.

Thanks again Andrea! I hope you all go pick up a copy of Nightshade ASAP.