Interview & Giveaway (INT): Forgiving Trinity Author Liz Reinhardt

I recently read and loved Forgiving Trinity. Did you read my review here?


Without further ado, I introduce to you Liz Reinhardt, the author of Forgiving Trinity, Double Clutch, Junk Miles and Slow Twitch.



Me: You started writing after Twilight. What was it about Twilight that made you start writing?

Liz: Twilight was actually the book that made me realize that I wanted to write not just romance (which I’d tried before) but YA romance! The characters had all of these issues figuring life out, growing, changing, falling in first love, and that’s all stuff that goes along with being a teen. I actually tried a vampire para first, but it wasn’t quite right. I finally figured out that it was the love triangle aspect I wanted to play around with, and Double Clutch jumped onto the page. After that, I couldn’t stop writing!


Me: Where did the idea for Forgiving Trinity came from?

Liz: It’s partially based on real life. Someone I really love and am close to got caught up in an addiction and it messed that person’s life up, but not completely. I’d read these horror stories about addicts and the downward spiral of addiction and how it can just implode a life. While these are extremely worthwhile stories, I wanted to tell about what it’s like when addiction impacts your life in all these everyday ways, and the craziness that can come from trying to just get back to normal…or at least to a form of normal that doesn’t involve drugs or using! (And the person this was inspired by is in an amazing, sober place. Didn’t want to leave you hanging on that piece ;)!)


Me: You like smart and hot romance books. How much of that does Forgiving Trinity have?

Liz: I hope there’s a lot of both! Trinity is a little less hot than my other romances. Because Trinity had been promiscuous when she used, and because that part of her life disgusted her, it felt really unnatural to just have her hop into bed with Aidan. But they do kiss…a lot! And I think their kisses are smoking! When it becomes appropriate to move farther, I leave it a little more open to interpretation. Honestly, that was so their private moment, I didn’t feel like intruding (so rare for me!!). But as far as smart? I love smart. I love all kinds of smart, and I try to balance book smarts with emotional smarts and practical smarts. My characters can be very different, but I think they’re all very smart and very aware of themselves. Which is what, in my opinion, makes them fun to write about!


Me: Is there anything you need in order to write? (a place, food item etc.)

Liz: Nada! I’m easy! The thing is, I started writing with the intent to publish when my daughter was 2. I had to have my eyes on her every second if I didn’t want her covered in lipstick or butter or little ripped-up pieces of my favorite books. So I got used to writing fast, wherever I was, and tuning out most of what was going on around me (except to keep her safe, of course!). If I can, I like a comfy chair, laptop on my lap, and a killer mix. But that’s a set of luxuries I can’t always afford.


Me: Are you working on something new?

Liz: I am! I wrote a series called the Brenna Blixen Books. Brenna makes a friend on her trip to Ireland, a crazy girl who’s charming and full of insane fun…and a little trouble. Evan Lennox gets her own book this summer. I also have a witch/shieldmaiden para in the works. I’m loving both of them. I like to work on different things so I can switch over if I get stuck.


Me: How do you react to a bad review? 

Liz: I don’t read them now. I used to obsess and wonder WHY the reviewer hated me! (WHY?!!?!) Hahaha! It’s pointless. First of all, everyone has an opinion. I can’t change a review, and wouldn’t want to. But it does get me feeling negative about my writing, and that is something I want full control of, so I don’t read them. I have to say, the vast majority of reviewers, no matter if they like my book or not, are very respectful. Some, very few, are awful. They attack personal aspects, say rude things, have disdain for readers who actually like my work, accuse higher starred reviews of being ‘paid for.’ As far as I’m concerned, those are not reviews. They are nasty gripes, and they make me sad for the book community. But, like I said, the majority are totally respectful!


Me: If not a writer, you would have been? 

Liz: I was a teacher! I taught middle school and high school English. There were aspects I loved, but writing is definitely, hands down, my passion.


Me: What is one book you think everyone should read? 

Liz: I think everyone should read The Catcher in the Rye by JD Salinger. I know, I know, some people are groaning and complaining that their teachers made them read that book and it sucked…well read it again! Read it because it’s real and honest and may be the first YA book. It talks about life and death and embarrassment and growing up and never growing up. It’s beautiful and raw and real. Read it! Read it right now!


Me: Any book(s) you are eagerly awaiting for in 2012?

Liz: There are so many! Too many! Abbi Glines has a follow up to her very addicting The Vincent Boys, called The Vincent Brothers that I will be downloading to my Kindle the second it comes out. I’ve been dying to read Tammara Webber’s Easy, a mature YA about a college girl who gets a bad reputation. Nichole Chase has a paranormal called Flukes about mermaids that is making me swoon with anticipation!


Me: Can you give suggestions as to who would love Forgiving Trinity?

Liz: I think anyone who likes character-driven novels, YA mature novels, books about serious issues that have a lot of humor, books about quirky friends…any of these readers will probably be happy to read Forgiving Trinity.


Me: What is your favorite quote? 

Liz: “Any book that helps a child to form a habit of reading, to make reading one of his deep and continuing needs, is good for him.” ― Maya Angelou


Me: Thank you Liz for gracing us with your presence today.

Liz: Thank you so much for having me!


More about Liz | Blog | Twitter | Facebook


Buy it here – Forgiving Trinity| Double Clutch| Junk Miles | Slow Twitch


GIVEAWAY(INT)

Win an ecopy of Forgiving Trinity. Fill this form.

If you are in the US, you can also enter for a paperback of Double Clutch or Junk Miles here.