Marvelous Monday: An Interview with Renee Carter

I'm very excited to introduce Renee Carter, who is joining us today for another Marvelous Monday!

Renee Carter's debut novel, His Eyes, was released August 28, 2009. She is currently working towards her English degree and is also a fellow cheesehead! Visit her on the web at: http://www.renee-carter.com

Where's you get the idea for His Eyes?

Actually, it's a little strange. Usually I start writing a story with a scene in mind, but His Eyes was different. I woke up one morning, thinking about a girl showing up to an interview only to find out that the "boy" she's supposed to be baby-sitting is actually her age and that his parents are basically hiring her to be his friend. For some reason my mind jumped to the conclusion that he would be blind...and that a romantic entanglement would ensue.


How long did it take you to write His Eyes?
I wrote the first draft of His Eyes in three months and then proceeded to revise it for the following three years.

When did you decide you wanted to write?

I always wanted to write. Even before I could scribble my name, I started creating stories by recording them on cassettes and using my dolls as props.


Is there a time of day or place you love to write?
I find that the early morning or late night is best. I think that when I'm tired is when I'm best able to let my creativity flow. Usually I will play one song on repeat while I'm writing--one that has the emotion of the scene that I'm working on, but won't distract me.

What advice would you give to aspiring writers?

Getting into the publishing industry is an extremely hard thing to do. The key is to persevere. You need to be patient, both with yourself (your writing style may not develop as quickly as you'd like) and with the publication process. Don't shrug off criticism that you receive, but remember to tell stories that you, yourself, would want to read.

As a child, what would you say your favorite book was?

The Giver by Lois Lowry

Are you working on any other novels currently?

Yes, I'm writing another YA novel called Masked. The heroine of Masked is basically the opposite of Amy from His Eyes. Amy isn't really concerned with what people think of her and she's into helping others out. Sierra, at least when the story opens, comes off as shallow and selfish. Only when she meets Nom, a disfigured boy who's below her league, do we begin to see that there may be another side to her.

Thanks Renee for taking the time to be interviewed!