Hey Swoonies!! Welcome back! We are so excited to see you, and you all look ADORABLE. Wednesday suits you quite nicely. AND HEY, we have Gretchen McNeil here today *WILD SCREAMS* and ALSO? We’re giving away an ARC of TEN! WOOT WOOT! So all you need to do is hop on those comments below, leave your name and some love for Gretchen, and you’re entered to win! EASY.
Hi Gretchen! So excited to have you at Swoontini! We both got ARC’s of TEN at WonderCon because we are lucky hoors. And I (Lo) have to admit that there were a few sections where I literally had to close the book and put it down for awhile it scared me so bad. What are some of your favorite scary books & movies?
GM: So I’m a notorious wimp with scary movies. Traditional horror scares the CRAP out of me! I prefer things more on the suspense scale. Hitchcock was a master –Birds, Strangers on a Train, North By Northwest – absolute edge-of-your seat film making. I also love old Victorian ghost stories. There’s nothing creepier than drafty old manor houses and ghosts on the Moor. Sheridan Le Fanu, Algernon Blackwood, Wilkie Collins, Emily Bronte. Deliciously gothic!
(Christina totally agrees. Rear Window is one of her all-time faves)
The movie Burnt Offerings scared my sister so much growing up that I bet she still remembers every detail. Aaanyway. Your background is so fun to hear about because it is so DIFFERENT than ours. I mean, OPERA HELLO. Plus, you have some of the funniest stories about those days. What is one of your favorite stories from working in Opera?
GM: Opera is a crazy business. And ridiculously hard work. I think my best stories are all costume-related: like the time my zipper broke on a dress during a quick change and the costumer accidentally safety pinned the dress TO MY BACK. I had to go on stage and sing while bleeding through the gown. Yeah, it was not awesome.
ACK ACK! That made my skin crawl. You’re a founding vlogger for the YARebels, featured as “Monday.” OH THE PRESSSSSURE. What do you do when you’re not sure what to talk about? Or do you always have some awesome anecdote or info to share?
GM: So I usually plot out my vlogs while I’m blow drying my hair. (Vain much?) [Christina says: She has the best hair, seriously] Most of the time I have an idea what I’m going to talk about but sometimes I just go brain dead and end up rambling for six minutes. Those vlogs usually end with an apology. HAHAHAHA.
Tell us about Teenage Gretchen. What current books would she be devouring? What characters would have her swooning and cheering?
GM: I essentially had two kinds of books I read in high school – Agatha Christie, and pre-20th century British and Irish authors. Victorian, Georgian, even early Edwardian fiction was like all I read. You should see my book collection at home. The complete works of William Ainsworth? Own it! Fanny Burney? The whole set! Obscure early 19th century Irish women authors? You know it, baby.
“There’s only one rule of exorcism: the spirits lie” IT STILL GIVES US GOOSEBUMPS!! What made you decide to write about exorcism, and honestly, did you have to watch a ton of exorcism movies and read actual ACCOUNTS? Because if so, you are a far stronger woman than either of us. ::heebie jeebies::
GM: Basically, I wanted to write a scary novel. I feel like a lot of the things that scared me as a kid – vampires, werewolves, ghosts – have been romanticized. Which is totally fine, but I miss scary stories!
I didn’t watch any exorcisms other than the classic: The Exorcist, aka the scariest movie ever made. But I read dozens of first hand accounts of exorcisms and demonologists. Some of it was impactful, some of it ridiculous. And mostly I just screwed myself out of hours of sleep by reading them before bed.
Yes, The Exorcist is the scariest movie ever. One of Lo’s best friends can’t even hear the title without starting to panic, NO LIE. Anyway, we are so excited for 3:59 we are almost bouncing. SCI-FI HORROR ARE YOU KIDDING US? So, just for the Swoontini readers, here is a link to the teaser you posted. Yep, not a question, just…excited.
GM: Thank you!!!! I’m excited too. Now if I can just FINISH IT!
It was SO SO FUN to meet you at WonderCon this year. What authors would you LOVE to see on a panel in-person?
GM: First off, that WonderCon panel was awesome. I was humbled to be among such fantastic writers. As for writers I’d totally fangirl? Holly Black is near the top of that list, and I just found out I’ll be doing a signing WITH HER at Books of Wonder in New York on June 6th. Holy crap, I’m going to babble like a moron in front of her!!!!
AHHHH!!! SO FUN!
Quickfires:
Favorite mode of transportation: Car (I’m an LA girl)
Your favorite board game: Clue
A movie you’ve watched over and over: Clue (ONE OF MY FAVORITE MOVIES OF ALL TIME!!!!!)
Popcorn Jelly Bellys are delicious or disgusting? Heinous (christina is totally fistpumping right now)
You’d rather (a) wear sneakers (b) wear a turtleneck (trust us, The Girls are awesome): Turtleneck, for sure. [Lo says: idk why but I was cracking up like a maniac writing this question. Something was in the water.]
Thanks so much for joining us!! We love you, but YOU ALREADY KNEW THIS.
GM: *blows kisses*
Have you read Possess? Pre-ordered Ten?? Interested in winning a signed ARC?? Leave the lovely Gretchen some love and it’s yours!
Lena Marsteller says
WoW!!! Gretchen, who knew that you liked irish authors. haha i do like some Agatha Christie books. TEN looks like an amazing scary book to read- I can’t wait for it!!!!! 🙂 Thanks for all of the spooky doll pictures…. :/
Kayla keefer says
I cannot wait for Ten!!!!! I. Loved possess and love your vlogs
Iffath says
Such a great interview! I am mega excited to read Ten, sounds so creepy! AND I LOOOOOOOOVE CREEPY!
Grace Radford says
I’m so excited to read this book! This interview was great! And I love the creepy doll gifs. xD Is that first one from buffy?
Suhail says
Solid! I totally loved Agatha Christie. I remember reading “…And Then There Were None” in 7th grade and having certain images permanently branded into my brain.
alicia marie says
love the interview! except for that creepy creepy little man up there that is quite possibly going to give me nightmares tonight. love reading creepy, but looking at creepy? not so much. i cannot wait to read ten! i feel like i’ve been hearing about it forever and ever!
Lisa Marie says
Great interview! I can’t wait to read Ten!
:).
TieDye64 says
Clue? That movie is in my Netflix queue right now. I love it in all it’s campy glory.
Oy, The Exorcist. Late one night, when I was a kid and asleep in my room, my mom was reading The Exorcist and it was the first scary book she’d ever read. What an intro! Anyway, as mom tells it, she got to the part where the girl/her bed starts shaking violently and at that moment I yell to her from my bedroom “mom, my bed is shaking”. Freaked her out so bad she never finished the book.
Anyway, awesomely fun interview!
Amy @ Kissed by Ink says
Ew! Dolls! Those are the images that scare me the most! Although I am not the biggest fan of horror movies, I love suspenseful and creepy books.
I am so excited to read Ten! This is my first year attending BEA and luckily, it is the day that Gretchen will be signing Ten. I plan on attending the Apocalypsies event too…can’t wait!!!
Ashley @ Ashley Loves Books says
omg that moving ventriloquist doll scared the CRAP out of me as I was scrolling. And to have that right after I’m imagining safety pins corset-style down an opera singers back?! evil.
Great interview! I’m excited for TEN – even though I’m a super wimp and have never ever made it through any of the movies listed (I can’t. I just can’t.) I am willing to get creeped out for this book!
Drew says
Dont like popcorn jelly beans? Well there goes the whole interview! 😛
Dani Nguyen says
Aaaghhh those GIFs are scaring the crap out of meee!!!
I am a total wimp about scary movies too, but I love scary books. I thought Possess was awesome & I can’t wait for Ten! Thanks for the chance to win!
Nicole says
Loved the interview! I can’t wait to get my hands on the book! (Although I have to disagree about turtlenecks. On the topic of creepy, they make me feel like i’m being choked. Ick.)
Mindee Arnett says
I can’t wait for this book! It sounds awesome.
Michelle V. says
Great interview! That first gif gave me the creeps. I had to cover it with my hand while reading the interview. Thanks a lot, Lo and C! Scary stories are my guilty pleasure, but can only read them once in a while. (HUGE chicken over here) I love the cover for Ten. And that teaser? GAH!
Cassie F. says
Um, yeah, those GIFs are CREEPTASTIC. *shivers* But, that aside, LOVE the cover of Ten and it looks like a fantastic read! Thanks so much for the opportunity to win an signed ARC.
Pam Mandigo says
Great interview. I bet it was hard to sing with the safety pin in your back.
DeadlyAccurate says
Clue is good, but I think Murder By Death is better. Alec Guinness. Truman Capote. Peter Falk. Maggie Smith. It’s utterly brilliant. I rewatched it last year, and it still holds up.
Jasmine Rose says
This was such a fun interview! I can’t believe you sang through having a dress pinned to you. That’s freaking amazing.
Also, I think it’s kind of hilarious that you don’t like to watch horror but that’s what you write 😛
Can’t wait to read Ten!!
Shelver506 says
Please pick me, please pick me, please pick me.
I don’t remember where I first heard about TEN, but I’m head-over-heels for it! I already did a Wishlist Wednesday post extolling my excitement ( http://shelversanon.blogspot.com/2012/05/wishlist-wednesday-3.html ), so I won’t continue to gush…
But I do have to add, Gretchen McNeil rocks for writing this book AND Hitchcock is the best, bar none.
Eddie Louise says
Awesome interview! Can’t wait for Ten AND 3:59.
The waiting! It’s killing me!
Nataly says
TEN looks absolutely interesting and good. I just love the plot, I’m always in the mood for a good mystery! Can’t wait to get my hands on this:)
Raven says
Great interview! Those pictures of dolls are super creepy. TEN sounds like a book I NEED to read. Thanks for the interview & giveaway! 🙂
Rheana says
Love the interview, hate the gifs. :::shudders::: I also completely adore the movie Clue! Looking forward to reading TEN very soon!
Pao Mtz Parente says
OMG!!! Can’t wait to read this books!!! Thanks for the giveaway!
Jessirae says
*sigh* I LOVE Gretchen! She’s so freaking awesomesauce! That interview ROCKED my world. I’m the totally opposite of on the account that I love scary movies/books etc. And popcorn jellybeans? Oh gosh, they are gross. LOL. And I totes agree that the Exorcist it freaking scary. I also want to add that although I love all things scary, I hate hate hate dolls so those gifs will surely give me nightmares to last me a lifetime ><
P.S. I NEED to read TEN! lol <3
Claire Legrand says
Oh my gosh, this interview was the best! Gretchen, you are amazing. I love that you love Clue! One of my favorites as well! Does it get better than Tim Curry running around explaining the murders like a crazy person? I THINK NOT.
This was my first glimpse of 3:59, and ohhh man, sci-fi horror?? This sounds AMAZING. Also, reminds me of the upcoming movie Prometheus. Are you as excited as I am about that, Gretchen??
P.S. LoLo & PQ: I will never forgive you for those doll gifs. NEVER. EVER.
P.P.S. jkluvzu
Carina Olsen says
Ohh, I love this interview 😀 And omg. I cannot wait to read Ten. <3 It sounds awesome! 😀 I would love to win an ARC of it. 😀 Thank you so much for this awesome interview, and the awesome contest. 🙂 <3 ALSO! Creepy dolls o.O
Love, Carina
Amber says
So excited to read Ten! I’m not one to really love scary books, but Ten sounds so good I just have to put my big girl pants on and read it!
Thank you again, Christina and Lo. I enjoy your blog and tweets so much!
Xoxo Amber Kaltsas
Leonardo says
Wow, now I’m interested in getting Possess. Although I’m a big chicken, but my girlfriend loves terror so she has the duty of holding my hand while reading it. Like she did after I read some Stephen King terror *shudders*
Love your interviews! 🙂
Pam Harris says
This book sounds SO AWESOME! I’ve wanted to read it since I read the blurb in Publishers Marketplace. 🙂
Lo's smister says
Great interview! Can’t wait to read Ten–you know I love the scaries! And YES, I am still traumatized by Burnt Offerings and WHY has no one else ever heard of it??