Sarah Alderson
Series: Lila, #1
Release date: August 4th, 2011
by Simon & Schuster
Goodreads / Purchase
17-year-old Lila has two secrets she’s prepared to take to the grave. The first is that she can move things just by looking at them. The second is that she’s been in love with her brother’s best friend, Alex, since forever.
After a mugging exposes her unique ability, Lila decides to run to the only people she can trust—her brother and Alex. They live in Southern California where they work for a secret organisation called The Unit, and Lila discovers that the two of them are hunting down the men who murdered her mother five years before. And that they’ve found them.
In a world where nothing and no one is quite as they seem, Lila quickly realises that she is not alone—there are others out there just like her—people with special powers—and her mother’s killer is one of them…
Interview with Sarah Alderson
Q. Let's start with how you got the idea for Hunting Lila?
I was swimming one day, trying to work out what to do to make some money and bam, I decided to write a book. I’d just read Twilight and figured if Stephanie Meyer could become a gazillionaire writing about vampires then so could I. Except I wanted to make my lead character the one with the super-power and I guess I watch too much TV because I knew I wanted it to be a thriller suspense with lots of action.
Q. Lila is an incredibly well loved character, she's feisty and irrational at times when it comes to Alex, how did you get the idea for her character? Does she have a bit of yourself in her?
Lila’s character was always just there. I didn’t have to think too hard. I often find I start writing and my characters just exist on the page.
I never thought she was like me but then my dad read it and his first words were ‘she’s so you.’ But then again my dad always refers to all my protagonists as ‘you’ when he talks to me. So yes, I guess she has got lots of me in her. My friends always say they hear me talking when she’s talking. Her dry humour is definitely from me. Probably my husband would say I’m also irrational like her.
Q. Alex and Lila's relationship is a big part of the book (and a fan favorite); what's your secret to writing such a swoon worthy romance?
I guess I just really felt it. Writing in the first person I felt every single one of her emotions. And also I’ve had some amazing adventures in my life, and been very lucky to have had some amazing relationships in my life, which I drew on for the romance element.
Q. How many books are you planning on this series? Do you already know how it's going to end or are you going with the flow?
At the moment there are just the two. It may end there, I haven’t decided yet. I’ve been too busy writing other things.
I was swimming one day, trying to work out what to do to make some money and bam, I decided to write a book. I’d just read Twilight and figured if Stephanie Meyer could become a gazillionaire writing about vampires then so could I. Except I wanted to make my lead character the one with the super-power and I guess I watch too much TV because I knew I wanted it to be a thriller suspense with lots of action.
Q. Lila is an incredibly well loved character, she's feisty and irrational at times when it comes to Alex, how did you get the idea for her character? Does she have a bit of yourself in her?
Lila’s character was always just there. I didn’t have to think too hard. I often find I start writing and my characters just exist on the page.
I never thought she was like me but then my dad read it and his first words were ‘she’s so you.’ But then again my dad always refers to all my protagonists as ‘you’ when he talks to me. So yes, I guess she has got lots of me in her. My friends always say they hear me talking when she’s talking. Her dry humour is definitely from me. Probably my husband would say I’m also irrational like her.
Q. Alex and Lila's relationship is a big part of the book (and a fan favorite); what's your secret to writing such a swoon worthy romance?
I guess I just really felt it. Writing in the first person I felt every single one of her emotions. And also I’ve had some amazing adventures in my life, and been very lucky to have had some amazing relationships in my life, which I drew on for the romance element.
Q. How many books are you planning on this series? Do you already know how it's going to end or are you going with the flow?
At the moment there are just the two. It may end there, I haven’t decided yet. I’ve been too busy writing other things.
Q. What's the first thing you did after you wrote the very last word and realized you had finished a book?
I think I poured myself a glass of wine and then slept. Back then I had no idea if it was ever going to be published so it was a bit of a quiet celebration. Today though I’m just about to finish a book I’ve been writing collaboratively with another author (a hilarious adult book). We are so excited to finish it. So we’re going out to lunch and intend to celebrate in style!
Thanks so much for having me as a part of your tour! If you're anything like Lila me and you would definitely get along! >.< I can't wait for the sequel, and very intrigued about this adult book!
This post is a part of the Hunting Lila Canadian blog tour
hosted by Simon & Schuster Canada
