Author Hope Collier: Interview with the Freaking Awesome Chelsea Fine

Okay, so y'all know how much I adore Chelsea Fine! She's like the Jennifer Lawrence of Writerdom. You know who I'm talking about, the really cool girl next door who's gorgeous, hilarious, and super down-to-earth. Well today, I have the honor of interviewing her about one of my all-time favorite YA series ev-ah, The Archers of Avalon! If you haven't read my reviews of these epic examples of awesomeness, click on each to find my thoughts on Anew, Awry, and Avow.

Ladies and gentlemen, without further ado, here's Chelsea...

* How did you come up with idea for the Archers of Avalon series?

The short answer is Vampire Diaries. The long answer is I was watching Vampire Diaries with my sister and we were talking about how sad it is to have a love triangle between two brothers because the brothers love one another and they love the same girl…it’s tragic. And I started thinking of what another spin you could do with two brothers who love the same girl, but something less doom and gloom. Thus was born, my Archers of Avalon series.

* As an avid archer myself, I loved the fact that twins and Scarlet were into shooting. Why did you choose that as a pastime?

First of all, I LOVE THAT YOU’RE AN ARCHER! Super rad. I chose archery as a pastime because it’s cool! It’s skilled weapon that requires patience and aim, and lots of experience. I like that. I thought it was a good weapon for characters who were going to be 500 years old. It just worked all around.

* After reading the series, I researched to see if Avalon, Georgia really existed (and YES! it does! I’m SO going one day.) What made that location ideal for the series?

It was sort of an accident. I didn’t know that Avalon, Georgia existed before I wrote the book. The Ponce De Leon Fountain of Youth story was not actually in lower Florida, but northern Florida. That’s where his ship landed; just south of Georgia. So I was thinking, wouldn’t it be neat if the Fountain of Youth was actually in Georgia and all the history books were totally wrong about this myth? So I put it in Georgia with these archers and then I wanted a city that started with an ‘A’ so I chose Avalon. After I wrote the first draft and discovered there was actually a city called Avalon in Georgia, I figured it was just fate. It was an accident, but totally fate.

* The idea behind the curse and the trio’s connection is SO freaking cool and unique. How did you come up with that, and what inspired you to choose The Fountain of Youth as a building block?

I spent months and months of thinking about the story, so the curse was actually different in my head. But that’s the cool thing about writing. While you’re writing a story, you’re also re-writing it as more ideas come to you. I wanted to make sure there was a curse where all three members of it were affected in a unique way; not something where they all had the same issues. And I wanted it to be a curse where finding a cure would be critical to the characters’ happiness. So it was just a matter of a lot of time and thought and trial and error with writing it. I wanted immortality, but not vampires so I decided to go the Fountain of Youth route and explore that. If we could live forever, would that be a good thing or kind of a curse? That’s the question theme in my Archers of Avalon books.

* I absolutely adore your characters!!! Were any of them based on yourself/preferences or people you know?

Oh, that’s a really good question! No. Scarlet is definitely not based on me. You and I have met in person so you know that I’m not very awesome and cool and strong and sassy like Scarlet. Haha. I’m much more like Heather. I think Scarlet is based on who I wish I could be, with lots of strength and attitude. I based Tristan a little bit on my husband who has this very dark and sacrificial side to him in a really beautiful way. And Gabriel…I don’t know. I think I just created a character who would be the opposite of Tristan: a little more selfish and happy and carefree.

* Are you a plotter or a pantser?

I’m a pantser! That’s why it takes me forever to write books, haha. I try to plot, but I can’t seem to follow my own rules. It’s just all bad. Haha.

* What inspires you?

Music. I know there are a lot of other things that inspire me, but music is by far number one. I created the whole first book, Anew, by listening to “Cosmic Love” by Florence and the Machine. I put that song on repeat for three days and mapped out the whole book in my head.

* What do you enjoy doing in your free time?

I really like painting and drawing and playing the piano and singing…anything artistic, really. I find art and music really calming and soothing. But I also enjoy watching teenage drama on television. Like, a lot. Haha.

* What awesomeness can we expect from you in the future?

My New Adult series is coming out this year and I’m really excited about it! New Adult is like Young Adult with a little bit of an edge, and a few more consequences. This is a contemporary series, though, so there’s no Fountain of Youth and no curses or anything like that. Just plain old realistic love and drama. But it’s a sweet series and the first book, Best Kind Of Broken is really special to me, so I’m thrilled to release it this March. J

Rapid Fire:

* What 3 things would you take to live on Isle Chelsea:

Um, this question is awesome. A toothbrush! I would totally take my toothbrush! I’m obsessed with clean teeth. And maybe The Count of Monte Cristo, my favorite book of all time. And my husband. I would take my husband because he’s my best friend and, really, you can endure anything if you have your best friend with you. ;)

* Favorite book character:

Will Herondale from Cassandra Clare’s Infernal Devices. He’s my very favorite. He reminds me a lot of Tristan, but he’s a bit more tortured, darker. He’s so broken and he’s such a mess. I just want to mop him up and make out with him. Haha.

* Best YA read this year:

I read The Beginning of After by Jennifer Castle and it was probably one of the most moving books I have ever encountered. It was beautiful and broke my heart. Wonderful.

* Top 5 favorite authors:

Veronica Roth

Frankie Rose

Abbi Glines

Cassandra Clare

J.K. Rowling.

* You life’s theme song:

“Heartlines” by Florence and the Machine.

HUGE thanks to Chelsea Fine for the interview!

Check out her books on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and

everywhere books are sold.