Author Interview: Ilana Waters

Ilana Waters has written The Adventures Of Stanley Delacourt.

1. What is your name and where do you call home?

My name’s Ilana Waters, and I call New Jersey, USA home. I am also at home in coffee shops, libraries, and bookstores . . . at least until they kick me out. 

2. What is the name of your most recent book and if you had to sum it up in 20 or less words, what would you say?

My most recent book is called The Adventures of Stanley Delacourt: Book I of Hartlandia. In 20 words or less: A middle-grade medieval combination of librarians, apothecaries, knights, fairies, witches, dark magic, and other stuff of fantasy!

3. Do you have plans for a new book? Is this book part of a series?

I have plans for many, many, many new books! The Adventures of Stanley Delacourt is the first of a trilogy. I also have a short story and a novella coming out that are set in the same world.

4. What or who inspired you to start writing? And how long have you been writing?

I’ve wanted to be writer since I was six years old. My first grade teacher said I was good at writing, so I figured that’s what I should do (this really tells you something about the power of labels). I didn’t take writing seriously as a career until a couple of years ago. I figured it was now or never. I chose “now.”

5. Do you gift books to readers for book reviews?

If they have a blog where they review books, then yes. Otherwise, I’m afraid I can’t afford to give free books out as often as I’d like. 

6. How did you come up with the title for your book?

Well, my story’s about a boy named Stanley Delacourt, firstly. He must leave his tiny village in order to go on adventures, thwart a magical villain, and pretty much save the kingdom of Hartlandia. I wanted to get most of that in title, and I think I succeeded. For details, you’ll just have to read the book. ;-)  

7. Do you prefer e-books, paperbacks, hardcovers or audiobooks?

I like different formats for different reasons. Hard copies of books for home, e-books for being out and about. I don’t think one format is better than the other. I have yet to experience audiobooks, but I should probably get on that. I could be missing out!

8. Has the quality of the cover of a book ever put you off of reading it?

Sadly, yes. For better or worse, we really do judge a book by its cover. It’s not just aesthetics—you should be able to tell certain things by looking at the cover. Things like genre, age group, level of action/violence/romance, etc. If you can’t, the cover probably isn’t doing its job.

9. What is your favourite book genre at the moment?

I’ve been reading a lot of what I write, which is YA and MG fantasy. MG is following YA, I think, in that it’s really blossoming as a genre. I wish we’d had more books like this when I was a kid.

10. Do you have any hobbies that aren’t related to reading & writing?

Can I include procrastinating? Oh wait—that is related to writing. Shoot. Um, nevermind then!  >.<

11. Where can your readers follow you?

I can be cyber-stalked at these locations:

Blog: www.ilanawaters.com

Goodreads author page: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6472232.Ilana_Waters

Twitter: http://twitter.com/ilanawaters

Amazon: http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Adventures-Stanley-Delacourt-ebook/dp/B008WD24JM/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1347582391&sr=8-1

Smashwords: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/214858

Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-adventures-of-stanley-delacourt-ilana-waters/1112492696?ean=2940014904919

Thankyou so much for taking the time to do this interview and allowing us a glimpse into your writing world!