May 23, 2015

Blog Tour: Joyride by Anna Banks


           1. JOYRIDE is a completely different genre from your last series. Was it easier or harder writing a contemporary novel versus a paranormal/fantasy?

Surprisingly it was more difficult to write contemporary. In fantasy, I can create my own rules and my own boundaries, but writing in real life setting is somewhat restrictive—and so real that sometimes my heart ached for the characters. I can’t give my characters special powers to deal with obstacles—they have to find their own inner strength and gumption to come out on top. That was rewarding to write.

 2. JOYRIDE also deals with the very relevant issues of citizenship and deportation - what inspired you to write about these things and add them to Carly's story?

When I was a waitress, I used to work with some undocumented immigrants from Mexico. As I grew to know them, they shared with me their stories and struggles. Just getting in the US is amazingly difficult and dangerous, and you’re not safe once you get here. Families are separated all the time, depending on what circumstances surround the deportation.
Carly’s story came to because these undocumented immigrants I’d worked with? They were the most reliable, hard-working people I knew. I wondered what it would be like to be a teenager, caught between wanting to start your life but also wanting to stay loyal and true to family tradition. Family is important in this culture, and it’s not an easy thing to blow off everything one has been taught. And it shouldn’t be easy.

3. If you were on a roller derby team, who would you want on your team - Arden or Carly?

 Carly. Arden would probably not take any good shots because I’m a girl, but Carly would give me a run for my money, if not an elbow to the nose. Bloody noses make everything more interesting!

4. What was your favorite part about writing JOYRIDE?

 I loved writing about the pranks. It brought my characters a sort of relief in the book, and for me personally as the writer, it gave me a break from writing a book dealing with such serious issues, like racism, immigration, and human smuggling. Plus I wanted them to be a sort of Robin Hood meets Bonnie & Clyde, where they prank the rich in circumstances on behalf of the poor in circumstances.  I think no matter what, my funs expect me to be funny, and I hope I accomplished that for them in JOYRIDE with all the pranking. J

5. So now you've tackled mermaids and contemporary - what does Anna Banks have in store for readers next and when can we expect to have it in our hands?

I have an Egyptian YA Fantasy coming out next year called NEMESIS. Here’s what it’s about:
A Serubelan princess who possesses the power to create energy escapes her father, who wishes to weaponize it, only to be captured by Theoria, her father’s nemesis kingdom,  where she discovers that her powers could be used to fight a terrible plague.

I also have an adult romantic comedy coming out through Entangled called HOW TO LOSE A BACHELOR. It’s How to Lose a Guy in Ten Days meets The Bachelor Show. They have a past. She’ll do everything in her power to be voted off the show. He’ll never vote her off in a million years. The world is watching!


Thanks so much for having me! J If any of your readers would like a signed book mark or bookplate for JOYRIDE please email me at byannabanks@gmail.com. This off is open internationally. 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Author Links/Info

Full Blog Tour Schedule

May 12- Xpresso Reads
May 13- WhoRU Blog
May 19-Fiktshun
May 27-Dana Square
May 29-Paper Riot
May 30-Mundie Moms

7 comments:

  1. I'd love to take a road trip and visit all the most fun rollercoasters around the US!

    Carolina M on rafflecopter

    ReplyDelete
  2. I'd love to take a road trip to Nashville, TN!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Honestly, I'd like to take a whole road trip throughout Europe one day, maybe with a bunch of my close friends. :3 Always a dream I have had.

    ReplyDelete
  4. I would love to road trip to California, Florida, or any southern state! Thank you for this amazing chance! :)

    ReplyDelete
  5. I'd love to road trip from the east coast to Jackson Hole, WY.

    ReplyDelete
  6. I would love to road trip from Washington to California.

    ReplyDelete
  7. I have road tripped from PA to Las Vegas once, which was pretty fantastic. Now, I would like to go from PA to San Francisco, taking the northern route to see that part of the country!

    ReplyDelete

I hope you know that every time you comment, an angel gets its wings.

OK, not really, but thanks for popping by!