Interview with Kristi Cook! (Author of Haven)

I had the awesome opportunity to interview the amazing Kristi Cook. She was so nice to do this interview for me and I want to thank her for that! (my very first author interview!)

Kristi is the author the of the awesome novel, Haven:



One month into her junior year, sixteen-year-old Violet McKenna transfers to the Winterhaven School in New York’s Hudson Valley, inexplicably drawn to the boarding school with high hopes. Leaving Atlanta behind, she’s looking forward to a fresh start--a new school, and new classmates who will not know her deepest, darkest secret, the one she’s tried to hide all her life: strange, foreboding visions of the future...





Doesn't that sound awesome? (I absolutely LOVED this book!) For a full description from Goodreads, click on the cover image. Now, for the interview with the lovely Kristi Cook.

1. When did you start writing?

As far back as I can remember, I was writing! Even as far back as kindergarten, I was writing/drawing little picture books. In sixth grade, I wrote the first two chapters of a sequel to GONE WITH THE WIND (early fan-fic, I guess?). In college, I took a creative writing class where I wrote several short stories. But I didn’t attempt to write for publication till after the birth of my second daughter—I was at home with a one year old and a two-and-a-half year old, and figured, why not give it a try?! Writing that first book was what kept me sane!

2. What is your favorite part about writing?
I love that sense of control! I mean, let’s face it, there’s so much in our lives that’s just totally beyond our control. But when I’m writing, it’s all on me—the characters, the set-up, and the events that take place. Also, like most readers, I love to “fall” into an imaginary world—it’s really the same for me when I’m writing. I love getting lost in my own imagination, “hanging out,” so to speak, in the world and with the cast of characters I’ve created.

3. If you ever get stuck, do you have anything specific that you do that helps?

Listening to music! Finding a song that really fits the mood of the scene I’m writing can be a big help getting me unstuck. Otherwise, it’s generally a sign that I need to get to know my characters better (in my mind) before I can press forward.

4. Is there anything about the writing process that surprised you when you first started?
Other than how hard it is, LOL?! Because yeah…writing an entire book is exhausting!

5. Have you ever had to do a lot of research for any of your writing?

Oh, yeah! Before I wrote YA fiction, I wrote historical romance set in Regency and Edwardian England. Lots and lots of research—everything from history to social issues to clothing to transportation. You should my office bookshelves! I majored in history in college and graduate school, so historical research is fun and familiar for me. I really enjoyed delving into those eras.

For HAVEN, I did a lot of research on psychic powers, another topic that really interests me.

6. What does your writing process look like? (ie-do you plot, do characters or story come first, ect.)

Unfortunately, I’m not much of a plotter. Characters definitely come to me first—they draw me into “learning” their stories. Now that I’m writing a multi-book series, plotting is becoming more and more important, though I’d say I’m still a character-driven writer. At times, it’s really a struggle for me to find the plot with which to structure my characters’ story around (if that makes any sense!).

As a 'Thank You' to Kristi Cook for doing this interview (and because, seriously, I really did love this book) I want to share it with you guys. So, here another contest! One winner will receive a copy of Haven! Yay!

Rules and Info:
To enter, please leave a comment letting us know your name, a way to contact you, and how many points you got (see below).
U.S. Contest only

You can earn extra points by:
+1 if you follow @TangledUpNWords on Twitter.

+1 if you follow our blog!

+2 if you tweet/blog about this interview! (Leave links in comment)

And if you don't win, don't worry! You can order a copy of HAVEN at Amazon! And don't forget the second book in the series, MIRAGE, is set to come out summer 2012!