Blog Interview: Amy Plum

Hello guys! I'm back with an interview! Today, I'm honoured to have Amy Plum, the author of the Revenant series, the first book being Die For Me here in the blog! Here are answers to the 5 questions I asked for the interview!

 1. Since Die For Me is set in Paris, can you please tell us the best things to do when we visit Paris (places to visit, things to do, things to eat)?

My favorite thing to do when I'm in Paris is sitting in a café with a book, reading at the same time as I people-watch and daydream. If it's morning I have a café crème (coffee with steamed milk) and a croissant. For lunch, I usually get a salad (if you like anchovies, which I do, a salade Niçoise is divine) or a croque-madame, which is a grilled ham and cheese sandwich with a fried egg on top. For dinner, one of my favorite French dishes is magret de canard (sliced duck breast) with figs and grapes and sea salt.

Besides going to cafés, I enjoy hanging out in museums. The biggies are Musée d'Orsay, the Louvre and the Museum of Modern Art at the Georges Pompidou Center. But there are a lot of smaller museums that I love: the Picasso Museum, the Musée Jacquemart-André (a 19th century hôtel particulier) and the Musée Carnavalet (the museum of the history of Paris).

And one of my favorite Parisian tourist attractions is La Sainte Chapelle, a tiny gothic church with the most amazing stained glass windows you've ever seen. (Teaser alert: It makes an appearance in UNTIL I DIE.)

2. If Die For Me were to be a movie, which actors or actresses would you pick for Kate and Vincent?

That is a really hard question, because no one quite matches my mental images of my characters. But I would really want French actors to play the French characters. People have mentioned Gaspard Ulliel or Francois Goeske for Vincent and perhaps Pierre Boulanger for Jules. I am sure there are unknowns out there who would be perfect!

As for Kate, there are a few pictures of Emma Roberts that remind me of her. And someone just sent me a photo of Amber Heard as a brunette (in one of her non-sultry poses). It was a very good match for Kate.

3. Which part of the book did you enjoy writing most?

The fight scene with Lucien. I could see the whole thing in my head, and it was so exciting that I could barely contain myself while I tried to get it down on the page. Then, when I went back and read what I wrote, it gave me goosebumps.

4. Do you have any other projects planned besides finishing the Revenant series?

Yes, I have two YA novels that I have started on which may someday see the light of day. Both include romance and a bit of magic and paranormal powers, but neither take place in Paris.

5. Any tips for aspiring authors?

Write. That's the only way you can get better. Write a lot. And once you have something you feel is worth showing, give it to a wide range of readers, not just people your age. I take Stephen King's advice on criticism. If you get the same feedback from several people, take it to heart! (King's book “On Writing” is a must-read for aspiring authors!)

Thank you so much to Amy for her time for the interview! Are you excited for Until I Die? :)

My Eighteenth Book Review: Die For Me

Die For Me
Genre: Young Adult
Pages: 341
Published: May 10th 2011
Author: Amy Plum

Summary from Goodreads:

My life had always been blissfully, wonderfully normal. But it only took one moment to change everything.
Suddenly, my sister, Georgia, and I were orphans. We put our lives into storage and moved to Paris to live with my grandparents. And I knew my shattered heart, my shattered life, would never feel normal again. Then I met Vincent.
Mysterious, sexy, and unnervingly charming, Vincent Delacroix appeared out of nowhere and swept me off my feet. Just like that, I was in danger of losing my heart all over again. But I was ready to let it happen.
Of course, nothing is ever that easy. Because Vincent is no normal human. He has a terrifying destiny, one that puts his life at risk every day. He also has enemies . . . immortal, murderous enemies who are determined to destroy him and all of his kind.
While I'm fighting to piece together the remnants of my life, can I risk putting my heart—as well as my life and my family's—in jeopardy for a chance at love?

My review:
Let' see. I have a little story to tell about my experience when I read this book. So when I saw this book in the library at first, I thought 'What a gorgeous cover! That swirls and Paris background. Have to read this book now!' So I checked out the book from the library, arrived at home, sat on my bed and just read this book until I finished it in about 5 hours. I just stayed in my room, like a solitary confinement because I couldn't stop reading. Die For Me was actually my first YA book that's set in Paris. I read this first before Anna and the French Kiss. Not only it's really good, the guy: Vincent Delacroix is just so....mignon? :P It's also paranormal which I really enjoy and the paranormal theme in this book is called : "The Revenants" As soon as I finished reading this book, I immediately bought myself a copy of this book because I need it. I want to own the books I love!

Die For Me is the story of Kate, a girl whose parents died and had to move to Paris with her sister to live with her grandparents. When she started hanging out in a cafe, she meets Vincent Delacroix, a mysterious charming handsome guy who also happens to hang out in the cafe too. Then, comes the love that grows between them and a secret which reveals the truth of who Vincent Delacroix is. First, I really love Amy Plum's choice of how Kate first met Vincent in a cafe! It's just so Paris. I mean, you can imagine yourself in Paris, sitting in a cafe, drinking coffee, eating croissant when suddenly, you noticed a guy checking you out or you checking a guy out too! It's perfect. It's not love at first sight obviously. Kate met Vincent quite a few times until they started talking to each other. I love Amy's choice of choosing a paranormal theme of Revenants which basically a person who returns from dead. It's really interesting to see how Amy develops the Revenants theme in this book, showing the details of what it's like to be a Revenant. I've read many books which uses the word 'Revenant' but I've never been so engrossed in reading these kinds of books until I read Die For Me. The Revenant is very different from what I found and not only is this book set in the most romantic city in the world, but the paranormal theme creates a very different atmosphere to Paris. And Vincent is such a swoon-worthy character too. I don't know what's wrong with all French guys, they're always so sweet, romantic and handsome. I love the name too. It's so French! I just enjoyed every part of this book, and the ending is not a cliffhanger although there's a sequel, Until I Die coming out May 2012!!

Oh, one thing to add. Amy is such a nice author! She will give out signed bookplates for everyone if you post a review of Die For Me in Amazon or Barnes & Nobles! Check out this link to find out more about how to get one! When I received my signed bookplate (which is my 1st signed bookplate ever), I'm practically screaming in front of my mailbox. An envelope from France?! It's unbelievable. I've never been so excited in front of a mailbox before!! So anyway, I've sticked my signed bookplate which is so gorgeous in my copy of Die For Me and I smiled the whole day like crazy. FYI, Amy lives in France & she speaks French too! You can also find a map of the places used for the setting of Die For Me in Amy's blog!

Overall: Mysteriously...gorgeous! J'aime Kate et Vincent!! Je suis ravie!!! I am so happy to found this book. I feel so grateful to read this book and to experience what it's like to find love in Paris, but also with a paranormal theme in it! I would like thank Amy too for the bookplates, again!! I can't thank her more than enough!! Just read the book and find out what it's like to live in Paris with a guy who is a Revenant!!

5 Forget-me-not flowers for Die For Me!!