Dreamer L.E. DeLano(Traveler #2)
Published by: Swoon Reads
Publication date: April 10th 2018
Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult
This thrilling sequel to Traveler doles out adventure and heartbreak in equal measure as it takes readers through a kaleidoscope of intricately crafted worlds of wonder, discovery, and danger.
You’re still you no matter where you go.
Jessa has learned the hard way that traveling to alternate dimensions isn’t all delicious, glittering desserts and fancy parties: it also means accidentally running into people she thought she’d never see again. Still mourning a devastating loss, Jessa isn’t really prepared for the arrival of a reckless version of someone she once loved who is now bent on revenge. Add an increasingly complicated relationship with her best friend Ben, the reappearance of an old enemy, and the threat of the multiverse collapsing, and Jessa’s got a lot on her plate. She may be destined to help save an infinite multitude of worlds… but in the end, all Jessa really wants to do is save her friends.
In Dreamer, the young adult fantasy follow up to Traveler, author L. E. DeLano delivers a gripping, emotional story that will leave readers on the edge of their seat.
Welcome L.E. DeLano for an interview!
1.
Did you always know you wanted to
be a writer or did you want to be something else?
I have never not been writing,
but I do have a degree in Theatre, my other great love. Aside from that, I
toyed with the idea of cultural anthropology mostly because I want to know
everyone’s story.
2.
How long does it take you to write
a book from start to finish?
First draft is usually about three months. How long it takes from there
depends on where my editor agree it needs to go – usually another few revisions
over about five to six months.
3.
How do you come up with themes for
your stories?
People watching gives me
most of my ideas. Usually I find someone intriguing and I start building a
backstory for them in my head.
4.
Do you have a schedule of when you
write?
Nope. I write when I can and where I can, even if it’s only ten minutes
at a time at the kitchen counter while I’m stirring dinner.
5.
How are you able to balance other
aspects of your life with your writing?
I wish I could tell you my secret. I just do. I’m a full-time working
single mom with a special-needs kid. If I waited for the “perfect” time to be
inspired, or write, or edit, it would never get done.
6.
What elements do you think make a
great story line?
Show me authentic, raw emotion portrayed in visceral terms, then smack me
with unexpected hilarity. Keep me on the edge of my seat, but slow down every
so often for a poignant moment. The stakes don’t have to be outrageously high,
just outrageously dear to that protagonist.
7.
What was the hardest thing about
writing a book?
Having the discipline to finish it.
8. How many books have you
written so far? Do you have a favorite?
Trick question! In addition to
TRAVELER and DREAMER, I’ve
previously self-published eight books and seven novellas under another pen
name. Traditional publishing is a lot more involved, so I’m hugely proud of both
TRAVELER and DREAMER.
9.
Do you have a favorite character?
I love them all, but Danny was an absolute joy to write. He’s so funny
and full of heart.
10.
Where do you write?
Anywhere and everywhere. On my couch, at my kitchen table,on my break at
work - scribbling bits of dialogue on napkins and post-it
notes, you name it. If I waited for the perfect setting to write, I’d never
finish a thing.
11.When deciding on how to publish, what directed you to the route
you took?
I heard about the Swoon Reads contest via Twitter and decided to go for
it.
12.
Have you gotten feedback from
family about your book(s)? What do they think?
It’s a little close to home for my daughter – the relationship between
Jessa and her brother is very much taken from real life. She and everyone else
in my family has been incredibly supportive.
13.
What kinds of things do you like to
do outside of writing?
Travel would be my number one love, followed by cooking and baking.
14.
What kinds of advice would you give
to someone who wants to start writing?
Don’t just
“start” writing. You have to finish
writing. Creation is only part of the process. Discipline is the rest.
15.
What is your favorite book? Favorite
author? Do you have an author that inspired/inspires you to write?
I have so many favorite books! But if I had to choose one to take to a
deserted island, I guess I’d pick The Host
by Stephenie Meyer. As for favorite author: Cassandra Clare could write a
grocery list and I would pay to read it. I really admire the way she’s built
her universe and found new and captivating ways of reinventing her franchise.
16.
Do you have any go to people when
writing a book that help you with your story lines as well as editing, beta
reading and such?
I do have a few trusted readers and fellow authors that I run things by,
and their feedback is invaluable.
17.
Are you working on anything
now?
My next book is
steeped in Irish mythology. Rosaleen
is the half-human daughter of the Morrigan, the Irish goddess of death and
battle. Because of the blood flowing through her veins, she has many gifts,
including the ability to see and speak with the dead.
She happens
upon the spirit of a snarky ninth century celtic bard and together, they go
on an epic adventure to save the realm of the Irish gods. It took a lot of
research and it’s been tremendous fun to write!
18.
Tell us 5 things that make you
smile
My son singing
My daughter’s
outrageous wit
Rain
A terrific
callback line in a book
The Office on
Netflix
19.
Tell us 5 things that make you sad
School
shootings
The state of
politics in America
The state of
the environment
Empty seats at
a theatre production
Eating the last
Cadbury mini egg
20.
If you could travel anywhere in the
world to visit a place so you could use it as a background for a book, where
would it be?
I’ve actually already been but I’d go back to Ireland in a hearbeat.
Thank you so much for being with us today!
Author Bio:
L.E. DeLano is a YA novelist rep’d by Barry Goldblatt Literary agency, author of the upcoming “Traveler” (Swoon Reads/MacMillan 2017) and lifelong writer. Her work has been featured on various online outlets and she lives in Pennsylvania with two very adventurous kids and two very ridiculous cats. In her spare time, she writes (of course) and binge-watches way too much Netflix.
