Author Wednesdays with...Angie Fraizer

Today I have Angela Fraizer, author of the upcoming Everlasting.

What made you start writing?

I’ve been writing since I was a little girl, my earlier works being horror and ghost stories, and mysteries. I’m sure the material worried my parents quite a bit ;-) But I’ve always had an overactive imagination and I think my outlet was through writing.

How long have you been writing?

Since age 7 or 8 maybe? I honestly can’t remember a time when I wasn’t writing, or didn’t want to be an author. It really has been something I’ve wanted since I was a kid.


Can you tell us a little about your book?

Sure! Actually, this description I found online captures it best:
Sailing aboard her father's ship is all seventeen-year-old Camille has ever wanted. But as a lady of society her future is set: marry a man she doesn't love or loose her social standing. On her last voyage before the wedding, Camille learns about a life-changing secret that lies in Australia. When their Sydney-bound ship goes down in a gale, and her father dies, Camille sets out to find her long-lost mother and a map that could lead to an even greater and more dangerous secret—a stone that can bring back the dead. Throughout her journey to uncover the truth, the only person that Camille can depend upon is Oscar—her father’s handsome first mate—whom she is inexplicably drawn to despite their differences in social class. 

Along the way, Camille faces many treacherous obstacles, but nothing so dangerous as forbidden love and an uncertain future.

How did you get the idea for writing Everlasting?

One winter I rented a caretaker’s cottage on the grounds of a beautiful estate in New Hampshire. The cottage had squirrels in the attic and mice in the cupboards, but the ceilings were amazing. In every room the ceiling was plastered in vintage travel posters. Many of them were for places in Australia. I was snowbound a lot that winter and had the itch to start a new story. I decided Australia would be a pretty good place to set a novel. I then built the characters and plot around the setting (which turns out to be the case in nearly all of my books!).
I’m a huge fan of star-crossed love stories, of history, of magic, and family dramas…so I put them all together into this one book!

Who is your favorite character in the book and why?

Oooh, tough question! I’d have to say my favorite character Ira Beam, the Australian card shark who acts as Camille and Oscar’s guide across southern Victoria. He was so much fun to write! Ira is a total rascal, who manages to be vulgar yet charming. He definitely provides the humor element of the novel.

If you could meet any characters in your book, who would it be and why?

I honestly would love to meet Camille. She was so difficult to write…I knew her in my mind, but getting her out onto paper was tough. I’m in the planning stages for the final book of the trilogy and I think meeting her might give me some major insight.

How long did it take for you to finish writing the book?

SEVEN YEARS. Not kidding. I wrote the first draft in the winter of 2000, then revised it multiple times over the next few years. I set it aside a lot, knowing something was off with Camille’s story but not being sure what it was. Then, in 2006, I had an epiphany. Everything came to me. I finally knew what Camille’s story was. I finished it, revised once, sent it out to agents, and landed my fabulous agent in 2007.

Why did you choose to write YA novels?

I didn’t set out to write YA. I just set out to write. It just so happened that most of my stories turned out to be YA. I didn’t know what YA even was, but when I discovered the term and began reading YA novels, I thought: “Oh! So this is what I’ve been writing!”

What’s the next step in your writing career?

I’m currently waiting for revision notes for the sequel to Everlasting (Summer 2011), and am planning what will hopefully be a third Everlasting book. Also, I’m very excited about my first middle grade novel, Suzanna Snow and the Mystery of the Midnight Tunnel (Spring 2011, Scholastic Press). It’s the first of a planned mystery series.

Any advice for future authors?

When you’re writing, ignore the market, the trends, anything that makes you second guess what you’ve decided to write about. Just write your story. And I can’t impress enough the importance of sharing your work with critique partners. It’s the best way to grow as a writer.

Any other comments?

Thanks Stephanie!

Thanks Angie!

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