An Interview with Becca Fitzpatrick

 I recently had the pleasure of interviewing Becca Fitzpatrick, the debut author of Hush, Hush, which hits the shelves on October 13. She was kind enough to take time out from her busy schedule to answer my questions, and I will always be grateful to her for doing this and making my first interview so much fun. Thank you, Mrs. Fitzpatrick!
 Now on to the good stuff!

1. Could you give us a brief summary of Hush, Hush?

Hush, Hush is a romantic thriller about a girl who falls for a fallen angel with a dark agenda to become human.

2. What are a few of your favorite books?

The Jane Austen Book Club by Karen Joy Fowler, Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson, Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen, anything by Sandra Brown, Outlander by Diana Gabaldon and Harry Potter.

3. Do these books represent you, or do they clash with your personality like a hippie reading The Art of War?

They definitely ring true! I'm a romantic. I love adventure. I love suspense. I love books that seduce and inspire me.

4. What are a few books that you can’t wait to read?

Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater, The Body Finder by Kimberly Derting, Bleeding Violet by Dia Reeves, The Witch's Alphabet by Caitlin Kittredge, and all of the awesome books coming out in 2010 from The Tenners.

5. The soundtrack for this book is amazing, what about Hush, Hush made you pick so many 80’s new wave songs?

You know, I'm not really sure. Music has always been a mystery to me – I don't know why I like certain songs over others, or even why I fall hard for a really great song, but every song on the Hush, Hush play list helped transport me into the magical world of Hush, Hush. They just felt right. Chalk it up to instinct or fate, I suppose!

6. I think it’s safe to say that your book is “highly anticipated,”what do you have to say about having a growing fan base before your book has even been released?

Okay, you're making me blush! I'm not sure I have a fan base, but it is awesome, and indescribably rewarding, to see so many people out there excited to read Hush, Hush! Something as simple as seeing Hush, Hush picked for Waiting for Wednesday can make my week. I mean, there are people out there anticipating my book. How wild is that?

7. What do you think about books being made into movies and could you see Hush, Hush being made into a movie?

I just watched Confessions of a Shopoholic last night, and I'm going to see Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince tonight, so I'm definitely a huge books-turned-movies fan. I've never found a movie I've preferred over the novel, but it's fun to experience stories in different mediums and see how actors bring characters to life. Now if only Hollywood would make a movie out of Diana Gabaldon's OUTLANDER...
As for a Hush, Hush movie, yeah, I think that could be a lot of fun.

Which actors would they pick? What kind of tone would the director set? Would fans of the book be pleased with the movie?

8. I’m a creative person, and I suffer a fair amount of stress when it comes to sharing my creations; did you ever feel anxious about sharing your book with the world?

I will not lie: YES! I can always tell when the anxiety is getting to me by how much time I spend google-stalking reviews. But at the end of the day, I have to take reviews with a grain of salt. What a hundred people love about the book, another hundred will throw rotten tomatoes at.

Subjectivity is part of the business. Learn to love it, and move on!

9. Your bio says that you have a degree in health, but gave that up in favor of story telling; what was it that led you down such a different path?

The catalyst was a writing class I took when I was 24. My husband signed me up for the class as a birthday gift, and it was in that class that I started to write what would become Hush, Hush.

10. When was the first time you “heard” the voices of your characters?

Pretty much when I started writing the book. Most people know whether or not they're going to enjoy a book after reading only a few pages; for me, it only took writing a few pages of Hush, Hush to know I liked my characters enough to stick with them for a long time. They became real very fast.

11. What is your strongest personality trait and do you any of your characters share this trait?

I'm very conscientious. I'm meticulous about my life and everything in it that falls under my control. I think most people who know me would say I possess a decent amount of self-discipline. (Er, cxcept when it comes to ice cream.) Out of all my characters, Nora is probably the most conscientious, but about different things. She has her own ambitions and desires. And she doesn't wear sweats half as much as I do.

12. A very serious question now: If you had a super power, what would it be?

I'm a behind-the-scenes kind of girl, so I think invisibility would be a great match for my personality.

13. Are there any lessons you’ve learned from the lengthy process of publishing that you’d care to pass on?

Chin up. Believe in yourself and make others believe in you. There are lots of ups and downs, but that's what makes the ride memorable.

14. What question do you wish I’d asked?

What I'm having for dinner tonight. Because I'd really like to know. I'm hungry and the fridge isn't providing any inspiration. The fridge isn't providing anything, period!

15. Any last words of wisdom?

Just thank you for the awesome interview, Zombie Girrrl!!

You're most welcome! And again, thank you so much!
Don't forget to mark your calendars for October 13, y'all!

Happy reading!
Zombie Girrrl