Author Crush Friday: Hunted
Glitter girls, you have pressing questions for your favorite authors and we have their answers. Welcome to our weekly segment, Author Crush Fridays.
We love asking questions and we love the answers from some of our favorite authors. Today we’re talking to Melissa Kalicicki and Abi Ketner, the authors of Hunted (April 28, 2015; Month9Books). Thank you for talking to us today, Melissa and Abi! We’re honored! As an added bonus, Month9Books is offering 3 ebooks internationally so make sure to post in the comments below to enter to win!
GLITTER: Tell us five random facts about yourself.
MELISSA AND ABI: There are two of us, so we’ll give you five random things about us together. 1) We both played soccer growing up. 2) We both have naturally curly hair. 3) We both love lifting and being active. 4) We are both very close to our siblings. 5) We are both Christians.
GLITTER: What is it like writing the sequel together? Easier or harder since you’ve worked together on a book already?
MELISSA AND ABI: Writing a sequel was definitely the hardest thing we’ve ever done. We wrote 5 different manuscripts for Hunted before settling on a storyline that we love. We definitely feel like we got it right this time. Branded was meant to be a standalone, so we had to include a lot more backstory and development in Hunted. As far as how we work together, it was easy. We know each other’s strengths and weaknesses. Having Georgia McBride guide us this time around was definitely helpful and humbling at times too!
GLITTER: Where was the idea for the series born?
MELISSA AND ABI: Our inspiration evolved over time. Branded started as a standalone, with Abi brainstorming the idea of branding people with their sins. So we began writing Branded based off that idea, and through both of us, it came alive. We were so thrilled by the response we received, we decided to start the second book. Hunted became the book that really forced us to think about the world we created and how we wanted to develop it. Our inspiration came from a variety of music, namely Skillet, other books, and people.
GLITTER: In Hunted, what was your favorite chapter/scene to write and why?
MELISSA AND ABI: Without giving too much away, we both really enjoyed writing the last few chapters. It was awesome to watch the pieces come together, and also after working so hard, it was great to finally see that finish line!
GLITTER: If you could describe Hunted in only 160 characters how would you describe it?
MELISSA AND ABI: Hunted dives right back into the world of Branded, where no one is safe from Wilson and the guards. Freedom is a fleeting hope for Lexi, Cole, and friends as they live life on the run. When life takes an unexpected turn, they’re all forced to make decisions that could cost them everything. There will be joy, tears, and pain. There will be sacrifices. And there will be a conclusion that shocks them all.
GLITTER: What has been the toughest criticism given to you as an author? What has been the best compliment?
MELISSA AND ABI: We wouldn’t say we take negative reviews to heart. More than anything, just working with Georgia McBride as an editor was humbling because she’s such a gifted writer/editor herself. She really pushed us to become better writers throughout the process and we had to work hard to eliminate some of the bad habits we were leaning on prior to writing Hunted.
On the flip side, the best compliment was when we finished writing Hunted, and Georgia said it was exceptional. She recognized how much we love Hunted and wanted it to be the BEST it could be, and she complimented our work ethic. That made everything so worth it!!!
GLITTER: What are you working on next?
MELISSA AND ABI: Currently, we are working on the third book in The Sinners Series, Liberated. So stay tuned!
Abi and Missy met in the summer of 1999 at college orientation and have been best friends ever since. After college, they added jobs, husbands and kids to their lives, but they still found time for their friendship. Instead of hanging out on weekends, they went to dinner once a month and reviewed books. What started out as an enjoyable hobby has now become an incredible adventure.
Website/Twitter/Facebook/Abi’s Goodreads/Missy’s Goodreads/Pinterest/Tumblr/Instagram
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