Today we have the pleasure of meeting up with author, and fellow Londoner, P. I. Alltraine to talk about her first novel, Heartbound (5 August 2015, Soul Mate Publishing, 171 pages), a Young Adult Science Fiction Fantasy romance.Soundbites for P.I. Alltraine's debut include:
"The wait is over. Heartbound is here! Gripping, enthralling - a well written fantasy"
"A Captivating Book"
"Best book I've read this year"
"Elegantly written"
Author Q&A | Trailer | Synopsis | Teaser | About the Author | Giveaway & Tour Stops
A big welcome to P.I. Alltraine, thank you for joining us on BooksChatter.
First of all, here at BooksChatter we love music, and I know you have a playlist for Heartbound, hence I have shared it here so that readers can listen to it, if they wish, as they are reading our interview.
What was the inspiration for Heartbound?
Can you tell us something quirky about Heartbound, its story and characters?
If you could / wished to turn Heartbound into a movie, who would be your dream cast?
‘Still’
I still look for her.
In the middle of the typing and the traffic
and the deadlines and the bills,
I look for her–the girl, who believed
her bare feet could outrun the moon.
She ran like a boy. She wasn’t trying to.
Her strides were not intended for similes.
No, she ran the way she always did
When she wanted the wind to dance
With the ungraceful tangles of her hair.
Her gestures, careless,
Were not meant to fit in boxes.
She knew she was a girl; she had been told.
But she didn’t have to know that one word
Was the gravity that would keep her in line,
Inching from one label to another.
I still look for her.
In the dusk and the shadows
And the starless sky, I look for her–
The girl, who believed in magic and
Ghosts and faeries and monsters.
She didn’t have to know the shackles
That came with age, the chains
That would bind her to the reality
Where monsters don’t hide under the bed,
Sometimes the monster,
It’s in the daylight
With a sharp tongue and a sweet smile.
I still look for her.
In the sunlight and the mirror
And the eyes of strangers,
I look for her–the girl, who didn’t think poetry
Lived in the ink or the page or the vocal cords.
She held poetry in the tips of her fingers,
And she felt it each time she touched
The surface of water and made ripples,
Or when she traced the contours
Of her mother’s face.
She made poetry
Like it was meant to be–felt.
I catch a glimpse of her sometimes.
In the Goosebumps, in the butterflies,
In the sweaty palms, in the flutter of the heart,
In a daydream, in a shooting star.
But she’s fading, fading because
Now she knows the moon isn’t following her
And poetry made by hands, felt but unspoken,
Unwritten, can be forgotten.
What do you like to write and read about? Do you stick to a particular genre or do you like to explore different ones?
What is your writing process?
And as a final quirky thing, to get to know you a little bit better... do you have a pet or something that is special to you that you could share with us?
Thank you so much for sharing him with us! It was a pleasure having you here - and since we are also from London we will have to try and catch one of your performances soon!
US:
First of all, here at BooksChatter we love music, and I know you have a playlist for Heartbound, hence I have shared it here so that readers can listen to it, if they wish, as they are reading our interview.
What was the inspiration for Heartbound?
"The idea for the novel came to me unexpectedly. It did more than inspire; it compelled me to write. When a powerful idea hits a writer, it’s no longer a choice. You have to write it, or it will drive you mad. It hit me so hard that I had to stop what I was doing. I picked up a pen and paper and started to scribble. My husband walked in and found me on the floor with pieces of papers around me. At that point, the outline of ‘Heartbound’ was completed—chapter by chapter, from beginning to end."How much of yourself is reflected in this book, and how?
"There are pieces of myself in each character, but I think Petyr is the closest in terms of how pragmatic he is and how he seems to see the most rational solutions but not always the most obvious (most of my friends will definitely recognise that trait). Also, since I moved from the Philippines to England, I was definitely able to draw from my own experiences when writing about Petyr’s struggle to adapt to his new environment, fit in, and find a sense of belongingness in an unfamiliar world."The first thing that draws me to a book is its cover. Can you tell us about your cover for Heartbound - why you chose that concept and who the artist is.
Why should we read Heartbound and what sets it apart from the rest? What makes your book unique?"I wanted something that accentuates the romance, the fantasy, how out of place Petyr is in this world, but I wanted it to be enchanting. There were many, many drafts. I think the cover artist, Melody Pond, did a magnificent job with the cover (and being very patient with me)."
"It’s unique in a sense that I’ve created a completely new world/realm, new creatures, new myth, etc. But I think what sets it apart is how, through the narrator, Petyr, we can see the world around us in a completely different perspective. We take a lot of our experiences and emotions for granted, and hopefully seeing Petyr go through them for the first time will encourage the readers to realise how incredible it is to be Human. "
Can you tell us something quirky about Heartbound, its story and characters?"I find it hard explain what the book is about. I talk about the fantasy, the romance, the morals… but I always feel like I’m not giving it enough justice, like I need to say more, explain more. However, when a Filipino reader asks me what the book is about, I only have to say the word “Engkanto”, and they know everything they need to know."Who would you recommend Heartbound to and what should readers be aware of (any warnings or disclaimers)?
"It’s a YA book, but I think it has something for everyone, from fantasy, to romance, to adventure, etc. At its core though, it tackles so many issues that everyone can relate to such as questioning and finding one’s own identity, trying to find a resolution between who you’re meant to be and who you want to be. It’s about finding the bravery and courage to go against the tides, refuse to conform, and fight for something that means everything to you but means nothing to everyone else. "
If you could / wished to turn Heartbound into a movie, who would be your dream cast?"Petyr: Colton Haynes
Scarlett: Emma Stone
Kara: Emma Roberts
Dru: Blair Redford
Nero: Drew Van Acker
Evan: Luke Pasqualino"
‘Still’
P.I. Alltraine
I still look for her.
In the middle of the typing and the traffic
and the deadlines and the bills,
I look for her–the girl, who believed
her bare feet could outrun the moon.
She ran like a boy. She wasn’t trying to.
Her strides were not intended for similes.
No, she ran the way she always did
When she wanted the wind to dance
With the ungraceful tangles of her hair.
Her gestures, careless,
Were not meant to fit in boxes.
She knew she was a girl; she had been told.
But she didn’t have to know that one word
Was the gravity that would keep her in line,
Inching from one label to another.
I still look for her.
In the dusk and the shadows
And the starless sky, I look for her–
The girl, who believed in magic and
Ghosts and faeries and monsters.
She didn’t have to know the shackles
That came with age, the chains
That would bind her to the reality
Where monsters don’t hide under the bed,
Sometimes the monster,
It’s in the daylight
With a sharp tongue and a sweet smile.
I still look for her.
In the sunlight and the mirror
And the eyes of strangers,
I look for her–the girl, who didn’t think poetry
Lived in the ink or the page or the vocal cords.
She held poetry in the tips of her fingers,
And she felt it each time she touched
The surface of water and made ripples,
Or when she traced the contours
Of her mother’s face.
She made poetry
Like it was meant to be–felt.
I catch a glimpse of her sometimes.
In the Goosebumps, in the butterflies,
In the sweaty palms, in the flutter of the heart,
In a daydream, in a shooting star.
But she’s fading, fading because
Now she knows the moon isn’t following her
And poetry made by hands, felt but unspoken,
Unwritten, can be forgotten.
"I read different genres for different age groups, and that’s probably the reason why I don’t stick to one genre in my writing. I love writing YA, but one of the novels I’m working on is an Epic Fantasy for adult readers. I also write (and perform) spoken word poetry."I found three of your poems on the Independent Author Network website, and have shared one of them here for our readers to enjoy.
What is your writing process?
"I write when my head is clear. I listen to my characters, and I hear them more when my brain is not busy thinking about work, etc. I get the bulk of my writing when I’m on my holiday. Otherwise, I take advantage of the silence I find in the early hours of the morning."What is in store next?
Our About The Author section contains a comprehensive list of links, including the YouTube channel."I’m working on three novels at the moment. One of them is the second book in the Heart Series (sequel to ‘Heartbound’). The other two came to me at the same time, and I just couldn’t choose between them.
I’m also working on some Poetry (Spoken Word). I’m building a collection that will hopefully be ready for publication by next year. There’s a video performance available for ‘Unmoving,’ and a few more from the collection should be up soon."
And as a final quirky thing, to get to know you a little bit better... do you have a pet or something that is special to you that you could share with us?
"Here’s a “duckface” selfie with my precious nephew, Sean Harry. I absolutely adore him!"
Thank you so much for sharing him with us! It was a pleasure having you here - and since we are also from London we will have to try and catch one of your performances soon!
Thank you for having me!
Heartbound - available NOW!
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