BooksChatter: ℚ♫ Emerge: Mer Chronicles [1]

Today we have the pleasure of meeting up with author Tobie Easton to talk about Emerge (19 April 2016, Month9Books, LLC, 300 pages), a Young Adult Fantasy Romance, book one of Mer Chronicles series.

"Romance, fantastical lore, and adventure--the most fun I've had reading in a long time!" --Wendy Higgins, USA Today and NYT bestselling author of the Sweet Evil series

"Clever, well-written and insanely unique, EMERGE brings us deep into the lives of mermaids, where coming of age has never been so magical." --Award-winning author Jennifer Gooch Hummer

Author Q&A | Synopsis | Teaser | About the Author | Giveaway & Tour Stops

Hello Tobie, welcome to BooksChatter!

And thank you for sharing your music playlist for Emerge with us - enjoy!

What was the inspiration for Emerge?

"During every bath I took and every afternoon I spent in the pool as a child, I pretended to be a mermaid. It may have had something to do with the beautifully illustrated books of classic fairytales that my mother read to me—several of which featured mermaid myths and legends.

As I got older, other interests vied for attention, but mermaids always intrigued me. A few years ago, I was swimming laps when an idea struck for a novel about mermaids. I’d never written a book before and was daunted by the prospect, but the idea wouldn’t let go. A few days later, I wrote the first scene of what would become Emerge while I was in the bathtub, desperately trying to keep the pages dry."

I love that :-D

How much of yourself is reflected in this book, and how?

"Aside from my love of mermaids, I’ve always been drawn to beautiful, sparkling fantasy worlds, so Emerge definitely reflects my interests in that respect. So much of YA has become dark, and while I love many such books, I wanted to create something bright and magical, where the darkness hides beneath a glittering surface.

Also, it’s safe to say there’s quite a lot of me in the Southern California setting, since I’m a born and raised California girl."

The first thing that draws me to a book is its cover. Can you tell us about your cover for Emerge - why you chose that concept and who the artist is.

"I LOVE my cover! The first time I saw it, I was checking my email on my phone during a morning workout. I hadn’t heard anything about my cover yet, so it was a total surprise. I opened the email from my publisher and fell off the elliptical! Then, I ran downstairs (workout forgotten) so I could see it on my computer screen.

We’ve made a few tweaks, but the cover on the book is remarkably similar to that first version. I’m a big fan of girl-in-gown covers (when they suit the book and the character), and I love how magical and ethereal Emerge’s cover is. Seeing it for the first time was a dream moment."

:-) I can imagine. I am not a girly-girl, but I must admit that I am incredibly drawn to girl-in-gown covers.

Why should we read Emerge and what sets it apart from the rest? What makes your book unique?

"I think readers will genuinely enjoy spending time with Lia. Even though she struggles to reconcile her Mer culture with the human world she’s been raised in, Lia is a girl who is secure in her sense of self, and the male lead in the story is swoon-worthy not because he is a mystical creature, but because of his multi-faceted personality.

The dynamic we sometimes see in YA fantasy and paranormal romance of a self-deprecating female protagonist falling for a male creature is flipped on its head; she is the powerful, cool one with a fantastical secret and she loves a human boy for himself alone.

Also, Emerge offers a peak into a world where mermaids aren’t just real, but live among us."

Can you tell us something quirky about Emerge, its story and characters?

"Lia and all of her sisters are named after gemstones that correspond to their tail colors:

Emeraldine (Emerald) = green
Aurelia (Aurum) = gold (not technically a gemstone, but close enough)
Lapis and Lazuli (Lapis lazuli) = blue
Amethyst = purple"

What do you like to write and read about? Do you stick to a particular genre or do you like to explore different ones?

"I write what I would most like to read. That means, I write books that feel magical—whether that feeling comes from magic itself or from beautiful, vivid settings that lend an air of allure and mystery.

In addition to fantasy, I’ve always loved historical fiction, so I’m excited (and more than a little terrified) by the prospect of writing that at some point.

Whatever the genre, romantic scenes are my lifeblood as a writer."

What is your writing process?

"I’m definitely an outliner. Once I’ve let my ideas simmer for a while, I figure out all the major plot points (usually a lot of long baths spent staring at the ceiling are involved).

When I have that basic outline, I write a scene by scene outline that sometimes includes description or bits of dialogue that come to me when I first think of the scene. The outline lets me know where the story is going and helps me fully grasp character arcs.

Once the outline is done, I start writing! I leave blanks for research (mostly the names of different types of seashells!) that I fill in later.

Then, I have an editing checklist I work through. I take the editing as far as I can on my own, then send the manuscript to a few trusted critique partners before editing it again and sending it to my agent."

What is in store next?

"I’m currently writing Book 2 in the Mer Chronicles, entitled Submerge. Guys! SO MUCH HAPPENS. I won’t give away any spoilers, but I will say we’ll learn more about the characters from Book 1 and we’ll see new, unexpected sides to them. There are also some new characters I just can’t wait for you to meet. If I had to sum up Submerge, I’d do it in two words: heart wrenching"

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?

"Between writing deadlines, I foster rescue dogs. One of my most memorable fostering experiences was with this pack of puppies, which my boyfriend (now husband) and I fostered until they were weaned and ready to be adopted. They stayed with us during my birthday, and I had a puppy party that year. This is one of my favorite photos. I call it, “The Puppy Pile.”"

So sweet!!!! Little babies! Surely you and your husband created that arrangement LOL ;-)

Thank you so much for sharing and for being with us today. Have a great relase day on 19 April!