BooksChatter: ℚ Understanding the Stars [1]

Today we have the pleasure of meeting up with author Xela Culletto to talk about Understanding the Stars (30 December 2016, Independently published, 220 pages), a Young Adult Fantasy.

"a very promising debut and this tale of adventure, romance, science-fiction and love of family will hold solid appeal for its target audience (teenage girls). Well done!" - Amazon reviewer

|| Synopsis || Trailer || Teaser: KCR Preview || Author Q&A || About the Author || Giveaway & Tour Stops ||

A very warm welcome to Xela Culletto; thank you for joining us on BooksChatter!

What was the inspiration for Understanding the Stars?

"I have always found the idea of life in space fascinating—especially because the science says there’s a very high likelihood that it exists.

I wondered what other sentient beings might make of us earthlings, and that’s how the whole idea of Understanding the Stars began—the idea that they were watching and observing us."

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

"I think the protagonist, Alexandra, reflects a bit of me in that she loves her family very much and is confused when it comes to love. However, she is a teenager and makes emotionally-driven decisions, and I hope that I might be able to avoid some of the mistakes she makes in this book."

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

"LOVE the cover for Understanding the Stars. I purchased it from an online artist named Colleen. I think the girl is an excellent depiction of Alexandra, and the starry background is just perfect."

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

"Part of the reason I wrote Understanding the Stars is because it was a story I wanted to read, but couldn’t find on the shelves of the bookstore.

It’s unique because it takes an innocent bystander who is just trying to get by with her own business and plunges her into the middle of an intergalactic feud."

Can you tell us something quirky about Understanding the Stars, its story and characters?

"I chose the name Alexandra (or ‘Alex’ for short) because it happens to be my first name backwards (which is ‘Xela’, pronounced Shayla). My name was given to me because my mother spent some time living in Guatamala, which is the name of a village there."

Who would you recommend Understanding the Stars to and what should readers be aware of (any warnings or disclaimers)?

"This book was written primarily for young adults or new adults, but anyone who enjoys those genres would, I think, enjoy this story. I’ve been told it has a slight “Twilight”-esque feel to it, so if you liked “Twilight”, you should certainly check this one out.

The book has some violent scenes and some kissing."

If you could / wished to turn Understanding the Stars series into a movie, who would be your dream team?

"I had a mental picture of Chris Pine in my mind when writing about Ronan, so he would be a great actor for that roll, and it would be fun to see Jennifer Lawrence play Alexandra.

The story is set mainly in Colorado, which has some beautiful mountain scenery, so that would be a great place to start for location."

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

"When I write I’m mainly looking to tell an interesting story. I plan on sticking to the young adult genre, which is also my favorite genre to read in."

What is your writing process?

"Generally I try to get the main milestones of the story mapped out and allow the details to form as I go. Being a mother of three keeps me pretty busy so I don’t get as much writing time as I would like, but try to shoot for about 500 words per day."

What is in store next?

"I plan on releasing my next young adult book, a post-apocalyptic story called Girl Vs, sometime this fall. After which I will begin writing the sequel to “Understanding the Stars”, called “Following the Stars”, which will hopefully be released sometime next summer."

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?