The Author
Wynne Channing is a national newspaper reporter and award-winning young adult novelist. Wynne loves telling stories and as a journalist, she has interviewed everyone from Daniel Radcliffe and Hugh Jackman to the president of the Maldives and Duchess Sarah Ferguson. The closest she has come to interviewing a vampire is sitting down with True Blood‘s Alexander Skarsgard (he didn’t bite). She briefly considered calling her debut novel “Well” so then everyone would say: “Well written by Wynne Channing.”
Connect with Wynne
Blog | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads
What Kills Me
Summary: An ancient prophecy warns of a girl destined to cause the extinction of the vampire race. So when 17-year-old Axelia falls into a sacred well filled with blood and emerges a vampire, the immortal empire believes she is this legendary destroyer. Hunted by soldiers and mercenaries, Axelia and her reluctant ally, the vampire bladesmith Lucas, must battle to survive. How will she convince the empire that she is just an innocent teenager-turned bloodsucker and not a creature of destruction? And if she cannot, can a vampire who is afraid of bugs summon the courage to fight a nation of immortals?
What Kills Me Links
Goodreads | Wynne Channing’s Website
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Interview
Can you tell us a little about yourself?
Sure! I’m a newspaper journalist and young adult novelist. I like pajamas and gherkins. Not necessarily together.
How did you come up with the idea to write What Kills Me?
One night in my mind, I saw a girl climbing out of a well covered in blood. Freaked me right out and I decided to base my first novel on this image.
Did you experience writer's block?
Most writers will tell you that they experience writer’s block. When I am staring at a blank page, it’s usually because I feel pressure to write something amazing and then I get intimidated. Being a newspaper reporter helps because if I stare too long, I’ll miss my deadlines. But to be honest, I didn’t experience much writer’s block with What Kills me. I vividly imagined many of the key moments and I was just so excited to get there.
Are there any characters in your book who are like you in any way?
Every character is a piece of you. Well, maybe not the evil ones ;) But my heroine, Zee, is the person I wish I could’ve been when I was 17. She is a cooler, funnier and braver me.
You told us before that there is a second book. What's the title of the second book?
At this moment, Book Two is untitled. Do you have any suggestions? What Kills Me More? The Other Thing That Kills Me? Just joking.
Will there be new characters in the second book?
Oh yes, there will be new characters. And you’ll get to meet figures merely mentioned in the first novel such as Lucas’s brother and the rebels, for example. You’ll also learn more about the characters you thought you knew.
Can you give us a little teaser for book two?
It’s hard to talk about without spoiling the end of What Kills Me. But at the end of Book One, a huge revelation changes everything. Zee and the vampire empire will have to figure out how to deal with this new world. Zee and Lucas’s relationship will continue to evolve. You’ll learn more about the legend, the first vampires. Of course, there will be more blood, humor and twists!
Do you have any advice or tips for aspiring writers?
Keep writing. Read everything. Finish your novel. And make sure it’s the best darn story that it can be. Above all, don’t give up. (Giving up would be like turning the heat off just before the water boils.)
What would you do in a zombie apocalypse?
As soon as I heard that people were biting people, I would go to the store across the street and stock up on food, water, weapons, etc. Then I would barricade myself in the safety of my apartment. While everyone else is running around getting themselves killed in the streets, I would wait the initial panic out. Chill out. Read some good books. Then reassess.
What is your favorite ice cream flavor?
I’m not the biggest fan of ice cream. I know. I’m an alien. (Probably from a planet far far away that is entirely made out of chips and where the only food source is nachos.) But if I had to choose, I’d go with Oreo or any kind of sorbet.
Do you know how to speak French? If you do, can you teach me?
I read better than I speak so I could teach you some important words, mostly about shopping and bathrooms (maybe some profanity) so you could visit France!
Any dating tips you would like to share?
Find someone who you can be yourself with.
Countries you would like to visit someday?
Oh my God. So many! I’d love to see Palawan in the Philippines. (I recently interviewed the director of The Bourne Legacy and he said it was AMAZING.) I’d love to visit anywhere in India.
What is the difference between the Canadian accent and the American accent? (Please enlighten this girl from the Ring of Fire, who can't seem to differentiate the two)
The accents are very similar. We just pronounce some words slightly differently. I can never remember which ones :)
Do you watch any Bollywood films?
I do! Love the dancing.
Giveaway
I love Wynne Channing and What Kills Me! See? It's even in my Recommendations post! I gave it five stars on my review! Enter the GIVEAWAY CONTEST to win an ecopy of this awesome novel!
