I am thrilled to have Alicia McCalla on Laurasmagicday today. Alicia, a fellow YA INDIE CARNIVAL buddy, writes for both young adults and adults with her brand of multicultural urban fantasy, futurism, paranormal, romance, and horror. Alicia works as a media specialist or school librarian in a metro Atlanta school system and enjoys spending time with her husband and son. Her first book, Breaking Free, will be available February 2012. Here’s a little bit more about Alicia.
L.A.H.E. : What was the first book you fell in love with?
A.M. : OMG! This is the hardest question ever. I’m a librarian and a total bibliophile. I probably fell in love with the first book I ever read. Recently, I’ve been devouring books by Leanna Renee Hieber. I’ve absolutely have fallen in love with her gas light fantasy novels. She is a wonderful storyteller and I love her Strangely Beautiful series.
L.A.H.E. : What’s your favorite scene from your book?
A.M. : My favorite scene is when XJ has been captured by CAGE and is being questioned or rather tortured for information. They place her inside of a spinning tunnel with psychedelic lights. With so much turning, I started to feel dizzy while writing it.
L.A.H.E. : Who/what provided your greatest inspiration in writing your book?
A.M. : When I worked as a high school librarian, I met teens who were dealing with insurmountable odds. I wanted to be able to write a story that spoke to their need for survival but with that special science fiction twist. I especially wanted to write a science fiction story that had a protagonist of color. I struggled to find sci fi, fantasy, or paranormal stories that spoke to these young adults.
L.A.H.E. : What struggles did you have to overcome in writing this book?
A.M. : I had to overcome fear and resistance. For a long time, I was just afraid to pick up the pen and write but once I got over my fear then the everyday resistance got in my way. It’s hard to get up at 4:30am each morning but when I do, my day moves so much better and I can get my writing projects done.
L.A.H.E. : If you have a trailer, where can readers find it?
A. M. : We’re still working on the book trailer. My 17-year old son created an original rap song and I’m currently working with my former video production students to see if we can create an awesome book trailer. It’ll certainly be available on aliciamccalla.com in the near future.
L.A.H.E. : What’s the most awkward moment you had [and wouldn’t mind sharing] in high school?
A.M. : High school?! Well, my first job was at KFC, then Kentucky Fried Chicken, I put my uniform inside my locker and when I came back during class changes my locker was surrounded by a group of hungry teenagers. They all could smell my chicken-infused uniform from inside my locker. I was so embarrassed.
L.A.H.E. : Do you have any advice for new writers?
A.M. : The best advice is to come up with a writing schedule and stick to it. So many people want to write a novel but only few actually sit down and complete it.
L.A.H.E. : What are you working on now? Can you share a blurb from your new book?
I’m still in the middle of rewriting and editing Breaking Free. Within the next few months, look for excerpts on aliciamccalla.com.
L.A.H.E. : What fuel flavors your prose? [chips, popcorn, chocolate, etc….]
Hmm. I love chocolate specifically dark chocolate with almonds. Yum!
L.A.H.E. : If you could take a trip anywhere in the world, where would you most like to go?
OK. My husband and I are travelers. We love to see the world. So far, we’ve been to Europe, Mexico, Canada, and the Islands of Hawaii. We haven’t been to South America like to Brazil or to Australia so I’d love to go to either one of those places next. I’d also love to visit Kenya or South Africa.
What if CAGE took your mom?
17-year old XJ Patterson comes home from school to find her revolutionary mother using pyrokinectic abilities to fight officers from CAGE. XJ freaks out when her mother falls and CAGE hauls her away for a mind-swipe procedure. She wants to get her mom back but she won’t become a revolutionary to do it. XJ hated growing up in the GEP Revolution and will do anything that she can to be mainstream even ignore the boy that she crushes on… She won’t join him. She won’t let him tell her story…
Brandon Miller has a huge crush on XJ. He doesn’t care if they’re the wrong mate designation type, that she’s poor or he’s rich, that she’s black and he’s white, or that she’s his stalker ex-girlfriend’s step-sister. All he cares about is convincing her to become his girlfriend and telling her story on his Revolutionary TV program. When he sees XJ cut a deal with a crooked mainstream reporter, he does anything in his power to show XJ the truth but will it be too late?
Breaking Free is the first story in the Genetic Revolution series. Three cousins come together to become the ultimate weapon that will destroy CAGE, an organization designed to keep GEPs under control. With the help of their holographic grandfather and host of GEP allies will XJ, Amber, and Whitney reunite to overthrow CAGE and free GEPs from oppression and tyranny?
NEED more? Find Alicia HERE and HERE
Thanks for stopping by Alicia!
Laura thanks for having me. This was a fun interview!
Alicia, I can’t wait for BREAKING FREE. Nice to meet another traveler too:) I love to share your trailer with my readers when it’s ready.