Top Five Conversation with an Author Mom

Hi, my name is Quin (with one ‘n’) Collier. I am Crystal Collier's 14-year old son, and if you know her, then you should know that I act like it, too. I also love cheese, love to read everything I can get my hands on, and love to write. Of course, if you know my mom, you also know her unique personality. Given that I am her son, we have had many strange and sometimes rather ridiculous conversations about books.

Top Five Conversations with My Author Mom

#5. Books we Both Disliked

Naturally, Mom and I share opinions on multiple YA series. Whether it be the latter books of Harry Potter, the sparkly vampires in Twilight, or predictable endings to books everywhere, there's always been something to talk about that seems perpendicular to the development of the rest of the characters/plot.

#4. Lame (or unnecessary) Superhero Powers

One day, a book idea came up, and everyone in the family started listing off lame superhero powers that could be incorporated into the book. Such ideas included being able to see through eyelids, 3-inch high levitation, being able to create smells, and any other flabbergastedly ideas that came to our heads.

#3. Amazingly Aggravating Alliterations

Imagine that your brother or sister is doing a test on words with "port" in them. Then, your mother says ''An importer imports portable important ports.'' Then you counter with ''An importer imports portable important portable ports through a portal.'' The sentence eventually become so extensive and ridiculous that I lose track of the words. The end result is something like: ''A port porter ported importing portals ports...wait a minute.''

#2. Redundant Redundancy

A conversation about redundancy led to a discussion about redundant statements, statements such as ''justified justice,'' ''sorrowful sadness,'' and my favorite, ''supercalifragilisticexpialidociousic supercalifragilisticexpialidociousosity.'' Eventually I was just saying the same word twice, and became ''boringly bored.''

#1. My Own Story Ideas

Having an author mother my whole life has inspired me to write my own stories from a young age. I have come up with strange and sometimes impossibly impractical plots ever since the age of five, and Mom has never pointed out their contingencies or poor development, only supported me along the way. I haven't published any of my own books, but I currently cheer on hers.

In conclusion, conversations with an author aren't boring. Unless they are non-fiction authors, but even then a conversation with them probably wouldn't be boring. So in other words, go buy Soulless!

   

The blog tour is making some awesome stops today:

Suzi Retzlaff at Literary Engineer goes in depth about my research process

Cortney Pearson presents a kick-trash character, Mae

VoilaFury at Homeless Chronicles in Tampa interviews Sarah, a recently turned-Soulless character you don't want to miss 

And be sure to enter the 

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And now it's time to go. The pony is leading the way and you know why his eyes are so big? He's headed for HAPPINESS. (Aka, the rest of the tour.) Get your fix.

Have you had any super interesting conversation with an author? Other creative people? 

True Heroes A to Z: Yes, I do have a Q!

True heroes are all around us, in our every day lives, but some people stand out. During this A-Z Challenge I hope to share several of my real life heroes, and invite you to share yours in the comments.

uin Collier. Yes, we share a last name, because this is actually my son. Is it crazy that I could look up to my 13 year old? Well, I do.

My father was a doctor, and when he saw Quin's early development, he promised this kid was going to be very bored in school. It shouldn't have been any surprise that he came to me when he was 3 and said, "I want to learn how to read."

My response, "Uh, okay. We'll work on that."

And we did. In fact, we began homeschooling right then and never stopped. He burned through first and second grade in a matter of 4 months. He read the entire Bible, Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants, and Pearl of Great Price by the age of 8. He has always had a way with words, and astonished people with his way premature wisdom.

Despite all this, I don't look up to my son because he's a quick learner. I adore him because he sees something good or worthy and goes after it. He weighs every decision against what he should do, what he wants to do, and what would be best for those around him. How can a 13 year old be that mature?

I look up to my Quin Monster because he wants to be good. He wants to do what's right. He wants others to know they're important and loved, even to self sacrifice. His desires motivate me to be a better person.

The end is nigh. MOONLESS will only be on sale at $1.99 a few more days. There is one character somewhat similar to my son in the book.

EXCERPT:

Miles sighed. A long silence stretched, light glinting off the peg in his hand. “I remember the butterfly, golden wings, black spots. That’s how I know it was summer in Wilhamshire.” He stilled, focusing on the bauble turning over in his fingers. “We were passing through, not staying, just passing, traveling late on foot.” The bolt twisted back and forth in his grasp, gaining momentum. “Dark overtook us. They cornered us on the outskirts, moments away from safety. We ran, but in the end . . .” He released the fastener and it twirled to a halt. “My parents didn’t make it. They fended them off while I escaped.”

Alexia hugged herself.

“But they left a scar.” He scowled. “And I’ve been running ever since.”

Do you know any young people who inspire you? Do you have any heroes who are children or teens? What have you learned from kids around you?

Oh, and Happy Easter!