(Blog Tour) Character Interview: Chloe (DREAMWALK)

AUTHOR BIO
Sarah MacManus makes things up and then writes them down. She lives in the middle of the United States, but feels at home anywhere with a river. In the mundane world, she works as a freelance technical writer.

In SarahSpace, she spends her time rescuing princes from ravening monsters, restoring ancient races to their rightful place and making secret, shameful wishes come true.

Sarah loves the East Village, indie music, Cornish pasties, the smell of rain, Spitalfields, biochemistry and all shades of blue.

Sarah's work has appeared in the literary journal The Battered Suitcase and she has a poem forthcoming in an anthology from Little Episodes.

Picture and bio courtesy of Sarah MacManus' WEBSITE.

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What five words would you use to best describe yourself?
Optimistic, introverted, tentative, observant, intelligent

If you could live anywhere, where would you choose?
I’m willing to give New York another try after I’m finished with college. I didn’t like it at first – too busy, too noisy, too strange. But after a couple of years in Adelaide, where the land and the sea seem to stretch forever, I could use some noise and some busy.

If your life were a movie, what five songs would you want to have on the soundtrack?
My Immortal by Evanescence
What Katie Did by The Libertines
Whenever, Wherever by Shakira
Bitterweet Symphony by The Verve
And of course,
Temporal Tantrum by Shane Anderson

Who would you cast to play you?
I’d really love to cast Emma Watson, but her American accent isn’t too convincing, is it? Maybe my friend Katie Simon could play me in the movie, although I admit that I’m a little terrified of her sense of humor.

What is your favorite book of all time? Why?
I guess I would have to say “The Canterbury Tales” by Geoffrey Chaucer – it’s got everything: romance, adventure, honor, duty; it’s a little hard to read, but once you decode the language, it’s warm and lovely and inspiring. I always find some core of compassion for my fellow human beings inside me when I read it.

What is your favorite book of all time? Why? What is your favorite season?I love Spring. That’s when you feel your blood bubble and want to ride on your toes to go faster. It’s alive.



I received an electronic copy of DREAMWALK as part of a book tour arranged by TEEN BOOK SCENE .

For more information about Sarah MacManus and DREAMWALK, visit her WEBSITE.

Interested in reading my opinion of DREAMWALK? Here's my REVIEW.

(Blog Tour) Book Review: DREAMWALK

TITLE: DREAMWALK
AUTHOR: Sarah MacManus
IMPRINT: Young Rebel Publications
PUBLICATION DATE: 14 May 2011
PREVIOUS TITLES IN SERIES: Standalone

DREAMWALK is a romantic mixed beat of time travel and mythology for both teens and adults. After the death of her mother, Chloe Hawthorn is haunted by terrifying nighttime hallucinations. Determined to take control of her dreams, she uses them to find Shane Anderson, a charming and troubled musician whose online videos have been holding her in thrall. She finds him in the Dreamtime, sweating out heroin detox in a run-down rehab center.

Chloe sets out to find Shane in the waking world and discovers her dreams have been taking her into the past. Horrified, Chloe realizes Shane doesn't survive his addictions. In order to save him, Chloe must master her Australian mother's legacy — the secret of walking the Dreaming through time. But what price will Chloe pay for this Dreamwalk and will she save Shane only to lose him forever?


DREAMWALK description and cover art courtesy of GOODREADS.
I received an electronic copy of DREAMWALK as part of a book tour arranged by TEEN BOOK SCENE .

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THE TWEET
Past, present and future is blended with Australian Aboriginal myth in DREAMWALK, a unique story about 2 teens connecting through dreams.

WHAT WORKED
I loved how DREAMWALK blended past and present to create a unique and interesting story. This blending gave the story a surreal quality and kept me guessing about whether Chloe and Shane's encounters were just a figment of one of their imaginations.

While the story was told from the point of view Chloe, author MacManus showed Shane's point of view through journal entries. I liked this tactic because it allowed me as a reader to learn more about Shane from a personal standpoint, rather than just through the filter of Chloe's feelings.

WHAT DIDN'T WORK
I thought that the development of Chloe and Shane's romance was way too rushed. I didn't like how fast they went from not knowing each other to making out and beyond. This rush made the story seem less realistic, especially with a teen protagonist. I could believe an adult woman possibly having a relationship similar to Chloe and Shane's, but for a teen with limited sexual experience, it didn't seem as believable.

OVERALL
I enjoyed reading DREAMWALK. MacManus obviously did extensive research about the beliefs and culture of the Australian Aboriginal people and this shows through in her storyline. One warning: Due to sexual content and drug use mentioned in DREAMWALK, I would recommend this story to older teens and adults.

MY RATING IS

For more information about Sarah MacManus and DREAMWALK, visit her WEBSITE.