Becca Ritchie is the young author of the Wynter Chelsea books - a series about two families with a legacy of hunting those things that go bump in the night. After beginning
Wynter Chelsea: The Legacy when she was just 14 years old, the book was published when she turned 17. Now a student at the University of Georgia, she's released the second installment in the series,
Wynter Chelsea: The Sublimity, and she's actively working on book three.
I read book one a good while ago and was impressed by the dynamic cast of characters, fully-fleshed plot and intense action sequences. To view my full review of
Wynter Chelsea: The Legacy, please click
HERE. Otherwise, please welcome
Becca Ritchie to my lovely lil' blog!
Your Book:
1. Amanda is the sole girl in a world dominated by men - supernatural hunters, if you will. How did you infuse her with the strength to match the others, and would you say you put a bit of yourself into her character?
She’s pretty much nothing like me. She’s not into pop culture, and I absolutely love everything about entertainment like television and movies. I think she even makes a reference about not understanding why people make collages of celebrities, and I’ve made my fair share. As for strength, she runs on impulse so she will do a lot of things the men won’t. She makes up in that regard. A lot of her strength does come from her family and her parents. I’m very close to my entire family as well.
2. Each character within Wynter Chelsea had a significant role and personality that balanced the others. Was it tedious creating such a dynamic cast for such a long story?
In any movies, television, or books I love, characters are the most important aspect for me. I once watched a commentary for a film and the director said that he wouldn’t hire even Leonardo DiCaprio without testing to see if he has chemistry with the cast. When I write, I almost do the same thing by making sure each character can play off each other. As the book grew, it became a natural development and the action became secondary to the character dynamic.
I just kept telling myself to let the romance progress as naturally as possible. I really did not want to rush anything or force something for the sake of plot. During the action, I didn’t want the romance to be the entire focus, but I wanted it to be there because, well, I wrote this for myself when I was 14, so entertainment-wise, that’s what I wanted to see.
My sister. She asked me to write a supernatural book for her, and I ended up writing Wynter Cheslea. Any bad YA books became an inspiration. I know that sounds pretty weird, but when I was 14 it was the reason why I started writing. I had a list of things I wanted in a YA book, but I picked up some pretty terrible ones that had none of those qualities from the list. These books inadvertently made me start writing in order to entertain myself. I was finally able to put that list to good use when I wrote Wynter Chelsea. Television shows like Angel, Charmed, Buffy, and Roswell also helped me understand plot as a kid. So yes, television inspired me.
The lore is pretty straight forward demonology that can be found in old horror movies, the internet, or even television shows right now. The demonology I pulled from did scare me at times. With each book, the world becomes bigger and bigger because Amanda Chelsea is being brought into it with the readers. Book two is a little darker than the first, and I tried to focus on the changes between the characters as well as the lore.
All About You:
1. If you had to describe yourself in just five words or less, what would they be?
Out of control imagination
If Sam and Dean are there, it’s a no brainer. Supernatural all the way.
3. Finish this sentence, and explain, please...If I weren't a writer, I would be_________.
A physical therapist. My father kept pushing me to become a doctor, and by the end of my senior year of high school, we compromised with physical therapy. When my book came out, I went ahead and switched my major to television production in hopes of becoming a television staff writer.
4. What, if anything, do you need to be able to sit down and write a book?
Passion. If you have a love to create people, worlds, and an overall story then you have what it takes to write a book because you need that drive in order to complete it and push it to make it even better.
5. What are some of your favorite books and why?
All of the Harry Potter books, The Hunger Games trilogy, Uglies trilogy, Twilight series… obviously all these have something in common; they don’t end after one book. I love television for the same reason. I never want any stories to stop, and if I can fall in love with the characters then they usually top my favorite list.
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Becca has graciously offered a giveaway for all my lovely followers! ONE lucky winner will receive a signed copy of
Wynter Chelsea: The Legacy, in all its glory. Here are the rules to enter: You do NOT have to be a follower, but it's always appreciated. This giveaway is US ONLY and ends promptly at midnight EST on June 20, 2011.
Still interested? Click
HERE to fill out the form and enter!
