Featured Author:   ANDREA BUGINSKY

1.   Please introduce yourself. Tell us a little about the person behind the pen.

My name is Andrea. I was born in New Jersey, but grew up in Florida. My family moved there when I was 7. I have a congenital heart condition, and it made it a bit tough growing up, but not impossible. It’s probably part of the reason I became a writer. I loved school and being with my family and friends. I now live in Kansas with my husband and our two furry children.

I have enjoyed writing when I was a kid. I decided to make it a career halfway through college, and earned my BA in Journalism. While freelance writing from home, I decided I wanted to write a book, and upon thinking about the type, I really liked the idea of a fantasy for teenagers. I started writing The Chosen, and the rest is history.

2.    What made you decide to write fantasy, were there any influencing factors, or were any of the stories based on true events.   

I love fantasy, and have lived in a fantasy world inside my head my whole life. So, when I started writing, I decided I wanted to write fantasies. The idea came to me when I was watching a movie called The Seeker: The Dark is Rising. I suddenly realized that as much as I loved fantasy, I should write my own. So, I did. The Chosen was my first fantasy series, and I’m happy to say, I’ll be getting back to writing more of them. New Avalon is my newest series, and I’m enjoying getting to know those characters too.

I have a lot of fun creating my own worlds and characters, adding magic, and bringing these new worlds to readers.

3.    How do you promote your book, and do you find that difficult or just par for the course.

I do find promoting a bit difficult, but it has gotten easier over the years as I’ve learned about marketing. One of the things I learned about promotion is that you have to show your readers that you get them, and that you understand what makes them tick. I have always felt a lot younger than my age, and I feel very comfortable talking to teens and about subjects in their world. I love to read YA and my favorite shows seem to be the ones aimed at teens. I like to think I “get” teens, and can write books for them that will help them escape their world when they need to.

4.    Do you remember your first review and how it made you feel?  (If it was a bad one, also tell about your good one too).

 

I don’t remember the review per se, but I remember how it felt to see it. Very exciting! Not only did it mean someone read my book, but they cared enough to write their thoughts and feelings about it.

5.    Tell us about your book and if it’s a series and how the public is reacting to this book.

Destiny is the first of my new series, New Avalon. It has only been out for a few weeks, and it’s getting a great reaction from the public! I am so thrilled to see the reaction, from comments about the cover, to readers telling me how excited they are to read it, and hearing great reviews from those who have already read it.

6.     Can you share any and all links that are important to you as a person and the book?  (You can relate more to a book if you know more about the author).   

 

I’ll start with my website, since that’s the best place to find me and all of my books:  http://www.andreabuginsky.com/

Next is my Facebook Author Page, where I try to post information not only about me and my books, but topics that I think will appeal to my readers: https://www.facebook.com/Andrea.Buginsky.Author

My Facebook Fan Page is another one where I try to get to know my readers. I welcome anyone who’s interested to join me there: https://www.facebook.com/groups/287037564737457/

And my Amazon Author Page is where you’ll find all of my books on Kindle: http://www.amazon.com/Andrea-Buginsky/e/B005C4NJJS/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1359736403&sr=8-1-spell

Some of my favorite websites include:

http://www.imdb.com/

http://www.teen.com/

http://www.amazon.com/

http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/team/atlanta-braves/71601?q=atlanta-braves

http://www.tvguide.com/watchlist?newairingsonly=true

As you can see, most of my favorite web pages are about movies, books, and television, my three favorite hobbies.

7.      I’ll wrap it up with this question since “7” is a lucky numberJ.   Can you share an excerpt from your book, and I’d like to thank you so much for taking time to share your book with me. Please share as much as you’d like.

Elena was getting upset as she defended her family’s honor. She wasn’t thinking about where that might lead. She wasn’t thinking at all.

“Why, Elena, I didn’t mean to upset you.  I just meant that-“

“I know exactly what you meant, Barbara Thomas! You think your family is better than anyone else in this town. You always have. Just because your dad happens to be the former mayor’s son doesn’t mean you own this town and everyone in it! I’m so sick of your mock sentiment when all you really feel is that you’re better than everyone. You’re no better than the rest of us!”

As she yelled, things around her felt funny, and she realized she heard screaming. She looked around, and was startled to see everyone staring at her, horrified. She took a deep breath, and realized what had happened. She let her emotions get away from her, and her powers erupted.

The only words she could think of to describe the scene around her were total chaos.  Every locker had burst open, and the entire contents – books, folders, papers, pictures, mirrors, backpacks – had come flying out. The posters on the walls were scattered everywhere. Most of the students and teachers were picking themselves up off the floor. Elena knew her powers had gotten totally out of hand, and she made everything around her fly out of control, literally.

She heard footsteps walking toward her, the only sound in the hall. She looked up and saw her counselor, Mrs. Adams, walking toward her. She gently took Elena by the shoulder and guided her to her office. She looked back and saw Barb and the other Bimbettes staring at her, as well as everyone else in the hall.

Thank you so much for having me over today, Lori! I really enjoyed our chat J

 

***Andrea is an accomplished author of MANY books.  I have read her book “My Open Heart” which was an autobiography of her living with heart disease.