I'm here today with Meradeth Houston, author of
The Chemistry of Fate.
The Reading Obsession: I'm so glad you're here!
Meradeth: Thanks so much for hosting me today!
The Reading Obsession: I think it’s pretty safe to say that most writers love reading. What are some of the books that influenced you the most? Anything you’d like to recommend?
Meradeth: There are so many books that have influenced me over the years! I’d have to say A Wrinkle In Time by Madeline L’Engle is one of my all-time favorites, and her books in general were a big influence on getting me writing. There are so many others I’m having a hard time choosing!
The Reading Obsession: Good choice! It's one of my favorite classic books.
The Reading Obsession: If you could meet any writer, living or dead, and pick their brain over coffee/ tea/hot-chocolate, who would it be? What would be your first question?
Meradeth: Madeline L’Engle would be my first pick—I’d love to have tea with her and ask her what her favorite thing about Wrinkle was. Shakespeare would also be pretty interesting, though I’d probably be too tongue-tied to say much!
The Reading Obsession: Are your characters inspired by anything?
Meradeth: Tom in particular is a major study-aholic. I won’t say where that comes from *looks around, trying to appear innocent.* His boss, however, has all kinds of inspiration from a really crazy flat-mate I had a while ago (he was nuts, but quite an interesting character!). Ari, well, she kind of came to me fully formed. Whatever her inspiration was, I’m not exactly sure!
The Reading Obsession: Study-aholics are so awesome. Not that I am one...
The Reading Obsession: What made you decide to write The Chemistry of Fate?
Meradeth: Chemistry started off originally as a novella that I wrote because I couldn’t get the Sary world out of my head J. The drive to change it and create the finished product was mainly because I loved Tom and Ari so much that I was having too much fun writing about them!
The Reading Obsession: How and when did you come up with TCoF?
Meradeth: I came up with the idea for Chemistry when thinking about the Sary world that I wrote about in Colors Like Memories (the first book) and about what would happen if some accidentally found out about the Sary. What kinds of safeguards would there be? The first draft was a couple of years ago—I honestly don’t know for sure when!
The Reading Obsession: Was the plot line planned from the start?
Meradeth: Not at all! I’m a major panster—generally nothing is planned out ahead of time
The Reading Obsession: What is your favorite part of the writing process? What about it makes you love it?
Meradeth: I love a shiny new idea or character that I just can’t stop thinking about. Writing a first draft is probably my absolute favorite thing—I love getting lost in the world I’m creating and letting reality fall away.
The Reading Obsession: What’s your biggest pet-peeve when it comes to the writing world? Does anything get under your skin and itch?
Meradeth: I’ll admit, editing is not my favorite thing. While it can be fun at times, I wish I wrote perfect first drafts (lol!). Other than that, the luck that is involved with getting a deal with the Big 5 does kind of irk me at times, as there are so many books that don’t get the attention I wish they did!
The Reading Obsession: Yes! Someone agrees with me! Getting a deal with the Big 5 would be awesome, but then the other good books wouldn't be found.
The Reading Obsession: What is the most difficult thing in writing a book?
Meradeth: Revising! I love first drafts, but making sure it all works together is never easy!
The Reading Obsession: What lessons do you believe readers should take out of The Chemistry of Fate?
Meradeth: That sometimes living your life is the most important thing you can do. By that I mean, right now—not just planning for the future. And taking a chance on someone is often the most important thing you can ever do.
Meradeth: She should be here anytime now...
The Reading Obsession: Who?
Meradeth: Wait...
Ari comes into view.
Meradeth: Oh, good, Ari! You made it!
Ari: Hey Meradeth. *Nods hello at The Reading Obsession
The Reading Obsession: *pinches arm and yelps* So this is real... This is real, right? Not some sort of amazing dream? Right? Right? Yay! *Does happy dance*
Ari: Uh... Meradeth, when you told me that I was getting interview, I thought she was going to be sane.
The Reading Obsession: I get to interview you? This rocks! *Smooths shirt and tries to regain professional demeanor
The Reading Obsession: I know you’re probably a little nervous about what we’re going to ask you. Secrecy is a big part of your life, isn’t it?
Ari: You could say that. [Looks around nervously] How much do you know?
The Reading Obsession: Let’s just say we’re all pretty well informed around here. Don’t worry, you can be honest. It won’t get back to the Sary leaders.
Ari: [Clears throat.] I guess. That’s pretty weird. You know that right?
The Reading Obsession: Weird, or not, let’s get started. We’ll begin with something easy. Just what do you do, Ari?
Ari: I’m a student at the local university. I just transferred here from California.
The Reading Obsession: Oh. That's it?
Ari: What? Were you expecting a huge conspiracy?
The Reading Obsession: Maybe. Thanks for taking the time to come here. I hope your studies go gre-
Meradeth: I forgot to mention, Alisa is really gullible. But I'm not. So, How about what you’re really doing here?
Ari:
[Sighs] I’m here investigating a guy who might know about some stuff he shouldn’t.
The Sary. I need to make sure he doesn’t know anything, and isn’t talking to people
about it.
The Reading Obsession: *tries again to be professional* Sounds like a pretty difficult job. What’s so important about him not knowing about these Sary?
Ari: Um, we don’t exactly go around broadcasting what we do. Our secrecy is a huge
deal. People who know about us tend to have accidents. So I have to find out if Tom
has any ideas, or he’s in some serious sh—trouble.
The Reading Obsession: Sounds serious! What exactly are the Sary?
Ari: I can’t believe I’m doing this. The Sary, we’re cosmic suicide-prevention. Usually I go around trying to make sure mortals don’t kill themselves. Tom’s an exception to
what I normally do. Not that it’s all happy fun and games.
Meradeth: That’s quite a hefty job for someone who barely looks eighteen.
Ari: *Quirks an eyebrow at Meradeth for pretending she doesn't know things* Appearances can be deceiving. Especially with the Sary.
The Reading Obsession: So, tell us a little more about this Tom guy. Is he hot? I mean, is he a bad person? No- I change my mind. How hot is he?
Ari:
It doesn’t matter if he’s hot or not…but he is. Even if he spends all his time studying. The best part? Oh, I don’t know why I’m saying this, but he’s one of those guys who
doesn’t know he’s hot. Totally doesn’t try to be a dick. Or show off. Or flirt….ever.
The Reading Obsession: Am I sensing some frustration there? You know, if you ever want to talk about it and let out all those feelings, I'm a compassionate person.
Ari:
No! He’s a mortal. Sheesh. I’m not even supposed to notice if he’s totally hot. And funny. And sweet.
The Reading Obsession: You’ve got it bad.
Meradeth: *mutters about that being an understatement*
The Reading Obsession: What?
Meradeth: Nothing...
Ari: *Groans and hides her face in her hands* Are we done here?
The Reading Obsession: Sure, sure. Thanks for joining us today, Ari! Best of luck with your assignment. And Tom.
“They are everywhere, can be anyone, and are always the last person you’d expect.” When Tom stumbles across his grandfather’s journal, he’s convinced the old man was crazier than he thought. The book contains references to beings called the Sary, immortals who are assigned to save humans on the verge of suicide. They certainly aren’t allowed to fall in love with mortals. Which the journal claims Tom’s grandfather did, resulting in his expulsion from the Sary. As strange as the journal seems, Tom can’t get the stories out of his head; especially when he finds the photo of his grandfather’s wings.
Tom’s only distraction is Ari, the girl he studies with for their chemistry class.
Ari has one goal when she arrives in town: see how much Tom knows about the Sary and neutralize the situation. This isn’t a normal job, but protecting the secrecy of the Sary is vital. If Tom is a threat to exposing the Sary to the public, fate has a way of taking care of the situation, usually ending with the mortal’s death. While Ari spends time with Tom, he becomes more than just an assignment, but how far can a relationship go when she can’t tell him who she really is? When she finds out just how much Tom actually knows about the Sary, Ari is forced to choose between her wings, and her heart.
THE CHEMISTRY OF FATE is a companion to COLORS LIKE MEMORIES and is set before the latter takes place. It is geared toward an upper YA, or New Adult audience.
Buy Links:
Barnes and Noble:
And, extra tidbit: Meradeth's publisher is dropping the price to $2.99 on all sites.
About Meradeth Houston:
Meradeth’s never been a big fan of talking about herself, but if you really want to know, here are
some random tidbits about her:
Today, The Reading Obsession is one of the tour stops for author Maradeth Houston's new novel, The Chemistry of Fate.
-She’s a Northern California girl, but now lives and teaches anthropology in Montana.
-When she’s not writing, she’s sequencing dead people’s DNA. For fun!
-She’s been writing since she was 11 years old. It's her hobby, her passion, and she’s so happy to
get to share her work!
-If she could have a super-power, it would totally be flying. Which is a little strange, because
she’s terrified of heights.
Find her at these places
And now for a giveaway! Meradeth will be giving out a ten dollar amazon gift card and an awesome leather journal, which fits in with the story.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
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