For fourteen-year-old Eve Hallows, life can be summed up in one word—horrible. She has the most horrible friends. She lives in a horrible old castle. Even her family is a bunch of horrible monsters.
Praise for Eve Hallows and the Book of Shrieks:However, in the monster-inhabited world of Gravesville—a world where messages are sent through Ouija boards, jack-o’-lanterns get facials to suit their moods, and the worst thing Eve has to deal with are those annoying zombie tourists who overrun her favorite graveyard during the Halloween season—horrible means wonderful. And everything for Eve is perfectly horrible.
But her life is about to go head over heels when a mysterious group known as The Source starts terrorizing Gravesville. Now she must move to the human world—where everything is opposite ... and for Eve, that's absolutely adorable!
"Move over, Neil Gaiman’s CORALINE and THE GRAVEYARD BOOK … make room, Lemony Snicket’s A SERIES OF UNFORTUNATE EVENTS … you’ve got company and competition for shelf space!" -- THE HORROR FICTION REVIEW
"WOW! What an absolutely horrible book (horrible meaning fantastic!) ... This book was laugh out loud funny. I loved when Mom accidentally turned people to stone. Dad's crazy attempts at running a pizza store were just hysterical." -- KIDS 'N' BOOKS
"This is the perfect book to be read aloud, read at night under the covers or simply devoured in one sitting. Robert Gray’s Eve Hallows and the Book of Shrieks simply shines with all of its fun creepiness, compelling characters and stellar writing. A MUST read for any MG fan!" -- WORD SPELUNKING
"Eve Hallows is highly imaginative without being too complex for its target audience. Fall in love with Eve, her friends and her family of adorable monsters. Lose yourself in a light read that will remind you of those days when your English teacher just want you to read something, anything. This book is it. The one that you wish you read when you were in grade school." -- JOYOUS READS
"Overall, this book was fantastic. It presents an admirable role model as well as a strong family unit which will benefit young readers. When so many books right now have presented teens in a not-so-flattering light, it is so wonderful to find a book like this one." -- BOOK COVER JUSTICE
EVE HALLOWS AND THE BOOK OF SHADOWS (BOOK 2)
Ever since encountering The Source and its minions on Halloween, Eve Hallows has found life surprisingly quiet … not to mention adorably boring! So when Dad receives a Ouija message that she must return to Gravesville, Eve couldn't be happier—at least until she discovers the Director of URNS, also known as the Grim Reaper, has a special job for Eve … one that will lead her to New York City and to the true identity of The Source.Praise for Eve Hallows and the Book of Shadows:
With The Book of Shrieks offering zero help and a new URNS agent driving the school boys—and Eve!—crazy, Eve's beginning to realize this whole saving-the-world nonsense isn't what it's cracked up to be.
All this and she still has to find The Book of Shadows....
"This book was perfectly horrible! Horrible meaning amazingly awesome, of course. Eve's world once again sucked me in and would not let go until this part of Eve's story was finished" -- LILI LOST IN A BOOK
"This is a perfect combination of YA, Horror, Paranormal and Fun!" -- BOOK LOVERS PARADISE
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Inteview
When naming your characters, do you give any thought to the actual meaning?
Sometimes. For instance, Eve Hallows, the main character in the series, is a reversal of Hallows Eve ... real shocker there, I know. What you might not know, though, is Hallows (as it relates to Halloween) means saint, which I thought also appropriate for the hero.
How do you get started with writing a story (as in, how do you start developing the story, how do you get inspired for it)?
I usually develop my characters first, and then let them run around for a few months as I try to figure out the story they're trying to tell. Eventually, I can dig out the story and throw the rest of the husk away.
What advice would you give to people who "run out of creativity" when writing?
Step away from your WIP for a little while. Go for a walk. Find something beautiful and take a picture of it. Read a book unrelated to what you're writing. Most of the time, you just need a quick recharge.
What book are you reading now?
I'm rereading two of my favorites: GHOST STORY by Peter Straub and ZOMBIE by Joyce Carol Oates. I haven't touched them in a while, and both have held up well over the years.
Are there any new authors that have grasped your interest?
Gillian Flynn is fantastic. GONE GIRL was one of my favorite books of the year, and DARK PLACES is also amazing. Joe Hill is every bit as good as his father. HORNS is great, and so is HEART-SHAPED BOX. I'd also add Erin Morgenstern to that list. THE NIGHT CIRCUS is a must read; very Bradbury-esque.
What are your current projects?
I'm currently working on the third book in the Nightmare Series called EVE HALLOWS AND THE BOOK OF SHIVERS. It should be available by summer 2013.
If you had to do it all over again, would you change anything in your latest book?
Yes, I would've put J.K. Rowling's name on the cover instead of mine ... though that might lead to a bit of legal troubles, I suppose.
Do you recall how your interest in writing originated?
Oddly enough, I loved the sound of a typewriter when I was a kid. I can vividly remember mornings at my kitchen table watching my mother type. I would just sit there and listen. Funny thing is I still can't type as fast as her, even with these newfangled keyboards. I also have to give credit to Stephen King's IT, which I read when I was a little older. That book spoke to me in a way no other book ever had before.
Is there anything you find particularly challenging in your writing?
I have a tendency to use a lot of crutch words. My characters can often be found turning in circles, and they always seem to be smiling for no good reason. Going back and finding all these little buggers can be tedious. I also have some strange love affair with the word "just."
Do you have any advice for other writers?
90% of writing is about developing your narrative voice. Once you've done that, the rest is easy.
Robert Gray is a writer. If that job description doesn't impress you, how about fantasy writer? Too general? Well, he doesn't get insulted if you call him a horror writer. If horror's not your thing, then scratch out horror and replace it with suspense. And for the kiddies, you can slap on a YA or MG in front of that title.
Gray lives in Bushkill, Pennsylvania with his wife and two children.
Blog Tour: December 10th to 23rd
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Eve Hallows Blog Tour Schedule
December 10th I Am A Reader, Not A Writer - Tour Kick Off December 11th Multiple Blogs - Book Blast December 12th Pandora Poikilos - Peace from Pieces - Interview Fade Into Fantasy - Tens List icefairy's Treasure Chest - Excerpt From the Bootheel Cotton Patch - Review Book Flame - Guest Post December 13th Laurie's Paranormal Thoughts and Reviews - Interview & Excerpt Parsimonious Posh - Guest Post & Review Word Spelunking - Tens List ~Oh, The Books You'll Read - Review Bookworm in Love - Tens List December 14th Geo Librarian - Review Cuzinlogic - Guest Post or Interview Books Beside My Bed - Review Scribbler's Sojourn - Guest Post Fantasy Book Addict - Interview December 15th Hazel the Witch - Tens List & Excerpt Bibliophilia, Please - Guest Post Bookworm Lisa - Excerpt An Avid Reader's Musings - Excerpt December 16th Imagine! Create! Write! - Interview or Guest Post Readaholic's Reviews - Guest Post & Review A Soul Unsung - Guest Post December 17th The Romance Bookie - Except Mommy and We - Review & Guest Post Mochas, Mysteries & More - Review Musings of a Writer (Val Muller) - Review Lisa Miller ~ Moon Shine Art Spot - Review & Guest Post December 18th Lizzy's Dark Fiction - Guest Post & Review Monique Morgan - Review & Guest Post FireStarBooks - Review & Interview JeanBookNerd - Excerpt BookSpark - Review & Tens List Reader Girls - Excerpt December 19th Mk McClintock Blog - Tens List Stephanie Keyes, Author - Guest Post Fictitious Musings - Guest Post Cici's Theories - Guest Post & Review A Dream Within A Dream - Excerpt Earth's Book Nook - Tens List December 20th Books & Other Creative Adventures - Review Must Read Faster - Review Reading with ABC - Review & Guest Post Bibliophile Mystery - Excerpt Short and Sweet Reviews - Guest Post December 21st Lili Lost in a Book - Guest Post The Solitary Bookworm - Guest Post & Review The Bunny's Review - Interview Promiscuous Diva - Guest Post Books, Books the Magical Fruit - Interview & Excerpt December 22nd Turner's Antics - Review Mom With A Kindle - Guest Post Lovely Reads - Tens List December 23rd The Book Mark Blog - Review Vanessa Morgan - Guest Post Me, My Shelf and I - Tens List |
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Great interview, and awesome advice, Robert! :)
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