Today I’m really excited to welcome author Kate Evangelista to Book Lovers, a YA author, who mark my words, is bound to do great things in the future! Her debut novel, Taste, is one of the best YA novels I read this year and certainly the most impressing one. The freshness of Kate’s voice and the way she presents her stories, are indicating a great story teller, at least in my opinion 🙂

So, let’s welcome Kate and let her describe in her own words her book. And don’t forget to check at the end of the post for a giveaway of Taste!

Anna: Kate, can you please tell us a bit about yourself?

Kate: I’m a full time writer who enjoys watching TV. I believe there’s a lot to learn about writing by watching shows like The Vampire Diaries, Sons of Anarchy, White Collar, the list goes on and on. 🙂 I also love to read, but then again, you’d be hard pressed to find a writer who doesn’t read. And lastly, I love iced tea. Best refreshing drink on a humid afternoon.

Anna: What do you think is the difference between a reader and a real Book Lover?

Kate: I think the main difference is that a reader can stop at any time, but a Book Lover cannot go a day without reading.

Anna: Describe a typical day of writing? Are you a planner or pantser?

Kate: I usually write a chapter a day. I never know what happens in the story for sure unless I start writing the chapter. And once I finish writing the chapter, I stop for the day so I can start mulling through what can possibly happen next.

Anna: Will Taste be part of a series?

Kate: At the moment, I’m seeing it as a stand alone, but I’m never one to say never. 🙂

Anna:  What can we expect from you in the future?

Kate: At the moment, I’m working on another YA novel with Entangled publishing called Til Death. It’s an urban fantasy that I can’t wait to share with all of you. It’s part of a trilogy, so for sure, sequels are in the horizon. I’m also working on another YA called Reaping Me Softly with Omnific Publishing. Also part of a trilogy.

Anna: While reading Taste, I couldn’t help but feel that you could perform great in the high fantasy genre. Have you ever considered in writing a high fantasy or epic fantasy novel?

Kate: My first YA novel was actually a high fantasy novel. I love high fantasy. It’s the genre that started my road to writing. One day, I plan on writing something high fantasy. I actually look forward to it.

Anna: How hard was it to create such a unique world? How were you inspired the zhamvy myth you centered your story around?

Kate: In my experience, when you start with a character telling you his or her story, the world building follows naturally. Remember, the characters live in this world, so they would be the best people to get information about the world you’re building. When it came to the Zhamvy myth, Dray was my main source of what they are, Luka showed me their culture, while Demitri showed me their society.

Anna: While writing Taste, did you ever consider to create a love triangle between Phoenix, Demitri and Luka? Surely Phoenix and Luka flirt a little, but nothing heavy (a fact I admit I really enjoyed for many different reasons 🙂 )

Kate: The love triangle wasn’t really the main purpose of the story. Without spilling spoilers, I believe that the relationships between each of the characters had their own purpose. Luka needed Phoenix while Phoenix needed Demitri. They are all interconnected, but at the end of the day, it’s Phoenix who makes the choice.

Anna: Your story is full of intricate and well-built characters. Demitri, Luka, Dray they are all sexy in their own way and simply amazing. Is any or all of them inspired from someone you know in real life?

Kate: I love this question! I wish I had hot guys like them surrounding me in real life, but Demitri, Luka, and Dray were all full formed when they arrived in my head. They came, introduced themselves, and we started writing the story together with Phoenix.

Anna: Can you summarize Taste for us twitterstyle? (140 characters or less)

Kate: Oh, boy, that’s going to be tough. Let me see *thinks about it* Here’s my try: Taste is about Phoenix, a girl who accidentally breaks curfew and discovers an ancient civilization of flesh eaters living beneath her school.

I would like to take this moment to thank you, Anna, for your wonderful questions and enthusiasm. I love answering them and getting to hang out with your readers today. Thank you for letting Phoenix and #TeamBarinkoff into your life.

About the book

At Barinkoff Academy, there’s only one rule: no students on campus after curfew. Phoenix McKay soon finds out why when she is left behind at sunset. A group calling themselves night students threaten to taste her flesh until she is saved by a mysterious, alluring boy. With his pale skin, dark eyes, and mesmerizing voice, Demitri is both irresistible and impenetrable. He warns her to stay away from his dangerous world of flesh eaters. Unfortunately, the gorgeous and playful Luka has other plans.

When Phoenix is caught between her physical and her emotional attraction, she becomes the keeper of a deadly secret that will rock the foundations of an ancient civilization living beneath Barinkoff Academy. Phoenix doesn’t realize until it is too late that the closer she gets to both Demitri and Luka the more she is plunging them all into a centuries old feud.

About the author

When Kate Evangelista was told she had a knack for writing stories, she did the next best thing: entered medical school. After realizing she wasn’t going to be the next Doogie Howser, M.D., Kate wandered into the Literature department of her university and never looked back. Today, she is in possession of a piece of paper that says to the world she owns a Literature degree. To make matters worse, she took Master’s courses in creative writing. In the end, she realized to be a writer, none of what she had mattered. What really mattered? Writing. Plain and simple, honest to God, sitting in front of her computer, writing.

Where to find Kate:
Website | Twitter | Facebook

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~*~*Giveaway*~*~

Kate has generously offered one e-book copy of Taste to one lucky commenter!

All you have to do is leave a meaningful comment about the interview.
(You can read our full giveaway policy here)

Please be sure to include a valid email address in the comment form (need not be in the actual body of the comment).

This giveaway is open to all!

Giveaway ends on Saturday, June 23rd, 2012; we will announce the winner on Sunday.

Good luck!!!!

About Anna

Anna is a psychologist from Greece.You can almost always find her with a book stuck under her nose,so it's no wonder that all her friends make a joke of her.Apart from reading she dreams of the day she'll be able to travel around the world!Anna also blogs at Books to Brighten your Mood.

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