Ask the Author: Xio Axelrod
Answered Questions (16)
Xio Axelrod
Yay! I'm so glad you enjoyed GWISHE! The Lillys have so many influences, both past and present. From the Runaways and the Go-Gos, to Toadies and the Police, to Willow, Metric, and the Linda Lindas, Lillys music can swing from alt rock to indie pop. But to really know what they sound like, you can check out the two songs they've released so far - 'I Burn' and 'Hurt U'. Both tracks can be heard on Spotify and Apple Music, etc. There's even a video for 'I Burn' on YouTube. Happy Listening!
Xio Axelrod
Hiya! The Girl with Stars in Her Eyes is the first of four books in the Lillys series. Book two will center on Kayla, our drummer, but Toni and Seb will continue to be a part of the series as it goes along. :)
Xio Axelrod
In 2020, I'll launch a new series with my new publisher, Sourcebooks. I'm very excited!
Xio Axelrod
I certainly like to think so. We see examples of it every day, don't we? It doesn't always resembles the idealized version we love to read about, but it doesn't make it any less true. =)
Xio Axelrod
If I find myself stuck on a particular story, I'll switch over to another work-in-progress. I always have something I can work on. In the rare occasion that doesn't work, I'll look around me for inspiration in television shows, film, music, and even other books. Especially old favourites. =)
Xio Axelrod
Absolutely, though I don't believe they're always of the romantic variety. On any given day, the idea of one soul mate for every person either thrills me or depresses me. I do love writing about it, though: The One. But what about those people we meet and have no romantic feelings toward whatsoever, and yet form an instant bond. Are they soul mates? Kindred spirits? I have one or two of those.
Xio Axelrod
Now, *that* is a question. It's funny, the first thing that popped into my head wasn't from a book, but from a song by Jeff Buckley called "Lover You Should Have Come Over". Contemplative, heartbreaking, and angsty - just like I like it. The lines I remembered were:
"It's never over, my kingdom for a kiss upon her shoulder.
It's never over, all my riches for her smiles when I slept so soft against her.
It's never over, all my blood for the sweetness of her laughter.
It's never over, she's the tear that hangs inside my soul forever."
I mean, wow. Wow. Right? =)
"It's never over, my kingdom for a kiss upon her shoulder.
It's never over, all my riches for her smiles when I slept so soft against her.
It's never over, all my blood for the sweetness of her laughter.
It's never over, she's the tear that hangs inside my soul forever."
I mean, wow. Wow. Right? =)
Xio Axelrod
Holy wow, what a question. =) If I were fantasy casting, meaning I could choose any actor from any time period, I would say...
Sam could be played by a Paul Newman or a Marlon Brando, even a Robert Redford. As for Val, maybe a Gina Torres, a Kerry Washington, or a Nicole Beharie.
If I were casting today? Sam could be Bradley Cooper or Karl Urban, and Val could be Jurnee Smollett-Bell or Teyonah Parris.
Who would you cast?
Sam could be played by a Paul Newman or a Marlon Brando, even a Robert Redford. As for Val, maybe a Gina Torres, a Kerry Washington, or a Nicole Beharie.
If I were casting today? Sam could be Bradley Cooper or Karl Urban, and Val could be Jurnee Smollett-Bell or Teyonah Parris.
Who would you cast?
Xio Axelrod
That's a tough question, I love all of my babies. LOL! If I had to choose one, it would be Sam and Val. They were my first and their story is such a human one. I'm a big believer in love, and in second chances. For me, those things go hand-in-hand. I confess, a book I'm sketching out for 2017 may change my answer down the road. Ask me again in a year. ;)
Xio Axelrod
November 24th. =)
Xio Axelrod
I'm often inspired by my passions, which includes film, television, music and other books. 'The Calum' series was inspired by my obsession with Outlander. I wanted to explore how books and TV can inform our dreams and aspirations. Of course, I don't know if I would ever have the courage to do what Lovie and Jo do in the book - traveling to another country in search of a myth - but I like to think I'd be that brave.
Xio Axelrod
Great question, Betty! I love a good story. Whether it's romance, science fiction, fantasy, mystery or thriller, if an author can suck me in, I'll read it. I grew up reading a lot of urban fantasy. Oddly enough, I didn't pick up my first romance novel until eighteen months ago. Once I did, I knew I'd found my calling as a writer.
Xio Axelrod
I don't believe in writer's block. If I find myself stuck in a story, I walk away. I always have other stories, other ideas that I'm itching to work on. Sometimes you just need a break from your characters. Often, working on story A, I'll get an idea for story B. It will be just the spark I needed. If I get to the point where I feel like no words are flowing at all, I'll find a film to watch or an album to listen to that I know will inspire me.
Xio Axelrod
I'm working on the second book in the Calum series, Calum Me Maybe. This is way more fun than an author should be allowed to have. I love it when my characters get a little crazy. =)
Xio Axelrod
I still consider myself an aspiring writer. I hope I will always feel that way, even after my 100th book. The best advice I can give is to keep writing, keep reading (both inside and outside your genre) and never stop learning. As with any craft, the more you practice the better you'll get.
Xio Axelrod
I'm often inspired by the fans of other books, films and TV shows. I love the fervor that can swell up around a work of fiction. In The Calum, I explore the idea of finding a unicorn: a real-life version of a man that only exists in the pages of a romance novel. We all fall in love with fictional heroes and heroines, and often hold the real people in our lives to impossible standards. It could be that the perfect person for each of us is the one we least expect. One that doesn't fit our ideal.
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