“I’m a nineteen-year-old stuck in a twelve-year-old body, or at least that’s what everyone else seems to think. I still get into the movies as a kid. Hey, it saves money! I live with Dorothy in Kansas, but she has yet to take me to Oz or give me her slippers, and I find that incredibly rude considering I dressed up as her when I was four. And although I have a dog, he’s no Toto. He’s Snickers (AKA G Homie Dog) and my spoiled little child that messes with my grumpy cats, Gummi Bear and Hershey, who are both bigger than he is. Together, they’re always causing a ruckus. Only my turtle, Skittles, and the fish behave.
“When I’m not doing boring real-life stuff, on the computer, writing, or yelling at the animals to calm down, I’m reading, secretly hoping for a thunderstorm, or hanging with my family and watching a movie. I’m an OCD perfectionist down to the T, so everything better be where I put it, in color order, in even numbers, the food better smell good — if it stinks or smells weird, I’m not eating it; I’ve even turned down pizza! The best food in the world! — and you better hope your TV’s volume doesn’t have numbers, or I’ll harass you until it’s on a multiple of five. I’m ambidextrous, and think with both sides of my brain. And on top of all that, I’m always bouncing off the walls. Enthusiastic Evie: No need for sugar, she’s naturally hyper!”
As she needs to be. Though still in her teens; Evie J has accomplished more in her nineteen-years than many hope to accomplish in a lifetime – including having written six entire books, one of which (Revealing Colors) was an inkpop Top Pick, and a second (Lost Spirits: A Charmed Souls Novel) which is currently ranked as number one. Nevertheless, she’s nowhere near finished – thus the reason her naturally hyper personality is a complete necessity to reaching her goals and achieving her dreams.
★ You run an entire blog called Autumn Dreamer. What can people find on Autumn Dreamer? How do you find the time to keep up with inkpop, Autumn Dreamer, all of your different writing projects, school, and a social life?
Evie J: The time…oi, the time! I don’t know where it comes from. Honestly, I don’t. I surprise myself. However, it helps that my social life is almost non-existent and I’m not in school at the moment. The computer and writing appeal to me much more than going out with friends to the movies or whatnot – I’m not a social butterfly by any means. But if you were to ask anyone, they’d tell you I need to get out more. As for keeping up with the blog…phew…it’s hardly kept up like it used to be. It went downhill once inkpop entered my life, and once I started working more on my books.
Autumn Dreamer is just my personal website, where I have some writing samples, and where I keep my friends and others updated on my projects. I also share my book reviews – which have also been lacking thanks to this little addictive site called inkpop – and let people know what’s happening, and what’s not, of course, in my writing world. For my new projects, I put my book pitches and covers I make on there first, before I share them with anyone else. So, if you visit, you’ll find Rambling Evie talking about her books.
★ If Lost Spirits: A Charmed Souls Novel was made into a movie, what actors/actresses would you like to see star in it and why?
EJ: I think if Lost Spirits was a movie, I’d shoot my foot off. I’m not a fan of books-to-movies because there are so many now; Hollywood needs to get original. But if I ever allowed Hollywood to take it, they’d have to search the nation for the perfect actors/actresses. No one in Hollywood could pull off my characters. I don’t like when they put famous people in movies. Although, Sandra Bullock would have to be in it just because she’s amazing! Proud Bullock Fan right here!
★ What is your favorite place for thinking and why?
EJ: Outside. I love to sit outside and just think. It’s even better when no one’s around, and no cars are flying down the road. The birds, the wind, the leaves, everything. I just love it…until a bee comes along. I’m not friends with Mr. Bee. -_- Or Mr. Wasp. Or whatever those big, fat things are, you know, the ones that look like mutant flies?
★ You have written numerous books that are quite lengthy. Which is your favorite one to date, and why? What is it about that piece of work that not only makes it stand out from the rest of your projects, but makes you so proud, as well?
EJ: Oo, that’s a tough one. They all have a special place in my heart, as does everyone’s work. With my newer books that aren’t quite finished, I’m becoming more attached, so I might have a different answer to this in the future. Silent Screams (The Forbidden Bloods Series) was my first book, and I co-wrote it; Claudia was my first character and story. I wrote the second, Familiar Strangers, on my own, which was interesting and fun. Lost Spirits is one I don’t mind reading over and over. But Revealing Colors was my first solo book, so I’d have to go with that one.
Autumn just reminds me so much of myself in ways, and it’s so interesting to read her story – yes, my characters write their own stories; they talk to me – as I write. Even I don’t know all about Autumn, her gifts, and this mystery that’s unraveling. And that’s so exciting for me. All of my other books have their beginning, middle, and end because they’re single books, or books that don’t necessarily need a sequel, but Autumn’s story evolves over three books. And I won’t know how this story pans out until the very end. That’s also something I love with this series; it’s the kind where you need the sequel.
★ If you were to recommend one book that you feel everyone should read at some point in their lives, what would it be and why?
EJ: Gah, this is definitely a tough one. For YA, I’d have to say Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver. It was full of everything you look for in a book. It really leaves you thinking about everything. Life, friends, family. Any day could be your last. It’s definitely worth getting and taking a day to read it. After reading this, I felt like I should go back to all the other reviews I’ve given and take away a star.
★ Pop, Pop, Pop! Rapid Fire Questions:
★ What’s on your iPod? Will anyone hit me if I say I hardly ever listen to music? But my iPod only has showtunes, Glee, Idina Menzel, Kristin Chenoweth, and other Broadway Stars. Oh, and Adam Lambert! Last time I listened to it, I listened to the first season of Glee.
★ Vanilla or chocolate? CHOCOLATE! Come on, now! Vanilla? No, no! Although, the only things I ever eat with those two choices is ice cream, and that’s rare. None of that cake crap. Blech.
★ Hidden talent? So, I sat here for ten minutes trying to figure out what my hidden talent is, but I think I finally have one! It’s not really hidden, but I’m super flexible. I used to be called Rubberband. I can bend any which way pretty much; like a contortionist. Although, it’s not that insane. I can’t fit inside a box or anything like that.
★ Favorite cartoon character? Angelica from Rugrats! I will never be too old for that show. I still tape old reruns. “You dumb babies!”
★ Favorite vacation spot? I’ve only been to Florida for vacation and New York City for a weekend, so I have to say…Australia! If I don’t get to go to Australia, like, right now, I’m going to go insane!
Over to you…who do you think should be the next inkpopper of the Week?
Erika (aka inkpoperika)
★Meyer gives vamps the kiss of death Despite the fact that vampires are one of the prime factors that put author Stephenie Meyer on the literary map; the Twilight author recently revealed that she is “burned out on vampires.” According to Meyer, she wants to retain the integrity of her writing; and until she feels a desire to write about vamps again, she’s giving them the kiss off. This revelation comes not long after the illegal leak of a draft of Midnight Sun – a Twilight project told through the eyes of Edward, written by Meyer herself, which has been put on hiatus for the time being. Twilight Series Theories. 
★ The launch of literary camps Back in 2006, an independent bookstore located in Austin, Texas called BookPeople opened Camp Half-Blood, a literary day-camp created for children ages nine to fourteen, based upon Rick Riordan’s Percy Jackson and the Olympians series. Since then, they have held literary camps for Kirsten Miller’s Kiki Strike, Holly Black and Tony DiTerlizzi’s The Spiderwick Chronicles, and a Half-Moon Investigation Camp based on Eoin Colfer’s Half-Moon Investigations. This year, BookPeople made the decision to launch something new – the Ranger’s Apprentice Corps Training Camp. Based on John Flanagan’s Ranger’s Apprentice series; the Ranger’s Apprentice Corps Training Camp opened its doors to seventy-five campers who spent a total of five days in McKinney State Park learning archery, tracking, and even first aid. Publisher’s Weekly.
Inkpop Blog 