My name is Beatrice. When I was born, I was blessed with the Sight. I was immediately removed from my parents and enrolled in the Institution. At the age of twelve, I had my first true vision, earning my raven’s wings. And when I turned seventeen, one of my visions came true. Things haven’t been the same since.
The Institution depends on me to keep the City safe from our enemy, the Dreamcatchers, but I’m finding it harder to do while keeping a secret from everyone, including my best friend Gabe. It is a secret that could put us all in danger. A secret that could kill me and everyone close to me.
But the enemy has been coming to me in my dreams, and I think I’m falling in love with him. He says they’re coming. He says they’re angry. And I think I’ve already helped them win.
Stephanie Thomas has been writing ever since she could put letters together to form words. When she was a small child, she would present her mother and father with self-made newspapers filled up with make believe stories and pictures. Her love for writing followed her all throughout her schooling, where she entered and won writing contests of all sorts. Stephanie decided to become an English teacher and completed her B.A. at The Pennsylvania State University. While teaching, she later went on to get her Master’s in writing from The Johns Hopkins University. She completed her very first manuscript during her graduate studies, and by the end of the program, she had completed two more.
Stephanie is quick to tell anyone that she’s a born and raised Philadelphian, and her heart will always belong there. She moved to Baltimore with her husband, and they’ve been living there for the last five years with their doggie, Sailor, and their rabbit, Buns (aka “T Sizzle).
Hello, Stephanie!! Thank you so much for being here on the blog today!
Where did you get the idea for Luminosity?
I thought of the premise for Luminosity after teaching Oedipus Rex for the fourth year in a row. This is a Greek play, in which Oedipus is warned by a prophet of Apollo about his future, and Oedipus tries to change his fate, to no avail.
You might be asking yourself how in the world this could play into my novel! I took a liking to the idea of Seers, who often show up in Greek tragedies, warn the main character of their own doom, and yet the character always seems to meet it anyway.
I wanted to write about young people who still had the capabilities to see into the future, long after the ancient Greeks. How would they be able to handle this unbelievable power? A power which requires much responsibility, nonetheless. And that’s how Luminosity came about.
What was your favorite character to develop?
I started this book out with Beatrice, since it is all from her point of view. I love Beatrice, but really, when it all comes down to it, I think I enjoyed developing Echo because he’s such a mystery.
What is your favorite scene or quote?
My favorite scene is the very last one. Let’s just say, the ability to choose is a powerful thing.
What was your favorite part about writing Luminosity?
My favorite part about writing the book was making up the world it takes place in. Before Luminosity, I mostly wrote historical fiction. When you write historical fiction, you need to research EVERYTHING, and your creative license is somewhat restricted. I felt unbound and free when writing Luminosity. The world was my own.
Are you in the process of writing any other novels?
I recently finished book two of The Raven Chronicles, Evanescence. I am also trying to put together a dystopian book about a virus-ridden society battling against the ideas of Darwinism (the strongest shall survive).
As an author, do you have any tips for aspiring authors out there?
There are no requirements for writing. You do not have to be a certain age to publish a book. If this is what you want to do, then go for it. There isn’t anything that can get in your way if you work hard enough for it. It also feels awesome to finish a complete manuscript. I can never get over the sense of accomplishment when I do.
Do you have a favorite author, or one that inspires you?
Ernest Hemingway. I admire how he crafted his words, and he didn’t have to be fancy to make everything he wrote something beautiful.
What is your favorite book?
I don’t have an all-time favorite book, but I can tell you some ones that I have enjoyed recently. I love Lauren DeStefano’s The Chemical Garden series. The Hunger Games pulled me into reading YA again, and recently I have finished Divergent by Veronica Roth, and I am working on her next book, Insurgent. Oh! And I read Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi, and loved that too!
Randomness
Dark, white, or milk chocolate? Dark chocolate.
Cats or dogs? Both, but I only have a dog right now, as my husband is allergic to cats.
Coke or Pepsi? Diet Coke, especially the vanilla kind.
Morning person or night owl? Depends on what time of the year it is. I’m a teacher, so I tend to get up early and go to bed late. In the summer, though, I stay up rather late and hate waking up early.
Where to find Stephanie
Giveaway
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