“Inspirations and Influences” is a series of articles in which we invite authors to write guest posts talking about their…well, Inspirations and Influences. The cool thing is that the writers are given free reign so they can go wild and write about anything they want. It can be about their new book, series or about their career as a whole.
Our guest today is bestselling author Veronica Wolff, here to celebrate the release of her new book Isle of Night (which Thea will be reviewing later today), the first book in a new UF series for Young Adults.
Please give it up for Veronica!
It all started with a catsuit. Not on me, of course. My ten-foot pole isn’t quite long enough to touch that. No, the seeds of a smart, lethal heroine were planted years ago, with reruns of The Avengers and Emma Peel rocking her black catsuit, kitten-heel boots, and ladies’ pistol.
Really, I could stop there. But you probably want more of an answer than that, huh?
Whenever I’m asked what my influences are, I always feel I should say something dreadfully literary. That my inspiration is found in the works of Anton Chekhov, early Cubist sculpture, and maybe the French New Wave. But alas, my tastes are way more lowbrow than that.
First, there’s media. I consume a lot of media. I watch. A lot. I love TV, especially shows with kickass female stars. In addition to The Avengers, I adored and was inspired by the JJ Abrams series, Alias. I love a smart woman who is strong and can rock some hidden weaponry along with a good pair of platforms.
I love movies, too. No chick flicks for me. Give me apocalypse. Explosions. Catastrophic meteors, aliens, zombies…see a trend here?
There’s a lot of music in my life, too—I adore all kinds of it, and crank up the speakers as I write, blasting everything from heavy metal to Beethoven (who, I’d argue, was the proto-metalhead, but that’s an entirely different blog post).
Finally, of course, there are books. Lots of books. We all love those, right? That’s why you’re here, reading this. I devour everything from romance, to young adult, to epic fantasy, to romantic young adult epic fantasy…you get the picture.
And hey, just being out in the world provides me with lots of fodder. I live in San Francisco, so the mere act of stepping out my front door can be an adventure in sensory overload.
So, what are my influences, you ask? TV, movies, music, books…but it all began with that catsuit.
About the author: Veronica Wolff is an award-winning, bestselling author with a soft spot for kilts, mountains, beaches, and vampires. Not necessarily at the same time. She lived everywhere from Texas, to Hawaii, to India, before finally settling in Northern California, where she lives with her husband, two kids, one insane rescue dog, one angelic rescue dog, the gentlest cat ever, and a snake whose days are numbered. You can follow her on Twitter.
GIVEAWAY DETAILS:
We have ONE copy of Isle of Night to giveaway! The contest is open to residents of the US only, and will run until September 10 at 11:59PM (PST). In order to enter, simply leave a comment here letting us know what YOUR favorite lethal heroine. Only one entry per person, please! Multiple comments will be disqualified. Good luck!
47 Comments
Kristy
September 6, 2011 at 1:25 amRose Hathaway, from Vampire Academy for me. Kick-ass girl with a witty no-nonsense attitude. My favourite kind of heroine.
Rachel
September 6, 2011 at 1:40 amI’m not from the US so I can’t win this competition…
But my favourite lethal heroine is Beka Cooper from Tamora Pierce’s latest series – she’s smart, tough and moral, and she fights crime!
Lexi
September 6, 2011 at 2:23 amAlso going to have to go with one of Tamora Pierce’s women, esp. Alanna and Ali.
Mandi Venard
September 6, 2011 at 4:36 amI just read Juliet Immortal and loved Juliet for the heroine.Maybe not the typical but kicking girl that is so popular now but instead she used her head and her heart.
Katy
September 6, 2011 at 5:28 amMovies: Michelle Pfeiffer’s Catwoman
Books: Catniss, hands down
Tina
September 6, 2011 at 6:05 amI have to agree with Rachel and Lexi– for excellently crafted lethal heroines, you can always count on Tamora Pierce. I would have a difficult time picking out a favorite, though.
CrystalGB
September 6, 2011 at 6:44 amMy choice would be Keri Arthur’s Riley Jenson. She kicks butt.
kelly
September 6, 2011 at 7:05 amTough choice, but I’m going to go with Tiffany Aching.
Heidi
September 6, 2011 at 7:21 amKatniss Everdeen. I’m a huge fan of strong lethal heroines in general, but she’s my favorite hands down.
Tatiana C.
September 6, 2011 at 8:08 amI really loved the heroine from the Island of the Blue Dolphins, I forget her name. Its not your typical heroine who is opposite other “people” she she does have a tough fight with “nature” and wild animals on the island.
bigfoot24
September 6, 2011 at 8:55 amI would have to go with Deryn Sharp (AKA Dylan, as she is disguised as a boy) from Scott Westerfield’s Leviathan Triology. I love these books and Deryn knows what she’s doing and she beats the boys at their own game! 😀
Sara M
September 6, 2011 at 9:09 amRichelle Mead’s Rose Hathaway. Gotta love her sense of humor as she’s kicking butt.
KarenS
September 6, 2011 at 9:52 amOh, I have to go with Sirantha Jax from Ann Aguirre’s series (Grimspace, Wanderlust, Doubeblind, etc). When she gets her hands dirty, she is amazing!
Gigi
September 6, 2011 at 10:05 amOh, I LOVE Emma Peel. She’s definitely my favorite lethal heroine. She’s brilliant in addition to being beautiful and dangerous. Gotta love it.
Candice J
September 6, 2011 at 10:54 amMy favorite lethal heroine is Katsa from Kristen Cashore’s Graceling. Having the grace of killing makes her one chick I would never want to cross. And in her free-time she fights for fun. Love her!
Rin
September 6, 2011 at 11:21 amI second the suggestion of any of Tamera Pierce’s heroines. Especially Alanna.
Book Angel Emma
September 6, 2011 at 12:21 pmTerrific guest post I am really looking forward to the UK release *crosses fingers* Good Luck all you lucky US peeps
LiLi
September 6, 2011 at 12:30 pmIs and forever will be Anita Blake from Laurell K. Hamilton’s Vampire Hunter series. ‘Nough said.
Justine
September 6, 2011 at 2:45 pmYay! Somebody else also responded Katsa from Graceling by Kristin Cashore!
Brandy
September 6, 2011 at 3:11 pmGrowing up it was all about Xena! She rocked her leather skirt suit and high boots, kicked butt and still charmed the gods. Still think I want to be a little like Xena-Princses Warrior.
Jennifer Jensen
September 6, 2011 at 5:47 pmMy favorite lethal heroine at the moment is Joanna Archer from Vicki Pettersson’s Signs of the Zodiac series.
wade2121
September 6, 2011 at 5:54 pmI love Jean Greay in XMen.
Victoria Zumbrum
September 6, 2011 at 6:05 pmI would have to say my lethal heroine is Buffy from Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Please enter me in contest. I would love to read this book. It sounds very good. Tore923@aol.com
Julie Witt
September 6, 2011 at 6:26 pmI’m currently reading The Hunger Games (I know – finally, right?) so it would have to be Katniss! She is SO awesome 😀
Vivian
September 6, 2011 at 6:38 pmI like Rhapsody from the Symphony of Ages series.
Bethie
September 6, 2011 at 7:19 pmI think my fav lethal heroine would be Meredith Gentry right now. I just finished the second book and the series and I am lovng it.
Marg @ Clockwork Reverie
September 6, 2011 at 8:18 pmMy favorite lethal heroine would definitely have to be Kate from the Kate Daniels series by Ilona Andrews.
Thanks for the giveaway!
Iyana
September 6, 2011 at 8:35 pmmy favorite lethal heroin would have to be Rose Hathaway from the Vampire Academy Series By Richelle Mead. Rose is always ready for action no matter what and I love how she uses sarcasm to complete her amazingly Lethal character 😀
Stephanie K.
September 6, 2011 at 8:53 pmMy favorite lethal heroine is Katniss Everdeen.
Veronica Wolff
September 6, 2011 at 9:48 pmSo many awesome answers!! I’ve got some things to add to my TBR pile! Thanks, everyone, for stopping by!
Teri C
September 6, 2011 at 10:06 pmWow I have many lovely lethal heroines that rock my stripey socks, there are Cat, Rachel Morgan, Allie Beckstrom, and Kate Daniels, plus Charlie Madigan to name a few.
this book has been on my radar, thanx for the giveaway!
Susan Laura
September 7, 2011 at 6:16 amI see a theme here . . .
Katniss and Cat from Jeaniene Frost’s Night Huntress series
Becky
September 7, 2011 at 9:51 amKatniss, not even close.
Stephanie
September 7, 2011 at 12:37 pmFor me, it’s Mercy from the Mercedes Thompson series by Patricia Briggs. She’s tough, honest, smart, gutsy, fragile and loyal. She looks out for her friends, her loved ones, and will even go to bat for the neighborhood underdogs. I know this is silly, but I like her so much that if she wasn’t a fictional character, I’d definitely want her for a friend!
Ch. 1 of Moon Called
Jen B.
September 7, 2011 at 1:36 pmI love Katniss Everdeen from the Hunger Games series. I love Mercy Thompson series by Patricia Briggs. I think MacKayla Lane from the Fever series is pretty bad ass!
jepebATverizonDOTnet
jessica tjoc
September 7, 2011 at 8:14 pmHmmm…I’m going to have to go with Mercy. Absolutely.
Van P.
September 7, 2011 at 8:21 pmGin Blanco from the elemental assassin series by Jennifer Estep, and Charlie Madigan from the Charlie Madigan series by Kelly Gay!
Littopandaxpress(at)yahoo(dot)com
Scribe Kira
September 7, 2011 at 8:48 pmKatniss from the Hunger Games!
SaraC
September 7, 2011 at 10:09 pmMy fave lethal heroine is Dante Valentine!
Heather R.
September 8, 2011 at 7:04 amFave lethal heroines: tie between Katniss from Hunger Games and Katsa from Graceling. Thanks for the giveaway! 😀
Amanda
September 8, 2011 at 4:45 pmThis is tough, but right now, Yeine Darr from The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms is my favorite. She doesn’t kick as much butt as Katniss, physically, but I love smarts and her attitude.
Jessy
September 8, 2011 at 6:08 pmHuge fan of Beka Cooper.
Jessica C
September 8, 2011 at 6:54 pmI love Belle from Gena Showalter’s Extraordinary Series. Thanks for the giveaway!
jcross719(AT)yahoo(DOT)com
Bridget P.
September 9, 2011 at 9:18 amMy Favorite would have to be Katnis From Suzzane Collins “Hunger Games Series”.
Aydrea
September 10, 2011 at 6:27 pmHmm favorite lethal heroine? How about one that no one has mentioned. I really like Tris from “Divergent” or Saba from “Blood Red Road.” They are both pretty BA.
Thanks for the giveaway!
danceislove27 At gmail DoT com
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September 11, 2011 at 7:15 am[…] Candice J […]
Emily Lehmann
September 15, 2011 at 5:32 pmI think Phedre from the Kushiel series counts!
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