Author Interview: Marie Landry
Describe the series in 10 words or less for people who are just being introduced to it.
The O’Dell sisters find love and acceptance on Angel Island.
Is there anything you would like people to take away from your books?
Charlotte and Ella go through a lot in the course of a few short months – they lose their mother, leave the only home they’ve ever known, and then they have to learn to deal with their grief. They both grow a lot and learn a lot, and I hope readers will take away a sense of hope, and know it’s possible to change and heal, even when it seems impossible.
Do you have any odd (writing) habits?
I know this is fairly common among writers, but I’m a horrible procrastinator. I’ll start out in the morning with lots of enthusiasm to get stuff done, but then I get sidetracked by Twitter, Facebook, my blog, other people’s blogs, Instagram, and a million other things. Even when I do start writing, I’ll pause constantly to check my phone or check the Internet for something. I don’t even realize I’m doing it most of the time, but I honestly don’t know how I ever get anything done!
What has been the toughest criticism you have received as an author? What has been the best compliment?
The toughest criticism I’ve received has probably been from my beta readers and editor. I have (or have had) a few bad habits in writing, like overusing certain words and not varying sentence structure enough, and a few of my beta readers have been tough on me for that. That’s their job, though; I ask for brutal honesty, and that’s what they give me. Ultimately it’s made me a better writer, so I can’t complain.
I think the best compliment I’ve received is being compared to Sarah Dessen by a few readers. She’s been one of my favourite authors since I was about 15, so that’s a huge compliment.
Share some advice for aspiring authors. What advice would you give to your younger self?
The advice I’d give aspiring authors is the same advice I’d give my younger self: don’t give up. Writing, especially professionally, isn’t easy – it can be lonely and frustrating, and it’s often hard to find support. BUT it’s also very rewarding. Find a support system, whether it’s people in real life or online. The writing and blogging community have been invaluable to me; I’ve made so many friends, and found countless people who are enthusiastic, supportive, encouraging, and make all the not-so-good stuff worth it. If you believe in yourself, and if writing is something you love to do, don’t let anything or anyone stop you.
What is your favorite line from your book?
One of my favourite lines from After the Storm is this quote that River says to Ella: “I don’t know what you think I should see when I look at you, but I see a beautiful girl with a big heart that’s been broken. She’s a little lost at times, and she gets this haunted look in her eyes that tells you everything she won’t say out loud, but she’s trying her best to heal the cracks, and help heal the people around her. That’s what I see. That’s the girl I’m crazy about.”
Title: Waiting For The Storm (Angel Island Book #1)
Author: Marie Landry
Blurb: After the death of her mother, the last thing seventeen-year-old Charlotte O’Dell wants to do is spend the summer on Angel Island with her family. Her younger sister hates her, and her dad is in his own little world. It’s a recipe for a disastrous summer on the island, until Ezra Rhodes walks into her life.
The boy next door makes Charlotte forget her almost paralyzing fear of really living her life. Stunted from taking care of her mother in her last months, Charlotte is drowning. With Ezra, she feels something again, and as he repairs her family’s summer home, she dares to think he might actually be fixing her, too. Ezra challenges Charlotte to leave her comfort zone, and as their friendship slowly blossoms into more, Charlotte begins to come alive again.
But Ezra has secrets…secrets he isn’t sharing with Charlotte. Despite her new-found happiness in Ezra’s arms, Charlotte can’t help but feel there’s a storm on the horizon. And she isn’t sure if she and Ezra can weather it unscathed.
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Title: After The Storm (Angel Island Book #2)
Author: Marie Landry
Blurb: For most people, starting senior year at a new high school would be a nightmare, but for Ella O’Dell it’s the new beginning she desperately needs. Two months after her mother’s death, she’s ready to leave behind the rebellious, unhappy person she became when she found out her mom was dying.
When Ella meets River Maracle and Sadie Fitzgerald, she begins to learn it’s okay to be herself, even if that means being different. River and Sadie aren’t ashamed of their misfit status—River grew up on a reservation, and his mother is the school counselor; Sadie stands out with her funky homemade clothes, and is a master at ignoring the whispered rumors that have plagued her since the beginning of high school.
Ella finds a kindred spirit in Sadie, and something more in River. After almost a year of pretending to be someone she’s not, she finally embraces life and allows herself to have fun without constant guilt. But despite her budding happiness, something is off with her new life. She doesn’t want to dwell on the past, but Angel Island is a small place, and she soon realizes her demons are harder to outrun than she thought…
After the Storm is a standalone companion novel to Waiting for the Storm
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About the Author
Marie has always been a daydreamer; since early childhood she’s had a passion for words and a desire to create imaginary worlds, so it only seemed natural for her to become a writer. She resides in Ontario, Canada, and most days you can find her writing, reading, blogging about writing and reading, listening to U2, watching copious amounts of TV on DVD, or having grand adventures with her nephews and niece. She’s a hopeless romantic, an unapologetic eavesdropper (occupational hazard), an equally unapologetic squeeing fangirl, and a lover of swoonworthy book and TV characters. For more on Marie and her books please visit http://sweetmarie-83.blogspot.ca. She also loves to chat with fellow book lovers, so feel free to tweet her @SweetMarie83 any time!
Thanks so much for having me on the blog, Julie! I really appreciate all your support. 🙂
SweetMarie83 recently posted…Review: Wish You Were Italian by Kristin Rae
This sounds like one of those incredibly emotional/painful reads, and I normally avoid those. HOWEVER, I can usually handle a you’re-going-to-get-a-crying-headache book, if the overall message is one of hope. Great interview, Julie! And thanks for putting these books on my radar 😉
Jessica @ Rabid Reads recently posted…Review: Rebel Belle by Rachel Hawkins
I absolutely LOVED Waiting for the Storm and had no idea there was a companion novel for her sister’s story! Thanks for this post, so I can go get it. 🙂
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