Authors Are Rockstars Tour: Dan Krokos

Dan & I at BEA 2013

I am so very excited to be a part of the second annual Authors are Rockstars tour! It's so true, authors are my rockstars and this tour is brilliant. My featured Rockstar for this tour is the amazingly talented, Dan Krokos. I became interested in his debut novel, False Memory, very early on and I was lucky enough to get an ARC (advanced readers copy) at BEA (Book Expo America) in 2012 while also meeting him. I didn't really say anything to him except 'thank you' because, believe it or not, I'm shy. But he was nice and I was so excited to read False Memory. Even with my high expectations, it didn't disappoint - he didn't disappoint. He reeled me with his story and with his words and he hasn't let go since. I've since read False Sight and his middle grade debut, The Planet Thieves was loving all of them. His books are intelligent, witty, adventurous, suspenseful and just downright amazing. I said in my review to False Sight that he's one of the only YA authors whose books I think could be loved equally by both male and female readers. He intertwines a perfect blend of action and suspense to lure in the men while also a healthy mixture of romance. I'm kind of ashamed to admit that I've met Dan a total of 5 times (at three different events) and haven't said much to him. Like I said, I'm shy and it sucks but he's fantastic and . . . well, he's my rockstar.

What I also find pretty awesome is that last year he was Jen's rockstar over at Jenuine Cupcakes. How do I find that awesome? Well it happens that she's a fellow Maryland blogger. Not just a Maryland blogger but one that lives in the same town as me. So clearly, Dan Krokos is loved in Maryland but I also find it awesome that he's been featured two years in a row by bloggers who live so close together. (I didn't meet her until June, either) Interesting little fact there for y'all!

After pumping gas for nine years to put himself through college, Dan Krokos, now twenty-six, dropped out to write full-time. He enjoys watching TV, playing MMORPGs, and drinking coffee. Currently, he’s hard at work on the next book in Miranda’s journey.

You can contact him via Facebook, Twitter, or Tumblr, or just go over to his house!

Check out his books False Memory [review], False Sight [review] and The Planet Thieves [review] over at goodreads!

*NOTE: Bio used from his website.

So on with the good stuff! I was lucky enough to be able to interview Dan and I kept most of the questions on the rockstar theme because, that's what this tour is all about and it seemed like it would be a lot of fun. But have no fear, I did ask him a few book related questions! So without further ado, I bring you the interview with my rockstar . . .

You’ve written both middle grade and young adult novels, which do you find to be harder & why?

Probably YA, because I wrote from the POV of a girl. I wanted to challenge myself and step outside my comfort zone, and was not prepared for just how challenging it is.

Along those lines, you’re MG book is from a boys perspective while your YA is from a female’s – how difficult is it for you to make it realistic with being from the opposite sexes point of view? (If it’s anything, I think you did a really good job)

Thank you very much. The trick that I came up with is to not try to write a teenage girl, but just a person. We’re all people. We all have many things in common. GRRM was asked how he writes women so well, and he responded with, “Well, I’ve always thought of women as people.”

For the more specific stuff, I had a lot of women read and give feedback. There would be a line here or there, or an idea, that they said sounded too much like a twenty-five year old dude, not a teen girl. For that I am very grateful.

Which characters were the easiest to write and which were the most difficult?

Noah and Peter were probably the easiest, because they’re both guys, but more importantly they’re very close to me. Peter is the kind of guy I WANT to be. Noah is closer to the guy I was when I was younger, and in some ways I still am.

Miranda was the most difficult, just because I was in her head.

Who is your Rockstar? It doesn’t have to be an author – it can be who ever you want it to be.

I love movies and TV, and have aspirations to write both, so my rockstar is usually the showrunner of whatever show I’m currently obsessed with. Right now it’s Sons of Anarchy, so I have to say Kurt Sutter. I’ve been researching him and think he’s a freaking genius.

For books, it’s George RR Martin. If I met him I wouldn’t know what to do with myself. I’ve learned so much from him, and gotten so much enjoyment from his work, that I feel like I should pull the weeds out of his driveway. (GRRM I will do this for you if you have a weed problem. I can also cut grass.)

Every Rockstar has a must have list of things to be in their dressing room; what’s one thing you would insist on having everywhere you go?

Nothing I can’t get for myself. One thing I always need is coffee. Black. Nothing fancy. Just in large quantities.

Rockstar’s have an entourage, whether big or small, who would be in your entourage?

My best friends Adam and Will. We would rock hard. Now we all live in different cities, which is as awful as it sounds.

What’s on your playlist right now? Also, what songs have inspired your writing? If no specific song then what’s something that has inspired you?

Nine Inch Nails. I’m going to see NIN this October live for the first time, and am beyond thrilled. Also a few songs from the Sons of Anarchy soundtrack. For anyone who has seen the show, it’s the songs that play at the end of Seasons 3, 4, and 5.

If you could co-write a book with any author, dead or alive, whom would you choose and why?

Probably someone famous so the book would do well. Hah. All of my answers are completely unrealistic. Like GRRM, JK Rowling, etc. Though I bet chilling with Shakespeare and coming up with story ideas would be really fun. “BILL WE CAN’T KILL EVERYONE AT THE END YOU’VE DONE THAT ALREADY.”

If you could choose your own Rockstar tour, where would you go (how about a 3-5 city tour?) and what authors would you bring to share the stage with?

Easiest question ever: Susan Dennard and Sarah Maas. They actually ARE rockstars.

I’d want to visit touristy cities. Like San Francisco, Boston, San Diego. I’ve always had a good time when I visited Texas.

Oh man, can I pick foreign cities? I need to visit London.

If you could date one fictional character, who would you choose?

This is such a funny question, because I always see those YA crush tournaments, with grown adults voting over which underage boy is the hottest. So I can’t pick someone from YA (although Katniss is hot, can’t lie).

I’d have to say Amy from Gone Girl. Or adult/epilogue Hermione.

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Thank you so much to Two Chicks on Books and Fiktshun for allowing me to take part in this epic tour. Thank you so much to Dan Krokos for being awesome and taking the time to answer my questions.