Interview with Jessica Shirvington about her new novel, Between the Lives:
1. In Between the Lives Sabine switches between two different lives and is suffering trying to maintain the two completely different situations.
How did you handle maintaining the character of Sabine while everything else around her changes?
I gave a lot of thought to how a person would adapt and learn to survive in Sabine’s unique situation. In the end, I decided that Sabine’s solution would be to fully embrace each of her lives for what they were supposed to be. When she is in Wellesley, where she had more access to money, fashion, social events, she plays that role. But of course, when she is in Roxbury she knows she can’t be that person and survive, so she fully embraces what it means to be Sabine in Roxbury – how to dress, the right amount of sass and attitude to not be hassled, etc And in each world she adapts to her family and siblings and tries as much as possible to forget about her other world while she is not there.
2. In one life Sabine is very successful, in another she is considered a delinquent. How much does her surroundings, and how she’s treated by other people, change her responses to school, family, and friends?
Very much. I think, as I mentioned above, she chooses to fully embrace her situation in each life so she is affected by them just as any normal person would be, but at the same time, she has to keep a distance from everyone and everything because she is always on guard. Sabine spends a lot of time protecting her image in each life because she fears that if she gives away too much and slips up everything else will come crashing down around her. Not to mention she struggles with the fact that by living every day twice she is effectively twice as old, yet still treated as a teenager.
3. Ethan: On a scale of one-to-swoonalicious, what should we be expecting?
I don’t really think of Ethan as your typical hot guy. He’s complex and thoughtful. But he also has this way about him that draws Sabine in like she never believed possible. He’s that guy that gets under your skin and before she even realises it, she’s lost to him. I have a big soft spot for Ethan! 😉
4. What aspect of this novel was hardest to write?
Keeping the world building and rules of Sabine’s universe clear and concise was very important to the overall feel of the story. I spent a lot of time going back and forth working out exactly the way I wanted it to be. There are also a couple of fairly confronting scenes and these took thought and time to fully commit to.
5. How does this book compare to your previous work?
It is very different. Although this book has a sci-fi element because of the dual realities, it is more of a contemporary/psychological story. The Violet Eden Chapters are more of a paranormal series with high action and superpowers etc. Between the Lives is much more insular and focused on Sabine’s particular situation and the events that occur because of her desperate need to be normal.
6. What’s your favourite part about writing in the Young Adult genre?
I love that the stories revolve around character’s who are making the decisions that are effectively going to shape the adults they become and the futures they will have. I also love that they provide the ability to include a characters first and often most heartfelt love.
7. What do you most hope audiences will take away from Between the Lives?
I always just hope people enjoy the story! For me, I wanted to write this story so much because it was a very unique opportunity to explore the concept of suicide and all it involves, but from a character who contemplates it solely due to an intense desire to live. But also, the heart of this story is all the little things that happen in both of her lives and the things she neglects to notice because she is so completely focused on herself and what that means for her in the end.
[about-author]
Don’t Forget to Check Out Between the Lives, Out Now!
Above all else, though I try not to think about it, I know which life I prefer. And every night when I Cinderella myself from one life to the next a very small, but definite, piece of me dies. The hardest part is that nothing about my situation has ever changed. There is no loophole.
Until now, that is…
For as long as she can remember, Sabine has lived two lives. Every 24 hours she Shifts to her ′other′ life – a life where she is exactly the same, but absolutely everything else is different: different family, different friends, different social expectations. In one life she has a sister, in the other she does not. In one life she′s a straight-A student with the perfect boyfriend, in the other she′s considered a reckless delinquent. Nothing about her situation has ever changed, until the day when she discovers a glitch: the arm she breaks in one life is perfectly fine in the other.
With this new knowledge, Sabine begins a series of increasingly risky experiments which bring her dangerously close to the life she′s always wanted… But just what – and who – is she really risking?
Follow the Complete Between the Lives Blog Tour!
Monday, May 6th — Treasured Tales for Young Adults
Wednesday, May 8th — Novels on the Run
Friday, May 10th — Forget Me Not
Monday, May 13th — Speculating on Spec Fic
Wednesday, May 15th — YA Midnight Reads
Friday, May 17th — Book Probe Reviews
Monday, May 20th — Vegan YA Nerds
Wednesday, May 22nd — The Book Twins
Friday, May 24th — Paperback Princess
Giveaway
HarperCollins Australis is kindly offering two copies of Between the Lives to two lucky Australian winners!
Contest Rules:
- To enter, please fill out the Raffelcopter form below.
- We ask that all entrants be at least 13 years or older to enter.
- The giveaway is open to Australia only.
- When the winners are chosen, it will be announced here and the winners will be emailed. Please check your email because we are only giving the winner 48 hours to respond! Otherwise another winner will have to be selected.
- Please enter your email address in the Rafflecopter form and not the comments!
- Also, please understand that we reserve the right to disqualify any entries we find gaming the system. Cheaters never prosper!
whYAnot
I love the concept of this book. It’s one that I find so interesting and confusing but in the best kind of way. I’m excited to read about Ethan considering how you have described him.
RochelleSharpe
Thanks for this giveaway, and great interview. I can’t wait to read this book, it sounds amazing.
dnc
Not gonna lie, it reminds me a lot of “Lucid” (Which I LOVED) so might have to check this out….
KKTrotter
Love the interview! And this book sounds so interesting. Can’t wait to read it. Thanks for the giveaway 🙂
TaraNikelis
Between the Lives looks amazing – love Jessica Shirvington’s ability to draw me in so easily, fingers crossed.
RachelGuilfoyle
i love your story, it sounds different, not many people write about being TWO people, i think it’s a beautiful story line plot 🙂 congrats.
xbooksmartie
Great interview! Love the questions…also, I’m so excited about this book. I read Embrace and Entice and really enjoyed it. I usually tend to like contemporary or…books like how I think Between the Lines is going to be more than Paranormal Romance/Urban Fantasy (or whatever else the Violet Eden Chapters is classified as), so I guess I’m going to love it. Also, being able to live to completely different lives at the same time? As a reader, that’s all of my dreams come true 😀
Georgiabb6
The concept of this book is really interesting, I can’t wait to read it. Thanks for the giveaway!
sandrus52
Alright, this sounds fantastic, I adore the concept! Going on my “How awesome does this sound” shelf!!
jazchau
I ADORED this book, never read anything like – it was so original and GAH I just had so many feels. One of the best reads of 2013 for me. Shirvington is one of my favourite authors!
Thanks for the awesome interview, I think Jessica did a pretty good job with her world building!
lorih824
Awesome interview! This is a new author for me and the book sounds fantastic. I will be adding it to my TBR stack.
Thanks
lorih824 at yahoo dot com
erinf1
sounds awesome! Thanks for the fun post and giveaway!
erinf1
sounds awesome! Thanks for the fun post and giveaway!
Shelver506
I have literally heard nothing about this book before, but it sounds FANTASTIC. Thank you so much for bringing it to my attention. I’ll have to hunt down a copy now.
0live1
Awesome giveaway! Thanks you guys 🙂
Ryver
This book sounds awesome. I haven’t read one like this before. Living two completely different life’s. it has got me very much intrigued. I can’t wait to read it.
I loved the interview.
Thanks for the great chance to win this.
ryver
amyrenae
Absolutely love Jessica’s Violet Eden series, so I’m sure I’ll love this book just as much! Great interview 🙂
paddlefoot
Love promoting Aussie authors! This sounds great!!!
paddlefoot
Love promoting Aussie authors! This sounds great!!!
Philippa
I loved the Violet Eden Chapters and can’t wait to get my hands on this book! There are a couple of parallel universe style books out atm I hope this one is as good as Parallel by Lauren Miller 🙂
JeepinJaime
Between the Lives is such a large departure from the Violet Eden Chapters, and I can’t wait to read it. I love Embrace and the characters are so wonderfully complex. I can only imagine the complexities of writing a character who leads 2 separate, distinct lives. I am incredibly curious to see how Jessica Shirvington handles a story so different from those that I know. I have no doubt that it will be amazing!