Monday 25 July 2011

Author Spotlight - Q&A with Jillian Chantel



STEPH: I don't know much about Redemption for the Devil. Can you tell me a little more about it?

JILLIAN: It’s a story, based in 1920s Ireland, of a young man who thinks he has nothing left to live for once his family disowns him for his role in the fight for Irish freedom from the English. He undertakes what amounts to a suicide mission and meets the heroine. Once he meets her, he's torn between his duty and his desires.

STEPH: How long did it take to write?

JILLIAN: The first draft took 21 days. It was my NaNoWriMo book for 2009. The edits took longer, of course. The hero in this story came into my head in October 2009 and said, "My name is Liam Cormac and you are going to tell my story." This is very much Liam's book.

STEPH: Did you do a lot of research for the novel?

JILLIAN: Not per se. Having both an Irish and English background, I love this period of history and have several books about Michael Collins and the fight for Irish Freedom. Since I read the biographies and history books, I had a lot of the knowledge in my head already. I've been blessed with a great memory for details and things I've been exposed to; therefore, the research required for the story was just a refreshing of my recollection. I was very wrong about one thing- that was when the Empire State building was constructed so I had to find another New York landmark for the hero to see under construction. Fact checking is very important.

STEPH: Where did the inspiration for the story come from?

JILLIAN: I think it was all the information I have in my head from loving this era on top of that pesky Liam not leaving me alone. He really wanted his tale to be told.

STEPH: If your story was going to be made into a movie, who would you cast as the leads?


JILLIAN: That's tough because the people I would cast are older and not even of the same generation as each other. LOL. I had a young Alan Rickman in my head as Liam and Maureen O'Hara as she was in The Quiet Man as Peg. I think I better leave the casting to Hollywood.

STEPH: OMGOSH! I ****LOVE**** Alan Rickman as an actor. I'm sooooo there!!


STEPH: What is the theme of the novel?

JILLIAN: The theme is definitely redemption and forgiveness. Mostly forgiveness of self. This is definitely Liam's journey to forgive himself for something he perceives as a wrong when he was a young man and how he learns to cope with that and feel redeemed in his own eyes.

STEPH: What do you want readers to take away from the novel when they finish it?

JILLIAN: I think I would like them to take away a feeling that it's never too late to make something worthwhile of your life. And I also hope they take away a feeling of love for this story. It was such a pleasure to write and I hope people enjoy the journey with these characters.

Young Alan Rickman
STEPH: Do you have an ebook reader? If so, which one?

JILLIAN: I have the Kindle App for my Ipad and Ipod, Ibook apps and I have the Sony reader as well.

STEPH: What's the last movie you saw?

JILLIAN: Midnight in Paris

STEPH: What's your writing space like?

JILLIAN: I write in the living room. I started writing when my kids were little and I can't write in the quiet. I have to have noise so in the living room works for me. If it gets too crazy, I put on headphones and listen to music..

http://twitter.com/#!/JillianChantal
http://www.facebook.com/#!/jillian.chantal
booktrailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=izodnXeyzDI

18 comments:

  1. I can relate to having to have noise when you write. I'm the same way. When it's too quiet, I get on my own nerves. lol

    Your book sounds great. I'll have to check it out. So glad you're at DBP!

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  2. Thanks Melanie- I'm glad to be here. Lots of people think I'm crazy when I say I have to have noise so, I'm glad to hear someone else is like me there. I hope you like the story.

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  3. And thanks to the web-mistress for finding the picture of Alan Rickman because it's exactly what Liam looks like in my head. LOL!

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  4. Love this cover, and the story sounds wonderful. Blessings for success, BJ

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  5. Ooh, I love it when characters are screaming to get out of our heads. It's a great cover and story, Jillian. Congrats on the new release.

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  6. Thanks B.J. and Laurie. This cover made my week the week I saw it- it's so gorgeous and evokes the book exactly. DBP has the best covers in the industry!

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  7. I'm the opposite of you when it comes to writing. I need it to be completely quiet.
    But then I was never blessed with children.
    Beautiful cover, Jillian.
    Theresa

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  8. Jillian,
    I found that pic of Alan Rickman. I love his acting! He was absolutely pitch perfect as the tormented Professor Snape in Harry Potter! I'll watch anything he's in. Here's to many sales for Redemption for the Devil!

    Smiles
    Moderator Steph

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  9. Jillian, congratulations on the release of Redemption of the Devil. Love the interview and pic.

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  10. Teresa, I guess we all have a different process that works. And I'm glad yours is a good one for you.

    Steph. That pic of Alan is almost the one I have that was my inspiration. I would listen to him read the phone book.

    Lavada. Thanks for coming by and for being so supportive always.

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  11. Alan Rickman--well we are on the same wavelength! And your cover is so elegent!

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  12. Moon pie. Yep, Alan is a popular man. Lol. I agree about the cover. I love it.

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  13. Love Rickman, very underrated actor. Congrats on the book release. And I love the time period BTW.

    There are those voices in your head that just won't go away sometimes! LOL

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  14. Linda- I agree about Alan- I own all his films and he is fantastic. Thanks for the congrats on the release. I love the 1920s, too- as you can probably tell.

    Sometimes, the only way to get rid of the voices is to write them down, right?

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  15. Congrats on the new release and being in the spotlight, Jillian. I love the 1920s and so this book is a must-read for me.

    Best of luck with it!

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  16. Lindsay. Thanks for the good wishes. I hope you like the story. I love the early days of the last century.

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  17. Hi, Jillian! I love your cover--the colors remind me of Pensacola and the beach. Gotta go--babysitting 4 month old grandson today and he's demanding my attention.

    The new book sounds great!

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  18. Thanks Cara. It is a lovely cover. I hope you're having fun with the grandson! Love ya.

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