Debugging Tori Redding Author Interview

Today I have with me Jason Ancona author of Debugging Tori Redding, but before we get to the interview here is the synopsis of the book;

Fed up with her peers and their loose morals, Tori starts a new school program, the Not So Fast club, a group dedicated to keeping teens from doing everything they want to do--drink, have sex, and rush to grow up.
A severe toothache interrupts her plan, sending her to the dentist, where she's given an emergency root canal. During the surgery, she's electrocuted and ends up blacking out. When she awakes, her brain has the ability to function like a computer.
Tori uses her new skills and aggressive personality to charge up the club.
Hated by the entire school, she discovers that NSF now stands for: Narcs Suck Farts. Game on. Tori memorizes every school rule, issuing tickets for every little infraction.
After a serious crime occurs, Tori must use her talents to save a life, all while trying to free herself from her mind.

Sounds awesome right? My review will be up in a few days but in the meantime here is the author!

1. Your book incorporates so many different genres, was it hard to blend them together?

It was challenging because I didn't want the science fiction or mystery element to interfere with what the story was really about--Tori's emotional journey. She's fighting a lot of personal issues. I wanted to make it more about that. I tried to keep her feelings, her relationships with her friends and family, and her attitude towards growing up in the forefront.

2. What has been your favorite part of being a published author so far?

I'm just happy to have my work out there. It's also nice being part of the Teen Book Scene Tour. Makes me feel like I'm a part of the reading community.           
                                                                                              
3. What is the hardest part of writing for you?

Finding enough time. Several months ago, I quit my full-time corporate job of eight years so I could write more. I still wish that there were more hours in the day. Once I start writing a novel, I'm consumed with it--probably to the detriment of marketing my material. 

4. If you could visit anywhere (real or from a book) where would you go?

Hogwarts. I'd love to learn some spells, but I don't think they'd let me in. I'm just a Muggle. Maybe they'd make an exception and let me take home a wand or an invisible cloak or a Nimbus 2000.

5. Why do you write YA?

I remember how hard it was being a teenager. Reading books helped me feel like I wasn't completely abnormal and that other young adults experienced similar difficulties tackling puberty, growing up, and fitting in.

In my YA novels, I hope readers get a sense of that sentiment--that everyone struggles during their formative years. Your bodies are changing, your mind is developing, and your hormones are raging--all while your parents are telling you what to do and your teachers are piling on homework.

Another reason I like writing YA is because it allows me to revisit my teenage years. And helps me understand how those experiences shaped who I am as a person. Even today, as a fairly confident adult, I still have feelings like I don't belong, and wonder if something from my awkward years in high school stuck with me, somewhere deep in my psyche. 

I write YA because I want to bring a smile to teenagers' faces. And hopefully help young adults explore their own minds through characters and storytelling.

Thanks Jason!

Each stop along the tour will have a chance to win an e-book of Debugging Tori Redding.

So to enter leave a comment here along with a way to reach you!