Sunday, April 17, 2011

Debut of the Month - All About Ann Aguirre

Second Debutante of April! Author of Enclave ( which I'm dying to read) is Ann Aguirre!

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Debutante Profile

Ann Aguirre is a national bestselling author with a degree in English Literature; before she began writing full time, she was a clown, a clerk, a voice actress, and a savior of stray kittens, not necessarily in that order. She grew up in a yellow house across from a cornfield, but now she lives in sunny Mexico with her husband, children, two cats, and one very lazy dog. She likes all kinds of books, emo music, video games, action movies and Dr. Who. She writes urban fantasy, romantic science fiction, apocalyptic paranormal romance, paranormal romantic suspense, and young adult fiction.

Name - Ann Aguirre
Debut - Enclave
Genre - Dystopian
Website - HERE
Twitter - HERE

Dream Debutante Dress - I've attached the actual dress I just bought for the RITA awards at RWA. (I'm a finalist this year.)


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Notes from a YA Debutante
10 Reasons Why Writing is the Only Job for Me


10. I'm mentally twelve. If you say "duty", I will laugh every time. Every. Time.

9. I've wanted to be a writer since I was eight years old, and I won a chance to hear Shel Silverstein read from WHERE THE SIDEWALK ENDS by virtue of my self-illustrated seminal work, THE MYSTERY OF THE GOLDEN DOUBLOON. It was an epic tale of two best friends, who went to Florida on vacation together and uncovered a ring of illegal treasure hunters. They also met two cute boys. I suspect the value of this work is now immeasurable.


8. I am an inveterate daydreamer. Ironically, I also have issues with authority. When following my own path, I work super hard and am ambitious and self-motivated, but I've told more than one boss to f**k off in my day because I can't stand being managed.


7. I use fiction as therapy for things that terrify me. Like clowns, cannibals, demon-possessed monkeys, and creepy dolls. But not all in the same book. Except for the one I'm writing with the cannibal clowns. But you don't have to read it. (You know you want to.) Clearly I have realistic fears. *g*


6. So now that we're on the subject of jobs... I used to be a clown. I'm sorry. If it helps any, I have moderate coulophobia myself, which means I was traumatized every time I looked in the mirror. If you can suggest anything less cool than a college student driving in a bright orange Plymouth Horizon to a gas station grand opening in full clown regalia, including red nose and frizzy yellow wig, I'd love to hear about it. Worst college job ever, and I say that, having worked in a nursing home, changing bed pans. That was better than being a clown. Seriously.


5. I am the kind of woman who can get run over by her own car. With no one driving it. Do you really want me answering your phones?


4. I guess I should explain number five, huh? When I was in college, I was on my way to work (pre-clown) and I stopped for gas. The station was slightly on a rise. I got out of the car, filled up, but didn't set the emergency brake. I had to go inside to pay. When I came out of the station, my car was rolling slowly backward down the rise toward the busy street. I decided it would be a wise idea to sprint and get behind it, because, like Wonder Woman, I would stop a moving vehicle with my bare hands. Instead, the infernal Horizon knocked me down and ran over my thigh. However, my body changed its trajectory enough that it didn't roll into the street. Instead it ran into a pole. I got up, limped over to the car, and went to work 8 hours at the convenience store where I had the night shift.


3. And said job at the convenience store? It wasn't very convenient. (Which is why I eventually became a clown.) A few weeks after my car ran me over, the store was robbed. Yep, I was manning the till. I did not wet my pants. Other than, I don't remember much about it, but that was when I decided that maybe being a clown would be safer.


2. In college, I had many jobs. Many, many jobs. I really wanted to write. I mean I mentioned that in article 9, but sadly, my teachers told me that writing wasn't a real job. So sadly, I decided to teach. Which isn't a sad job. It's an awesome one. But not if you want to do something else. But during my student teaching I had two epic catastrophes: 1) a student pulled a knife on me and 2) I was hospitalized with blood poisoning. I missed a week, and Ball State said it was too much, and I'd have to do the whole semester over. Which I couldn't afford. So no teaching degree. Instead I graduated with a degree in English Lit, and no master plan. Eventually, after marriage and babies and much private wailing about how nobody understood my genius, the publishing world decided I was suited for nothing else...


1. And I sold the 9th novel I wrote. Before that happy day, I wrote sooo many... I could tell you about them. *beam* They were AWESOME. (Not really. They were terrible, but I was only 15 when I wrote my first.) I got better! *Monty Python voice* Since 2007, I've sold 22 novels. Which is awesome. The End. (Or is it...? I hope not. I want to write more.)

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Ann, you are the only person I know who has the ability to run themselves over WITHOUT even driving the car, it takes talent :P And I do think you were destined to be an author, I can't picture you as a clown and blood poisoning and having a knife pulled on you doesn't sound too good either. It's good to think you're young, age is just a number! It's all about the mind...Anyway, guys Enclave sounds like a brillian book, if you haven't heard of it you live under a rock  ( it was called Razorland?) and make sure you come back tomorrow for a giveaway and more about Enclave ( I'm so so so so so so excited about it it's not even funny)

PS- Ann, you crack me up and I'm a pretty serious person (...)

Badass Bookie xx

40 comments:

  1. This is an AWESOME post. My nieces love you, by the way. So do I.

    One time, I was almost run over by a car with a 7 year old at the wheel. (Not my child! Not my car).

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  2. Hehe, glad my foibles were entertaining! And so happy your nieces love me. *g*

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  3. Yikes! That's talent right there to get run over by an unmanned car. But I love the inspiration and attitude in this post.

    -grins- I wanna read about cannibal clowns if they're written by you.

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  4. If your books are even a tenth as charming as this post is, you just gained a reader. :D

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  5. This was an awesome interview and I loved hearing about your road to doing what you really love.
    I've enjoyed everything I've read that you've written so far Ann, and even though I'm a bit beyond YA, I'll be checking Enclave anyway. I'm so glad there isn't an age limit to YA, LOL.

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  6. Number 9 is me all the way. I love it :)

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  7. She seems so cool. She's so funny! Plus, I love authors who love what they do.

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  8. I love love this post! I really want to be a writer too but I feel that my writing skills are not that good. I learned a lot! I guess ill pursue my writing skills after this but well maybe not now :)

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  9. My hubby laughs at 'duty' every time as well. Or if someone says do do.

    Jules

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  10. Weee, I'm afraid of clowns, too, since I saw the second episode of the second season of Supernatural xD It still has so much influence on me that I'm afraid of clowns xD
    And I wanted to be an author, too, but I don't have enough talent for writing :)
    Thank you for the list, I enjoyed reading it :)

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  11. Ok I'm sorry, but #4/5 is hilarious. That would definitely be something that would happen to me! I love that you have a sense of humor about it though. I absolutely loved this interview, one of the best I have ever read :)

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  13. It's wondeful and so interesting to know Ann, she has an excelent sense of humor... never thought so many things can happen to on eperson though xD
    I guess you never know the story behind. I'd love to read some of her books! :D

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  14. Even in a simple debutante profile, Ann Aguirre shines with humor, endearing thoughts and congeniality. Who would NOT want to read her writing/novels after reading this AMAZING post. Thank you for sharing this with us.

    If it's any consolation, Ann, I once ran the car over my foot. Yes, MY car. Yes, MY foot. Thank God it was only at like 2-3 miles an hour *phew* (I was basically pushing it, in case everyone thinks I'm crazy!) lol :P

    ~Hira~
    GFC Follower: Enamored Soul
    Email: Enamoredsoul(at)gmail(dot)com
    Twitter: @inluvwithbookz

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  15. That dress is beautiful! I love the color.

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  16. Oh, thank you for the lovely responses! Glad you liked the post. It's my fave.

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  17. It's so interesting to learning to learn about Ann.

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  18. I love reason ten!!!! :D I'm mentaly twelve too! :D love this post!!! :))) Ann is amazing.

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  19. That dress is beautiful! Thanks for the post and the giveaway!

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  20. I like the color of the dress. simple but still lovely.
    I just found out that she has written many books. Wow.
    I also awed with the way she handled her fears.

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  21. That is a lovely dress!

    (I've never been run over by my own car, but I'm the only person I know of who managed to slam their nose with their car door...)

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  22. I love that dress. This is such a great post! Thanks for letting us learn more about Ann!

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  23. charming interview, I enjoy the humor... such a fun thing to read. looking forward reading your books ms. ann. If this interview is so fun, I bet your books are more fun. Can't wait to read enclave.

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  24. Enjoyed reading the interview.

    She sounds like a person with a real good sense of humour and I am sure thatcomes over in her books as well.

    Carol T

    buddytho {at} gmail DOT com

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  25. Thank you very much for this review. I LOVE dress <3

    Syki
    sykorova.p@gmail.com

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  26. I cannot believe it! Ann used to be a clown? And now she writes awesome books? Who knew!? Very cool post, I laughed my head off reading this, thanks!

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  27. That is one gorgeous dress and I have to say how envious I am of your hair. I wish mine would curl at all. You seem really awesome, very personable which is always awesome. And Enclave sounds fantastic!

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  28. OMG this made me crack up from the first one XD and those are quite some crazy jobs and experiences! :D

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  29. Gorgeous dress!! Great post. I cannot wait to read Enclave!!

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  30. That story about your car running you over was hilarious! One thing I can tell from your job experiences is that you are a very persistent person! I can't believe you went to your shift after the car ran you over!

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  31. these are very legitimate reasons! :) And actually I would like to read about cannibalistic clowns :)) Anyway, I had a lot of good things about the Enclave so it definetely on my TBR list.

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  32. Wow, this has to be one of the most insane posts I've ever read. But at least you wound up doing exactly what you always wanted to do, in the end. Of course, running yourself over, getting a knife pulled on you, getting robbed, and becoming a clown aren't exactly the best ways to get there, but to each his own, right?

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  33. I do have problems with authority too. I like to work but then I don't like being told what to do. :p

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  34. I love the author's sense of humor! ^I don't particularly get along with authority either ;)

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  35. Lol, I can't believe that all those things really happened to you! It's almost surreal. This is making me even more anxious to read Enclave! =) And I LOVE that dress- I'm sure you'll look beautiful! ;D

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  36. WOw, funny post! And the dress is just gorgeous I wish I could wear something like that sooner or later! Also, the book sounds awesome!

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  37. This was seriously the funniest post I've read ever! I had to stop and read it out loud to my significant other.

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  38. Great post :=) I love the dress, so pretty, and the colour is stunning

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  39. That blue dress it's so cute. I like how casual and not-slutty it is. Most dresses these days just try to show instead of hide as much as possible. Jackson Pearce just did a hilarious video blog on the subject of prom dresses.

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