Dream Dark: Interview with Kami Garcia & Margie Stohl

Dream Dark by Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl is out TODAY! In celebration of this highly anticipated ebook, I was able to talk to both Kami and Margie to find out a little bit more about the book, and their writing process for it.

First, here's a little about the book via Little Brown, which you can purchase via Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

New York, NY [June 7, 2011] – Little, Brown Books for Young Readers will publish an exclusive e-book as part of the bestselling BEAUTIFUL CREATURES series by award-winning authors Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl, it was announced today by Andrew Smith, the division’s Vice President and Deputy Publisher. DREAM DARK: A BEAUTIFUL CREATURES STORY is a never-before-seen short story, created as a prequel to BEAUTIFUL CHAOS, the hugely anticipated third book in the series, which goes on sale October 13. The e-book is set to release on August 2 for $1.99, and will be available for download across all digital platforms.

The story's synopsis via Goodreads:

When Link joined his best friend, Ethan Wate, on a quest through a mysterious network of underground passageways endlessly crisscrossing the South, he knew the journey would be dangerous. But returning home to Gatlin, South Carolina was just the beginning...

Wounded during a climactic battle, Link discovers that tending his injuries won't be as simple as visiting a doctor and that healing his arm should be the least of his worries. For being bitten by a Supernatural does more than break the skin -- it changes a person, inside and out, turning Link into someone more and more like the dark creature who injured him.In this never-before-seen short story by New York Times bestselling authors Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl, readers witness Link's heart-racing transformation. Dream Dark is set before the much-anticipated third Beautiful Creatures novel, Beautiful Chaos, and as a special bonus includes an exclusive sneak peek at the first five chapters.

From Kami:

Did you and Margie choose the title for Dream Dark?

Yes. We wanted to have a title that stayed true to the story's atmosphere. It describes what Link goes through. It was trickier to come with the title since the books in the series have Beautiful in their titles, and this one doesn't. Dream Dark fits the feel of the book, and it just sounds cool.

Why did you choose to write about Link?

Little Brown asked if we wanted to write an e-book that would have a time frame between Beautiful Darkness & Beautiful Chaos, which would also be a fun gift back to our readers. In talking together with our editor we picked Link, because he is a fan favorite.

When you first started writing the series, did you write Link in a way that he would become a fan favorite or were you surprised with how much everyone liked him?

Link and Ridley became bigger than we planned. Originally they were both suppose to be in one or two scenes and then just disappear, but as our teen readers were reading Beautiful Creatures they kept asking about Link and Ridley. We started writing them into more and more scenes.

Did you find it was harder or easier to write Dream Dark?

It was fun to write. We were able to play more with the story line. We knew Dream Dark would be apart of the series overall story arc, but it's not a key story. We had a lot more room to play with the characters and Link's development.

What surprised you the most about Link's character in writing Dream Dark?

Link can handle anything, or at least he think he can. He's smarter than people think he is. He's under estimated. He get smarter with each story and has learned the "Caster street smarts".

From Margie:

In three words, how would you describe Dream Dark?

"Dark, desperate, and sometimes, in spite of everything, funny." But if you asked Link, he's say "Third-Degree Burns Hot and downright Linktastic."

I love that you and Kami have a story from Link's point of view. What is one thing you've come to admire the most about Link in writing Dream Dark?

Everyone loves Link because he's funny, but he's more than that. He's loyal, and surprisingly (even to himself!) brave. He's also completely accepting of himself and his friends; there isn't a judgmental bone in his body.

Are you able to give us a little hint into what changes Link endures with his transformation?

Everyone is always changing in the Caster world, that's what so great about it. Link will surprise everyone with some of his changes, most of all himself. But I may never get used to a few of Link's new developments in the studmuffin ladykiller department :)

What was one thing that helped you through writing Dream Dark (i.e. chocolate, coke etc)?

What got us through writing Dream Dark? Kami will say Pizza and Diet Coke. I'd have to say Rufus Wainright. He's my muse, for Dream Dark and all of the last Caster book as well.

Do you and Kami have a playlist for Dream Dark and if so, what's one song that reminds you of Link's story?

Link's more of a metal head, but he also reminds me of Pink Floyd. For this story, though, I'd say I'd pick The Rolling Stones, You Can't Always Get What You Want. If you read it, you'll see why.

Thank you Kami & Margie!!

Thanks, Mundie Moms! You know we love you guys! xo

To find out more about what Kami and Margie are up to, be sure to follow their blogs here:

Kami Garcia

Margaret Stohl

To find out more about the series, but sure to follow:

Beautiful Creatures The Book

Caster Girls & Boys, their official fan site