Untraceable Blog Tour: Author Interview w/ S.R. Johannes

I'm thrilled to have S.R. Johannes on MM's today to talk about her debut YA book, Untraceable. You can read my review for it here and follow the rest of the tour here.

• Untraceable is a thrilling murder mystery, and I really liked how you threw in the twists you did and the way the setting set the mood for the book. What was your favorite element to write about?

Well I love thrillers. So I hate it when I read a book and call the ending on page 1. I set out to make sure that did not happen. Writing those twists and turns and making them believable was fun.

• What's something you came to admire about Grace during the course of writing her story?

I love Grace. How tough she is and how much she loves nature. But mostly, I love how she doesn’t waiver in her loyalty to her father. How she follows her gut no matter what anyone says about her or the case. I love that. I can be easily swayed by people’s opinions sometimes so that is a great quality I admire

• I really fell in love with Untraceable's setting. How did you go about choosing the woods of North Carolina's Smoky Mtns as your setting?

My hubby camps there a lot plus we go to the mountains up there every fall. That area is close to Atlanta but far enough to get away. Plus when I saw those bear pits – I knew I could combine the woods with the Native American heritage and address animal issues – all under the disguise of a thriller hopefully teens will love.

• I cannot wait to read more of Grace's story. Can you give us a little teaser from the sequel?

Hm. The book is set in winter in the NC Mountains so the survival skills are very different. Especially in the snow. Agent Sweeney offers Grace’s class a conservation opportunity for Science Extra Credit. To work with the reintroduction of the red wolves in NC. 6 kids are chosen and unfortunately Grace is on the same team as Wyn and Skyler so being out in the woods with two non-nature people is quite funny.

• Congratulations on your recent MG release (since this is posting after it's release). Did you find it challenging to transition into writing MG from writing YA?

I wrote these books along time ago so there was time in between. I think tween is hard b/c they want adult issues but their parents have the purchasing power and want them to stay away from young adult. My challenge was making sure Gabby’s snarkiness didn’t come across as whiny with her being so young.

• If you could write one of your favorite literary characters into Untraceable, who would that be and why?

Pippy Longstocking. I think she could hold her own with Grace or Gabby. She’s just as spunky.

• What's a recent YA or MG you've read that you'd recommend we pick up?

The Pledge, Fracture, and The Sky is Everywhere. I will say I read the two zombie books by Amanda Hocking and could not put them down! I mean I was up until wee hours. I know some people question her books but those ones were gripping and scary.

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Thank you to S.R. Johannes for stopping by today! Be sure to visit S.R. Johannes on her Website | Blog | Twitter | Goodreads

Here's a little bit about her book:

16-year-old Grace has lived in the Smokies all her life, patrolling with her forest ranger father who taught her about wildlife, tracking, and wilderness survival.

When her dad goes missing on a routine patrol, Grace refuses to believe he’s dead and fights the town authorities, tribal officials, and nature to find him.

One day, while out tracking clues, Grace is rescued from danger by Mo, a hot guy with an intoxicating accent and a secret. As her feelings between him and her ex-boyfriend get muddled, Grace travels deep into the wilderness to escape and find her father.

Along the way, Grace learns terrible secrets that sever relationships and lives. Soon she’s enmeshed in a web of conspiracy, deception, and murder. And it’s going to take a lot more than a compass and a motorcycle (named Lucifer) for this kick-butting heroine to save everything she loves -quoted from Goodreads

Untraceable was released on November 29th, 2011 by Coleman & Stott

You can purchase Untraceable from: Amazon eBook form from: Barnes & Noble | SmashWords

Watch the book trailer