Interview & Contest With Danielle Trussoni
I’d like to welcome author Danielle Trussoni to Writings of a Wicked Book Addict, Danielle’s first fiction book Angelology (out March 9) has gained a lot of attention (7 publishing houses vied for the publishing rights, while two motion picture companies bid for the movie rights) and I am pleased that she took the time to answer some questions for me!
WLP: I’ve read that for research for Angelology you stayed in a convent, can you tell us what a normal day was like there?
DT: The daily life of the nuns at the convent that I visited was—as best as I could tell-very orderly, with the various duties of the convent divided between them. One thing that I became fascinated with during my stay there was the way that the sisters performed perpetual adoration. Sisters would pray before an exposed host in a chapel and then they would be replaced by new sisters each hour. This prayer has been going on for over one hundred years.
WLP: Why did you choose to make one of the lead characters a Nun?
DT: Evangeline is a 23 year old nun whose parents left her with the Sisters of Perpetual Adoration. A convent seemed like the perfect place for Evangeline to be educated about angels while being sheltered from the world at large. There is seriousness about Evangeline that is also perfectly aligned with her role as a nun.
WLP: How did you research (other than staying at the convent) for angelology, especially the biblical mythology
DT: I spent a lot of time in the library, reading primary and secondary biblical texts. I think that my favorite way of doing research, however, was in looking at art that depicted angels—Fra Angelico, Raphael, Botticini. Renaissance painters created lovely images of angels.
WLP: Reading about Abigail Rockefeller had me googling to see if she was in fact a real person, how much of your book is rooted in fact?
DT: I was very interested in mixing reality with fiction so that the reader comes to fully believe in the world I’ve created. The supernatural elements of the story would not be at all interesting if the setting didn’t feel solid and tangible.
WLP:Can you tell us why you used Abigail Rockefeller in the book?
DT: First of all, I love Abigail Rockefeller’s achievements. She was an ardent collector of modern art, a philanthropist and a mother. Her social position gave her access to some interesting locations in New York City, and I knew that I would like to use some of those locations in the book. So bringing in a fictional Abigail Rockefeller was a way to include an interesting character and help develop plot simultaneously.
WLP: Angelology takes us to many different places in the world. Did you visit them all? Which was your favorite to visit?
DT: Yes, I’ve been to all the places that are used as locations in Angelology—Bulgaria, New York, Paris. I lived in Bulgaria for nearly 4 years and love it there. And of course I enjoyed visiting Paris. But there is something about New York City that is special.
WLP: You are currently living in the South of France writing the sequel to Angelology, can you tell us a bit about the sequel?
DT: The book I’m currently writing is called ANGELOPOLIS and it is a love story between Evangeline and Verlaine. There is an element of historical mystery and adventure to the story, but at the center of this novel you’ll find two beings who are trying to understand how to love each other.
I want to thank Danielle for taking the time to answer some questions for us. I found a really cool interview about her playlist for Angelology here.
Danielle’s publicist, Lindsay Prevette of Viking Penguin, has offered to giveaway a signed hardback edition of Angelology here.
Just answer the following question: Vampires or Angels (why)?
Contest ends on Friday March 19 @ 11:59 EST
42 Comments
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Great interview. I have seen the cover, but did not know what the book was about until now. The plot sounds great. Interesting research. How exciting to hear there will be a sequel.
Once upon a time I would have quickly said Vampires, but now I sway back and forth. I need a good solid Angel book to tip the scales.
Oooh this sounds right up my alley!
I say Angels. I love the whole history aspect and the relationships between them. Especially the evil Angels! Not so cherubic, those ones
Angels.
Vampires have been done to death. Sure, I still love a good vamp tale, but angels offer so much more lore that’s been fairly unexplored. Throughout history, we’ve always sought to give the Powers That Be human traits to make them easier for us to identify with, but angels were kind of a taboo topic for so long as far as taking them out and playing with them in the sandbox of fiction. Any time that you get into something that has to do with a person’s faith, even if it’s fiction, there can be unintended consequences.
Me? I’m a bad girl. So if I’m not supposed to, I wanna. *grin*
I have to add that the cover for Angelology is just beautiful.
Why not vampire angels. mmmm! That would incorporate all the sexiness possible!
Jase
I love Vampires! But angels are coming in a close second.
I enjoy both but prefer vampires! They are usually dark and mysterious and have immortality! I’ve been hearing alot about this one, sounds good.
I love angels, but I prefer vampires. I don’t know there is just something about them. This novel sounds really interesting. There are a few angels and demons books coming out. I guess some authors are trying to break out of the vampire genre.
I love Angels because to me they are good and opposite of evil. I do believe angels exist and are here to watch over us and help us should we need help. Of course Angels come from God and they will never harm anyone but spend all their time helping others and sometimes they are your friends who are there to pick you up and brush you off and get you back on track.
For me? Vampires. I love the sensual mystery and danger associated with them….And they are ususally hot! Lol, but seriously. My preference is only because I have not yet been exposed to many “angels”. My only reading experiance so far, was with JR Ward and Covet (also BDB fallen angle).
I am hoping to recitify this very soon!
Thanks!
Great Interview
Happy Reading!
Kate aka YzhaBella
Vampires, because i haven’t read many books with angels.
That was a great interview – I know your loved the book in your review Natalie and the more I read about it the more interested in the book I am. It sounds like a great read and I liked the playlist link – she has some interesting choices for her characters.
As for Vampires vs. Angels – I haven’t read alot of books featuring angels and I do love me some mysterious sexy vampire action so for now I’m going with vampires.
I really wanna read this one~ Woot woot!
Anyway, I’m gonna pick angels…because I’m a good Catholic girl…haha~
Hum, that is a good question, but I would have to say at this point vamps, just because I have read more about them. Only getting into paranormals the last year and a half I haven’t had the chance to read much about angels. Would love to start with this book. I have heard so many great things about it and have seen it a lot on the blogs, please count me in. I also blogged about the contest here: http://bookminded.blogspot.com/2010/03/contest-march-11th.html
Brande
I have always loved vampires and probably always will. I can’t help it, they are fascinating to me and have been since I was a little girl. Though I am enjoying the rise in Angels as a nice change in reading material every now and then.
OMG! Me please!! =P
Vampires or Angels? Angels… all the way! Why? Because they can be depicted in so many different ways that it is amazing, and it will always be different! My personal faves-> Dark twisted angels!! Yummeh! =P
Hi Wicked, I just wanted to stop by and comment on this post. Don’t enter me in the contest, I already have my copy.
This book was so excellent, I stayed up very late reading it on more than one occasion. I cannot wait to see the movie. I interviewed Danielle too. She’s so sweet.
Thanks for the interview. As to the question: I will have to say Angels. Why? I will say them mostly because this book in particular had nuns in it. My mom would be thrilled, so with her nearing b-day… I defer to her.
Angel or Vampire? That’s hard! I love to read about both of them, but If I had to choose…. I would have to go with the Vampire. It’s just something about their tortured souls getting the HEA that appeals to me. This book sounds fascinating and I am definitely going to be on the look out for it. I’m wishing you much success with this series.
Vampires or Angels (why)
Can i choose both ? since i love them both !
They have their own unique ways to be loved
I have this book on my radar since couple days ago ! I’m dying to read it.
Both! Because I like both! Haha
Great interview! I love that cover like nobody’s business!
While angels are definitely interesting, I’m going to have to go with vampires. They’ve always been my first love.
Deidre a.k.a. Asylumgirl
http://www.gothicasylum.blogspot.com
If the giveaway is open worldwide then please enter me.
I have read a number of reviews and have become very curious about this book and would like to have a chance to read it.
Since I have read very few books on Angels and a whole stack on Vampires, I would have to be contrary and say ANGELS !
Thanks
angels..because they are not good or bad..they are neutral. There is a hierarchy and it’s pretty interesting..Thrones, cherubs, Seraphim, nephilim…it’s all so very interesting.
Vampries. I think there is something vastly more interesting about the battle to overcome evil and the impulse to harm.
[...] Danielle Trussoni, author of Angelology, by Wicked Little Pixie [...]
Angels because they can be badass too, and vampires have been done over and over again
still love my vamps tho
Great interview. Really looking forward to reading this one.
Vampires, everyone love the bad boy.
[...] Angelology Giveaway – Ends Friday March 19, 2010 [...]
Angels! I want something else other than vampires nowadays. And angels sound cool!
Angles, I almost so close join a convent when I was 16, Life was tough at home and my only way was to give my heart and soul to God, after all it is a gift from him, anyway it didnt happen The Convent I mean, but I still follow God, I dont go to church, but my faith is very strong, I havent read the book and its on my list to buy, I read the sample of it from Barnes and Noble, sounds just like what Id lov to read..So I choose Angles boy they sure can be fighters,strong able to kick ass.I read a lot of Vampire books too, boy this is a tough question..
Such a tough call, but I’d have to go with angels. I love the stories around them concerning the ultimate battle between good & evil…heaven and hell. Its something that has been going on since the beginning of time.
There is something about vampires that makes them immortal and I don’t mean just their lifespans. They have been written about since 17th century, not to mention the mythology surrounding them before that. Although angles are also immortal they don’t have the same allure as vampires. Vampires are complex and the internal struggles they face makes them both attractive and frightening. Oh sure, you can have a “fallen” angel but then they just become demons/devils which, in my opinion and it is very possible i could be wrong, don’t have that internal conflict that makes vampires so alluring. A bit of a long winded answer but I figure might as well put my two cents in.
Thanks for the giveaway!
Vampires, I just don’t like Angels’ image so much.
angels oh yum
Angels! Because 1) they are new, authors have much more freedom to creaty their own angels and their universe, what are their powers, strengths, 2) especially because of their novelty they are exciting! I love that they are perceived as good creatures and yet in thes new novels fallen angels get more and more screentime too!
I believe vampires to be the old trend of paranormal books, while angels are now the up and coming trend. Though, I read more books about vampires, I would have to say angels. I think the plots, characters, etc can only go so far and I have been seeing vampire books that remind me too much of ones that I have read before. The books that I have read thus far about angels have had fresh origional ideas and outlooks.
Vampires because I’ve read more books about them than angels, but I would love to read more about them.
I choose Vampires because they are darker. But don’t tell my grandmother.
Angels!! I’m kind of tired of vampires…
Angels . . . they have the added dimension of goodness as well as the potential for being bad once they fall from grace.
Definitely angels because the protect!!
nancyecdavis AT bellsouth DOT net
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