AAD 2012 Author Spotlight & Giveaway: Kelly Meding

Authors After Dark 2012 Author Spotlight: Kelly Meding

Kelly Meding lives in a little town with a slightly neurotic cat. Writing through childhood, she wrote screenplays in high school and college and went back to prose during her last two years in college. When she is not writing or working, she will be found reading a good book, making jewelry, painting ceramics, playing with her cat, or watching movies. Some of her favorite movies include The Secret of NIMH (me too!), L.A. Confidential, Band of Brothers, A Nightmare on Elm Street (me too!) and The Dark Knight. Some of her favorite books are Watership Down by Richard Adams; The Story Girl, by LM Montgomery; The Stand by Stephen King; the Little House on the Prairie series; anything by Gena Showalter.

Kelly was able to take the time to sit down with us and answer some interview questions for us! Let us jump right in!

What is the first book you remember reading and loving as a child?

Oh wow, that’s a hard one. I’m not even sure how to answer that, because I’ve been in love with books as far back as I can remember.  One of my favorite book collections were the Serendipity books, named after a pink water dragon of the same name. Each book was about a different animal or creature, and they were so beautifully illustrated. I loved the pictures as much as the words in them.

The first chapter book I remember was probably something by Roald Dahl. I couldn’t tell you which one, but I’ve loved his books since childhood.

What is your first memory of realizing you were passionate about writing?

In seventh grade, I wrote my first “novel.” It was all handwritten in one of those black-and-white marbelized notebooks, and it was terrible. All cliches and bad teen soap opera, but I was so proud of this story. I gave it to my then-best friend to read over the summer.  Well, as adolescents do, we had a huge fight over something incredibly stupid, and in retaliation, then-best friend ripped the story to shreds and flushed it.

I was absolutely devastated. Not so much by losing her friendship (twelve year old girls can be incredibly fickle), but by her destroying the only copy I had of that book. It was the first time I realized how much I valued the stories I wrote, and how irreplaceable those words were once they were gone. After that, no only-copies of my work went to anyone except teachers for grading.

When you need to find inspiration in music, what do you turn to?

I have Rhapsody on my computer, so I can find almost anything I need. The music I listen to usually depends on the book I’m writing, or the scene I’m working on. My playlists are extremely eclectic. I listen to everything from Glee covers to metal to orchestral soundtracks.

What is the first thing you plan to do when you get to New Orleans for AAD?

After I lay down for a little while and get rid of the headache that inevitably comes from flying on an airplane? *grin* I want a beignet, baby! And I want to try real chicory coffee. I’m going to be in New Orleans, so I have to indulge a little in the food.  After that, I can’t wait to meet readers and other authors!

Do you have a guilty pleasure on TV, and if so, what is it?

I don’t watch as much TV as I used to, and when I do it’s usually Food Network or A&E. But I have been known to indulge in one of E!’s “America’s Next Top Model” marathons on occasion. Also “Flipping Out” is amusing in its own way.

Kelly Meding’s war-ravaged Los Angeles is ground zero for the ultimate Meta human showdown in this sexy, action-packed new series.

Fifteen years ago, Teresa “Trance” West was a skilled telepath and a proud member of the Ranger Corps. But ever since the Rangers were inexplicably rendered powerless at the climax of the devastating Meta War, she’s bounced from one dead-end job to another. Now her powers have reappeared just as mysteriously as they vanished – only they’re completely transformed and more potent than ever. And they’re threatening to destroy her.

Trance heads to Los Angeles to track down the surviving Rangers and discover who restored her powers – and why – but a phantom enemy is determined to kill them before they can reassemble. As they dodge his deadly attacks and come to terms with their new role as heroes, Trance and the rest of the team set out to annihilate the sinister madman… only to discover their own powers are his greatest weapons.

GIVEAWAY: Kelly Meding is offering up a signed copy of Trance to one of our lucky readers!! Just leave a comment and tell us what magical power you would have, if you you were granted one.