Book Whispers: Interview: E. Van Lowe

First off, big thanks to Bewitching Book Tours for hooking me up with this tour and the giveaway blitz that will be happening later this month.

I’ve been curious about the Falling Angels saga for a while now and I’m excited to be able to do an interview with the author. As well as doing reviews of the books, which will be spread between now and December 26th!

Shera (Book Whispers): In your own words, introduce yourself.

E Van Lowe: Hi I’m E. I’m the fun loving author of The Falling Angels Saga.

BW: What inspired you to write the Falling Angels series?

E: When I started out, Boyfriend From Hell, was originally a one-off title. But my writing history is writing series for TV, so I knew as I transitioned into novel writing that I wanted to create an awesome series, but do it with books instead of television. About a third of the way through, I figured out that Boyfriend From Hell was actually the beginning of my first paranormal series. I’m glad I did.

BW: Is there one particular character that you like writing more, or have more fun with?

E: The character I have the most fun with is Maudrina’s aunt, Aunt Jaz. She’s a jovial southern woman who lives in a tiny apartment and loves to cook. She’s also a sage on all things occult, and dispenses her advice on dealing with demons and other nasties over a home-cooked southern meal or desert. I originally styled her after the Oracle in The Matrix, but once I started writing, she took on a life of her own.

BW: What makes Falling Angels stand out in the YA Angel genre?

E: For me, the series stands out because of how fast-paced it is and also because of the humor. Early in my TV writing career I wrote for Knightrider, the David Hasselhoff series with KITT the car. I was a new writer, and learned how to keep a story crackling along while I was there. I also have an outsized sense of humor, and even in my serious scenes it somehow manages to creep in. These two traits help distinguish the Falling Angels from others.

BW: When you're in a writing jam, is there a particular author you look to for inspiration? One that makes you ask, "What would ‘insert author's name here’ do?"

E: No, not really. I definitely reference other authors, but not at times like those. I’m always in a writing jam. I enjoy writing my characters into jams, and then I’ll sit around for an hour or so trying to figure their way out of it. In Never Slow Dance With A Zombie, I had protagonist Margot Jean Johnson in the gym, climbed to the top of the ropes, with hundreds of snarling zombies below waiting for her to fall. She was up there for two days before I figured my way out of that one. LOL.

BW: What are some of your favorite books?

E: My reading tastes are all over the place. But here goes: when I was young I was inspired by J.D. Salinger’s Nine Stories, so I LOVE him. I was also inspired by Stephen King’s Salem’s Lot. I got my YA comedic chops reading Confessions of A Teenage Drama Queen over and over. For a plain old good read I have loved The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao by Junot Diaz, A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini, anything by Sophie Kinsella and Guilty Pleasures by Laurell K. Hamilton… and about 50 others. LOL. The answer to this question will change from day to day.

BW: What titles would you suggest for readers that like your book?

E: I don’t know. My style is quite different for a YA paranormal author. I am currently reading Cassandra Clare. Her The Mortal Instruments and The Infernal Devices series are wonderful. Right now Clare is my favorite paranormal author. I think if you like her books you will like my books, but really, they are not similar at all.

BW: What can readers look forward to seeing from you? Are you writing more books to go along with Heaven Sent or are you working on a whole new concept?

E: I plan to write the fourth and final book in the Falling Angels Saga some time this year. I also have a middle grade boy’s adventure book I wrote two years ago that I need to polish and find a publisher for.

BW: For you personally, not your characters, between a vampire love interest and a werewolf love interest which do you prefer? (What team are you on? Team Vampire or Team Werewolf.)

E: I’m team vampire all the way. Is there really a choice?... I hope I don’t lose any readers answering that question. LOL.

BW: Now I have to ask this one! Are you Team Angel or Demon?

E: It’s not that simple in my series. Nothing is that black and white. The bible says that Satan and all the demons in hell are actually fallen angels. An angel today can be a demon tomorrow, hence, The Falling Angels Saga… Get it?

BW: Go wild! Let us know something funny about you, share something that's on your mind, or anything else that's important about your books.

E: Seriously, you know what’s on my mind—that on Friday turned in the last pass at the Heaven Sent manuscript for my editors, and now I am nervous as hell about reader response. Boyfriend From Hell and Earth Angel were so well received, I don’t want to let my readers down. I know, that’s not exactly funny. What can I tell ya, I can’t be a laugh a minute all the time ;-)

About The Author
E. Van Lowe is an author, television writer, screen-writer, playwright and producer who has worked on such TV shows as "The Cosby Show," "Even Stevens," and "Homeboys In Outer Space." He has been nominated for both an Emmy and an Academy Award. His first YA Paranormal novel, "Never Slow Dance With A Zombie," was a selection of The Scholastic Book Club, and a nominee for an American Library Association Award. His Best Selling novels, “Boyfriend From Hell” and “Earth Angel,” are the first two books in the Falling Angels Saga. “The Zombie Always Knocks Twice” is the first book in his Hollyweird series.