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Teen Author Boot Camp 2014: Interview with Renee Collins

Teen Author Boot Camp 2014: Interview with Renee Collins

Last updated on: March 4, 2014 at 10:10 am by Jonathan Ryan

Teen Author Boot Camp 2014: Interview with Renee Collins 2014-03-04T10:10:20-06:00 Jonathan Ryan

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(In a few hours, I’ll be boarding a plane for Utah to speak at Teen Author Boot Camp. I’m beyond excited. One of the reasons is that I get to meet cool fellow authors like Renee Collins.)

How did you get into writing?

It sounds like such a cliche, but I’ve always been a writer. In high school, however, I wrote mostly angsty teenage love poetry to boys who absolutely didn’t deserve my fervent passion. It wasn’t until years later, after most of the angst had left my system, that I decided to write novels.

What does your “writing day” look like?

I have kids, so no two days look the same. But I do try and write at night, when everyone has gone to bed. I just tell my body that it doesn’t need much sleep. It works. Most of the time . . .

Tell us about Relic and some of the themes you wanted to explore.

The magic system in Relic was actually one of the first concepts I developed when I decided I wanted to seriously write. The idea of fantasy creatures being long extinct, and their bones mined for magical properties stuck with me, even though that first book died within a few chapters. A few years later, I read a memoir style novel set in the Old West and I fell in love with the setting. It’s such a vibrant and diverse and raw era. I love the idea of these different cultures coming together in a rough new world and trying to scrape out a living.

Being a fantasy fan, I wanted to weave some magic in, and happily, the blend felt very natural. My “relics” concept seemed to fit perfectly, and so a story was born. Right away, I pictured a girl in the red-rock desert watching her town burn in a massive, magical fire. That girl is Maggie Davis. She takes her little sister to the nearby town of Burning Mesa, but when word comes of other towns being burned by the same mysterious fires, Maggie is determined to solve the mystery. She has to make dangerous alliances along the way, and in the process learns how sinister relic magic can be in the wrong hands.

Why are you participating in Teen Author book camp?

Because I love teenagers! And I mean that in the least creepy way possible. Seriously, I love teaching and interacting with teenagers. They’re so fun and lively. I love getting a discussion going with them and hearing how their minds work. It’s a blast, and as an added perk, I also find it helps me with my work, since I write YA.

What future projects are on your plate?

The sequel to Relic is in the works, and I’m also currently editing a YA time-travel(ish) love story with my agent. On the non-writing related front, I’ve recently decided to brush up on my cello skills and I’m always seeking the perfect comfort food recipe.

Buy Relic here. Go on….DO IT….

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