Get to Know Author Natasha Larry

Please give a warm welcome to Natasha Larry, author of Darwin's Children.

1. Please tell readers about your current book.

Here is my publisher's blurb for Darwin's Children;
Life can get pretty complicated for any seventeen-year-old girl, but for a home-schooled telepathic black girl trying to survive in a prestigious private school in small-town Jonesborough, Tennessee, it can be maddening – especially when her telepathic father keeps eavesdropping on her thoughts!
Jaycie Lerner’s family isn’t the usual mom-dad-kid setup. Jaycie’s mom’s MIA, but Allison, her personal live-in ‘trainer,’ is more than a mom, with her own special abilities, like being able to lift cars and run incredibly fast. And Jaycie’s godfather John is more than persuasive – he can literally convince anyone to do anything.
As far as the rest of the world’s concerned, Jaycie’s on the outside looking in. The townsfolk love Jaycie’s pediatrician father, but she doesn’t fit in with ‘normal’ kids, and she doesn’t really want to. Most of her free time is spent training to keep her telekinetic and telepathic powers under control. But there’s one thing she can’t control – and that’s her feelings, especially when her best friend Matt is nearby. If only he knew what she was truly capable of...
Everything seems to be status quo for Jaycie until she receives a cryptic message from a stranger and meets a very unusual girl new to Jonesborough. Then all hell breaks loose!

2. Who or what inspires your writing?

The people in my life inspire me on a daily basis. The characters in my book share a lot of qualities with my friends and family members. Comic books are another huge inspiration for me.

3. When did you know you would be a writer?

I started writing when I was eight years old. Everyone always told me I had a natural talent for it, but I hated most everything I wrote. As a result, I explored other things. I fell in love with musical theater in high school. In college I found a surprising passion for History. Through all that I always would end up writing again. I don't think I knew I would be a writer until I wrote this book. It's the only published work I am proud of.

4. How long did it take you to write your first novel?

One month.

5. What is the hardest part of writing for you?

I tend to go into too much detail.

6. Do you have any writing rituals?

I usually need a few Sharpie markers to outline and a large pot of coffee.

7. Have you written anything else?

I have also completed the first four novels in this series. I am also working on two character spin-off's for this series, and have completed a novella in an unrelated series. The second title, Unnatural Law, will be released September 2011.

8. Any advice to aspiring writers?

Ah, I still consider myself an aspiring writer. The best advice I was ever given was to take rejection with a grain of salt. Rejection letters are tools to learn from.

9. Who are your favorite authors?

Oh, wow. I have way too many of those. Frank Miller, Stan Lee, Judy Blume, Anne Sexton, Eric Foner, Nova Sparks, and Alexander Hammond to name a few.

10. What are your favorite books, or which book has impacted you the most?

Again, that is a long list. The first one's that come to mind are Watchmen by Alan Moore, The Dark Knight Strikes Again by Frank Miller, Where the Sidewalk Ends by Shel Silverstein, and Fight Club.

11. What are you currently reading?

I just finished reading Venus in Saturn by C. Wood. I devoured it.

12. How do readers find out more about you?

My author blog is: http://www.natashalarrybooks.blogspot.com
I can also be contacted via Facebook.
And Twitter @natashalarry

Life can get pretty complicated for any seventeen-year-old girl, but for a home-schooled telepathic black girl trying to survive in a prestigious private school in small-town Jonesborough, Tennessee, it can be maddening – especially when her telepathic father keeps eavesdropping on her thoughts!
Jaycie Lerner’s family isn’t the usual mom-dad-kid setup. Jaycie’s mom’s MIA, but Allison, her personal live-in ‘trainer,’ is more than a mom, with her own special abilities, like being able to lift cars and run incredibly fast. And Jaycie’s godfather John is more than persuasive – he can literally convince anyone to do anything.
As far as the rest of the world’s concerned, Jaycie’s on the outside looking in. The townsfolk love Jaycie’s pediatrician father, but she doesn’t fit in with ‘normal’ kids, and she doesn’t really want to. Most of her free time is spent training to keep her telekinetic and telepathic powers under control. But there’s one thing she can’t control – and that’s her feelings, especially when her best friend Matt is nearby. If only he knew what she was truly capable of...
Everything seems to be status quo for Jaycie until she receives a cryptic message from a stranger and meets a very unusual girl new to Jonesborough. Then all hell breaks loose!

• Paperback: 260 pages
• Publisher: Penumbra Publishing
• ISBN: 9781935563518
• Purchase at Amazon