The Boundless Booklist: Author Interview: Desiree Finkbeiner

Author Interview with Desiree Finkbeiner

Release Date: March 28, 2012

Publisher: Hydra Publications

Hi Anne! Thank you for taking the time to answer some questions about your new book! So first off, describe Ethos in 3 words.

Virtuous. Spiritual. Adventurous.

What inspired you to write Ethos?

Multiple sources inspired the story, but in short, I knew I just needed to write. So I tried to think of a way that I could appeal to a wide market, while choosing genres and topics of popular interest, but did my best to put my own spin on it so it was unique in its own way. I tried to avoid clichés so my own voice would shine through the work.

It’s a story about integrity, duty, agency and self mastery. I wanted to write something that would teach a moral, inspired by an apparent lack in action by the people of today. People everywhere seem complacent, and the liberty of those same people is on the brink of destruction. My series is a call to action; to act or be acted upon. It’s about choice, the very thing that makes us superior beings… and the same element that can ultimately lead to destruction, if not exercised wisely.

If your book was being turned into a movie, who would you cast as the leading roles?

That’s a hard one. I honestly think I’d almost rather see NEW, emerging actors as the leading roles… I’ve always found it hard to accept certain popular actors/actresses in new roles because they live in my mind as the role they played in their last hit. For example, Robert Pattinson will always seem like Edward Cullen to me. I just couldn’t imagine him being anything else LOL. Harrison Ford will always be Indiana Jones and Han Solo to me.

So for my own story, I’d almost rather find new talent so Ethos can form its own faces. However, there is one French actor that, to me, would make a great ‘Kalen’. (he’s virtually unknown by the American market… though maybe not young enough to fill the role since he was born in 1981) Florent Mothe, who plays the role of Antonio Salieri in Mozart, l'opéra rock. If you take a moment to Google him, once you see his pictures, you’ll fall in love with him, but he sings like an angel too!

Are you working on anything new at the moment? If so, can you tell us anything about it?

I’m working on book #2 in the Ethos series, which will be out this fall… probably around October. Also, a YA steampunk series called ‘The Elevator’.

Ethos #2 has twice the action and suspense as book one, and of course, takes Brianna and Kalen’s relationship to the next level. Some new characters are introduced and some from book one join them on their journey back to Earth, to try and stop Ellette’s evil plan from moving forward.

Do you have any advice for young writers?

Ignore the pessimistic criticism of others. Most of those type of comments are stemmed from envy or feelings of inadequacy. Never destroy a piece of art that doesn’t appeal to you. To me, that is pure selfishness, and you’re robbing the world of a creation that was begging to be created, even if it happened to be your hand that put it on paper. It wasn’t meant for you, and the person who needs that piece of art/writing in their life, will find it and make it theirs if you only make it available to them. I call it artistic abortion, destroying something that you might not want just because you don’t like it… But there are others out there who would love to adopt your creation!

You are a conduit, a tool to make this world richer by your creations, so why not let those works bless the lives of others, even if you yourself aren’t satisfied with them. Beauty is interpreted differently by everyone, and all art can be loved by someone, even if it’s only one soul that loves it.

Books you currently have on your TBR list?

Several indie books by unpublished authors.

Favorite place you have ever visited?

I’ve been to 5 countries and 30 states, but the rocky mountains hold a special place in my heart. Especially Warner Mountain in, Moab Utah, and Huntington Canyon, near Price (which has a lot of family history there) and equal to that would be Yellow Stone National park, in Wyoming. The western states are breath taking, particularly Utah, Colorado, and Wyoming. Anyone looking for a spiritual experience simply MUST visit the Rockies.

In fact, book #2 in the Ethos series includes some of my favorite places…