Interview with Alyssa Liljequist

Today, I'd like to introduce you to my friend Alyssa Liljequist. She has just written a short story, titled "Deadly Delirium", which is being released today!

She graciously answered some questions for me, and so below is the interview for you all to read. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did! =)

Thank you for doing this interview with me, Carrie! Your questions were very well thought out.

What inspired you to write "Deadly Delirium"? Well, I guess you could say I was inspired by the theme of "love" that the contest required. Instead of doing the more "normal" romantic love story, I set out to show the love between a brother and a sister.

What prompted you to publish "Deadly Delirium" as opposed to all the other short stories you've written? I'm glad you asked this. A lot of people might not realize that Deadly Delirium is being published because I entered it into the Euterpe YA short story contest and I was chosen as the grand prize winner!

Since not everyone may know what it's about, can you give us a short synopsis of "Deadly Delirium"? Though Johanna and her older brother, Karl, lost their parents to Nazi rule in Germany, they have not stopped standing up for their beliefs. Now Communism is in full force in East Germany and they have been imprisoned along with their friend, Franz, for their resistance efforts. Johanna falls ill and becomes delirious with fever. Is there anything that can be done or will Karl and Franz be forced to watch her slowly die? As her life literally flashes before her eyes, will Johanna have the strength-and desire-to survive?

I really like historical fiction! What made you choose East Germany during the Nazi occupation for your setting? I love historical fiction, too, and have written in the genre a lot so it was a natural fit. While they grew up during the Nazi occupation, the story is actually set when East Germany was dominated by Communist rule.

What is your greatest hope/goal in publishing "Deadly Delirium" specifically and in publishing books in general? The greatest thing that could happen from someone reading one of my books is if God ever chooses to use it to lead someone to Him. My words obviously can't save anyone. But if they ever point someone to Jesus, that would be awesome! Deadly Delirium (unlike my finished middle grade novel) is not overtly Christian nor is it being published by a Christian publishing company. Nevertheless, I hope this story of John 15:13 love will inspire people to look to the Source of love. God is love.

What is the hardest part about writing a short story? What is the easiest part? What comes to my mind--in answer to both questions--is the length. It can be a challenge to develop a story in a limited amount of words. At the same time, there are not as many expectations as one would have for a novel and short stories are much quicker to write so in that sense, the length makes them easier.

Do you have any goals in the future concerning being an author? Definitely. I would love to publish novels and perhaps a non-fiction book or two in the future. I hope at least some of my books end up in print with electronic versions as well. Right now I'm trying to find an agent for my finished middle grade novel that is set during the Klondike Gold Rush.

Do you prefer writing in silence, with music, white noise in the background... What is your ideal setting to write in? I prefer silence if I'm really trying to concentrate on what I'm writing. If I'm checking for errors or I'm stuck and am trying to come up with ideas, I might turn some upbeat Christian music on. I usually write on my computer in my room and have songs stored on it so it's convenient :).

Thank you, Alyssa, so much! I enjoyed reading all your answers!

Okay, dear readers, so if you want to buy her new story:

To buy Deadly Delirium: http://euterpe.musapublishing.com/. (You may have to scroll down a bit until you see it.)

Deadly Delirium's FB page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Deadly-Delirium/350986171592039

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~About Alyssa

Alyssa Liljequist is an 18-year-old homeschool graduate who loves God and others. She is also a freelance writer whose work has been published by a variety of online and print publications. Alyssa has a heart for missions and orphans. Her interests include video production, reading, and writing.

Alyssa's blog: http://mylifewithamission.blogspot.com/

Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/alyssa.liljequist (please mention Deadly Delirium when you add me)
Twitter: http://twitter.com/alyssawriter

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Want to win a free copy of Deadly Delirium?? =) Alyssa is giving one away here: http://mylifewithamission.blogspot.com/2012/02/deadly-delirium-giveaway.html

Hurry! It ends March 15th.

Thanks for reading, guys! Have a great day! =)