Author Interview with Pam Bachorz (CANDOR, DROUGHT) and another CONTEST!

Guys, guys!

Holy cow, do I have a special treat for you. So, ALA Midwinter meeting is fast approaching here in San Diego which means all those ruffian librarians are descending on my town in T minus one day. But ALA is not just for librarians! Authors, bloggers, people of a publishing ilk all find themselves drawn to ALA, the table after table of new and upcoming books. It's Nirvana, I tell you!

Last ALA in DC I had the great pleasure of running into author Pam Bachorz, where we quickly discovered our mutual love for Top Chef (particularly one tasty Spike) and a mutual alma mater. Pam is the author of the amazing CANDOR and the forthcoming DROUGHT...and she's been kind enough to sit down with us here at the Archives for an interview!

First, a bit about Candor (from Amazon.com):

The picture-perfect new town of Candor, Florida, is attracting more and more new families, drawn by its postcard-like small-town feel, with white picket fences, spanking-new but old-fashioned-looking homes, and neighborliness.

But the parents are drawn by something else as well. They know that in Candor their obstreperous teenagers will somehow become rewired - they'll learn to respect their elders, to do their chores, and enjoy their homework. They'll give up the tattoos, metal music, and partying that have been driving their parents crazy. They'll become every parent's dream.

So my fellow writers of the Archives, where goes on in the mind that writes such a great story? Lucky us, we've got it here for the picking.

CANDOR's setting, not to mention everything going on within it, is incredibly unique! Can you tell us a little about your inspiration for CANDOR?

I was inspired to write CANDOR back when I was living in Celebration, Florida--a planned community designed and built by the Walt Disney Co., right outside of Walt Disney World! I was out walking the dog one night and the mosquito truck drove by, coating us both in a fine orange-scented mist. I thought, "what if that had Prozac in it? what if that's why everyone is so NICE here?". Brainwashing, and eventually CANDOR, was born...

You create such a detailed, believable society in Candor, Florida, not to mention some awesome meta-fictive extensions (check out The REAL Candor Florida here: http://www.candorfl.com/) What was the most exciting things about creating this world? The most difficult? And...inquiring fans and devotees of Team Oscar want to know...any plans for a sequel?

Glad you liked the setting! For me, books actually always start with setting. Until I know my world I can't figure out who lives there or what happens. I loved giving readers a peek into the "feel" of living in a planned community, but I wanted to make sure to "own" Candor and create unique spaces that don't really exist in real life--which was challenging but hopefully I pulled it off.

As for a sequel, I definitely wasn't planning one when I wrote the book. It was conceptualized as a one-book story. But I might be interested in returning to the world of Oscar and Nia in the future. It's just not anything I'm working on right now!

Your second book, DROUGHT, comes out January 25. Congratulations! Any particular boons or roadblocks that came with publication the second time around? Anything you wish you would have known the first time through?

Thanks, I'm really excited about DROUGHT's release. This baby has been a part of my world for a long time. As for roadblocks, I entirely rewrote DROUGHT after getting my editor's feedback about the story, essentially shifting the timeline BACK and changing the quarterpoint of the original story to be the climax, instead. It was totally worth it but whew, definitely a lot to do! Boons: every book teaches you so much. This one was a proving ground for writing a deeper romance and also an opportunity to learn about how to manage writing a longer book.

I wish I had known to trust myself and my process, the first time through. There are just going to be points when I freak out and want to ditch the whole thing. There are going to be points when I'm sure there's no way through to the end. Knowing that, the second time through--recognizing it--made a big difference. Not that it stopped me from living through those same difficult milestones again!

With the paperback of CANDOR having just hit shelves on Dec. 14th and DROUGHT on Jan. 25, you've no doubt had a crazy busy holiday season. What can we look forward to from Pam Bachorz in the future?

I'm working on another idea, an entirely new world with a very different cast of characters than what I've written before. I hope it will be thrilling, thought-provoking, and most of all FUN to read!

Finally, as a fellow Top Chef lover, who's your pick for winner of Top Chef All Stars? And will Marcel finally shave his head?

I am totally devoted to fellow DC'er Spike. I've eaten in both his restaurants and there's no better burger than his Colletti's Smokehouse. Although I have a soft spot for Carla, too, who manages her catering business in the next town over from where I live. I hear she's super nice. That being said, who will WIN? My money is on Angelo or Casey.

Pam, thank you so much for stopping by! And if you're in ALA this weekend, be sure to pick up an ARC of DROUGHT! You can also snag it any number of bookstores and online booksellers come January 25th.

OOOOOOORRRRRRR.....

Leave a comment on this here post!
On January 13th, I'll pick one lucky winner to receive:
an ARC of DROUGHT as well as a copy of CANDOR.
Easy Peasy Port Brindisi!

Now if you'll excuse me, I have some fine orange mist to spray around the house...