Author Interview: Nina Malkin

SWOON is in stores today! I appreciate Nina for taking time out to answer questions about her new novel. Some of Nina’s other novels include 6X: The Uncensored Confessions, 6X: Loud, Fast, & Out of Control, Orange Is the New Pink and An Unlikely Cat Lady: Feral Adventures in the Backyard Jungle. SWOON is her first novel in the paranormal genre.

What was your inspiration behind SWOON?
While SWOON is at its core a love story, it’s also a tale of betrayal, hypocrisy, revenge and redemption. The notion of a contemporary girl who becomes possessed by the spirit of a boy from the past magically occurred to me (as ideas do), but SWOON didn’t take shape until I was going through a significant betrayal in my own life. Basically, I had two choices while dealing with this situation that weighed so heavily upon me: let it slay me, or write my way out of it. Since I’ve always found writing therapeutic, I took the latter route—and was fortunate that my exploration into treachery resulted in SWOON.

How did you come up with the title?
SWOON. Say it! Such a lovely word, so round, so full, so ripe. And the meaning! Who wouldn’t want to be “overwhelmed by happiness, excitement, adoration or infatuation”?

How do you conceive your plot ideas?
Unlike many authors, who outline their novels and know what’s happening at each stage in the story, I write primarily for my own pleasure—I want to be as blown away by what happens as any other reader. So I let the characters talk to me, tell me their story, and oftentimes I’ll sit back from the computer like, “whoa—who knew!?” In SWOON, the time travel subplot, the mysteries surrounding various deaths and, yes, the notorious “spanking scene” were all surprises to me.

What makes your book so different from others?
Sinclair Youngblood Powers, as both hero and antagonist, is unlike any character I’ve ever met in fiction, my own or anyone’s. Flawed characters are the most compelling, and Sin is uniquely flawed. Is he evil? Is he good? Yes, and yes. He is the hero, and he is the villain. He is driven—yet he is torn. He is noble—yet he is petty. He is capable of great cruelty and great sensitivity. He is passionate—yet he is thoughtful. He makes a lot of mistakes, but ultimately he takes responsibility. The fact that he is incredibly hot is just the icing on the cake.

What are your expectations for SWOON?
A book is like a baby. You mustn’t have expectations for it; you must simply try to do right by it. I wrote a novel I believe to be true to the trinity of plot, character and language. Although I’m not a provocateur, I didn’t shy away from controversy or change things that were inherent to the story to make the book “safer” or more appealing to the masses. I sought to amuse and minister to myself and also reach others with universal ideas and emotions. I can do no more. Now it’s up to readers—and to blogs like Fantastic Book Reviews that influence readers. I’m gratified that there are blogs like yours that help books find their audience.

What do you consider your best accomplishment?
My best accomplishment is also my greatest gift, and I repeat it every single day. I live.

What’s next for you?
There’s sort of a cattle call going on in my cranium, as the characters camped out there try to lure me into telling their stories. That’s all I’ll divulge about my fiction right now. I am, however, very excited about my website ninamalkin.com. Rather than make it purely a vehicle of shameless self-promotion, there’s a lot of interactive stuff going on that allows me to establish a rapport with readers—a “love advice” column, tarot card readings, fortunes and stuff. Visit me!

Thanks Nina!

For more information about Nina Malkin and SWOON check out her website here.