An Interview with Teri Brown- Author of Born of Illusion & *GIVEAWAY*

*BORN OF ILLUSION GIVEAWAY*

An Interview with Teri Brown author of Born of Illusion

Recently I had the opportunity to interview Teri Brown, the amazing mind behind the Born of Illusion series. Born of illusion, has an intriguing storyline that will whisk you back into the time of, flappers, jazz, magic, and the roaring 20’s.Emersing you within a world of magicians, mediums and mentalists. Where the gifted illusionist, Anna- rumored to be the illegitimate daughter of Harry Houdini, and her mother steal the stage with a mother daughter act of illusions and mentalist extraordinaire.

Teri Brown knows how to captivate her audience, as if she is an illusionist performing. With a slight of hand this story’s allure suddenly appears before you, where the magic and the mystique lift off the pages. Making you feel as if you are part of a captivated audience watching the performance of a lifetime.

Being granted and inside look into the working mind behind this masterpiece was a privilege, as much as it is an insight, giving the series even more depth and personality.

If this magical series has caught your eye watch for Teri Brown’s e-novella Born of Corruption as well as the next book in the series, Born of Deception due out in 2014.

Did you have a love for stage magic before writing Born of Illusion, or is this a new knowledge you acquired while writing this book?

Teri: Who doesn't love magic? I've always enjoyed watching stage magic, but I guess I didn't have the appreciation for it before that I do now. Writing the book definitely opened my eyes as far as how much time, effort and thought actually goes into it.

Was Harry Houdini always a character you wanted immersed in the storyline? If so, which character came first Harry or Anna?

Teri: I guess I would have to say Harry--in a way.  I first thought of doing a book about Harry Houdini's illegitimate daughter, but I didn't know Anna at all when I first thought of the concept. She developed along with the plot. So Harry came first.

 Your inventions were perfectly described for the readers mind, were they your own creations?

Teri: The magnetic invention was completely mine… I needed something that would add atmosphere to Anna's séance. The levitation table is a real prop that is used now, though I think it would have been very new back in the twenties.

What helped you stay immersed with the 1920’s?  Was there a certain movie, book or music?

Teri: I surrounded myself with research books. I may do a lot of my research on the web, but I really like having hard copies. It makes the time period more visceral for me. I also listened to a lot of old time jazz while writing Born of Illusion and Born of Deception. It set the mood for me, I guess.

The mother daughter relationship only endeared you more to Anna’s character, was it challenging to write such a complicated relationship between them, or was it one that came naturally as the characters developed?

Teri: It actually came pretty naturally. I think mother daughter relationships are always complicated no matter how strong and normal the relationship is. If it isn't normal, than the complications and issues can be endless. The relationship Anna and her mother have has a lot of nuances, partially from circumstances and partially due to differences in personality.

Was it planned from the beginning who the antagonist would be?

Teri: Yes and no… The original conception was very flat and then the idea of including a fictionalized version of the real life group, The Ghost Club, emerged and things just grew from there.

What were you doing when the idea for the story came to you?

Teri: You know, I can't really remember the exact moment it came to me…. is that weird?

What is your favorite thing about writing a Y.A. novel over an adult novel?

Teri: My heart belongs to YA, but I am not sure that means I enjoy one over the other… and it's hard for me to differentiate. I just tell the story as it comes to me! ♥

*Want to capture the magic for yourself? Enter to win a paperback arc* copy of Born of Illusion. Leave a comment by September 20 and be entered to win. 

*arc- pre-released un-correscted paperback copy