Blogoversary: Interview with Jessica Brody

Unremembered (Unremembered #1)
by Jessica Brody
Publisher: Farrar, Straus, & Giroux (BYR)
Release Date: March 5th 2013

Synopsis:

When Freedom Airlines flight 121 went down over the Pacific Ocean, no one ever expected to find survivors. Which is why the sixteen-year-old girl discovered floating among the wreckage—alive—is making headlines across the globe.

Even more strange is that her body is miraculously unharmed and she has no memories of boarding the plane. She has no memories of her life before the crash. She has no memories period. No one knows how she survived. No one knows why she wasn’t on the passenger manifest. And no one can explain why her DNA and fingerprints can’t be found in a single database in the world.

Crippled by a world she doesn’t know, plagued by abilities she doesn’t understand, and haunted by a looming threat she can’t remember, Seraphina struggles to piece together her forgotten past and discover who she really is. But with every clue only comes more questions. And she’s running out of time to answer them.

Her only hope is a strangely alluring boy who claims to know her from before the crash. Who claims they were in love. But can she really trust him? And will he be able to protect her from the people who have been making her forget?

From popular young adult author Jessica Brody comes a compelling and suspenseful new sci-fi series, set in a world where science knows no boundaries, memories are manipulated, and true love can never be forgotten.

You can now read for FREE on your NOOK (Barnes & Noble site) Unremembered

Hi Jessica! Thank you so much for being in our blogoversary event. 

A few years ago, I read a newspaper article about a teen girl who was the sole survivor of a plane crash. I was instantly fascinated by the story. Namely because they had no idea why she survived when no else did. I started brainstorming reasons as to why she was so lucky. One particular reason (a rather intricate, science-fiction-inspired one) stuck in my mind and refused to leave. It continued to grow and blossom until I had an idea for an entire trilogy. A trilogy that starts with a mysterious plane crash and a single survivor. 

I usually tell people it’s like the Bourne Identity with a cool Inception-like twist. :) 

I know, Book Addicts, that if you are like me you're running to your stores right now to buy all the Unremembered books. I know I'm not alone!

No. I cannot. Because I want to stay alive. 

Okay, this is kind of cheating, but I’d have to say my favorite is the third book in the series, UNCHANGED, which I just finished. I’m definitely the most proud of it and it was the most challenging to write. Not only is there the most world building and sci-fi elements in book 3 but having to tie up all the loose ends of the entire series was extremely difficult. In the end, I’m happy with how it turned out. 

I don't know about you, Book Addicts, but I'm dying to read Unchanged right now! *shaking hands*

Unremembered: “Please Remember Me” by Tim McGraw 

Unforgotten: “Treacherous” by Taylor Swift 

It’s a scene in UNREMEMBERED (the first book) where Sera and Zen are in a kindergarten classroom together and something he does inspires one of her first real memories. It’s a really sweet moment between the two of them and I cried when I wrote it. 

I do! I created a playlist for the Unforgotten Blog Tour. You can view it here! http://jenuinecupcakes.blogspot.com/2014/02/blog-tour-unforgotten-unremembered-2-by.html

And I’m dying to tell you! I can’t tell you a WHOLE lot. But here are three hints: 

1) Much of book 3 takes place on the Diotech compound (in the year 2116) 

2) There is way more sci-fi world building and cool futuristic stuff (like a TON!) If you were scared about the technology in 2032, just wait until you see what’s in store in 2116! 

3) Seraphina’s memories will be altered once more…but not in the way you might think.

I’m very excited to write another standalone contemporary and get away from sci-fi for a while. I loved writing the trilogy but contemporary will be a very nice break. I’m contracted to write a contemporary YA for my current publisher, which I’ll be starting on very soon and I have a few more ideas I’m itching to write as well!

Jessica Brody knew from a young age that she wanted to be a writer. She started self "publishing" her own books when she was seven years old, binding the pages together with cardboard, wallpaper samples and electrical tape.

After graduating from Smith College in 2001 where she double majored in Economics and French and minored in Japanese, Jessica later went on to work for MGM Studios as a Manager of Acquisitions and Business Development. In May of 2005, Jessica quit her job to follow her dream of becoming a published author.

In four short years, Jessica has sold nine novels (two adult novels to St. Martin's Press and seven young adult novels to Farrar, Straus, Giroux.) THE FIDELITY FILES, her debut, released in stores (in real binding) in June of 2008 and the the follow-up, LOVE UNDER COVER in November 2009. THE KARMA CLUB, Jessica's debut young adult novel released in April of 2010 and her second YA release, MY LIFE UNDECIDED just recently hit bookstores in June 2011.

52 REASONS TO HATE MY FATHER (which was recently optioned for film) will be out in Summer 2012 and UNREMEMBERED, (also optioned for film), the first book in a new teen sci-fi series, will be released in early 2013.

Jessica's books are published and translated in over twelve foreign countries including the UK, France, Germany, Italy, Czech Republic, Russia, Brazil, China, Portugal, Israel, Indonesia and Taiwan. 

Jessica now works full time as a writer and producer. She currently splits her time between Los Angeles and Colorado.