Teenreads.com: Please share a few words about TIMELESS and “Secrets of the Time Society” for readers who may be new to your work.
Alexandra Monir: TIMELESS and SECRETS are paranormal stories set in the world of time-travel. TIMELESS is a true love story, while SECRETS sets up the next installment of the series, which gets a little darker!
TRC: What made you decide to write “Secrets of the Time Society”? Have you always written short stories, or is this a new format for you?
AM: There is a very important character in the story whose point of view I wanted to show in a limited way, so a short story made the most sense. I liked the idea of writing a bridge story that takes you seamlessly from Book #1 into Book #2, so it ended up working out perfectly. And most of all, I wanted to give the fans something special while they're waiting for the sequel!
TRC: Why did you decide to issue “Secrets of the Time Society” as an e-book? Are you an e-reader personally? Why or why not?
AM: Since SECRETS is a short story, the eBook format seemed like the best fit. Ever since I got the iPad, I've embraced e-reading! I love to read on the go, in restaurants and while traveling, so it's really nice not having to carry heavy books!
TRC: Have you always been fascinated by time travel? What was the book or movie that hooked you on time travel?
AM: I've been completely intrigued by time travel for as long as I can remember! Especially being a history buff, the idea of going back in time is so thrilling to me. When I was a little girl I saw the movie Somewhere in Time, and that definitely helped fan the time-travel flame!
TRC: How did you decide which periods of New York’s history to explore for TIMELESS and “Secrets of the Time Society”? Why did you choose New York? What was the most fascinating thing you learned while researching/writing the various historical time periods.
AM: I'm passionate about the city of New York, and in my opinion it has the most fascinating history out of all the states in America. My favorite eras in history to explore are those beginning with the Gilded Age (1870s) and ending with the 1950s. I think the most changes and advancements in history took place during that period --- we went from horse-drawn carriages and gas lamps to cars and rock 'n roll in less than a century!
TRC: If YOU could travel to any time period, where would you go, and why?
AM: My first choice would be the 1940s, to meet my grandmother when she was around my age. My second choice would be New York in the 1920s, to experience the Jazz Age.
TRC: Is Michele the character from TIMELESS most like you? Why or why not? Which character is the least like you?
AM: I'm a Gemini, so I would say my personality is a combination of Michele and Lily!
TRC: You are a musician as well as novelist, and wrote and performed several songs for TIMELESS. How long has music been a personal interest of yours? When did you begin writing songs? When did you start performing? Do you see yourself as a singer/songwriter or a novelist first, or is there any distinction to you?
AM: I've been performing and recording music since long before I became an author, yet I was always coming up with ideas and scribbling stories in my journals, since age seven. I consider music and writing equally huge parts of my life and soul. :)
TRC: Will you have new music out for your next novel, TIMEKEEPER?
AM: Yes! I've written two new songs for the sequel thus far, and I'm really excited about them.
TRC: Speaking of music, what are you listening to these days?
AM: I'm always listening to the classic greats of jazz and soul --- Billie Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald and Nina Simone are my top three! My favorite contemporary artist is Adele.
TRC: What are you reading?
AM: Lots of history books while working on TIMEKEEPER! On the YA side, I just read THE FUTURE OF US by Jay Asher and Carolyn Mackler, which I really enjoyed. It was a page-turner!
TRC: What movies are on your to-watch list?
AM: I just saw The Artist and absolutely adored it!!
TRC: Can you share *anything* about TIMEKEEPER? <grin>
AM: Get ready to go further back in time with Michele as she delves into her father's shocking story --- and learns about the ominous figure who's been threatening her family for longer than she could ever imagine. And yes, lots more of Philip!! I'm keeping the romance storyline under wraps. It's big! :)
Today the Teenreads.com blog has a special interview with Alexandra Monir, whose novel TIMELESS was just released in paperback from Random House Children’s Books. Her publisher has also just released “Secrets of the Time Society,” an e-book short story that serves as a bridge between TIMELESS and Monir’s upcoming novel, TIMEKEEPER. You can visit Alexandra on the web at http://www.alexandramonir.com and follow her on Twitter @TimelessAlex. You can also “like” her on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/#!/
