A Stiff Kiss by Avery Olive

A Stiff Kiss by Avery Olive is a YA novel designed to capture any adults attention. I know it did mine. Here's my Amazon 5 Star Review:l

I wasn't sure if I'd like A STIFF KISS. I wasn't sure how I'd like thinking about someone kissing a dead person good-bye, but in fact, I loved the story and enjoyed reading the novel. Though I have to admit, I'm still thinking about that kiss.

After her mother's death on Christmas day, Xylia becomes fascinated by death. (Olive describes Xylia's reactions extremely well.) Not that her father approves, but what are you going to do with a teenager whose compulsion outweighs her common sense?

So, she cruises cemetaries, morgues, and works near the dead. She's 'dark' and rebels against everything and everyone. Yet, Xylia is a deep thinker and hard to reach. Her father, whom I thought was portrayed very well, tries with patient futility to turn her around.

Enter Landon, a jock who excells at soccer. Xylia has a teenage crush--sometimes going to extremes to get his attention. When he dies it is Xylia's kiss that brings him back to life. Hence--A STIFF KISS. *shudder* Together they set out on a cross-country trip where they are 'shadowed' by a threatening entity.

The story is different, but I think this would appeal to young adult readers. Written in both Landon's and Xylia's perspective you get the chance to see into both characters.

The writing flows as does Olive's talent in creating a world where the out of the norm becomes normal. The ending is satisfying and I look forward to seeing more of Ms. Olive's work.

Well done!

And now, for your enjoyment, here's my interview with Avery:

Hi, Avery. So glad to have you on today. Now, don’t give away any secrets, but what’s your book about?

A Stiff Kiss is a reverse sleeping beauty tale with a few twists and a hint of morbid.

I remember the morbid. *shudder* What inspired you to write A Stiff Kiss?

One scene, that plays a huge part in the book, came to me in a dream. I know, totally cliché, right? But that’s the truth, of course then I couldn’t wait to get the rest of the story out!

I hear that often. Perhaps writers have more graphic dreams. How did you come up with the title?

At the time, it made sense to me. Since one of the main characters kisses a stiff and he wakes up, it just clicked. Of course now, I’ve learned that no matter how could a book title fits it shouldn’t have more than one meaning ;) if you know what I mean. I get people all the time wondering if I’ve written an erotic novel. The title definitely raises eyebrows but I’m not sure in this case it’s always a good thing.

A Stiff Kiss is the PERFECT title, but I see your point. *shakes head* LOL Is there a message in your novel you want readers to grasp?

There is. More than one, I think. But the man one is forgiveness. Xylia, the main character is on sort of a quest to understand things that she cannot control but what she really needs to do is forgive the things that she cannot change.

What a beautiful sentiment. I wonder, if you had to do it over again, would you change anything about your book?

Maybe the title but aside from that, I’m totally happy with the outcome!

I can see how the title might give the wrong impression, still I do like it. Do you have plans for a new book and is your book part of a series?

I do have plans for a new book to be released in 2013. I’ve been keeping things pretty quiet but what I can say is that it’s separate from A Stiff Kiss. And it’s a twist on a ghost story.

Oh, that's perfect. Ghost stories are my favs. How long does it take you to write a novel?

The ones I start and finish consecutively always seem to come in around the three month mark. The ones I start and walk away from for whatever reason, most of the time never seem to get finished. I don’t know why that is. But if I’m not one hundred percent in love with the story, I can’t seem to finish it.

What do you think makes a good story?

I think this answer is different for everyone, in my opinion it’s all about the characters. You can have an amazing plot, but if your characters are flat, you’ve missed the mark. They need to have layers, like an onion, and they need to be, at times, relatable to the reader.

What do you do when you are not writing?

Right now, not much. I tend to write or curl up with a good book. Or bake. I like to bake.

Do you have a day job as well?

If you consider being a stay at home mom a day job, then yeah, if anything it’s a 24 hour job!

Raising kids is tough work. Is there anything you find particularly challenging in your writing?

The editing process. I was never too great in high school, should have paid a lot more attention in English, so now, I tend to struggle with the simplest things like grammar and pesky punctuation. I hate the comma. Seriously, it’s the bane of my existence!

Yeah, I'm a serial commalist so I hear you. I can remember a few arguments... What does your family think of your writing?

I think most of them are on board now that I have a book published. To be honest, the only person that really knew I was writing before that was my husband and one of my really good friends. I was in the closet as they say for a long time.

What books have most influenced you the most?

I never know how to answer this. I think all books I’ve read have given me some insight into the world of becoming a published author, but to pin point one or just a few is impossible.  

If you had to choose, which writer would you consider a mentor?

I have this friend, Steven W, and though to date he isn’t published he’s been my rock when it comes to the whole process. He took me under his wing when I first started writing (and I had no idea how to even format a manuscript or what a query letter was) and hasn’t let go of me yet. He’s always there when I need encouragement or to bounce ideas off of, and he’s always one of the first to read any new material I have. I hope, too that years later, I’m the same for him!

What book are you reading now?

Um. Nothing. Not a thing. I’ve been having a reading dry spell. There’s just so many other things on the go that I haven’t had time to pick up anything new. But Christmas is coming and I have a list a mile long of new reads I want to get my hands on.


Do you work with an outline, or just write?

I just write, which I know now is a downfall of mine. I tend to start writing maybe when I should be fleshing out a story idea. I think that’s why I have so many unfinished scripts, because I just run with an idea until I get stuck. If I took the time to outline, I might not have that problem. Then again, I wouldn’t even know how to outline even if I wanted to!

 
I would love to work from an outline as well. Think of the stress you'd alleviate! I tried with the one I'm working on now, but nothing flowed until I sat down to write.

On another note, how do you market your work? What avenues have you found to work best for your genre?

I’ve still got much to learn when it comes to marketing. I think the biggest thing these days is being friendly. With the internet and social media sites like Facebook and Twitter being friendly can sell more book than you can image.

 
Do you prefer e-books, paperbacks, or hardcover?

I’m a hardcover girl at heart, but if I have to I’ll take a Tradeback, and well, I’d never turn down an e-book. However, you toss a mass market paperbound book at me and I’ll throw it in the trash (okay, I’ll donate it, but still…) I loathe those, with their small print, funny feeling pages and thick spines!

Yeah, me too. Although paperback is fine. They're a lot lighter. Is there a particular movie you prefer over the book version?

I might get rotten tomatoes thrown at me, but I actually might prefer the Twilight Saga in film a little more than I did in writing.

No tomatoes from me, promise.  

Fun Questions:

What’s your favorite gadget?

My laptop? Alright, my flatiron. I have horrible hair and it’s the only way I can tame it!

Oh, I LOVE my flatiron. Aren't they wonderful? *taps fingers* If you could be any character in fiction, whom would you be?

Wow, you sure like to throw out the hard ones. Princess Buttercup from Princess Bride. I think she’s awesome, Wesley is totally handsome, and their love story is timeless. The movie and the book are definitely my all time favourites.

If Hollywood made a movie about your life, who would you like to see play the lead role as you?

Me. I think I could do a better job playing me than someone else!

If you could be a superhero, what would you want your superpowers to be?

I’ve like to have glimpses of the future.

If you won $20 million in the lottery, what would you do with the money?

I’d buy everyone in my family a house (or pay off their houses) I’ve had my eye on a Lincoln Navigator for awhile (and even if I don’t win the lottery, one day it will be mine, my precious…) Mr. Olive would need a Mustang, for sure, and a new fancy diesel truck. And I’d like to travel. I’ve always wanted to be able to say that I got to take a fancy vacation to research a book and then wrote the entire novel is some cute café in some exotic place!

If you were a salad, what kind of dressing would you have?

I tend to stick with a classic, ranch, you can never go wrong! 

Yum, ranch... If you were a car, what kind would you be?

I’d be an SUV, a Lincoln Navigator, for sure!

White wine or red?

I’m not a fan of wine of the red or white varieties.

Me either. Wine is not on my to do list. Coffee or tea?

Coffee.

Vanilla or chocolate?

Chocolate!

Dogs or cats?

Neither. Not a pet person.

Sleep in or get up early?

Sleep in, totally, because I always seem to stay up way, way too late!

Dark or milk chocolate?

If I have to drink milk (which I don’t do enough) chocolate is the way to go.

Rocks or flowers?

Flowers.

Night or day?

Either or, I’m not picky.

Favorite color?

Black and or blue!

Thank you, Avery!

A Stiff Kiss book blurb:

A Stiff Kiss
by Avery Olive
Purchase e-Book
Purchase Print
ISBN-10: 193725433X
ISBN-13: 978-1937254339
Length: Novel
Publication Date: Feb. 6, 2012
Cover art by Taria Reed

Who knew kissing a corpse would change everything?

Death always hits Xylia Morana too close to home, but she likes it that way. She hangs out with the terminally ill, attends random funerals, and every so often, when the weather is right, she sleeps in open graves.

But after Landon Phoenix, the high school hottie, dies in Xylia's hands, she sneaks into the morgue to say goodbye. How could she know stealing a kiss from his corpse would wake him up?

With Landon returned to the living and suddenly interested in Xylia, life has new meaning. But what Xylia doesn't realize is that by kissing Landon back to life, she's thrown Life and Death off balance. The underworld demands a body, and it might just have to be Xylia's this time.

Excerpt Copyright © 2012 Avery Olive
All rights reserved — a Crescent Moon Press publication

No way should I be in the morgue. If I'm caught, I'll lose my job. My dad will probably get fired, too. He's been warned to keep me out of here.

The walls are lined with thick, square doors, clearly marked with numbers. I stop in front of the one I want. In the middle of that wall, at waist height, is number twelve. Beyond the door, lying on a sliding metal table, is the body of Landon Phoenix.

I've always had a crush on Landon, ever since freshman year when his family moved to Silver Springs. I've watched him grow into his looks, no longer a gangly boy with braces. And I've longed to hear my name roll off his tongue in that deep voice of his. To press my lips against his as he holds me in a tight embrace. To share the same air as him.

Though now, all those things are impossible. Except one. I can pull open the door, slide the table out, and at least for a moment I can share the same air, even though his lungs can no longer pull in that air.

I hesitate, my hand on the handle. Besides my mother, this will be the only other person who's died that I've really known. The others have just been people, random ones at that. The guy from the grocery store who jumped off Whibley Bridge into the icy waters below, the occasional patient of mine who'd succumbed to old age, and many, many others. But this is personal. This is someone I'd known. Or at least, someone I'd held secretly in my heart.

But I need to say goodbye.

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Avery Olive is Canadian.  She is married and has one child. When she’s not helping raise her very energetic and inquisitive son, she can be found working on her latest novel--where she devilishly adds U’s into every word she can.When she is looking for a break Avery enjoys cake decorating, losing herself in a good book, or heading out to the lake to go camping. The release of Avery’s first novel proves to her it won’t be the last. As long as her family continues to be supportive, she can find the time, and people want to read, Avery vows to keep on writing.
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