Today we have C.G. Copolla, author of Better Than This, with us. Let’s pick her brain! (Not literally, that would be too messy, and no one would ever agree to it anyway. Besides, I left my brain pick at home.)

Jo: Welcome Caitlin! Please tell us a little something about your newest release.

Caitlin:  Better Than This is my first Contemporary YA Romance and I started writing it in 2016 without any intent to publish. I’d been toying with a scenario about a high-school girl who discovers the quiet skaterboy has been keeping a sketchbook of her, and I decided to write the scene. Again, there was no plan to let anyone read it, so I indulged myself and paired them together, just to see what happened. I kept going until I realized I was writing a series, but it wasn’t until I heard Kodaline’s “All I Want” that I understood the depth of my story. The boy with the sketchbook becomes a current-day famous musician known for his songs about the girl who got away. (I write HEAs. Just FYI)

J: It better be a HEA because I’m already invested! I love your characters, seriously, and not just these, but those in your sci-fi series as well. Speaking of the sci-fi/fantasy, what inspired you to write contemporary YA?

C: Like I said, it was just a scene playing in my head. Although, if we can be honest, there was some *slight* inspiration. The characters, Autumn and Alex, were originally modeled after the Extra Gum commercial couple featuring sketches on gum wrappers. I was such a sucker for that commercial that I Youtubed it on more than one occasion, and would quiet the room whenever it came on television. I was a little obsessed, but it worked out well in the end I think.

J: Hee-hee, I’ve seen that commercial! What was your favorite part of writing Better Than This?

C: Oh, geez. I loved writing the entire thing, but I’d say my favorite part is the ending. I wish I could say more, but that’d be silly.

J: No, no, you can tell me. *looks convincing* No? Alright then, what was your least favorite part? 

C: Not sure. I kind of like it all, but, maybe…the parts that made me cry when I was writing? I didn’t enjoy them so much.

J: Um…crying? Oh-oh. I guess I better buy some Kleenexes! What do you have planned next for us?

C: I have the second book (Better Than Now) coming out in August and the then the third and final installation (Better Than You) releasing in November. I’m excited for these two because while BTT shows the origin of the story, BTN and BTY explore the meat of the relationship and the thing that everyone wants to know: what’s happens ‘after the girl got away’. Told in both Autumn and Alex’s voices, the last installment answers the question of how and why he’s become one of the most famous young musicians, and what happens when the two are thrust back together.

J: Thrust back together. Thank God. I know you said HAE, but I still worry! Where can people find more of you and/or your work?

C: I have a very lovely blog that I update regularly; it should tell you anything you’d need to know about what I’m up to/what’s next. For those more interested in the in-depth, I have a Patreon where I keep an even more detailed account of writerly things, including original drafts, flash-fiction, how I do certain Indie items (cover image/blurb) as well as scenes from different POVs. After that, maybe try twitter -@writercgcoppola – or my author fb page – @Cgcoppola.

J: One final question before you escape.. erm, I mean, have to go…Leave us with something interesting about you or your book.

C: There was a lot of doubt writing this, even when I thought I wasn’t going to show anyone. Since I’m used to writing Fantasy/Sci-Fi adventures, conflicts come in the shape of monsters and impossible tasks and plagues and armies set to destroy everything. In high-school, you don’t get much of that. I was worried my conflicts wouldn’t be that bad, but as I went on, my characters assured me quite the opposite. All problems—whether big or small—can have a huge impact, even if you don’t see them at first.

J: This is very true! I know I’ve loved what I’ve read of it! And now, I suppose I’d better let you go (or I could pull a Misery and make you get those last two books edited. Hmmmm.) Thanks so much for coming in today and talking to us!

You can pre-order Better Than This from Amazon!

Today we have Rami Ungar, author of Video Rage, with us. Let’s pick his brain! (Not literally, that would be too messy, and no one would ever agree to it anyway. Besides, I left my brain pick at home.)

“Are you my mummy?” (sorry – gas mask and British flag… *cough*cough* Never mind.) Meet Rami!

Jo: Welcome Rami! Please tell us a little something about your newest release.

Rami:  Video Rage is the sequel to my first novel, Reborn City, and the second book in the Reborn City series. The series follows  Zahara Bakur, a young Muslim teenager who moves to the futuristic city-state of Reborn City and finds herself forcefully initiated into the Hydras, a rising street gang in the city’s western projects. As time goes on, Zahara finds out that the leaders of the Hydras have mysterious powers. And when she finds out where the leaders got their powers, she gets caught in a conspiracy that jeopardizes not only her life but the lives of all whom she holds dear.

J: That sounds really good! (So good in fact that it’s the next book on my TBR list assuming my new kindle cable ever arrives!) What inspired you to write it?

R: The movie Freedom Writers. I’d just seen the movie, and it really resonated me, especially its theme that you could overcome your past and your environment and become something great. And then one day, I was walking home from the library, listening to some rap music, and thinking about how the music could’ve fit in the movie. And then I thought, “I should write a gangster story.” I spent the next hour over ice cream and rap music planning details, what sort of story it was going to be. Seven or eight years later, here we are, with Book 2 coming out!

J: I haven’t seen that, but maybe I should. Do you have a favorite character in Reborn City? Why are they your favorite?

R: I think Zahara is definitely my favorite character. She starts out as not much of a heroine: timid, shy, very adverse to violence. However as time goes on, she grows braver and much more confident, and I love that about her. I really enjoy heroines who grow into their roles. They are so fun to watch as they grow and evolve. I also love antagonist Jason Price, whom I modeled after Samuel L. Jackson. He’s diabolical, motivated by his desire to keep power and by his old prejudices. He’s a great villain, and I love myself a good villain.

J: I love a good villain too! Can you tell us what  you have planned next?

R: After Video Rage is out and I’ve done all the necessary marketing, I’m going to edit another novel that I haven’t touched since I graduated college last year, and then I’m going to write the final book in the Reborn City series for National Novel Writing Month. I’m thinking of calling it Full Circle. That’s a catchy title, don’t you think?

J: Yes! I like that title – but then you’re good at titles! Where can people find more of you and/or your work?

R: You can find me on my blog, Rami Ungar the Writer, as well as on Facebook and Twitter. If you want to check out my books, they’re available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, iBooks, Smashwords, and Kobo.

J: And it’s an awesome blog, might I add. One final question before you escape.. erm, I mean, have to go…Leave us with something interesting about you or your book.

R: I’m about to start a new job and move into my own apartment. That’ll make writing soooo much easier!

J: Yes it will – and congrats on the new place ans the new job! Thanks so much for stopping in today to chat with us.

You can find Rami Ungar’s books at: