Look Who’s Going to RT: Jeri Smith-Ready

Jeri Smith-ReadyCan you introduce yourself to my readers a little?
Hi! My name is Jeri Smith-Ready, author of several paranormal novels for teens and adults, including this year’s SHINE (SHADE trilogy #3) and LUST FOR LIFE (WVMP RADIO #4, also the final book in the series).

I can be found at: website | Facebook | FB Fanpage | Twitter | GoodReads

Can you introduce us to the world that you have created?
In SHADE, the heroine Aura and everyone born after her can see and talk to ghosts, but no one else can. So you have an entire generation that has a completely different experience of the world than their parents or their older brothers and sisters. Aura wonders if her birth caused the Shift (the mysterious event that made ghosts visible) and if it has anything to do with the father she’s never met. The trilogy centers around her search for answers, which takes her to Ireland and beyond. There’s a lot of romantic drama, too, as Aura tries to get over her boyfriend Logan’s death and ghosthood (hey, he’s still around, so no out-of-sight-out-of-mind, right?), possibly with the help of Zachary, a Scottish exchange student with infinite patience and infinite secrets.

Will this be your first RT or are you a veteran? Any advice for those who are going for the first time?
I’ve been every year since 2007 in Houston—I never miss it! My advice for newbies is not to be overwhelmed at the cornucopia of awesomeness you see when you look at the schedule. You can’t possibly do everything without exhausting yourself. Make sure you get some down time.

Also, RT folks are the friendliest people on earth. I’m pretty shy (though you’d never guess it from the way I can’t shut up sometimes), but at RT I’ve never felt awkward because I always know that I have something in common with that total stranger standing next to me—a love of books!

Are you speaking on any panels during RT? Are there any you are looking forward to?
Wednesday 3:30: “The Kids Are All Right – Adult to YA Fiction,” moderated by Kelley Armstrong and also featuring Ann Aguirre, Jenna Black, Sophie Jordan, and Rachel Vincent. It’s about writing YA fiction after you’ve been a writer for adults. Great topic that I think will pack the room.

Wednesday night: YA Slumber party! Door prizes, games, a temporary tattoo station, and loads o’ snacks.

Friday 1:30: “The Good, the Bad, and the Undead,” captained by Caridad Pineiro and also featuring Carole Nelson Douglas, Jeaniene Frost, Charlaine Harris, Lynda Hilburn, and Jaye Wells. All about sex and violence in vampire novels. With this lineup, it’ll DEFINITELY be a fun panel.

Saturday is Teen Day—yay! I’ll be doing the 5pm speed reading, as well as attending the big party at 6:15pm.

There are SO many great panels to attend, too! I definitely won’t miss the “Shifting Between Narrators” YA panel on Thursday at 1:30, because Sarah Rees Brennan is hilarious. I’ll also be sure to hit the “Boundaries in YA” panel Friday at 2:45, the “Writing Action Scenes” workshop Thursday at 10am, and the Chicago ATF demonstration Thursday at 2:45.

If someone were wanting to meet up with you at RT, who should they look for?
Gah, my author pic is out of date now because my hair is much, much lighter. But I’m sure it’ll still be frizzy.

If you see me, please say hi!

RT Chicago

About Jackie 3282 Articles
I am a 30-something SAHM with two adorable boys and a supportive husband who is very tolerant of my reading addiction. I love to read and easily go through about a dozen books a month – well I did before I had kids. Now, not so much. After my first son was born, I began to take my hobby of reviewing a little more serious and started Literary Escapism to help with my sanity. I love to discuss the fabulous novels I’ve read and meeting all the wonderful people in the book blogging community has been amazing.

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