welcome blog: Delightful Debutantes #11: Kim Harrington & Clarity!

Another week, another Delightful Debutante! Honestly, who would have thought I'd be organised enough to have an actual interview lined up (almost) every week? Not me! Today, Kim Harrington is dropping by to talk about her book, Clarity. I love the sound of this one, and thanks to my blogger friend, Heidi, I now have a copy of my very own. Thanks, Heidi. I can't wait to get started on this one!

Over to Kim...

I love the sound of Clarity. It sounds quite different to anything else I’ve read. Can you describe the book for my readers in just one sentence?

Clarity is about a psychic teen who—along with her medium brother and telepath mother—does readings for tourists in her beach town on Cape Cod and tries to solve a murder when her brother becomes the prime suspect.

What prompted you to start writing? Are there any particular authors or books you’ve read that inspired you to write?

I’ve always written, ever since I was a little girl. I loved to write spooky stories, even as far back as second or third grade. That’s why Clarity coming out this year is a dream come true. And a long time coming!

Clarity has such a pretty cover! What does the cover image represent to you and what is it that you love most about the cover?

I never mentioned this to anyone at the publisher, but I had secretly hoped that water would be on the cover. The book takes place in a tourist town on Cape Cod and the setting is such an important part of the story. So I was delighted to see the ocean in the background and the seagulls in the sky. I love how bright and crisp the cover looks. And the model captured Clare perfectly with that snarky look on her face and those blue eyes that make you feel like she’s seeing through you….

From reading your blog, I know your writing is influenced and inspired by music. Can you name the music you listened to while writing Clarity, or let me know of any songs that inspired the story?

Oh, yes, I definitely have a Clarity playlist. I find music very inspiring, especially if you find yourself stuck. One song I listened to a lot while writing Clarity was “Closer” by Kings of Leon. It’s perfectly mysterious with just the right amount of creepy. I also found myself listening to an old song from one of my favorite bands of the ‘90s, Luscious Jackson. The song is called “Daughters of the Kaos,” and it makes me think of my main character, Clare, and her tough exterior.

Can you recommend a great book that you think everybody should read and also let me know what you're reading at the moment?

I’d say The Hunger Games. I’ve recommended it to people who’d never read YA before, people who claim they don’t like dystopian, and they’ve all loved it. It’s a perfectly crafted novel, in my opinion. As far as what’s currently on my nightstand, I recently read an ARC of The Liar Society by Lisa & Laura Roecker and loved it.

Finally, I know you have a couple of works in progress right now. There’s a sequel to Clarity, and also a standalone called Glimmer that I’m just dying to know more about. Can you tell me anything about that one?

Sure! I don’t know what the official title will be, but I’ve been calling it Glimmer. It’s a paranormal mystery about a teenage girl who discovers that the house her family just moved into is haunted, and she must unravel the mystery of the ghost girl’s death.

Thanks to Kim for the great interview! Clarity is released on March 1st 2011. There's also a great book trailer for this title that you can check out. I love it!