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Interview with Kerri Williams, author of Hunger for Justice

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Hi Kerri. Thank you for agreeing to this interview.
I apologise in advance for any Australian slang and spelling. I must say this was a small obstacle in my novel and still makes me laugh when a reader contacts me to ask what a Jumper or windscreen is. And let’s not go there with colour/color.

We’ll consider ourselves warned. Tell us about Hunger For Justice. It is part of a trilogy, right?
Hunger For Justice is the first part of a YA trilogy based in Australia called The Moore Justice Trilogy. Hunger For Justice is about a young woman, Claire Moore’s quest for justice after her family have been murdered. I don’t think I can do the description justice (pun unintended, sorry).

Have you ever felt a hunger so intense it blinds you from everything else in your life?

For Claire Moore, her hunger for justice is her coping mechanism, her reason for getting out of bed each morning, struggling to face her day to day life alone after her father and brother were violently taken from her.

Other nineteen year olds are at parties and studying at University, living the fun naïve life of a teenager, but in the world of Claire, there was nothing left for her other than the desperate hunger for justice.
Unfortunately it’s this hunger that’s driven everyone who cares for her away, unable to watch her place herself in danger any longer and that includes her teenage love, Talon Baker.

But true love never really dies and after stumbling upon information to the identity of their murderers, together Talon and Claire are hunted until they can figure out the clues her father left for them.

Through her hunger for justice, Claire grows by relinquishing control of her fight and allowing others to love her, even though the fear of losing them is too excruciating bear.

What genre did you say it was?
I’m in love with Young Adult and a sucker for romance, but love the thrill of suspense so I threw them altogether and BANG! I had a trilogy that’s brining in the readers.

Yes, but what demographic of readers?
I think readers over 16, both male and female. Hunger For Justice has been described as a suspenseful read with just enough romance to make you swoon. I really think that says it all.

What else out there is like it? Complete this sentence for us: If you like_____, you’ll love Hunger For Justice.
Veronica Mars.

Tell us about Claire Moore. How does she grow through the trilogy?
Oh my gosh, there are so many things I could say, but I’ll compress it the best I can.

Let’s start with the fact she is so desperate and reckless to find out the truth that she drives everyone away from her, but, after going seven months like this, Talon pops back into her life and she realises she doesn’t need to go it alone. Throughout Hunger For Justice she begins to let people in and to help her.

In Heart For Justice, she realises she has a family who loves her even though it isn’t your conventional family. She learns to deal with her past and to open up to Talon and allow him in.

Lastly, Blood For Justice, Claire fights to keep her family. She’s learnt she can rely on others and that the Justice she had been striving for over the last couple of years is nothing if she doesn’t have a life she can share with those who want to be in it.

You maintain a balance between telling rather suspenseful stories and developing Claire and Talon Baker’s relationship. Was it important for your novels to be more than just uni-dimensional?
I’m loving this question because it’s made me think.

The best way I can describe my intentions when writing these novels is that I wanted the reader to FEEL what was going on between the characters all the while sitting on the edge of their seats in the suspense and action. I love a suspense novel, but I need something more which is where the ‘romance’ comes into it. It’s not perfect; they’re not perfect, but relationships aren’t and I wanted that portrayed in their story.

How have you marketed your books? Do you belong to any writers organisations? Do you use social media?
ABSOFREAKINLUTELY! All of the above (Facebook, @authorWillians). Marketing is used by social media and groups. Of course you need to refrain from just pumping out posts of your book or people will start blocking you because you’ve become as boring as batcrap.

I’ve also utilised Amazon’s free time for my novel. I did this for 24hours and I have to say it was the cheapest and easiest marketing tool in the world.  Without effort, Hunger For Justice became #3 Teen Romance and #7 Romantic Suspense in Amazons free listing. It was one of the most exciting days of my life. Wedding day and childbirth aside.

I had competitions, posted excerpts and in the end you have to rely on word of mouth and trust your novel is awesome.

So now we know that you are – or were – married, have at least one child, and are Australian. Can you fill in the blanks?
I’m a wife and mother. Live in Australia NSW. Cannot for the life of me stop writing and reading. Curse Facebook and yet love it (met the most awesome folks via FB). Wish I could eat without getting fat.  Fan of Batman. Talk too much for my own good. (I think it said that in my report my whole education) A sucker for romance. Addiction to TV series of all kinds―Battlestar Galactica, Supernatural, Mcleods Daughters, Once Upon A Time, Veronica Mars, Fringe. (okay, you get the point.)

The big one is I hope that one day I can write as my day job.

Have you got a blog where readers can keep up with your work?
Have I got a blog? That’s funny because I have a magnet that was given to me by my freaking awesome Aunt who absolutely understands me. It says ‘I’m sooooo Blogging this.’ Yes, this is a common phrase from my mouth, so yes I have a blog and please drop by. http://kerriwilliams-writerofromance.blogspot.com.au/

Where can we buy The Moore Justice Trilogy?
This bit is always so exciting: On Amazon.

What’s next?
Other than Heart For Justice & Blood For Justice release, I’m currently writing a single title YA. What scares me is there’s no suspense in this one, but plenty of emotion and soul searching. It’s called NEVER GOODBYE which will be released early next year.

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5 Comments

  1. This was one of the fun interviews I have ever had.
    Thank you

  2. Awesome interview, Kerri!

  3. Jenn

    What a great interview! Always fun to learn something new about Kerri (and the book was awesome!).

    • Thanks so much Jenn. I’m glad you enjoyed it. <3

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