A Backwards Story is happy to be a part of Jackie Morse Kessler's official LOSS Blog Tour! Check out the tour schedule to see the list of events. Be sure to check out my previous post to read my review of LOSS, as well as prior reviews of both HUNGER and RAGE, not to mention last year's author interview! Earlier this week, I also talked about the Mythological Aspects of LOSS!
Jackie has also written several adult novels under the name Jackie Kessler.
An interview with Billy Ballard from LOSS
Hi Billy! I'm so excited to have you with us after all the excitement you've been through recently.
BILLY: Thanks. Yeah, excitement. You could call it that. Or you can call in heart-pounding terror. Whatever works for you.
I know there were some things you hated that went down, but what was the best thing that happened to you throughout everything?
BILLY: That’d be everything in the last chapter of the book. [[GRINS HUGELY]]
Are you glad you made the decisions you did? Would you change anything, or do you have any regrets?BILLY: I wish I woulda known at the start of the book what I finally figured out at the end. You know—everything with Eddie. Also, I wish I wasn’t a punching bag for so much of the book.
BILLY: I wish I woulda known at the start of the book what I finally figured out at the end. You know—everything with Eddie. Also, I wish I wasn’t a punching bag for so much of the book.
You had met the Red Rider before meeting Death and taking up Pestilence's bow. Why do you think she appeared to you so early on? How did you know who she was, despite having no knowledge of her existence?
BILLY: Oh, yeah, I remember—that was right at the start of the book. [[GRINS]] She was sorta scary. But good scary, like watching a horror movie, not bad scary, like getting jumped outside of school. Why’d she show up when she did? I guess that was to let me know that things were changing. Or maybe she was just messing with me. I knew there was something different about her, but I didn’t really know who she was until after I got the Bow.
Throughout everything, we can see just how much you love your grandfather despite his struggle with Alzheimer’s Disease. What is your favorite memory of him?
BILLY: I was eight, and Gramps—my grandfather—got me a new bike for my birthday. I didn’t know how to ride it. My dad never showed me before he left me and mom, but Gramps taught me. He held the handlebars steady when I was wobbling, and he ran beside me when I was learning. And then I finally got it, and I just flew down the street. It was awesome. [[SMILES SHEEPISHLY]] Until I crashed into a tree. Didn’t know how to stop. But it was still awesome. Gramps was a better dad to me than my real dad ever was.
Do you have any advice for students like yourself who are being bullied right now?
BILLY: It’s not your fault that you’re getting picked on, and it’s not just how it is. Talk about it. To your teachers. To the school councilor. To your folks. Talk, and keep talking. If you’re lucky, someone will listen, and maybe can help. More and more people are getting angry over all the bullying that’s happening, so there’s a better chance now that people will actually be willing to help you. That might not happen, because there are still lots of jerks out there, but it might. I think the best thing you can do is find something about yourself that you really like, that you’re proud of, and you keep that pride with you, always. You walk with your head high because of it. No one can take that away from you.
Besides Green Day, what else do you like to listen to? Did Death ever masquerade as any of your favorites?
BILLY: Linkin Park is one of my favorites. And no, Death’s been firmly in a Kurt Cobain place, at least for as long as I’ve known him.
You have so many books at home. What are your favorites and why?
BILLY: Epic fantasy. Give me Lord of the Rings—and I don’t mean the Peter Jackson movies, even though those were cool. Give me the Belgariad. I like getting away from everything in the real world, you know? My favorite is the Codex Alera series, by Jim Butcher. Tavi, the hero, is just a regular guy at first, you know? He’s small. In the second book, he gets picked on, a lot. But he still does heroic things. And as the series goes on, he learns more and more about himself, who he’s meant to be, what he can do. He’s awesome. The other characters are cool, too, but Tavi’s my favorite.
I know there were some things you hated that went down, but what was the best thing that happened to you throughout everything?
BILLY: That’d be everything in the last chapter of the book. [[GRINS HUGELY]]
Are you glad you made the decisions you did? Would you change anything, or do you have any regrets?BILLY: I wish I woulda known at the start of the book what I finally figured out at the end. You know—everything with Eddie. Also, I wish I wasn’t a punching bag for so much of the book.
BILLY: I wish I woulda known at the start of the book what I finally figured out at the end. You know—everything with Eddie. Also, I wish I wasn’t a punching bag for so much of the book.
You had met the Red Rider before meeting Death and taking up Pestilence's bow. Why do you think she appeared to you so early on? How did you know who she was, despite having no knowledge of her existence?
BILLY: Oh, yeah, I remember—that was right at the start of the book. [[GRINS]] She was sorta scary. But good scary, like watching a horror movie, not bad scary, like getting jumped outside of school. Why’d she show up when she did? I guess that was to let me know that things were changing. Or maybe she was just messing with me. I knew there was something different about her, but I didn’t really know who she was until after I got the Bow.
Throughout everything, we can see just how much you love your grandfather despite his struggle with Alzheimer’s Disease. What is your favorite memory of him?
BILLY: I was eight, and Gramps—my grandfather—got me a new bike for my birthday. I didn’t know how to ride it. My dad never showed me before he left me and mom, but Gramps taught me. He held the handlebars steady when I was wobbling, and he ran beside me when I was learning. And then I finally got it, and I just flew down the street. It was awesome. [[SMILES SHEEPISHLY]] Until I crashed into a tree. Didn’t know how to stop. But it was still awesome. Gramps was a better dad to me than my real dad ever was.
Do you have any advice for students like yourself who are being bullied right now?
BILLY: It’s not your fault that you’re getting picked on, and it’s not just how it is. Talk about it. To your teachers. To the school councilor. To your folks. Talk, and keep talking. If you’re lucky, someone will listen, and maybe can help. More and more people are getting angry over all the bullying that’s happening, so there’s a better chance now that people will actually be willing to help you. That might not happen, because there are still lots of jerks out there, but it might. I think the best thing you can do is find something about yourself that you really like, that you’re proud of, and you keep that pride with you, always. You walk with your head high because of it. No one can take that away from you.
Besides Green Day, what else do you like to listen to? Did Death ever masquerade as any of your favorites?
BILLY: Linkin Park is one of my favorites. And no, Death’s been firmly in a Kurt Cobain place, at least for as long as I’ve known him.
You have so many books at home. What are your favorites and why?
BILLY: Epic fantasy. Give me Lord of the Rings—and I don’t mean the Peter Jackson movies, even though those were cool. Give me the Belgariad. I like getting away from everything in the real world, you know? My favorite is the Codex Alera series, by Jim Butcher. Tavi, the hero, is just a regular guy at first, you know? He’s small. In the second book, he gets picked on, a lot. But he still does heroic things. And as the series goes on, he learns more and more about himself, who he’s meant to be, what he can do. He’s awesome. The other characters are cool, too, but Tavi’s my favorite.
Thanks so much for stopping by, Billy. I was rooting for you throughout your struggles and I'm so happy you could be with us today!
BILLY: Thanks!
BILLY: Thanks!
Bookworms, don't forget to check out today's review of LOSS, as well as previous reviews of both HUNGER and RAGE! I also interviewed Jackie last year on her RAGE Blog Tour. Earlier this week, I also talked about the Mythological Aspects of LOSS! Check it all out to find out more about this unique series!
A portion of the proceeds from the sale of LOSS will be donated to the Alzheimer's Association. If you are planning to purchase a copy of LOSS, thank you for helping to make a difference!
Great interview! I'm really excited to start this one.
ReplyDelete(PS. You have no answer for the bully question, it's a repeat of the red rider question.)
Yikes, TY!! I fixed it :) (Can you tell I'm lazy and just copy/paste so I don't have to format/change color/mess with the html all the time? ^^;;)
DeleteI can't WAIT to hear your thoughts!! I'm so excited to read about Death next!!
Good and another post from you admin :)
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