Book info:
Title: The Supervillain and Me
Author: Danielle Banas
Series: Morriston Superheroes #1
Published by: Swoon Reads
Publication date: July 10th, 2018
Genres: Romance, Science Fiction, Superheroes, Young Adult
Synopsis:
As witty as it is heartpounding, this fresh take on the beloved superhero genre is all about finding your own way to shine even when it seems everyone else around you is, well… super.
Never trust a guy in spandex.
In Abby Hamilton’s world, superheroes do more than just stop crime and save cats stuck in trees―they also drink milk straight from the carton and hog the television remote. Abby’s older brother moonlights as the famous Red Comet, but without powers of her own, following in his footsteps has never crossed her mind.
That is, until the city’s newest vigilante comes bursting into her life.
After saving Abby from an attempted mugging, Morriston’s fledgling supervillain Iron Phantom convinces her that he’s not as evil as everyone says, and that their city is under a vicious new threat. As Abby follows him deeper into their city’s darkest secrets, she comes to learn that heroes can’t always be trusted, and sometimes it’s the good guys who wear black.
Chosen by readers like you for Macmillan’s young adult imprint Swoon Reads, The Supervillain and Me is a hilarious, sweet, and action-packed novel by debut author Danielle Banas that proves no one is perfect, not even superheroes.
Author Interview:
1. What does your writing process look like? Do you know the
whole story when you start? Or do you just start writing and go with it
(seat of the pants writing)? If you plan it out, how do you do
that? Outline, notecards, post-it-notes, etc.?
The majority of my
planning happens on the notes app on my phone – and let it be known that even
though I’m a pretty organized person in all other areas of my life, my writing
notes are a total mess. I basically just jot down whatever comes to mind, and for
some reason it seems like half of that stuff always comes to mind while I’m in
the shower and have no access to my phone – so then I’m stuck trying to
memorize entire scenes of dialogue until I shut the water off. I’m naturally a
pantser, but I’m trying to get better at outlining. Actually, the last outline
I made was over four thousand words and had fancy chapter headings and concise
bullet points and the whole nine yards. I was pretty proud of that one. But for
The Supervillain and Me, I barely
outlined at all. I typed up some character bios and picked out everyone’s
superhero names and then I just went for it. I had a vague idea what I wanted
to do for the first half of the story, but then I reached the second half and
was like, “Crap. Now what?” So then I actually had to outline a little bit.
Funny enough, I still have that (very messy) outline saved on my laptop.
2. Are you part of a writers group that gets together and helps each
other with their writing?
I’m not part of an
official writers group, however, I did have The
Supervillain and Me available to read online for about two and a half years
before it got picked up by my publisher, and the feedback that I received from
some of my early readers really helped shape the second and third drafts of the
story. I would read a lot of comments about what people were liking and
disliking, and I could really tell what types of scenes made them the most
excited (hint: there was usually flirty/witty banter or kissing involved).
Sometimes I would even read random comments that had very little to do with my
story, but they would give me an idea for a scene to add in a later chapter
that I know I never would have thought of by myself. I always say that this
book wouldn’t have happened if I hadn’t posted the first draft online four
years ago, and it’s so true.
3. What tips do you have for aspiring writers?
Just get the words
on the page. It doesn’t matter if they’re perfect or not (spoiler alert: they
won’t be perfect), but just get them out of your head. You can always make them
better later. Also, just write what you want to write. Don’t worry about
whether or not it’s considered “trendy” or might be trendy in the future. If
you want to write about a time-traveling milkman, then write about a time-traveling
milkman. Or an alien that joins the cast of a reality show. (I would actually
read that book if you wrote it.) But my point is write whatever inspires you.
There are people out there who will love it as much as you do.
4. So, with the theme of your story I have to ask, DC or
Marvel? Who is your favorite superhero? Or your favorite
villain? Favorite superhero movie?
Oh goody. This is
the part of the interview where I get to rant about my deep, passionate love
for Spider-Man. So if it’s not obvious, Marvel for the win. The Spider-Man
movies with Tobey Maguire were the first superhero movies I ever saw as a kid,
so that’s probably where my obsession started, but it really grew when I saw
the Andrew Garfield films. I just find Peter Parker so dang relatable. Most
other superheroes in movies are adults, but Peter is this nerdy school kid, and
I was such a dork when I was in school. Such
a dork. So to me, Spider-Man really reinforces the concept that literally
anyone can be a hero, which is something that I really tried to focus on in my
book as well. And if I can rant for just a little bit longer, Tobey and Andrew
are great, but Tom Holland is where it’s at, my friends. Homecoming is my favorite Spider-Man film by far, not only because
of Tom, but also because Michael Keaton was such an amazing Vulture. Actually,
Michael Keaton could play a lamp post and I would love it. He and I are from
the same town, but I’ve never met him. My dad even grew up in the house that
Michael Keaton’s family used to own back in the day, so I feel like I have this
weird Michael Keaton/Batman connection. Maybe I was always destined to write a
book about superheroes. But with that said, I’ll stop fangirling now. I’m so
sorry you had to endure that.
Author Bio:
Danielle Banas, a Pittsburgh native, earned a degree in communication from Robert Morris University. After years spent dreaming up characters instead of paying attention in class, Danielle joined the storytelling platform Wattpad, where her work has received millions of views online. When she isn’t writing, she can be found loudly singing show tunes, spouting off Walt Disney World trivia, and snuggling with her puppy. THE SUPERVILLAIN AND ME is her debut novel.
Follow her on Twitter or Instagram @daniellebanas
GIVEAWAY!
