LELE ITURRIOZ

What genre are your books?

Seasons Within is a YA fantasy book. It has romance, adventure and quirky humor.

How did you get interested in writing this particular genre?

I love fantasy. I like the idea of new worlds and possibilities beyond what we can achieve. I like stories where anyone ordinary can become extraordinary.

 

How did you come up with the idea of Seasons Within?

One day I was walking around with my headphones while listening to Breath of Life by Florence and the Machine (Awesome song!). The street was covered with hundreds of leafs and when the wind came, it made all the leaves fly. In my perspective and with the headphones it looked as if they were dancing, so I lifted my arms and danced among the flying leafs. Besides the fact that I looked like a crazy person swinging my arms to the sky, for a moment I felt like I was the one moving them.

And that’s how G, my main character was born, a girl who had the power to move Nature in a world that was possible.

 

How old are your characters?

G turns 18 at the beginning of the book. The rest are between 15 to 24 years old.

 

Describe your main characters in one word.

G – curious                       Edan – alpha

Priyam – smart-ass             Veter – childish

Shui – motherly                 Willow – bitchy

Donovan – flirt                   Hunter – lost

Synthia – vapid         the twins, Pink and Floyd – insane

 

Who are the bad guys in this book?

There a lot of bad guys in Seasons Within. There are dragons made by bones and huge bat wings, there are giant spiders with three scorpion tails, there are snakes covered in spikes that grow each time they eat someone and there are blind wolves with needles instead of hair that can track anyone from miles away. All of them are led by the same man, the one who just found where G was hiding all those 12 years.

 

How did you get inspired to write your antagonist?
I got inspired by all those men who believed in something good that within time made them obsessed and turned radical.

 
Is there a message in your novel that you hope readers will grasp?

Nature can survive without humans but humans can’t survive without nature. We need to take better care of the only planet we have.

 

If you could spend time a character from your book whom would it be? And what would you do during that day?

Veter (the wind wielder) and Priyam. I would fly and joke around all day.

 

What character in your book are you least likely to get along with?

Synthia… it even stresses me out each time I write about her.

 

Do you go out of your way to kill bugs?

Only if they are spiders. It freaks me out to know they can escape and tell all the other spiders that there’s a sleeping human near them.

 

What does your writing process look like?

I plan the chapters in advance, then I munch on cereal as I plot the characters adventures. Once I’m done I play some music and write until I reach my word count… or when I realize I haven’t left my computer in a day.

 

Usually writers have vetoes for their stories, do you have any?

It depends on the story. But I really don’t like the use of love triangles and instalove. I adore the feeling of falling in love with them.

Do you have any strange writing habits?

I like to write with my favorite books near me for good mojo, I love going to coffee places and stare at strangers (I know, sounds creepy but all in the name of writing!!) I love how people act when they think no one is watching, they are 100% themselves. Beauty is in the flaws.

 

Where do you see yourself in 10 years?

Hopefully drinking piña coladas as I keep writing more books.

 

If you didn't like writing books, what would you do for a living?

Movies. I studied filmmaking and animation with a specialty in screenwriting.

I would also love to own a cupcake shop, no reason other than my love for them.

 

Do you have a critique group/partner or beta readers, or do you self-edit?

I do!! They are a group of super badass Beta Readers that send me all types of notes and questions. Ignacio, Daniel, Adriana and Pao, they all know their stuff and the book would be so different without them and their intense point of views. One of them, Pao, usually sends me over 20 what’s app voice messages of 4 min each, love them!  

 

Do you have a favorite conference to attend? What is it?

I love them all as long as I can talk to the readers. I love hearing their thought and ideas. They are always so happy and their excitement is super contagious.

 

What is your writing Kryptonite?

My brother’s cat. Whenever she sees me working she goes and sits on my keyboard or on my head. I’m pretty sure she knows what she’s doing… that sneaky fluffy beast.

 

Characters often find themselves in situations they aren't sure they can get themselves out of. When was the last time you found yourself in a situation that was hard to get out of and what did you do?

On the first book, I made a character that I had previously planned that was going to die early on the first book (for plot reasons) Now on book 2… guess who’s still super alive and chilling with everyone?… yes! THAT character!

 

What is your biggest fear?

I’m terrified of spiders and pool drains. Pictures also freak me out from time to time.

 

What do you want your tombstone to say?

She’s alive!!... Kidding, I want to be buried under a tree.