This week YA Author Jen Braaksma took over our Twitter as a part of our weekly Thursday Twitter Takeover. Jen Braaksma is the author of Evangeline’s Heaven (See YEM’s interview ofJen Braaksma here.) See highlights from the takeover below.
Hi everybody!! I'm Jen (@JenBraaksma) author of Evangeline's Heaven, my debut YA fantasy. It's about Lucifer's daughter, during the Battle of the Heavens, right before Lucifer's fall, where she has to decide whose side she's on. Angels and devils. Let's chat! #YAauthortakeover
— #Lifeline has me in shambles thank you Joshua (@YoungEntmag) September 22, 2022
Good vs evil. Heroes vs. villains. Right vs. wrong. As if life were that black and white, right? That's how I got started on my story. Who was an obvious symbol of evil? The devil, of course. But what if he were your dad? And what if you thought he was good??
— #Lifeline has me in shambles thank you Joshua (@YoungEntmag) September 22, 2022
Can you love your parents but hate their opinions? I took that idea to the extreme. Evangeline loves Lucifer–he's been a great dad!–but now she's learning about his true purpose. Who will she be? Her father's daughter or her own person? #YAauthorTakeover
— #Lifeline has me in shambles thank you Joshua (@YoungEntmag) September 22, 2022
Did you know that, according to angel lore, up to a third of all angels were cast out with Lucifer after he lost his rebellion against God? Lucifer must have been charming and charismatic! No wonder Evangeline believed him! #YAauthorTakeover
— #Lifeline has me in shambles thank you Joshua (@YoungEntmag) September 22, 2022
I am a HUGE Supernatural fan! I even got Lucifer's son Jack (played by @Alex8Calvert) to sign his "sister's" story! pic.twitter.com/J3KTOSyT7d
— #Lifeline has me in shambles thank you Joshua (@YoungEntmag) September 22, 2022
I heard a fan ask Supernatural's Lucifer @MarkRPellegrino who needed more therapy? His or @tomellis17 Lucifer? Now there's a new Lucifer in the mix with Evangeline's Heaven! Who's your favorite Lucifer? #YAauthorTakeover
— #Lifeline has me in shambles thank you Joshua (@YoungEntmag) September 22, 2022
From first story to first published novel = 40 years!! Never give up!!
First story, age 8, then three different career paths after university–journalism, high school English teacher, and book coach, plus two kids, now teenagers, and one husband (soulmate!) #YAauthorTakeover— #Lifeline has me in shambles thank you Joshua (@YoungEntmag) September 22, 2022
Everyone's favourite angel, Supernatural's @mishacollins also signed my debut novel!!#YAauthorTakeover pic.twitter.com/lgwt2gHrW6
— #Lifeline has me in shambles thank you Joshua (@YoungEntmag) September 22, 2022
Favourite YA novel, you ask? Impossible question! One YA novel you love to re-read? Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater @mstiefvater (And, well, anything by her!!) #YAauthorTakeover
— #Lifeline has me in shambles thank you Joshua (@YoungEntmag) September 22, 2022
I'm old (and old-school!) so give me the original Star Wars trilogy (Episodes 4, 5, 6) any day!! But I LOVE how @DisneyPlus and the new batch of TV series has expanded the Star Wars universe! What's your favorite Star Wars movie or TV series? #YAauthorTakeover
— #Lifeline has me in shambles thank you Joshua (@YoungEntmag) September 22, 2022
You know why I chose to write a fantasy novel? So I wouldn't have to do any research. You know how much research I ended up doing? About a decade's worth! Angel lore is SO interesting! #YAauthorTakeover
— #Lifeline has me in shambles thank you Joshua (@YoungEntmag) September 22, 2022
Did you know that, according to the lore, there are more than angels who live in heaven? In my research, I came across devas (nature spirits), djinn, sirens and phoenixes, among others. Which creatures would you most want to read about? #YAauthorTakeover
— #Lifeline has me in shambles thank you Joshua (@YoungEntmag) September 22, 2022
Strong, bad-ass mentor for Evangeline? Canadian musician @AvrilLavigne! She rocks! (And she grew up not too far from where I live!) #YAauthorTakeover
— #Lifeline has me in shambles thank you Joshua (@YoungEntmag) September 22, 2022
Number of novels I wrote before Evangeline's Heaven: 3
Number of novels that will forever live in my drawer: only 1! I still have plans for the other two–one of which is a YA dystopian novel written five years ago–about a worldwide pandemic. Yep.#YAauthorTakeover— #Lifeline has me in shambles thank you Joshua (@YoungEntmag) September 22, 2022
Did you know Lucifer has another angelic name? Samael. Doesn't have quite the same ring to it, does it? #YAauthorTakeover
— #Lifeline has me in shambles thank you Joshua (@YoungEntmag) September 22, 2022
Best thing about writing for a YA audience: their passion! Generally, when teens like something, they really, REALLY like it. When they hate something, they really, REALLY hate it! I love the intensity! #YAauthorTakeover
— #Lifeline has me in shambles thank you Joshua (@YoungEntmag) September 22, 2022
Advice for young writers: 1) Age doesn't matter; just learn your craft! 2) Give yourself a break–it takes time! And writing is HARD! It's okay if takes you a while. As you build your craft, you'll build your confidence. #YAauthorTakeover
— #Lifeline has me in shambles thank you Joshua (@YoungEntmag) September 22, 2022
According to the lore, every angelic name has its own meaning. "Evangeline" means bearer of good news. Given her challenges as she travels through the Seven Heavens on her quest to save those very heavens, she'll need all the good news she can get.😀#YAauthorTakeover
— #Lifeline has me in shambles thank you Joshua (@YoungEntmag) September 22, 2022
Thanks SO much for letting me take over Twitter! Want more angel lore? Or to learn more about Evangeline's Heaven? Please keep in touch!@JenBraaksma I love connecting with readers. 😃Thanks again!! #YAauthorTakeover
— #Lifeline has me in shambles thank you Joshua (@YoungEntmag) September 23, 2022
