Author Interview... with Claudia Gray! (+ Giveaway!)

9:00 AM

In just a few more days, we'll finally get to read the conclusion of Lucas and Bianca's story in the final novel of Claudia Gray's New York Times bestselling Evernight series, Afterlife! The Evernight series was one of the earlier vampire series I first began reading before branching more into the paranormal genre, so I'll be sad to see the series end... but it's time. Thanks to HarperCollins, I was fortunate enough to ask Claudia Gray some questions!

1) How are you feeling knowing that readers will soon finally read the conclusion of Lucas and Bianca's love story?

A little nervous, but mostly happy. I felt like the series came to a good, strong conclusion for the characters, the romance and the plot -- so I hope you guys agree. 

2) Which character was your favourite to write about in Afterlife? 

In AFTERLIFE, I would say I had the most fun writing about Lucas and Mrs. Bethany. Lucas has been asked to face his single greatest nightmare; he's been turned into the very creature he's always been indoctrinated to hate. So delving into how he would grapple with that was fascinating. And Mrs. Bethany is always interesting for me to write about, but in AFTERLIFE, her backstory finally comes out, and it was a real pleasure to unfurl that at last. 

3) If you had a playlist for Afterlife, what songs would be found on it? 

I did have a playlist for AFTERLIFE! Some of the songs on it are: "Half A Week Before The Winter," Vanessa Carlton; "What About Everything," Carbon Leaf; "Nature of the Experiment," Tokyo Police Club; "For Reasons Unknown," The Killers; "The Songs That We Sing," Charlotte Gainsbourg; and "Weapon of Choice" by the Black Rebel Motorcycle Club. I also used a lot of movie score music, primarily from the soundtracks to "Interview With A Vampire" (which was my overall theme for the whole EVERNIGHT series) and "Pan's Labyrinth." 

4) How does it feel having the opportunity to meet your online stalkers- I mean, fans- when you're on tour promoting one of your novels? 

It's wonderful! So far, everybody has been absolutely terrific, and I really, really get such a charge out of talking to the fans and seeing what interests them. 

5) It would seem you're not quite ready to let go of the Evernight series just yet as you're writing a novel based on the character Balthazar. Why did you decide to write his story? 

Balthazar always had more story to tell than there was room for in the EVERNIGHT series. Those books were always about Bianca first and Lucas second; this meant that Balthazar -- who has been around a lot longer and so has a more complicated history -- was never going to have the opportunity to tell his full story unless he got his own book. And now he has! Although there are a couple of cameos from characters already established in the EVERNIGHT series, it's a new setting, mostly new people, and the focus is definitely on him and his journey. 

6) You're also stepping away from vampires with your next upcoming novel, Fateful, once Afterlife has been released. What inspired you to write a story not only about werewolves, but also centering the events as the characters are on the RMS Titanic?

The idea for FATEFUL arose when I went to see an exhibition of artifacts recovered from the RMS Titanic wreck site in September 2009. I've always been fascinated by the Titanic (aren't we all, just a little?), and this exhibit was truly beautifully done, with replica rooms to really make you feel as if you were on board. So I thought, I have to write about this! But my first instinct, to make it part of Balthazar's backstory, just felt wrong to me. The more I turned it over in my head, the more I realized there could be a brand new story, brand new characters, everything. Literally, I would say that I had the rough idea even before I'd gotten home from the exhibit, and the basic outline within a week. Developing it took much more time than that, but the genesis of it was very, very quick; I just loved the idea so much.

***

Thanks so much to Claudia Gray for taking the time out of her day to answer my questions! Claudia will be touring to several locations across the U.S to help promote the release of Afterlife. You can find all the dates and locations on her website. I really hope Claudia comes to Toronto one day!

You can be on the lookout for my review of Afterlife soon but in the meantime, why not check out the book trailer?

I did mention there would be a giveaway, right? I'll be giving away one ARC of AFTERLIFE to a lucky FOLLOWER! This giveaway will be INTERNATIONAL and ends on MARCH 25, 2011... which gives you three weeks to enter. I'll choose a winner using a random number generator and email them for their mailing address. The winner will have 48 hours give or take to respond back.

And yes, you'll get an extra entry just for commenting on this post! Good luck... and don't forget to check out Claudia Gray's Afterlife when it's released March 8 in stores!

- GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED - 
-> Winner has been announced! <-

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45 comments

  1. Thanks so much for the giveaway!
    I love this series so much so I cannot wait to see how it is going to be wrapped up.
    :)

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  2. Thank you for the giveaway! Hope you have a wonderful weekend!

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  3. Such an awesome giveaway! I love this series:)
    Thanks for the contest!

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  4. THis is so awesome! Great interview! I always love getting to know authors better! Thank you for the awesome giveaway :)

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  5. thank you so much for the giveaway!
    release date for the book is so soon cant wait

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  6. Awesome Interview. I can't wait for the novel to come out based on Balthazar *swoons* I love him!

    Again, great interview and thanks for the BOSS giveaway

    - Lexus "Salvatore"

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  7. thanks for the giveway and for making it international

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  8. I have to read this book, really! Thanks very much for this giveaway!

    Syki

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  9. Another great one. I can't wait to see how this story ends!

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  10. Very nice interview, looking forward to reading Afterlife but kinda sad that the series will end :( There's always the Balthazar book to look forward to though (he was always my favourite ;))

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  11. I love this series. Can't wait to see what happens to Bianca and Lucas!

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  12. Thanks for the giveaway and especially for making it international! :)

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  13. Thanks so much for the giveaway!

    -Carina L. Tai
    http://dystopiandesserts.blogspot.com/

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  14. Thanks for the giveaway!!!!!!! I love this series and i cant wait to read more of Balthazar's story and the new one as well.
    Thanks for making it international to :)

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  15. I'm so excited for Balthazar's story and Fateful! And Afterlife is almost here! I hope Bianca and Lucas will get their deserved happy ending.

    Thank you for the interview and giveaway :)

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  16. Great interview! I'm looking forward to seeing what happens with Lucas now and am really excited that Claudia is writing a book about Balthazar since he is my favourite character in the Evernight series.

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  17. I can't wait to read this book!

    Thanks for the great giveaway!

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  18. I've read book 1 and just ordered book 2 & 3 from Amazon so it would be great to get Afterlife to top it off.
    (\___/)
    (='.'=)
    (")_(")

    alterlisa AT yahoo DOT com
    http://lisaslovesbooksofcourse.blogspot.com/

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  19. Great interview and thanks so much for the giveaway. Crossing fingers!

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  20. One of my favourite series. Can't wait to read Balthazar's story.

    Happy reading!

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  21. I really would like to read it. I love Bathasar!

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  22. I absolutely can't wait to read this book! I've heard such good things about it from other bloggers. Thanks for the giveaway, it would be awesome to win!!

    mallary.mott@eagles.usm.edu

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  23. Thanks for the Giveaway. I just bought Hourglass, I'll have to read it soon.

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  24. AWESOME! I can't wait to read this! :D

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  25. This is my favorite series! I can´t wait to read it...by the way thanks for the giveaway =D!

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  26. Awesome giveaway and loved the interview!

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  27. What a great contest!

    I'd love to win!

    rachybee101@live.com

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  28. Nice interview, even nicer giveaway ;D Can't wait till reading it. Oh, sweet Balthasar *melting :D*
    Wanna have it pretty bad.

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  29. Awesome interview and giveaway! I absolutely love this series!

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  30. thanks for the great interview and giveaway! i just finished hourglass. here's to hoping i win!

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  31. this is SUCH an awesome giveaway!!!! :D

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  32. Awesome giveaway..I have read the first two in the series and have hourglass waiting to be read.

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  33. wowww what a awesome giveaway i am soooo hoping i winnn!!

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  34. Amazing series! Awesome giveaway, thanks for the chance to win :)

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  35. Thanks for offering this giveaway :)

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  36. I found this series a couple wks ago and am now 1/2 way thru Afterlife. I luv it! Pick Me!

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  37. I stumbled across this series, in my local book store and have been hooked on the series ever since. I can't wait to get my hands on 'Afterlife' :)

    Thanks for the giveaway!

    cunninghamm at gmail dot com

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  38. theawesomemagicattic.blogspot.com

    Pick me! :D

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  39. Amazing giveaway! I love this story and I can't wait to read how it ends.

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  40. awesome giveaway never read these books they look great:)

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  41. so excited about this giveaway!! I really want to see how this series ends!

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  42. Graeat interview. Thanks for the give away

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  43. A book based on characters from Titanic, nice!
    Thanks for the giveaway!

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