Midnight Bloom Reads: March 2012

Someone Else's Life Blog Tour! Author Interview with... Katie Dale

12:00 AM

I'm excited to be taking part today in the Canadian Blog Tour for Katie Dale's YA debut novel, Someone Else's Life! If you're looking for a heartfelt contemporary novel with an appeal for both YA and adult readers, then I'm sure you'll be interested in taking a closer look at Someone Else's Life.

Thanks to Random House Canada, I was able to ask Katie Dale a few questions...

Fans of Jodi Picoult, Caroline B. Cooney, and Lurlene McDaniel--teens and adults alike--will relish this thrilling emotional rollercoaster ride as a web of family secrets brought to light devastates lives on both sides of the Atlantic.

When 17-year-old Rosie's mother, Trudie, dies from Huntington's disease, her pain is intensified by the knowledge that she has a fifty percent chance of inheriting the crippling disease herself. Only when Rosie tells her mother's best friend, "Aunt Sarah," that she is going to test for the disease does Sarah, a midwife, reveal that Trudie wasn't her real mother after all. Rosie was swapped at birth with a sickly baby who was destined to die.

Devastated, Rosie decides to find her birth mother in California. But all does not go as planned. As Rosie discovers yet more of her family's deeply buried secrets and lies, she is left with an agonizing decision of her own, one which will be the most heart breaking and far-reaching of all.

1) Who was your favourite character to write about in Someone Else's Life?

Kitty was a great character to write about – she’s such a personality, and her dialogue is often quite snappy, so her scenes are often quite dramatic and glamourous. However, I think Jack was my favourite character, as he tries so hard to do the right thing by everyone even though he’s completely stuck in the middle of a terrible situation.

2) What kind of research was involved in understanding Huntington's Disease and making it an important part of your novel?

I had never heard of Huntington’s disease before I started writing Someone Else’s Life, so it was really important to me to make sure I got all my facts right and gave an authentic and accurate portrayal of the devastating disease. I consequently spent a long time researching the disease and talking to and meeting with people who have or are affected by Huntington’s – some of the most inspiring and courageous people I’ve ever met.

3) Your debut novel brings a whole new level to the complexities of family relationships. What was the most challenging aspect about writing Someone Else's Life?

The most challenging and time-consuming aspect was researching Huntington’s disease. I found I could imagine myself in most of the characters’ difficult family situations, but it was most difficult when it came to Huntington’s disease, and accurately portraying the heartbreaking effects of the terrible disease. So it was important to me to take the time to get it right, and be authentic.

4) In the novel, Rosie learns secrets about her family that she would never have dreamed to guess. If you could live a day in someone else's life, who would you choose?

That’s a tough one. I think living a day in anyone else’s life would be fascinating and eye-opening, indeed that’s one of the things I love most about writing and acting – putting myself in someone else’s shoes for a while and imagining what life must be like for them. I think I’d choose to live a day in the life of someone in a third world country, as I think we could all stand to be reminded of how lucky we are and just how much we take for granted in life.

5) Can you tell us more about the next novel you're working on for readers to enjoy?

Yes! The next book is another stand-alone YA, but this time it’s more of a thriller – here’s the blurb:

Tall, dark, and handsome, the first time Lou meets mysterious Christian she knows he is The One. But Christian is hiding a terrible secret. Why does he clam up every time Lou asks about his past? Why does he have the initials L.N. engraved on his watch? Why doesn’t he have any family – and why does he dye his blond hair black? Then when Christian’s house goes up in flames, his tires are slashed, and he flees for his life, Lou insists on going with him.

But as Christian’s secret is unveiled in front of the whole world, it seems everything he’s ever told Lou is a lie. Even his name. Her loyalties torn, her emotions in tatters, Lou must decide whether to stand by the man she loves, or turn him over to his pursuers. Can what they’re saying about him really be true? Should she trust him? Or is she in terrible danger…?

But Christian isn’t the only one keeping secrets. For what if their accidental meeting was no accident at all…

*****

Thanks so much to Katie Dale for answering my questions! If you'd like to learn more about Someone Else's Life, you can visit Katie Dale's author website.

I'm the final stop on the Someone Else's Life Blog Tour, but here are the blogs where you can check out the earlier stops during the week:

Monday, March 26^th: Guest Post & Giveaway at Evie Bookish

Tuesday, March 27^th: Q&A at XpressoReads

Wednesday, March 28^th: Guest Post & Giveaway at All I Ever Read

Thursday, March 29^th: Q&A at Book Nerd

Friday, March 30^th: Q&A at Midnight Bloom Reads

Kendare Blake

Waiting on Wednesday (90) - Girl of Nightmares by Kendare Blake

8:00 AM

In My Mailbox

In My Mailbox (62)

1:35 PM

Book Trailer

Book Trailer! - Bitterblue by Kristin Cashore

8:00 AM

Author Interview

Black Heart Blog Tour! Author Interview with... Holly Black

12:00 AM

I'm very excited to be taking part today in the Canadian Blog Tour for Holly Black's latest novel, Black Heart, the final novel in the Curse Workers trilogy! I read Black Heart the other night and absolutely loved it. Just like the previous novels, it was unpredictable and left me guessing what would happen next until the very end. If you're a fan of the series, I'm sure you'll be running to the bookstore as soon as it's released!

Thanks to Simon & Schuster Canada, I was able to ask Holly a few questions...

Cassel Sharpe knows he’s been used as an assassin, but he’s trying to put all that behind him. He’s trying to be good, even though he grew up in a family of con artists and cheating comes as easily as breathing to him. He’s trying to do the right thing, even though the girl he loves is inextricably connected with crime. And he’s trying to convince himself that working for the Feds is smart, even though he’s been raised to believe the government is the enemy.

But with a mother on the lam, the girl he loves about to take her place in the Mob, and new secrets coming to light, the line between what’s right and what’s wrong becomes increasingly blurred. When the Feds ask Cassel to do the one thing he said he would never do again, he needs to sort out what’s a con and what’s truth. In a dangerous game and with his life on the line, Cassel may have to make his biggest gamble yet—this time on love.

1) Who was your favourite character to write about in Black Heart?

Other than Cassel and Lila, I always loved writing Barron, because although he might be a sociopath, he's also a lot of fun. When he's in a scene, crazy things are going to happen! And I love writing Cassel and Barron's grandfather -- an assassin, sure, but full of warm-hearted yet vaguely sinister advice and support for his grandkids nonetheless.

2) I've always been amazed how Cassel can find himself in a heap of trouble, but then find a solution in a way where all the details in the book suddenly fall into place. How did you research the cons and techniques involved which Cassel routinely uses in the books?

I did wind up doing a lot of research for the book, but the research was really interesting. Lots of times I am drawn to a story because I am interested in the research. I re-read a bunch of noir classics and hardboiled mysteries, read a lot of books on true crime, read more about organized crime, and watched many heist movies. But I think, in the end, the two most useful books were The Big Con, which analyzes different cons in great detail and Influence: A Psychology of Persuasion, which talks about how people can be made to do things. I would recommend them to anyone.

3) If you were a member of Zacharov's crime syndicate, what kind of curse worker would you be and how would you use your talents to make your boss proud?

That's a great question! I think I would like to be a luck worker because I think in that line of work, low expectations are the best way to make your boss proud. My aim would be to keep a low profile and also to get a cool mobster name, like Holly "The Squid" Black or Holly "Triple Shot Espresso, No Sugar" Black.

4) The entire look for the Curse Workers trilogy was recently given a completely new facelift. Was the new concept for the cover designs a welcome change?

The artwork is really beautiful and very different from anything I've seen before. What I think I like best about it is how the covers feel simultaneously very modern and also reminiscent of a cover that might be at home on The Great Gatsby. But what I really hope is that other people will like the covers, pick up the books and give the series a try.

5) With the series coming to a close, can you share with us what you're working on next for readers to enjoy?

In 2013, I actually have TWO books coming out.

I have a middle grade called DOLL BONES, about three kids -- Zachary, Poppy and Alice -- who go on a journey, despite their own uncertain friendship, to bury a doll that may or may not be made from human bones. It's creepy and fun and it may be the most difficult thing I've ever written, but I am really, really proud of it.

The second book is a teen novel, called THE COLDEST GIRL IN COLDTOWN. It's based on a short story I wrote a few years ago and it's set in a world where the sudden spread of vampirism caused the United States to wall off parts of cities, creating "Coldtowns" where humans and vampires live side by side in a lawless and decadent détente. Outside the quarantined zones, people watch videos uploaded from inside with fascination, making instant celebrities of monsters. When only Tana Bach and her ex-boyfriend, Aidan, survive a lockdown party massacre that leaves both of them infected, they have to travel with a half-mad vampire named Gavriel, into the heart of everything that Tana has always feared.

That's the first time I tried to summarize COLDTOWN -- it's hard because I'm not quite finished with it yet!

*****

Thanks so much to Holly Black for answering my questions! Don't forget, Black Heart will be hitting shelves on April 3! And if you haven't checked out the Curse Workers series yet, I'd highly recommend you give the books a try!

You can learn more about Holly Black and the Curse Workers series on Simon & Schuster Canada's website.

Gretchen McNeil

Waiting on Wednesday (89) - Ten by Gretchen McNeil

8:00 AM

Jenny Han

Spotted! Cover of Burn for Burn by Jenny Han & Siobhan Vivian

7:56 PM

Author Interview

Embrace Blog Tour & Giveaway! Author Interview with... Jessica Shirvington

12:01 AM

I'm sure you've been hearing all the buzz lately for the North American debut of Jessica Shirvington's Embrace, the first novel in the Violet Eden Chapters! Today, I'm really excited to be taking part in the Embrace Blog Tour celebrating the recent release of the novel. Only one question remains: Are you ready to EMBRACE?

Thanks to Raincoast Books and Sourcebooks, I was able to ask Jessica Shirvington a few questions...

It starts with a whisper: “It’s time for you to know who you are…”

Violet Eden dreads her seventeenth birthday. After all, it’s hard to get too excited about the day that marks the anniversary of your mother’s death. As if that wasn’t enough, disturbing dreams haunt her sleep and leave her with very real injuries. There’s a dark tattoo weaving its way up her arms that wasn’t there before.

Violet is determined to get some answers, but nothing could have prepared her for the truth. The guy she thought she could fall in love with has been keeping his identity a secret: he’s only half-human—oh, and same goes for her.

A centuries-old battle between fallen angels and the protectors of humanity has chosen its new warrior. It’s a fight Violet doesn’t want, but she lives her life by two rules: don’t run and don’t quit. When angels seek vengeance and humans are the warriors, you could do a lot worse than betting on Violet Eden…

1) Who was your favourite character to write about in Embrace?

I definitely feel the closest to Violet. Embrace is written in the first person so she remains the focus of my attention. However, I do have a lot of fun with some of the minor characters as well. In particular, some of the less behaved characters like Onyx, who reappears in Entice (book 2) as well.

2) What was your initial reaction after seeing the gorgeous US book cover?

I think I was actually shaking. It is so beautiful. As a writer, you hope that the cover of your books will portray the story and mirror what you have imagined in your mind during the writing phases. The US cover did this perfectly. Now I am bursting to find out what they have planned for Entice!

3) In Embrace, there's quite the romance connection tying Violet, Lincoln and Phoenix together. What is it about love triangles that you think attracts YA readers so much?

I think love triangles are representative of the confusion many of us feel growing up. Plus, let's be honest, who wouldn't want the attention of a couple of highly desirable guys? I think we all wonder how we would deal with that particular problem. Mostly, I think we want our characters to go on a journey of self-exploration. They may not start out perfect in the beginning and they may make a lot of mistakes on the page, but we like to see them develop and love triangles can offer a lot in this department.

4) How did you research the mythology and hierarchy of angels to help inspire the series?

I concentrated my research on looking at a variety of religious interpretations. I didn't want to just follow a Christian point of view or otherwise - so I was able to discover many differing opinions and versions of stories I was able to incorporate into my angels. I also based the structure of angels around well-known versions of the angel hierarchy. I found this to be a good base to build on and it then fed the strength and power developments for many of my characters. There are so many stories out there - it is just about picking which ones work for the world building and the characters.

5) Was there a particular deleted scene from Embrace that you wish had made it into the final version?

Not really. I think once you make a cut, you have to let the scene go. There was one scene I was attached to, still am, that focused on part of Violet's past. But really, although it was important to me, it didn't move the story forward in the right way so it was the right decision to let it go.

6) Can you tell us more abut the next book you're writing for readers to enjoy?

ENTICE will be out in the States in September 2012. I'm really looking forward to sharing the next chapter of Violet's story with everyone. Violet is introduced to some new characters that arrive from The Academy in New York and they find themselves on a race against to clock to hunt down the lost Grigori Scripture before Phoenix gets to it. Violet and Lincoln discover more about their connection and grow closer. Phoenix is back and determined to get what he wants at any cost - and his hold over Violet is stronger than ever.

Soon after Entice, in March 2013, EMBLAZE will be out. And right now, I'm working on book 4, ENDLESS.

*****

Thanks so much to Jessica Shirvington for answering my questions! If you'd like to learn more about the author and Embrace, you can check out her author website... or visit the US official website for the book series where you'll be able to read character biographies, teaser chapters and more!

Giveaway! Sourcebooks is very kindly offering to give away one copy of Jessica Shirvington's Embrace to a lucky reader!