Interview and Giveaway: A Wicked Thing

A Wicked Thing
by Rhiannon Thomas
Publisher: HarperTeen
Release Date: February 24th 2015

Synopsis:

Rhiannon Thomas's dazzling debut novel is a spellbinding reimagining of Sleeping Beauty and what happens after happily ever after.

One hundred years after falling asleep, Princess Aurora wakes up to the kiss of a handsome prince and a broken kingdom that has been dreaming of her return. All the books say that she should be living happily ever after. But as Aurora understands all too well, the truth is nothing like the fairy tale.

Her family is long dead. Her "true love" is a kind stranger. And her whole life has been planned out by political foes while she slept. 

As Aurora struggles to make sense of her new world, she begins to fear that the curse has left its mark on her, a fiery and dangerous thing that might be as wicked as the witch who once ensnared her. With her wedding day drawing near, Aurora must make the ultimate decision on how to save her kingdom: marry the prince or run.

Rhiannon Thomas weaves together vivid scenes of action, romance, and gorgeous gowns to reveal a richly imagined world … and Sleeping Beauty as she’s never been seen before.

“I never thought what happens after Sleeping Beauty wakes up would keep me at the edge of my seat, breathlessly turning pages. But Rhiannon Thomas has taken the familiar and the cliched and turned it into a tense, fast-paced read full of plot twists and revelations, set in a world at once intriguing and perilous.” - Sherry Thomas, author of The Burning Sky

“The book is welcome twist on the classic helpless-princess-saved-by-dashing-prince one expects from a fairy tale…. Fairy tale and fantasy fans alike will breeze through this retelling and eagerly await her next chapter.” - School Library Journal

“One of the best fairytale retellings I’ve ever read. Thomas uses the well-known back story of Sleeping Beauty to craft an entirely new future for Aurora that is anything but happily-ever-after. Starting the story after the moment that usually signals the end of the fairytale gave this book an original spin and makes it stand out among of sea of simple retellings. Don’t miss this great debut!” - Boswell Book Company, Milwaukee, WI

Hello! Here's my interview questions for the Rhiannon Thomas and A WICKED THING blog tour! I absolutely adored the book!

1) I loved (or at least loved to hate) all the characters in your book, A Wicked Thing. What character was the most fun to write about?

Definitely Prince Finnegan! He didn’t appear in the book at all until about the third draft, when I decided I needed Aurora to meet an Important Person for some reason I don’t even remember any more. But he was so much fun to write, so I decided he needed a bigger role. Then literally everyone I gave the book to – all of my friends, my agent, my editor – said, “I really like this Finnegan guy. More, please?” Luckily, he was as easy to write as he was fun to write, so I was more than happy to give him more to do!

2) Continuing this idea, what character was the trickiest to write about?

I’d say the witch, Celestine. Her voice and character were really tricky to pin down. In the end, things only clicked after I mentally cast Natalie Dormer as the part – then the whole creepy witch thing fell into place.

3) This Sleeping Beauty retelling is not like the light disney tale we all know. What was it like telling a darker and more realistic side of the story?

It was a lot of fun! I love poking things and questioning things and asking “what if?”, and fairy tales have so much potential for that. Also, if I can get all English Lit nerd, I did a lot of research in college about “happy endings” and how they’re often not really all that happy, and applying it to fairy tales – where things get wrapped up far too neatly for logic – seemed perfect to me. 

4) If you fell asleep for over a century, what would be the first thing you'd do once you woke up and discovered how much time had passed?

Honestly, I’d probably check my email, and then be disappointed that no one had messaged me in 99 years except Amazon. Then I’d jump on the future-version of the Internet (assuming a dystopia hell hasn’t descended on the world) and read up on everything I missed.

5) Also, if you were locked up in a castle all day, what would you do to keep from being bored? 

Does the castle have Netflix and computer games? Probably not. I want to say I would read and write and be creative, but being locked in a tower all day is making me think of every time I’ve been on a long flight. I pack my bag full of books and my DS and my tablet and crossword puzzles and paper to write on and my ipod and a million other things, and then spent the entire flight sitting and sulking about how I’m bored and have nothing to do. Sooo it’s probably be like that. 

6) Finally, would you please tell me a unique fact about yourself?

I supposedly live on one of the most haunted streets in Britain. I’ve yet to see a ghost, but I do get entertained by the city ghost tours that stop outside my apartment every night. 

Follow the A Wicked Thing by Rhiannon Thomas Blog Tour and don't miss anything! Click on the banner to see the tour schedule.

Rhiannon Thomas is a recent graduate from Princeton University, where she studied English and Japanese, and smuggled bubble tea into the library on a regular basis. She now lives in York, England.

As well as reading and writing YA fiction, she runs the blog FeministFiction.com, where she discusses TV, books, and all kinds of fannish things from a feminist perspective.

I don't hang out on Goodreads much, so if you want to contact me, please swing by my personal website or message me on Twitter.

Open to all US, UK and Canada residents | Must be 13 or older to enter

FIRST PRIZE: Win (1) signed copy of A Wicked Thing by Rhiannon Thomas plus a spinning wheel charm bracelet. The bracelet is from https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/KawaiiCandyCouture.

SECOND PRIZE: Win (1) of (2) signed copy of A Wicked Thing by Rhiannon Thomas.

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Interview and Giveaway: The Jewel

The Jewel (The Lone City #1) by Amy Ewing
Publisher: HarperTeen
Release Date: September 2nd 2014

The Jewel means wealth. The Jewel means beauty. The Jewel means royalty. But for girls like Violet, the Jewel means servitude. Not just any kind of servitude. Violet, born and raised in the Marsh, has been trained as a surrogate for the royalty—because in the Jewel the only thing more important than opulence is offspring.

Purchased at the surrogacy auction by the Duchess of the Lake and greeted with a slap to the face, Violet (now known only as #197) quickly learns of the brutal truths that lie beneath the Jewel’s glittering facade: the cruelty, backstabbing, and hidden violence that have become the royal way of life.

Violet must accept the ugly realities of her existence... and try to stay alive. But then a forbidden romance erupts between Violet and a handsome gentleman hired as a companion to the Duchess’s petulant niece. Though his presence makes life in the Jewel a bit brighter, the consequences of their illicit relationship will cost them both more than they bargained for.

1. Can you persuasively sell your book, The Jewel, to our readers in 6 words?

Oh man, that’s tough! Ok, here goes: “Girls sold as surrogates to royalty.” I don’t know if that’s particularly persuasive, but it certainly gives you a good idea as to what the book is about.

2. What do you admire most about Violet?

I really admire her compassion, especially in the face of all she is forced to endure in the Jewel. She never loses sight of who she is and what is important to her. And I love that she is a fierce friend, particularly when it comes to Raven.

3. What character in The Jewel was most fun to write about?

Ok, I’m torn on this one. First, I’ll say: The Duchess! I absolutely love the Duchess. She is so layered. You never know if you want to hate her or feel bad for her. I think that’s my favorite type of character to read, and to write. But in terms of pure fun, Garnet wins hands down. He is such a jerk, but he’s a loveable jerk. Super entitled, a total rule breaker, and supremely inappropriate—what could be more fun to write than that?

4. The cover art is amazing, I adore it! What do you think of The Jewel's cover? 

Oh my god, I LOVE THIS COVER! I feel so incredibly lucky—as an author, you pretty much have zero control over what goes on the cover of your books and I just couldn’t be happier with what HarperCollins came up with. I mean, they put Violet into a diamond. And the subtlety of color? The refractions in the facets of the diamond? The way Violet looks so sad while surrounded by beauty? It’s absolutely perfect. I can’t gush enough about it.

5. Where is your dream travel destination?

I would love to go to Bali. I love beach vacations. I can hang out on a beach for ages. I realized that last year when I went to San Sebastian with a friend—there is this famous beach there called La Concha and we spent three days just lying out, sunning ourselves, chatting, and reading books. And I did not want to leave.

6. What are some of your non-bookish hobbies?

I play guitar and write my own songs. I am the worst binge-watcher of Netflix in the history of ever—I can be such a procrastinator and Netflix is definitely my enabler. I love doing jigsaw puzzles and I really like to cook.

7. I love that Violet plays the cello! What kind of music do you like?

Me too! I actually played the cello when I was in middle school and it’s always been one of my favorite instruments. I love folksy, blue grass, Americana type of music, like Old Crow Medicine Show, the Avett Brothers, and the Steeldrivers. And of course, older, classic folksy music, like Bob Dylan, Simon and Garfunkel, and James Taylor. I was brought up on the Beach Boys and Sam Cooke and Dion and the Belmonts—my father was always playing their albums on Saturday afternoons.

8. Quick! What's your favorite color? 

OK, this sounds really lame, but I swear it's true: Purple! Maybe that was in the back of my mind when I chose Violet's name...

You know you want to!

Follow the FFBC The Jewel Blog Tour and don't miss anything! Click on the banner to see the tour schedule.

Amy Ewing is the young adult author of THE JEWEL, the first in a trilogy from HarperTeen, coming out September 2014.

She grew up in a small town outside Boston, where her librarian mother instilled a deep love of reading at a young age. Amy moved to New York City in 2000 to study theater at New York University. Unfortunately, her acting career didn’t quite pan out. She worked in restaurants, as an administrative assistant, a nanny, and a sales representative for a wine distributor before the lack of creativity in her life drove her to begin writing.

Amy received her MFA in Creative Writing for Children from The New School, where she was lucky enough to meet a fabulous community of YA writers who keep her sane on a daily basis. She lives in Harlem, where she spends her days writing, eating cheese, and occasionally binge watching The Vampire Diaries.

Win ONE of THREE copies of The Jewel (US Only)

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I have already read The Jewel and LOVED IT so, so much! My review will go up sometime soon. Also, good luck to everyone who entered the giveaway!

17 First Kisses Blog Tour: Interview + Giveaway

17 First Kisses by Rachael Allen
Publisher: HarperTeen
Release Date: June 17th 2014
Genre: YA Contemporary

No matter how many boys Claire kisses, she can’t seem to find a decent boyfriend. Someone who wouldn’t rather date her gorgeous best friend, Megan. Someone who won’t freak out when he learns about the tragedy her family still hasn’t recovered from. Someone whose kisses can carry her away from her backwoods town for one fleeting moment.

Until Claire meets Luke.

But Megan is falling for Luke, too, and if there’s one thing Claire knows for sure, it’s that Megan’s pretty much irresistible.

With true love and best friendship on the line, Claire suddenly has everything to lose. And what she learns—about her crush, her friends, and most of all herself—makes the choices even harder.

In her moving debut, Rachael Allen brilliantly captures the complexities of friendship, the struggles of self-discovery, and the difficulties of trying to find love in high school. Fans of Sarah Ockler, Susane Colasanti, and Stephanie Perkins will fall head over heels for this addictive, heartfelt, and often hilarious modern love story.

1. Can you persuasively sell your book, 17 First Kisses, to my blog readers in 5 words?

Finding yourself via kissing?

Hmm, that’s only four. How about…

Lots and lots of kissing!

What? That doesn’t do it for everybody? Okay, here’s what the book is about:

Friendship, family, loss, rebuilding, kissing.

2. What do you admire most about Claire? 

Her strength. She’s able to be strong for her family and friends, she relentlessly pursues her dreams, and she’s able to jump ship from a toxic relationship with a boy before it gets any worse.

3. How did you get your inspiration for 17 First Kisses?

The short story is that I was doing some house rearranging, and found a box of notes and magazine clippings (*cough* Justin Timberlake *cough*) from middle and high school, the contents of which was both hilarious and mortifying. I was struck by how different my friends and I were depending on what year the notes were from, and I wanted to write a book that captured the same characters at different snapshots of their lives.

The long story is, well, longer, and also kind of sad, and you can find it here: http://rachaelallenwrites.blogspot.com/2014/06/why-i-had-to-write-this-book.html

4. Megan, Claire’s best friend, is such an interesting character! Can you describe her in 140 characters or less? (Like in a tweet!)

Oh! This is a fun one! Here’s my answer:

Fiercely protective friend. Fun. Dramatic. Craves her parents' approval. Loves cooking more than breathing. Not your average queen bee cheerleader.

5. I loved the chapters devoted to Claire’s 17 kisses. Why did you include these scenes in the book?

Thanks! I’m so glad you liked those because they were really fun to write! Like I was saying before, I found this note box, and wanted to capture snapshots of these characters as they grew up. I thought of the title 17 FIRST KISSES, and I got so excited because having these kiss scenes in the past would allow you to get a glimpse of these characters in lots of situations at different ages. Plus, it meant I would get to write ALL THE KISSING 

It was a lot of kissing though, so I joke that none of my future characters are getting any action because I’m tired of writing kiss scenes (but I know I won’t really be able to stay away because OMG kissing).

6. Now, a fun question! What is your dream travel destination?

I love this question because I love to travel! I’d have to say either Australia or Samoa. I’ve never been to either. I love seeing natural wonders, get giddily excited over weird animals, and I love having adventures, and eating new foods, and doing things like hiking and snorkeling.

7. What are some of your non-bookish hobbies?

I love science, and I work in a lab. I go fangirl over Pretty Little Liars and Game of Thrones. I love football, whether it’s watching the Atlanta Falcons or Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets or playing flag football. Other than that, I’m hanging out with my husband, kiddos, and two dogs.

8. Quick! What’s your favorite color? 

Yellow! (People who love yellow feel very strongly about it. Hence, the exclamation point.)

Follow the FFBC 17 First Kisses Blog Tour and don't miss anything! Click on the banner to see the tour schedule.

Rachael Allen lives in Atlanta, GA where she's working furiously on her PhD in neuroscience. When she's not doing science or writing YA, you can find her chasing after her toddler and her two sled dogs. Her debut YA novel 17 FIRST KISSES, is forthcoming from Harper Teen. Rachael may or may not have had 17 first kisses...luckily she doesn't kiss and tell.

Win (1) Signed Copy of 17 First Kisses + Swag, + an ARC of I Will Give You the Sun by Jandy Nelson (US Only)

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As a side note, I bought this book, read it, and I really loved it! 17 Kisses is an amazing contemporary that focuses on so many interesting aspects. 

Thanks for reading the post everyone!