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YA Historical Fiction Month: Julie Chibbaro Interiew and Giveaway!

1. In what ways do you relate to your main character, Prudence?

Prudence is actually really different from me. I was not so great in school, especially at math and science. She’s sort of who I wish I was, in a lot of ways. I do relate to her inner dilemmas – I’m always weighing the moral issues of things, and I have similar self-confidence troubles.

2. How much research did you conduct before you started writing?

Research is a mixed bag. Once I get an idea for a story, I start writing. As the writing progresses, and I see what I need to know, then I continue the research. I use a lot of pictures, videos, and books and just read about the period compulsively, until I feel like I understand it. The research never really ends until I’m done with the book.

3. If you could travel back to any period in history where would you go?

I like this question. It’s the game I play with myself when I’m starting a book. I think the enduring answer would be: The 1960s. It seems like a time when people were most wild and free – musically, politically, and, um, otherwise. Many of my musical heroes/heroines are from that time. I could do without the war, but much of that time period is pretty fascinating to me.

4. What's next for you writing wise?

I’m working on historical mystery set in the 1940s, during WWII. It’s about a female serial killer, is all I can say. I just finished a book about a graffiti artist and a poet girl who live in the parks of NYC.

5. Why do you think teenagers should read historical fiction?

“Should” is a word I hesitate to use with teenagers. It’s the fastest way to turn them off (if I remember correctly). I just think there are some really cool stories in history, and a good book is a good book, no matter the label. So, read historical fiction if you want to read a great story, read it if you want to learn something about the past that doesn’t come from a boring history textbook, read it for fun, to pass the time, to annoy your family and friends with weird facts. For God’s sake, don’t read it because you “should.”

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Thanks so much Julie!

For more information on Julie and her newest release, Deadly, check out these links:

My review of Deadly

Deadly Facebook Page

Julie's website

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GIVEAWAY!

I also have an ARC of Deadly to giveaway to one lucky winner!

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YA Historical Fiction Month: Carolyn Meyer Guest Post and Giveaway!

“How much is true?”

That’s question I’m often asked about my historical novels.

The short answer: “All of it.”

But the real answer is more complicated. I don’t change facts. But sometimes there aren’t many facts to go on, or they aren’t at all clear, or historians don’t agree. So I often do a complicated dance, choosing among the possibilities to find those that make a good story that is also “true.”

My most recent book, THE BAD QUEEN: RULES AND INSTRUCTIONS FOR MARIE-ANTOINETTE, illustrates the challenge. A lot is known about the life of Marie-Antoinette, but she is also surrounded by myths. Her supposedly hard-hearted dismissal of the French peasants unable to find enough bread to keep them alive, “Then let them eat cake!”, has been thoroughly discredited. There is no record of her saying it. Another hotly debated issue is whether or not she had an actual affair with the Swedish count. (Read the book and decide for yourself!)

My inspiration for writing the story of the famous (or infamous) French queen was the 2006 film, “Marie Antoinette”--gorgeous to look at, but I didn’t think it explored the subject in depth. Movie-makers are not concerned with factual accuracy. Their goal is to create a vivid impression in a very short time; no one cares if dates are altered or events rearranged. My goal was different: I used my research as a basis for imagining what Marie-Antoinette might have been thinking and feeling, to weave scenes and create dialog in order to make the story vivid and engrossing and to create a dynamic, wholly rounded—and believable--character.

I was fortunate with Marie-Antoinette; plenty of books have been written about her and about the French Revolution. But sometimes there simply aren’t many facts to rely on. I recently finished work on CLEOPATRA CONFESSES, a historical novel to be published in June 2011. What a challenge that was! Cleopatra’s birth date is approximate. No one knows who her mother was. There are no contemporary writings about her, none of her own words have been preserved, and there are no pictures of her to tell us what she really looked like.

But is it true? As true as I can imagine it to be.

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Thanks so much Carolyn for participating!

I love Carolyn's books and reviewed her newest book earlier today.

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GIVEAWAY!

I have a shiny, finished copy of The Bad Queen to giveaway to one lucky winner!

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Fun Fireside Fiction Giveaway

Thanks to Simon and Schuster I have an awesome prize pack to giveaway to one lucky winner! One winner will receive a copy of each of the above books.

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Good luck and Happy Holidays!

Entice Giveaway!

I have a giveaway for a hardcover copy of Entice by Carrie Jones along with some bookmarks!

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YA Historical Fiction Month: Susan Coventry Interview and Giveaway!

1. What was your inspiration to write The Queen's Daughter? Why Joan of England?

I’m really passionate about historical fiction, so there was never any serious question of me writing anything else. I wanted to write a medieval adventure novel about the crusade against the Cathar heretics in Southern France. As I was researching and writing that book, I fell in love with the tragic southern leader, Count Raymond VI of Toulouse. But I got sidetracked when I discovered that before the war, Raymond had been married to Eleanor of Aquitaine’s daughter. I was familiar enough with Eleanor and her sons to know that being her daughter must have been a big deal. How did the count of Toulouse end up with such a prize? So I started researching Joan. And the more information I dug up, the more I was hooked. How unfair that her mother and brothers hogged all the limelight! Joan had a fascinating life -- she deserved to have her story told.

2. Did you have to do a lot of research while/before writing?

Yes. I did a lot of research before and kept researching the whole time. In fact, research is a great cure for and enabler of writer’s block. It was difficult to find much specific information about Joan, but there is a wealth of information about the time period and it’s so interesting and complex. Whenever I had trouble writing, I would just read and read and read.

3. In what ways do you relate to Joan?

My first disclaimer is MY MOTHER IS WONDERFUL!!!! So in the most basic ways, I can’t relate to Joan at all. She had a horrible childhood. Her family was torn apart, violently, by ambition, distrust, and greed for power. And she was sent away to marry a stranger before she was even teenaged. It’s hard for any suburban twentieth (twenty-first?) century American girl to relate to that. But Joan tried to stay true to her own inner values even while being loyal to the people she loved. And I think that even when she was attempting to be as tough as her mother, Joan was inherently kind. She treated people nicely. I can’t say that I always do that, but it’s what I want to do.

4. What are some of your favorite YA historical fiction novels?

I love Jude Watson/Judy Blundell’s writing, so What I Saw and How I Lied is one of my favorites even though it isn’t medieval. And I absolutely can’t get enough of Gerald Morris’s The Squire’s Tales series.

5. If you could travel back to any time period where would it be?

I would love to visit the middle ages, around 1200, but only for a couple of days. Times were too tough back then. If I had to live in the past, I might pick the Colonial period.

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Thanks so much, Susan!

The Queen's Daughter is an AMAZING book, be sure to check out my review here

Also, for more info on Susan visit her website.

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GIVEAWAY

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YA Historical Fiction Month: Saundra Mitchell Interview and Giveaway!

I WRITE HISTORY BECAUSE I AM HISTORY

Saundra Mitchell

I've always loved history, and not in a particularly sterile or scholarly way. When I was a child, I could tell you as much about Tutankhamun's family as I could my own—and once I fell in love with the legacy of a world swallowed by time, I started making connections. It wasn't enough to know the facts—that Tutankhamun lived in the 18th Dynasty, the 1330s BC wasn't enough. I wanted to put him in context.

What did he see when he stepped onto his porch? What was happening around him? The pyramids were already 1100 years old by the time Tutankhamun set eyes on them. They were as ancient to him as the construction of Reims Cathedral is to us. While Tutankhamun ruled over all of Egypt, a family buried a young woman in Egtved, Denmark. They interred her with with a blanket, and a spray of yarrow flowers.

The Myceneans are concentrating their power against invasions of people we will eventually call the first three Greek waves. In what will become Mexico, the Olmecs have started carving giant stone heads. At the same time, men and women are building earthwork mounds and establishing city complexes along the Mississippi River. At the same time, Shang Dynasty astronomers in China were mapping the stars, and writing down the earliest scientific observances of comets and the planet Mars.

These people all breathed the same air, saw the same sky, they lived and walked on the same day. That's what history is. It's not the dates or the timeline or the dull order of things—it's seeing into the lives of people who are just like us, who came before us. It's understanding our place in the march of time and realizing that one day, we'll be someone else's history.

The ancient Egyptians believed that you could only be destroyed if your name is forgotten. And so I write books—about the present, about the past—about a girl who can see the future from Baltimore 1889, in the hopes that my name will be remembered. If I'm very, very lucky, one day I'll be part of the tapestry of an ancient world that to me, at this moment, is the modern day.

If you're very, very lucky, you'll be remembered there, too.

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Saundra Mitchell has been a phone psychic, a car salesperson, a denture-deliverer and a layout waxer. She's dodged trains, endured basic training, and hitchhiked from Montana to California. She teaches herself languages, raises children, and makes paper for fun. She's also a screenwriter and executive producer for Fresh Films and the author of Shadowed Summer and the forthcoming The Vespertine and The Springsweet. She always picks truth; dares are too easy.

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http://www.saundramitchell.com , http://thevespertine.com

Thanks so much, Saundra!

I also have some awesome The Vespertine bookmarks to giveaway to one lucky commenter!

Find Out Friday: Shari Maurer and Giveaway!

1. In what ways do you relate to Emmi?

I think that Emmi is the athlete I always wanted to be. And I love that she isn't a perfect, sweet, happy patient. She gets cranky and frustrated and I have a feeling I might act the same way in that situation (as much as I'd love to think I'd be perfect and sweet...)

2. Did you have to do any research on heart transplants before writing Change of Heart?

I did a lot of research. My husband is a cardiologist who takes care of patients waiting for heart transplants, so luckily must of the medical information was as easy as asking questions at the dinner table. But I also spoke to many transplant recipients to make sure I made Emmi's experience authentic.

3. What was your reaction to seeing your cover for the first time? Did you have any ideas of what you'd like it to look like before hand?

I had no idea what the cover was going to be like. And I'm pretty bad at that type of visualization. I was trying to figure out what a photo cover might look like, but I think they did a nice job.

4. If you only had 24 hours to live, what are five things you would just have to do?

Okay, assuming I could have superpowers and/or unlimited money to get me around the world, I would:

1. Visit the Great Wall of China
2. Sit on the beach and read a book
3. Have a slice of White Chocolate Mousse Pie
4. Bike along a beautiful, flat river and then kayak a bit, too.
5. Hug and kiss my kids and my husband again and again and again.

5. Name five of your favorite books!

1. To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
2. A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith
3. Cheaper by the Dozen by Ernestine Gilbreth Carey and Frank Gilbreth, Jr.
4. Are You There God, It's Me, Margaret by Judy Blume
5. Absolutely anything by Sarah Dessen

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GIVEAWAY!

I have a copy of Change of Heart to giveaway to one lucky winner!

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Blog Tour: Sarah Ockler Guest Post and Giveaway!

                                                                                                                                             YA Novel Mashup: Fixing Delilah's Aunt Rachel Reads the Tarot for Twenty Boy Summer's Anna & Frankie 

In the story of Fixing Delilah, Delilah's Aunt Rachel reads Tarot cards. While Delilah initially views her aunt's readings as a funky and cool but ultimately pointless endeavor, she comes to appreciate the cards and to truly respect the messages the universe conveys through Rachel's interpretations (which are quite insightful and accurate, particularly in matters of the heart, despite Delilah's best efforts to discount them).  

To celebrate the launch of Fixing Delilah, Aunt Rachel has decided to make a house call, sharing her card-reading gift with two very special girls: best friends Anna Reiley and Frankie Perino from the book Twenty Boy Summer. 

After asking each participant to state her full name and cut the cards, Aunt Rachel will do a three-card spread, representing the past, the present, and the future.  

 Now, let's see what's in the cards for our friends from Twenty Boy Summer...  

Anna's Reading 

The past card: King of Swords 

The present card: Five of Cups 

The future card: Ace of Swords  

Aunt Rachel's Thoughts:  When we think about the people in our lives, the King of Swords typically represents a man who is fair, analytical, and extremely diplomatic. In some cases, this kind of person tends toward intellect over emotion, especially in matters of love. Kings often represent fathers, but I think in this reading, the King represents Matt. Though he was very much in love with Anna, he was also looking at things quite logically -- maybe too logically -- when considering how to break the news to Frankie about he and Anna's new relationship. He was so worried about hurting Frankie's feelings that he asked Anna to keep their secret against Anna's wishes -- a secret that ultimately had pretty disastrous consequences. Anna's relationship with Matt influenced her present situation, represented by the next card -- the Five of Cups. 

 I'm not surprised that the Five of Cups turned up in Anna's spread. This card represent loss and disappointment, overturned emotions, and even abandonment or betrayal. It's a card of grieving, but it's also one of my favorite cards because if you look closely, you'll notice that some of the cups are still upright. This card tells us that even after an immense loss, good things still remain, if we can only stop and see them. In Anna's situation, she's so stuck in her grief for Matt that she's afraid to move on, even though a new love may be right in front of her eyes. The Five of Cups is telling her to look up, to be open to new possibilities, despite the difficulties of the past.   

Anna's future card, The Ace of Swords, is a card of intellect, strength, and courage. In this case, I believe it represents Anna's inner strength and ability to "rise from the ashes" of the tragedy of losing Matt and all of the difficult changes her friendship with Frankie has endured. If she can overcome the adversity in her life -- if she can "seize the sword," so to speak -- I'm confident she'll find her way again. She'll create a life rich with love and beauty strengthened but not defined by the memory of her first love. 

 Frankie's Reading

The past card: Nine of Wands 

The present card: Four of Wands 

The future card: King of Swords  

Aunt Rachel's thoughts:  Nines represent the completion of a cycle -- the final approach to the ending of something. In Frankie's case, I believe it represents the ending of her relationship with her older brother Matt. Not just because he died, but because he found love with Anna, and though Frankie didn't know the reason, he'd already begun to pull away from her, forging new bonds with "the girl next door" that was their mutual friend for so long. The Nine of Wands in particular points to a fortification of sorts -- a protector or well-defended person. I believe this card represents Matt's concern for Frankie about how she'd take the news of their relationship. He was always extremely protective of his sister, but as much as he tried to protect her from life's pains and troubles, he couldn't protect her from the pain of losing him.

Now, it may seem surprising that the Four of Wands turned up in Frankie's present position. This is typically a positive, happy card that symbolizes blessings, ceremonies, celebrations, and a happy family. Currently, Frankie's life is about as far from this picture as you can get. Her brother died. Her best friend is keeping secrets. Her parents are just not there. But I think despite the circumstances of her life right now, deep in her heart, this card is exactly what Frankie most desires right now. She remembers a time not so long ago when her family was happy and close -- when there was lots to celebrate. Now, on her first family vacation without her big brother, she's struggling with these memories. In many ways, her memories have become her present, because she feels like the memories are the only good thing left in her life.   

Where the King of Swords appeared as Anna's past card in a more positive light, it's here representing Frankie's future, and I see it as a warning. While Frankie desires a happy home life and close relationships with her friends and family again, on her current trajectory, she's headed for disaster. Like the darker, shadow qualities of the King, Frankie can be aloof and aggressive, pushing people away instead of inviting them in. If she's not careful, she's going to end up alone, alienating those she loves most. With a card like this in her future position, given her present life circumstances, Frankie really needs to wake up. Like Anna, Frankie has so much potential for a life full of love and happiness -- she's just got to open her eyes and realize how her behavior is hurting people -- especially herself. Hope isn't lost -- Frankie is a fierce, independent girl with a lot of love to offer the world. She just has to learn how to channel her feelings more positively, especially when things get tough. If she can do that, even if it makes her vulnerable, she'll find her way back to the good things in life. Especially with a friend like Anna by her side.  

So that's what the universe wanted to tell Anna and Frankie from Twenty Boy Summer! If you'd like to see more of Aunt Rachel's powers of intuition at work, check out Fixing Delilah, where the Tarot speaks of family secrets, old rifts, and my favorite... a hot new romance (artistic boys in coffee shops, anyone?)! ;-)  

Thanks for reading!  

XO Sarah

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Thanks so much to Sarah and The Teen Book Scene for arranging the tour!

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GIVEAWAY TIME!

I have a signed copy of either Twenty Boy Summer or Fixing Delilah (winners choice) to giveaway!

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Tyger Treasure Giveaway!

I have a gorgeous necklace inspired by the fabulous new novel, Tyger Tyger, to giveaway to one lucky winner!

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Tyger Treasure!

Kersten Hamilton is giving away twenty hand-made necklaces in November and December to celebrate her new book Tyger Tyger!

The pendants were created by book blogger Melissa at Books and Things and the chains by someone else. :) Each necklace is beautiful and unique. Enter here to win this necklace, and have fun hunting for the rest!

Blog Tour: Brenda Pandos Interview and Giveaway!

1. Could you introduce yourself and “The Sapphire Talisman” to our readers?

Thank you for having me, Kelsey. I loved your review of The Sapphire Talisman. I’m a mother of 2 rambunctious boys, wife of the love of my life! I’m very blessed.

The Sapphire Talisman is a continuation of the sixteen-year-old empathy, Julia Parker, and vampire slayer, Nicholas Kendrick. The story opens with Enigma’s warning to Julia that Alora is back, and she wants revenge. Their love will be tested in new and incredible ways either ever imagined. I’m so excited to share it with everyone December 15th!

2. How did you come up with the ideas in “The Sapphire Talisman” and what/who inspired you to write it?

Lemons in my life inspired the first book and my enthusiastic readers inspired the second. Right before giving birth to my second child, my first was diagnosed with an Autism Spectrum Disorder (at age 3). Our life’s turned upside down. I ended up quitting my job to be home with them. I desperately needed something to preoccupy my mind during the long hours of tending to a newborn and being available 35 hrs a week for therapy for my oldest. That became The Emerald Talisman (TET). I wrote TET in segments, being my most favorite ones first. Then I bridged them together to complete the manuscript.

With The Sapphire Talisman (TST), I started at the beginning and wrote all the way through to the end. It didn’t come together as smoothly or easily as TET, which was frustrating, but I completed the entire thing in 8 months. It’s weird, but my best idea’s came during my daily shower. I think because I wasn’t being pulled in a million different directions from my kids. I’d imagine the scene and then write it out later in 1K chunks. If I could write 1K words in a day, I’d be happy and finish the rest of the things I needed to complete in my day. You have to set daily goals/limits so you don’t feel guilty when doing free-time activities. It’s not like I had a boss breathing down my neck (well, my readers were pretty persistent).

3. Do you think the main characters in the novel should be perceived as role models by teenagers?

Actually, I think the question should be, should authors write strong role models for their YA audience. In life, everyone is trying to sell something. Whether it’s their value system, a new car or joining their side, they have an agenda, albeit hidden, it’s there. Teens are one of the most open groups of people who are by nature naive and looking to find their niche in the world. As an author, I want to provide quality, moral YA fantasy fiction I’d feel comfortable letting my own children read. That involves strong heroes and heroines who may or may not make good choices, but suffer consequences of those decisions, like real life. I’m happy to say that I’ve gotten many mom’s stamp of approval and they feel peace of mind letting their kids read my stories.

4. Do you think the paranormal romance genre has exhausted its potential? Or are vampires and other peculiar creatures more popular than ever?

The readers want fantasy romance of all kinds. I don’t think that’ll change.

5. What do you mainly focus on when writing a book – plot, characters, etc.?

For me, the plot determines who and where the scenes need to be. For the Sapphire Talisman, the whole premise surrounded the confrontation with Alora and Julia. From there, I filled in the rest of the story with the ending in mind. I try not to pigeon hole my characters and allow them the freedom to run dialog naturally, gently steering them towards the next scene. I guess it’s called ‘panster’ writing meaning by the seat of your pants. Works for me.

6. It can be speculated that nowadays blogger reviews may give a book a push or condemn it to oblivion. Do you agree that the Internet plays a major role in the successful publicizing of a book?

Being an indie writer, I’ve heavy tapped into the book blogging world and they have made my book(s) a success. Though, if I’d written something they didn’t like, it would have killed my novel for sure. I’ve hit a good thread and I’m thankful for them.

7. I know of authors who ignore and discard criticism from reviewers. What about you? Do you think an author can improve an aspect of his/her writing based on reviews?

I read all my reviews. Many have given very credible feedback I’ve adapted into TST. Some complain about the novel and don’t provide reasons why they didn’t like it. I can’t do much with statements like “I didn’t like it.” I have a lot to learn and I’m open to constructive criticism from credible sources.

8. What do you find particularly difficult in the whole writing & getting published process?

Each step has its challenges. I think overcoming the fear and putting out your hard work and heart out there for criticism and rejection is the most difficult part.

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Thanks so much Brenda!

Click here to visit her website and here to pre order the book!

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GIVEAWAY!

I have a signed copy of The Sapphire Talisman to giveaway to one lucky winner!

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