Author Interview: Anne Blankman

Hey guys! I recently finished reading Prisoner of Night and Fog, a historical fiction set in Munich, several years before World War 2 broke out. Prisoner of Night and Fog initially caught my attention as I've always held a fascination for stories set during WW2, and Adolf Hitler's character has always intrigued me. I'm glad I decided to download this off Edelweiss as I enjoyed this book immensely, and I absolutely cannot for the the next book in the series!

Prisoner of Night and Fog

Anne Blankman

April 22nd 2014

Balzer + Bray/ HarperCollins

*Interview*

Hey Anne! Thank you so much for stopping by to answer a few questions J

Thanks for having me!

To start off, please describe Prisoner of Night and Fog in 5 words.

Young Adult romantic historical thriller

What was your favourite part of writing Prisoner of Night and Fog?

I loved revising it during my first round of edits. My editor is an incredibly thorough reader, and she had sent me a wonderful editorial letter. Her comments helped me see the manuscript much more clearly. Suddenly I knew what changes I needed to make to turn Prisoner of Night and Fog into the story I wanted it to be. It was an exhilarating feeling.

And the most difficult part of the writing process?

I think, for most historical fiction authors, it's tempting to pack your story with information your reader doesn't need. While I was doing research, I discovered so many incredible details that I couldn't include because they would slow down the story or my main character wouldn't know them. For example, I learned that Hitler sported a tiny mustache because he thought it made his nostrils look smaller. I would have loved to include that tidbit but there's no way that Hitler would have confided something so personal to Gretchen, my main character. So finding a balance between telling my readers enough historical information and bombarding them with stuff I find interesting is a definite challenge!

I’m aware you wrote about Hitler for your honours thesis in college. What made you want to research and write about Hitler? What was it about him that fascinated you?

I think Hitler fascinates so many of us because he was evil. Truly, completely evil. And there is no reason for it. What I mean is this--historians haven't been able to find the source of Hitler's hatred for Jews. For the first twenty-odd years of his life, he was casually anti-Semitic, as many people unfortunately were during that time period. But he was also deeply grateful to the Jewish doctor who treated his mother for breast cancer--so much so that, when Austria was annexed to Germany in 1938, Hitler arranged for the doctor to emigrate to America, where he lived safely for the rest of his life. This kind of behavior is mind-boggling. How could Hitler despise Jews and protect one of them? Why did he hate Jews so much? There's no real reason for prejudice, of course, but we don't even know why Hitler fixated on Jews. There are no answers, no matter how desperately we search for them. Essentially, Hitler has escaped all explanation.

It’s mentioned in the ‘author’s not’ section in the e-ARC that the main character, Gretchen as well as Kurt and Daniel are fictional characters. What inspired you to write Daniel’s character? Was he inspired by any notable historical figure/anyone in particular?

What a great question! Yes, Daniel was inspired by the heroic journalists of the Munich Post, a Socialist newspaper. Throughout the 1920's and early '30's, these men wrote scathing investigative articles about Hitler and the Nazi Party. These reporters were sued repeatedly by Hitler for libel; they got beaten up sometimes in the streets; they often feared for their lives but they never stopped writing.

I was so awed by their courage that I decided to create Daniel, who pursues the truth as fearlessly and aggressively as they did.

After doing a little background research on Hitler, and his mistress Eva Braun, I discovered Eva had 2 sisters, one of whom was called ‘Gretl’. This is also Gretchen’s nickname in the book. Furthermore, Gretl later married a man named Kurt, and it seems Kurt did show a little interest in Gretchen at one point during the story. Were the names purely coincidental or did you name the characters after real life people?

You're the first person to notice this! I wanted the fictional characters' names to sound German, but familiar enough to readers in different countries, which is why I originally chose Gretchen. Plus, Gretchen means "lustrous pearl." I loved the idea of Gretchen as a pearl--starting life as a speck of sand in an oyster, but through years and work growing into something as strong and beautiful as a pearl. By the time I started researching Eva Braun's family, the name Gretchen had stuck. Eva's own sister, Gretl, actually married a man named Hermann Fegelein, who was executed on Hitler's orders for desertion when Gretl was about nine months pregnant with their only child.

All of the fictional names are significant. For example, I came up with "Daniel" because I think of that character as a young man trapped in a den of lions, just like Daniel in the Hebrew Bible.

I’m a huge fan of historical fiction! What are some books you would recommend to historical fiction lovers like me?

I'm currently obsessed with the trilogy His Fair Assassin by Robin LaFevers. Nun-assassins, romance, and fifteenth-century Brittany--does it get much better than that?

Any historical films you would recommend? 

Any of Alfred Hitchcock's films! Love, love them, especially North by Northwest, about an ordinary man caught up in a web of international intrigue. Plus, it's got CARY GRANT.

I also adore Shakespeare in Love.

If you're interested in my book's time period, be sure to watch The Blue Angel with Marlene Dietrich. It's one of the last, great examples of avant-garde German filmmaking before the Nazis took over.

Thank you so much for stopping by and taking the time to answers the questions!

Thanks for inviting me!

*About the Author*

Anne Blankman may have been meant to be a writer because her parents named her for Anne of Green Gables. She grew up in an old house with gables (gray, unfortunately) in upstate New York. When she wasn't writing or reading, she was rowing on the crew team, taking ballet lessons, fencing and swimming. She graduated from Union College with degrees in English and history, which comes in handy when she writes historical fiction.

After earning a master's degree in information science, Anne began working as a youth services librarian. Currently, she lives in southeastern Virginia with her family. When she's not writing young adult fiction, she's playing with her daughter, training for races with her husband, working at her amazing library branch, learning to knit (badly), and reading.

Anne Blankman is the author of PRISONER OF NIGHT AND FOG, the first in a three-book deal slated for publication in spring 2014 from Balzer + Bray | HarperCollins. She is represented by Tracey Adams of Adams Literary.

Find Anne on:

Website | Twitter | Goodreads

Author Interview: Hannah Harrington & Giveaway! (INT'L & AUS/NZ)

Today, I have the pleasure of bringing you an interview with the lovely Hannah Harrington, author of Saving June (2011) and Speechless (2012). I recently read reviewed Speechless - it was an incredibly powerful and engaging novel; I'd recommend it to everyone :) There is also a giveaway of 2 copies of the AU edition of Speechless for AUS/NZ residents only, courtesy of the lovely peeps at Harpequin Teen Australia. I'll also be giving away one paperback copy for my awesome international readers as well! 

Speechless

Hannah Harrington

August 28th 2012

Harlequin Teen

Please describe Speechless in 5 words or less.

Words have power. Also, diners.

Chelsea’s vow of silence was certainly a very brave and praise-worthy decision. I personally can’t imagine keeping silent for so long! What’s the longest time you’ve been able to keep silent for?

I have never attempted a vow of silence! I like to think I could go at least a day... and then I remember how often I have to yell at my cats to behave, and I don't think I'd be able to do it!

Can you share your favourite quote(s) from Speechless.

I admit I really loved this one when I wrote it:

“I walk to my car without looking back, and as I drive away, I'm hit with a sudden wave of sadness. But it's a distant kind of sad - like when you look at your Barbies and realize you don't want to play with them anymore, because you're growing up and you've moved on, and in your heart you know it's time to make room for other things.” 

If Speechless were to be made into a movie, who would be your ideal cast?

I could see Emma Roberts as Chelsea and Darren Criss as Sam, but really I am not married to any dream casting!

If you weren’t an author, what would you be doing?

Well, I do have a day job at an office, which isn't nearly as exciting, but I'd probably be doing that still! Writing is definitely "the dream job", and I can't think of anything else I'd rather be doing with my life.

Can you tell us anything about your upcoming projects?

I am in the early stages of a third novel, which will be another contemporary romance! I love writing for that genre.

Shirley: YAYY! Another contemporary romance from Hannah? I CANNOT WAIT. No doubt it's going to be just as amazing as Hannah's first two books :)~

Hannah Harrington is a 25-year-old born and bred Michigander. She grew up in the town of East Grand Rapids before later moving to the Lansing area, where she currently resides with three cats and a black labrador, all of whom are named after famous musicians. She wrote her first book at age nine, a stunning, forty-page Call of the Wild/Black Beauty ripoff ode to her dead dog. She later attempted her second at fourteen (by longhand), but failed miserably. She got the idea for Saving June during the summer after high school, while living out of her car and working as a pizza cook. It wasn't until she was twenty-one that she decided to write a story around the scenes she'd scribbled into a notebook years before. Saving June, Hannah's first novel, was published by Harlequin Teen in 2011. Her next novel, Speechless, will be released in the US on August 28th, 2012. When she isn't busy writing like a crazy person, Hannah enjoys horseback riding, arguing about politics, watching documentaries, playing guitar (very badly), and speaking about herself in the third person.

Find Hannah on:

Website | Blog | Twitter | Goodreads | Facebook

*Giveaway*
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Blog Tour: Amarok - Author Interview

Welcome to my stop on the Amarok blog tour hosted by Spencer Hill Press. Today, I have an interview with Angela Townsend.

Amarok
by Angela Townsend
Publisher: Spencer Hill Press

Release Date: November 2012

Dragged across the tundra by an evil mountain man and his enormous black wolf, Emma learns that love can be found in the most unexpected places…
Emma's life has been hell since she moved from sunny California to a remote Alaskan town. Abandoned by her father and living with the guilt of causing her mother's death, she makes a desperate dash for freedom from her abusive stepfather. But when her car skids off the icy road, her planned escape leads to further captivity in a world beyond her imagining. Dragged across the tundra by an evil mountain man and his enormous black wolf, she learns that love can be found in the most unexpected places. Amarok, as she's nicknamed the wolf, is a young man from the gold-rush era enslaved by an ancient shaman. Emma's gentle touch and kind heart win his love and devotion. When a vicious madman--trapped in bear form by the same Shaman--attacks the travelers and injures Amarok, Emma must find the strength to face her fears and free the wolf she's come to love. But that means she must face down the evil shaman, a Siberian mammoth hunter from the ice age, and he has no intention of giving up his power to her.

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository

*Interview*

Describe Amarok in 10 words or less? 
An extraordinary adventure....Alaska has never been so magical!

What inspired you to write Amarok? 
I love learning about ancient man and especially the Ice Age. I thought it would be fun to write about an ancient time period and the people who lived in it.  

Which character were you able to relate to the most? 
Why I relate to Amarok in many ways. I think life can be beautiful but at times it can be harsh and very unkind. I think sometimes in life we all have to live in "skins" that don't fit us. 

You grew up listening to ancient tales and legend. Could you share some of your favourite ones?
I love the story of Finn McCool  

Finn McCool was an Irish giant that lived in the county of Antrim. One day he got into a fight with a giant from Scotland.Finn built a bridge made of hexagon shaped rocks to connect Ireland and Scotland so they could fight each other. When Finn saw Fingal he realized he could not beat this bigger giant, so he decided to out smart him. He wrapped himself up in a blanket and pretended to be asleep. When Fingal arrived at Finn's home he was told by Finn's wife that her husband was not home but he could wait for him to return shortly. Fingal  took one look at the baby giant wrapped in a blanket and said " if that is Finn's baby son is that big---Imagine how big the father is". Fingal decided to beat a hasty retreat back to Scotland tearing up the Giant's causeway as he went. The myth is an old tale that explains how "The Giant's Causeway" a rocky outcrop on the coast of Antrim near the town of Bushmill was created.

Who would you cast in a movie adaption of Amarok? 
Someone like Taylor Lautner from the twilight series. 
Shirley: YESSS!!! I'll watch anything with Taylor Lautner in it! hehee

Can you tell us anything about your future projects?
I am working on a series of sequels to Amarok! stay tuned....

Thank you so much for stopping by! 
Thank you so much for having me!

*Author*

Angela Townsend was born in the beautiful Rocky Mountains of Missoula, Montana.  As a child, Angela grew up listening to stories told by her grandparents, ancient tales and legends of faraway places.  Influenced by her Irish and Scottish heritage, Angela became an avid research historian, specializing in Celtic mythology.  Her gift for storytelling finally led her to a full time career in historical research and writing.  A writer in local community circulations, Angela is also a published genealogical and historical resource writer who has taught numerous research seminars.  Currently, Angela divides her time between writing, playing Celtic music on her fiddle, and Irish dancing.  She resides on a ranch, in rural Northwestern Montana, with her two children Levi and Grant.

Official Website | Facebook | Goodreads

*Trailer*

For the full tour schedule, click HERE.

Blog Tour: The Interrogation of Ashala Wolf - Interview + Giveaway!

Hey guys! As part of the virtual blog tour for Aussie author Ambelin Kwaymullina's YA debut, Ashala Wolf, I have an awesome interview and a giveaway for readers living in AUS/NZ. 

For those who haven't yet read The Interrogation of Ashala Wolf, can you please

tell us what it's about?

Ashala Wolf is a work of dystopian fiction set hundreds of years into the future

where the world as we know has been destroyed in an environmental cataclysm called

the Reckoning. When the story begins Ashala has been captured by the government,

and is facing interrogation. She is an Illegal – a person born with a special ability –

and Illegals are locked up under a set of laws called the Citizenship Accords. Ashala

has defied those laws, and has been hiding in a vast forest with a group of other

runaways (her Tribe). The story of the book is the story of her interrogation – how

she resists the government, and how she ultimately escapes. It is also a larger story of

Ashala and her Tribe, and their place in a changing society.

What I hope I did a good job of putting into the book is drama and mystery, a bit of

romance, and some bigger issues about injustice and how to fight it. But one the great

things about being an author is that once a book is published, readers discover things

in it themselves. I always love going back to my favorite books and reading them

again, and no matter how often I read those stories, I find something new each time.

So I’m always really interested to hear what people discovered in my book, and how

they interpret the story.

How did you come up with the names of your characters? Is there perhaps a

story behind their names?

My whole family writes books, and there’s one person we always go to for names and

titles – my brother Blaze. He’s the one who came up with the title of the book, and

with Ashala’s name.

I feel that all the other characters, though, named themselves. And I could never really

understand a character until I had their name. Before that they were a bit of mystery

to me, and I had to wait for the name to come into my head before I could write about

them in the way they deserved to be written about.

What was your favourite scene in the book and why?

The truth is, I have a lot of favourite scenes and it’s really hard to pick just one. I’ve

talked about some of them already on this blog tour, and I don’t want to repeat the

same stuff…because that would be boring. So here’s another favourite scene for the

list – the one where Ashala meets the Firstwood. She puts her hand on the trunk of the

towering tuart tree, and the forest shows her how life began there, after the world was

destroyed in the Reckoning.

I love this paragraph because it shows life triumphing against all odds. The world has

ended, but life survives. And Ashala needs to understand this, because at this point

of the story, her world has ended too. She’s lost Cassie, and run away from Gull City

and everything she knows. She’s not sure, right at this moment, if she’s going to be

okay. But the forest tells her, in essence, it’s alright. We were okay, even though

everything ended around us. And you’ll be okay too.

What was the most difficult part of writing The Interrogation of Ashala Wolf?

Ashala’s worst moments. Those times when she was despairing, and alone, and

believes all is lost. Each of these moments was very hard for me to put together,

and one in particular was the worst of all (I won’t say which one but if you’ve read

the book you can probably guess). Because I didn’t want Ashala to be unhappy! In

those bad moments, I kept wanting to rescue her, and of course I couldn’t, because

that wasn’t where I was in the story. I couldn’t skim over what was happening either

– it was important to show what Ashala was thinking and feeling. But it was really

upsetting to have to live through that with her.

And the most rewarding?

When I stopped being stuck! Every now and then I’d get stuck on a particular

paragraph. It wasn’t a matter of not knowing what should be happening in that bit of

text – I could usually work that out – it was about not being able to express it as well

as I wanted to do. Sometimes I’d be trapped for days, going over and over the same

part of the book. I’d make a change, decide it was wonderful and go to bed. Then I’d

get up the next day, read the paragraph again, and decide it was absolutely terrible and

had to be redone. When I finally, FINALLY got one of those paragraphs right, it was

such a relief.

Or at least, it was a relief right up until when it dawned on me that I’d spent a week

working on a single paragraph when I was supposed to have had three chapters

done…

Quick Questions:

- Favourite book?

Just one? Only one, out of all my books? But I love them all for different reasons

– Pride and Prejudice is for when I’m feeling glum, Jane Eyre for when I want to

be scared (but not too scared) by the mysteries of Thornfield Hall, Lois Bujold’s

Miles Vorkogisan series for when I want to laugh and cry, Michelle West’s Sun

Sword series for when I want to be swept away to another world, and Jasper Fforde’s

Thursday Next series for when I want to read a book about a world of books.

- Favourite movie?

I have two – Casablanca, and Bladerunner. They sound worlds apart, I know, but to

me, they’re both about what it is to be human.

- Guilty Pleasure?

Sponge cake. Delicious sponge cake, with strawberries and cream in the middle,

lavished with creamy icing, and more strawberries on the top. Preferably with three

layers or more.

*Awwwww...I LOVED Ambelin's answers :) Wow...I really must check out those books mentioned up there! And funnily enough, I'm doing Bladerunner at school - except it's a pity I'm watching it for analysis rather than for pure entertainment.*

Did you like the interview? Are you looking forward to reading The Interrogation of Ashala Wolf? :)

The Interrogation of Ashala Wolf

by Ambelin Kwaymullina

                                                      Published by Walker Books Australia

on July 5th 2012

The Reckoning destroyed civilisation. Rising from the ashes, some people have developed unique abilities, and society is scared of them. Guided by the ancient spirits of the land, Ashala Wolf will do anything to keep them safe. When Ashala is captured, she realises she has been betrayed by someone she trusted. When her interrogator starts digging in her memories for information, she doubts she can protect her people forever. Will the Tribe survive the interrogation of Ashala Wolf?

Anddddd... here's the giveaway, courtesy of Walker Books Australia! 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The next tour stop is with Mandee from Vegan YA Nerds! 

Author Interview: Katie McGarry

Today, I have the pleasure of bringing you an interview with my one of my favourite authors - Katie McGarrg! I’m sure you’ve all heard of Katie’s debut, Pushing The Limits – one of the hottest and most talked about YA debuts this year! I read Pushing the Limits a while ago, and absolutely LOVED it; You can read my review here.  I may not be the biggest fan of contemporary books, but Pushing the Limits has managed to become my favourite book of this year (so far, anyway.) Without further ado, here’s the interview:

Q. I’m sure most of us, who’ve read Pushing the Limits would agree that the book is far from your average girl-falls-for-bad-boy book. But for those who haven’t read it, can you tell us why everyone should read Pushing the Limits   this year?

Mostly I think someone should read Pushing the Limits because it is a story about attraction, love, friendships, family, death, grief, and most of all, it is a story of hope. 

Q. What was the most difficult part about writing Pushing the Limits? What was the easiest?

There’s a scene towards the end of the book where Echo and Noah are confronting each other after a whirlwind of awful events. There are so many emotions happening simultaneously between these two characters and it was difficult to wrap fear and frustration and love and hope all into one little scene.

I enjoyed writing the chemistry between Echo and Noah. Their attraction sparked off the page and I loved writing their witty banter. 

Q. Many confronting issues are dealt with in the book; how did you go about writing it? Did you have to do a lot of research? 

Yes, I did have to research issues within the book and I researched by reading articles and by talking to people who have had involvement with the subject matter whether professionally or personally.

Q. All the characters, Noah and Echo especially, are such complex and in-depth characters. Was it difficult writing about them? Are they based on anyone you know?

It could be difficult when writing them. When I write, I “become” my characters. Their highs are my highs. Their hurts become my hurts. I cried several times while writing Pushing the Limits, but I also laughed quite a bit too. 

No, my characters are not based on anyone I know. If anything, I gave each character a piece of myself. For instance, I gave Echo a memory loss (I repressed the memory of being bitten by a dog in second grade).

Q.  How does it feel to have your first book published (and receiving such fabulous reviews I might add!:D) 

Amazing! I recently celebrated my US release by signing at a local bookstore. It was truly a fantastic moment to stand up in front of my friends and family to talk about my book and to thank them for their support. 

Q. Beth was definitely one of my favourite characters and I can’t wait to read her story. Can you tell us anything about your upcoming book, Dare You To?

In DARE YOU TO you can expect romance, old wounds resurfacing, humor, action, and a lot of kissing. DARE YOU TO is scheduled to be released sometime in 2013. 

Quick Questions:

Good Boy or Bad Boy? A combination of both

Favourite movie? Casablanca

Favourite book? The Outsiders

Favourite YA couple? Bella and Edward

Ultimate YA crush? Isaiah from PTL (sorry, can’t help it)

Guilty Pleasure? Reality television

Pushing The Limits

Katie McGarry

August 2012

Harlequin Teen

Find Katie on: 

Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository 

Twitter | Website | Facebook 

A massive thank you to Katie for her time! And also to Morey Media for the chance to interview Katie!

So, what did you think of the interview? :) I, and I'm sure many others cried several times throughout the book. Seriously, I cannot recommend this enough - you must read this if you haven't already!

Blog Tour: Rapture - Author Interview!

HEY GUYS! So, today is my stop on the Aussie blog tour for Lauren Kate's Rapture, the thrilling conclusion to the internationally best-selling Fallen series! I'm sure you've all heard of Fallen / Torment / Passion / Rapture, right? If you haven't...well..I'm sorry to say, you've been living under a rock! The series has the MOST GORGEOUS covers EVER! And arguably one of the best teen romances too!<3 Anyway, I'll be sharing with you an interview with Lauren Kate. A massive thanks to Random House Australia for organising the tour, and of course, the lovely Lauren herself, for dedicating her time to answer these questions!<3

  Who would you rather spend Valentine’s Day with? Daniel, Cam, Roland or Miles?

The choice is too easy for me…Cam is based on my husband, so I want to spend almost all of my time with him. Daniel and Miles are all yours, ladies! Though good luck fighting off Luce.

How did you come up with the names of your characters? Is there perhaps a story behind their names?

Lucinda’s name means light, which symbolizes the ultimate destiny of her story. Daniel is named for the book of Daniel, where we see the first angel acting of his own volition, independent of God. Gabbe’s name takes a cue from a certain archangel. Cam’s name is also taken from a catalogue of fallen angels: Cambriel. Pennyweather Van Syckle-Lockwood is named after two friends of mine, who’d just started dating and are now married.

 In Passion Luce ‘travels’ to numerous different cities in the past. I loved each time period and felt each setting was rich with description and detail. Did you undertake research when writing about those different time periods and places?

Lots and lots of research, which for me was easiest to do by reading novels with exciting historical settings. You’ll see notes of Hemingway, Bulgacov, Dickens and Wilkie Collins, and of course Shakespeare in Passion’s historical locales.

What are some of your favourite angel books?

For research I read a trilogy on the devil through history by Jeffrey Burton Russell that was unbelievable. I also love Harold Bloom’s Omen’s of Millenium.

If you could pick a song to represent Luce and Daniel’s relationship, what would it be?

You Look So Young by the Jayhawks always springs to mind. Many readers have told me they love thinking of Luce and Daniel while listening to Christina Perry’s A Thousand Years—and I agree.

***

You know, after reading Lauren's answers to so many Cam/Daniel -related questions, I really starting to like Cam more than Daniel now! I think it's safe to say I'm officially a Cam fangirl :) hahahaa<3 Anyway, I really hope you all enjoyed the interview! :)

Find Lauren:

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

Be sure to check out the rest of the tour!

                                                   12-Jun  http://treasuredtalesforyoungadults.wordpress.com/

                                                   13-Jun  http://www.girl.com.au/

                                                   14-Jun  http://www.beautyandlace.com.au

                                                   15-Jun  http://headstuckinabook.blogspot.com.au/

                                                   18-Jun  http://eleusinianmysteriesofreading.blogspot.com/

                                                   19-Jun  http://bookprobereviews.com/

                                                   20-Jun  http://www.shiirleyysbookshelf.blogspot.com.au/

                                                   21-Jun  http://nicegirlsreadbooks.com/

                                                   22-Jun  http://www.facebook.com/fallenbooks

Author Interview: Julie Kagawa

HEY GUYS! I'm here today with an AWESOME interview with one of my favourite authors ever - Julie Kagawa! I actually received the answers to my questions a while ago(like a month ago!)- but either I was half-asleep and accidentally missed it, or I was checking my emails on my iPad and the attached file didn't show up OR...I don't know what happened- but basically, I only realised the answers had been sent back to me a few weeks after I should've received them :S So, my apologies to the lovely people at Morey Media who sent back the answers but never received a reply (I'M REALLY SORRY!!!) :/ ANYWAY, I hope you all enjoy the interview!

The Immortal Rules 

Julie Kagawa

April 24th 2012

Harlequin Teen

Many readers have commented on the vast difference between The Iron Fey series and

The Immortal Rules. Whether it be the characters, setting, or atmosphere, everything is so

different. How hard was the transition?

I think the most challenging thing about transitioning from fey to vampires was the world

that they lived in. In The Iron Fey, the Nevernever had this surreal, dreamlike quality to

it, and everything was magical. In The Immortal Rules, the world is bleak, stark, dismal,

corrupted, and extremely dangerous. Much like the vampires themselves. While it wasn't

terribly difficult creating a new setting, the challenge came from the fact that this was our

world, the "real world," and I couldn't simply "magic" something into making sense. A lot of

research went into making the setting as realistic as possible, because if the readers didn't

believe that this post-apocalyptic, vampire controlled world could exist, they'd lose all faith

in the story itself.

Now, I'm personally a huge fan of ALL your characters ( Ash, Allie and Kanin are definitely at

the top of the list!)! How did you go about writing the characters from The Immortal Rules?

Are they perhaps based on people you know? And who was the most difficult character to

write?

I do have fun creating my characters, though none of them are really based on actual people

(unless you count me, as all authors have a little bit of themselves in every character).

My characters are far more likely to be inspired by anime, manga, and video games. In

The Immortal Rules, the most difficult character to write was, shockingly, Zeke. Allie was

stubborn, snarky, and a wise-ass, which comes easily to me, and Kanin was dark, brooding,

stoic and mysterious, which is my favorite type of hero. Zeke, on the other hand, was (gasp)

good, kind, easy-going, and loyal. He didn't have a mean bone in his body, but he was also

a leader who could command respect and fight if he needed to. The challenge was finding

the balance between kindness and strength, because I did not want to make him weak or

a pushover. He has a strong moral compass, and his faith in mankind is unshakable, but he

will also stand between someone and a charging rabid without blinking an eye.

I've always been fascinated by the world you've created- I always imagine myself living in the

Nevernever, and as for The Immortal Rules, you've created such a dark and ruthless world.

How did you come up with these unique worlds?

For me, setting is probably the most important thing to consider when beginning a new

story. I think of setting as a character in itself, with the same quirks, flaws, and personality

of any protagonist. Or really, antagonist, because the world is usually trying to do the

characters harm in the story. In the Nevernever where the fey live, I wanted the world to be

beautiful and dreamlike, but also a little scary and surreal, much like the faeries themselves.

The Nevernever wore a pretty mask to hide its monstrous true nature, to lure mortals in. In

The Immortal Rules, there is no mask; this world is savage, bleak, desolate, and extremely

dangerous. Its everyone for themselves out here, survival of the fittest. They are very

different, and this is why setting is extremely important to me. Both worlds are used to set

the atmosphere and the tone of the whole book.

The Immortal Rules has been optioned for a film. Firstly, CONGRATZ! When I read the book,

it literally played like a movie in my head, so I personally cant wait for more news! Now, do

you have an ideal cast?

Thank you! Lol, I get this question more and more, and I'm so, so bad at it. Maybe Devon

Aoki, Jamie Chung, or Brenda Song for Allie? For Zeke, I might go with Zac Effron or Chase

Crawford. And Ian Somerhalder would make an awesome Kanin.

And finally; can you reveal ANYTHING at all about the next book? Anything at all?

Only that Allie runs into old friends and enemies, continues to fight her nature, and will

something that will change the entire world forever.

Find Julie on:

Website | Blog | Twitter | Goodreads | Facebook

*SQUEALS* AMAZING answers, right?!  Between Zac Efron & Chase Crawford, I'd DEFINITELY choose Chase (Don't kill me!!)..but I can't imagine him playing Zeke; mainly because Chase will forever be 'Nate' in my mind :)Oh and IAN SOMERHALDER WILL BE AWESOME AS KANIN! Awwww...even though Zeke was the most difficult character to write about, I thought he was portrayed perfectly! :) 

I'd like to say a HUGE thank you to Morey Media & Harlequin Teen for organising this interview! Without you, I probably never would've been able to interview one of my favourite authors ever! <3 (hahaa I sound like a fan-girl now :D) And of course THANK YOU SO MUCH to the lovely Julie Kagawa herself for answering these questions!<3