Author Interview: Rachel Hawkins & DEMONGLASS Giveaway!

I am so excited to welcome Rachel Hawkins to Extreme Reader Book Reviews!  Rachel is the author of the wildly popular HEX HALL series.  HEX HALL (the first book in the series) was one of my favorite books of 2010 and the sequel is even better!  DEMONGLASS hit shelves on March 1st from Disney Hyperion.  

1. Welcome Rachel!  First, let me say that DEMONGLASS is incredible.  I absolutely loved it!  It was a perfect follow up to HEX HALL.  Was writing your second book a different experience for you? Easier? Harder?

It was MUCH harder, haha! I didn't want to let anyone down, plus I had to be sure I was wrapping up some loose ends from HEX HALL, but also leaving SOME things unresolved for Book 3...whew!

2. My favorite character in your books is Sophie.  She is such a cool female protagonist.  She is brave, strong, and a little reckless (or maybe a lot reckless!).  I also truly envy her skill in the art of sarcasm and snarky comebacks!  Is her character inspired by anyone from your life? You, a former student? For me, she is who I wish I would have been at her age!!

Aw, thank you so much! I'm very fond of Soph! There's no direct inspiration for her (and she's certainly a LOT bolder than I ever was!) I like to say Sophie was a gift from the writing gods. She just showed up in my head, snarking like a pro.

3. As a former high school teacher, did you draw inspiration from any of your past students when creating your characters (not just Sophie)? If so, which ones?

I honestly didn't, although I DID steal some of their names!

4. Can you give us one little known fact about each of your main characters?

Sure! 1) Sophie hates mayonnaise with the fire of a thousand suns, 2)Jenna secretly dances around her dorm room to Girls Aloud, 3) Archer has a weakness for 80s soft rock, 4) Cal has four sisters.

5. If you could Sophie one piece of advice at the start of DEMONGLASS what would it be?

Brace yourself, girlfriend. Things are about to get ROUGH.

6. The ending of DEMONGLASS is a major cliffhanger!  How long must we suffer until book 3 hits the shelves?  Any hints about book 3?

Book 3 will be out in Spring 2012! In it you will see Sophie dealing with the fallout from DEMONGLASS, ending up in some truly terrifying places, and teaming up with some surprising allies.

7. Now... a few questions about you!  When you are not writing, what do you enjoy doing in your free time?

Free time? WHAT IS THIS YOU SPEAK OF? Seriously though, I love to read, obviously, and I love to go to the movies and watch TV. I also love to travel whenever I can, and I always enjoy hanging out with my husband and son. I am spectacularly boring, basically. ;-)

8. What is your favorite word? favorite book?  favorite joke?

It's a French word, but pamplemousse ("Grapefruit") is just about the most perfect word ever. My favorite book is Anne Rice's THE WITCHING HOUR, followed VERY closely by George R.R. Martin's Song of Ice and Fire series. As for jokes, my Dad was a sailor, so all my favorite jokes are NOT fit to be shared on the internet! ;-)

9. Describe a 'perfect day' in the life of Rachel Hawkins!

Oooh! That's a fun one! First I'd wake up WHENEVER I WANTED. Then I'd drink coffee and sit in the quiet for awhile. Then my husband and son would magically re-appear, and we'd go to the beach. I'd leave them to go have lunch with all my best girlfriends, and end the day with grilling out and a nice bottle of wine. Sigh. Makes me happy just to think about it!

10. Any funny/embarrassing fan moments yet?

No funny/embarrassing ones (well, I embarrass myself daily, so I've PROBABLY had an embarrassing fan encounter and not realized it), but lots of cool ones! I had one girl tell me Sophie inspired her to ask a guy out, and another who brought me a mixed CD of Hex Hall-y songs. People have made me jewelry...seriously, I have the best readers ever!

11. What 2011 book (other than DEMONGLASS:) are you anticipating the most?

I'm dying to read Caitlin Kittredge's THE IRON THORN (1950s alterna-history Steampunk! YESSSSS!), and Myra McEntire's HOURGLASS sounds FANTABULOUS (Time travel and romance and sexy science!) Also I'm really psyched for Victoria Schwab's THE NEAR WITCH since it's very fairy tale-esque and I LOVE those kind of books. And I'm practically salivating for Lev Grossman's sequel to THE MAGICIANS, which I HOPE will be out in 2011!

What are you reading now?

Patrick Rothfuss's THE WISE MAN'S FEAR.

Can you tell us what you are working on now?

I just turned in the 3rd HEX HALL book, and I also have a book called REBEL BELLE coming out in Summer 2012. It's about a debutante-turned-superhero, and I can't wait for it to be out! In addition to that, I have a HEX HALL spin-off coming out in 2013, and I'm currently tinkering with a few seeeeeekiriiiiiit projects.

If you could jump into any book and hang out for a day, what book and which characters would you hang with?

Oh, the Harry Potter books, DEFINITELY! Any of the earlier ones, before they have to start, like, facing death and stuff. Wait, that's ALL the books, isn't it?

And finally.... what is the one question you wish I would have asked but didn't? And the answer!

"Why Do I Insist On Wearing My Hair This Way?"

I don't know. I'm sorry. It's the humidity, I swear.

***

Thanks so much for stopping by Rachel!  You are absolutely hilarious!  OK people...If you haven't read these books then I suggest you head over to the bookstore (right now!) and pick them up.  You won't be disappointed!  I will be posting my review of DEMONGLASS within the next few days, but I can tell you that it will be receiving 5 stars!  

About The Book:

"Sophie Mercer thought she was a witch.
That was the whole reason she was sent to Hex Hall, a reform school for delinquent Prodigium (aka witches, shapeshifters, and fairies).  But that was before she discovered the family secret, and that her hot crush, Archer Cross, is an agent for The Eye, a group bent on wiping Prodigium off the face of the earth.  Turns out, Sophie’s a demon, one of only two in the world—the other being her father.  What’s worse, she has powers that threaten the lives of everyone she loves.  Which is precisely why Sophie decides she must go to London for the Removal, a dangerous procedure that will destroy her powers.
But once Sophie arrives she makes a shocking discovery.  Her new friends?  They’re demons too. Meaning someone is raising them in secret with creepy plans to use their powers, and probably not for good.  Meanwhile, The Eye is set on hunting Sophie down, and they’re using Archer to do it.   But it’s not like she has feelings for him anymore.  Does she?"

About The Author: 
Rachel Hawkins was born in Virginia and raised in Alabama, which means she uses funny words like “fixin’” and “y’all”.  After graduating from Auburn University, she succumbed to the lure of Summers Off and became a high school English teacher.  Four years of forcing students to memorize the first twelve lines of The Canterbury Tales finally broke her, and in 2007, she quit teaching to pursue writing full time.  When not writing, Rachel enjoys dyeing her hair various shades of red and spending time with her husband and son!

HEX HALL, Disney-Hyperion, March 2, 2010

DEMONGLASS, Disney-Hyperion, March 1, 2011

http://readingwritingrachel.blogspot.com

~Giveaway~ 
Do you want to get your hands on a SIGNED copy of DEMONGLASS ?  If so, then you're in luck! Up for grabs... 2 prize packs ~ each containing a signed copy of DEMONGLASS and a DEMONGLASS tote bag!  This contest is open to US/Canadian followers and will end at midnight (EST) on March 18th.  To enter just fill out the form below!

CLOSED

Character Interview: Nicholas from The Emerald Talisman and The Sapphire Talisman & Giveaway!

I am so excited to welcome Nicholas to Extreme Reader Book Reviews! Nicholas is the super-hot half vampire/half human vampire slayer from Brenda Pandos' The Emerald Talisman and the upcoming sequel The Sapphire Talisman.  

 Welcome Nicholas!
 
You and Julia had definitely experienced your fair share of drama when we left you last at the conclusion of The Emerald Talisman. What have you two been up to since all of the action died down? I worry a lot about Julia’s safety, so I prefer to spend time together in private. One can never be too careful. You let your guard down for a second and the vamps can get the upper hand. Though, I have allowed a few risky evening interactions and so far, things have been fine. I’m drawn to Julia and want to be with her all the time. Maybe I’m overly cautious.

There is a lot of mystery surrounding your past. Can you tell us a little about how you were raised? I spent a lot of time with a family friend growing up, well, my Godparents. Imagine a toddler with super human strength and a father who can’t go outside in the daylight. I was a little hard to handle. With great guidance from my Godfather, he channeled my talents into something great and I learned a lot. My Father and I aren’t on the greatest of speaking terms. Our views on life differ greatly.

Your father seems to be a sore subject for you. I am very curious about how you and your father co-exist when you are the infamous vampire slayer and he is a vampire himself. Can you or will you tell us a little about him? If you think I’m conservative, you haven’t met my dad. He’s the total loner and since my mother’s death, he’s tainted against any interaction with humans. My Godparents are the only exception. He maybe able to do it, but I need purpose and some interaction with others.
Does he know about your relationship with Julia? If so, does he approve?
He knows. He doesn’t really approve for Julia’s sake but doesn’t interfere anymore now that I’m an adult.

We know that your mother was given the emerald talisman so she and your father could be together safely. She then gave it to you. Do you know anything about the talisman's original origin?
I don’t know much about it other than someone magically made it so a human could be with a vampire and not be killed by accident. It was passed down and given to my mother for the same purpose. My Father doesn’t talk about it.

Now that you have given it to Julia to ensure her safety, do you find slaying vampires much more difficult?

Not really. They hear me sneak up on them now and smell my presence, but I’m confusing. I smell like a human. But I move fast and react like an immortal. By the time their silly little minds figure out I’m different they are a puff of smoke. It’s really too easy.

Julia has proven to be a little impulsive at times and you seem to be a constant 'voice of reason'. Is there something that you love to do that allows you to loosen up and drop the seriousness for awhile?
Surf and play the guitar.

Thanks so much Nicholas!  

Now it's time for a giveaway!  If you would like to win a copy of The Sapphire Talisman just fill out the form below.  The winner will receive a signed copy when it releases on December 15th!  The contest is open for US/Canada only and will close a Midnight (EST) on Friday, November 26th.

Interview with ARSON's Estevan Vega!

I am so excited to introduce all of you to Estevan Vega.  If you haven't heard his name yet- you will!   He is the super talented author of Arson.  I recently read and reviewed Arson and it was fantastic!  He has been traveling around the blogosphere on a tour promoting Arson, and I am happy to say that he is making a stop here today for an interview.  Before I begin my questions, I want to provide a summary of Arson and a little background on Estevan:

Arson Summary from Barnes and Noble:
"Arson Gable feels like a freak. He can create fire. He never asked for it. He never wanted it. But he can't shut it off. Before now, three things were true: he both loved and despised his grandmother; his life was going nowhere; and he was alone. But when a strange girl—who feels more normal behind a mask than inside her own skin—moves in next door, Arson hopes to find something he's never had: purpose. Using what he fears most about himself, Arson must face his consuming past and confront the nightmare that is his present as he walks the fine line between boy and monster. Dark, moody, and breathtakingly relevant, Arson, the chilling chronicle of an isolated boy with unimaginable ability, is sure to ignite the hearts and minds of a new generation."
 

About the Author (taken from his bio):
 Currently a college student in Connecticut, Estevan Vega has been writing since he was a teenager. Arson is his third published work, following Servant of the Realm and The Sacred Sin.  Arson holds a part of Estevan, a piece he began during a tumultuous time in his own life. With a curiosity for the supernatural, as well as a feeling of discontentment with humanity's complacency, Vega’s story-lines dwell somewhere in between fiction and reality, a place where the world is as blurred and irregular as human choice and consequence.

*Thank you Estevan for dropping by today and answering a few questions for me!  I will begin by saying that Arson took me by surprise!  I was not expecting to sit down and read it cover to cover in a day!  It is definitely not a light read, but a beautifully written journey into some pretty dark and heavy issues. Many of those issues teens and adults face daily, such as family dysfunction, the pressure to fit in, divorce, peer pressure, alcoholism, dealing with insecurity, and more.  I've read that this book is very personal to you and was written during a tough time in your life.  Was writing Arson a therapeutic experience for you? And how much of yourself do you see in Arson Gable?

Wow.  I am amazed that you read it in a day.  But you're not the only one, which I can honestly say has never happened to any of my previous works, to my knowledge.  Thanks for enjoying the book.  As a writer, we need fans to support a work, or else it just falls into oblivion.  Hopefully that won't happen this time around.  I am stoked to be here with you today! ARSON is a powerful read to get through, no doubt.  And yeah, it is the most personal and intricate novel I have yet to write.  It means so much to me.  During the writing and editing process I was meticulous with EVERYTHING.  It had to be perfect before I was happy.  It's kinda crazy, because even after I had submitted the ultimate final draft, I was always, like, could that have been better?  It can definitely become an obsession, but I just wanted to make sure that this was the story that had to be told before it was okay.  I am the most honest I have ever been, the most transparent and heart-on-sleeve probably of any work. 

 So...therapeutic? It helped to be honest and real with my characters and my readers.  And it got me through a very, very painful time in my life.  Well, ask me in a few years.

*The cast of characters you created in Arson are pretty unforgettable!  Each one battled their own personal demons, and the way you conveyed their struggles stirred a wide range of emotions in me while reading.  I found my heart breaking at times for each one of them. I also felt angry, hopeful, sad, nervous, and happy at different points throughout the story - like I said a wide range of emotions. The dark beauty in each of your character's struggles was captivating.  Are these amazing characters loosely based on people from your own life or were they created from your vivid imagination?

Arson Gable is parts of me, but so is Emery.  They're like amalgams of my youth.  Their trials are things I have dealt with or things people I know have dealt with.  It was great to expose much of what was lurking beneath an angry current at the time.  And it's sorta crazy, because a lot of the stuff still exists.  Some of the characters have places in my life as well.  I mean, with anything I write there's gonna be part of me left on the page, so that sorta goes without saying.  It just happened a lot more with ARSON.

*I think that most of us can find pieces of these characters in ourselves as we experience the ups and downs of life.  Your adult characters (Aimee, Joel, Arson's Grandmother) were dealing with very adult feelings, problems and issues.  I read that you began developing the concept of Arson over 3 years ago.  Was it difficult to convey their struggles authentically at such an early stage in your own life?

Honestly, I had a lot of fun with all of those characters.  Probably of the three, I had most fun with Grandma, particularly because she's so out-there, that I could explore such a wide array of emotions and you can still accept that it's okay and part of the story because she's so nuts but yet loving.  It was a lot of fun to play with that.  I wrote for an adult audience with my last book, The Sacred Sin, and readers seemed to think it was pretty authentic, and I started writing that when I was, like, 15.  I think sometimes people tend to forget that adults are just bigger kids.  They feel the same emotions, pains, and heartbreaks as we do.  Maybe not in the same way, but they feel it just the same.  I had to just be honest with the insecurities and the struggles I was dealing with with these characters, and they just seemed to flow from there.

*It is amazing that you were publishing your first book at the age of 15 and now you are out here promoting your third book at the ripe old age of 21! Do you feel that your age has helped or hampered you while navigating the let's just say difficult publishing industry?  And what lessons have you learned through your own experiences (positive and negative) that may help the young, aspiring writers reading this interview?

Difficult? I think you mean, painfully godawful. haha.  No, it has most definitely been a journey with ups and downs.  It's true, I started writing Servant of the Realm when I was 12 and decided to seek publication when I was 15.  It came out and I was already working on The Sacred Sin.  I guess I am getting old.  I mean, it's taken me roughly 3 years between projects, but that's partially due to the lovely publishing industry.  As far as my age goes, it has proven to be a hindrance in some respects, either because people didn't take me seriously, as in I didn't have enough life experience or whatever...or I wasn't able to get a contract when I wanted because of my age.  However, I think for the most part it has been extremely positive.  When I started writing I just wanted people to read my stuff, and I figured the audience would come.  That's why I wanted to get started as early as possible, because I imagined this endeavor taking a long time, which it has.  But I'm not sure if I would have changed any part of the journey.  So, all you writers out there, stay positive and stick with it. 

 *I am dying to know the answer to this one... Is there an upcoming sequel to Arson already in the works? and if so, when do you expect it to be released? (Believe me.. people are going want to know the answer to this!!)

Maybe...and I wish I could tell you specifics, but the powers that be (i.e., my writing mind) won't let me divulge anything beyond that. 

*Do you have any idea how many books we can look forward to featuring Arson and Emery? 

Haha...isn't that kinda the same question as the one above? Sneaky, you.

*Are you planning a book signing tour for Arson? (Don't forget about NC!) 

Yes, that is definitely the plan. I am heading down to Raleigh, NC, on May 8th to hang out with teens in the local library.  But I am going to attempt to hit the East Coast.  We'll see if the powers that be will allow me.  I am gonna promote the snot out of ARSON until people tell me to stop...and then maybe promote it a little more.  This story's gotta get heard.

*Describe a "Perfect" day in the life of Estevan Vega!

Hanging out with a beautiful woman or my family.  Then heading to a movie, eating a plate of my dad's rice and beans, and shooting over to see a rock show!  Oh, yeah, that's where it's at.

*You really interact with the fans of your book through Twitter, Facebook and blog sites.  I think that is so cool!  And I'm sure your fans really appreciate it!  Have you had any embarrassing or funny fan moments yet?

I love doing that kind of stuff.  The fans who support my work mean the world to me.  Without them, these words would never be read, so it's my pleasure to drop in and let them know I'm there to talk, message, twitter, whatever.  I'm still kinda waiting for an embarrassing moment as far as fans go.  But I do have an embarrassing moment in writing... I had been corresponding back and forth with an editor of a review site.  I had checked out a picture and of this person and never noticed a ponytail.  They had a soft face, but overall, I thought this person was a guy.  So in an email, I think I was, like, "hey, dude, or hey, man," and then I found out that she was a girl.  I was, like, "oh, God help me." 

*Are you reading anything now? If not, what book would you really like to read? 

I have actually been reading a lot lately.  Jumping around between novels and not really finishing, which is terrible.  I haven't really been uber-inspired by what I've read.  I have been reading a bunch of short stories for class, which has been cool.  I read a great short story called "The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas."  I loved it.  My interest has been piqued by a few books lately, particularly The Hunger Games and Day of War.  We'll see if they make it to the read pile soon.

*What is the one question you wish I would have asked, but didn't?  What is the answer to that question?

Question: Did you write parts of the Bible? Answer: Yes.

I would like to thank Estevan for dropping by!  I truly loved Arson.  I was blown away by its tragic yet redeeming story.  I predict this book is going to be big when it hits shelves on May 4th!  If you can't wait until May to get your hands on it then you are in luck!  You can purchase Arson from the publisher's website today! Just click HERE.  If you want to check out my review of Arson click HERE.

**There are still lots of stops left on Estevan's tour, so be sure to check them out every day.  Here is a list of what's to come:

Tuesday, April 20: Kate at Neverending Bookshelf
Wednesday, April 21: Melanie at  Melanie's Musings
Thursday, April 22: Amber at Just Your Typical Book Blog
Friday, April 23: Teenage Reader
Saturday, April 24: Lucy at Delightful Reviews
Sunday, April 25:  Bridget at Readaholic
Monday, April 26: Sab at YA Bliss
Tuesday, April 27: Patty at Yay Reads
Wednesday, April 28: Gina at Insatiable Readers
Thursday, April 29: Kelsey at The Book Scout
Friday, April 30: Laura at Calico Critic
Saturday, May 1: The Moody Teenager
Sunday, May 2: I Heart Monster 
Monday, May 3: Katlyn at I Just Wanna Sit Here and Read
Tuesday, May 4: John at CT Book Examiner
Wednesday, May 5: Laurie at Readergirls
Thursday, May 6: Darcy at  Library Lounge Lizard
Saturday, May 8: Cindy at Princess Bookie
Sunday, May 9: Eleni at La Femme Readers

A Chat with Kimberly Derting, Author of The Body Finder

I would like to thank Kimberly Derting for joining me and for being my first interview!!  She is one of the "Tenners" and her debut novel The Body Finder is due out this month!! (March 16, 2010)  I am so excited about reading this book! I am also happy to announce that she has been very generous to me for my MEGA-Swag contest!  She donated LOTS of goodies for you guys to win!  I will be posting that contest within the next week or so!! So be on the lookout.  So now lets get on with the interview!!

1.   In your book The Body Finder, the main character Violet has the unusual ability of being able to sense and find dead bodies.  How did the idea for this book take shape and have you met any 'real' people with psychic abilities (not necessarily like Violet's) that served as inspiration for her character?

My husband and I were brainstorming book ideas one day when he threw out a random idea about a boy who could find dead bodies.   So of course I immediately changed the main character to a teenage girl (probably just to be difficult) and created Violet’s creepy ability.
...And is looking for your keys in the same drawer three times without seeing them a psychic ability?  If so, my husband totally has that one!              

2. Was your road to the publication of The Body Finder difficult?

With The Body Finder, things happened really fast!  I met my agent at a conference, sent her my manuscript, she signed me, we went out on submission and had offers all within a two-month span.  But before this whirlwind, I had plenty of rejections for another manuscript I’d written.            

3. While writing, do you have any essentials that you must have with you?

Other than my laptop and comfy pair of sweatpants, I really need my candy stash (which is getting harder and harder to hide from my kids).

4. How long did it take for you to write The Body Finder?

I think the first draft took about four months to write.  After that, I went through two months of self-editing before submitting it to my agent.  When I look back at my first draft, I don’t even recognize it now.  Thankfully, my lovely editors at HarperCollins (FJ and GH) helped me polish it into something I’m incredibly proud of.       

5. What is the easiest part of writing a book, what is the hardest?

The easiest part of writing is when you get into that zone and everything is coming together perfectly.  It’s seriously like a runner’s high!  The hardest part is always trying to find enough time to write.       

6. What is your all-time favorite book?

This is easy, To Kill A Mockingbird, hands down the best book ever written.  I re-read it every once in a while to remind myself of what true mastery looks like.

7. What are you reading now? And what books are on your immediate to-read list?

Right now I’m reading The Deathday Letter by Shaun Hutchinson (a fellow Tenner), and it’s awesome…very darkly humorous.  On my immediate list is another Tenner book, The Dark Days Of Hamburger Halpin by Josh Berk, Radiant Shadows by Melissa Marr (because I’ve heard it’s amazing!), and The Demon’s Lexicon by Sarah Rees Brennan.  And only about a gazillion others!

8. The sequel (Desires Of The Dead) is due out next year.  Are you finished with this book? Do you have any other projects on the horizon that you would like to share with us?

Other than a few minor edits, I’m completely finished with Desires of the Dead.  I do have another project I’m working on but I’m crazy-superstitious so I can’t share anything about it just yet. 

9. What is your favorite activity that you do for fun?

If you’d asked me this question five years ago, camping wouldn’t even have made my top ten, because in reality, I’m simply NOT that girl.  But ever since we got a travel trailer (where I can take a shower and plug in my hair dryer), it’s probably my favorite activity!  We love trapping….err….taking the kids with us for a weekend of campfires, roasted marshmallows, and unplugging from the internet.      

10. What is your favorite word?

Son-of-a-Nutcracker!  (I know, it’s not really one word, but it’s my favorite non-swear swear-word)

11. If you could jump into a book and live for a day- what book would you choose and which characters would you choose to hang out with?

I would totally choose Green Eggs and Ham. Before you judge me, I dare you to show me another book where the two main characters do so many crazy things before having a huge breakfast! (And, btw, I LOVE breakfast!)    

I decided to do something a little different.  I LOVE MadLibs (yes, I know that I am probably too old to say that... but I do!)  So I wrote a short MAdLib about Kimberly's book.  I sent her the list of word types I needed and this is how it turned out!

The Body Finder MadLib

• Your Name: Kimberly Derting
• Title of your book: The Body Finder
• Adjective: Kissable
• Adjective: Stinky
• Adjective: Funny
• Noun: Pina Colada
• Verb(ing): Dancing
• Noun: Coconut
• Adverb: Extremely 

Kimberly Derting is the author of The Body Finder.  The kissable main character in the book has a stinky talent.  She can sense dead bodies!  Unfortunately, a funny serial killer is on the loose and she is the only pina colada who can help!  This book will have you dancing on the edge of your coconut and turning the pages through the night.  So go pick up this extremely exciting book by Kimberly Derting!  It hits shelves on March 16, 2010!!

Thanks again to Kimberly Derting for stopping by!  Make sure that you pick up her book The Body Finder when it hits bookstores on March 16, 2010!!

Interviews

Kimberly Derting: author of The Body Finder
Estevan Vega : author of Arson
Alexis Ames (character interview) from Promise & Purpose by Kristie Cook
Nicholas (character interview) from The Emerald Talisman & The Sapphire Talisman by Brenda Pandos
Rachel Hawkins: author of Hex Hall & Demonglass