Interview: A.J. Hartley

 Today I have the amazing A.J. Hartley on our blog!  He graciously answered a few questions about his latest novel Steeplejack which released today!!

Welcome A.J.!

 

1. How did you come up with this intriguing story line?
The core ideas actually shifted a number of times as I worked on the book. At one stage there were more fantasy elements, at another (very early on) the hero was a boy. I think a lot of the world of the story came together as I planned and went on a trip to South Africa and Swaziland. But in a broader sense, I feel like the book has elements of stories and genres I’ve been working with all my life and that they intersected here—mystery, fantasy, adventure, Victoriana and social issues. At the beginning I think I was thinking of what became Steeplejack as two different books, one a fantasy, the other a fairly realist and more “literary” mystery, and then I realized that the two could be woven together to make something that felt (to me, at least) new and compelling.

2. This is the first book I've ever read where the main character is a steeplejack, how did you come up with that idea?
Steeplejacks were still a part of the world I grew up in, since I was raised in Lancashire, a place that still had a lot of old Victorian factory chimneys which had to be maintained or taken down. I live in Charlotte, NC, now, and the first idea came from spotting an old and abandoned factory chimney which had a bush growing out of the top. It got me thinking about steeplejacks in general and I quickly came up with something very like the cover art for the book! I didn’t have a story idea yet, but I could see this character (a boy at that time) scaling one of those chimneys, and I loved the visual drama of the thing.

3. Which character was the hardest to write?
Hmmm. Tricky. Since the story is told in first person, everyone is mediated by Ang, the protagonist, so I guess it has to be her. In fact I didn’t consciously feel great difficulty writing her because I intuitively felt like I understood her, but I needed to modulate my sense of how she would think of her situation and the people around her because her social situation is not mine: I’m living in the twenty first century, I’m, white and I’m male. She is much younger than me, female, effectively Victorian and of an embattled racial group. All of those things had to be navigated very carefully and I relied on input from other readers to make sure I was getting it right.

4. What was your favorite scene to write?
I like the opening scene of the book because it does so much in terms of presenting the core issues, the world, the key character and the looming mystery, but other more action driven scenes (like the one at the opera house) were fun too. And anything involving Dahria is fun because she’s funny. To me, at least

5. Can you share what you are currently working on?
I’ve just finished the first draft of the second book in this series, but I’m also working on another multibook YA series called Cathedrals of Glass, which is part of my partnership with Tom DeLonge (of Blink 182/Angels and Airwaves) which I think of as Lord of the Flies meets Alien 

 A.J., thank you so much for stopping by!  Steeplejack was a definite 2016 favorite of mine and I cannot wait for the sequel!  I am also VERY intrigued with Cathedrals of Glass!  It definitely sounds like my kinda book and well I'm a huge Blink 182 fan so having Tom DeLonge on the project with you is an added bonus!  So excited!

Find A.J.

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Steeplejack by A.J. Hartley

Publisher: Tor Teen

Release Date: June 14th, 2016

Purchase: Amazon

My review: HERE

Seventeen-year-old Anglet Sutonga, Ang for short, repairs the chimneys, towers, and spires of Bar-Selehm, the ethnically-diverse industrial capital of a land resembling Victorian South Africa. The city was built on the trade of luxorite, a priceless glowing mineral. When the Beacon, a historical icon made of luxorite, is stolen, it makes the headlines. But no one cares about the murder of Ang's new apprentice, Berrit—except for Josiah Willinghouse, an enigmatic young politician, who offers Ang a job investigating Berrit's death. On top of this, Ang struggles with the responsibility of caring for her sister's newborn child.

As political secrets unfold and racial tensions surrounding the Beacon's theft rise, Ang navigates the constricting traditions of her people, the murderous intentions of her former boss, and the conflicting impulses of a fledgling romance. With no one to help her except a savvy newspaper girl and a kindhearted herder from the savannah, Ang must resolve the mysterious link between Berrit and the missing Beacon before the city is plunged into chaos. 

Blog Tour: Interview with Alison Goodman!

 Today on WinterHaven Books I am participating in the blog tour for Alison Goodman!  Her latest novel The Dark Days Club hit shelves this week and if you haven't stalked your local bookstore then you must do so now!!  For our stop on this amazing tour Alison is stopping by to answer a few of our questions!

1. Please describe The Dark Days Club in five words or less.
Demon hunting in Regency high society.  I know that’s six words…but it’s a big book.

2. Which character was your favorite to write?
Lady Helen has to be my favorite, but a close second is Lord Carlston. He is mysterious and not altogether respectable–an excellent Regency hero–and it was so much fun writing the banter between him and Lady Helen. I also enjoyed creating Mr Benchley who is quite a nasty piece of work; villainous types are always great to write.

3. I love that Helen will be hunting demons! Did you always plan for her to hunt demons or did your writing turn this way halfway through?
I am a planner, so I always knew Helen would discover that there was a shadowy world of demonic creatures hidden within Regency society. However, at the beginning of the novel, she is not aware of them. Nor is she aware of her own extraordinary abilities–they are only just starting to develop. As the book progresses, the truth about her abilities gradually emerges and she must face enormous danger and terrible choices.

4. Do you have any writing rituals?
When I sit down to start a new day of writing, I always read what I wrote the day before, edit it, and then start on the new section. In that way I retrieve the flow of the writing and the tone, and “warm up” for the day ahead.

5. Can you share what you are working on next?
I am currently working on Book 3 of the Lady Helen series, which is set in Bath in the winter social season. I’m also writing another project set in the Regency: a short story titled “The Benevolent Society of Ill Mannered Ladies”. It is for a new anthology called And Then…The Great Big Book of Awesome Adventure Tales, which will be published this year by Clan Destine Press.

Alison thanks so much for stopping by!  I can't wait to dive into this amazing adventure!!

The Dark Days Club by Alison Goodman

Publisher: Viking Books for Young Readers

Release Date: January 26th, 2016

Purchase: Amazon

New York Times bestseller Alison Goodman’s eagerly awaited new project: a Regency adventure starring a stylish and intrepid demon-hunter!

London, April 1812. On the eve of eighteen-year-old Lady Helen Wrexhall’s presentation to the queen, one of her family’s housemaids disappears-and Helen is drawn into the shadows of Regency London. There, she meets Lord Carlston, one of the few who can stop the perpetrators: a cabal of demons infiltrating every level of society. Dare she ask for his help, when his reputation is almost as black as his lingering eyes? And will her intelligence and headstrong curiosity wind up leading them into a death trap?

Find Alison

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5 lucky readers will win a hardcover copy of The Dark Days Club!

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Interview: Kate Karyus Quinn

It's been an amazing month and we are in the homestretch!  Today we have our last author interview before our Author Fright Fest and this author is the queen of creepy!  I have loved Kate Karyus Quinn ever since I read Another Little Piece and I am so excited to have her on the blog today!  

1. Welcome Kate! So excited to have you join us today!! I really enjoyed Another Little Piece and (Don't You) Forget About Me. They both had an amazing creepy factor that totally grabbed me. Have you always been drawn to write creepish books?
Thank you so much for having me! So here's the funny thing about me... I don't really like creepy books. Or scary books. Or scary anything really. And I never really intended to write books that were scary or creepy. It's just sorta how they came out.

2. Your newest book Down With the Shine sounds amazing. Where did you come up with this idea?
Aw, thank you! So DOWN WITH THE SHINE is about a girl whose Uncles make moonshine. She takes some to a high school party and passes it out while doing her Uncles' toast that asks drinkers to "make a wish". The next day she finds out that her uncles use the moonshine to grant real actual wishes, and she just granted a whole bunch of drunken ones. Wackiness ensues. :)

So this idea actually started out as an adult urban fantasy novel about a woman whose uncles made moonshine. Not magical moonshine, just the regular kind. That book ultimately didn't work and was retired to the book graveyard folder on my computer. But there were so many parts of that book that I loved - including the main character. So I revived her and a few more characters, recast the rest of the details, and voila! Out come DOWN WITH THE SHINE.

3. Out of all the book events you have attended which one has been your favorite and why?
Last year I attended the Las Vegas Book Festival and that was so much fun (it was also my first time in Vegas!). A few months ago I did a YA Book Fest in Pickerington, Ohio that was also really amazing and so much fun. Really any event that allows me to connect with readers - especially young adult ones - is something to get excited about.

4. Now for a few fun Halloween questions! What book would you want to keep you company during a zombie apocalypse?
Oooh. Hmm... Well I think a zombie apocalypse would be super stressful and during stressful times I also go to my comfort reads, which are romance novels. So I would definitely want a fat stack of romance to escape into while the zombies are banging on the doors.

5. Which authors would you chose to go with you to a seance and why?
Oh definitely Mindy McGinnis (author of NOT A DROP TO DRINK, IN A HANDFUL OF DUST, and A MADNESS SO DISCREET) and Demitria Lunetta (author of IN THE AFTER and IN THE END)! Mostly because we always have fun together. But also because Mindy is super tough and would make sure that no scary spirits did anything bad to me.

I second Mindy McGinnis!  I just finished her novel A Madness so Discreet and I think this would definitely know how to handle a seance!  I also find it extremely interesting that you don't like creepy, but write it so brilliantly!  Love it!

Thanks Kate so much I really appreciate you taking the time to join in our Halloween month!

Thank you and Happy Halloween!!

Find the Author

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Down with the Shine by Kate Karyus Quinn

Publisher: HarperTeen

Release Date: April 26th, 2016

Purchase: Amazon 

There's a reason they say "be careful what you wish for." Just ask the girl who wished to be thinner and ended up smaller than Thumbelina, or the boy who asked for "balls of steel" and got them-literally. And never wish for your party to go on forever. Not unless you want your guests to be struck down by debilitating pain if they try to leave.


These are things Lennie only learns when it's too late-after she brings some of her uncles' moonshine to a party and toasts to dozens of wishes, including a big wish of her own: to bring back her best friend, Dylan, who was abducted and murdered six months ago.

Lennie didn't mean to cause so much chaos. She always thought her uncles' moonshine toast was just a tradition. And when they talked about carrying on their "important family legacy," she thought they meant good old-fashioned bootlegging.

As it turns out, they meant granting wishes. And Lennie has just granted more in one night than her uncles would grant in a year.

Now she has to find a way to undo the damage. But once granted, a wish can't be unmade...

Interview & amazing intro with Jennifer Donnelly!

This month we have had some amazing guest posts and interviews with our favorite authors.  Today's author, Jennifer Donnelly, not only committed to an interview, but she sent one of the best guest posts ever!  I actually had chills, goosies, goosebumps, and any other word you can think of after reading this.  Take a look...

THESE SHALLOW GRAVES started with a dead guy.

A man with weird markings on his face showed up in my head. He had long dark hair and was wearing clothes from another time.

Who are you? I asked him. What do you want?

But he wouldn’t answer. He just lay in his coffin with his hands folded over his chest, decay beginning to creep. He wouldn’t leave, either. And since he wasn’t going to explain himself, I needed someone who would.

That’s when other people started showing up: a teenaged reporter named Eddie, a thief lord called the Tailor; Oscar, a coroner’s assistant. And a girl. Her name was Josephine Montfort.

Jo immediately intrigued me. I could tell she was wealthy and educated from the way she dressed and spoke. And yet, something wasn’t quite right. I sensed that her porcelain coolness was only a veneer, and that underneath it, a fierce intelligence burned. In her gray eyes, I glimpsed a restless longing.

As my characters do, Jo made me work to get to know her. As she labored to uncover the dead man’s story, I labored to uncover hers.

I learned that she’d been born into an old and distinguished New York family, and that she led a life of privilege. Jo was fortunate in many ways, but she didn’t have the one thing she wanted the most: freedom.

So few young women of the 1890s did. Poor girls were expected to work, as early as possible. Wealthy ones were expected to marry, as well as possible. As I researched These Shallow Graves, I met many of these young women.

I met Edith Jones, brilliant and misunderstood, and watched her marry the wrong man and live the wrong life—until she found the right life, and became Edith Wharton.

I met eighteen-year-old Lizzie Schauer who was arrested, imprisoned, and subjected to medical examinations to determine whether or not she was of good character – all for the “crime” of being an unaccompanied female walking alone in the city at night.

I met Consuelo Vanderbilt, a teenage heiress, forced to marry the Duke of Marlborough, a man she didn’t love, to satisfy her domineering mother’s social ambitions.

I met scores of teenage girls for whom education was only a dream—and the factory floor or scullery or sweatshop, a reality.

Edith eventually broke free. Consuelo, too. I doubt poor Lizzie, or the scullery girls, ever did.

I so badly wanted Jo to. And thanks to the dead man, she finally did. He gave Jo her life, and by the end of the book, he gave me my peace. He stopped haunting me and went on his way.

Jo’s on her way now, too. And I can’t wait to see where life takes her.

I still have chills!  This explanation of how These Shallow Graves came about is the best thing EVER!  I love it to pieces!  Jennifer thank you sooo much for sharing this me and our readers!

And because Jennifer is beyond awesome she signed up for an interview with me as well!  

1. I love the time period These Shallow Graves is in! If you lived in 1890 which type of life would you want to have a newsie, a pick pocket, or a debutante?

I would have loved to have been a reporter during the 1890s. NYC's papers were intensely competitive. The atmosphere was rough and tumble, and I would have loved to have been a part of it. Many reporters zoomed around town on bikes to get their stories, and get back to the newsroom as quickly as possible. Homing pigeons would be sent from high profile court cases to newsrooms with artist sketches of the defendant folded into a capsule on the birds' legs. And one of the first female journalists, Nellie Bly, faked insanity, got herself committed to an asylum on Blackwell's Island, and then exposed the abuses inflicted on the asylum's female patients. Her work sparked outrage and changed the way the mentally ill were treated in New York. She's a heroine to Jo, and to me.

2. Throughout your revision process were there any characters that ended up dying in the final version that hadn't died in the previous ones and vice versa did any survive that hadn't originally? I know you can't name names, but I just learned that this sometimes happens so I am very curious if you experienced this in your writing =)

No. Sorry!

3. Can you please, pretty pretty please write a novella about Oscar??!! He's such an interesting character!

I would LOVE to write more about Oscar. I adore him! He came on the scene, and proceeded to take up many more pages than I thought he would. I think about him all the time and wonder what he's up to. Same for Fay.

4. If Jo and Eddie were going to a Halloween party what costumes would they wear?

Poe and Annabel Lee

5. If you were going to a seance which 2 authors would you want by your side and why?

Emily Bronte and Caitlyn Doughty, because I think those two know from ghosts and would keep me sane and seated when I felt like running screaming out of the room. 

 I love that you chose Emily Bronte!  I have to say that would be pretty awesome.

Jennifer thanks again for being amazing!  I can't wait to see what's next up for you and in the mean time I'm definitely going to pick up Deep Blue ASAP!  

*still crossing fingers for more Oscar & Fay!*

Find the Author:

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These Shallow Graves by Jennifer Donnelly

Publisher: Random House Delacorte

Release Date: Octovere 27th, 2015

Purchase: Amazon

Set in gilded age New York, These Shallow Graves follows the story of Josephine Montfort, an American aristocrat. Jo lives a life of old-money ease. Not much is expected of her other than to look good and marry well. But when her father dies due to an accidental gunshot, the gilding on Jo’s world starts to tarnish. With the help of a handsome and brash reporter, and a young medical student who moonlights in the city morgue, Jo uncovers the truth behind her father’s death and learns that if you’re going to bury the past, you’d better bury it deep.

Interview: Kendall Kulper

Woohoo we have another amazing interview to share with you today!  Kendall Kulper is stopping by to answer a few questions and I have to say she is awesomesauce!  Her books Salt & Storm and Drift & Dagger sound amazing and she gives us a few more details about them below!

1.What spurred you to begin Salt and Storm in the setting that you choose?
I love island communities and always wanted to write a book set on an island. The island I know best is Martha’s Vineyard, so that was the jumping off point for Salt & Storm’s setting. I didn’t actually intend to make it a historical fantasy, but when I started thinking about Martha’s Vineyard and New England, I was inspired by whaling and by stories of “water witches”—women who crafted good luck charms for sailors.

2. How did you come about creating the infamous Roe Witch line?
I knew I wanted to write about these water witches, and I was especially intrigued by the idea that it could be a role that was passed down from mother to daughter. Mother-daughter relationships are so complex anyway, but throw in magical powers, and it adds a whole new level of intensity. Avery, her mother, and her grandmother all have very different ideas about what it means to be a witch and they place very different values on having all that power. It was a lot of fun to explore all the tension—and love—between the Roe women.

3. Do you have a clear cut picture of how you want your books to end or do you characters run away with the story lines at times?
I tend to have very clear images of the last scenes, but when I sit down to write, the middles do surprise me. The best way I can describe it is it’s like driving a car in the dark: you know your destination, and you can see what’s just up ahead, but anything beyond that is a mystery.
For both Salt & Storm and Drift & Dagger the endings were some of the first things I imagined. Drift & Dagger’s ending is actually the first thing I wrote for the whole book! But in both cases—and especially Drift & Dagger—the plot lines totally deviated from where I would have guessed, even though they both ended up right where I wanted them.

4. If you could be a witch, what would your favorite spell/power be?
I would want to instantly teleport anywhere in the world so that I could see my far-flung friends and family anytime I wanted.

5. Your degree from Harvard in history in literature is my dream come true! Did you always want to pursue those subjects?
I always loved writing and literature, and when I was in high school I had an amazing history teacher who made me see history in a whole new light. As a freshman in college, I thought I wanted to be a journalist focused on international politics, but as Harvard has no journalism major, I went to the next best thing, which is their History & Literature program.  Hist & Lit was actually more than just a combo of the two disciplines. It defines “history” as “anything that ever happened” and “literature” as “anything that was ever created,” so it’s really studying how the things people created tell us about the time they lived in and how things that happened shaped the things people made. It was a great, great program and taught me a lot about how to think and write critically—and it’s no surprise that I ended up writing historical fiction!

6.How does Abby (Kendall's chronically anxious Australian Shepard) feel about Drift and Dagger?
Let’s ask her!

Can you describe Drift and Dagger in 5 words?
Magic-proof boy, fantasy world

Aw I love Abby!!  That has to be one of the cutest pics ever!  Kendall thanks so much for stopping by!  I can't wait to dive into Drift & Dagger and explore more from this amazing world you have created!

About the Author
Kendall Kulper is the author of SALT & STORM, a Young Adult historical fantasy to be published by Little, Brown in September 2014. She grew up in the wilds of New Jersey and currently lives in Boston with her economist husband, Dave, and Abby, her chronically-anxious Australian Shepherd.
Find the Author:
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Drift & Dagger by Kendall Kulper
Publisher: Little Brown Books for Young Readers
Release Date: September 8th, 2015
Purchase: Amazon

I’ve always been a monster. And monsters destroy things. Things like magic and friendships and futures.

Mal used to have a home, a best friend, and a secret. But he lost all three on the day Essie Roe exposed him as a blank. Blanks cannot be cursed or saved or killed by magic. And everyone is afraid of them—even Mal himself.

Now Mal travels the world in search of dangerous and illegal magical relics, never stopping in any one place too long. When his partner in crime, Boone, hears of a legendary dagger that can steal magic, Mal knows he finally may have found a way to even the score with Essie. Crossing oceans and continents, Mal and Boone travel from Boston to Paris to Constantinople in search of the dagger. Finding it would mean riches, fame, and revenge—but only if Mal can control the monster inside him.

Kendall Kulper weaves a vivid story of betrayal and determination—and the road to forgiveness—in this new adventure set in the world of Salt & Storm.

Interview & Giveaway: Marcy Beller Paul

We are over halfway through our Hauntings month and we are not slowing down at all!!  Helping us continue on with the creepiness is Marcy Beller Paul!  Love Love Love her answers!!  
Take a look!

1. Welcome to WinterHaven Marcy! I'm so excited to dive into Underneath Everything! Can you describe for our readers what your book is about in five words?
Two girls. One intoxicating relationship.

2. Do you have any plans for the day your book releases?
I'm having a launch party later that week, but on the actual day of release I’ll probably go to my local bookstore to find my book in the wild. It's so easy to look ahead to the next thing, but that day I’m going to do my best to be present. I think seeing my book in a store, on a shelf, will help make it feel real--this thing I've been working toward for years. Hopefully the day will end on my deck with my husband and a glass of champagne.

3. Underneath Everything sounds like it might have an underlining thriller/suspense factor, are you a personal fan of thriller/suspense books?
I'm a huge fan, particularly of psychological thrillers. When I was thirteen I started reading John Grisham, Michael Crichton, and V.C. Andrews. That's also when my obsession with Stephen King began. But at the same time I was reading Jean M Auel's Clan of the Cave Bear, a sprawling historical saga, as well as Sylvia Plath, and Carson McCullers. My favorite books tend to cross categories. Why shouldn't a thriller have beautiful language? Why shouldn't a character-driven novel be suspenseful? I wanted Underneath Everything to feel like a thriller and read like literary fiction, because those are my two favorite categories.

4. Which authors have influenced you the most?
Stephen King, Toni Morrison, Ellen Hopkins, Laurie Halse Anderson, Laura Kasischke

5. Now for a fun Halloween question! Which authors would you want by your side during a seance and why?
Nova Ren Suma, because in a recent interview she admitted she has actually seen a ghost, so I don't think she'd be shocked to see another. She'd probably be expecting it. And it would probably be expecting her.
Libba Bray, because after reading the opening scene of The Diviners, it's obvious she not only knows how to use a Ouija Board, but also recognizes which spirits to summon and which to stay away from.
William Peter Blatty, the author of The Exorcist, because if we did unleash an evil spirit, I'd need someone around who could get rid of it.

 Marcy thanks so much for stopping by!!  I love that you read cross genres as a teen because I did to!  Stephen King was my ultimate addiction, but I loved others that were in completely different genres as well!  Marcy, you are amazing and I can't wait to read Underneath Everything!

Find the author:

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Underneath Everything by Marcy Beller Paul

Publisher: Balzar & Bray

Release Date: October 27, 2015

Purchase: Amazon

Mattie shouldn’t be at the bonfire. She should be finding new maps for her collection, hanging out with Kris, and steering clear of almost everyone else, especially Jolene. After all, Mattie and Kris dropped off the social scene the summer after sophomore year for a reason.

But now Mattie is a senior, and she’s sick of missing things. So here she is.

And there’s Jolene: Beautiful. Captivating. Just like the stories she wove. Mattie would know; she used to star in them. She and Jolene were best friends. Mattie has the scar on her palm to prove it, and Jolene has everything else, including Hudson.

But when Mattie runs into Hudson and gets a glimpse of what could have been, she decides to take it all back: the boyfriend, the friends, the life she was supposed to live. Problem is, Mattie can’t figure out where Jolene ends and she begins.

Because there’s something Mattie hasn’t told anyone—she walked away from Jolene over a year ago, but she never really left.

Poignant and provocative, Marcy Beller Paul’s debut novel tells the story of an intoxicating—and toxic—relationship that blurs the boundary between reality and fantasy, love and loyalty, friendship and obsession.

Giveaway!  
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Interview: Daniel Kraus

Today we have Daniel Kraus on the blog!  He is sharing details about his latest book The Death and Life of Zebulon Finch which releases on October 27th!

1. Please describe The Death and Life of Zebulon Finch, Volume One: At the Edge of Empire in five words or less.
Deviant defeats death, drifts decades.

2. I've heard amazing things about Zebulon Finch, how did you come up with his character?
If you're going to have a character that more or less sums up the rise and fall of America, then you have ask yourself, "If America was a person, what kind of person would it be?" The answer is not encouraging: he'd be male, white, rich, power-hungry, and uninterested in the plight of the less fortunate. So now let's kill him, let's make him see what it's like to be everyone else, and let's see if it makes him a better person.

3. What scene in your book was the most fun to write?
Nothing is more fun for me than putting the anarchic Zebulon Finch is the most civilized of surroundings -- let's say, the 1940 Academy Awards ceremony -- and seeing how he reacts. Usually it's like letting loose a shark in a kiddie pool. His destructive presence at historical events always makes me shake my head in disappointment, but also a little bit of affection. He does try, he just never tries quite hard enough.

4. Do you have any Halloween plans?
I'm going to watch 31 Halloween movies in October, which probably means my Halloween will be booked up trying to cram the last few in. I take my Halloweens seriously. Proof: http://www.booklistreader.com/2015/09/23/books-and-movies/the-31-horror-films-in-31-days-challenge-2015/

5. Can you share what you are currently working on?
Thank you for asking! And no, I can't!

Haha that last answer cracked me up!  Well I know we will all be waiting eagerly to hear what's next for you and will most definitely devour The Death and Life of Zebulon Finch in the mean time!

Daniel thanks so much for stopping by!

Find the Author:

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The Death and Life of Zebulon Finch, Volume One: At the Edge of Empire by Daniel Kraus

Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers

Release Date: October 27th, 2015

Purchase: Amazon

May 7, 1896. Dusk. A swaggering seventeen-year-old gangster named Zebulon Finch is gunned down on the shores of Lake Michigan. But after mere minutes in the void, he is mysteriously resurrected.
His second life will be nothing like his first.

Zebulon's new existence begins as a sideshow attraction in a traveling medicine show. From there, he will be poked and prodded by a scientist obsessed with mastering the secrets of death. He will fight in the trenches of World War I. He will run from his nightmares—and from poverty—in Depression-era New York City. And he will become the companion of the most beautiful woman in Hollywood.
Love, hate, hope, and horror—Zebulon finds them. But will he ever find redemption?

Ambitious and heartbreaking, The Death & Life of Zebulon Finch, Volume 1: At the Edge of Empire is the epic saga of what it means to be human in a world so often lacking in humanity.

Interview: Christina Lauren

To continue our Hauntings month we have Christina Lauren with us today!  Their latest book The House just recently released and it looks all kinds of creepy goodness!  I am so excited to share with you a little more about The House and also their super fun interview!

1. Your latest book The House hit shelves on October 6th! What five words best describe The House?

Sexy, sweet, creepy, possessive, earnest!

2. What did you do to celebrate the book launch?
We were together in California having some meetings in L.A. and we . . . went out to breakfast together then went to the bookstore? Wow, that sounds really tame. We obviously need to get our celebration hats on and do something bigger!! We really love this book, and are so happy to see it out in stores, really just going to Barnes and Noble and seeing it on the table with the other Books That Kept Us Up Reading made us so happy.

3. Have you both always been a fan of creepy/thriller reads?
For books, yes, absolutely. Books have a way of being scary without terrifying us. Christina is by far the bigger horror / thriller film fan, but that’s mostly because I (Lauren) scare easily! I used to like the feeling of being scared, but once I had kids, that joy in terror just . . . vanished. Now I like being creeped out and maybe a little bit scared, but I don’t like being really terrified. Christina loves old scary movies for their spooky-stylized factor, or loves the funny-scary movies like Scream, but neither of us would be down for something as gory as Saw. So that’s why books are the best, because it’s really up to our own imaginations how gory we let ourselves see it in our minds eye.

4. Growing up were there any fictional characters that scared you and still scare you to this day?
Lauren: Oh man, the Skeksis from The Dark Crystal. I was SEVEN YEARS OLD when I saw that movie ALONE. My mom thought it was a Muppet movie because it was Jim Henson, and so she took my sister to see Ghandi, and I went to see TDC by myself, and because Ghandi is so long, I had to sit through 1.5 viewings of TDC because I was too scared to get out of my seat. I would also say the sister, Zelda, from Pet Cemetary, when Zelda comes up behind Rachel while she’s bent over the sink. To this day I can’t wash my face at the sink without freaking out and looking behind me and dripping soap and water all over the floor.
Christina: (says without hesitation) It. I saw a Halloween costume the other day and literally screamed.

5. Can you share what you are currently working on?
We are currently writing our first standalone novel with Gallery books, a romance. We are also busy outlining more YA projects, so stay tuned!!

About the Authors

 

Christina Lauren is the combined pen name of long-time writing partners/besties/soulmates and brain-twins Christina Hobbs and Lauren Billings, the New York Times, USA TODAY, and #1 internationally bestselling authors of the Beautiful Bastard and Wild Seasons series and Sublime. You can find them online at christinalaurenbooks.com, Facebook.com/ChristinaLaurenBooks, or at @Christina Lauren, @seeCwrite, and @lolashoes on Twitter. 

Pet Cemetary still scares the beejees out of my too!  Every time I hear the name Gage I just want to run the other way lol!  

Ladies thank you both for taking the time to answer my questions.  It was amazing working with you both!

Christina & Lauren are also joining in the fun for our Author Fright Fest so be sure to stop back by to see what Halloween questions they answered!

The House by Christina Lauren
Release Date: October 6th, 2015
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
Purchase: Amazon

Gavin tells Delilah he’s hers—completely—but whatever lives inside that house with him disagrees.

After seven years tucked away at an East coast boarding school, Delilah Blue returns to her small Kansas hometown to find that not much has changed. Her parents are still uptight and disinterested, her bedroom is exactly the way she left it, and the outcast Gavin Timothy still looks like he’s crawled out of one of her dark, twisted drawings.

Delilah is instantly smitten.

Gavin has always lived in the strange house: an odd building isolated in a stand of trees where the town gives in to mild wilderness. The house is an irresistible lure for Delilah, but the tall fence surrounding it exists for good reason, and Gavin urges Delilah to be careful. Whatever lives with him there isn’t human, and isn’t afraid of hurting her to keep her away.

Interview & Review: The Shadow Behind the Stars by Rebecca Hahn

Today on WinterHaven Books we have the amazing Rebecca Hahn with us!!  She is stopping by to answer a few of my questions and I am beyond excited!!  

1. The Shadows Behind the Stars was so unique. How did you come up with this story?
I’m glad you think so! The story started with an image of a girl standing at the edge of the ocean, the wind blowing through her dark hair. I started to write in her voice, and soon realized that she was not mortal, but a goddess: she was the youngest of the three Greek Fates, who spin the threads of all human life. I liked the idea of writing from the viewpoint of one of the Fates. Often in fairy tales and fairy-tale-inspired novels, the hero visits a witch or a group of witches for help or information. In one sense, the Fates in The Shadow Behind the Stars function in this way. They live on an isolated island and are only visited by a few humans every century or so. Part of my initial interest came from wondering what a story might sound like from that removed perspective: I wanted to explore what these magical beings actually could or couldn’t do to help the hero, and whether they might be wanting to give more help than they are able.

2. Who do you think you are most like Chloe, Serena, or Xinot?
Hmmm, good question. I think I am the least similar to Serena. She’s effortlessly kind and quick to open herself up to other people. I’d like to be like Xinot: enigmatic and somewhat sardonic. But I think I’m probably the most like the youngest Fate, the narrator of the story. Chloe often keeps her thoughts to herself, but has definite opinions on almost everything. She doesn’t grow close to people easily, but once she does she’s fiercely loyal. And she feels a deep connection to the world surrounding her: the sea and stars, the sun and wind.

3. I feel like there was a deeper meaning behind this story, can you tell us what you hope your readers take away from your book?
Ideally, I would hope that my readers take away exactly what they needed when they opened the book, whatever that may be! I honestly believe that every separate reading is a new version of the book. I do hope there are themes that come across in many readings: the validity of negative emotions, for instance, or the strength women have to make their own choices.

4. There a quite a few scenes that really tore at my heart! Which scene was the hardest for you to write?
Ha, I’m afraid I can’t tell you that without major spoilers! I will say that I rewrote the ending of the book several times, and one reason was that for a long time I couldn’t get myself to write a certain scene, or even convince myself that it was really necessary for the story.

5. Are you currently working on anything new? If so can you share any details with us?
I have a few ideas I am playing with. Nothing I’m ready to share yet, I’m afraid!

Thanks for your questions, Crystal! 

Find Rebecca

Website / Goodreads / Twitter

The Shadow Behind the Stars by Rebecca Hahn
Publisher: Atheneum Books for Young Readers
Release Date: September 1, 2015
Purchase: Amazon

Heed this warning, mortal: stay far away from the three sister Fates. For if they come to love you, they might bring about the end of the world…

Chloe is the youngest. Hers are the fingers that choose the wool, that shape the thread, that begin it. The sun smiles upon her. Men love her without knowing who she is. She has lived forever and will live forever more. She and her sisters have been on their isolated Greek island for centuries, longer than any mortal can remember. They spin, measure, and slice the countless golden threads of human life. They are the three Fates, and they have stayed separate for good reason: it is dangerous for them to become involved with the humans whose lives they shape.

So when a beautiful girl named Aglaia shows up on their doorstep, Chloe tries to make sure her sisters don’t become attached. But in seeking to protect them, Chloe discovers the dark power of Aglaia’s destiny. As her path unwinds, the three Fates find themselves pulled inextricably along—toward mortal pain, and mortal love, and a fate that could unravel the world. 

My thoughts:
The Shadow Behind the Stars was for me a very deep read.  I am not sure if this was intentional, but felt like the author was really trying to go deeper than just the story and you know what..it worked for me.

I will say off the bat that this is a book I had to be in the mood to read.  If I had read this a week ago it might not have worked because (and yes I know this is bad) sometimes I just don't want to think too much when I read.  Other times I crave something deeper and this was one of those times.  I really fell into the whole three sisters of fate world that Rebecca Hahn created and I found myself really thinking about life throughout the whole book.

The synopsis does a good job at describing the plot of the book, but it failed to mention how deep the three sisters go into what is right and wrong.  Chloe, Serena, and Xinot come across a lot of lines that they dared not cross in previous situations, but this time they just can't turn their back.  So many things happen to these characters and my heart broke so many times.  As you know if you know my reviews I stay away from books that make me cry so it came as a huge surprise to me when I felt that emotion while reading this.  I had no clue it would affect me so, but honestly I don't see how anyone can read this and not be affected by the events that happened.

I think Rebecca Hahn did a really job at giving her readers just enough to make them think beyond what was written.  She kept me guessing at what was going to happen and what line the sisters would cross.  It also made me think about what lines I would cross for those I loved.

The characters were a little stiff for me and this is my only negative.  I don't know if I connected with them or the situation they were in and that bothers me a bit.  I am a character driven reader for the most part so I wish I would have felt a little more for them.  I found I felt more for the secondary character and that really baffles me.

Even though I had a slight issue with the characters, this still turned out to be a really good read.  It was definitely unique and something I won't soon forget.  If you start this and it doesn't work for you put it down and give it awhile.  This is one that I promise you need to keep trying because it is worth it.

4 snowflakes

Blog Tour: Interview, Giveaway, & Review Firewalker (Worldwalker, #2) by Josephine Angelini

 Today on WinterHaven Books we have the amazing Josephine Angelini with us again!!  I'm still squeeing about this by the way!  She is stopping by to answer a few of my questions so take a look!

Welcome Josephine!

1. WOW! I mean WOWWW! Josephine I am completely blown away by Firewalker!  Did you have any idea how much of a punch this sequel would have?
Thank you so much for saying that! I really went for it with this book and tried to make it as unexpected as possible. I think that YA readers have grown so sophisticated that they are looking for something new in terms of storyline. I did my best to really reach out with my plotting and find things that made sense for my characters but that didn’t have the same old same old feel. I tried to go for as much emotional punch as possible.  It’s fantastic that you had the response you did. Makes me very happy.

2. I have to give you major credit because I hated Tristan in the first one and you made me love him in this one! I didn't think that was possible! Was Tristan's character hard to write?
He was hard to write because so many of my beta readers had certain expectations for Tristan. I think everyone saw them as being destined to be together because they grew up together, but that’s not how I saw it. The first person you fall for is rarely the person you end up with. But it was strange for me to see how many people were ticked off by that. I never saw Tristan as a good choice for Lily, although is he so entertaining!

3. How did you come up with the idea of the Woven? They are beyond creepy by the way!!
The Woven were an idea that transplanted from another book that I never finished and that will probably never see the light of day. They are something that scares me, so I had to use them somehow. Just a tip for aspiring writers—never throw anything away. You may get half way through a book and realize that the story isn’t going anywhere, but that doesn’t mean that elements of that book can’t be used later. The Woven were that for me.

4. Who is your favorite to write Lily or Lillian?
In Trial by Fire it was Lily, in Firewalker it was Lillian, and in the last book it’s Lily again.

5. Do you ever see yourself writing a spinoff? The world you have created is so fascinating and I know I'm definitely going to want more after this series is finished! *Crosses fingers*
Aw, thanks! I hadn’t thought of a spin off, but the end of the third book definitely leaves opportunities for other books written in this world. I haven’t gotten as far as to think up a specific plot yet, but I won’t say no if there’s a demand for it.

6. Are you working on anything at the moment? If so can you share any details?
I’ve just finished the third book and I’m going into edits for it soon. Right now I’m just focusing on spending as much time with my family as I can before I go on tour.

Thank you so much for the interview, Crystal!

This honestly was one of my favorite interviews ever!  I love love love Josephine's answers and now I want Traitor's Pyre even more!!  I simply CAN.NOT.WAIT!!!  Josephine you are amazing!  Thank you so so much for stopping by!

Giveaway time!!!

The amazing people at Macmillan have graciously offered to send one lucky readers their very own FC of Firewalker!  To enter just fill out the form below!

US only.

Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Firewalker (Worldwalker, #2) by Josephine Angelini
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends
Release Date: September 1, 2015
Purchase: Amazon

Worlds divide, magic slays, and love lies in the second book of Josephine Angelini’s The Worldwalker Trilogy.

"You think I’m a monster, but my choices, as ruthless as they seem, are justified."

Lily is back in her own universe, and she's ready to start a new life with Rowan by her side. True, she almost died in the Pyre that fueled their escape from New Salem, and must hide her magic for the safety of everyone she cares about, but compared to fighting the Woven, the monstrous creatures inhabiting the alternate Salem, life is looking pretty good.

Unfortunately, Lillian, ruthless ruler of the 13 Cities, is not willing to let Lily go that easily. If she can’t persuade Lily to return to her world, she will force her to come back by doing away with the ones she loves.

Picking up right where Trial By Fire left off, Firewalker is another sexy, fast-paced, heartbreaking thrill ride from internationally bestselling author Josephine Angelini!

My thoughts:
I've read many sequels before and while not all of them worked some did and managed to stay out of that dreaded "filler" category.  I was a little worried about Firewalker because I adored Trial by Fire and I didn't want the sequel to disappoint.  I needn't have worried because Firewalker is the best sequel I have EVER read and I am not saying that lightly.  I finished this last night and I am still squeeing and dying over what happened!

The story takes off right where Trial by Fire ended with Lily and Rowan world jumping back to her world and time.  This is where I thought the story would fall off and be filter.  I was so so wrong!  The story not only continues to move it does so rapidly and does not slow down the entire book.  I loved all the twists and turns that were thrown out and OH MY GAWD there is a huge bomb that had me on the edge of my seat!  This new twist could mean everything for Lillians world and I cannot wait to see what happens!!

Lily has really grown to be one of if not my favorite female character. She is strong and does what she has to do to save her people.  I respect her decisions and definitely rooted for her throughout the book.  I knew things were going to get tough for her between her and Rowan and while I wasn't wrong they didn't get as bad as I thought and I feel like the author is doing an amazing job at keeping the teenage angst at bay.  I for one appreciate this.  I am not sure what will become of a certain distraction, but I am hoping for the best since Ms. Angelini hasn't let me down yet!

I think my biggest surprise is Tristan. If you remember my previous review I couldn't stand him at all.  He was the supposed first love for Lily and he treated her like garbage.  While I still don't forgive him I do actually love him!  He definitely stepped up was there for Lily when she needed him the most. He explains himself and again I can't forgive him, but I can understand his side a little and they are young so forever is a long time when you are young.  He does regret what he did and knows certain events happened because of his carelessness.  I can't be mad at him anymore.  I have to say this takes a strong writer to make my hate of a character turn into love.  Brilliant job Josephine!

I have to mention the flashbacks with Lillian.  I don't know exactly why, but I have been intrigued with her from the get go and seeing through her eyes has just made me more so.  I can't believe what she went through and what she did, but I am feeling my allegiances switch a little and it's a weird feeling for sure.  I don't think I have ever switched sides so totally before in a series.  I really like how the author is showing us piece be piece what motivated Lillian and making her readers second guess what they thought was the right path.  Lillian is still a monster, but maybe she isn't as cold blooded as I originally thought.

If you loved the first book you will devour this one as well!  It has so much in it and like I said I am still amazed even 10 hours later.  I am dying for the third in this series and I can guarantee that when I get my hands on it I won't have forgotten one detail if this book. It truly is amazing!

Blizzard Read!! 

Previous books in series:
 
Trial by Fire                                     Rowan





 

Review & Interview: Ink and Bone (The Great Library, #1) by Rachel Caine

Today on WinterHaven Books we have the amazing Rachel Caine with us!!  She has graciously answered a few of my questions and I have to say her answers are some of my favorites ever!  Take a look!

1. Ink and Bone really made me think about how it is more common now to see someone reading an electronic device rather than holding a physical book. Do you think your story could become a somewhat reality for our world later in the future?
I don't think it will ever become a complete reality; print will always have a place, especially since data, by its very natural, is even more ephemeral and subject to destruction. Plus, we have printed books, reproduced and available, so I don't think the situation of the Great Library will be quite the same. But I do foresee a possibility that a monolithic retailer like Amazon will drive print bookstores to the brink, then (as they already are doing) seek to force publishing companies out as well, to control authors directly. Once that happens, and we have one "outlet" for our work ... anything can happen.
I'm not saying Amazon is evil. I'm saying that competition is always good for creators.

2. Your story was very dark at times and I personally loved it. Will the future books in the series stay with the same dark tone?
Yes, very likely. Jess's situation is that he is seeing the dark side of the Library, and though we will also see the bright side, the one full of passionate idealists and bravery, there's no doubt he's up against enemies willing to go to any extreme to preserve their power, under the guise of the good of everyone. I can't see that's going to be easy.

3. Who was your favorite character to write?
I go back and forth, but I love a good, snarky character. Jess has his own brand of sarcasm, which I love, but Scholar Wolfe definitely has them all beat for that particular acidic brand of humor. So I love him as well.

4. I am completely heartbroken over the ending! Did you know from the beginning how things would turn out the way they did for each character?
It was a hard choice, but I did know, and though I knew it would give the book a real darkness, I felt it really was necessary to take the characters all the way to the edge. Without giving anything away, though, there are still some surprises to come in Book 2.

5.You created a mind blowing and intricate world. How much research and planning did you do throughout your writing process?
It's a story about 10 years in the making, quite honestly, though for about 9 years of it, it was shiftless and lazy and unformed. I had elements but no unifying idea. It wasn't until 2013 that I really began to put the pieces together, and realized I had a lot of work to do to make this very different world credible, but also convey it in ways that didn't distract the reader too much from the story. So I crafted it over time, and at each point, I kept altering and refining my choices so that the world developed naturally from the decisions the Library itself made. You have to really shape the world around the points of power, and what people will do to hang onto it, so that helped me create the world in which Jess lives.

Thank you very much for these wonderful questions, and I hope you enjoy the rest of Jess's epic adventure!

Rachel

Rachel thank you so much for stopping by!!  This is truly a highlight of my blogging career!  I can't wait to see more of Jess! 

Ink and Bone (The Great Library, #1) by Rachel Caine

Publisher: NAL

Release Date: July 7th, 2015

Purchase: Amazon

Find Rachel: Website / Twitter / Facebook / Goodreads

In an exhilarating new series, New York Times bestselling author Rachel Caine rewrites history, creating a dangerous world where the Great Library of Alexandria has survived the test of time.…

Ruthless and supremely powerful, the Great Library is now a presence in every major city, governing the flow of knowledge to the masses. Alchemy allows the Library to deliver the content of the greatest works of history instantly—but the personal ownership of books is expressly forbidden.

Jess Brightwell believes in the value of the Library, but the majority of his knowledge comes from illegal books obtained by his family, who are involved in the thriving black market. Jess has been sent to be his family’s spy, but his loyalties are tested in the final months of his training to enter the Library’s service.

When he inadvertently commits heresy by creating a device that could change the world, Jess discovers that those who control the Great Library believe that knowledge is more valuable than any human life—and soon both heretics and books will burn.…

My thoughts:
Ink and Bone was such a unique read.  Going in I was super excited because the premise sounded absolutely amazing and I am very happy to report that my expectations were totally met and exceeded.

This story is about books which for any reader is well awesome.  In the beginning we learn that Jess works for his family and is a smuggler of rare books. He hides them underneath his clothes and runs routes to his customers.  If caught the punishment is death because all books must stay in the Library. If you have a Codex (an electronic device) you can read just about any book, but people crave the feel of a real book an sometimes go to extreme measures to get their hands on them.  Jess knows this is a dangerous business so when his Dad says he has to go to the Library as part of their program to hopefully secure a job he's somewhat relieved.  Even though he knows he will still have to help his family and that his dad does have ulterior motives, he still wants to go because he loves books.  What happens isn't what he expected and by the end being inside the Library might be just as dangerous as being on the outside.

I will say that while reading this I did get a George R.R. Martin feeling because every time I turned around the cast of characters dwindled.  Rachel Caine is fearless in her writing and honestly I'm a little scared to pick up the sequel.  As with most dystopianish books there are always causalities and usually I am okay with them, but with this story I just don't want to lose anybody else. Jess and his crew are so special and it will truly break my heart of anything happens to them.  I know things will happen though because Caine proved she will do what she needs to, but man I'm terrified.  This won't deter me from reading the sequel though. I have to know what happens!!

The characters were just amazing.  I loved Jess and Morgan especially.  They both did what they had to at times and at others they acted human.  I am really rooting for them even though I know it will be a long road for them after that ending.  I also adored Wolfe and Santi.  They were the adults in the story and they acted like them which I appreciated.  I honestly would love a prequel so I could see why they are the way they are.  I have a feeling their back stories will come out in later books though and that will work too.

Rachel Caine's writing was also phenomenal.  This book was around 360 pages and while it did feel long everything flowed.  When I say it felt long that's not a bad thing.  I love getting lost in books and I find that sometimes books that are around 300 go too quickly.  Ink and Bone was not one of these books.  It is rich in story and very vivid with details.  I loved that it took me an extra few days to finish.  This story deserved the extra time.   

I was truly amazed with this story.  Rachel Caine really made me think that maybe our world will come to this type of future.  Not the magic of course, but the whole smuggling physical copies of books.  Electronic devices are so huge now that I wonder if somewhere in the not to distant future this could be our reality.  If it is I am truly frightened. 

Wonderful story that had me grasping for breath!

4.5 snowflakes