Impostor blog tour: Author Interview, Marissa Meyer & Susanne Winnacker

I’m so happy that Marissa Meyer, author of Cinder and Scarlet, agreed to ask me a few questions. After all, she gave Impostor a blurb! Here it is if you’re curious:

"IMPOSTOR is one of those books that manages to walk the tricky line betweenfun and suspenseful. I was quickly lured into the covert world of Variants andthe hunt for a brutal serial killer, but it was Tessa herself who ultimately wonmy heart. No matter what face she's wearing, Tessa is an endearing hero whoseyearning for love and acceptance is one we can all relate to."

-

Marissa Meyer, New York Times bestselling author of Cinder

But now on to the interview!

Marissa: To me, IMPOSTOR is a book that combines elements of CSI and X-Men. Sure, there's a murder mystery with plenty of suspects milling around, but then, BAM~ here are some people with superpowers too! Do you have any favorite movies, books, or other pop culture icons that inspired this series?

SW: I’ve always been a big fan of action movies. Even when I was only nine or ten I was already watching action movies that were far too mature for me. I absolutely love Avengers, Iron Man, Die Hard, X-men, Hancock, and so many more. That’s why I love writing action scenes. But another movie which isn’t quite that action-y but which I still love is Miss Congeniality. Sandra Bullock plays a cop who has to pretend to be a beauty pageant contestant, and that’s not really easy for her, but so funny to watch. That was definitely a movie that inspired me to think of other undercover situations!

Marissa: Um, hello, you live in GERMANY (home of the Grimm Brothers,woot!), so I naturally assume you spend your days writing in cool medieval castles. On the off chance this is inaccurate, where DO you like to write? Do you have any writing quirks or rituals?

SW: I WISH I could tell you I spend my days in medieval castles, but that’s not the case. At least not when I’m writing! I write at home – either in my kitchen or the living room. But whenever my husband has a business trip I accompany him and then I write in hotel lobbies, in cafés in Munich or Berlin, in parks in Würzburgetc.

As for quirks? I can’t eat when I’m writing. Not even snacks. I don’t really drink much either. I don’t like distraction very much.

                                        

Marissa: I realize that IMPOSTOR *just* came out, but I find it impossible to finish a book without immediately wondering, WHAT'S NEXT? Can you tell us a bit about what's in store for Tessa in Book 2?

SW: Oh, that’s definitely big spoiler territory…so let me see what I can say? The sequel will deal with some of the things that were revealed at the end of book 1.Not very helpful? Yeah. Tessa will have to be very strong, because I’ll torture her even worse than in book 1. Doubt and betrayal are two good words to summarize book 2!

<a id="rc-f2a37269" class="rafl" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/f2a37269/" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway</a>

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Chantress Depicted

Chantress: Touchstone Images

Like many writers, I see my story in pictures—sometimes just a snapshot, other times a whole scene.  Most of these images exist in my mind’s eye alone, but sometimes when I’m browsing through books or galleries or the Internet, I’ll see something that’s like a dream or a memory of the world I’ve dreamed up.  The very best of these images become touchstones:  They help me see my story and its world more clearly. 

I thought it would be fun to share some of the touchstone images for my YA historical fantasy Chantress-- a story about a girl who sings magic in world that forbids it. 

Chantress starts on a lonely Atlantic island with Lucy Marlowe, the survivor of a shipwreck that she cannot remember, a girl growing up by the edge of the sea.  I think of her every time I look at this gorgeous painting of Miranda from The Tempest by John William Waterhouse.  Lucy’s hair is dark, and her clothes are from the 1660s, but it’s the mood of this painting that pulls me in. (So romantic, those Pre-Raphaelites!)

 

(Credit: Wikimedia Commons via Wikihttp://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/2d/Miranda_-_The_Tempest_JWW.jpg)

The sea is everywhere for Lucy, and it’s where the magic begins.  Forbidden to sing, she’s lived a life without music, until one afternoon she hears an eerie melody on the wind—“the barest edge of a tune, almost as if the sea itself were singing..."

(Credit: Elsie esq. via http://www.flickr.com/photos/elsie/56937264/sizes/o/in/photostream/)

When Lucy breaks the rules and sings the song, it takes her to London—where she nearly falls prey to the Lord Protector and his soul-stealing Shadowgrims.  The Shadowgrims hold the kingdom in terror, and sunset is their witching hour.

(Credit: London Skyline by Tom Soper Photography via http://www.flickr.com/photos/tomsoperphotography/5663611956/sizes/l/in/photostream/)

There are clockmakers in the book…

Credit: Gear Work 2 by Curious Expeditions (via http://www.flickr.com/photos/curiousexpeditions/489992128/)

..and secret passages…

(Credit: amanderson2 (via http://www.flickr.com/photos/amanderson/2132631729/)

…an ancient grimoire…

(Credit: rosfirerising via http://www.flickr.com/photos/rosefirerising/4437628669/)

…and a fierce spy on a secret mission.

(Credit: erix! via http://www.flickr.com/photos/erix/49726725/)

The fearsome fire of the Shadowgrims haunts Lucy as she tries to master her magic…

.. and when she attacks the Lord Protector in his most formidable stronghold, the Tower of London.

(Credit: Derek John Lee via http://www.flickr.com/photos/derek-john-lee/8040179620/)

Amy Butler Greenfield

http://www.amybutlergreenfield.com

@ab_greenfield

CHANTRESS (McElderry/S&S, May 2013)

"…a beautiful love story, a harrowing mystery." –  Mary Pearson, The Adoration of Jenna Fox

"I simply loved it.  A delicious journey…” –  Cinda Williams Chima, The Demon King

"CHANTRESS is truly enchanting." — Jessica Spotswood, Born Wicked

Blog Tour: Hero's Guide to Storming the Castle Character Spotlight + Giveaway!

Lucky number seven here on MPB! Let's meet Lila, as part of the official Hero's Guide to Storming the Castle blog tour!

Lila

Occupation: Princess, Science Fair Champion

Known Allies: Ella & Liam, AKA Prince Charming

Kingdom of Origin: Erinthia

Current Residence: The Erinthian Royal Palace

Parents: King Gareth & Queen Gertrude

Sibling: Prince Liam

Longtime Foe: Professor Stiffidious Primbletone, etiquette tutor

Likes: Reading, exploring, dissecting odd creatures

Dislikes: Ball gowns, etiquette lessons, being grounded

Signature Move: The Window Pop-In Ambush

Quote: “If you have to ask why I’m dangling from this window ledge, you obviously have no idea how dull it is back at home.”

Little Known Fact: While it was her homemade imp trap that won her the Cross-Duchy Science Fair, her favorite invention was her “Brother Trap”—a practical joke that lured Liam into a locked trunk with the promise of a shiny new cape.

Storming the Castle Giveaway: The first THREE entrants today will receive signed copies of THE HERO’S GUIDE TO STORMING THE CASTLE. Follow the link to enter! 

EVERYONE who enters is eligible to win a $200 gift card to the bookstore of his or her choice. 

You will need a SECRET CODE to enter the giveaway which you will discover in the post above.

Join New York Times Bestselling author Marissa Meyer and Christopher Healy for a Twitter Chat on fractured fairy tales on Monday, June 3^rd at 9pm ET. Hashtag #talesretold. There will be giveaways!