Win: The Iron King by Julie Kagawa

Brace yourself...because I have another wonderful contest for you. That's right you. And to celebrate the introduction of some new swoon worthy leading men I want to hear about which guy (or gal) has made you swoon. So to enter this contest all you need is a name, email address, a mailing address in US or Canada and the name of your swoon worthy character. If you have all of that then this is what you could win:

1. A signed copy of Julie Kagawa's The Iron King.


2. This really cute book mark that I am pretty sure was modeled for by The Iron King's very own Grimalkin


and 3. These two incredible t-shirts donated by the amazing people over at Harlequin Teen



This contest will be open until midnight EST on 28 February 2010 and you can enter by filling out this form. Thanks for stopping by and good luck to all who enter!!

How much could an Iron Puck puck?

Hello everyone,


Today I would like you all to welcome a special guest to YAR, Puck from Julie Kagawa's new book The Iron King. So please send out a warm welcome to Puck and be sure to check out his full story in The Iron King....and that other lesser known tale by Shakespeare known as A Midsummer Night Dream.


First off, please tell us a little about you.

A little about me, huh? Um ... okay. I like apples, my favorite color is red, I think Skittles are the greatest invention since the wheel, and I’m the handsome, charmingly rakish rogue in The Iron King. (You might also know me from Willy Shakespeare’s A Midsummer’s Night Dream. There was that unfortunate incident with the donkey ears ...)

What can you tell us about your role in The Iron King?

I’m the hero, of course! All right, fine, I’m not. I should be! But I’m not. I’m there to keep Meghan out of trouble, and make life as difficult for Ash as I can. Hmm, I wonder how he’d look with donkey ears ...

What was your favorite part or scene of the book? Or maybe is there a favorite line(s) you had that you want to share?

Well, there was that time Ash almost got eaten by a dragon. That was fun. Also, the time where Ash had to fight the chimera. I enjoyed that, too. I don’t remember a favorite line, though. ALL my lines are favorites. I’m just that charming.

Overall, how do you think the author handled your story?

Oh, I suppose she did well enough. My natural charm doesn’t come off unless you meet me in person. But really, she’s just one more writer in a long line of writers who have tried and failed to capture my true essence. Willy Shakespeare couldn’t do it, and neither could Kagawa. I am uncapturable. (And yeah, that’s a word because I said so.)

Which character in the story would you most like to have a drink with and why? Would you meet for coffee/tea or perhaps for a pint at the local pub? Is there any place in particular that you had in mind for this meeting? (For example: Harry Potter might meet with Ron Weasley over at the The Three Broomsticks for some Butterbeer because they are best mates. Or maybe Malfoy would lure Harry to The Hogs Head in order to slip something into his drink so Slytherin would win the upcoming quiddich match against Gryffindor)

Eh heh heh, “Hey Ash, lets go to the tavern for a couple pints of ale. Oh, really? I had no idea this is a redcap hangout. Well, have fun without me. Try not to get yourself eaten.”

If you could meet any character from another book, who would it be and why?

Hmm, well I’ve heard that Lesley Livingston has a boucca in her book named Bob, that’s supposedly another version of me. I’d like to meet this other Puck; think of the things we could do, together. *Maniacal evil laughter*



And on that note I think that we should all work together to ensure that these two Puck's never meet...

Cross-posted at: Ticket to Anywhere.

Mountaineering with Julie Kagawa

Hello everyone thanks for again for stopping my my little home in the blogosphere. Today I would like to take some time away from reviewing books in order to bring you an interview with the fabulous Julie Kagawa who is the author of the recent release The Iron King, which if you've been paying attention I gushed over lots yesterday. Julie is an up and coming new author she has lots of talent and I highly suggest that you run out and buy her book.

First off…tell us a little about you?

Well, I was born in California but moved to Hawaii when I was nine. And before you think “wow, why did she ever leave?” let me tell you its much different living there. I could horrify you with stories about the giant flying cockroaches and foot-long poisonous centipedes and killer wild pigs and cane spiders as big as your hand … but I won’t. :P

I wish I could say I’ve always wanted to be a writer, but that’s not the case. For years I wanted to be a veterinarian. This dream sort of crashed when I discovered the endless amounts of science and math I had to do to become said vet. So around my teen years, I decided I would become an author instead. (I had this ridiculous notion that I would write a book and get it published before I went to collage. Yes, you can stop laughing now.)


What is your writing process like?

Writing process: Get up. Get dressed. Check email. Brush teeth. Check email again, just to make sure I didn’t miss anything. Check Twitter (curse you, Tweetdeck). Check OTHER email account. Visit various blogs. Open WIP document. Stare at it for awhile. Check email again. Wander down to kitchen for food and Mt. Dew. Come back to computer and check email, twitter, blogs, ect. Add empty Mt. Dew can to the dozen or so on the table. Finally feel guilty enough to actually sit down to WIP. Get started on WIP.

Check email.


If we were able to take a peek at your nightstand, what book(s) might we find there?

At the moment (let me check), I have Shannon Hale’s Book of a Thousand Days(fabulous), Amy Huntley’s The Everafter (wonderful), and Diana Peterfreund’s Rampant (killer unicorns!) And several empty Mt. Dew cans.


What sort of foods do you like to eat when you are sick?

Mt. Dew (this will be a theme) and soup. Also, lots of medicine that makes me unconscious. I hate being sick.


Book you most want to read again for the first time?

Poison Study, by Maria V. Snyder. I remember I got this at the library and I’d never heard of it before, so I thought I’d give it a shot. Little did I know I’d discover my perfect literary crush within its pages, Valek, whom no one has been able to topple from his spot at #1. Of course, I’ve had to fight off many Valek admirers since then, as they mistakenly believe Valek is theirs. (Valek is still mine, Gail!)

Julie - no he isn't!! He's mine....so back off! *glares and prepares to glomp*


Are there any books that you might have lied about reading (we promise we won’t judge)?

I have never actually read Moby Dick (Oxford World's Classics), because it was long and boring (to me), and I could get all the test answers from the cliff notes.


If it makes you feel any better Julie, I haven't read Moby Dick either. Has never appealed to me.


What’s a book you’ve been a book bully for? (ie one you’ve liked so much that you practically beat people over the head just to get them to read it)

Ha! I think you already know the answer to this question. ;-) I’ve harassed many a blogger on twitter about Poison Study, which is strange because it only adds to the teeming throng of Valek lovers, and then I just have to beat them off with a stick when they try to claim him. :P


Which came first title, plot or character(s)?

With The Iron King, the story began with one character, the heroine. Meghan actually started out as a full faery, then evolved to what she is today. After I had her character down, the plot started forming around her, and Ash, Puck, and Grimalkin emerged for the first time. When I finally knew what the story was about, the title took care of itself.


One thing that I love about The Iron King is that it’s a new twist on the world of Faerie, how did you come up with the idea for your spin on these old myths?

The idea for the Iron Fey came to me when I was researching different kinds of faeries. In all the old legends, faeries are allergic to iron. They are also (mostly) creatures of nature, so naturally they could have a hard time with the amount of iron and steel and progress we’ve made over the years. So I thought, what if there were a new type of faery, one that evolved with progress and technology, one that was immune to iron? Then I remembered we already have “creatures” lurking in machines: gremlins and bugs and worms and viruses, and from that thought, the Iron Fey were born.


There are a lot of great characters in your book, which one was your favorite to create? My faves by far are Ash, Grim and Puck (in that order….but I’ve gushed over them all lots on twitter so I am sure that is no surprise to you, lol.)

My personal favorite would have to be Ash, but Grimalkin runs a very close second and I’ve had a lot of fun with him. He says things people wish they could say but are too polite. Grimalkin has no such reservations.


What sort of books do you think your main characters (Meghan, Ash & Puck) like to read? If they had a favorite book or author what do you think it is?

Meghan, surprisingly, likes all things horror; her favorite author by far is Stephen King. With Puck, it’s hard to say, but he does like Shakespeare, just because he likes seeing himself in AA Midsummer Night's Dream. Ash favors books about history, weapons or (oddly enough) poetry. His favorite book is The Art of Warby Sun Tsu.


If you had to do it all over again, would you change anything in The Iron King (without being spoilery of course)?

I’m fairly happy with the way everything turned out. Meghan isn’t perfect, but she has two more books to grow and change, and the story is pretty much how I imagined it. I don’t think I would change anything. (except maybe more scenes involving Grim, from one early review, lol.)


If Ash (from Iron King) and Valek (from Maria Snyder’s Study series) were to meet in a dual, who would you bet on and why?

That’s a tough question. I would have to bet on Ash, though, because 1). I’m biased, and 2). He’s a lot older than Valek (being an immortal faery) and has had more time to perfect his sword skills. And he has magic, but Valek has his anti-magic aura going all the time, so I don’t know. Would it work against faery glamour?


From early reviews, Grimalkin seems to be the breakout star of the books. Are you surprised by this? And has his role in the story changed at all because of his increasing popularity?

Hahaha, I kind of had the feeling Grimalkin would steal the show. He’s the favorite of everyone in my publishing house, too. But no, Grimalkin hasn’t changed. He has been and always will be what he is, and actually finds all this attention rather amusing.


The Zombie Apocalypse has started, what is your zombie plan? And if you could have one of your characters assist you in the fight against the undead…who would it be and why?

My plan would first be to run next door to Wal-Mart to grab all the unperishables I could, as well as some skull-crushing weapons, guns, and ammo. Then me and my family would go to the Louisville Mega Caverns right underneath the zoo. It was a nuclear bunker at one time, with thick lead doors that can be sealed up for years. We’d be perfectly safe there; the Caverns are several acres big, and there are even rations and beds left behind, in case the nuclear holocaust came. Once the doors are sealed, we’d be all set to wait out the Zombie Apocalypse. (And no, I haven’t thought about this plan in great detail, why do you ask?)


Of course, I’d have to take Ash. He’s fearless, overprotective, and good at slicing zombie heads from shoulders. Easy pick.

Hmm....your zombie plan is much more thought out than mine. Which is pretty much just to high tale it up to Canada and hole up with Courtney Summers - as she is a zombie expert and all quizzes say that my survival rate is only 62%. Maybe instead of Canada I should head toward Kentucky instead. Wonder which is closer to Massachusetts...


Can you share a little of your current work with us?

At the moment, I’m working on edits for The Iron Queen, the last in the Iron Fey trilogy. After that … who knows? Okay, I do have one secret project, but it would be spoilery to tell.


Julie - has anyone every told you what a tease you are? Why mention a sekrit project at all if you can't mention it. You're mean! *pouts*


Do you have anything specific that you want to say to your readers?

Just a few words of appreciation. Authors are nothing without readers. You guys are why I write, and if my books were never read if would all be for nothing. So, thank you. Love the book or hate it, thank you for reading it.


And thank you for writing it Julie! We readers are nothing if we don't have authors to write for us. So thanks. Also, a quick note to everyone who reads my blog, if you read a book and love it then be sure to find the authors website and let them know. As I blogger I can tell you that I still get a bit giddy every time someone leaves a comment on my page and from my conversations with authors I know that they feel the same. =) Ok, off of my soap box. Thanks again Julie for taking the time to answer all of my questions. Its been great fun and I now know the way into your heart seems to be with Mt. Dew so will keep that in mind if I insert myself into your Zombie Plan instead of Courtney's. ;-)

Cross-posted at: Ticket To Anywhere.

TENtalizing Tidbits: Julie Kagawa

Here's one of the coolest authors I have ever had the pleasure of talking to. Let's welcome Julie Kagawa, author of The Iron King! Hit it, Julie! (Click on the picture of the cover for an up close and personal look at its awesomesauce.)

So, Liyana asked me to do a guest post this week to show off my new cover, and I said “sure, no problem,” really before I realized I’ve never done a guest post before and therefore had no idea of what to talk about. (I even Tweeted her about this. I think my tweet went something along the lines of “I don’t know what to guest post about! Haaaaaaaaalp!”)

(Also, may I add that you shouldn’t ask for serious help on Twitter, as you get people telling you to post about sushi and tapirs. Or sushi eating tapirs. Don’t ask.)

Anyway, moving on. This is the month of November. To most people, November is the month of thanks, of turkey and stuffing and relatives, and eating so much food you swear you can’t even look at food for as long as you live. Or at least until dessert. But for many authors, writers, and thousands of aspiring novelists, November is the month of something else entirely.

Four letters. Four simple letters that can strike terror into the heart of the staunchest writer, that can make the bravest novelist weak with fear, loathing, and self-doubt. N.A.N.O.

Better known as NaNo Wrimo, or National Novel Writing Month. If you are one of the thousands of brave souls that signed up for NaNo Wrimo, I salute you. At the time of this post, we are nearing the end of our month long endeavor, and you might be looking at your manuscript with a kind of vague horror, thinking a bunch of chimps beating on several typewriters could’ve produced something more coherent. You might be thinking you’ll never be an author, much less a person who has produced something people actually want to read. If you are entertaining these thoughts, let me clue you in on a secret. Most, if not all, authors started out exactly where you are now. We all come to the field with very few skills, knowledge, or anything but the desire to write and perhaps get published one day. Want to know what separates a published author from a non-published one? I can sum it up in one simple word.

Persistence.

Yes, talent plays a part. Yes, knowledge and writing skills play a big part. Even luck plays a part. But writing is a craft you must learn, and you can only learn if you keep writing, no matter what. Know that it won’t come immediately, or all at once. Know that if you send your work to publishers, you are going to be rejected, and rejected often. It’s all part of the journey. But, if you keep practicing, if you keep learning and writing and striving to become the best writer you can be, one day there will be a ‘yes.’

It took me ten years to get my first book published, but I don’t regret the journey at all. The journey is what makes it possible to get to that ‘yes, we want to publish your book.’ But you have to keep going. Even if you’ve received a million ‘no’s, that one million and one could be the answer you’re looking for. In the words of Calvin Coolidge:

Nothing in this world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful people with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent. The slogan “press on” has solved and always will solve the problems of the human race.

And, let me add my own words of wisdom, something someone told me long ago, and I believe wholeheartedly. “If you want something bad enough, you’ll get it. If you didn’t get it, you didn’t want it bad enough.”

So what are you waiting for?

--Julie Kagawa
THE IRON KING, Harlequin TEEN Feb. 2010
http://www.juliekagawa.com

Find out more about The Iron King here. Check out an excerpt while you're at it, too; you'll come back asking for moaaarrrr.

Cross-posted at: LiyanaLand! on 24 November 2009.

TENtalizing Tidbits: Happy birthday Julia Kagawa!

Happy birthday Julie!

This post is scheduled for 12 midnight where I am, meaning that it's about noon way over there. Julie's one of my favrit Tenners. She likes books (duh), games, Final Fantasy (!!!) and sushi and it's offspring: sushi cakes.

More importantly, she's the author of The Iron King, scheduled for release on 1st February 2010. Here's the synopsis:

MEGHAN CHASE HAS A SECRET DESTINY— ONE SHE COULD NEVER HAVE IMAGINED…
Something has always felt slightly off in Meghan’s life, ever since her father disappeared before her eyes when she was six. She has never quite fit in at school…or at home. When a dark stranger begins watching her from afar, and her prankster best friend becomes strangely protective of her, Meghan senses that everything she’s known is about to change. But she could never have guessed the truth—that she is the daughter of a mythical faery king and is a pawn in a deadly war. Now Meghan will learn just how far she’ll go to save someone she cares about, to stop a mysterious evil no faery creature dare face…and to find love with a young prince who might rather see her dead than let her touch his icy heart.

You can preorder it here.

She's also the brains behind the Very Faery interviews held on her blog. One of her characters Grimalkin was interviewed on Sharon Loves Books and Cats.

...he probably won't like the fact that I called him one of Julie's characters.

Anyway, have a great and wonderful and very faery birthday Julie!

Cross-posted at: LiyanaLand! on 12 October 2009.