Breathless Reads Week Wrap Up! + Giveaway!

So here's the overview of BR Week...

Interview with Lili Peloquin
Interview with Morgan Rhodes
Interview with Jessica Khoury
Interview with Elizabeth Richards
Interview with Fiona Paul



AN ANNOUNCEMENT ABOUT THE BREATHLESS READS...

I lied. :) And in this case, it's a good thing. So over the course of Breathless Reads week, I managed to reach...500 followers! I can not thank you guys enough for helping me reach this goal! I seem to have gone alooongggg way from when I first started. THANK YOU GUYS!!



                     

<center> <a href="http://fiction-freak.blogspot.com" target="_blank"><img alt="500 Giveaway" src="http://i1156.photobucket.com/albums/p566/Nikki_Wang/dadsffgh.jpg" /></a></center>

And because you guys are so awesome...GIVEAWAY TIME!!! Since I'm not a fan of two giveaways ending at once, this one is going to last until I reach either 750 or 800 followers! Yes. I'm very...ambitious LOL

What's Up for Grabs
One book from the list below!

RULES

• As much as I want to gift my INT followers, this giveaway is for US only! However, my Fall Into Summer giveaway is INT and still going strong so feel free to enter that!
• You MUST choose a book from the list! Preferrably a Breathless Reads, but if not, then feel free to choose another on the list! (But let me say, the Breathless Reads are amazing and stunning...and...and... I LOVE THEM!)
• 13 or older or you must have your parent's permission
• Any lost or damaged items are not my fault!
• False entries will be deleted
• One set of entries per household
• You can choose another book in the series IF it is released!

THE LIST (Dun Dun Dun...)

OMG. Isn't that a LOAD of awesomeness? They're all either favorites of mine or books I can't wait for! Not too many fall releases, because you can totally win that *points* in my Fall Into Summer giveaway!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Breathless Reads Week: Fiona Paul

Last, but definitely not least, Fiona Paul, the author of the stunning debut Venom, a historical romance filled with courtesans, murders, and illicit meetings, answers a few questions to end off Breathless Reads Week! (check out my review of Venom here)

Fiction Freak: What inspired Venom?

Fiona Paul: VENOM was inspired by a recent trip to Venice, my obsession with art history, and a collaboration session with an online writing instructor who was starting a book development company and wanted to work with a fun, sexy, historical manuscript. My previous writing was all about the fun and sexy and less so about the historical, so it felt like a challenge. I like a challenge!

FF: What was your reaction when you found out that Venom was in the Breathless Reads?

FP: Honestly? It was: What does that mean? Followed by: What's a slipcase? (Did you hear that? It was the sound of my Penguin publicist facepalming.) I knew it was best not to ask busy, high-powered publishing types these questions before doing a little research on my own, so I went a-googling and was really ecstatic when I saw the awesomeness of former Breathless Readsers. I felt really honored (and a little terrified) to be part of such an elite group. Then the lovely Jess Spotswood emailed me to offer her services if I had questions, even simple stuff like what to wear on tour and I was like: Tour?!?! I hope there IS a tour, because Jessica, Liz, Lili and Morgan/Michelle seem like LOADS of fun.

FF: Since Venom has been dubbed Breathless Romance...what do you think could be the most romantic thing in Venom?

FP: I actually wanted VENOM to be dubbed Breathless Bloody Corpses (publicist facepalms again) but, you know, Breathless Romance is cool too :) The most romantic thing in VENOM, is, for me, the gradual simmer to a boil of Cass and Falco's relationship. Kissing is great, but I'm a fan of the subtle--the exchange of a glance, teasing banter, a casual touch that may or may not mean more.

FF: What part of Venom was your favorite to write?

FP: My favorite part to write was Cass and Falco's dialogue. So much underlying emotion hidden beneath their casual exchanges. I even went to the oldest graveyard I could find, after dark, to get the ambience for their late-night meetings just right.

FF: What has been your favorite experience in writing? What has been your worst?

FP: Let's do worst first. I graduated from college when I was 22 and immediately applied to several prestigious MFA programs. All of them denied me. I was devastated. I couldn't see past the "Unfortunately we are not able to offer you a spot in our program" to the "Your work shows a high degree of promise...The average age of our students is 29...We hope you reapply in the future..." I quit writing for several years. I am getting watery-eyed just thinking about it :( Don't be stupid like me. A rejection with ANY TINY CRUMB of encouragement is not a rejection. It is a gold-freaking-star that says you are one step closer.

The best: With one agent full request and rejection on MS #1 under my belt, I took MS #2 to a conference in Oregon a couple of years ago, thinking my writing was getting good, but not quite there yet. Part of the conference involved first-page critiques read aloud and critiqued by a panel of industry professionals, including an agent from my dream agency. They read my page. The room went silent. I tried not to faint. Then everyone (I swear this is true) started clapping! The panel complimented my writing while I continued trying not to faint. Hellooo rock star moment! Then the agent said "This person should query me." She is now my agent. (Love you Jenn!) The non-Hollywood reality: It took me a year and two manuscripts before she offered representation.

FF: Just asking...Falco or Luca? (I’m Falco, by the way!)

FP: I actually kind of have a crush on Maximus, the conjurer. I've always had a thing for magicians. When I was little I used to daydream about growing up and becoming a magician's assistant. Oh the mystery, the magic, the glamorous costumes!

FF: What are 7 words you'd use to describe Venom?

FP: Creepy, sexy, dark, tempting, lush, forbidden, malevolent. (Ooh. I like the word malevolent a lot. Must use more often.)

FF: What has been your favorite debut of 2012? Why was it your favorite?

FP: For realz? You expect me to single out just ONE fabulous Apocalypsie?? Um, those are my PEEPS and all of their books are my favorite. Okay, so I haven't read all of their books yet *shame* but just a few off the top of my head that rocked my socks off would be: CINDER by Marissa Meyer and BORN WICKED by Jessica Spotswood for the sheer fun-factor and WHAT'S LEFT OF ME by Kat Zhang because it made me think, in a good way.

FF: Who was your least favorite character? Besides our evil guy, of course.

FP:I actually like villains, especially if they have a reason for why they're bad and it's not just all "muhahahaha I have stolen the magical talisman and I will now plunge the world into eternal darkness just because." I'm gonna go with Donna Domacetti. I find her interesting because we don't really know where her loyalties lie, but she's also a troublemaker and a mean gossip and talking trash isn't cool, no matter where or when you live.

FF: Any last words to say to bloggers/readers/aspiring authors?

FP: Bloggers: Thanks for blogging. There are lots of fun things you could be doing, and if you take the time to blog about how you liked or hated VENOM, well, at least I know you felt something, and that's a good thing.

Readers: OMG I am so excited both about the next 2 Secrets of the Eternal Rose books and some straight contemporary and mystery stuff that is just now making its way into the slow-slow publishing pipeline. I've got ideas in pretty much every genre so keep an eye out for more from me :)

Future Authors: Don't be a quitter like me, but be patient and don't forget to live. The superstars who get huge book deals when they are teens are anomalies. Plenty of people spend 10 or more years writing before they find publication. There's nothing wrong with being 30 (or 60!) when you get your deal. It will happen when you're ready. All you have to do is keep reading and writing and believing in yourself.

Short Author Bio

 Fiona Paul lives in St. Louis, MO where she's managed to persuade prestigious universities to award her degrees in psychology and nursing. Between her studies, she traveled around five continents and spent time living in Thailand and South Korea (which is probably why she finds the idea of wearing shoes in the house a little weird.)

In addition to writing, Fiona is somewhat obsessive about coffee, music, and adventure sports. Her future goals include swimming with great white sharks and writing a whole truckload of novels, not necessarily in that order.

She also writes contemporary YA under the name Paula Stokes.

Venom Blurb

Contact Info
Fiona Paul's Website
Fiona Paul's Blog
Fiona Paul's Twitter
Fiona Paul's Facebook

Cassandra Caravello is one of Renaissance Venice’s lucky elite: with elegant gowns, sparkling jewels, her own lady’s maid, and a wealthy fiancé, she has everything a girl could desire. Yet ever since her parents’ death, Cassandra has felt trapped, alone in a city of water, where the dark and labyrinthine canals whisper of escape.

When Cass stumbles upon a murdered woman—practically in her own backyard—she’s drawn into a dangerous world of courtesans, killers, and secret societies. Soon, she finds herself falling for Falco, a mysterious artist with a mischievous grin... and a spectacular skill for trouble. Can Cassandra find the murderer, before he finds her? And will she stay true to her fiancé, or succumb to her uncontrollable feelings for Falco?

Beauty, love, romance, and mystery weave together in a stunning novel that’s as seductive and surprising as the city of Venice itself.

Breathless Reads Week: Elizabeth Richards

Breathless Reads Week is almost over, but I’ve got two more interviews for you guys! Today is Elizabeth Richards, author of Black City, an amazing Darkling (vamps!) Dystopian story! (You can find my review here)

Fiction Freak: The oh-so original question- what inspired Black City?

Elizabeth Richards: It all began with Ash. I was watching a movie called Charlie Bartlett and while watching that film the character of Ash just popped into my head. I couldn’t get him out of my mind, and I spent the entire movie just daydreaming about this supernatural, drug-dealing boy who gets a heartbeat when he meets his soul mate – who just happens to be a human. Immediately after I watched that movie, I wrote a scene between Ash and his friend Beetle. It never made the final cut of the book, but it all started with that kernel of an idea.

ER: I was both overjoyed and completely stunned – I literally had to pinch myself to make sure I wasn’t dreaming. It’s such an honor to be selected as a Breathless Read and I’m incredibly grateful to be given such an amazing opportunity.  I can’t wait to go on tour and meet the readers!

                                                                                                    FF: What's your funniest moment, the one that makes you laugh every time you think about it?
ER: Hee hee. Sorry, but that story is way too rude to recount.

FF: There have been a sudden onslaught of Vampire Dystopian books this year. How is yours different?

ER: I think Black City stands out because it isn’t really about ‘vampires’ in the traditional sense. In my novel the supernatural creatures are called Darklings and they’re a race in their own right – they’re not humans that have been sired. Also, in Black City, humans are the bad guys and the Darklings are the good guys. They’ve been forced to live in walled ghettos by the tyrant Purian Rose and the book is about their struggle to be liberated. Black City deals with some serious issues, but it’s all wrapped up in a passionate romance with plenty of conspiracy and intrigue, so all of that combined makes Black City stand out.

FF: Since not many have read Black City, care to give us a hint of what's to come?

ER: I can do one better! Since Black City was selected as a Breathless Read, Penguin put together a sampler of all the Breathless Reads books, so you can read a few chapters of Black City here: https://www.facebook.com/breathlessreads/app_190322544333196

FF: Your cover is definitely a change from the regular girl on cover and I love that, but what is ONE thing you would change about it?

ER: Honestly, I wouldn’t change a single thing about the cover. I absolutely love it. The shattering rose, the cityscape, the colors – it’s utterly perfect! Putnam’s art department really know their stuff, and I was so pleased to have a cover without the traditional ‘girl in a ball gown’ on it – not that there’s anything wrong with them, because I think those covers are beautiful too – but I’m really pleased to have something individual and unique.

FF: Let's split this: A good blood sucking vampire book or a creepy, controlling dystopia?

ER:Creepy, controlling dystopia. While there is clearly a supernatural element to the book, at its core it’s a dystopian novel and that’s certainly how I’d categorize it, rather than vampire fiction.

FF: What do you think is the best thing about Black City?

ER: Ash! I love him as a character. He’s a very complex person – he has darkness in him, he’s broken, but underneath it all is a brave, heroic boy ready to die for what’s right. 

FF: Do you think you can relate to a character in any YA book? If so who and why

ER: I think, like a lot of girls, I can relate to Katniss Everdeen in The Hunger Games. She’s quite standoffish, unimpressed with material things and ambitious, but also fiercely protective of her family / friends and those are all qualities I see in myself.

FF: What do you think you're going to do when Black City is finally in the wild?

ER: I’m intending to have a party with my family and close friends to celebrate my Book Birthday, because I want to thank them all for their love and support over the years. Then I’ll probably just go *SQUEEEEEEE*, bask in the glow of having my book out in the world, then crack on with book #3. 

FF: Anything left to say to readers/aspiring writers/bloggers?

ER: If you’re an aspiring writer / blogger, my best piece of advice is to have a clear vision about what it is you’re trying to achieve. For example, if you love reading YA vampire fiction then that’s what you should write / blog about, because your passion, knowledge and enthusiasm for the subject matter will shine through in your work and make you successful.

Short Author Bio

Elizabeth Richards is an award-winning journalist, who spent her early career reviewing videogames before making the bold (or crazy) move into travel writing, despite suffering from terrible travel sickness.

In her spare time, she ran a successful lifestyle website aimed at teenage girls, where she got to interview many of her favourite bands, go to gigs and basically blag loads of free swag all in the name of ‘research’.

Elizabeth lives in Buckinghamshire, England, with her husband. Black City is her debut novel.

Fun facts

·    She's an identical twin. (No, they don’t have psychic powers, and yes she is the evil one.)

·    She's a little bit in love with Daniel Radcliffe.

·    Her favourite book of all time is Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince.

·    Her second favourite book is Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix.

·    Her third favourite is Harry…oh, you get the idea.

·    Her ambition is to see 10 volcanoes before she dies. She's already seen Stromboli, Vesuvius and Mt Etna. Just 7 more to go!

Black City Blurb

A dark and tender post-apocalyptic love story set in the aftermath of a bloody war. In a city where humans and Darklings are now separated by a high wall and tensions between the two races still simmer after a terrible war, sixteen-year-olds Ash Fisher, a half-blood Darkling, and Natalie Buchanan, a human and the daughter of the Emissary, meet and do the unthinkable--they fall in love. Bonded by a mysterious connection that causes Ash's long-dormant heart to beat, Ash and Natalie first deny and then struggle to fight their forbidden feelings for each other, knowing if they're caught, they'll be executed--but their feelings are too strong. When Ash and Natalie then find themselves at the center of a deadly conspiracy that threatens to pull the humans and Darklings back into war, they must make hard choices that could result in both their deaths.

Contact Info

Elizabeth Richards's Website
Elizabeth Richards's Goodreads

Elizabeth Ricahrds's Blog

Elizabeth Ricahrds's Twitter

Elizabeth Ricahrds's Facebook

Breathless Reads Week: Jessica Khoury

Today, Jessica Khoury has answered a few questions! Jess is the author of Origin, which is a sci-fi/romance mix that sounds amazing!

Fiction Freak: You can never avoid this question--what inspired Origin?

Jessica Khoury: One day last summer, I was in the middle of querying a high fantasy I'd been working on for four years. It was going okay, but not great, and I went for a walk to think about what to do if it didn't sell. I realized I'd never really written anything besides high fantasy, and it dawned on me Hey, I can totally write in another genre...Which was kind of eye-opening. It was something I'd never even considered before. So I kept walking, and then BAM. The idea for Origin smacked me in the face. It started with an image of a crying girl trapped by glass walls in a jungle, and I asked Why is she crying? One question led to another, and I ran back home and wrote the first chapter and the outline for the rest of the book.

FF: What's your funniest moment?

JK:I really struggled with some of the romance scenes. I'd get halfway through one and just bust out laughing because it was so cheesy. Then I'd erase it all and start over. That part wasn't funny at all.

FF: Reactions. What was your reaction when you found out Razorbill was publishing Origin? What was your reaction when Origin became a Breathless Reads?

JK:This.

Seriously, though. First, when I found out Razorbill had offered for Origin, I was in the middle of an eye exam. My optometrist sat patiently by while I hyperventilated, cried, and squealed. Then I had to sit in the waiting room for the longest fifteen minutes of my life waiting for my eyes to finish dilating, trying not to flail with happiness. Then I drove like a maniac across town to my husband's office and proceeded to jump up and down as I screamed the news at him. When I found out I was part of the 2012 Breathless Reads, I nearly went into cardiogenic shock. I'd just been to one of the 2011 BR tour stops and met Marie Lu, Beth Revis, Andrea Cremer, and Jessica Spotswood, and totally fangirled all over them, so it was incredibly exciting to hear I'd be part of the next BR group. Also, I wondered if maybe they'd made a mistake and picked the wrong book, because c'mon--me? On Breathless Reads??--but if so, I guess no has noticed yet. Which is cool by me. =)

FF: Have you ever visited the Amazon? If so, how much fun was it? If not, do you want to?

JK:I haven't--which meant I had to do TONS of research for Origin. And I'd love love LOVE to go! It's definitely on my radar!

FF: When did you decide to write and why?

JK:When I was four. I read the book Danny and the Dinosaur by Syd Hoff and was so overwhelmed by its awesomeness I knew it had to have a sequel, and decided I was the perfect one to write it. Needless to say, Danny and the Building Blocks by Jessica Khoury was never published... but yes. My writing career started with four-year-old fan fiction.

FF: What's your favorite part of being an author?

JK:EVERYTHING. But okay, if I had to pick one thing, I think my favorite part is that I get to what I love, simple as that. Is there a better life than getting to tell someone a story they've never heard before, possibly capturing their imagination for a little while, maybe even changing the way they see the world? I submit there is not. =)

FF: What was the most fun part to write in Origin?

JK:The animals! I luuuurve animals. Zoos are my absolute most favorite places on the planet. In Origin, I got to put in all kinds of cool, exotic animals. Pia even has a pet jaguar. I'm so jealous of her, Nikki, you don't even know.

FF: Can you describe Origin in 7 words or less?

JK: SEVEN WORDS?? Okay, you asked for it: Girl. Jungle. Laboratory. Secrets. Boy. Escape. Danger.  

FF: What are you reading now? What do you think of it so far?

JK:Right now I'm in the middle of writing my next book, and I have a strict no-reading-while-drafting policy (but sometimes when I am away from my computer and can't write, I sneak a few pages from A Feast for Crows. I confess, I'm skipping most of the chapters, because I don't like many of the characters in this installment [Sorry, George] and I really just want to get to A Dance with Dragons.)

FF: Which character can you identify with (in Origin or any other book)

JK:The literary character with whom I've always most identified is Jo March from Little Women, which is predictable, I know. But hey. She's this struggling young writer often defined by her hair, she has three sisters, and she marries a guy older than she is and wants to raise a bunch of boys--I'm so there. High five, Jo!

FF: Anything you want to say to readers/bloggers/aspiring writers?

JK:Yes: First of all, did you know that pineapples grow out of the ground and not on trees? Because I totally didn't know that until recently and it kind of changed EVERYTHING about how I see the world. Secondly, you guys are awesome! I know this because you're here reading this interview from some babbling debut author when you could be watching reruns of MacGyver or climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro, and I respect that. You rock. Keep it up. Now go read lots of books!

Short Author Bio

Jessica Khoury is 22 years old and was born and raised in Georgia. She attended public school followed by homeschooling, and earned her bachelor's degree in English from Toccoa Falls College. She lives in Toccoa, Georgia with her husband Benjamin, two terrible dogs, and an abundance of books, shoes, and sweet tea. When not writing, she's usually directing stageplays or coaching soccer. Origin is her first novel.

Origin Blurb

Pia has grown up in a secret laboratory hidden deep in the Amazon rain forest. She was raised by a team of scientists who have created her to be the start of a new immortal race. But on the night of her seventeenth birthday, Pia discovers a hole in the electric fence that surrounds her sterile home—and sneaks outside the compound for the first time in her life.

Free in the jungle, Pia meets Eio, a boy from a nearby village. Together, they embark on a race against time to discover the truth about Pia’s origin—a truth with deadly consequences that will change their lives forever.

Contact Info

Jessica Khoury's Goodreads

Jessica Khoury's Blog

Jessica Khoury's Website

Jessica Khoury's Twitter

Jessica Khoury's Facebook

Breathless Reads Week: Morgan Rhodes

Next up? Morgan Rhodes, author of Falling Kingdoms, a high fantasy told from the views of four very different people during a time when no one knows where to look next or who to trust.

Fiction Freak: You've probably answered this a thousand times but...What inspired Falling Kingdoms?

Morgan Rhodes: As someone who's loved movies and books with swords and sorcery, princes and princesses since I was just a kid, I've always wanted to get the chance to write high fantasy -- especially high fantasy for teens --  and feel very lucky to work on this series, which is a fabulous creative collaboration with Razorbill. It's been so much fun to stretch my imagination in these new and exciting directions!

FF: What's your funniest moment?

MR: I'm fairly horrible about remembering faces and names, so sometimes I'll try to be really friendly to someone I actually don't know because I think I DO know them. I don't find this very funny, but my friends seem to think it's hilarious.

FF: How did you feel when you sold your first book? When Falling Kingdoms got in the Breathless Reads?

MR: 1) I sold my first book in late 2004 and -- well, I felt rather overwhelmed and terrified, actually! LOL! It happened really fast from the point I got an agent, so I think I was kind of unprepared for the next step! Happily, I have since recovered and written over twenty books under my other pen name. 2) When Falling Kingdoms was selected to be a part of Breathless Reads I was elated, of course. It's a huge honor and incredibly exciting!

FF: Which of your books was the most fun to write?

MR: I have a lot of fun writing ALL of my books (although they're a lot of work, too!) no matter what genre they're in. I can't pick only one! Sometimes when I get overwhelmed or bogged down with plot, frustrating characters, deadlines, etc., I remind myself to have fun with it. Even my most serious novel is meant to be entertaining, so if I'm not having fun I can't expect the reader to!

FF: Think you can describe your writing process in 10 words or less? :D

MR: Write it fast, then take time to make it better. :)

FF: Do you have a favorite character in Falling Kingdoms? If so, why that character?

MR: There are four main characters in FK that we get to follow and I love them all. If there's one who pulls out just a bit ahead, it's Prince Magnus since he's so complicated and tortured and his scenes are truly a delight to write.

FF: What has been the best part of being a Breathless Reads author? Any new experiences yet?

MR: We're still very early in the game since none of the books have been released yet, and it's still several months till Falling Kingdoms hits the shelves, but being a part of Breathless Reads has been a fabulous opportunity to get more exposure and early word-of-mouth for the book.

FF: Falling Kingdoms is called "Breathless Rebellion" so what is the most rebellious thing you've done?

MR: I'm not that rebellious, I'm afraid! I suppose quitting a perfectly good day job (I was a graphic designer) four years ago to become a full-time writer was pretty rebellious! Also, I once died my hair dark red, but that was a biiiig mistake.

FF: Is it different writing High Fantasy instead of Paranormal? If so, how?

MR: Very much so. High Fantasy tends to have a medieval flavor, so I had to do historical research. Since it IS fantasy and set in a "different world" I am able to take some liberties with my world-building, but it still needs to feel authentic, so this can be a fun challenge. Also, I am unable to rely on modern slang or cultural references, which I use rather frequently in my modern-day paranormals. Both genres are major fun to write, but with high fantasy I need to be a bit more conscious about what's going on the page and how my characters would think and act, and how they're different from "modern" teens -- but also how they're exactly the same! It's a fine balance.

FF: Any words to say to readers/bloggers/aspiring writers?

MR: Just that I absolutely adore the YA online community that's developed over the last few years -- anyone who's passionate about books and reading (and writing) is AWESOME. I really hope you enjoy Falling Kingdoms and the rest of Penguin's Breathless Reads!

Short Author Bio

Morgan Rhodes lives in Ontario, Canada. As a child, she always wanted to be a princess -- the kind that knows how to wield a sharp sword to help save both kingdoms and princes from fire-breathing dragons and dark wizards. Instead, she became a writer, which is just as good and much less dangerous. Along with writing, Morgan enjoys photography, travel, reality TV, and is an extremely picky, yet voracious reader of all kinds of books. Under another pen name, she’s a national bestselling author of many paranormal novels. Falling Kingdoms is her first high fantasy.

Falling Kingdoms Blurb

In a land where magic has been forgotten but peace has reigned for centuries, a deadly unrest is simmering. Three kingdoms grapple for power—brutally transforming their subjects’ lives in the process. Amidst betrayals, bargains, and battles, four young people find their fates forever intertwined:
Cleo: A princess raised in luxury must embark on a rough and treacherous journey into enemy territory in search of a magic long thought extinct.
Jonas: Enraged at injustice, a rebel lashes out against the forces of oppression that have kept his country impoverished—and finds himself the leader of a people’s revolution centuries in the making.
Lucia: A girl adopted at birth into a royal family discovers the truth about her past—and the supernatural legacy she is destined to wield.
Magnus: Bred for aggression and trained to conquer, a firstborn son begins to realize that the heart can be more lethal than the sword...
The only outcome that’s certain is that kingdoms will fall. Who will emerge triumphant when all they know has collapsed?

Contact Info

Morgan Rhodes's Facebook

Morgna Rhodes's Twitter

Morgan Rhodes's Goodreads