Mar 7, 2012

Q & A with Julie Kagawa + The Immortal Rules Giveaway!


Check out a fantastic A Q&A with New York TimesBest Selling Author Julie Kagawa! Here on Seeing Night Reviews!

After writing the Iron Fey series for so many years, how difficult was it to immerse yourself in a futuristic world filled with vampires, rabids and an enslaved human race?

It was...very different.  I think the hardest thing for me was the fact that this story does take place in the real world -- a futuristic, vampire-infested world, but the real world nonetheless.  Things had to make sense, for example: how far can a large group walk in a single day if there were no roads, they were going through thick woods, and there were children in the group?  I had to have logical reasons for everything; I couldn't just make something work "because of faery magic," lol.

Just like Meghan Chase in the Iron Fey series, the main character in The Immortal Rules, Allison Sekemoto, is a “take charge and kick butt” kind of girl.  Is this intentional? What woman – real or fictional, alive or deceased – do you look up to or admire?

Yes, Allison comes from a very different world than Meghan Chase.  Meghan's upbringing was pretty normal; Allison grew up among vampires and monsters, where every day was a fight to live, so she couldn't afford to be weak.  While Meghan had to learn to "take charge and kick butt," Allison's first impulse is stab first, talk later.

As for female role models, the first that comes to mind--when it comes to kicking vampire butt, anyway -- is Buffy Summers.  Thank you, Joss Whedon, for making me love feisty, snarky, heroines who can dust all sorts of nasties but who also look good in a cheerleading outfit. ;)

You mention in your acknowledgements in The Immortal Rules that at the beginning of your writing career you promised yourself you wouldn’t write a vampire book.  What changed your mind?

Well, there were already so many really good books about our favorite bloodsuckers, so many stories and ideas, I thought I didn't have anything new to add to the masses.  I was actually toying with a post-apocalyptic YA novel when my agent mentioned I might want to try writing a vampire series.  I wasn't intrigued with the idea at first, but then I thought about combining vampires with the post-apocalyptic novel and then rest sort of fell into place.

Allison claims she hates vampires and believes they are monsters yet when faced with a choice of die or become one, she becomes a vampire.  Would you have made that same decision?

Me personally?  No.  I'm like Zeke in the belief that there is something better waiting for me beyond this life, and I just have to do my best until it’s time for me to go.  Besides, I love pizza and Mountain Dew too much to give it up.

Who do you think the most complex character is in The Immortal Rules?

Probably Kanin, Allie's sire.  He's a vampire who has made his peace about being a monster, yet chooses to live by his own set of moral rules.  He warns Allison about getting too close to humans, yet he does not kill unless he absolutely has to.  He is tormented about something in his past that he refuses to share with anyone.  He is certainly the most mysterious of all the characters, if not the most complex.

How many books will be in the Blood of Eden series?  When will the next book be coming out?

At the moment, there are three books planned, with the second coming out sometime next spring, after the release of the new Iron Fey series this fall.

Before you starting writing full time you were a professional dog trainer.  Do the professions share any similarities?

Lol, well you have to think on your feet a lot.  And some of the small dogs could be compared to tiny snapping goblins, but writing requires less dodging skills, though perhaps the same amount of creativity and problem solving.

When starting a new series, like Blood of Eden, do you have the entire series mapped out in detail or do you let the story develop book by book?

I have a high point that I write toward in each story; I know this and this has to happen, but getting from point A to point B usually develops as I go along.

And for the speed round:
What book have you read and re-read, and read yet again?

Any of the Harry Potter books.

Favorite song to play when writing a fight scene?

My "favorites" change daily.  Right now its "Awake and Alive" by Skillet.

Worst job?

Working a kiosk in the mall during Christmas.  It sold glass figurines, and the maneuvering space around the hundreds of very breakable merchandise was quite small.  I was like a bull in a china shop.

Best vacation spot?

Walt Disney World

Sweets or salty?

Sweet.

One thing most people don’t know about you – and would never guess!

I used to play the flute when I was a kid.  I was really good at it too, but my instructor stopped teaching to have a family, and I never went back to it.

You can preoder your copy of The Immortal Rules today!
 USA/Canada Only
Get additional points if you follow Julie and Harlequin
Winner will recieved book after the publication date 4/24
a Rafflecopter giveaway

34 comments:

  1. I just read an arc of this book and it was fantastic!

    -Patricia

    ReplyDelete
  2. I'm excited. I've been hearing a lot of good things about Julia's books.

    ReplyDelete
  3. I am really really really excited to see Julie's spin on vampires!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Can't wait to check out this new series by Julie Kagawa. I loved the Iron Fey series so I'm sure this will be just as good!

    ReplyDelete
  5. I'm super excited! I've heard that it's fantastic from those lucky enough to get an arc copy. I loved the Iron Fey series so I'm really looking forward to it.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Whatever is beyond excited, that is what I am! Can't wait for this book to come out!

    ReplyDelete
  7. I'm very excited to read The Immortal Rules, it sounds like such a fascinating world. Can't wait!

    ReplyDelete
  8. I love love Julie's Iron Fey series. And when I learned that she's writing a new book (immortal rules), I was very excited! From feys to vampires!

    ReplyDelete
  9. I'm extremely excited. Any book by the author that wrote the wonderful series the Iron Fey has to be good. :D I can't wait!

    ReplyDelete
  10. Sounds like a great new book. Cant wait to read it.

    ReplyDelete
  11. I'm very excited about this book....very very excited.

    ReplyDelete
  12. I am so excited! Especially because it's hardcover!

    ReplyDelete
  13. I'm really excited to read something different from Julie Kagawa. I loved the Iron Fey and I can't even image where she is going to go with vamps. I did not know she was a dog trainer before becoming a writer, that is interesting.

    ReplyDelete
  14. I started reading The Iron Fey way late (I read all four books last month), but I just loved Kagawa's writing style, and I can't wait to see what she will do with a different setting!:)

    ReplyDelete
  15. I can't wait to read this. I really liked her fey series, and I'm excited for something new from her. And I LOVE that cover! Thanks for the chance to win!

    ReplyDelete
  16. Julie Kagawa can do no wrong in my book so I absolutely HAVE to read this new series!! I really, really want to thank you for the chance to win a copy of the first installment :)

    ReplyDelete
  17. I would love to read this. Thanks for the giveaway.

    I would love to go to Walt Disney World on vacation! I think that would really be the best vacation spot ever.

    ReplyDelete
  18. I would love to read this. Thanks for the giveaway.

    I would love to go to Walt Disney World on vacation! I think that would really be the best vacation spot ever.

    ReplyDelete
  19. i really want to read this book. i loved the iron fey series....

    ReplyDelete
  20. This book looks AMAZING!! Thanks so much for the giveaway and great interview :)

    ReplyDelete
  21. Looks like my sorta book!! :) Hope I win!! :)

    ReplyDelete
  22. This book sounds soooo good! Can't wait to read it.

    ReplyDelete
  23. I'm very excited for Julie's new series. I think it sounds great. I absolutely loved the Iron Fey series. She is wonderful and I'd probably try ever thing she writes =)
    Tanyaw1224

    ReplyDelete
  24. Im really looking forward to this book thank you for the great giveaway!

    ReplyDelete
  25. I'm addicted to everything Julie publishes. Cannot wait for this book!

    ReplyDelete
  26. I love everything by Julie Kagawa! How can you not!? Excited since it'll be quite a change from the fae I'm used to from J.K.

    ReplyDelete
  27. Great interview! It's always interesting to get a little insight from authors, plus speed rounds are so much fun. Sounds like an awesome book. Definitely putting it on my TBR list.
    Julie
    riveroftimefan(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  28. I just got approved on netgalley, and I can't wait to read it! Great interview and thanks for the chance to win!

    ReplyDelete
  29. Great interview!! I have been hearing so many great things about this book I can't wait to get it!

    ReplyDelete
  30. I'm really interested in reading this book I've read good things. Allison sounds like a cool chick, I want to be her friend.

    Jellybellys78

    ReplyDelete
  31. Great interview! How excited am I for this book? I've wanted to read this ever since I bought Iron Knight! Thanks for the giveaway!

    ReplyDelete
  32. I am hesitating to read this... I don't know if it will be as good as the Iron Fey series....

    But i definitely will try it one day.

    ReplyDelete
  33. I am very interested in reading this series. I love the whole premise. I have not yet read this authors work, but have heard so many good things about the fey series that I think this one has great potential. Thank you for sharing and for the lovely giveaway opportunity.

    ReplyDelete