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Monday, December 26, 2011

A Christmas With… Kersten Hamilton

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In the Forests of the Night is the second book in the Goblin Wars series and released just last month. To celebrate the occasion Kersten accepted to stop by for a very touching interview. Please welcome her warmly =)

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1- In the Forest of the Night is your second YA book, how was the transition from writing to a younger audience?

Story is the heart of fiction, and readers of all ages crave it. A good picture book, one with story, can usually be turned into a good novel. Tyger, Tyger, the first book in the Goblin Wars series is proof of that—it started out as a picture book!

Writing picture books is hard because you must work with pure distilled essence of story. There is no Tyger Tyger coverroom for error or extra words. It is so hard, in fact, that when I manage to write a good picture book, I put on my YA novelist hat and send my picture book self a box of truffles.

Even when I wrote Tyger Tyger as a picture book, I knew I wanted to expand it. I had to wait until my own children were grown and out of the house before I could settle into it, though. When I am writing, I am very, very focused, to the point that the rest of the world becomes a shadow land. While my children were at home I limited myself to writing picture books and MG novels. Even so, the children only survived because they learned to call out for pizza at a very early age.

Writing picture books is fun because it is such a challenge. Writing MG novels is fun because you get to step into the world of a ten or twelve year old, and enjoy the newness of the world all over again. I really enjoy writing YA because I can go wild with themes and thoughts. I love them all!

2- Tea finds herself between a rock and a hard place in this second installment, how will she manage to get the upper hand?

Now, Tynga. I can’t tell you how or even if she’ll get the upper hand or what it would look like if she did. It is an Irish story after all, and you know how they can be. I can say that readers will be surprised. Several times.

3- How many books can we expect in the Goblin Wars series? Do you have some exclusive tidbits to share with us?

I’m not sure yet – at least three, but maybe more. The only tidbit I can share is that if you loved Tyger Tyger you will LOVE the next book….

Now onto some Xmas-y questions:

5- What's a typical Christmas like in the Hamilton family?

The whole Christmas season is fun. When my kids were little, we like picking out presents from the Angel tree – that is usually presents for children of men or women who are in prison, that are then sent from their parents. I like that idea a lot better than Santa Claus. I had real problems with that jolly old elf when I was a child—he never brought me anything. We always had a Christmas tree with ornaments from every Christmas we had been together; candlelight Christmas Eve service with carols; and stockings and presents at about nine o’clock on Christmas morning. Yes, you read that right. My children were all night owls, and even on Christmas I had a hard time getting them out of bed before nine! Now–a–days, I am just as happy to be traveling at Christmas as staying home.

6- How is it different from when you were a kid?

HighRollsVery, very different. When I was a child we were very, very poor. I remember spending one Christmas in a basement because we were homeless. We did have carols and fun, but we almost never had presents, unless a charity sent over a box—and let me tell you, people put the weirdest things in those boxes. One Christmas I got a red striped shirt that was two sizes to large, and a choke collar for a dog. Which might have been useful…if I’d had a dog.  And that was my problem with Santa Claus. It is very rough on a little kid to go to school after Christmas and be asked “What did Santa bring you?” Because he usually didn’t bring us anything, and everyone knew that Santa brings presents to good little children. Which meant…I wasn’t good and I had to stand up in front of class and admit it. My family wasn’t good because we were poor.  Needless to say, I never told my children that Santa Claus brought gifts.

7- What's Christmas like in Mag Mell?

Mag Mell is a bit like Narnia before Aslan returned. In Narnia it was always winter and never Christmas; in Mag Mell it is always summer, but the result is the same.

8- What could we offer Tea for Christmas?

A magic box to keep precious things in—a box that couldn’t be broken or stolen away by goblins.

Thank you for having me on your blog, Tynga. And Merry Christmas!

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If it got you curious, here’s a bit more about In the Forests of the Night

In the Forests of the Night (Goblin Wars, #2)The battle against goblinkind continues . . . but which side will Teagan be on?

Teagan, Finn, and Aiden have made it out of Mag Mell alive, but the Dark Man’s forces are hot on their heels. Back in Chicago, Tea’s goblin cousins show up at her school, sure she will come back to Mag Mell, as goblin blood is never passive once awoken. Soon she will belong to Fear Doirich and join them. In the meantime, they are happy to entertain themselves by trying to seduce, kidnap, or kill Tea’s family and friends. Tea knows she doesn’t have much time left, and she refuses to leave Finn or her family to be tortured and killed. A wild Stormrider, born to rule and reign, is growing stronger inside her. But as long as she can hold on, she’s still Teagan Wylltson, who plans to be a veterinarian and who heals the sick and hurting. The disease that’s destroying her—that’s destroying them all—has a name: Fear Doirich. And Teagan Wylltson is not going to let him win.

Purchase: Amazon | Book Depository

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Kersten would like to offer one of you a paperback copy of Tyger Tyger!

Open Internationally

Giveaway Ends January 4th, 2012.

All you have to do is fill the Rafflecopter form below.

The only mandatory entry is to provide your name and email addy =)



a Rafflecopter giveaway

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You can visit Kersten here.

More of Kersten Hamilton‘s books:

Tyger Tyger (Goblin Wars, #1)Violet's Turning Point, Book 3...Laylie's Daring QuestLaylie's Daring QuestA Life of Faith CollectionA Freaky Kind of CourageCaleb, Son of NoneThe Battle of Trickum CountyA Gathering of Brothers

Red TruckPolice Officers on PatrolFirefighters to the RescueThis Is the Ocean

 

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Tynga is a 32 years old mom of two, from Montreal, working as a lab technician in an hospital specialized in heart disease. In her free time, she enjoys reading all things Paranormal and photography.

Follow Tynga on: Facebook | Twitter

38 People left their mark' :

  1. This sounds so interesting, it has been in my wishlist for what it seems like forever. I hope you had a Merry Christmas, Kersten, with your family and friends. ;)


    I dislike Rafflecopter. It doesn't let me enter the way I follow (GFC, as p7, but I entered the giveaway in Rafflecopter as "Catarina R.").

    ReplyDelete
  2. I hope you had a happy and relaxing Christmas day.

    Thank you for the giveaway.

    Please enter mne.

    I Follow via GFC = buddyt

    Carol T

    buddytho{at} gmail DOT com

    ReplyDelete
  3. Thanks you so much for this giveaway and for opening it worldwide i really appreciate. i hope your Christmas day was wonderful and may New year be even better

    all the best

    gfc follower: isabelle frisch or miki

    thanks for entereing me

    isabelle(dot)frisch(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  4. I cannot wait until the third book releases! Hope you had a wonderful holiday =)

    I follow on GFC and feedburner.

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  5. I'm curious what gave Kersten inspiration to write this tale, and if her characters stem from close relations?

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  6. I've been really wanting to read her books for quite some time now. Great interview! Thanks for the giveaway, and happy holidays!

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  7. Hi Kersten, I'm happy to see you interviewewed because I have your book on my wishlist. The storyline is so unique and interesting and I can see why you would be so focused when writing it. As a reader a great story is when I get so lost in it my world becomes a shadow land :)

    GFC: Na

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  8. In The Forests Of The Night cover is so interesting. Did you have input? I love how the face is like a reflection.
    Happy Holidays!

    vsloboda(at)gmail(dot)com
    GFC

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  9. I've heard so much about Tyger, Tyger but haven't had a chance to read it. In the Forests of the Night sounds like another great read, so I'll have to get started on this series very soon.

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  10. Thanks so much for the giveaway! I agree with Victoria - I love the cover!

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  11. Thank you for commenting, everyone! I did have a wonderful Christmas. I am on a road trip and spent the day with my husband and son exploring tide pools at Bean Hollow Stage Beach in California. I can never leave until I find a starfish. =D

    Today, I walked through groves of Giant Redwoods.

    I am excited that Tyger Tyger is on so many of your wish lists! And I love the cover of In the Forests of the Night, too. So gorgeous! But Victoria, I have no say in the covers. I have just been lucky.

    Fredamans, you can read about what inspired me to write The Goblin Wars series here: http://edroxy.livejournal.com/
    And...some of the characters have bits and pieces of people I have known -- especially the scary ones. You can read about that here: http://patesden.livejournal.com/74722.html

    Thank you all for commenting!

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  12. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  13. -Kersten
    If it is always summer in Mag Mell, would that mean that there is no always school? Or is the education system determined more by dates?
    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~My GFC name is R., it won't allow me to enter it on Rafflecopter...

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  14. Rafflecopter not having a space for info.

    Thank you for the great giveaway.

    GFC: Mary Preston

    marypres(AT)gmail(DOT)com

    ReplyDelete
  15. I am a follower and email subscriber. Please enter me in contest. I would love to read this book. It sounds very good. Tore923@aol.com

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  16. I am in love with these covers. Wow they are gorgeous. I find this series very interesting because it has goblins and that would be a first for me. I sadly have not read these yet but I am dying to.

    GFC,twitter,facebook,email follower

    sthrnsweetie115@aol.com

    ReplyDelete
  17. Hi!
    This book sounds really interesting! I would love to read it! Thanks for this giveaway!

    GFC: Proserpine

    ReplyDelete
  18. I've really been wanting to read Tyger, Tyger. I've heard so many great things about it. Thanks for the chance to win!

    GFC- Holly

    hollyjolly89@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  19. Thanks for the awesome post and giveaway! I've head such wonderful things about this series and I hope I get a chance to read them :)

    gfc: erin
    email subscriber
    efender1(at)gmail(dot)com

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  20. Congrats on the release! These look amazing!!

    GFC: ML

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  21. I'm so sorry to hear about Christmas when you were young, Kersten. I had it very similar since my family was also very poor and I've tried to make sure that MY children never have to deal with that stigma as well. Congratulations on your success now, though! You've done good, girl:)

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  22. Good interview. I have been seeing this book everywhere, I really want to read it.

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  23. I am a follower on GFC, FB, email, Twitter

    ReplyDelete
  24. What a great interview. I have had my eye on this book for a while. Thanks for the giveaway.

    skyla11377(At)AOL(Dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  25. thanks for all of the wonderful book suggestions. love finding new authors to check out!

    I follow with GFC as Red

    ReplyDelete
  26. I love the covers and can not wait to read this Happy New Year
    I follow with GFC
    audie(at)wickerness(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  27. Great giveaway the cover of that book looks so cool, makes me for sure to check that book out!
    Thanks for the great giveaway

    GFC: red_tigergirl2
    Email: red_tigergirl2 (at) hotmail DOT COM

    ReplyDelete
  28. Hi thanks for this GA :) I have Tyger Tyger in my WL, can't wait to read both of the books :)

    GFC follower: I love books
    email: ilovebooksblog(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  29. I've had Tyger, Tyger on my wishlist for quite some time. I can't wait to read it!

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  30. Great interview and giveaway! I'm very curious about the books. They sounds great. Thank you for the chance to win Tyger Tyger.

    Pam
    vanillaorchids69(at)gmail(dot)com
    GFC: VanillaOrchids

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  31. I want to read Tyger, Tyger so bad! I've seen so many great reviews for it! :)

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  32. Ohh I have been wanting to read this series. I have had my eye on it for a while. I cannot wait to see what the twist in Tyger Tyger is like!

    ReplyDelete
  33. I would love to read Tyger, Tyger! Sounds amazing!
    GFC-Kulsuma

    ReplyDelete
  34. Tyger, Tyger sounds like a great book. Have heard great things about it.
    I would love to win and read this book.
    I follow via email-christinebails@yahoo.com, follow GFC-Chrisbails, and follow on facebook-Chris Bails.
    Thanks for the chance to win.
    christinebails@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  35. Tyger, Tyger sounds amazing. Thanks for the great giveaway.
    GFC CrystalGB
    Crystal816[at]hotmail[dot]com

    ReplyDelete
  36. Thank you so so much for the giveaway! The cover is pretty!
    I'm GFC follower!

    lines2005(at)hotmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete