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Saturday, April 07, 2012

PAF: Interview with Kevin Hearne + giveaway!

Paranormal April Fools

I’m thrilled to welcome Kevin Hearne back to the blog today for a chat about his upcoming release, TRICKED. He’s the brilliant mind behind the Iron Druid Chronicles and one of my favourite authors, as you probably know if you’ve read my posts about his books.

Read on to learn all about TRICKED, the upcoming fourth installment of the Iron Druid Chronicles, and have a chance to win a copy of your very own!

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Hi, Kevin, and welcome back to Tynga’s Reviews! Thanks very much for participating in Paranormal April Fools’. I can’t tell you how excited I am for TRICKED.

Much appreciated, Jenn! Kind of you to remember me.

If you had to list the top three reasons someone should pick up TRICKED, what would they be? (Woo, shameless self-promotion!)

First, fans of the series would want to find out what happened to Mrs. MacDonagh and Leif Helgarson—those answers will be coming. We meet “new” gods from about five or six different pantheons, and Atticus has to be especially clever since he runs into something his magic can’t handle very well.

What was the biggest challenge about writing TRICKED?

Whew. Tough question, because this was my toughest book to write on many levels. I thought I had plot issues, but once my editor took a look at it she said well, you have plot issues because you have character issues. Once I recast a couple of characters the plot issues worked themselves out. But there was much more revision required on this book than my first three.

Coyote has popped up in other urban fantasy or paranormal series, like C. E. Murphy’s Urban Shaman novels and Allyson James’ Stormwalker books. Why do you think Coyote (in all of his various incarnations) is so appealing to authors and readers alike?

His unpredictability is charming, and his tendency to do stunningly stupid things out of pride or a sense of braggadocio is amusing. Perhaps what makes him most endearing is that he manages not to come off as inherently mean, even when he hurts people. That might be because he hurts himself as often as not. I also think he has a bit of the outlaw’s mystique about him; many people are fascinated by those who simply don’t give a damn about rules.

Will we be seeing more Granuaile in TRICKED? I love her relationship with Atticus and I’d like to know more about her path to becoming a Druid.

Absolutely! Quite a bit of the book concerns her training and her relationship with Atticus, and the reason Atticus is exerting himself so hard to make everyone think he’s dead is that he wants the time and peace to train Granuaile properly. You’ll also learn about Atticus’s two-hundred-year marriage to Tahirah in Africa.

Oberon's Treat Shop

And now here are a couple of April Fools’-related questions:

Who’s your favourite trickster (fictional or otherwise)?

I actually prefer Coyote. He’s usually not driven by malice the way Loki is, for example, or some other tricksters.

Which of your characters would be the most difficult to prank?

I think it would be Granuaile. She earns the nickname “Clever Girl” from Oberon in TRICKED. All of the older characters are susceptible to modern trickery.

Thanks again for stopping by, Kevin! As always, it’s been an absolute delight.

Thanks, Jenn! Cheers to you and all your readers!

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Intrigued? Here’s more on TRICKED, which hits bookshelves on April 24:

Kevin Hearne Tricked Druid Atticus O’Sullivan hasn’t stayed alive for more than two millennia without a fair bit of Celtic cunning. So when vengeful thunder gods come Norse by Southwest looking for payback, Atticus, with a little help from the Navajo trickster god Coyote, lets them think that they’ve chopped up his body in the Arizona desert.

But the mischievous Coyote is not above a little sleight of paw, and Atticus soon finds that he’s been duped into battling bloodthirsty desert shapeshifters called skinwalkers. Just when the Druid thinks he’s got a handle on all the duplicity, betrayal comes from an unlikely source. If Atticus survives this time, he vows he won’t be fooled again. Famous last words.

Jenn's thoughts

Read an excerpt

Pre-order: Amazon | Book Depository

Click on the cover to read our thoughts on the first three books in the series:

Kevin Hearne HoundedKevin Hearne HexedKevin Hearne Hammered

**You can get the first three books in the Iron Druid Chronicles as an e-bundle for only $9.99**

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giveaway

Random House is graciously offering one (1) copy of TRICKED to a lucky reader!

To enter the giveaway, fill out the Rafflecopter form below.

US/Canada only

Ends Sunday, April 15, 2012
(like all of our Paranormal April Fools’ giveaways)



a Rafflecopter giveaway


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Kevin Hearne

Kevin Hearne is a native of Arizona and really appreciates whoever invented air-conditioning. He graduated from Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff and now teaches high school English. When he’s not grading essays or writing novels, he tends to his basil plants and paints landscapes with his daughter. He has been known to obsess over fonts, frolic unreservedly with dogs, and stop whatever he’s doing in the rare event of rain to commune with the precipitation. He enjoys hiking, the guilty pleasure of comic books, and living with his wife and daughter in a wee, snug cottage.

Website | Facebook | Twitter

Jenn

Born and raised in the Toronto area, Jenn moved to St. John's, Newfoundland, eight years ago for school. She's still in school (thankfully on another degree!), now trapped in her dissertation. When she's not dissertating, which happens more often than it should, Jenn spends her time reading, watching movies, playing volleyball, travelling, and enjoying the local music scene. Her latest addictions: yoga and Almond Crunch cereal.

39 People left their mark' :

  1. What I like about the Iron Druid chronicles is that it's really different than anything I've ever read. I've always been interested in the Druids and I'm just glad that Kevin H. chose to write a series about them.

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  2. Hmm. Celtic myth + UF . . . That sounds like the perfect combination. Why haven't I picked this series up before now? Well, now I will (that e-book deal is veeeery tempting).

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  3. I'm looking forward to seeing more of my favorite sausage-loving dog, Oberon, in Tricked. :)

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  4. My favorite character so far has got to be Oberon. One of my neighbors has a dog that looks just like him.

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  5. These sound great. A bit different than the standard read. Have to look into them :). A sausage loving dog - should be fun.

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  6. I very seldom read books written by men.

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  7. Every hero needs a good sidekick and Oberon is awesome. Love that the ebook bundle is only $9.99. I can get caught up on the series.

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  8. I listened to the first 3 books on CD and I love the narrator's (Luke Daniels) voice for Oberon. It's exactly the way a talking dog should sound. My sister totally agrees with me.

    I like the action in the series and the fact that the third book was quite different from the first two with it's "road trip".

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  9. This is one of my very favorite series. I love the humor of the characters, and laugh out loud when I'm reading!

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  10. fantastic read, love the humor and the mixed in different mythologies
    Thank you for hosting this giveaway

    Louis
    pumuckler {at} gmail {dot} com

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  11. This is the first book I've read that takes place in my home town of Tempe, Arizona. I just picked up Hounded. Since his shop is on Ash Ave., will Atticus have a beer at Casey's or visit Ash Ave. comics?

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  12. Kevin Hearne's treatment of different mythologies is a little odd for me, but the way the characters come across make reading the books far and away worth any personal confusion I had. I bought all 3 of the chronicles that were out on a whim last year and loved each and every one! These books are great and can NOT wait until the next comes out!!

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  13. John Bonfiglio7 April 2012 at 12:32

    Love the books so far, and i love Atticus and his relationship with Oberon. That dog just makes me SMILE. Looking forward to the next book very much.

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  14. I could say Atticus and be telling the truth. I could say Oberon for the same reason. However, it is the addictive writing and the silly nerdiness hidden in each page. It is one of the funniest, most well-written series that I've read in a long time which gives me a dozen reasons that I could choose from.

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  15. I love Oberon! He's such a hoot! And Atticus isn't too bad, either. (winks)

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  16. I haven't started this yet but it's high up on my wishlist. I'm looking forward to reading a UF series with a male lead. Plus, I love the setting.

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  17. I love the series and its characters, and how it mixes myth elements within the urban fantasy settings.
    I mean moments like having a drink with a Jesus incarnation is just plain clever.

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  18. The humor's pretty good but my absolute favorite part of the books has been Hal and Leif, Atticus' attorneys.

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  19. I love a lot of things about the Iron Druid series, and it's really hard to pick just one thing. If I have to pick one, I think I like all of the mythology the most. But Atticus' humor and Oberon are huge too.

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  20. The humor is great along with the mythology mixed in.

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  21. I don't know- I have the first book but haven't read it yet. But I've heard all good things! I'll read it soon, promise.

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  22. Thanks for a great interview! I love, love, love this series. I remember reading the first book on my Kindle and immediately getting the next one after I finished. I love it so much I even went and got them in print. This is the first series that I recommend to anyone who asks what I like and I've badgered several friends into reading it (and did a big I told you so when they told me they loved it). I've preordered the last two books the instant they become available and I didn't enter this contest cuz I already preorderd and I want Kevin's sales to go up, so he can keep on writing! *inhale* so... I'm a fan... can you tell :)

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  23. I've just found this series for the first time. So far I like the quote from Atticus in this article, those elves can be a lot of trouble I'm sure.

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  24. Thanks for the interview Kevin and Jenn, I am really looking forward to reading the next books. Which is also why I am not going to read your review just yet Jenn.

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  25. Christina Kit.8 April 2012 at 06:09

    I love the lore:)

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  26. Oberon is my favorite. I love how this series has a mixture of mythology, humor, and great characters. Thanks for the giveaway.

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  27. Oberon! I am a dog person ;) thanks for hosting the give away

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  28. I am so looking forward to what happens next! Please give me more Oberon.
    I am enjoying this saga so much -- I especially love the total mixture of religions/philosophy's and their various gads. Please tell us we have more that just these 3 more!

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  29. I like the characters.

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  30. I havent read any of the series yet but I would like to. Tore923@aol.com

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  31. I haven't read any of this series yet, but I love the covers!

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  32. I've never had the chance to read this series yet, but it's been on my to buy list for a while now. The covers and the descriptions are amazing.

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  33. OBERON! I just love that dog. I love big mutts and I cannot lie! :D

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  34. I haven't read these yet but they are on my kindle. my son bought and read them and he can't wait for this one. crossing fingers aand toes would love to win it for him.

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  35. I havent read them yet. But I have heard great things about them.

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  36. I like the mixture of myth and urban together. Also love Oberon!! Thanks for the chance.

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  37. I haven't read any of the books, but, gosh, does the covers and plot look awesome or what?

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  38. I haven't read this series, yet. It is on my TBB list

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  39. i LOVE this series!!! its one of the few series both me and my bf enjoy.... i love how its unique... a mythology not readily explored..... and the writing is amazing! (and hilarious)... i would love to win this one!!! thanks for the chance!

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