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Saturday, August 11, 2012

PSC: Interview & Giveaway with Kendare Blake

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Kendare Blake’s Anna Dressed in Blood has gotten many great reviews on blogs that I follow, so it only made sense for me to read it and see what all the hype was about. Kendare has accepted our invitation to celebrate the release of the second book of her series, Girl of Nightmares. Ghosts make amazing scary camp stories so it’s only fitting that her book be featured during Paranormal Summer Camp!

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First off, I want to say that I absolutely adored ANNA DRESSED IN BLOOD, the first book of your Anna series. I can't wait to read the sequel GIRL OF NIGHTMARES.  How many books can we expect for the series?

I'm so glad you liked it. And that you asked this question...There's been a bit of confusion as to whether ANNA is a duology or a trilogy. Actually, I wasn't sure of it myself. Sometimes I'm still not. I mean, maybe there'll be more stories to tell in the world, later on. But ANNA was sold as a duology, and GIRL OF NIGHTMARES is the end. So I hope it doesn't disappoint!!

As a Canadian, I love seeing Canadian cities mentioned in books. Why did you choose Thunder Bay, Ontario, as the setting of Anna Dressed in Blood?

Canadian readers have been incredible, and forgiving, for anything I get wrong. For instance, Cas refers to students as juniors, but I guess you don't do that. I can write it off like Cas says it because he's American, but really, I didn't know. And Canadian readers have been funny too...one appreciated that I noticed your paleness.

I chose Thunder Bay because it was close enough for me to visit for a long weekend. So I could scout the territory. It also seemed perfect from the start. So  many ghost stories, and so many cemeteries. I also just learned that it has the highest per capita murder rate in the country. Fascinating.

The imagery of Anna Dressed in Blood is so vivid. Is Anna based on a true myth/story?

I love imagery. I'm always appreciative of writers who can really make you see the gore. Entrails can be pretty, in the right hands. Not mine. Mine are still gross. But no, ANNA isn't based on truth. Lots of the other side-ghosts are, however.  My best friend studied serial killers during her Master's education. They provided lots of fodder for terrible things.

College was mentioned in the first book but Cas seemed pretty adamant about not going and sticking to killing ghosts. Will Cas ever go to college? Can you tell us what's in Cas's future?

I can't say much about Cas's future before the release of the last book. I mean, what if he dies? Just kidding. How would that work? He's the narrator. It'd have to go: I see the gun and it looks like he's gonna

And that would be it. My editor didn't go for it. Cas does go to college. No word yet if he graduates. Cas's future is, for the most part, wide open. Maybe one day he'll tell me another story.

YA books tend to have female point of views. Did you have any problems or any anxieties about writing from a male's point of view?

Nope. No problems, no anxieties. It's harder for me to write girly things, like love, and emotion. I still firmly believe in cooties. Which is tough, because there's such a love story in my next series, ANTIGODDESS.

What is your best memory of the summer breaks, as a kid?

Long days riding bikes and chasing the ice cream truck. Or did I just make that up? Huh. Seems like a good memory. I suppose I really loved hanging with my horses though. I was a horse girl.

According to you, what makes the best scary camp stories? Vampires, werewolves, ghosts or “insert monster here”?

You know, I was tempted to say ghosts, but I think for camp stories, psycho killers really work best. Guys with hook hands. Escaped mental patients. Anything that could conceivably get to you, in your cabin. Not that a werewolf camp counselor wouldn't be fun.

Thank you Kendare, for answering all my questions about this amazing series!

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More about Girl of Nightmares, which was released August 7th, 2012:

blake - Girl Of NightmaresIt's been months since the ghost of Anna Korlov opened a door to Hell in her basement and disappeared into it, but ghost-hunter Cas Lowood can't move on.

His friends remind him that Anna sacrificed herself so that Cas could live--not walk around half dead. He knows they're right, but in Cas's eyes, no living girl he meets can compare to the dead girl he fell in love with.

Now he's seeing Anna everywhere: sometimes when he's asleep and sometimes in waking nightmares. But something is very wrong...these aren't just daydreams. Anna seems tortured, torn apart in new and ever more gruesome ways every time she appears.

Cas doesn't know what happened to Anna when she disappeared into Hell, but he knows she doesn't deserve whatever is happening to her now. Anna saved Cas more than once, and it's time for him to return the favor.

My review of Anna Dressed in Blood

Purchase: Amazon | Book Depository

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Kendare is offering one (1) copy of Girl of Nightmares to one lucky winner!

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

Open to US only 

Ends Wednesday, August 5th, 2012
(like all of our Paranormal Summer Camp giveaways)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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KendareBlakeKendare Blake grew up in a small town in Minnesota, so she knows about things like mosquitoes and lutefisk. She holds an MA in Creative Writing from Middlesex University in London (woo! London!) and lives and writes in Lynnwood, Washington with her husband and catsons: Tybalt and Mojo Jojo.

Website | Twitter

 

 

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57 People left their mark' :

  1. Ooh nice! I so can't wait to read this one!

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  2. Can't wait for this one. I loved the first. I wish there were more, but I can't wait to see what Blake comes up with next. Interesting interview. Thanks.

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  3. I wonder what will be next for Cas and Anna. Great interview.

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  4. This is awesome! Thanks for the contest.

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  5. I still have yet to read the first one...my library system does not carry it...but it is in my TRP and I can't wait to read it!!

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  6. Really liked Anna Dressed In Blood and I really hope Girl In Nightmares would be as good! Great interview.

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  7. I have Anna Dressed in Blood on my TBR shelf. Thank you for the giveaway, I look forward to starting this duo.

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  8. I loved the interview, very interesting! I'm really looking forward to this book.

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  9. Been reading lots of good YA novels lately... this and the first one sound right up my alley at the moment....

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  10. I really enjoyed Anna & I especially liked that it was from a guy's point of view. I think it would be easier for me to write that way too, since I'm not girly at all. Can't wait to read Girl of Nightmares! Thanks for the chance to win!

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  11. HA! Lutefisk, saw that on bizzarefoods I couldn't do it.
    I really liked ADiB really want to read GoN.

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  12. I downloaded the free audiobook, and I can't wait to listen to it!

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  13. Looks like I need to check out this series. It sounds really good.

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  14. I loved Anna Dressed in Blood!! Soooo excited for the sequel(: Thanks for the giveaway!

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  15. Great interview!! I'm so bloody excited for the sequel. I hope I enjoy it as much as the first :)

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  16. Thanks for a great interview! Congrats to Kendare on the newest release! I is soooo highly recommended :)

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  17. I really enjoyed the first book and can't wait to get into this one. Thanks for the interview and giveaway!

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  18. I have Anna Dressed in Blood on my TBR shelf and I'm looking forward to reading it. I think I need to get on that so I'm ready to read this latest book, Girl of Nightmares, since it sounds fantastic too.

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  19. Anna Dressed in Blood was amazing and so heartbreaking. I can't wait to see what will happen to Cas and Anna in Girl of Nightmares.

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  20. I really want to read this series. Both books are on my wishlist.

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  21. I have Anna Dressed in Blood on my TBR shelf. I have heard so many great things about it that it has been moved to the top shelf to be read sooner. Thanks for the chance to win Girl of Nightmares. It would be great to read them back to back.

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  22. I loved Anna Dressed in Blood! Can't wait for this one!

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  23. I can't wait to read this series!! I have heard wonderful things about it! Thanks for the chance to win!

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  24. Great interview! For camp horror stories, I also love the kind with psycho killers / escaped mental patients. Human monsters are the most frightening because they exist.

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  25. I've heard of lutefisk too, but I don't think I'd eat it. Hopefully Kendare didn't either. Very excited about Girl of Nightmares. Thanks for the giveaway.

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  26. I loved Anna Dressed in Blood and I'd love a copy of this book :) I know it (the comment) isn't very original, but basically the first thing I thought when I saw this post was "YESSSSS!"

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  27. I've never read this series, but I'm so excited to read Anna Dressed in Blood. I just got a copy in the mail a week ago. :D

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  28. More books always got to have more books

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  29. I had no idea Juniors are called something different in Canada, I can't believe my Canadian friends neglected to mention this! I also think psycho killers and guys with hook hands make the best scary camp fire stories. Can't wait to read this one =D

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  30. I have been wanting to read this series for a while now. I tried listening to the audio book for Anna Dressed in Blood but I could not get into it because of the narrator. He was terrible (in my opinion). I know I'm going to love these books, can't wait to read them! Thanks for the giveaway! :D

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  31. I just finished Anna and can't wait to see what happens next!

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  32. This sounds like a series that I need to read. Thanks for the giveaway.

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  33. I have Anna Dressed in Blood on my shelf, but haven't had a chance to read it. I have heard amazing things and just downloaded the audiobook, hoping I will get to that version sooner! :) Thanks for the giveaway!

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  34. Thank you for the great interview the book looks really good.

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  35. Kendare, you totally had my attention at "Entrails can be pretty"!! I love it! I devoured Anna Dressed in Blood in one day and can't wait to read this follow up! Thanks for the awesome interview and amazing giveaway:)

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  36. Dying to read Cas and Anna's next adventure!

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  37. Thanks for the awesome giveaway. I can't wait to read this book. It sounds very good. Tore923@aol.com

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  38. I enjoyed the interview. Nice cover. The book sounds good.

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  39. I listened to Anna Dressed in Blood on audiobook and loved it. Can't wait to read the next one!

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  40. I listened to Anna Dressed in Blood on audiobook and loved it. Can't wait to read the next one!

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  41. I LOVED Anna Dressed in Blood. I'm so excited to see what happens next. I love the covers too=)

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  42. Oh i have been waiting on this book . i am disabled and i can only buy so many and i have a few before this one i had to buy first but it was on my list for next month unless of if i win that would be more than great. thanks for this giveawy joannies

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  43. I can't wait to read it! Thanks so much for the chance to win!

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  44. I loved the first book so much! Such a great new twist on the paranormal plus a male POV! Can't wait to continue the series.;)

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  45. I love the cover and I really enjoyed the first book. It was a nice change of pace to have the POV from a male lead and it was an interesting (and creepY) ghost story. Can't wait to read what comes next.

    ~~Mare

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  46. This book sounds amazing. I can't wait to read it and then share it with my students.

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  47. This sounds like a great book Thank you for the great giveaway!

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  48. Kendare intrigued me right off when she visited my blog last week, so I KNEW I had to pick up a copy of Anna Dressed in Blood. I haven't read it yet, and that's partly because I'm afraid I'll love it and won't have access to the sequel so this is perfect!

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  49. Great interview. And I have to agree those sound like the best story monsters if you are outside.

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  50. I recently read Anna so I really, really want to know what happens next!

    Thanks so much for the chance!

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  51. I have your first book on my TBR pile at home. I think this one sounds just as interesting. Thanks for the chance.

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  52. have heard really good things about anna dressed in blood so if i win this ill probably buy that and read them both!

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  53. I am so excited to read this book. Anna dressed in Blood was awesome, so I know Girl of Nightmares will be even better. Thank you for this giveaway!!

    - Beckie

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  54. I keep hearing great things about this series. Would love to read it.

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  55. Anna Dressed in Blood was amazing. This book looks awesome. I think I'm about to die from fangirling. <3

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  56. I am absolutely dying to get my hands on this book, lol. I love the cover, the title, the plot...it sounds unique and right up my alley! I bought Anna Dressed in Blood just a few weeks ago and am getting ready to read it. So excited! I've heard so many great things about these books.

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  57. Thanks for the great giveaway and the cover is just so awesome!

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