PAF: Interview with Bethany Griffin + giveaway!

Today's guest is the lovely Bethany Griffin. She's here to promote her exciting new book, MASQUE OF THE RED DEATH, a post-Apocalyptic reimagining of Edgar Allan Poe's horror story with the same name. Sounds cool, no?

Read on to learn all about MASQUE OF THE RED DEATH and enter to win a copy of your very own, and some awesome swag from Bethany!

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Hello, Bethany, and welcome to Paranormal April Fools’ at Tynga’s Reviews!

MASQUE OF THE RED DEATH is very different from your debut novel HANDCUFFS. How did you find switching from a present-day setting to a historical post-apocalyptic steam-punk world?

I found it a fairly natural transition, in that I read all sorts of different stories. Also, sometimes it’s easier to write something totally different than to keep rehashing the same sorts of stories. I found I didn’t have another realistic story to tell, but I had a lot of other stories I wanted to try.

Were there any special challenges when writing a re-imagining of another author’s work, especially one as well known as Edgar Allen Poe?

The re-imagining part was fun. The part that I don’t particularly look forward to are the different opinions on how well I did! While I did take on Poe’s world, I tried to make it my own and create my own characters. Sure, there’s always intimidation, because Poe was a genius, but I really never tried to compare my work to his, I just used his as inspiration.

Which other authors inspire you?

Wow, I’m inspired by so many authors, I love to read much more than I love to write. I’m inspired by Stephen King, and by Sylvia Plath’s poetry, and by Anne Rice, and by Tolkien, I’m mostly listing authors I read as a kid because there are so many contemporary books that I enjoy, but I’d consider the ones I read years ago as the most inspiring, the books I’ve read in the last few years were pleasure reading.

Did you have a soundtrack for writing MASQUE OF THE RED DEATH? What was on it?

I need to actually make a playlist, I do have songs that I listen to regularly or that remind me of the book…

The Fragile – Nine Inch Nails
Machine Gun- Portishead
Plainsong- The Cure

MASQUE OF THE RED DEATH is the first in a duology. Can you tell us a little bit about what’s to come in the next book?

A Masquerade ball? Some romance, some treachery, and lots more dead bodies?

And now a couple April Fools’-related questions:

Is there a trick you fall for every time?

I don’t know, I don’t think I deal very well with tricks. I overthink things and end up irritated of baffled.

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

Most of my characters are fairly cynical and suspicious, so it might be hard to prank any of them! But I think Elliott would be the most difficult to prank

Thanks very much for taking part in our event, Bethany! We’re looking forward to MASQUE OF THE RED DEATH!

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Want to know more? Check out the gorgous cover and blurb for MASQUE OF THE RED DEATH, which hits bookshelves on April 24:

Everything is in ruins.

A devastating plague has decimated the population, and those who are left live in fear of catching it as the city crumbles around them.

So what does Araby Worth have to live for?

Nights in the Debauchery Club, beautiful dresses, glittery makeup...and tantalizing ways to forget it all.

But in the depths of the club—in the depths of her own despair—Araby will find more than oblivion. She will find Will, the terribly handsome proprietor of the club, and Elliott, the wickedly smart aristocrat. Neither is what he seems. Both have secrets. Everyone does.

And Araby may find not just something to live for, but something to fight for—no matter what it costs her.

Read Tynga’s Review

Pre-order: Amazon | Book Depository

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We have two different giveaways today! They have different mailing restrictions so please read the instructions below carefully.

Giveaway #1: Bethany is offering a lovely giveaway: three (3) bookmark + leather bracelet sets for our readers!

Note: Bookmark may not be exactly like this one and you only get one (1) bracelet (your choice of colour).

Open internationally.

Giveaway #2: The kind folks at HarperCollins are offering one (1) copy of MASQUE OF THE RED DEATH to a lucky reader!

US only.

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

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

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Bethany Griffin teaches high school English and creative writing outside Louisville, Kentucky. She loves Poe, and creepy stories in general. Masque of the Red Death is her second published novel, but the first could be considered Speculative History, Dystopian, Steampunk, or whatever else you'd like to call Masque. She has two well-behaved children and 5 poorly-behaved cats.

Website | Twitter

Posted by jenn at 08:05

 Bethany Griffin, Dystopian, giveaway, Harper Collins, Interview, Paranormal April Fools', young adult  52 People left their mark

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.