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Sunday, April 01, 2012

PAF: Interview with Holly Black + Giveaway!

Paranormal April Fools

Today’s post is an interview with the amazing Holly Black! She’s written a couple of very popular series, but today she’s here to talk to us about her latest release, Black Heart!

Black Heart is the final book in the Curse Workers trilogy and I’m totally in love with this world. If you haven’t had the chance to discover it yet, I strongly suggest you seek out the first book.

Read on to find out what Holly had to say about Cassel and her upcoming projects! And make sure to stick around for the giveaway, where you have a chance to win a copy of BLACK HEART, courtesy of the lovely folks at Simon & Schuster!

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1- Male main characters with a first person narration are a rarity in YA paranormal fiction, how did you decide to go down that path?

I wanted this series to feel different from the Modern Faerie Tale books and from Spiderwick, which are all written in third person.  Specifically, I wanted the Curse Workers to be more spare and have a little of that classic noir feel.  Lots of hardboiled detective novels were written in first person, so I thought that would create some of the tone I wanted.  Additionally, with the first book being a memory mystery and with all the cons, limiting the information available to the reader and getting very close to Cassel both seemed advantageous.  But most of all, I wanted to push myself and do something I'd never done before.

2- Cassel has a very original way to analyze situations, did you ever caught yourself thinking how he would perceive certain situations of your life?

That's a great question!  I find that when I am in the middle of writing a book, I see lots of things from the main character's perspective, so I have thought: What would Cassel do in this situation?  Unfortunately, I am too shy to con anyone and most of his other solutions are totally illegal.

3- I truly enjoyed the mafia-like quality of the whole series, would you consider turning it into a TV show if it were proposed to you?

I definitely would.  Actually, I would much rather see the Curse Workers books as a TV show than a movie.  I think with the complexity of the magic and the number of characters, it would be a really fun series, but would be hard to imagine as a single film.

4- Reviews for Black Heart started to be available in the last couple of weeks, what has been the response so far? Is it what you were hoping for?

I've been really thrilled with the reviews for the series and BLACK HEART just got a starred review from Kirkus, so I'm really pleased.

5- Now that this series is over, do you have plans for a new series?

In 2013, I actually have TWO books coming out.  Both are standalones.

The first is a middle grade called DOLL BONES, about three kids -- Zachary, Poppy and Alice -- who go on a journey, despite their own uncertain friendship, to bury a doll that may or may not be made from human bones.  It's creepy and fun and it may be the most difficult thing I've ever written.  I am really, really proud of it.

The second is a teen novel, called THE COLDEST GIRL IN COLDTOWN.  It's based on a short story I wrote a few years ago and it's set in a world where the sudden spread of vampirism caused the United States to wall off parts of cities, creating "Coldtowns" where humans and vampires live side by side in a lawless and decadent détente.  Outside the quarantined zones, people watch videos uploaded from inside with fascination, making instant celebrities of monsters.  When only Tana Bach and her ex-boyfriend, Aidan, survive a lockdown party massacre that leaves both of them infected, they have to travel with a half-mad vampire named Gavriel, into the heart of everything that Tana has always feared. 

That's the first time I tried to summarize COLDTOWN -- it's hard because I'm not quite finished with it yet!

6- Cassel is one smart boy, how could one manage to prank him on April Fools'?

Well, he's a smart boy, but he can be stupid about girls...

7- Is April Fools' a big deal in your family? Is it common for you to prank your loved ones?

What I love most of all are the various online pranks, especially Locus Online's articles.  Last April Fool's, I posted this: http://blackholly.livejournal.com/2011/04/01/

It got several outraged responses, before they noticed what day it was. 

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Such awesome answers Holly! Thank you so much for your time and generosity ^^
Can’t wait to hear more about those two new projects!

Curious yet? Here’s more about Black Heart:

Black Heart (Curse Workers, #3) by Holly Black

Cassel Sharpe knows he’s been used as an assassin, but he’s trying to put all that behind him. He’s trying to be good, even though he grew up in a family of con artists and cheating comes as easily as breathing to him. He’s trying to do the right thing, even though the girl he loves is inextricably connected with crime. And he’s trying to convince himself that working for the Feds is smart, even though he’s been raised to believe the government is the enemy.

But with a mother on the lam, the girl he loves about to take her place in the Mob, and new secrets coming to light, the line between what’s right and what’s wrong becomes increasingly blurred. When the Feds ask Cassel to do the one thing he said he would never do again, he needs to sort out what’s a con and what’s truth. In a dangerous game and with his life on the line, Cassel may have to make his biggest gamble yet—this time on love.

Read my Review

Purchase: Amazon | Book Depository

Click the covers to read my review of the previous books in the series:

 

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giveaway

Simon & Schuster is graciously offering one (1) copy of BLACK HEART to a lucky reader!

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

Canada only

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

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Holly Black

Holly Black is the bestselling author of the Spiderwick series. Her Modern Faerie Tales series is comprised of Tithe, which was an ALA Top Ten Book for Teens and received starred reviews in Publishers Weekly and Kirkus Reviews; Valiant, which was an ALA Best Book for Young Adults, a Locus Magazine Recommended Read, and a recipient of the Andre Norton Award from the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America; and Ironside, the sequel to Tithe, was a New York Times bestseller. White Cat, the first book in the Curse Workers series, was a Kirkus Reviews Best Book, and ALA Best Fiction for Young Adults, and received starred reviews from Publishers Weekly,Kirkus Reviews, and BCCB. Red Glove, the second book in the Curse Workers series, received a starred review from Publishers Weekly.Holly has also written a collection of short stories, The Poison Eaters and Other Stories. She lives in Amherst, Massachusetts

Website | Facebook | Twitter

tynsig

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

21 People left their mark' :

  1. I read and enjoyed the first book of this series. It was quite different from the YA books out there and I liked Cassel's character. Can't wait to read the rest of the books in the series. Thanks for the giveaway.

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  2. I love Holly Black's books! I've read the first book in this series, but not (yet) the second one. I think I would read just about anything she wrote. :D

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  3. I have been DYING to read this book since I finished Red Glove! Great interview!! Can't wait to see Holly Black's next books have in store for us!

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  4. Love Holly's writing!!!! Great interview, loved how you've incorporated April Fools in the questions! :D hehe. I just wish the cover of Black Heart stayed true to the originals.

    Thanks for sharing!

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    1. OH! and I did read the first book and I also entered under my Facebook name Lucy D'Andrea!

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  5. Wonderful interview!! I adore the Curse Workers series, it's incredible! Such a pity it's ending =( *heart breaks*

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  6. I love Holly's books, I have read White Cat and am partway through Red Glove, can't wait to read Black Heart!

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  7. I'm on the waiting list for the first books from the library. I have all of the Modern Faerie Tale books and love them!

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  8. I have not read the first book in this series yet, but I absolutely love Holly Black's work! Looking forward to reading this series and love the new covers!

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  9. Yes, I've read the first two books in the series and I'm really, really looking forward to the conclusion of hte series!

    I agree that the new covers are incredible...

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  10. I have not but I take it I'm missing out from the comments!

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  11. i REALLY have to get book 2 of this series I listened to White Cat on audio and it was SO good with Jessie!! I loved it and I adore Cassel!! Awesome post Tynga! <3

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  12. Nice interview ladies, thank you. A shame that the covers of the book don't say: this is a series, buy/read us together.
    On the wishlist it goes!

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  13. Christina Kit.2 April 2012 at 06:08

    I haven't read any of the books but this interview with Holly is awesome! It's great to read from a guy's POV and how cool to combine magic with the mafia:)

    I'm a GFC follower Christina Kit. there's no place to put it in the rafflecopter

    Thanks for the giveaway!

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  14. They are all so awesome! I loved the story!!
    GFC: red_tigergirl2
    Thanks for the great giveaway!!

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  15. I've only read White Cat but haven't gotten around to reading Red Glove. Thanks for the giveaway!

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  16. I own and have read both books in the series and love them. Cannot wait to read this book as well, but I'm really sad that it's ending. :( Thank you for the giveaway! :)

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  17. My sister and I actually read the first book together but we have yet to get our hands on the second book.

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  18. I read the first book and find it very different :)

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  19. I haven't read this series yet but i have heard great things. I own the 2nd book and plan to take the first out from the library. Can't wait.

    jennifer k

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  20. Love this series and I have been waiting for it to come out. Thanks so much for holding the giveaway!

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