A Note:

6/2/13

I once told myself: IF I am accepted into grad school, this blog would no longer be updated. As it turns out, in April, I received news of my acceptance for the Fall 2013 semester, where I will attain a Master's degree of Science in Nutrition.

Running a blog, as many of you may already know, is a demanding side job once the excitement wears off. And once I fell out of the blogging community's loop (have you SEEN how many blogs there are now? Wow!), it was like the kiss of death. Despite my best efforts, I couldn't get into a blogging routine once this happened due to the disconnect I felt from the community.

So I took a break. I struggled with the loss and with missing my blog. And then I realized I didn't have to run Book Faery to still be a book reviewer; I could read my books and post reviews online. I'm still a book review blogger, just not in the traditional sense.

I'll still be online. You can chat with me on Twitter, where I'll be posting links to my reviews and talking books. I'll also be posting links to nutrition articles. And if you'd like to connect with me where I guarantee I will post reviews, just add me as a friend on Goodreads.

So that's all, folks! It's been a fun and amazing journey, and I thank you all for listening to my thoughts about books. I hope we all can keep in touch elsewhere :)

Tori

Saturday, October 16, 2010

Author Interview with Karen Kincy + Giveaway!




Hey guys, and welcome to Day 1 of the Crossroads Tour!  For the rest of the month, I will be posting interviews with YA authors who are part of the tour.  I will also be hosting a giveaway (which you can enter today), that will end on Halloween.


Don't forget to check out the Wolfy Chicks blog for today's research question!  You need all 16 correct answers in order to be entered in the grand prize giveaway.
 
 
A shameless nerd and lover of snark, Karen lives in western Washington, where she recently graduated from The Evergreen State College. She ripped off her hometown of Snohomish, WA for the fictional locale of Klikamuks, where Other takes place. When she’s not at her computer, writing, she’s probably out in the forest with her notebook, writing, or on a photography expedition with her trusty digital camera. She likes to imagine werewolves lurking among the trees.


Karen is represented by Sara Crowe at Harvey Klinger, Inc. She is a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators.
 
 
Connect with Karen:



Can you tell readers one unique thing about yourself?
I grow Venus flytraps on my kitchen windowsill. And feed them mosquitoes that tried to feed off of me. They’re part of my collection of plantlings.

How long did it take you to write Other?
About two years, I think, with maybe another year of solid revisions. It’s all kind of hazy now, since I drafted it within a few months, let it sit, revised, let it sit more, etc. Rather like kneading dough and letting it rise, then finally getting to bake it.

Who is Gwen's favorite singer/band?
Good question! She seems like a Coldplay sort of girl. Maybe some Evanescence, too.

What time of day do you typically write?
In the afternoon and evening, though I have been known to stay up quite late when the words keep on flowing. In the morning, I’m usually too groggy and/or curious what’s in my email inbox, so I do that before settling down into a writing routine.

Is there one question you wish bloggers would ask you about but don't? What is it, and how would you answer?
Well, bloggers have been pretty good at asking almost everything! But not this: “What do you think makes a strong female character in young adult fiction?”

I think girl protagonists get a lot of flak. Particularly in paranormal romance, where guys get judged almost entirely by sexiness, but girls are trashed for being too spineless or too bitchy. Yes, it’s hard to make an everyday human girl shine beside a gorgeous paranormal dude with amazing charisma and an exotic history ten times as long as hers. So often the girl doesn’t even try, and just feels breathless and swept away by the overwhelming guy. In this case, I think the girl narrator acts as an envelope for the reader’s feelings, rather than a character in her own right.

But I think authors can do better than that. Sure, fiction can be an escapist pleasure, but it doesn’t please me to imagine dating a guy who’s spectacularly “better” than me and consumes my every waking moment. I have a life. He should have one, too, that doesn’t involve brooding and gazing deeply into my eyes, which is only nice in reasonable doses. Ahem.

Anyway, to get back on track, I’d much prefer a heroine who holds her own against whatever guy she stumbles into. Even if she’s human, she’s definitely not “ordinary,” because frankly I’ve never met an “ordinary girl.” Everybody has their own passions and strengths, and I’d love to meet a fictional heroine who brings some great ones to the table. That would add sizzle to any story, romance or no romance.


Thanks for stopping by Karen!




Sorry, this giveaway is now CLOSED.


Seventeen-year-old Gwen hides a dangerous secret: she’s Other. Half-pooka, to be exact, thanks to the father she never met. Most Americans don’t exactly roll out the welcome mat for Others, especially not the small-town folks of Klikamuks, Washington. As if this isn’t bad enough, Gwen’s on the brink of revealing her true identity to her long-time boyfriend, Zack, but she’s scared he’ll lump her with the likes of bloodthirsty vampires and feral werewolves.

When a pack of werewolves chooses the national forest behind Gwen’s home as their new territory, the tensions in Klikamuks escalate-into murder. It soon becomes clear a serial killer is methodically slaying Others. The police turn a blind eye, leaving Gwen to find the killer before the killer finds her. As she hunts for clues, she uncovers more Others living nearby than she ever expected. Like Tavian, a sexy Japanese fox-spirit who rivals Zack and challenges her to embrace her Otherness. Gwen must struggle with her own conflicted identity, learn who she can trust, and-most importantly-stay alive.


 

Purchase OTHER:
Amazon ~ B&N ~ Borders ~ Book Depot

42 comments:

  1. Loved your answer for the last question. Nice interview and thanks for the giveaway. ^_^

    hauntingorchid (at) aol (dot) com

    ReplyDelete
  2. Mary D
    zenrei57 (at) hotmail (dot) com

    Coldplay - that's awesome!!! Very nice interview and thank you so much for such a good giveaway :D

    ReplyDelete
  3. Great interview thanks for the giveaway!

    Tweeted: http://twitter.com/ashleybookshelf/status/27556941994


    Don't forget to check out my giveaway.

    ashleysbookshelf[at]gmail[dot]com

    Ashley's Bookshelf

    P.S. I sell complete blog layouts made by me thru blogger template. If you would be interested in one please email for the prices and I would be extremely thrilled to assist you!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Great interview and thanks for the giveaway!!

    Kelsey O.
    kopsahl48(at)gmail(dot)com

    Tweeted: http://twitter.com/#!/kopsahl/status/27559125483

    ReplyDelete
  5. Great interview and a very cool blog! And I'd love to enter please too.

    editor [at] cuckleburr [dot] com

    Thanks!
    Kay
    The Cuckleburr Times

    ReplyDelete
  6. Thanks for the interview. Please enter me.

    vlfink@msn.com

    ReplyDelete
  7. Strong female characters. Yay!!!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Thanks for the chance to win.
    bkhabel at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  9. I enjoyed the interview and I'd love to read the book.

    Tweeted http://twitter.com/BookOwner/status/27570907060

    seriousreader at live dot com

    ReplyDelete
  10. Great interview. Thanks for the giveaway!
    throuthehaze at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  11. Awesome interview! It was fun to learn more about Karen and her book! :) Also, I would love to enter.

    laurenscrammedbookshelf@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  12. great interview and thanks for the chance to win

    june111@att.net

    ReplyDelete
  13. Please enter me! I'd love to get my hands on this book. : ) http://twitter.com/wordsrollon/status/27583343560
    ambience.of.rain {at} gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  14. Thanks!

    joanna_102693(AT)hotmail(DOT)com

    ReplyDelete
  15. One of the reasons I'm not wild about a lot of YA literature is the way the female protagonists are portrayed, so I really appreciated Karen's answer on that. I'd love to win this book.

    jen at delux dot com

    ReplyDelete
  16. This looks like an awesome read! Thanks for the giveaway!

    VanillaMusic15@aol.com

    ReplyDelete
  17. Great interview This book sounds so good can't wait to read it. Thank you for this great giveaway!
    tweeted too
    http://twitter.com/#!/latishajean/status/27596056349
    tishajean@charter.net

    ReplyDelete
  18. Great interview! (:

    bratdownstairs at yahoo

    ReplyDelete
  19. This one looks awesome. I would love to be entered to win this one.

    follow on gfc

    mlawson17 at hotmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  20. I enjoyed the interview. I have never had any luck growing venus flytraps,it's the only plant I can't grow. I think the book sounds really good.

    ReplyDelete
  21. Thanks for the giveaway. I would love to win this book. It sounds really good. Tore923@aol.com

    ReplyDelete
  22. Thanks for having such an awesome giveaway! I've been wanting to read Other ever since it came out!

    pointy.star@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  23. The book looks fantastic. Thanks for the giveaway!
    Pokadots1121@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  24. Great interview. This book sounds like a great read!


    juliecookies(at)gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  25. Thanks for hosting this interview!!
    totally adding the book to my TBR list!

    ReplyDelete
  26. I enjoyed the interview. I love that you're feeding mosquitoes to your Venus flytraps. Great idea, getting rid of them and nourishing your plants too.

    Barbed1951(at)aol(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  27. Loved the interview :)

    i tweeted http://twitter.com/vampficionada/status/27687619847

    jessica b
    jecca.0104@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  28. love this interview! Best one yet. Would love to read the book.

    Heather

    ReplyDelete
  29. Great interview and this is a must read for me. Since I am sitting here in Washington as I type this I am wondering just what town Klikamuks might be modeled after...Thanks for the chance to win.

    rubymoonstone at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  30. Interesting. Neat Interview!

    marlenejaberblue@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  31. Thanks for this great interview and contest!

    Emily ebdye1(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  32. Thanks for the giveaway. Others sounds interesting. Great interview.

    BookNoise at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  33. Thank you for the giveaway!

    Twitter: http://twitter.com/jmspettoli/status/28055296897

    spettolij AT gmail DOT com

    ReplyDelete
  34. Thanks for the giveaway!

    wildpeetree7 at hotmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  35. I'd love to enter! Thanks1

    aikychien at yahoo dot com

    ReplyDelete
  36. Really enjoyed the short and sweet interview!!

    Please enter me for the giveaway =)

    Thanks,

    mishtakes AT gmail DOT com

    ReplyDelete
  37. I'm really looking forward to reading this one! I love shapeshifters!

    linaramz at yahoo dot com

    ReplyDelete
  38. I'm dying to read this book! I absolutely love what Karen says about female heroines. There seem to be so few decent heroines out there right now! It makes me sad. Katniss Everdeen is hands-down the awesomest heroine I've read, and that's because she doesn't need anyone - the girl is self-sufficient, can take care of herself, and literally kicks some ass ;-) Why can't other heroines bring that to the table?

    +1 Tweeted: http://twitter.com/#!/The_BookishType/status/28805154984

    Thank you for the giveaway!

    Casey
    thebookishtype[at]yahoo[dot]com

    ReplyDelete
  39. I'd love to read this book!

    bmweida at yahoo dot com

    ReplyDelete
  40. Never realized how hard it was to write the main female role..

    missy1549@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  41. Thanks so much!
    texas_gal45(at)hotmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete