Interview with Zoraida Córdova for Incendiary

Incendiary (Hollow Crown #1)

by Zoraida Córdova
Publisher: Disney-Hyperion
Release Date: April 28th 2020

Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy

Synopsis:

I am Renata Convida.

I have lived a hundred stolen lives.

Now I live my own.

Renata Convida was only a child when she was kidnapped by the King's Justice and brought to the luxurious palace of Andalucia. As a Robari, the rarest and most feared of the magical Moria, Renata's ability to steal memories from royal enemies enabled the King's Wrath, a siege that resulted in the deaths of thousands of her own people.

Now Renata is one of the Whispers, rebel spies working against the crown and helping the remaining Moria escape the kingdom bent on their destruction. The Whispers may have rescued Renata from the palace years ago, but she cannot escape their mistrust and hatred--or the overpowering memories of the hundreds of souls she turned "hollow" during her time in the palace.

When Dez, the commander of her unit, is taken captive by the notorious Sangrado Prince, Renata will do anything to save the boy whose love makes her place among the Whispers bearable. But a disastrous rescue attempt means Renata must return to the palace under cover and complete Dez's top secret mission. Can Renata convince her former captors that she remains loyal, even as she burns for vengeance against the brutal, enigmatic prince? Her life and the fate of the Moria depend on it.

But returning to the palace stirs childhood memories long locked away. As Renata grows more deeply embedded in the politics of the royal court, she uncovers a secret in her past that could change the entire fate of the kingdom--and end the war that has cost her everything.

Can you briefly describe INCENDIARY and its characters?

Incendiary is a fantasy novel about a girl with the power to steal memories, who returns to the place of her childhood prison in order to find a weapon created to destroy her people. It’s got romance, political intrigue, and a heroine who will stop at nothing to get her revenge. 

Who would you say is your favourite character from the story and why?

Probably my protagonist, Ren because redemption is one of my favorite themes to explore! Ren’s POV is the toughest one I’ve ever tried to tackle. She has suffered so much and she spends most of her young adulthood feeling guilt over things she couldn’t control as a kid. She was a weapon and she’s still a weapon. In the context of Puerto Leones, this fantasy kingdom, what does it mean when her whole being is suspect? When her own people distrust her? How long must she atone for? Should a child have to atone for the things they did, while under manipulation? It’s all so difficult to answer. Ren’s mind is so dark, and a lot of my other books have so much comic-relief, so this was definitely a challenge for me! But I loved the girl Ren is and the one that she chooses to become.

If you could choose one song to describe your book, which one would it be?

Lost River by Murder by Death, mostly because it’s one of the songs I listened on repeat while I drafted it.

If your book was going to be made into a movie, who would play your characters?

I’m the worst at fancasting! But I’ll give it a shot. 

Renata: Emeraude Tobia 

Castian: Dominic Sherwood-ish

Dez: Luke Pasqualino-ish

What drink and place do you think will go with your book to have a perfect book date?

A glass of cava and an incredible Iberian charcuterie board.

Can you recommend your readers any other books in case they are left hungry for more once they finish INCENDIARY?

Queens of Innis Lear by Tessa Gratton

Furyborn by Claire Legrand

What would you say is the most difficult part of writing a book?

I actually teach workshops on this, so I wouldn’t be able to answer it without going into great detail. The short version is: I use the theory of the cultural iceberg to shape my magical and fantastical civilizations. I don’t think that you can create something from true scratch because everything has an analog. It can be original, but there will still be real world references. Using the cultural iceberg, I think about what is surface culture (the things we see like clothes, food, music) and what is deep culture (the things like values, religion, politics). I talk about it on my podcast, Deadline City, with my co-host Dhonielle Clayton. March 2020 was our “World Building March” and we broke down both our fantasy writing processes. https://deadlinecity.com/2020/03/25/season-2-episode-7-iceberg-inlet/

Zoraida Córdova is the author of many fantasy novels including Star Wars: A Crash of Fate, the Brooklyn Brujas series, and The Vicious Deep trilogy. Her novel Labyrinth Lost won the International Book Award for Best Young Adult Novel in 2017. Her short fiction has appeared in the New York Times bestselling anthology Star Wars: From a Certain Point of View, and Toil & Trouble: 15 Tales of Women and Witchcraft. Her upcoming books include Incendiary, book one in the Hollow Crown duology (Hyperion 2020) and she's the co-editor of Vampires Never Get Old (Imprint 2020). Zoraida was born in Ecuador and raised in Queens, New York. When she isn’t working on her next novel, she’s planning her next adventure.

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Interview with Julie Eshabugh for Crown Of Oblivion

Crown of Oblivion

by Julie Eshbaugh
Publisher: HarperTeen
Release Date: November 12th 2019

Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy

Synopsis:

Astrid is the surrogate for Princess Renya, which means she bears the physical punishment if Renya steps out of line. Astrid has no choice—she and her family are Outsiders, the lower class of people without magic and without citizenship.

But there is a way out of this life—competing in the deadly Race of Oblivion. To enter the race, an Outsider is administered the drug Oblivion, which wipes their memory clear of their past as they enter a new world with nothing to help them but a slip of paper bearing their name and the first clue. It’s not as simple as solving a puzzle, however—for a majority of the contestants, the race ends in death. But winning would mean not only freedom for Astrid, but citizenship and health care for her entire family. With a dying father to think of, Astrid is desperate to prevail.

From the beginning, the race is filled with twists and turns. One of them is Darius, a fellow racer Astrid meets but isn’t sure she can trust. Though they team up in the race, as Astrid’s memories begin to resurface, she remembers just who he was to her—a scorned foe who may want revenge. Astrid also starts to notice she has powers no Outsider should—which could help her win the race, but also make her a target if anyone finds out. With stakes that couldn’t be higher, Astrid must decide what is more important: risking her life to remember the mysteries of the past, or playing a cutthroat game in order to win her—and her family’s—freedom.

Can you briefly describe CROWN OF OBLIVION and its characters?

Crown of Oblivion is the story of Astrid, a girl who enters a dangerous race to win citizenship and free herself and her family from a life of servitude. Right before the race, all contestants are dosed with the drug Oblivion, which purges their personal memories, leaving them with no knowledge of who can be trusted, and no sense of self. The terrain is dangerous, and the pace gruelling. Astrid might not remember herself, but she knows she must have had a reason to enter this race and to believe she could win, and that’s what she intends to do. 

Along the way she crosses paths with people who claim to know her and want to help her, as well as Darius, another racer whom she is reluctant to trust. In a world where everyone’s a stranger, Astrid can only depend on herself. 

Who would you say is your favourite character from the story and why?

Astrid is definitely a favourite character of mine. She is fierce but still vulnerable, considering her circumstances. She’s the kind of girl who charges forward in the face of fear, if it means helping someone she loves. 

How did the story occur to you? Did you find inspiration anywhere?

I’ve always been fascinated by memory and how it forms us. I started writing this book in late 2016, and a few months later, my step-mom, who was suffering from Alzheimer’s disease, moved back to my local area with my father so I could help take care of her. Meanwhile, my mother-in-law was also suffering from dementia and could no longer recognize anyone in our family. It was heart breaking. They both passed away this year. I didn’t realize it at the time, but I know now that supporting and loving these two wonderful women as they coped with memory loss inspired a lot of this book. 

If you could choose one song to describe your book, which one would it be?

Heroes by David Bowie.

Winter is here, and we love to find our perfect cosy spot. What drink and place do you think will go with your book to have a perfect book date?

I think Crown of Oblivion is the kind of book you want to read by the window, watching the snow fall outside, drinking a cup of hot tea. 

Can you recommend your readers any other books in case they are left hungry for more once they finish CROWN OF OBLIVION?

I’m currently reading Star-Crossed by Pintip Dunn, and I am loving it! It’s got a completely unique, complex plot in a sci-fi world that reminds me of Beth Revis’s Across the Universe trilogy. I recommend it to readers who are interested in sibling rivalries, ethical dilemmas, and sci-fi mysteries. 

What would you say is the most difficult part of writing a book?

This is a great question, and I suspect every writer would have a different answer. For me, it’s getting the small moment-to-moment, scene-level story on the page, while staying on track with the big story of each of the characters’ individual arcs. Fortunately, I have worked with a wonderful editor who helps me stay on track.

What’s next for you?

I’m currently working on a book that’s got a mysterious, almost gothic vibe. I can’t say much more than that! It’s very early and I don’t want to say too much because so much could still change. Stay tuned!

Julie Eshbaugh is a YA writer and former filmmaker. She made two short films and then spent several years producing an online video series for teens which received several honors from the Webby Awards. Her new YA fantasy standalone, CROWN OF OBLIVION, is coming from HarperTeen November 2019. IVORY AND BONE (HarperTeen 2016) and OBSIDIAN AND STARS (HarperTeen 2017), her prehistoric fantasy duology, are out now. You can learn more about Julie’s writing escapades by visiting www.julieeshbaugh.com.

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Interview with Mara Rutherford for Crown of Coral and Pearl

Crown of Coral and Pearl

by Mara Rutherford
Publisher: Inkyard Press
Release Date: August 27th 2019

Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy

Synopsis:

For generations, the princes of Ilara have married the most beautiful maidens from the ocean village of Varenia. But though every girl longs to be chosen as the next princess, the cost of becoming royalty is higher than any of them could ever imagine…

Nor once dreamed of seeing the wondrous wealth and beauty of Ilara, the kingdom that’s ruled her village for as long as anyone can remember. But when a childhood accident left her with a permanent scar, it became clear that her identical twin sister, Zadie, would likely be chosen to marry the Crown Prince—while Nor remained behind, unable to ever set foot on land.

Then Zadie is gravely injured, and Nor is sent to Ilara in her place. To Nor’s dismay, her future husband, Prince Ceren, is as forbidding and cold as his home—a castle carved into a mountain and devoid of sunlight. And as she grows closer to Ceren’s brother, the charming Prince Talin, Nor uncovers startling truths about a failing royal bloodline, a murdered queen… and a plot to destroy the home she was once so eager to leave.

In order to save her people, Nor must learn to negotiate the treacherous protocols of a court where lies reign and obsession rules. But discovering her own formidable strength may be the one move that costs her everything: the crown, Varenia and Zadie.

Can you briefly describe CROWN OF CORAL AND PEARL and the characters?

Identical twins Nor and Zadie live in Varenia, an ocean village that provides the Kingdom of Ilara with two rare exports: pink pearls and a bride for the Ilarean prince. But when Zadie is chosen against her will, the sisters devise a plan that will change not only Nor's fate, but that of an entire kingdom, forever.

Who would you say is your favourite character from the story and why?

My favorite character is Nor, because she’s the main character and I’ve spent so much time “in her head,” so to speak. She is the kind of person I aspire to be – loyal, brave, generous, and scrappy. But my favorite character to write was probably Ceren. I can’t help it – I love a villain.

How did the story occur to you? Did you find inspiration anywhere?

This was a story that had been brewing in my head for a while – twin sisters whose lives are a competition, whether they like it or not. Other elements, like diving for pearls and a mountain castle, came to me in bits and pieces in the form of magazine articles, photographs, and music.

If you could choose one song to describe your book, which one would it be?

There is a song by Enya called “The Humming” that I heard on an airplane radio station which totally reminds of me CoCaP. The lyrics are:

And all the light, will be, will be And all the future prophecy And all the waves, the sea, the sea And on the road are you and me

If your book was going to be made into a movie, who would play your characters?

It’s a little limiting when your main characters are identical twins, but Elisha and Renee Herbert (Australian models) would work. And it turns out they have a triplet brother, just like I do! I could see KJ Apa playing Talin.

Summer is here and we love to go out and enjoy the sun. What drink and place do you think will go with your book to have a perfect book date?

CoCaP would definitely be a perfect beach read with a pina colada! But it also has a mountain setting, and I could imagine reading it in a cozy cabin after a day of hiking or horseback riding with a glass of cider.

Can you recommend your readers any other books in case they are left hungry for more once they finish CROWN OF CORAL AND PEARL?

I recently read Robin LaFever’s His Fair Assassin series and loved it. I’m also a huge Holly Black fan and am waiting impatiently for the conclusion to her The Folk of the Air trilogy.

What’s next for you?

I’m working on a contemporary fantasy about a girl who wants revenge on the wishing well spirit who cursed her family.

Mara Rutherford began her writing career as a journalist but quickly discovered she far preferred fantasy to reality. Originally from California, Mara has since lived all over the world, from Russia to Peru, along with her Marine-turned-diplomat husband and two sons. A triplet born on Leap Day, Mara holds a Master's degree in Cultural Studies from the University of London and would rather study the folklore of her next post than the language (which she has found is a lot more fun but not nearly as useful). She is a former Pitch Wars mentee and three-time mentor. Her debut YA fantasy, CORAL AND PEARL, will release from Harlequin Teen in Fall 2019.

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