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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FFBC: Welcome to the club, Obsidian and Stars (Ivory and Bone #2) by Julie Eshbaugh

Obsidian and Stars (Ivory and Bone #2)
by Julie Eshbaugh
Publisher: HarperTeen
Release Date: June 13, 2017
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy

Synopsis:

After surviving the chaotic battle that erupted after Lo and the Bosha clan attacked, now Mya is looking ahead to her future with Kol. All the things that once felt so uncertain are finally falling into place. But the same night as Kol and Mya’s betrothal announcement, Mya’s brother Chev reveals his plan to marry his youngest sister Lees to his friend Morsk. The only way to avoid this terrible turn of events, Morsk informs Mya when he corners her later, is for Mya to take Lees’ place and marry him herself. 

Refusing to marry anyone other than her beloved, and in an effort to protect her sister, Mya runs away to a secret island with Lees. And though it seems like the safest place to hide until things back home blow over, Mya soon realizes she’s been followed. Lurking deep in the recesses of this dangerous place are rivals from Mya’s past whose thirst for revenge exceeds all reason.

With the lives of her loved ones on the line, Mya must make a move before the enemies of her past become the undoing of her future.

Hello JULIE! We are super excited for OBSIDIAN AND STARS and to have you in our FFBC tours. 

Favorite Book?

This is suuuuuch a hard question. I’m sure I answer it differently on different days. One of my all-time favorites is Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte. It’s a real study in obsession! I also love Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen. And though those are both classics, I also love fiction by current authors, especially YA. Rainbow Rowell’s Eleanor and Park is a book I loved so much I recommended it to everyone. Lastly, I love sci-fi and fantasy. The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula K. Le Guin is amazing. 

Favorite TV show?

I loved Stranger Things, and can’t wait for its return this fall! I also never miss Elementary, and can’t wait for more episodes of Sherlock.

Favorite movie?

It was made long before I was born, but Casablanca is my all-time favorite movie. 

Favorite Song?

How Soon is Now by the Smiths. 

Favorite Food?

If I had to eat one food every day, it would be spaghetti, so I guess it’s my favorite. 

Name 3 fictional places you would move to in a heartbeat.

Hogwarts

Rivendell

The Millennium Falcon (not really a place to move to, but I would love to travel on that ship!) 

What were your favorite books growing up? (Michelle: I was a Fear Street girl!)

I loved Judy Blume’s books! Starting with Are You There God, It’s Me Margaret, I read them all. 

Favorite Quote?

Make good art. ~Neil Gaiman

What are your fandoms?

Harry Potter for sure! I would have to add Star Wars, too.

Who is your favorite fictional boyfriend (or girlfriend)?

Mr. Darcy!

Could you tell our Book Addicts a little bit about the IVORY AND BONE SERIES?

Of course, and thank you so much for inviting me to the blog!

The books are set in prehistoric times, at the end of the last Ice Age. The first book, IVORY AND BONE, is loosely based on PRIDE AND PREJUDICE, but the genders are reversed, with Mya being a bit of a female Mr. Darcy! OBSIDIAN AND STARS picks up where IVORY AND BONE left off, but it’s told from Mya’s point of view. And I know a lot of readers are expecting this to be a trilogy—I had originally planned a duology, but then expanded it to a trilogy—but in the end, it worked much better as two books. I think with one book from Kol’s point of view, and one from Mya’s point of view, I knew the series was complete. So OBSIDIAN AND STARS closes out the series.

Since IVORY AND BONE takes a classic story and takes it back to prehistoric times, what other TV Shows/Movies/Books would you love to see reversed in time and technology?

Great question! I’d love a retelling of Les Miserables, set in the contemporary world. I also really like the idea of a retelling of The Phantom of the Opera, but set in a different time and place, like maybe the Old West, or the far future.

What Hogwarts Houses would you sort your characters into? How about a Patronus for any of them?

Kol would be a Gryffindor, and I think his Patronus would be a wolf.

Mya would be a Hufflepuff, and I imagine her Patronus might be a bird of prey, like an eagle or a hawk.

Lo would be a Ravenclaw, and her Patronus would probably be a saber-toothed cat.

What 3 hashtags would you most associate with your book series? (Could be a word or phrase or anything that would instantly make you think of IVORY AND BONE or OBSIDIAN AND STARS.)

#PrehistoricRomance, #HistoryRepeatsItself, #LoveIsTimeless

Tell us your favorite quote from OBSIDIAN AND STARS.

“That's why I like the blackest nights—the darkest, obsidian skies of winter. When the world is coldest and darkest, the stars shine brightest.”

Is there a specific scene that you had the most fun to write? Or which part was the most difficult to get through?

There is a scene between Kol and Mya involving honey that gets pretty romantic. I would say that scene was the most fun to write. There are several scenes that made me cry to write them—both happy and sad tears. I won’t give any details because I don’t want to give anything away, but the sad ones were pretty hard to get through.

If you had to pick one song to be the Theme Song for OBSIDIAN AND STARS – Which one would you pick?

There’s a song from the Album Wish by the Cure called From the Edge of the Deep Green Sea. I think that song fits the book really well. 

Are there any recommendations you could give your readers to be in the “perfect mood” to read the books in the IVORY AND BONE series (specific music, snacks…)? 

I would recommend lighting candles or being near some kind of fire. Or read it on the beach or outside, since the characters are out in the natural world so much. 

What’s next for you? 

I’m working on a new fantasy story! I don’t want to give anything away, except to say it is very different from the IVORY AND BONE books. I just sent the first draft to my editor, so it’s in the early stages, but I’m excited about it! 

Thank you so much for everything, Julie!

Follow the Obsidian and Stars by Julie Eshbaugh Blog Tour and don't miss anything! Click on the banner to see the tour schedule.

Julie Eshbaugh is the author of Ivory and Bone (HarperCollins, 2016). She used to have trouble staying in one spot, having lived in places as varied as Utah, France, and New York City. Julie eventually returned home to the Philadelphia area, where she now lives with her husband, son, cat and dog. Her favorite moments are when the unexpected happens and she cheers loudest when the pitcher gets a hit.

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Cover Reveal: Off the Ice by Julie Cross

Off the Ice

by Julie Cross

Publisher: Simon & Schuster

Release Date: Spring 2016

Genres: Contemporary, Young Adult

Synopsis:

Junior Tate Tanley hasn’t made it off the bench since joining the hockey team as a freshman. But after the Otters’ star goalie leaves during a huge game, Tate’s got the attention of the entire town. Including Claire O’Connor, who’s mysteriously back in Juniper Falls and who he hasn’t seen in a year. But Tate hasn’t stopped thinking about Claire or what happened the night before she left.

Claire O’Connor should be enjoying college life in the big city. Instead, she’s serving drinks to handsy fishermen and taking care of her sick father back in Juniper Falls. And when she spots her best friend’s little brother, Tate, playing in a big varsity game, she’s thrown for a loop. Tate has grown up a lot: more muscles, more hotness, more…everything. But Claire’s responsibility is to her family, and she doesn’t have time for boys—especially not hockey players.

As games, parties, and town drama throw Tate and Claire together, they can’t ignore what happened last fall—and they can’t ignore what’s brewing between them now. It’s finally time for them to unravel the secrets of their past and face the future together.

Julie Cross lives in Central Illinois with her husband and three children. She’s a former gymnast and longtime gymnastics fan, coach, and former gymnastics program director with the YMCA. She’s a lover of books, devouring several novels a week, especially in the young adult and new adult genres. Outside of her reading and writing credentials, Julie is a committed—but not talented—long-distance runner, creator of imaginary beach vacations, Midwest bipolar-weather survivor, and expired CPR certification card holder, as well as a ponytail and gym-shoe addict.