Interview with Addie Thorley for Night Spinner

Night Spinner (Night Spinner #1)

by Addie Thorley
Publisher: Page Street Kids
Release Date: February 11th 2020

Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy, Retellings

Synopsis:

A must-read for fans of Leigh Bardugo’s Grishaverse, transforming The Hunchback of Notre Dame into a powerful tundra-inspired epic.

Before the massacre at Nariin, Enebish was one of the greatest warriors in the Sky King’s Imperial Army: a rare and dangerous Night Spinner, blessed with the ability to control the threads of darkness. Now, she is known as Enebish the Destroyer―a monster and murderer, banished to a monastery for losing control of her power and annihilating a merchant caravan.

Guilt stricken and scarred, Enebish tries to be grateful for her sanctuary, until her adoptive sister, Imperial Army commander Ghoa, returns from the war front with a tantalizing offer. If Enebish can capture the notorious criminal, Temujin, whose band of rebels has been seizing army supply wagons, not only will her crimes be pardoned, she will be reinstated as a warrior.

Enebish eagerly accepts. But as she hunts Temujin across the tundra, she discovers the tides of war have shifted, and the supplies he’s stealing are the only thing keeping thousands of shepherds from starving. Torn between duty and conscience, Enebish must decide whether to put her trust in the charismatic rebel or her beloved sister. No matter who she chooses, an even greater enemy is advancing, ready to bring the empire to its knees.

Can you briefly describe NIGHT SPINNER and its characters? 

Night Spinner is a gender-swapped reimagining of The Hunchback of Notre Dame, set in the Arctic tundra. It centers on Enebish, a former warrior who committed an atrocious war crime and was banished to a monastery. When her sister Ghoa, the commander of the Imperial Army, offers Enebish a chance at freedom and reinstatement in exchange for capturing a notorious rebel, she jumps at the chance. But as Enebish hunts the rebels across the tundra, she begins to question her beloved sister and the nation she vowed to serve. 

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

Serik (Enebish’s best friend and the world’s most irreverent monk) is hands down my favorite character in this book. And across every book I’ve ever written! He is blunt and stubborn and unapologetically himself. He was like a firecracker in my mind. I always knew exactly what he would do or say in any situation. It was like he was sitting on my shoulder dictating his scenes to me. 

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

Night Spinner came to me like a bolt of lightning. Usually, my stories take a while to develop and marinate, but not this one. I’d had the song “Out There” from Disney’s The Hunchback of Notre Dame randomly stuck in my head for an entire week (which was SO WEIRD, since I hadn’t seen or thought of that movie in ages). Then one day while I was cooking, and singing this song yet again, I had a very clear image pop into my mind of a scarred girl sitting on a temple rooftop in the howling wind and snow, fiddling with black threads that could only be darkness. I ran upstairs so fast I face-planted and furiously began typing. Ten minutes later, I’d written an outline for Night Spinner. Which was a big deal for a pantser like me, who never outlines or has the slightest idea where my stories will go. 

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

My previous answer totally gave this one away, but I have to choose “Out There” from The Hunchback of Notre Dame. Quasimodo’s longing is so acute and his desire is so simple—just one day of freedom—but it’s also completely impossible. I wanted to write about a character with this bone-deep longing. A character who wore their heart on their sleeve and was achingly relatable, despite the mistakes they’d made in their past. 

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

I think for the ultimate effect, Night Spinner should be read in a cabin, high up in the snowy mountains, in the dark (of course!), curled up next to a crackling fire. Or, even better, up on the cabin rooftop if you’re not afraid of heights and don’t mind the bitter cold. A delicious spiced cider would be the perfect complement—it’s sweet and warm but packs a little punch, like Enebish 

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

Yes! Recommending books is one of my favorite things to do! If you’re looking for books with a similar feel, I highly recommend The Last Namsara series by Kristin Ciccarelli, Sky in the Deep by Adrienne Young, and Spin the Dawn by Elizabeth Lim. 

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

Drafting! I’m a very messy pantser, so the process of putting those initial words down on the page is so hard for me. I end up tossing tens of thousands of words (which is so inefficient!) and means I usually have to write at least double my target word count in order to end up with a workable story. I’d rather revise any day. 

What’s next for you?

Right now, I’m hard at work editing the sequel to Night Spinner (which is currently untitled, so if you have any ideas, send them my way! Lol) As I mentioned above, my process is MESSY. I had to write over 250k words in order to get 100k good ones. But now the fun begins, when I get to heighten the tension, tighten the plot, and make everything shine.

Addie Thorley is the author of An Affair of Poisons, a YA historical fantasy, which was chosen as a Barnes and Noble Discover Great New Writers selection and is a YALSA Best Fiction for Young Adults nominee. Her forthcoming novel, Night Spinner, will be released on February 11, 2020.

She spent her childhood playing soccer, riding horses, and scribbling stories. After graduating from the University of Utah with a degree in journalism, Addie decided “hard news” didn’t contain enough magic and kissing, so she flung herself into the land of fiction and never looked back. She now lives in Princeton, New Jersey with her husband, daughter, and wolf dog. When she’s not writing she can be found gallivanting in the woods or galloping around the barn where she works as a horse trainer and exercise rider.

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Interview with Joanna Hathaway for Storm From The East

Storm from the East (Glass Alliance #2)

by Joanna Hathaway
Publisher: Tor Teen
Release Date: February 11th 2020

Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy, Adventure, High Fantasy

Synopsis:

Battles, revolution, and romance collide in Joanna Hathaway's stunning, World Wars-inspired sequel to Dark of the West

Part war drama, part romance, Storm from the East is the second novel in Joanna Hathaway’s immersive, upmarket YA fantasy series that will appeal to readers of Sabaa Tahir, Marie Rutkoski, and Evelyn Skye.

War has begun, and the days of Athan’s and Aurelia’s secret, summer romance feel a world away. Led by Athan’s father, the revolutionary Safire have launched a secret assault upon the last royal kingdom in the South, hoping to depose the king and seize a powerful foothold on the continent. Athan proves a star pilot among their ranks, struggling to justify the violence his family has unleashed as he fights his way to the capital—where, unbeknownst to him, Aurelia has lived since the war’s onset. Determined to save the kingdom Athan has been ordered to destroy, she partners with a local journalist to inflame anti-Safire sentiment, all while learning this conflict might be far darker and more complex than she ever imagined.

When the two reunite at last, Athan longing to shake the nightmare of combat and Aurelia reeling from the discovery of a long-buried family truth come to light, they’ll find the shadow of war stretches well beyond the battlefield. Each of them longs to rekindle the love they once shared . . . but each has a secret they’re desperate to hide.

Can you briefly describe the GLASS ALLIANCE series, its characters and what’s going to happen in STORM FROM THE EAST?

Absolutely! The Glass Alliance series follows two young people on opposite sides of a war—Aurelia, a princess, and Athan, a fighter pilot. Their rival families are tangled in a multigenerational conflict, and when Athan is sent undercover to spy on Aurelia in the first book, the two begin a secret romance, testing their already strained family and national loyalties. The second book continues their parallel journeys after war has officially broken out. On opposing frontlines, they learn more of their parents’ secrets and the history of their own world, and also more about who they are in light of those revelations. Will they choose their families or each other? And can they still fight for peace in an increasingly complex (and dark) war?

Who would you say is your favourite character in this second book and why?

It’s hard to choose, but I love Athan’s brother Kalt in this second book. He’s such a quiet, enigmatic character, and I think Storm From the East really gives us a chance to see a bit more of how he thinks and what he’s fighting for as we encounter him in both Athan and Aurelia’s differing perspectives.

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

It actually started with a scene from the first book, Dark of the West. For some reason, I imagined this moment in a garden with a young soldier and a young lady, and he picked a flower for her which turned out to be bad luck. From there, I wanted to know how they had arrived in that garden as enemies and what would happen after that chance meeting?

If you could choose one song to describe STORM FROM THE EAST, which one would it be?

I think it’s definitely The War by SYML. 

On our last interview, you mentioned that Manpreet Bambra reminded you of Aurelia. Has anything changed since then? Do you have any other people in mind that reminded you of any of your other characters?

I confess, I’m still really bad at answering this question! Manpreet remains a lovely Aurelia, though, and I do think that Mark Strong would be a great General Dakar. That’s all I’ve got! I need to work on this one…

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

The battles in this book are somewhat inspired by the Italian campaign in the Second World War, so I think it would be good to read this book somewhere in the mountains with a nice cappuccino. Anything with a warm Mediterranean feel would be the right location.

What’s your favourite quote from STORM FROM THE EAST?

I’m going to go with this section from one of Aurelia’s letters to Athan while they are apart. I like it because she recognizes that even if their young love ends, there is something about their connection that goes deeper than romance and is more about how they’ve connected as friends and human beings.

“Even if we someday outgrow this ‘infatuation’, I know it won’t ever truly be over, not even when I’m old, because you’ll forever represent the spirit of the very sky to me. No one can kill the earth. No one can shrink it back down to the earth. I need to believe there are some things in this world which can’t be stolen from it. Some wild and breathless realms, too high to touch, even by war, and you are one of them — always.”

Can you recommend your readers any other books in case they are left hungry for more once they finish STORM FROM THE EAST?

A great book about the First World War, but with a Greek gods twist (which is as unique as it sounds!), is Lovely War by Julie Berry. If you’re looking for something a bit more firmly rooted in history, I highly recommend Salt to the Sea by Ruta Sepetys, Mornings in Jenin by Susan Abulhawa, and Girl at War by Sara Nović. And then there’s the timeless All Quiet on the Western Front by Erich Maria Remarque, which completely changed my perspective on history when I read it at about fourteen. If you read only one book about war, this is the one to read.

What would you say is the most difficult part of writing a book and which book in the GLASS ALLIANCE series was the most difficult to write and why?

I think each book provides its own unique challenges because, as a writer, we’re always growing and pushing ourselves to the next level. That drive to improve means no draft is ever easy. It always feels harder than the one that came before because we are learning and developing our voice, and then we hold ourselves to an even higher standard each time. But there is joy in the work, of course! As for Glass Alliance, I have a feeling the third and final instalment will be the most difficult for me. There are a lot of characters and plots to wrangle into a satisfying, emotional ending!

What’s next for you?

I’m currently working on the third book in this trilogy, along with a few other side projects that refuse to let me go. I’m a notoriously slow writer, but once a story has its claws on me, I will wrestle with it for years until it becomes what it needs to be. I’m a bit stubborn. J

JOANNA HATHAWAY was born in Montréal and is an avid storyteller who was inspired to write after reading her great-grandfather’s memoirs of the First World War. A lifelong history buff, she now has shelves filled with biographies and historical accounts, and perhaps one too many books about pilots. She can often be found reading, traveling, or riding horses.

Her debut novel DARK OF THE WEST is the first in a World Wars-infused fantasy series of forbidden love and deadly revenge. STORM FROM THE EAST will hit shelves on February 11, 2020.

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⚔ G I V E A W A Y ⚔ . . Happy Thursday, beautiful bookish people! . . What do you usually have for breakfast? I recently discovered overnight oats 🥣 and I am addicted! If anyone can recommend any good recipes, I am all ears! 👂🏼 . . Today, I have a book filled with drama, battles and romance. A year ago, I got the chance to work with @spitfirewriter for the first book in the #GlassAlliance series (#DarkOfTheWest) and this week I have the honor to help her promote her second book: #StormFromTheEast. I always say that for me, romances are important in my stories to root for the characters, and the tension from being apart, the secrets, the love... I honestly enjoyed this second novel so much I can't put it into words and I can't wait to see what's next! . . If you want to get your hands on a copy of Joanna Hathaway's new book, now is your chance! We are giving away here 3 copies of the book (US Only) and 3 copies on my blog. So head over to read my interview with Joanna or go to the CURRENT GIVEAWAYS section on @theffbc site. . . Entries for the giveaway: ▪︎Follow @theffbc & @whatmakespatri ▪︎Follow @spitfirewriter ▪︎Follow @torteen ▪︎Comment - Answer my question above ⬆️ #qotd . . Extra entries: ▪︎Tag a friend (each friend will be an extra entry). ▪︎Share the giveaway on your stories (tag @whatmakespatri & @theffbc) ▪︎Follow @michellesulk & @artsyreadergirl ▪︎Follow any other FFBC team member participating in the tour (let us know on the comment section who did you follow). Check everyone's Instagram handles below: @moonlight_rendezvous @thattransylvanianchick @booking_belle @books_over_everything @l.m.durand @thegeekishbrunette @sometimesleelynnreads @a_bookish_dream @novelknight @the_bookish_ballad @popthebutterfly @mybkishescapades @jenerallyreading . #stormfromtheeast #glassalliance #torteen #joannahathaway #bookshimmy #booksbooksbooks #bookcommunity #bookgram #yabookstagram #ireadya #booksatgrammer #bibliophile #bookphotography #booknerd #booklover #amreading #yalit #booksofinstagram #bookgiveaway #bookish #booknerdigans #myeverydaymagic #flatlaystyle

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Interview with Kim Smejkal for Ink In The Blood

Ink in the Blood (Ink in The Blood #1)

by Kim Smejkal

Publisher: HMH Books for Young Readers

Release Date: February 11th 2020

Genre: Young Adult, LGBT, Fantasy

Synopsis:

A lush, dark YA fantasy debut that weaves together tattoo magic, faith, and eccentric theater in a world where lies are currency and ink is a weapon, perfect for fans of Leigh Bardugo and Kendare Blake.

Celia Sand and her best friend, Anya Burtoni, are inklings for the esteemed religion of Profeta. Using magic, they tattoo followers with beautiful images that represent the Divine’s will and guide the actions of the recipients. It’s considered a noble calling, but ten years into their servitude Celia and Anya know the truth: Profeta is built on lies, the tattooed orders strip away freedom, and the revered temple is actually a brutal, torturous prison.

Their opportunity to escape arrives with the Rabble Mob, a traveling theater troupe. Using their inkling abilities for performance instead of propaganda, Celia and Anya are content for the first time . . . until they realize who followed them. The Divine they never believed in is very real, very angry, and determined to use Celia, Anya, and the Rabble Mob’s now-infamous stage to spread her deceitful influence even further.

To protect their new family from the wrath of a malicious deity and the zealots who work in her name, Celia and Anya must unmask the biggest lie of all—Profeta itself.

Can you briefly describe INK IN THE BLOOD and its characters?

Thanks for having me! INK IN THE BLOOD is a YA dark fantasy that features fierce friendships, tattoo magic, found family, and lots of theatre. It was originally pitched as Grisha at the Moulin Rouge, which I still think is a great description! The story follows Celia and Anya, best friends who serve the religion of Profeta by tattooing divine messages onto the skin of believers. They yearn to escape their servitude, and are finally able to sneak away with the help of a traveling theatre troupe. Unfortunately, the deity they never believed in has other plans for them…

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

I have so many favorites! Celia is the most like me as a young adult, so it was difficult and wonderful to write her because it meant tapping into a lot of the insecurities and issues I once struggled with. Lupita was an absolute joy to write, because she’s so broken and yet still so strong. And, of course, I love the plague doctor. He was the character who changed the least during revisions: his riddles and strange, upside-down way of seeing the world came relatively easily to me, and I feel I know him the best.

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

I’m usually a pantser—I write by the seat of my pants and don't truly know where the story is going until the characters show me the way—but Ink in the Blood was unique in that I had a very clear picture of the climax scene in my mind from the beginning. The elements of the story—tattoo magic, a malicious deity, and a traveling theatre troupe—seemed to flow organically as I wrote towards that ending. Although it still took many revision rounds to get to the final product, it was one of the easier books I’ve ever written because it felt like it was already there inside me and just needed to be let out. 

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

Picking just one song is so difficult, but I’ll go with Seven Devils by Florence + the Machine. Thematically, it’s quite perfect. :)

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

I’m terrible at fancasting! Instead of choosing actors, here are some images from my pinterest board that I used for inspiration for a few of the main characters. They’re perfect!

(left to right are Celia, Anya, Vincent, and the plague doctor) 

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

What a great question. I’d have to say the perfect date would be an unhealthy dose of absinthe paired with a raucous broadway show! 

Can you recommend your readers any other books in case they are left hungry for more once they finish INK IN THE BLOOD? 

Of course! I love giving book recommendations. Recently, I’ve really enjoyed The Good Luck Girls by Charlotte Nicole Davis, Wicked Saints by Emily A. Duncan, The Waking Forest by Alyssa Wees, Enchantée by Gita Trelease, The Bones Houses by Emily Lloyd-Jones, Belle Révolte by Linsey Miller, and Ghost Wood Song by Erica Waters (this last one isn't out for a few months, but it should definitely go on every tbr!)

And of course, the sequel to Ink in the Blood—CURSE OF THE DIVINE—is coming out in early 2021. ;) 

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

Usually whichever part I’m in the middle of, haha. But seriously, I find that first real revision to be the most difficult part. My first drafts are pretty clean because I revise as I go, and by the time I get to the end, it’s usually as good as I can make it myself. Once I send it out to my agent, critique partners, and beta readers, I have to sit down and reconsider the story in light of their feedback. It’s not always a huge job, but there are always things that come up that I hadn't considered! 

What’s next for you?

CURSE OF THE DIVINE is the sequel to INK IN THE BLOOD, and it’s coming out in February 2021. CURSE has a little less blood but a lot more ink (!), and I’m excited to finish that one up and maaaaybe even see ARCs soon! 

Thanks so much for having me on your blog!

Kim Smejkal lives with her family on muse-satiating Vancouver Island, which means she’s often lost in the woods or wandering a beach. She writes dark fantasy for young adults and not-so-young adults, always with a touch of magic. Her debut novel, INK IN THE BLOOD, will release from HMH in early 2020, with a sequel to follow in 2021. She is represented by Daniel Lazar of Writers House.

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💠 G I V E A W A Y 💠 . . Happy Wednesday, Beautiful Bookish People! . . Do you have any tattoos? If yes, what do you have, where and level of hurt from 0 to 10? If not, would you have one and what? I have 3: A tiny ❤️ on my ankle (it hurt like a b***h), the #HarryPotter 🌟 from the books on my ribs and a Jane Austen book quote under them. . . Today I have a dark #YA fantasy novel. It is @kimsmejkal's debut novel, #InkInTheBlood and it is all you need this week to cure your book hunger. As described in the synopsis, this book has "tattoo magic, faith, and eccentric theater in a world where lies are currency and ink is a weapon". Honestly, don't miss Celia and Anya's story! . . To make it easier to all of you, we have partnered with @hmhteen and @kimsmejkal to give you the chance to win a copy of INK IN THE BLOOD and some temporary tattoos. . . Entries for the giveaway: ▪︎Follow @theffbc & @whatmakespatri ▪︎Follow @kimsmejkal ▪︎Follow @hmhteen ▪︎Comment - Answer my question above ⬆️ #qotd . . Extra entries: ▪︎Tag a friend (each friend will be an extra entry). ▪︎Share on your stories about the giveaway (remember to tag me @whatmakespatri and @theffbc) ▪︎Follow @michellesulk & @artsyreadergirl ▪︎Follow any other FFBC team member participating in the tour (let me know who did you follow): @onemused @l.m.durand @theelizaaguilar @books_over_everything @novelknight @acourtofcoffeeandbooksblog @a_bookish_dream @karlaamae @kagunderman @thereadingcornerforall @not.just.fiction @storyeyedreview @bookcrushin @book.lyst @the.magicalpages @_the_indian_girl @booking_belle @portraitofabook @sometimesleelynnreads @starlight.reads @popthebutterfly @foalsfictionandfiligree @jessicabeckett @colbywilkens @kal_ventures . . #inkintheblood #roaring20sdebut #hmhteen #kimsmejkal #bookstagram #booksatgrammer #photosinbetween #readreadread #ilovereading #cozyreads #winterreads #bookshimmy #booksbooksbooks #bookcommunity #bookgram #yabookstagram #ireadya #booksatgrammer #bibliophile #bookphotography #booknerd #booklover #bookgiveaway

A post shared by Patricia Lopez (@whatmakespatri) on Feb 5, 2020 at 5:03am PST