Thursday, June 13, 2013

The time it was about witches

I was able to get my hands on an arc of Star Cursed in January.  When I was done with it, I had no one to flail to since I didn't know anyone who had read it yet. So, I took to twitter and was vaguely flailing about when Jessica Spotswood told me that I could email her. 

I ended up sending her this ridiculous email with all of my flails and as an afterthought, added a request for an interview.  I never expected to hear back from her, let alone for her to say yes! [I swear, one of these days, I'm going to get served with a restraining order. Elizabeth Norris, Sarah J Maas & Tamara Ireland Stone, I'm looking at you.]

Before we get to Jessica, let's check out Star Cursed.

With the Brotherhood persecuting witches like never before, a divided Sisterhood desperately needs Cate to come into her Prophesied powers. And after Cate's friend Sachi is arrested for using magic, a war-thirsty Sister offers to help her find answers—if Cate is willing to endanger everyone she loves.

Cate doesn't want to be a weapon, and she doesn't want to involve her friends and Finn in the Sisterhood's schemes. But when Maura and Tess join the Sisterhood, Maura makes it clear that she'll do whatever it takes to lead the witches to victory. Even if it means sacrifices. Even if it means overthrowing Cate. Even if it means all-out war.

In the highly anticipated sequel to Born Wicked, the Cahill Witch Chronicles continue Cate, Maura and Tess's quest to find love, protect family, and explore their magic against all odds in an alternate history of New England.



Sounds amazing, right? [It totally is]


1. What prompted the story and why witches?

Well, like Cate, I'm the oldest of three sisters. I had a dream in which my sisters and I were fighting over a magical locket we'd inherited from our mother. There is no magical locket in the Cahill Witch Chronicles, but the idea of writing about the complicated mix of love and competition between sisters really intrigued me. As for why witches...historically, the women accused of witchcraft tended to be outsiders. I liked the idea of taking women who were too educated or eccentric or powerful and making them actual witches in a society where that's the ruling male class's greatest fear!

2. Which sister is the easiest for you to write?

Cate, because I'm in her head / point of view, so I'm most familiar with her thoughts! But Maura is always FUN to write because she's so...er, opinionated. Yes. I'll go with opinionated. And I am probably most like Tess in that I am bookish and observant and always want everyone to get along. I love all three of them!

3. When you wrote the ending of Star Cursed, did you sit back and laugh knowing you'd be killing people with the cliffhanger? [You guys.  Be prepared for this ending.]

No! But that specific plot point was intended from the beginning. I rewrote probably 75% of the book during revisions with my editor, but that stayed. It's tricky - I wanted people to feel all the feelings, but I also wanted to make sure it didn't feel sensationalistic or gimmick-y, because it was a very organic and important part of their story from the beginning. (Ack, it's hard to talk about without spoilers!)

4. You said in your email that you rewrote 75% of it in edits. Can/will you share something that happened that didn't make it in the book?

In the original first scene, mean girl Alice was cruel and gossipy toward Cate and Lucy, and Lucy lost control of her magic and almost set Alice on fire. It was a bit of an echo to what happens with Maura losing control at the end of Born Wicked. Lucy was more of a little-sister substitute for Cate because Maura and Tess didn't show up until 2/3 of the way through the book. There was also a super-convoluted plot involving secret papers in which Maura and Finn worked together to rescue them and Finn got shot! It was very exciting but it never actually made sense, so that all got scrapped.
 
5. Will there be kissing in book 3?

Oh yes. :) Two of the Cahill girls get kissed! I also have a new favorite minor couple who don't kiss, but they banter deliciously and were so fun to write.

Speed [ish] round:

1. What's your go to guilty pleasure thing to eat?

Vegetarian nachos with pinto beans & queso. Or brownies. Or both.
 
2. What are you reading right now?

The Lucy Variations by Sara Zarr. I love it! Next up: The 5th Wave by Rick Yancey.

3. Who are your favorite swoony boys?

Eldric from Chime by Franny Billingsley and Po from Graceling.

4. Are there any authors that you fangirl over?

Yes! Kristin Cashore! I love her series and I was such a dork when I went to one of her signings - like, "Hi. I LOVE YOUR BOOKS. I'm a Penguin author too?" I also adore Sara Zarr, E. Lockhart, Ruta Sepetys, and Carrie Ryan.

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Huge thanks to Jessica for dealing with all of my flails fangirling questions.

Find her on her website, blog, Facebook and Twitter pages. And go add all of her books on GoodReads.

Now.  To celebrate the book birthday of Star Cursed, I've got a signed hardcover copy of Born Wicked to give away!

Rules for the giveaway are listed under the "terms and conditions" on the Rafflecopter widget.
 
**Good Luck!!**
  
a Rafflecopter giveaway

28 comments:

  1. As long as I get cool powers, why not? Haha

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  2. "As long as I get cool powers, why not?"
    I was actually going to say something along these lines. I mean, it would suck to be hunted... but it could happen of you weren't a witch too. So... oh well, I guess? Haha.

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  3. I LOVED Born Wicked and I'm so so excited about Star Cursed (although a bit scared for the ending now, haha!)!!

    I'd love to be a witch! I certainly know enough about them from reading ;)

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  4. Yes. Definitely. Though I have a bit of a temper...and mood swings. Okay, maybe I shouldn't be.

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  5. I would totally love to be a witch, but I think I want to be a witch like Samantha from Bewitched! The TV show days, not Nicole Kidman from the movie

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  6. I don't think I can remember a time when I didn't want to be a witch! That and a vampire slayer.
    I may or may not have been hooked on Charmed & Buffy as a child. :) haha

    I can't wait to read Star Cursed! Thanks for the post & giveaway! x

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  7. Who wouldn't want to be a witch (well except for cate :)) I mean it would be so awesome to be able to do magic. Seriously love your post they are always so cute. Thanks for all the awesome giveaways that you do.

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  8. Yes of course! Having magical powers would be so cool! :)

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  9. I've never thought about being a witch, but having some kind of power or the ability to do magic would be pretty cool!

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  10. I would ... and I'd take those damn brothers out... and you know, that other character too! LOL

    xoxox
    thank you for the giveaway pretty!!
    jaime

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  11. Yes! Witches have the best powers! And the boys. ;)

    Thank you!

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  12. Hells yeah, I'd like to be a witch!! [Some folks in my life might tell you I already am... heh heh]

    Oh, and by the way? I love you.

    Even if I never (ever ever never) win one of your giveaways.

    sigh.

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  13. Yes! I've always been enchanted with witches!!

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  14. I'd rather be a werewolf. I like the whole shapeshifting thing but in some books witches can shapeshift. Hmmm... Maybe I should rethink my position on this question.

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  15. of course! but not during the salem witch trials. But maybe more like in Sabrina the teenage witch or harry potter of course.

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  16. Ohhh, I would definitely want be a witch, all the fun times I would have.. *sigh* :D
    Thanks for a giveaway!

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  17. It depends on the type of witch--if I was like the witches in this series, I might enjoy it (though not if I had to be a witch in their time/place!)

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  18. Well it depends on which book the witch characteristics come from... I love the Cahill witches but I'd absolutely pounce on the chance to be a Harry Potter witch :)

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  19. Great interview! And I think the ending was brilliant (though terribly brutal) & unexpected. It'll make revenge in the next novel pretty epic, I suspect. :)

    Be a witch?! Hells yeah I would. And like Jaime said, I'd be owning some Brothers' balls and cuttin' up a bitch with my magical mind magic.

    Thanks for the giveaway opportunity, KP! You're the bestest of all the restest. (I'm all drugged out on Benadryl, don't judge me.)

    ~Prancypants PA

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  20. Yes! So many things I would do with my powers if I was a witch!

    Thanks for the giveaway!

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  21. I'd love to be a witch
    cookiesmasher5@yahoo.com

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  22. Of course I want! Especially if I get a chance to study at Hogwarts

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  23. Oh, I'd definitely love to possess magical powers! I'd do my best to be a "good witch" though. :P

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  24. Not really... But I sure do love to read about them! Thanks for the awesome giveaway! :D

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  25. I'd be a witch if I could be like Sabrina or Samantha. I mean, having cool powers and being able to get things done more efficient and faster with the help of an incantation or the iconic 'Bewitched' nose wiggle or a little pixie dust - yes please! Also, just imagine the fun you could have...although I think along with that would come disaster ;D

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  26. WOOHOO!!! Thank you, thank you! See, all I had to was whine a bit in my earlier comment about never EVER winning, and ... Rafflecopter shines its heavenly light on me! YAY! xoxo

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