In honor of Enchanted Ivy's book birthday today, I asked the lovely Sarah Beth Durst to honor me and my little blog with an author interview (my very first) and she agreed... squuueeeee! Obviously I was excited. Now, I must first say that I am a novice when it comes to author interviews... why? well I had never done one before - but I am very excited about Sarah's newest title and I really wanted to hear about it from her. Here's what she had to say:
I am fascinated by your latest release Enchanted Ivy. Give us a little insider detail on what it’s about?
It's about getting into college. You know, taking the campus tour, talking to the gargoyles, flirting with the were-tigers, riding the dragons... While visiting the campus of Princeton University, 16-year-old Lily discovers a secret gate to a magical realm and must race against time to save herself, her world, and any hope she has of college admission.
How did you come up with such fascinating ideas as secret Legacy’s, talking gargoyle’s, etc.?
I had this image of tigers stalking through a college campus at night... Princeton's mascot is a tiger, so that made it a logical choice. The rest of my inspiration came from the campus itself: the gothic towers, the wrought-iron gate, the ancient oaks, and the bizarre gargoyles.
I love books set in boarding schools, universities, etc. Did you have to do any research in order to get a good grip on the setting of Enchanted Ivy?
I drew on my memories for the basics, plus I took two trips to the campus with my camera and my notebook for the details. I traced every step of Lily's journey. I am fascinated by the intersection of fantasy and reality, and I wanted my reality to be as accurate as possible to contrast with the magic.
I love the fantastical feel all your books have. What made you choose fantasy?
I love fantasy, and I think it's important to write what you love. (In fact, I think that's much more important than the old adage "write what you know.") Plus, you know, dragons and were-tigers and talking gargoyles are AWESOME. And I think it's important to write about things that are awesome.
I think fantasy is a vital and often undervalued type of literature. I believe that it restores a sense of wonder and empowerment to people in an age of debilitating cynicism.
Has it been hard to write any of your books? And if so, what advice would you give an aspiring author?
All books are hard sometimes. Every writer I know has days when he or she wants to crawl under the desk, sing lullabies, and wait for the laptop to finish typing the book on its own. But the trick is to figure out ways to coax yourself out from under the desk and write anyway. I recommend chocolate.
Seriously, don't wait for inspiration. And especially don't wait for that glorious chunk of uninterrupted time when you are free from other responsibilities or distractions. It won't happen. Life is busy. If you want to be a writer, you need to squeeze the time out of your day (even if it's just fifteen minutes) and write (even if it's just a paragraph).
Is there anything else you’d like to share with us about Enchanted Ivy?
If you're interested in reading the first chapter, it's here on my website: http://www.sarahbethdurst.com/EnchantedIvy.htm
What does Halloween mean to you? Any childhood memories you’re willing to share with us?
Growing up, I always thought Halloween was the most stressful holiday ever invented (right up there with Valentine's Day). I'd agonize for months about the perfect costume, and then at the last minute, I'd choke and end up wearing a box and saying I was a robot. I have a vivid memory of hurrying through the trees after my older neighbors and getting stuck between the branches... Also, I was so shy that the thought of knocking on a strangers' door was enough to make me want to dive into the shrubbery.
Halloween got much better for me when I was old enough to stay home and help my mom answer the door. Also, this afforded continuous access to our bowl of candy. Win, win.
Are you Team Vampire or Team Werewolf? Or are you another team altogether?
Both and all. I pretty much love all paranormal creatures. Lately, I've been dying to read a book about a were-hedgehog... I think that would be so random that it would slide directly over into awesome.
If you were able to go trick-or-treating with three authors or characters - who would they be, and what would y’all be dressed up as?
I'd be a fairy (because I've always wanted wings and somehow went through my whole childhood without a fairy costume). And I'd want to trick-or-treat with Shakespeare, Jane Austen, and Dr. Seuss, all dressed as Star Wars characters. Just because.
Any guilty pleasures you’re willing to share with us?
My primary guilty pleasure is Raisinets. *offers half-eaten bag*
Thanks so much for interviewing me!
And there you have it my lovelies - my very first interview. You can learn more about Sarah Beth Durst, Enchanted Ivy and Sarah's other titles at her blog. And in celebration of Enchanted Ivy's release *throws confetti and blows party horns* I have a little something special for you guys. Not only did I go out and buy myself a copy of Enchanted Ivy, but I also got 2 lucky winners a copy too.
What Lily Carter wants most in the world is to attend Princeton University just like her grandfather. When she finally visits the campus, Grandpa surprises her: She has been selected to take the top-secret Legacy Test. Passing means automatic acceptance to Princeton. Sweet!Lily's test is to find the Ivy Key. But what is she looking for? Where does she start? As she searches, Lily is joined by Tye, a cute college boy with orange and black hair who says he's her guard. That's weird. But things get seriously strange when a gargoyle talks to her. He tells her that there are two Princetons—the ordinary one and a magical one—and the Key opens the gate between them. But there are more secrets that surround Lily. Worse secrets.When Lily enters the magical Princeton, she uncovers old betrayals and new dangers, and a chance at her dream becomes a fight for her life. Soon Lily is caught in a power struggle between two worlds, with her family at its center. In a place where Knights slay monsters, boys are were-tigers, and dragons might be out for blood, Lily will need all of her ingenuity and courage—and a little magic—to unite the worlds and unlock the secrets of her past and her future.
GIVEAWAY: I have 2 copies up for grabs!
As always, leave a comment for one entry. If you'd like extra entries just say so in your comment or separate comments (extra entries for followers, Twitter, sidebars, Facebook, my spiffy All About {n} button, etc.) Make sure to leave an e-mail address, especially if you are leaving a comment under Anonymous.
Rules: This contest is open internationally! Winners will be drawn Saturday, October 23.
As always, leave a comment for one entry. If you'd like extra entries just say so in your comment or separate comments (extra entries for followers, Twitter, sidebars, Facebook, my spiffy All About {n} button, etc.) Make sure to leave an e-mail address, especially if you are leaving a comment under Anonymous.
Rules: This contest is open internationally! Winners will be drawn Saturday, October 23.
109 comments:
Please enter me! I would love to win a copy of this book. I sounds like a great read!
tmdahle@centurytel.net
Cool interview! ;D
Sorry, could only skim it, since I'm meant to be studying!
+1 follower
+1 have your button at the bottom of my blog
cc932005 at hotmail dot com
Nely, first of all; great interview! And secondly; I want to thank you so much for sending me 'Matched' I just finished it last night and I have to say that it is now one of my favorite books. ♥ Alex - A Watson Blog
Awesome interview! I love the advice for writers. =) Thanks for the giveaway too, I'be been curious about this one since I heard it was about talking gargoyles.
+1 blog follower
+1 twitter follower
cynthiareads@gmail.com
I would love to win a copy of this book. I am an old follower.
Thanks,
Jessi
jlelliott08 AT gmail DOT com
Thanks for the giveaway!
GFC follower (seesen9)
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Sidebar (http://bit.ly/9MNst4)
seesen9 AT gmail DOT com
I'd love to enter this contest!!
cupcakequeenblog@hotmail.com
I am a follower!
Please enter me. :) You are the contest queen. *hehe*
Oh, count me in please!
Erin
erin(.)dubrock(@)comcast(.)net
Hi thank you for the giveaway!
+1 old follower
+1 twitter follower (@judittten)
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judittten at gmail dot com
Wow!Please enter me.
I'm a blog follower
celebridal(at)hotmail(dot)com
This looks fun!
headlessfowl at gmail dot com
follower.
email: fourth-wonder@hotmail.co.uk
Thanks for the giveaway! I'm a GFC follower.
nalynboni AT gmail DOT com
I'd love to be entered!
ntaylor228 at yahoo dot com
Great interview! Thanks for the giveaway! :)
Extra Entries:
+1 Follower via GFC
+1 Twitter follower (@Tabby_L)
+1 Facebook friend (Tabby Graham Lewis)
+1 Goodreads friend (Tabby Lewis)
tabbylewis at hotmail.com
great interview! would love to win this book!
+1 GFC follower
mariannguyen16(AT)gmail(DOT)com
This book looks so good! Dragons and Gargoyles...I can't wait!
-GFC follower
-twitter follower @theresa_9
-tweet: http://twitter.com/Theresa_9/status/27183928731
-following on goodreads as Theresa
theresa9854@gmail.com
Thanks for the giveaway!
I didn´t know about this book, but now I realy want it :D
I'd love to play please.
I follow via GFC.
lesly7ch(at)yahoo(dot)com
I'd love to enter, thank you!!
inthehammockblog at gmail dot com
wow, what a plot. This sounds like a fast paced and fascinating story. I'd love to read it.
librarypat AT comcast DOT net
I am a Follower.
librarypat AT comcast DOT net
I am a Subscriber.
librarypat AT comcast DOT net
I love faeries too! They're all so beautiful. Great interview!
+1 Follower
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+2 Twitter (@readinglassie) and goodreads(reading Lassie) follower
Thanks much!
readinglassie(at)yahoo(dot)com
Please count me in the contest! This is one of my most anticipated reads this year, so excited for Enchanted Ivy!
+1 GFC Follower
+1 twitter follower (@amaterasureads)
+1 I have your button on my blog http://amaterasureads.blogspot.com
+1 the contest is also on my sidebar
amaterasureads@gmail.com
Please enter me!
bkhabel at gmail dot com
+1 Twitter
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+1 Tweet http://twitter.com/toobusyreading/status/27238791004
+1 Link on Got Great Giveaways post on my site. http://iamareadernotwriter.blogspot.com
bkhabel at gmail dot com
Thanks for this giveaway!
+1 - Blog Follower
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Total - 5
jessica_kulendran_602@hotmail.com
I would love to read this book. As a fellow raisnet addict, I think it must be good.
I am a gfc follower +1
debbie
twoofakind12@yahoo.com
Awesome giveaway, thanks! I really want to read this one.
GFC follower
twitter follower
mimosastimulus[AT]gmail[DOT]com
Oh I need to win this one! Have read about it on so many blogs:) Here are my extra entries:
*New follower
*Twitter follower
*Tweeted about the contest
*Added as Goodreads friend and follower
* Added on Facebook
* subscribed via e-mail
* grabed your button for my sidebar
8 entries, is that correct?
My mail: goldie-mail@web.de
Can I join in that trick-or-treat outing too?
whatinabox at gmail dot com
+1 I'm a follower
+1 sidebar: http://bookishinabox.blogspot.com
+1 Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/bookishinabox/status/27289852538
+1 Button: http://bookwormygirl.blogspot.com
Please enter me! This looks great.
jpetroroy at gmail dot com
+1 follower
Nice, this book looks great.
+1 follower via GFC, Becky B.
geckyboz[at]gmail[dot]com
Hoping to win this time =)
twitter follower: michelleame
added you on FB
GFC follower: ladymishel
I grabbed your badge
http://bucketofkisses.blogspot.com
michelle_ej08[at]yahoo[dot]com
Congrats on your first interview, it was a lot of fun to read!
nizmart at gmail dot com
I would love to be entered to win this. I'm a follower.
marcie.turner@yahoo.com
Great giveaway! It looks like a great book.
+1 Follower
+1 Twitter follower (@coraled)
+1 Tweet (http://twitter.com/coraled/status/27308276985)
coral.edwards@gmail.com
Please enter me in giveaway.
+1 Twitter follower (@allthedaysof)
+1 blog post http://everythingsjustpeachytoday.blogspot.com/2010/10/giveaway-enchanted-ivy.html
+1 tweet http://twitter.com/#!/allthedaysof/status/27306501797
~Chrizette
baychriz at gmail dot com
I would love to be entered to win this book!!
+1 am a follower.
Lane
moiraethefates(AT)gmail(DOT)com
Loved the interview and I would love to win this book!
bchild5@aol.com
I would love to read Enchanted Ivy :) *Thanks* for the giveaway!
theluckyladybug[at]gmail[dot]com
I would love to win a copy! :)
+1 twitter follower (@city_of_fools)
bianca_j@rocketmail.com
Please Enter Me !!
raluk.93@gmail.com
Extra Entries :
I'm a follower
I'm a subscriber
Network blogs follower
Tweeted :http://twitter.com/#!/raluk15/status/27340058936
Facebook : http://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=167813749899938&id=100001220197834
I have your button on my sidebar
Contest in sidebar
+1 Blog Follower.
+1 Twitter Follower.
+1 Blogged about this contest here: http://makeshiftbookmark.blogspot.com/2010/10/free-books-aplenty.html
+1 Tweeted about this contest here: http://twitter.com/makeshiftjen/status/27345110183
email is makeshiftbookmark (at) gmail (dot) com.
Thanks for this awesome contest opportunity!
I loved your interview :) This book sounds awesome!
Thanks for the contest!
Thanks for the chance. I really would like to read this book!!
I'm a follower. :)
princesalinda22@hotmail.com
Oh, I forgot to mention, I am a follower:)
bchild5@aol.com
Enter me please!
+1 GFC follower
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vicky.vak8(at)gmail.com
Please enter me! This book looks really cool!
+1 Follow with GFC
ako4eggs at comcast dot net
I've been wanting this book for a long time. I'm crossing my fingers! Thanks for the giveaway!
lvtink21@wi.rr.com
+1 GFC follower
thanks for this giveaway, please enter me
GFC follower
Twitter follower
Friends on Facebook
Friends on goodreads
june111@att.net
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follower GFC
facebook networked blogs
Ohhh! Please enter me and great giveaway!
Sincerely,
Emma Michaels
http://EmmaMichaels.Blogspot.com
Emma_Michaels@hotmail.com
I would love to read this book.
choateorama(at)gmail(dot)com
sounds wonderful thanks for the giveaway minsthins at optonline dot net
I follow!
I love your comment about writing what you love. It's a good thing for us fantasy readers that we have great authors out there writing about the exciting paranormal stuff we cant' "know" but love anyway. :-)
leighofthestone(at)yahoo(dot)com
I want to read this book, so bad! Thanks!
I follow this blog.
Tweet http://twitter.com/#!/AineFey/status/27492545974
Sidebar
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All About {n} button on blog
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aine.onetwistedpixie[at]gmail[dot]com
Thanks for the giveaway!
Please enter me!
lucybeugelingramos@gmail.com
I'm follower of your blog. (Lucy)
lucybeugelingramos@gmail.com
I tweeted about the contest.
http://twitter.com/#!/Lucy73/statuses/27520077609
lucybeugelingramos@gmail.com
Uh, magical world, nice!
I am following you via GFC.
xlacrimax at gmail dot com
Woot count me in! :D
extra entries:
+1 old follower
+1 twitter follower (@FionaChan)
+1 tweet: http://twitter.com/FionaChan/statuses/27557869302
+1 linked on sidebar: http://fionalevesque.blogspot.com/
+1 button added: http://fionalevesque.blogspot.com/
+1 sent friends request on facebook
+1 subscribed via email
+1 following via Networked Blogs (Fiona Chan)
feeyonachan at gmail dot com thank you
Thank you very much for this amazing contest! Fingers crossed!*_* I'm dying to read this book!>_<
I'm an old blog follower.
Giada M.
fabgiada (at) gmail (dot) com
This sounds awesome! I would love to read this!!
misusedinnocence@aol.com
Great interview and thanks for the giveaway! I have been loooking forward to this book!
+1 comment
+1 follower
+1 Tweet - https://twitter.com/#!/BadassBookie/status/27621430185
+1 Sidebar -http://badassbookie.blogspot.com/
+1 Contest page - http://badassbookie.blogspot.com/p/contests-around-blogosphere.html
+1 Goodreads - http://www.goodreads.com/user_status/show/3929880
Total - 6
callmeghostgirl@yahoo.com.au
Please enter me, I would love to win this book. And thank you for this great interview.
I'm a GFC follower
i-love_horse@hotmail.com
I really want to read this book.
+1 follower
+1 follow on twitter (sablelexi)
+1 added as goodreads friend (Jennelle)
jlynettes@hotmail.com
Thanks so much for this giveaway!
The book looks wonderful!
I'm a follower on twitter, GFC, goodreads and Facebook
twitted it: http://twitter.com/yllektra/status/27703560921
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=887420205#!/permalink.php?story_fbid=162931743734547&id=887420205
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yvantis[at]hotmail[dot]com
I love magical plots with twist and turns.
rhondastruther s atyahoo dot ca
GFC follower
rhondastruther s atyahoo.ca
I've seen this book around for some time, I'd love to read it myself, thanks for the opportunity ! ^_^
kathrynl2e(at)aol(dot)com
+1 I'm also GFC follower
+1 and added your button to my blog.
kathrynl2e(at)aol(dot)com
Great interview. Sounds like a great book. Thanks for the chance!
Im a follower
post - http://donnasbloghome.blogspot.com/2010/10/contest-links-for-1019.html
sidebar - http://donnasbloghome.blogspot.com/
tweet - http://twitter.com/#!/DonnaS1/statuses/27897923996
bacchus76 at myself dot com
Hi, thank you so much for this giveaway! I'd love to enter as well! My email address is amethystheart89@gmail.com, and for another entry, I am following your blog with my google account (the same email address).
I have REALLY been wanting to read this book! Thanks for the amazing giveaway!
+1 Old Follower
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~Briana
thebookpixie[at]yahoo[dot]com
Please enter me in contest. I would love to read this book. Sounds really good. Tore923@aol.com
I would love to be entered to win this. Sounds like a good book.
pearson.laurie@gmail.com
This sounds like a good book. I would love to win it.
I am a follower.
kbelle325@gmail.com
I'd love to read this! Great interview too!
fineinsanity {at} live {dot} com
Google Friend Connect Follower! {mom2anutball}
fineinsanity {at} live {dot} com
This seems like a book that both myself and my teenage girls would enjoy reading. Thanks.
partymix25(at)hotmail(dot)com
follow your blog
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follow you on Twitter, partymix25
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Thanks for the giveaway!! I've been wanting to read this book. I'm a gfc and twitter(@chickenherder) follower.
chickenherder@hotmail.com
Thank you for the giveaway!
+1 Twitter follower: @anneroyce
+1 GFC follower
+1 FB friend
+1 GR friend
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=7
isabookwhore at gmail dot com
I'd like to read this.
erma.hurtt@sbcglobal.net
Sounds intriguing. I'd love to read it.
Great interview!
+1 GFC follower (Michele)
+1 Twitter follower (@rlawrence110)
rlawrence110(at)yahoo(dot)com
would love to win, sounds like a interesting book!
+1 follower
I would love to win this book please enter me thanks suelee1998 @ gmail.com
I would like to read this work!
theyyyguy@yahoo.com
Sounds like a fun book. Thank you
candieluster(at)gmail(dot)com
Sounds like a good book!
+1 follow on Twitter @RazzMyBerry
bmweida at yahoo dot com
Sounds like a book my older teen daughter and I could both enjoy! Loved the interview. The author has such witty responses. Thanks so much! pamelashockley(AT)netscape(DOT)net
Follower GFC
Thanks so much! pamelashockley(AT)netscape(DOT)net
This sounds like a must-read book.
George Ferris
k1n2@sweeps.ws
Please count me in.
GFC Follower.
Email subscriber.
bgcchs(at)yahoo(dot)com
This sounds like a great book.
Diane Baum
esldiane@gmail.com
Sounds like a great read! thanks!
crazypplrok@gmail.com
sounds like fun read
This sounds like an awesome read
kgrant77 at gmail.com
I'd like to read this book.
It sounds like an interesting book. Thanks. garrettsambo@aol.com
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