1. This is your first book—why did you decide to write for teens?
When I think back over all the books I’ve read in my life, none have stuck with me as much as those that I read between the ages of 12 and 17. And I mean that literally. I still have the many of the actual books I read as a teen—not newer replacements. I’ve taken my books everywhere with me. They’ve been lugged up six floor walk-ups in Manhattan or stuffed into the back of my car as I spent some time driving cross-country, getting hopelessly lost while trying to find myself. When I couldn’t afford an apartment any bigger than a broom closet, I built a loft bed and slept over my books. (Just a tip… you might want to hire a carpenter for that one.) I write for teens because I became passionate about stories when I was one, and if I get really lucky, I might write something that someone loves enough to drag around the world.
2. Why is ancient mythology still so exciting to read about?
Myths are epic. Heroes like Odysseus, Aeneas, and Hercules go on fabulous quests full of magic and danger, but the heroes themselves are still relatable, even today. For example, the hero Perseus was just a teenaged guy, trying to save his mom from an evil king that was forcing her to marry him. And he had a flying horse and chopped a lot of monster’s heads off. Perseus in particular reminds me of a modern-day superhero, like Peter Parker or Clark Kent, and I think his story is just as exciting. In a lot of ways myths are the original comic books; the heroes just wore togas instead of tights.
3. Who is your favorite Greek god and why?
My favorite Greek god is Dionysus. Party animal, really into the arts. The guy desperately needed an AA meeting, but he inspired a lot of great plays and a lot of beautiful poetry.
4. What are your favorite books to read?
My favorite books to read are fantasy or sci-fi. It doesn’t matter what age range they are written for—adult, teens, or toddlers—I love anything that has magic, mutants, replicants, or talking animals in it. Basically anything that has an original idea. I like strange things, eerie concepts, and characters that are one step out of step with the world. But no zombies. Zombies scare the bejeezus out of me.
5. How do you get through a dark day?
“When, in disgrace with Fortune and men’s eyes/I all alone beweep my outcast state/And trouble deaf heaven with my bootless cries/And look upon myself and curse my fate”… and then my husband usually tells me to stop being so melodramatic, gives me a cuddle, and we go out for burgers or something. I get down like anyone else, but as long as I have my friends and family close, I’m really easy to cheer up. All I need is love.
Author Quickfire Questions
What’s the first thing you think of in the morning? I hope that’s a cat biting my toes. Please, let that be a cat.
Favorite food? Lasagna. Hands down.
Most embarrassing moment? Umm…This week? I really couldn’t narrow it down. I’m constantly making a fool of myself.
In the movie of your life, who would you want to play you? Angelina Jolie, of course. But her in one of her action movie roles. I always wanted to be an action hero and drive fast cars and dodge bullets and kick bad guys in the breadbasket. I look absolutely nothing like the ravishing Ms. Jolie, but what the heck? It’s all good in Hollywood.
Guilty pleasure? I’ll never tell.
GIVEAWAY
ARC
ARC
BY JOSEPHINE ANGELINI
STARCROSSED BY JOSEPHINE ANGELINI
- Reading level: Young Adult
- Hardcover: 496 pages
- Publisher: HarperTeen (May 31, 2011)
How do you defy destiny?
Helen Hamilton has spent her entire sixteen years trying to hide how different she is—no easy task on an island as small and sheltered as Nantucket. And it's getting harder. Nightmares of a desperate desert journey have Helen waking parched, only to find her sheets damaged by dirt and dust. At school she's haunted by hallucinations of three women weeping tears of blood . . . and when Helen first crosses paths with Lucas Delos, she has no way of knowing they're destined to play the leading roles in a tragedy the Fates insist on repeating throughout history.
As Helen unlocks the secrets of her ancestry, she realizes that some myths are more than just legend. But even demigod powers might not be enough to defy the forces that are both drawing her and Lucas together—and trying to tear them apart.
"A gorgeous, haunting saga. I fell for Lucas just as hard as Helen did. OMGods, I can't wait to read more!"
—Lauren Kate, New York Times bestselling author of FALLEN
"One of the most cinematic books I've ever read. Dramatic and intense! I can't tell you how many times I gasped while reading this book. Starcrossed plays out like a movie in your head."
—Sophie Jordan, New York Times bestselling author of FIRELIGHT
READ AN EXCERPT
WATCH THE TRAILER FOR STARCROSSED
Official Rules:1.You must be 13 year or older to enter.2. Open to entrants with a valid U.S. mailing address only.3. Entries must be received by Midnight EST on June 12th 2011.To enter to win, simply leave a comment along with your email.Good luck!
56 comments:
Sounds great
gfc follower
vidishamun@gmail.com
Thank you for participating in this tour. I have been following it and have enjoyed finding several new (to me) blogs and of course would love to win the book - it sounds wonderful!
dz59001[at]gmail[dot]com
this is such a gorgeous cover!
i love it!
americangirlie1991 AT yahoo DOT com
This cover is beautiful!
rickimc[at]aol[dot]com
Starcrossed is an AMAZING BOOK!!! Thanks so much for the giveaway!
alicia.aatran@yahoo.com
GFC: Carina L. Tai
Great interview. You're one of eight! WOW. How cool is that.
Thanks for the giveaway. Please count me in.
I follow on GFC
lizzi0915 at aol dot com
Thanks for the giveaway! Sounds like an interesting book!
taffy(dot)lovell@gmail.com
Thank you for the great giveaway and fantastic interview, Starcrossed looks wonderful!
liedermadchen(at)hotmail(dot)com
Zombies scare the bejezzus out of me too, but I'm different because I like to read about things that scare me. Great interview!
Survivorluvr33@hotmail.com
I love the sound of this novel. Thanks :)
follower
Vivien
deadtossedwaves at gmail dot com
Wow, first comment?!
I've been very curious about this book...would love to win a copy!
GFC: heykiddego
heykiddego (at) gmail (dot) com
Thanks!
this book sounds greaat!
rodriguesarlette@yahoo.com
I would love to read this book, it sounds really good. It has one of the best covers I have seen in a long time.
twoofakind12@yahoo.com
This book sounds really good. Please enter me in the giveaway.
marlenebreakfield(at)yahoo(dot)com
I would love to see a picture of that book bed. Sounds like something I might need soon considering I'm running out of room.
findjessyhere at gmail dot com
I can't wait to read this is sounds so good!
redneck122890 (at) yahoo (dot) com
I really want to read this book!
Margay1122ATaolDOTcom
Congratulations!!! "Starcrossed" looks and sounds so gorgeous that I can't wait to read it : )
US Resident, GFC Follower, Subscriber
gcwhiskas at aol dot com
Thanks for the opportunity to win! This book looks awesome..
oxliddleluvvxo@aol.com
thanks for the giveaway!haha love Q. #5!
katie_tp(at)yahoo(dot)com
I'd love to read this book. Thanks for the giveaway.
forwhlz at gmail dot com
Great interview. I love Josephine. She is fun to follow on twitter.
I'm not surprised that she is a fantasy/Sci-Fi reader.
I'm so glad she decided to write YA - they are the best books out there!
valerie(at)stuckinbooks.com
I would love to win this book.
I love to hear personal things about an author. Our tradition is to have Lasagna every Christmas (Wierd but oh so good)
hootowl1978 at gmail dot com
Thanks for this contest.
ajiehuang1997@gmail.com
This book looks absolutely amazing. I'd love to be entered to win.
follow on gfc
mlawson17 at hotmail dot com
I have really wanted to read this book. Please enter me in contest. It sounds very good. Tore923@aol.com
The cover is so pretty! I would love to be entered!
horselovercutie@yahoo.com
Starcrossed sounds like it's gonna be a good one! I'd love to read it.
mamabunny13 at gmail dot com
Thank you for the opportunity to win this giveaway. I have been following the book tour and it has been fun. I love this cover and would love to read the book.
dz59001[at]gmail[dot]com
Aw, I would love to read this book!
email: soulphistication@yahoo.com
That was a nice review. Book looks cool
robinblankenship at gmail dot com
Thank you for the giveaway first of all!
And second I love the new trend of YA books involving mythology. I just eat this stuff up.
And much like Josephine Angelini I drag my books everywhere. xD
ashley.mckinsey(at)yahoo(dot)com
Starcrossed looks fantastic. I can't wait to get my hands on this book!
Erin
erin(.)dubrock(@)comcast(.)net
great giveaway
follow via gfc
drakebdog@gmail.com
Awesome Giveaway!
Sarah
ebbith0115[at]gmail[dot]com
I have been wanting to read this book ever since I heard about it. The title caught my attention and I just gotta read this. Thanks for the giveaway :)And I am older than 13
Brittany
hernameisavril@yahoo.com
I've read so many great reviews about this book!
I would love to read it!
TaraTagli at gmail dot com
This book sounds awesome! Thanks for the chance to win it!
Sarah
two_of_hearts_101 at yahoo dot com
Thanks for the giveaway.
aliciacald at gmail dot com
Thanks for the giveaway! Please enter me :)
arallison at gmail dot com
Thank you so much for hosting this giveaway. I love this book & would love to win an arc of it.
Kacisbookreviews@aol.com
Thanks for the giveaway!
yma367@hotmail.com
love the cover!
blubear12@gmail.com
Angelina Jolie is ALMOST an anagram of the author's name.
clathropxx@yahoo.com
I love the cover and I've heard great things about this book! Thanks for the chance!
twilightforever.edward at gmail dot com
Sounds like a great read. Looking forward to reading it. Thanks for the giveaway!
linaramz at yahoo dot com
Thanks for the giveaway! This book sounds great.
bmweida at yahoo dot com
I am one of those readers who drags loads of books with her in the most impractical places and situations, and I'd love this one to add to my collection. Plus, who doesn't love a good Greek Myth twist?
adlmabuhay@comcast.net
sounds great...
melhen325@yahoo.com
I'd love to read this! It sounds really good!
mittens0831 at aol dot com
Angelini is spot on about the power of books we love as teens! Another follower who is a lover of mythology here. Sounds like a fun read. Thanks for the contest!
sunonglass@gmail.com
Sounds like a great story. The cover is awesome!
meredithfl at gmail dot com
OMG, amazing giveaway. I am dying to read this book, I would love love love to win this. Thanks so much for the chance
june111(at)att(dot)net
looks good ... enter me
wyantebay@yahoo.com
This looks so good!!
psublue81@aol.com
this sounds so good!!
psublue81@aol.com
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