#BIR2011: Author Jennifer L. Armentrout Interview + Giveaway

Day 6 is here for #BIR2011. OK sits back-down after jumping around! Have you been following all 12 blogs participating?? If you haven't, you need to. Everyday we bring you a feature with a great giveaway. Visit Best I've Read Blog today for the main feature and all the blog schedules too. 

Today featured on the Best I've Read blog: HEREAFTER by Tara Hudson

Here is a full list of all the blogs participating:

Late Bloomers Online / Fire and Ice / Portrait of a Book / Reading Lark / A Good Addiction / Books Complete Me / Page Turners / Mundie Moms / I Am A Reader, Not A Writer / Amethyst Daydreams / Once Upon a Twilight (that's us)

Today on OUaT we are more than thrilled to feature Half-Blood by Jennifer L. Armentrout as one of our #BIR2011 choices this year. I know many of you agree with me on this choice. Half-Blood is first book in the series Covenant. You can read my review HERE for Half-Blood. Jennifer has answered some questions for us today and one lucky reader will have a chance of winning a signed copy of Half-Blood. 

Jennifer L. Armentrout Links: Blog / Goodreads / Twitter / Facebook

OUaT: Hi Jennifer and welcome once again to OUaT, we are so happy to have you as one of our favorite BIR11 Authors this year. When you read or saw your first 5 star review, what did you feel?

Hey! I'm so glad to be back! I think when I saw my first 5 star review that included a review along with it, I was all warm and fuzzy inside. It’s interesting to see what readers like most about the book and if it’s different from another reader. I think the reviews that really stick with you is when a reader talks about the writing and admits to wanting to stalk you—the only time stalking is a good thing. Tee Hee.

OUaT: When writing Half-Blood and doing your research, which of the gods impressed you or made you dislike them?

Ah, I can’t really say which gods I did research on, because it’s quite spoilerific. You don’t get to see the gods (or know you do, wink, wink) in Half-Blood, but there were certain traits I had to work with in Half-Blood. I think the only thing I don’t like about the gods as a whole is their egocentrism. No one is more concern with themselves then the gods. Oh, and the spellings of their names. Good Gods, spell check does not like Greek spellings. Also, some of the things the pures and halfs do in Half-Blood is actually mirrored after the gods and ancient Greece—i.e. the class system between the pures and halfs, the government is mirrored after the Olympian Twelve (the Ministers hold a position just like Zeus and Hera), and the social behaviors. The drinking and/or more openness about sexuality aren’t for the shock factor. For Pure, I had to research quite a bit about Greek holidays in association with the gods. Fun reading there…

OUaT: Alexandria character, there is still some important information about her we have yet to find out about correct? Will this be revealed in Pure?

Very much so. You’ll learn a little more about her through Pure and the remaining novels. What is fun about her character is that the myth of what she is (leaving it out for those who haven’t read HB) is that there isn’t much on it. So I get to really add to it and have fun with it. Also, in the books, there isn’t much known, so ANYTHING can happen.

OUaT: I know your fans would like to know if there is possible a steamy outtake you had to cut out of Half-blood that you might possibly be able to share with us?

Haha. Actually there isn’t any steamy outtakes from Half-Blood. All of them made the cut, however there was a ton I removed from Pure. And because of I love you like a daimon loves aether, I’ll share one of them with you.

Keep in mind that NOTHING that leads up to this scene is in the final version of Pure. And I mean nothing. Everything, what provokes this, what happens during it and afterward is not in the book. (They’re in a closet by the way...)

Aiden threw up his hands. In such a small space, the gesture pretty much took up all the room. “Don’t you think that my disappointment has nothing to do with the fact Seth was in your room, but that you would so blatantly break the rules again?”

“That is so lame, Aiden. I break the rules all the time.”

“My point exactly,” he said dryly.

I really have no idea what provoked the next words to come out of my mouth. Maybe it had to do with all the pent up frustration. All those times we trained together and we were so very close, and yet so far apart from one another. Maybe I just wanted to piss him off. “You’re disappointment comes from him being in my bed and not you. Anybody else could admit that.”

Aiden let out a strangled breath, and I knew I went too far. He was going to yell at me. Lecture me about how I never think. Worst yet, I knew—just knew—Aiden would say I had it all wrong. That he had let go of whatever had happened between us. And I was pretty sure I might cry if he did so. Or hit him. Neither would be fun. So I had to say something to outdo what I said a few seconds ago.

“You said I was beautiful once,” I said in a rush. “Don’t you still think I’m beautiful?”

Frustration and something else flared in his eyes. Hunger maybe? I took it and ran with it. “I don’t . . . I don’t think you look beautiful. You look . . . exquisite.” He placed his hand over mine. “You always do.”

“Exquisite?” I smiled broadly. “I like that.”

“You would,” he replied with a sigh.

Wonderful warmth spread over me. “Do you think anyone else is exquisite?”

He tipped his head to the side and strands of dark hair fell against his cheek. He sighed again. “Alex, don’t.”

His words were more like a soft plea, but they had no impact on me. “Do you? Tell me you do and I’ll stop. I’ll even be quiet. For like a week. Just tell me you feel this with anyone else.”

Those eyes switched from pale gray to liquid silver. An instant later Aiden pulled me right up against him. “You always push.”

“I do?” I whispered, my pulse pounding through me. I was like a kid. Any attention was good attention. As long as he paid attention to me. I wanted him to touch to me, to want me as badly as I wanted him.

And he did.

Our lips met. He gave no warning. His mouth was on mine, and all thought fled. Lost to the simple touch, to the act that was so forbidden, we both risked everything. Urgency burned between us, deepening the kiss. His hands slid to my waist, fingers pressing fire into my spine. A rich ache blossomed, spreading out of control. My nails dug through his thermal, and he backed me up. I knocked into a cart, spilling sheets onto the floor. He pressed closer and one hand snaked down my hip and over my thigh, and then he brought it up so my leg hooked around his.

With so very little clothing between us, I was quickly reminded of the night in his room, on his bed. The memory fueled the fervor, and my hands sunk into the strands of his hair.

His lips left me spinning, gasping for air. I couldn’t get enough him. My hips moved toward him, my hands slid to his shoulders, down his arms, and under his shirt. Things were spiraling madly. Everywhere he touched, my skin burned and my soul sung.

And even though I felt like I would come apart at any second, this was so much more than a physical thing. Desperation clung to the edge of each kiss, to the way our bodies were sealed together, chest to knees. So tightly I could feel his heart thundering. And in the midst of all these glorious sensations, I realized something so important, so powerful.

Aiden could tell me he didn’t feel the same why I did. He could fight what lay between us night and day. He could speak only in lies from here on out. It didn’t matter.

I would always, always know differently.

Even if space separated us, or a dozen rules were imposed to keep us apart, and we could never be together, I would always know. So why did I suddenly want to cry?

Aiden broke away, breathing heavy. His arms were still fastened around me. “I shouldn’t have done that.”

There you go. Just don’t forget, when you read Pure, you won’t see this scene.

OUaT: Do you ever plan to write from Aiden POV?

I am writing a novella from Aiden’s perspective right now.

OUaT: Have you ever been surprised by a controversy among fans or reviewers- for example, you created a character without thinking too much about what people might think of him, and found some readers loved him and some hated him?

I’m always surprised by the outpouring of Caleb love. Not that I didn’t create him to be important, because he is, but I didn’t expect so many people to like him. Some even hope he’s a love interest, but I will say this, Caleb is and never was a love interest to Alex. Also, I’m surprised by the amount of Seth fans considering he doesn’t have a huge role in Half-Blood.

OUaT: Do you like to sing out loud too?

When I’m driving I do. Or when I’m cleaning and listening to my MP3 player than yes. It’s not pretty.

OUaT:  Crayons or Markers? Crayons.

OUaT: Which of your books was the easiest/hardest to write? 

I think the last book in the series is the hardest to write. I have nightmares over writing Apollyon and the third Obsidian book. Both novels are on my next-to-write list.

OUaT: Do you read the reviews on your books? if so, do you pay any attention to them or let them influence you in any ways? 

I always do when a book releases just to see the general response, but once it’s really out in the world, I have to let it go and don’t read them. Sometimes reviews, good and bad, can really hamper my creativity. Especially ones where you pretty much get compared to the Antichrist, so I’ve learn the hard way about being really selective about which reviews I will read. BUT, if someone does send me a direct link to their review, I will read it, because I think it’s wrong to not do so. Reviews don’t change how I’m going to write something or how something is planned out, though. And yeah, I’ve LOL’d at some really funny positive reviews and negative reviews that I have seen. I mean, if you hate my book but your review was hilarious, I do laugh. Maybe shed a woe is me tear, but laugh too.

Jennifer I LOVE you back for sharing that deleted scene from Pure, now I run and grab my copy off the shelf to read. Thank you for answering our questions today and your welcome back anytime, especially if you bring Aiden with you. Now who's ready to win a signed copy of Half-Blood??? 

To Enter: 

• Fill out the FORM
• Have you read Half-Blood? 
• Giveaway runs until December 23rd
• US Only
• No Po Boxes
• Read our Giveaway policy HERE
• Do not leave email or any personal information below
• Use hashtag #BIR2011