#BIR2011: Author Rae Carson Interview + Giveaway

Day 3 has begun of #BIR2011. Have you been checking all the 12 blogs involved in #BIR2011 daily? If you haven't you have been missing out on features and giveaways. Visit Best I've Read Blog today to see what's new.

Today featured on the Best I've Read blog: Julie Kagawa's The Iron Queen/ The Iron Knight guest post and giveaway!

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 I'm so happy to share with you another one of my favorite reads of 2011. The Girl of Fire and Thorns by Rae Carson was just incredible. The Girl of Fire and Thorns is the 1st book in the Fire and Thorns series. You can read my review HERE. Rae answered some questions for us today and thanks to Greenwillow Books we have one copy to award a reader. 

Rae Carson Links: Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter

OUaT: Hi Rae and Congrats on writing such a amazing book and making our BIR2011 this year. First question for you is has anyone approached you yet on making The Girl of Fire and Thorns into a movie or show? If they haven't they need to STAT.

Thanks so much! Yes, there has been vague chatter about movie rights for The Girl of Fire and Thorns. But that’s all I know. I would be very surprised (and delighted!) if something happened on that front.

OUaT: Tell me how and when you came up with this story, how much research did you out into it or did it just appear in your head one day?

I was dating this guy who was obsessed with my appearance, always pushing me to lose a few pounds. After a year of this, I finally came to my senses and broke up with him. I spent that day eating ice cream (cookie dough!) and thinking hard. I decided I was going to be awesome and have an awesome life no matter how much I weighed.

The next day, I jotted down the fictitious diary entry of an overweight, unappreciated princess who was destined to find her inner hero.

OUaT: My favorite character of course is Elisa, you started her off such a timid and lost young woman and they she became a force not to be messed with. How easy or hard was Elisa character to write?

I’ll just be honest and say it was very hard! Elisa, as you said, was timid and lost in the beginning. That was emotionally difficult for me to write because I've met so many young women just like her, women who, because of neglect or unrealistic societal expectations, must struggle desperately to find a sense of self-worth. I have to say, though, that it was also deeply satisfying to write her out of it. From the moment she leaves the only home she’s ever known, she begins gradually to assert herself. It felt like she was a little stronger, a little wiser, with every chapter.

OUaT: If you could choose one of your characters to be who would you choose and why?

I pretty much am Alodia in the flesh, the bossy, know-it-all older sister. The big difference between us is that she’s not very good at communicating her feelings, and Elisa never understands how much Alodia loves her. But I hope my little sisters understand that I’m absolutely crazy about them. 

OUaT: Is there possibly a sneak peak or tidbit you can share with us today about book #2 in the series? I'm extremely excited to read it.

Here is a (totally not copy edited or final) tidbit from my current draft of The Crown of Embers. It’s a tiny moment between Elisa and Hector, exclusive for Once Upon a Twilight!

I say, “Please stop calling me ‘Majesty’ in private. It makes me grit my teeth.”

Hector nods with exaggerated solemnity. “I’d hate for you to ruin your teeth on my behalf.”

“If that happened, I would have no choice but to follow the general’s lead and order your execution.” I make a vague gesture and say, “Off with his head!” And then my face burns with my own crass inappropriateness.

But Hector chuckles deep in his throat, and I feel it all the way down to my toes. Softly, he says, “My life has ever been yours, Elisa.”

My limbs tingle and heat fills my cheeks as we stare at each other.

I snap back to myself. He’s talking about his duty. Of course his life is mine. He is Queen’s Guard after all, sworn to jump in front of a crossbow bolt if that’s what it takes to save me.

Carefully, I say, “You’re a good friend, Hector. And I’m grateful to have you at my side.”

His gaze drops to the ground, and his chest rises and falls with a breath. “Always.”

OUaT: If you had to go back and do it all over, is there any aspect of your novel or getting it published that you would change?

Oh, yes. I would do a lot less worrying and a lot more writing. So much of this process is out of the author’s control. The only thing I've ever had full control over is the words that flow from my typing fingers.

OUaT: Have you written a book you love that you have not been able to get published?

I've written a book that I absolutely love that I haven’t even tried to get published! It just hasn’t been the right time. But once I've finished a draft of The Bitter Kingdom, I’ll start thinking about it.

OUaT: Did you design the cover?

Nope. Authors very rarely have any say in how their covers are designed.

OUaT: Is there anything that you would like to say to your readers and fans?

Thank you so much for reading. I hear a lot of naysayers predicting the end of publishing, but I think we’re in a golden age of literature. Keep reading, and keep demanding that books be published!

OUaT: What question are you never asked in interviews but wish you were?

I am never asked why I chose to allow my overweight protagonist to lose some weight. But I hope that someday, someone will be brave enough to ask.

Thank you Rae for that exclusive tidbit from Crown of Embers. Now I really wished I could read it now. Now thanks to Greenwillow Books I have a copy of The Girl of Fire and Thorns for one reader. 

To Enter: 

• Fill out the FORM
• Have you read The Girl of Fire and Thorns? 
• Giveaway runs until December 20th
• US Only
• No Po Boxes
• Read our Giveaway policy HERE
• Do not leave email or any personal information below
• Use hashtag #BIR2011