Wednesday, March 14, 2012

Q&A with Julie Kagawa + The Immortal Rules Giveaway

I've been a fan of Julie Kagawa's writing since the day I started reading THE IRON KING. This book is one of my all time favourite reads and I promise THE IRON DAUGHTER, THE IRON QUEEN and THE IRON KNIGHT were no less amazing.

THE IRON FEY series came to an end, but Julie's newest book, titled THE IMMORTAL RULES, comes out in only a few weeks. Harlequin Teen releases the vampires on April 24th and I'm sure you don't want to miss that! 

You will kill. The only question is when.

In the dark days since the insidious Red Lung virus decimated the human population, vampires have risen to rule the crumbling cities and suburbs. Uncontested Princes hold sway over diminished ranks of humans: their "pets." In exchange for their labor, loyalty and of course, their blood, these pets are registered, given food and shelter, permitted to survive.

Unregistered humans cling to fringes, scavenging for survival. Allison Sekemoto and her fellow Unregistereds are hunted, not only by vampires, but by rabids, the unholy result of Red Lung-infected vampires feeding on unwary humans. One night, Allie is attacked by a pack of rabids, saved by an unlikely hero...and turned vampire.

Uncomfortable in her undead skin, Allie falls in with a ragtag crew of humans seeking a cure, or cures: for Rabidism and for Vampirism. She's passing for human...for now. But the hunger is growing and will not be denied. Not for friendship—not even for love.

Summary by Goodreads

Want to pre-order a copy of THE IMMORTAL RULES? Just follow the links!




Read this great Q&A with Julie Kagawa and enter for a chance to win a harcover copy of THE IMMORTAL RULES below!!

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A Q&A with
New York Times Best Selling Author Julie Kagawa

After writing the Iron Fey series for so many years, how difficult was it to immerse yourself in a futuristic world filled with vampires, rabids and an enslaved human race?

         It was...very different.  I think the hardest thing for me was the fact that this story does take place in the real world -- a futuristic, vampire-infested world, but the real world nonetheless.  Things had to make sense, for example: how far can a large group walk in a single day if there were no roads, they were going through thick woods, and there were children in the group?  I had to have logical reasons for everything; I couldn't just make something work "because of faery magic," lol.


Just like Meghan Chase in the Iron Fey series, the main character in The Immortal Rules, Allison Sekemoto, is a “take charge and kick butt” kind of girl.  Is this intentional? What woman – real or fictional, alive or deceased – do you look up to or admire?

         Yes, Allison comes from a very different world than Meghan Chase.  Meghan's upbringing was pretty normal; Allison grew up among vampires and monsters, where every day was a fight to live, so she couldn't afford to be weak.  While Meghan had to learn to "take charge and kick butt," Allison's first impulse is stab first, talk later.

         As for female role models, the first that comes to mind--when it comes to kicking vampire butt, anyway -- is Buffy Summers.  Thank you, Joss Whedon, for making me love feisty, snarky, heroines who can dust all sorts of nasties but who also look good in a cheerleading outfit. ;)  

You mention in your acknowledgements in The Immortal Rules that at the beginning of your writing career you promised yourself you wouldn’t write a vampire book.  What changed your mind?

         Well, there were already so many really good books about our favorite bloodsuckers, so many stories and ideas, I thought I didn't have anything new to add to the masses.  I was actually toying with a post-apocalyptic YA novel when my agent mentioned I might want to try writing a vampire series.  I wasn't intrigued with the idea at first, but then I thought about combining vampires with the post-apocalyptic novel and then rest sort of fell into place.  

Allison claims she hates vampires and believes they are monsters yet when faced with a choice of die or become one, she becomes a vampire.  Would you have made that same decision?  

         Me personally?  No.  I'm like Zeke in the belief that there is something better waiting for me beyond this life, and I just have to do my best until it’s time for me to go.  Besides, I love pizza and Mountain Dew too much to give it up.

Who do you think the most complex character is in The Immortal Rules?

         Probably Kanin, Allie's sire.  He's a vampire who has made his peace about being a monster, yet chooses to live by his own set of moral rules.  He warns Allison about getting too close to humans, yet he does not kill unless he absolutely has to.  He is tormented about something in his past that he refuses to share with anyone.  He is certainly the most mysterious of all the characters, if not the most complex.

How many books will be in the Blood of Eden series?  When will the next book be coming out?

         At the moment, there are three books planned, with the second coming out sometime next spring, after the release of the new Iron Fey series this fall.

Before you starting writing full time you were a professional dog trainer.  Do the professions share any similarities?

         Lol, well you have to think on your feet a lot.  And some of the small dogs could be compared to tiny snapping goblins, but writing requires less dodging skills, though perhaps the same amount of creativity and problem solving.

When starting a new series, like Blood of Eden, do you have the entire series mapped out in detail or do you let the story develop book by book?

         I have a high point that I write toward in each story; I know this and this has to happen, but getting from point A to point B usually develops as I go along.

And for the speed round:
What book have you read and re-read, and read yet again?

         Any of the Harry Potter books.

Favorite song to play when writing a fight scene?

         My "favorites" change daily.  Right now its "Awake and Alive" by Skillet.

Worst job?

         Working a kiosk in the mall during Christmas.  It sold glass figurines, and the maneuvering space around the hundreds of very breakable merchandise was quite small.  I was like a bull in a china shop.

Best vacation spot?

         Walt Disney World

Sweets or salty?

         Sweet.


         I used to play the flute when I was a kid.  I was really good at it too, but my instructor stopped teaching to have a family, and I never went back to it.          


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Thanks to Julie Kagawa and Harlequin Teen for that fun Q&A! Now here's your chance to win a harcover copy of THE IMMORTAL RULES courtesy of Harlequin Teen. Are you excited? I am!

* You enter for a chance to win one hardcover copy of THE IMMORTAL RULES
* The book will be sent by Harlequin Teen after its pub date on April 24th.
* Open for US/Canada addresses
* The giveaway starts on March 14th and will end on April 14th.
* Good luck :)



a Rafflecopter giveaway

69 comments:

  1. The book sounds great! I can't wait! I also love your fight scene song. Skillet rocks! I also liked your vacation spot. It was my favorite by far! Thanks for the opportunity to win!!!! :)

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  2. I think vampires are making a comeback, but only the post-apocalyptic type. This books sounds awesome & I can't wait to read it. Thanks for the giveaway!

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  3. oohhh!! i can't wait for this book! loved her iron fey series and know this one will be just as good, even if there is no Ash in it! :)

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  4. I cannot wait for this book! It sounds like it will be sooooo good! Thanks for the giveaway!

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  5. Vampires are still my favorite. Even though they got played out. I just can't help myself! Cannot wait for more from Julie.

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  6. Great interview!!! Thanks so much for hosting! :-D

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  7. Great interview and sounds like a great read! I gotta comment on Julie's hair and how much I LOVE it! I started turning gray at the ripe age of 19 and have a good streak going too...looks cool;)

    books4me67 at ymail dot com

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  8. Great questions! I loved the story about her worst job.

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  9. AH, THIS ROCKS. Thanks for giving us access to yet another copy of Immortal Rules! If I don't win a copy... I don't know what I'd do.

    I love that Julie was so willing to take a chance and throw in her own idea of vampires. I'm so happy she decided to do it! Vampires are my top favorite paranormals, so it means a lot that the woman who gave faeries (another fave of mine) such a fantastic rep is tackling a paranormal I never get tired of reading about. :D

    Asher

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  10. Great Q&A. Thanks for taking the time and sharing. Looking forward to reading Immortal Rules.

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  11. Haha, wow, I love the comparison of writing to dog training. I bet the little dogs were evil! I've always preferred big dogs myself.

    It's interesting that dystopian vampire series are getting fairly common. I wonder when the other paranormals will start appearing in a bunch of them.

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  12. As much as I can't wait to read this book, why do we have to wait until NEXT spring for the next book? Is it because a certain book starring a certain someone (Ethan) is going to come out first? :D I'm so excited!

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  13. Hoorah! Another series from Julie!:)

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  14. Wow, great Q&A! You just asked the same questions I've been dying to ask Julie :) Hahahaha she's so awesome. And oh my gosh I'm SO excited for The Immortal Rules. I also loved The Iron Fey series and I can't wait to see her take on vampires.

    Good luck to everyone participating in the giveaway~

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  15. Thank you for the Giveaway! I LOVE Julie Kagawa and so can't wait to read The Immortal Rules - so excited! :)

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  16. This sounds like a really great book to read. I find it interesting that she writes about things she herself might not do. Very cool

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  17. Great interview! I really can't wait to read this book!

    Mirely

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  18. I enjoyed the comparison of writing to dog training. The same amount of thinking on your feet but a little less dodging. Thanks!

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  19. Hmm it's interesting she said she wouldn't write a vampire book. There're just so many of those around I guess, but this still sounds super interesting. At least for me I never get tired of vampires.

    Ning @ Reading by Kindle Fire

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  20. I love Julie's style so I can't wait for this! Thank you.

    vsloboda(at)gmail(dot)com

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  21. Nice questions and answers it is so cool to see what is going on in the worl of your favorite author. Thank you!

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  22. I'm really looking forward to this new series and the it's interesting take on vampires and post-apocalyptic setting.

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  23. I love Iron Fey series and I´m sure this one will be great!
    I´m looking forward to know more about Kanin :P

    Thanks for the giveaway!!

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  24. I am like so very very excited for this book. When I read the Fey Series it had just come out, and not very big now thats its over and even bigger I am happy and sad in a way:) But now that we got the chance to have another series is just AWESOME!!;)) Love the Q&A:)) and thanks for this as well!:)

    bella;)
    coasticolellas@hotmail.com

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  25. Yay! Thanks for the giveaway! I can't wait to read this :-)
    ~Kari

    karilynnwhite{at}gmail{dot}com

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  26. This is a totally different spin on vampires and can't wait to read it

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  27. I too LOVE Buffy:))

    Kanin and Allie sound like they'll have a complicated relationship.

    Julie Kagawa is awesome:) Her vamps too!

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  28. Buffy Summers rocks! I'm surprised she said she would never write a vampire novel! I am really happy she did because I love vampires. I think there are so many ways to bring something unique to them. I can't wait to see what she did with them. I'm really looking forward to Allison and her sire. I also had no clue she used to be a dog trainer. Very interesting. Thanks for the interview and giveaway!

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  29. I can't wait to read this book because I have heard so many great things about it. I love reading books about vampires so this interview has me very excited about this book.

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  30. Exciting! I am really looking forward to this one!

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  31. I am so excited to read this book. I love Julie!

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  32. Great interview! I can't wait to read Julie Kagawa's new series.

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  33. Great interview. And I agree Skillet does rock. Excellent band. I'll be looking forward to reading this one.

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  34. Kagawa seems like a very interesting person, and great interview!

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  35. Love that Julie listens to Skillet. My boys and I love Skillet and my oldest and I have been to see them twice since the new year (Winter Jam). So I was fascinated at that point. Loved the whole interview, but she really had me at "Awake and Alive" which is also currently my ringtone. :) I now can't wait to read this book even more!

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  36. So excited to read this new series from Julie Kagawa! And like Julie, I'm also a fan of Buffy and Disney World. Great interview :)

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  37. I love the little known fact about the flute! I think it's hilarious - I can't see Julie playing the flute, ever. Just doesn't seem like the type. But I can't wait to read this new series!

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  38. I LOVE Julie Kagawa's writing and The Iron Fey series. I can't wait to get my hands on this! Oh and she likes Disney World which raises her up about a bajillion bars in my book.

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  39. Hmm I always think it's interesting whether people would want to be a vampire or not. I'm thinking I wouldn't want to be either, but it's a weird/tough choice.

    Thanks for the giveaway! =)

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  40. Thanks for the giveaway! This book sounds so awesome and your interview was great!!

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  41. seriously need to get my hands on this book !! would buy it myself .. lol . but im out of money from buying other books 2 weeks ago (:

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  42. I'm so excited that she went with vampires as well as a dystopian theme! Two of my favorite things. I've loved vampires ever since i used to devour R.L. Stine books in middle school! ( we won't talk about how long ago that may or may not be! ;)

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  43. Julie is one of my favorite writers! I love her iron fey series and I can't wait to read this new book! <3

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  44. sounds like a great book and fun interview. mall kiosks are horrible! I worked at borders and I had to help at the calendar kiosk in the mall ick! although there was one day I got stuck there on a bad snow storm and I just read all day which is normally not aloud but i was there for like 10 hours or so and there were only 2 customers the entire time..

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  45. Really great interview! So interesting to know more about your favorite authors. I can't wait for Immortal Rules!!

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  46. I can't wait for the Immortal Rules to come out! I love her Iron Fey series! I have to get this book ASAP! Ack! I love this interview, too!

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  47. Can't wait for this! Thnx for the giveaway!

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  48. I love the Iron Fey series and I can't wait to see what she does with the series!

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  49. I'm excited to read this one. I'm reading Iron Fey series now. I like strong lead female characters!

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  50. I LOVE the Harry Potter books. I could and do read them quite often. Thanks for the giveaway.

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  51. Yes, I love pizza far too much to become a vampire---though I'm more of a Pepsi kinda girl! Great Q&A.

    Zara D. Garcia-Alvarez

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  52. I enjoyed the interview and learning more about the series. The book sounds very good.

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  53. This is a fantastic story! Loved it! Good luck to all who enter!

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  54. As much as I like Harry Potter, I just couldn't read it more than once, because it is too long and there are so many books to read that I couldn't keep up! But my daughters have read and reread them!!! thanks

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  55. Incredible interview! makes me just that more excited for this book!! Thanks so much for such a great giveaway

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  56. Great interview! I am dying to read this book! Loved Julies work so far!

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  57. My favorite Vacation Spot is also Disneyworld! I loved the interview it was fun to read =) I always find Julie Kagawa so likeable even though I've never met her lol

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  58. This is great! I'm so glad you changed your mind about the vampire book. I know there are so many of them, but it's that way in every sort of genre. You just have to do it well and make it stand -- which you did BTW. The book rocked my socks.

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  59. I love immersing myself in the world of paranormal, vampires are awesome and not because of twighlight

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  60. Great Q&A, I love Awake and Alive, well a lot of songs really by Skillet. I've always wanted to go to DisneyWorld, it looks like a fun place.
    Awesome giveaway, thanks for the chance to win it!

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  61. thanks for the giveaway! i love Julie's writing style, and i can't wait to read this book!

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  62. Thanks for the giveaway! Great Q&A, I've never heard of Skillet... but I might check em out!

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  63. I've never been the Disney anything, but I've been dying to go since I was 6 (that was quite a while ago)! Great Q&A!

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  64. Thank you so much for this amazing giveaway and interview. I loved it and I so looking forward to reading this amazing book.

    - Beckie @ Bittersweet Enchantment

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  65. Thanks for the awesome Q&A and giveaway! :))

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  66. Great Q&A! Can't wait to read this series, it sounds awesome!

    Thanks for the Giveaway!

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  67. I am so looking forward to this book!

    :).

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  68. The Iron Fey series was amazing, and definitely one of my favourites. I've come to the conclusion that I will read anything that Julie Kagawa writes because it is sure to be a masterpiece. I can't wait for this new series. :)

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