I got my hands on an arc of Black City and instantly fell in love with the story and the charactes [Ash? *swoooon*]. Thankfully, I was able to get my hands on an arc of Phoenix as well. After begging asking Elizabeth for ownership of Ash [which I share with Fiona Paul], I also asked her for an interview and she was more than willing!But before we get to the Q&A, let’s look at Phoenix.
Weeks after his crucifixion and rebirth as Phoenix, Ash Fisher believes his troubles are far behind him. He and Natalie are engaged and life seems good. But his happiness is short-lived when he receives a threatening visit from Purian Rose, who gives Ash an ultimatum: vote in favor of Rose’s Law permanently relegating Darklings to the wrong side of the wall or Natalie will be killed.
The decision seems obvious to Ash; he must save Natalie. But when Ash learns about The Tenth, a new and deadly concentration camp where the Darklings would be sent, the choice doesn’t seem so simple. Unable to ignore his conscience, Ash votes against Rose’s Law, signing Natalie’s death warrant and putting a troubled nation back into the throes of bloody battle.
Sounds good, right?
1. Where did you get the idea for Black City?
It all began with Ash. His character came to me one night, while I was watching a movie. I was fascinated by the idea of a drug-dealing, supernatural boy who gets a heartbeat when he meets his true love, so when the movie finished I grabbed my laptop and wrote the first scene. The idea of the Boundary Wall, which is very important to the story and world of Black City, came to me a little later. I started writing the book around the time of the 20th anniversary of the Berlin Wall coming down, and I kept thinking: what would it be like to live in a city divided, with all your family on one side and you on the other? Then, wouldn’t it be worse if the side you were stuck on happened to be with the very people who wanted to kill you? That where the idea of the wall came into place, and everything came together after that.
2. You have a lot of elements in your story: vampires, war, religious cult-like people, a disease and just general unease among the townspeople. Did you plan on all of it or did it come while building the world?
It came together organically while building the world. There are a lot of elements, but I’ve always preferred stories with plenty of things going on, as they keep me guessing! I never know what to expect. I like to be surprised. Also, although there is a paranormal aspect to the book, I think putting it in a dystopian setting and addressing issues that are relevant in today’s society, as well as from our recent history, grounds the characters / story in reality more, and makes the Darklings more relatable.
3. You write in Ash and Natalie’s POV. Which one is easier?
Ash’s POV was easier to write in Black City, because his character came to me fully formed before I started writing the story, while Natalie took longer to work out. She slowly revealed herself to me (not in the sex way. Get your mind out of the gutter, Stacee ;-p). However, I found Natalie very easy to write in the subsequent two books. I really love her. She grows up a lot in the series.
4. The endings in both Black City and Phoenix were [in my opinion] shocking. Without spoiling anything, did you plan those sorts of endings or did it just happen?
I planned them. I’m a bit of a pantser when it comes to plotting books (shh, don’t tell my editor), but I always know the ending. I like to shock readers, but not just that, I like to surprise my characters and keep them on their toes. I don’t ever want then to feel safe. Anything can happen to them at any moment. They always look at me with a wary eye, especially if I’m in a bad mood.
5. Will there be kissing in book 3?
Oh yes! There will be lots of kissing in book 3!
Speed [ish] Round:
1. What’s your go to guilty pleasure thing to eat?
I love Belgium Buns, particularly the super naughty kind with whipped cream and lemon curd in them. Om noms. They’re really tasty and also make me giggle, because they look like boobies.
2. What are you reading right now?
I’m reading Shades of Earth by Beth Revis, the last book in the Across the Universe trilogy. It’s awesome. I’m a huge fan of Beth and the series.
3. Who are your favorite swoony boys?
Oooh, at the moment it would be Four (Divergent), Elder (Across the Universe) and Falco (Venom). So, so dreamy.
4. Are there any authors that you fangirl over?
Definitely! JK Rowling, Suzanne Collins, Veronica Roth, Beth Revis, Stephen Fry, Anthony Horowitz, and Marissa Meyer.
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Huge thanks to Elizabeth for taking the time [and giving me Ash!!].
Find her on her blog, Facebook and Twitter accounts. And go add all of the books on GoodReads!!
Now. To celebrate the book birthday of Phoenix, I’m giving away a hardcover copy of Black City and some signed bookmarks!
Rules for the giveaway are listed under the “terms and conditions” on the Rafflecopter widget.
My book boyfriend? Could you ask a harder question?
Do I get to include the ones you've claimed ownership of in the choice? ;)
I think I would go with Aiden from The Covenant Series, or Four from Insurgent/Divergent. And if I'm allowed, Ben from Unravelling, and Bennett from TBU.
Ben and Bennett. *sigh* I have excellent book boyfriends. :D
I still haven't read the Covenant series, I think I need to.
As always, thank you for reading and commenting!! Good luck. Ily
Well I have a very long list ahahah
But you know Ash is one of my top 10 book boyfriends :]
I have a very long list as well. That's why I picked this question, I want to see who other people pick!
Thanks for reading and commenting. And good luck!!
I have always loved Tucker from the Unearthly series I kinda have a thing for sweet cowboys :). Also I just recently finished Reboot and I really loved Callum he might just be one of my new favorites.
Oh that's hard.. there's quite a few..
Here's my top five(not in any real order here :3):
1.Noah from Pushing the Limits
2. Logan from Defiance
3. Ash from Black City
4. Ethan from Beautiful Creatures
5. Aoba from Sakura Hime (it's a manga series just so you know :3)
So cool that you could get ARCs of both books! Plus get an interview! Thanks for the giveaway!
I may have the longest list ever. If only we could bring them all to life… I'm such a hussy.
Top:
Tod, Jesse and Dimitri
It's kinda hard to choose, I have a lot of potential book boyfriends but I do like Four from Divergent, Day from Legend and Ash from Black City.
Thank you so much for the giveaway!
There are too many to choose from! In no particular order I will put Nev (About Last Night), Chaol (ToG), Mal and The Darkling (Grisha) – and yes…I love them both. :)
Great interview!!
xoxo
Erin
Long long list… Gus from TFIOS, Ethan from BC, Adrian from VA, Mr. Darcy? O.o LOL
Great interview! Looking forward to the kissing. Lots and lots of kissing.
And choosing a book boyfriend is hard. Etienne (Anna and the French Kiss) was my top choice, but I love Vlad (Halfway to the Grave) and Ash (Iron Fey series).
Thanks for the giveaway! Woo.
Oh, Nancy, it's okay….I don't think you could *possibly* be more of a hussy than Stacee, for heaven's sake. Have you seen the way she racks up book boyfriends?! Her trickery in just “asking” authors if they can be ALL HERS?!?! Yeah. There's no bigger book 'ho than THAT ONE.
But don't tell her I said so…. ;-D
I fully admit to this. You guys are just jealous that I get all of the awesome boys before you do.
;)
mmmmmm hard choice .. daemon of lux serie .. or maybe four of divergent jji i love this boys
almendra in the rafflecopter
Really, Stacee? Really?! Ash, too?! Good gracious, who's left for a girl to choose?!? Well, okay, actually I still haven't read Black City so I can't say I'd fall for him or not, but still… ;)
So, lets see, who.are my faves? Ooh, Alex from Unraveling!! Oh, wait, he's…yeah. Okay, then…Barclay from Unraveling and Unbreakable!!!! Oh, wait, he's ALSO….sigh. Let me go with one from an adult series I adore – The Sentinels series from Suzanne Johnson!!! There are three particular hotties I like, but my ultimate fave is JEAN LAFITTE. Yep, as in the pirate from long ago. At least he's UNDEAD…not just DEAD… :) Oh I also like Joseph Boyer from Something Strange and Deadly!!
Can I have a boyfriend sandwich? I choose Adam & Warner from The Shatter Me series. I love them both and can't choose between them.
Book boyfriend? Such a hard question… so many to pick from… i think that I'll settle for WARNER from the shatter me trilogy by Tahereh Mafi~ I really hated him in the first book, but I fell in love with him in the second book, Unravel me… You would ask me how it was even possible, but just read the books yourself…
So many! Will from the Infernal Devices series, Percy Jackson, Augustus from TFIOS, Adrian from Bloodlines…the list goes on haha
Thanks for the giveaway!
Um… I'm pretty sure that list is never ending. But, if I had too choose… Will Herondale from the Infernal Devices series, Daemon Black from the Lux series, Augustus from TFIOS, Four from Divergent… Yeah, I could go on forEVER.
Jamie Fraser from “Outlander.” Easy question!
My book boyfriend that I would choose at this moment in time would be Jace Wayland from City of Bones by Cassandra Clare. Thanks for the giveaway.
Hmmm tough question! But if i had to pick one and a recent one I would probably have to pick Gabe Bristow from Tonya Burrows' Seal of Honor. Who wouldn't want an ex marine to take care of them!
Hmmm… I'll go with Willem from Just One Day. Or Puck from the Iron Fey series, because Ash gets all the love!
Ronan Lych from The Raven Boys, if not, maybe Gansey from the same book. Or…Sean Kendrick from The Scorpio Races. But I satya with Ronan.
My first book boyfriend ever is Will Herondale. But, for sure, Ash is part of the list, too! ;)
Ash from The Iron Fey, I love him so much :)
Hmm…there are just so many…but the first name that pops in my head is Adrian Ivashkov.
Peeta (THG), Four (Divergent), Day (Legend), Hector (Crown of Embers), Kartik (A Great & Terrible Beauty), Maxon (The Selection)
Basically, relationship status = it's complicated :)