Tuesday, August 7, 2012

Giveaway and Interview: The Lost Girl by Sangu Mandanna


The Lost Girl

Eva’s life is not her own. She is a creation, an abomination—an echo. Made by the Weavers as a copy of someone else, she is expected to replace a girl named Amarra, her “other”, if she ever died. Eva studies what Amarra does, what she eats, what it’s like to kiss her boyfriend, Ray. So when Amarra is killed in a car crash, Eva should be ready.
But fifteen years of studying never prepared her for this.
Now she must abandon everything she’s ever known—the guardians who raised her, the boy she’s forbidden to love—to move to India and convince the world that Amarra is still alive.

Check out my review here
About Sangu:


Sangu Mandanna was four years old when she was chased by an elephant and wrote her first story about it and decided that this was what she wanted to do with her life. Seventeen years later, she read Frankenstein. It sent her into a writing frenzy that became THE LOST GIRL, a novel about death and love and the tie that binds the two together. Sangu now lives in England with her husband and son. Find her online at www.sangumandanna.com


interview with Blkosiner's Book Blog

--The Twitter version: tell us about your book in 140 characters or less.
Weavers stitch copies of people, echoes, to replace their originals when they die. The book is about Eva who wants not to have to be her original anymore. (I know, that's more than 140 characters, but I couldn't shorten it any more!)

--How did you get the idea for the story?
I reread Frankenstein at university and found myself really fascinated by the idea of a story from the monster's point of view. I played around with it for ages, find inspiration in things like Tim Burton movies and Daphne du Maurier novels, until Eva took shape. Suddenly all I could hear was her voice telling her story, so I had to write it.

--Which character would you most/least like to have dinner with?
You mean which of my characters, right, as opposed to, say, Dumbledore, who I would definitely want to have dinner with? I want to say Eva, but no, on the whole I think I'd most like to have dinner with Matthew, one of the Weavers. He's so odd and obscure and maddening. I'd least like to have dinner with a character called Sam, because he's just an absolute idiot.

--Do you have any other works in progress? Any teasers or release dates?
I'm working on a Romeo and Juliet-type love story with a large helping of steampunk and revolution thrown in. No release dates or anything like that yet, but I'm very much loving writing it!

--What book(s) is your book’s “cousin”? (Similar set-up or style)
Frankenstein, definitely, because of the set-up. But that's more of a grandmother than a cousin, I guess.

--What are some of your favorite books? Do you still have much time to read?
I have too many to even try to list here, but a few are: Tabitha Suzuma's ForbiddenThe Hunger Games trilogy, Anthony Horowitz's The House of Silk, the original Sherlock Holmes short stories, Lauren DeStefano's Wither, anything Harry Potter-related. And yes! I have a book coming out, am writing other things, and have a seven-month old baby... but I ALWAYS have time to read. 

--If a fairy godmother told you could be put into the world of your favorite book for 24 hours, which book would you pick and why?
Any of the Harry Potter books. I want Butterbeer, and to go to Hogwarts (I'd be in Gryffindor, obviously), and to do real magic, and to try and woo Harry away from Ginny, who I've never liked (sorry, Ginny).

--Do you need anything to write (music, coffee, etc)? Are there any songs on your playlist- songs that inspired you or that were playing while you wrote?
Music, usually. It always helps me find the right mood for a scene. A really tidy desk. Something to drink, though it doesn't have to be coffee, it's more likely to be fruit tea, or hot chocolate, or Pepsi Max. And I did have a playlist for THE LOST GIRL, though it would take up too much room to try and list every song, so you can have a peek at the whole thing here if you want to.

--If you could have any superpower what would you choose?
Invisibility, I think. Or the ability to read minds. I'm such a snoop, so being able to secretly spy on people would be fun.

--Besides writing, what do you like to do in your free time?
Reading, watching Grey's Anatomy, hanging out with my husband, going out to dinner. Though I do spend a lot of my time with my baby, so that's probably the thing I like doing best (except when he's driving me mental, in which case reading and Grey's Anatomy top the list).

--What is one thing you would tell your 15 year old self?
To stop sending that horrible manuscript out to publishers. Please. No, seriously, I'd tell her not to feel so disheartened every time she gets a rejection, because they are all going to lead her to a big fat YES! in just a few years' time.

--Is there anything else you want to add or say to your readers?
Just thank you: so many people have sent me enthusiastic tweets and emails about wanting to read THE LOST GIRL, or having read it, and I really can't begin to tell you how much that means to me.

Lightning round: this or that?
Vanilla or chocolate? Chocolate
Edward or Jacob? Edward. Easy.
Hockey or soccer? Soccer (only we call it football in the UK)
Ebook or paper? Paper
Salty or sweet? Both?
Beach or mountains? Beach
Phone call or email? Depends who it's with? But I guess phone call.
Early bird or night owl? Night owl! Totally.
Dog or cat? ...dog. No, cat. No, dog.
Messy or neat? Neat
Ninjas or pirates? Pirates


Blkosiner's Book Blog Giveaway
- One signed copy with bookmarks, open US only
-Fill out Rafflecopter to enter
-Ends on 8/28

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19 comments:

  1. The book sounds so cool, what a freaky world! But then those are the best

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  2. I've heard really good things about this book, one of my GR buddies really loved it, and I trust her judgement >.< Definitely looking forward to it! Thanks for the giveaway, and great interview Brandi :)

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  3. I've heard about this book but didn't have a chance to read it! :) Sounds great.
    PS. I'd give you the same answers on this or that questions? :)

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  4. WOW. Sending out manuscripts at 15? Sheesh. I cannot imagine being so put together and aware of the process at that age. Way to go!

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  5. Thanks for all the fantastic comments, everyone! (Christine: if it makes you feel any better, it wasn't a good manuscript. By any means. :-))

    And thank you so much for having me here today, Brandi!

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  6. gr8 post. i can't wait to hold my copy

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  7. I would love to read this book. It sounds very good. Thanks for the giveaway. Tore923@aol.com

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  8. Brandi, you ask the most awesome and unique questions! I love that this book has a Frankenstein-esque feel to it and the weavers sound really interesting! I'm excited to hear more about the Romeo and Juliet steampunk/revolution story, it sounds so interesting! Thanks for the awesome interview! :)

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  9. Hahahaha I want to read minds too! Thanks for the brilliant interview and the fabulous giveaway! Totally can't wait to read this one :D

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  10. Aww, I would love to have dinner with Dumbledore too! I am also excited to hear about this Romeo and Juliet type story she is working on! Great interview and thanks for the giveaway! :)

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  11. Interesting, She likes a lot of the same books I do :)
    And I laughed at the part where she said she'd try to "woo harry away from ginny" ;)
    Thanks for the giveaway, I've been wanting to read this.

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  12. I enjoyed the answer to the fairy godmother question - Hogwarts is the place to be. I also want butterbeer, to ride a broom, and to dare friends with jelly beans.

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  13. Re interview: I've always thought about a book that involves growing a clone so the original could continue to live just incase she developed a disease or lost an organ. So this book has me very interested.

    clenna at aol dot com

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  14. I'm a night owl too, just like Sangu! BTW- I love the cover of The Lost Girl. So cool and mysterious looking. Thanks for the interview- it was fun and I enjoyed it!

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  15. I tried watching Grey's Anatomy but I could never get into it. :)

    Thanks for the interview and giveaway

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  16. This book certainly sounds unique, possibly a little freaky lol, but unique! I want to give it a shot!

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  17. Thanks for the giveaway! I can't wait to read this book - especially now that I know it's kinda tied to Frankenstein!!

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  18. Fantastic interview questions! I was intrigued by this when you reviewed it, and I hope I win! *crosses fingers*

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  19. I think the book sounds interesting. My answer to the free time question would look about the same, currently working my way through season 6 of Grey's Anatomy when I am not entertaining my 5 month old. Thanks for the chance to win a copy!

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Sorry, but I am award and tag free zone, I do not have the time to return. Comments are reward enough :)