Giveaway: Black City and Author Interview with Elizabeth Richards: Vacation Extravaganza

Black City by Elizabeth Richards

A dark and tender post-apocalyptic love story set in the aftermath of a bloody war
In a city where humans and Darklings are now separated by a high wall and tensions between the two races still simmer after a terrible war, sixteen-year-olds Ash Fisher, a half-blood Darkling, and Natalie Buchanan, a human and the daughter of the Emissary, meet and do the unthinkable—they fall in love. Bonded by a mysterious connection that causes Ash’s long-dormant heart to beat, Ash and Natalie first deny and then struggle to fight their forbidden feelings for each other, knowing if they’re caught, they’ll be executed—but their feelings are too strong.
When Ash and Natalie then find themselves at the center of a deadly conspiracy that threatens to pull the humans and Darklings back into war, they must make hard choices that could result in both their deaths.

This is part of the Vacation Extravaganza. I go to Disney and you still win!

Make sure to leave a comment, and get an extra entry at the giveaway on the 17th

Scroll through or go through the vacation extravaganza label because I couldn't figure out another way to keep my posts up to date.

Find Elizabeth:
Blog: theredpenofdoom.wordpress.com
Twitter: @theredpenofdoom
Facebook: facebook.com/OfficialElizabethRichards

Goodreads fan: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5188888.Elizabeth_Richards
Add book:

-copy, open to US only

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-Ends on 10/12/2012 11:59 pm EST

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From her site
Elizabeth Richards is an award-winning journalist, who spent her early career reviewing videogames before making the bold (or crazy) move into travel writing, despite suffering from terrible travel sickness.
In her spare time, she ran a successful lifestyle website aimed at teenage girls, where she got to interview many of her favourite bands, go to gigs and basically blag loads of free swag all in the name of ‘research’.
Elizabeth lives in Buckinghamshire, England, with her husband. Black City is her debut novel.

--The Twitter version: tell us about your book in 140 characters or less.

A bloody, gory, sexy, dangerous, dystopian romance with a paranormal twist that will leave you breathless!!! #BLACKCITY

--How did you get the idea for the story?

It all began with Ash. His character popped into my head one evening when I was watching a movie, and I just couldn’t get him out of my mind. I was fascinated by the idea of this drug-dealing, supernatural boy who gets a heartbeat when he meets his Blood Mate and knew I had to write a story about him. The world, the characters and the plot all fell into place after that, but it all comes back to Ash.

--Which character would you most/least like to have dinner with?

I’d most like to have dinner with Ash *dreamy sigh*, although I’d probably be too shy and giggly to talk to him. He’d be good company though - sarcastic and cheeky but also very considerate and would make sure I had a pleasant evening. I’d least like to have dinner with Emissary Buchanan – she’s the type of person who would tell you off for using the wrong fork and would only want to talk about politics.

(Ash sounds great, I can't wait to fall in love with him)

--Do you have any other works in progress? Any teasers or release dates?

I’m currently working on the next two books in the Black City series. No confirmed release dates yet, but we’re roughly looking at Summer 2013 for book #2 and early 2014 for book #3. I’m also working on an option book, so I’m keeping very busy!

--What book(s) is your book’s “cousin”? (Similar set-up or style)

Mmm, that’s a good one. It’s hard to pigeon-hole, because Black City crosses a number of genres, but I’d probably say Divergent as both books are dystopian and have a strong romance at its core.

--What are some of your favorite books? Do you still have much time to read?
All the usual contenders – any of the Harry Potter, Hunger Games, Alex Rider, Wolves of Mercy Falls or Twilight series, and more recently Divergent, Cinder and this wonderful contemporary novel by Colleen Clayton called What Happens Next. It’s so life-affirming and beautiful. Plus all the Breathless Reads titles of course! But I’m biased! ;-p I don’t get to read as much as I used to, which is a little disappointing, but I wouldn’t change things for the world! 

(What happens next sounds great, adding to TBR now)

--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?
Easy! Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire! It’s not my favorite book of the series (that happens to be Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince) but I would love take part in the Triwizard Tournament. I think I could take on those dragons.

--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?
I get easily distracted, so it’s best I’m not around my phone/TV/internet when I’m writing! I almost never manage to do this though, unless I’m on a tight deadline. But I do like listening to music, I find it very inspirational. I listened to a lot of Within Temptation when I was writing/editing Black City (particular favorites are Stand My Ground, Fire and Ice, Shot In The Dark and The Howling), as well as Two Steps From Hell, Einaudi, Tori Amos, Rihanna and Beyonce, plus loads of cheesy 80’s tunes and movie soundtracks!  I have a very eclectic taste in music, so my playlists tend to be a little weird.

(PS Brandi loves Within Temptation and saw them live in NYC)

--If you could have any superpower what would you choose?

Invisibility. I would get up to all sorts of mischief! Although it would have to be the kind of invisibility that encompasses whatever I’m wearing as well – don’t like the idea of walking around in my birthday suit, even if no one can see me! Wouldn’t it get cold? Brrrrr.

--Besides writing, what do you like to do in your free time?

I spend a lot of my free time reading, as you’d imagine. I’m lucky enough to be member of the Apocalypsies [http://apocalypsies.blogspot.co.uk] , a fabulous group of debut authors including Gennifer Albin, Leigh Bardugo, Kiera Cass and Marissa Meyer to name a few, and we all pass our ARCs around the group, so I get to read some awesome books. I’m currently reading Scarlet by Marissa Meyer – it’s superb. Otherwise, I really love to draw and paint, or watch sci-fi/fantasy and horror TV shows and movies.

--What is one thing you would tell your 15 year old self?
Embrace your inner freak because she’s an okay girl; you’ll learn to like her and others will too.

--Is there anything else you want to add or say to your readers?

I just want to say a massive THANK YOU to everyone who has supported me and Black City over this past year, it means so much! You guys rock.

Lightning round: this or that?

Vanilla or chocolate?

Vanilla.

Edward or Jacob?

Edward.

Hockey or soccer?

Hockey.

Ebook or paper?

Paper.

Salty or sweet?

Sweet.

Beach or mountains?

Beach.

Phone call or email?

Email.

Early bird or night owl?

Night owl.

Dog or cat?

Dog.

Messy or neat?

Neat (if someone else is cleaning. Messy if I’m having to do it!)

Ninjas or pirates?

Pirates. Arrrr.

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