Mundie Moms

Thursday, January 6, 2011

Author Interview with Debut Author, Julia Karr


This year there are so many awesome debut books scheduled to release. We are looking forward to reading many of them, especially from the 2K11 class. Today I'd love to introduce to you one of those authors, Julia Karr, author of XVI.

Nina seems to be a very strong character, who's not only looking out for her sister, but trying to figure out who she is. What surprised you most about her character?
I was surprised (pleasantly) that she was willing to look at her own issues and see how they were affecting her view of the world around her. And, that she was willing to go out of her comfort zone, but also stay true to herself.

Out of Nina's friends she has through out the story, who did you enjoy getting to know the most?
It probably comes as no surprise that I love Sandy. She’s a total muzz - but I love her anyway. I think, however, that one of my favorite friends to get to know was Mike. He’s not the smoothest guy, but he has very deep feelings and when he figures out something is wrong -- he’s not going to let it lie.

Where do you draw your inspiration from when writing the more emotional scenes?
Not surprisingly, I craft those emotional scenes from my own life. My mother died when I was eighteen and I can still recall the agony of loosing someone that close to you.

Did you allow yourself a fun indulgence when you finished writing XVI?
Uh... no. Can I just say that when XVI launches I am having a big party & someone else can drive! O.o lol!

Do you have a favorite literary character? If so, who and why?
One? I only get to pick one? Well... if I must - it has to be Elizabeth Bennet from Pride & Prejudice by Jane Austen. Lizzie is bright, fun, and although she works within the confines of the society she lives in, she does not indulge in all the silliness and vacuity as do the majority of the girls/women around her. And, the fact that she managed to turn out so well with a mother like Mrs. Bennet. Sheesh! She should get a medal! (Well... she did get Mr. Darcy & that’s better than any medal, isn’t it? ;) )

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Thank you so much Julia for joining us today! I'm looking forward to sharing my review for XVI this month on our blog. In the mean time you can visit Julia on her sites here Web & here 2K11 & follow her on Twitter. You can order XVI here Amazon | B&N | Borders | Indiebound or go pick it up TODAY at your local book store.

Book Review- Shadowspell

By Jenna Black
Published by St Martin's Press
Released on January 4th, 2011
Source- Bought
5 Stars- It's A Great Read

On top of spending most of her time in a bunkerlike safe house and having her dates hijacked by a formidable Fae bodyguard, Faeriewalker Dana Hathaway is in for some more bad news: the Erlking and his pack of murderous minions known as the Wild Hunt have descended upon Avalon. With his homicidal appetite and immortal powers, the Erlking has long been the nightmare of the Fae realm. A fragile treaty with the Faerie Queen, sealed with a mysterious spell, is the one thing that keeps him from hunting unchecked in Avalon, the only place on Earth where humans and Fae live together. Which means Dana’s in trouble, since it’s common knowledge that the Faerie Queen wants her – and her rare Faeriewalker powers – dead. The smoldering, sexy Erlking’s got his sights set on Dana, but does he only seek to kill her, or does he have something much darker in mind? (quoted from Goodreads).

Shadowspell picks up right were Glimmerglass ends, and this time Jenna throws in another fantastic, hot plot twist with Erlking, the leader of the Wild Hunt. Let me just say, he takes bad to a whole new level. As in the kind of guy made of nightmeres, who enjoys a good chase and in the ends enjoys a good kill. I was as drawn to him as Dana was. I don't know if drawn is the right word as he makes Dana want to run away from him, but at the same time she's intrigued by him. He's someone you know is bad, but at the same time he is protective of Dana (even if at times it's for his own desires), but still, there's something about him that makes me wonder if his bad boy ways are an act or if he's grown tired of the chase. I love that he's doesn't hide who he is and is upfront about it, but at the same time, and like all Fae, they're excellent at playing word games and Dana will need to figure out how to out smart a guy who's been around for thousands of years.

One of the many reasons why I love this series is because of Dana. She does not take no for answer nor does she take being bullied. I connect well with her protectiveness of those she loves and cares about. I mean she meets with the essence of evil, the Erlking in his house! Okay, there's more to the story than that, but no one in their right mind goes to his house. Dana knows how to think clearly in situations that she or someone she loves feels threatened in. That's not to say she doesn't have her teenage moments, but that's what makes her relatable.

I really like that all my favorite characters from Glimmerglass were back. I enjoyed seeing more of Dana's relationship with her parents. I liked that she finally releases the anger she's grown up with towards her mom by telling her exactly how she feels about her drinking problem. Her father is as protective as ever with her, that Finn and one other guard are to accompany Dana where ever she goes, that is when she's not grounded. I really liked Keane in Glimmerglass and I like him even more in Shadowspell. He turns up the heat with his self defense classes he teaches Jenna.

There's no shortage of hot Fae guys in this story, and what I admire even more about Dana is that she's not falling at their feet. While she may at times give into teenage urges, she's constantly trying to figure out what the guys' motives are for wanting to be with her. She doesn't see herself as beautiful as the rest of the full blooded Fae, and in saying that, it wouldn't surprise me if Ethan ends up being in love with her and not because of what she can do. Oh Ethan... I really love his character and I like that his play boy reputation causes Dana to really think about their relationship. I'm one who thinks he can change and I think he proves that when he does something to protect Dana.

Aside from my love for the cover, I absolutely love this series. Jenna Black gives her fae series a more edgy feel, mixed with romance and action. Okay, there's a lot more romance in Shadowspell. Talk about turning the heat up in the Fae world! What makes this a fantastic sequel, is it's fast paced read with engaging plot twists. I can't wait to read the next installment in this series, Sirensong which will be out next summer. Shadowspell is one I would recommend for older YA fans, as there's some sexual content, a mild scene, and the attempted rape scene will not be suitable for all readers.

Thoughtful Thursday- Getting To Know You, MM's Admin Addition

With the start of the year, I thought it would be the perfect opportunity for you to get to know the Mundie Moms Admin Team. These ladies are truly amazing and I appreciate everything they do to make Mundie Moms what it is, and I'm excited for you to get to know them better.

She's our AdminPR and you may have gotten to know her on Twitter, read her reviews & Twitter Tuesday & other posts here on the blog, chatted with her on our forum or talked to her on facebook. I'm in constant awe of how this mama of 3 juggles being a mom, constantly keeping up with all we have going on and still finds time to bake every day! I'd like to introduce you to Sophie!! Here's a picture of Sophie with her 3 kiddos-























OOPS! Sorry, those are not the pictures she sent. Apparently I misplaced her picture and instead have a few of her favorite fictional characters. *snickers* Not that BinBons is fictional by any means. Now that Sophie will kill me, I'll go ahead and introduce you to her-

How would you describe yourself in 2 sentences or less?
I'm a former exec of a Fortune 500 company who loves being a SAHM to three kids and one fluffy dog. I'm also a wife of seventeen years to a man who really could be a fictional character. I mean that in a good way (in case he is reading this). ;]

Who's your favorite TMI or ID character and why?
I cannot choose just one. Let's see, hmmmm, in TMI it would have to be Jace. All that snark wrapped up in a rune-filled, sexy, angsty package. Look no further than the cover of CITY OF BONES. See what I mean? Picture that saying, "Close your eyes and think of England..."

And for ID, well, I love both Will and Jem but I'm going to go with Jessamine. I adore her character. She doesn't want the life she's been trained for but in a pinch, she'll come to your aid with that lethal parasol. We would be fast friends for sure!

If you could have any rune, which one would you pick and why?
Fearless. I'm a Type-A mama, so in my mind there are so many things that can/will/do go wrong on a daily basis. I'd love to just not think about them and be a little more fearless like I used to be before I had kids.

If had to choose only one book to take with you somewhere, which book would that be?
The Mortal Instruments, of course. It's a series...so ummm, it COULD be thought of as one book. Kinda.

What was your favorite book to read growing up?
I loved HALF MAGIC by Edward Eager, the MARY POPPINS series by P.L. Travers and of course, THE CHRONICLES OF NARNIA by C.S. Lewis.

What author got your interested in reading?
See the above books but also Laura Ingalls Wilder, L.M. Montgomery and later Jane Austen, the Bronte sisters, Margaret Mitchell and oh so many more.

If you could spend the day with a fictional character, who would it be and why? (remember this is a family friendly site so you have to keep it clean *coughs*)
Okay, okay, it's too hard a question, I mean I should pick a clad-in-black Shadowhunter, a Sparklepyre or my beloved Mr. Darcy but for a day of pure adventure, intermittent use of the latest gadgetry (did I mention I was a Geek Mama?), a drive in a fast car and a martini -- shaken not stirred -- I choose Ian Fleming's James Bond. Not the movie one, but the book version. Yes, I have a thing for spies. Doesn't everyone?? When you have a chance, read the Fleming stories, you'll know immediately what I loved about them.

Aside from reading, what do you enjoy doing on your down time?
I love photography, writing my family blog (so I'm four months behind, I'll catch up soon) and on occasion, writing down the adventures of a few fictional characters that pop up in my head.

Who's the most memorable author you've met? (I know this is an unfair question. Pick more than one if you'd like)
I was lucky enough to interview Robert B. Parker (the Spenser series and oh so many more) for a college assignment. We met in a diner. He wore a leather jacket, bought me a cup of coffee and a slice of pie. We talked for two hours. I learned more from him in that short amount of time than I did in some of my semester-long classes.

Just for kicks, what boy band music do you secretly still listen to (don't lie) lol?
The Jackson 5. "A-B-C easy as 1-2-3..." Are you singing with me??

Thank you Sophie for indulging me with this interview! Now I'll be waiting for your phone call. LOL

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