Mundie Moms

Thursday, June 21, 2012

Interview with Black City author Elizabeth Richards

I'm excited to introduce you guys to the lovely Elizabeth Richards, who's debut book Black City will be out later this fall. Elizabeth has kindly stopped by Mundie Moms to talk about her book. 



Hi Elizabeth! Thank you for stopping by Mundie Moms. What two words would you use to describe Black City?


Thanks for having me! I think the two words I’d use to describe Black City would be ‘danger’ and ‘romance’.

I'm really looking forward to reading Black City. I hear you created an engaging story with an intriguing mix of dystopian, paranormal, and a contemporary feel. What would you personally categorize your story as?

I would call it dystopian fantasy, because I think it best encompasses the dark, post-apocalyptic / paranormal vibe of the book. However, I’ve seen it categorized as everything from paranormal romance to sci-fi! But I’ve always been a fan of blending genres as it opens up your story to so many new possibilities.

I really enjoy a layered story, and I've heard a lot of exciting buzz surrounding your world building, your story's themes and your characters. Which element of your story did you have the most fun creating? Why?

I had a lot of fun creating the landscape and architecture of Black City itself, working out everything from the street names to the cinderstone bricks that the buildings are made of. The city is a character in its own right, and as soon as I had Black City finalized in my mind, everything else – the characters, the story, the history of that world – all fell into place.

I'm a sucker for forbidden romance, which I understand is one of the themes in Black City. What's one of your favorite "forbidden romances" in either YA or classic literature?

Well you can’t beat Romeo and Juliet for forbidden romance! But in YA books, my favorite romances have been between Bella and Edward, Sam and Grace, and Patch and Nora. 

What is one thing you came to admire in each of your main characters, Ash and Natalie?

I admire how brave Ash is, especially by the end of the book, and Natalie’s strength to stand up for what’s right, even though it puts her life at risk. 

What author or authors inspired you as a young reader?

I was a big fan of horror books when I was younger, so read a lot of Christopher Pike, James Herbert, Dean Koontz etc. I loved anything scary and was obsessed with vampires and ghosts! So no change there. I also religiously read Stephen Fry’s books (he’s my hero! *swoon*), loads of crime novels and *cough* Mills & Boon *cough*. Actually, I have a real soft spot for Mills & Boon novels, they’re my guilty pleasure. My best friend and I had hundreds of the things growing up – we bought them by the bag-load at car boot sales and charity shops and would giggle at all the rude bits...in fact, we still do!


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Thank you Elizabeth for visiting with me today! 

Visit Elizabeth on: her Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads 





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 -quoted from Goodreads

Pre-Order Black City at: Amazon | Barnes & NobleAmazon.co.uk | The Book Depository

Want to win an ARC of Black City? To enter, please fill out the form below.

Thoughtful Thursday: Life Happens



Some of you may know that this week my friend's lost their sweet little boy and my son lost a friend he greatly admired. Yesterday we attended Nathan's beautiful funeral service to celebrate his young, bright life. This week's events have really put a lot of things into perspective for me, and have made me take a step back at all I do, and really think about things, like what's truly important in life. During my reflection about life, I looked up a bunch of quotes. I love quotes. Today's thoughtful thursday is a collection of quotes I found about life. Hopefully they're will be at least one quote in here that may connect with you or give you that little boost you needed today. We're all going through some sort of tough time and dealing with something, and sometimes quotes are that thing we need to get us through it. 

There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle.” 
― Albert Einstein

Finish each day and be done with it. You have done what you could. Some blunders and absurdities no doubt crept in; forget them as soon as you can. Tomorrow is a new day. You shall begin it serenely and with too high a spirit to be encumbered with your old nonsense.” 
― Ralph Waldo Emerson

In three words I can sum up everything I've learned about life: it goes on.” 
― Robert Frost

Don't cry because it's over, smile because it happened.” 
― Dr. Seuss

It is better to be hated for what you are than to be loved for what you are not.” 
― AndrĂ© Gide, Autumn Leaves

To laugh often and much; to win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children; to earn the appreciation of honest critics and to endure the betrayal of false friends. To appreciate beauty; to find the best in others; to leave the world a bit better whether by a healthy child, a garden patch, or a redeemed social condition; to know that even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is to have succeeded.” 
― Ralph Waldo Emerson

Life is an opportunity, benefit from it.
Life is beauty, admire it.
Life is a dream, realize it.
Life is a challenge, meet it.
Life is a duty, complete it.
Life is a game, play it.
Life is a promise, fulfill it.
Life is sorrow, overcome it.
Life is a song, sing it.
Life is a struggle, accept it.
Life is a tragedy, confront it.
Life is an adventure, dare it.
Life is luck, make it.
Life is too precious, do not destroy it.
Life is life, fight for it.” ― Mother Teresa

"Every day you may make progress. Every step may be fruitful. Yet there will stretch out before you an ever-lengthening, ever-ascending, ever-improving path. You know you will never get to the end of the journey. But this, so far from discouraging, only adds to the joy and glory of the climb." 
- Sir Winston Churchill

You only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough.” 
― Mae West

Everything you can imagine is real.” 
― Pablo Picasso

This life is what you make it. Not matter what, you're going to mess up sometimes, it's a universal truth. But the good part is you get to decide how you're going to mess it up. Girls will be your friends - they'll act like it anyway. But just remember, some come, somg go. The ones that stay with you through everything - they're your true best friends. Don't let go of them. Also remember, sisters make the best friends in the world. As for lovers, well, they'll come and go too. And babve, I hate to say it, most of them - actually pretty much all of them are going to break your heart, but you can't give up becuase if you give up, you'll never find your soul mate. You'll never find that half who makes you whole and that goes for everything. Just because you fail once, doesn't mean you're gonna fail at everything. Keep trying, hold on, and always, always, always believe in yourself, because if you don't, then who will, sweetie? So keep your head high, keep your chin up, and most importantly, keep smiling, because life's a beautiful thing and there's so much to smile about.” 
― Marilyn Monroe

"Each man's life represents a road toward himself." - Herman Hesse 

If you have a favorite quote, please feel free to share it in the comments below. 

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