Thanks everyone for entering our giveaway, and be sure to check out Michelle's new novella, Whisper of Souls, which released yesterday!
The winner of the signed copy of A Temptation of Angels and a $25 gift card is:
Raquel Romero!!!! Congrats! :)
Showing posts with label Michelle Zink. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Michelle Zink. Show all posts
Wednesday, June 6, 2012
Friday, May 25, 2012
Friday Giveaway
Last week, I reviewed the lovely Michelle Zink's A Temptation of Angels. This week, I had the opportunity to interview her. And because she is that awesome, she's come back with prizes! For a chance to win a signed copy of A Temptation of Angels and a $25 gift card.
To enter, please fill out the form below. The winner will be announced next week. Contest closes Sunday, May 27. United States ONLY.
To enter, please fill out the form below. The winner will be announced next week. Contest closes Sunday, May 27. United States ONLY.
Wednesday, May 23, 2012
Author Interview: Michelle Zink
Now that the excitement of yesterday's contest is beginning to die down (entries will be announced tomorrow!) we have the lovely and crazy-talented Michelle Zink for an interview. Michelle is someone I've admired for a long time, both her writing ability (seriously, if you haven't, read her work.) and her genuine caring for her fans. She's super sweet and I'm very excited to have her here today. So without further ado:
1. Tell us a little about where you get your inspirations--music, life, what have you?
New stories can be inspired by anything from movies (I'm a huge movie fanatic, so that's a big one) to news stories to a conversation overheard between two people. A lot of the time, I'll see or hear something that will spark an idea, and then I'll work it for a awhile in my mind, trying to tweak it into something original.
2. What are you working on now? (Read: is there a sequel in the works?)
I have two Temptation companion novels plotted out, one from Raum's point-of-view and one about Darius and Anna. I don't know yet whether Penguin will publish them, but I'm pretty determined to get them to readers SOMEHOW because I'm constantly begged for more books in the Temptation world -- and more books with the Temptation guys; Griffin, Raum, and Darius.
3. Can you share a little about your journey to publication?
It was tedious? Lol! Prophecy was my fifth finished book. I almost sold my second book, but it wasn't revised enough on the front end, which is what I get for taking the easy way out. I wrote 6-8 hours a day for 2 and 1/2 years (and with four young children) because I was just determined to get published. Also, nothing made me a better writer faster than finishing books, and that really excited me, that process of learning and getting better.
4. Would you classify 'Temptation of Angels' a historical? If so, how do you account for the advance technology they have?
I don't classify it as historical at all! If anything, it leans to Steampunk. Mostly, it's a fantasy that happens to be set in the late 1890s (and this is the same answer I always gave for the Prophecy trilogy, minus the Steampunk part!).
5. One piece of advice for aspiring writers out there?
Read and write as much as you can. And not just in the genre you want to write in. Newspaper articles, non-fiction, poetry, even marketing and sales letters all make you a better writer. I look back on my days in marketing as such a blessing. I was always the one to volunteer to write letters to clients and potential clients, and I credit that with helping me learn to write consice sentences that get the point across with rambling on and on. It all helps! After that,my adivce would be to FINISH SOMETHING. We wrters like to start shiny new things, but you will learn more through the process of finishing a whole book than through anything else you can do on your own.
6. Last question: favorite dessert?
It would be a tie between homemade cookies and cakes! Rebekah makes a mean red velvet cake with cream cheese frosting and I'd do just about anything for one of our oatmeal chocolate chip cookies!
1. Tell us a little about where you get your inspirations--music, life, what have you?
New stories can be inspired by anything from movies (I'm a huge movie fanatic, so that's a big one) to news stories to a conversation overheard between two people. A lot of the time, I'll see or hear something that will spark an idea, and then I'll work it for a awhile in my mind, trying to tweak it into something original.
2. What are you working on now? (Read: is there a sequel in the works?)
I have two Temptation companion novels plotted out, one from Raum's point-of-view and one about Darius and Anna. I don't know yet whether Penguin will publish them, but I'm pretty determined to get them to readers SOMEHOW because I'm constantly begged for more books in the Temptation world -- and more books with the Temptation guys; Griffin, Raum, and Darius.
3. Can you share a little about your journey to publication?
It was tedious? Lol! Prophecy was my fifth finished book. I almost sold my second book, but it wasn't revised enough on the front end, which is what I get for taking the easy way out. I wrote 6-8 hours a day for 2 and 1/2 years (and with four young children) because I was just determined to get published. Also, nothing made me a better writer faster than finishing books, and that really excited me, that process of learning and getting better.
4. Would you classify 'Temptation of Angels' a historical? If so, how do you account for the advance technology they have?
I don't classify it as historical at all! If anything, it leans to Steampunk. Mostly, it's a fantasy that happens to be set in the late 1890s (and this is the same answer I always gave for the Prophecy trilogy, minus the Steampunk part!).
5. One piece of advice for aspiring writers out there?
Read and write as much as you can. And not just in the genre you want to write in. Newspaper articles, non-fiction, poetry, even marketing and sales letters all make you a better writer. I look back on my days in marketing as such a blessing. I was always the one to volunteer to write letters to clients and potential clients, and I credit that with helping me learn to write consice sentences that get the point across with rambling on and on. It all helps! After that,my adivce would be to FINISH SOMETHING. We wrters like to start shiny new things, but you will learn more through the process of finishing a whole book than through anything else you can do on your own.
6. Last question: favorite dessert?
It would be a tie between homemade cookies and cakes! Rebekah makes a mean red velvet cake with cream cheese frosting and I'd do just about anything for one of our oatmeal chocolate chip cookies!
Friday, May 18, 2012
Review: A Temptation of Angels
A Temptation of Angels by Michelle Zink
Publisher: Penguin Group
Released: 3/20/12
Rating: 4 stars—I loved it!
Synopsis:
Even angels make mistakes in this page-turning epic romance
When her parents are murdered before her eyes, sixteen-year-old
Helen Cartwright finds herself launched into an underground London where a
mysterious organization called the Dictata controls the balance of good and
evil. Helen learns that she is one of three remaining angelic descendants
charged with protecting the world's past, present, and future. Unbeknownst to
her, she has been trained her whole life to accept this responsibility. Now, as
she finds herself torn between the angelic brothers protecting her and the
devastatingly handsome childhood friend who wants to destroy her, she must
prepare to be brave, to be hunted, and above all to be strong, because
temptation will be hard to resist, even for an angel.
Michelle Zink masterfully weaves historical fantasy with paranormal
romance to create a gripping tale of love and betrayal.
Michelle Zink’s new book (after the Prophecy of the
Sisters trilogy) is an angel book. And I’ll be the first to admit that I’m
not crazy about angel books, but, I am a huge fan of Michelle’s work, and I was
really excited to see her spin on them.
And I was totally not disappointed. Helen is a character I
really enjoyed watching grow from a girl shoved into a closet, to one willing
to face her fears and her past. Perhaps more than Helen, though, I really liked
the boys in this story. Helen is paired with a set of brothers who are Keepers
like she is. All of them are now orphans, and when we learn that the one
responsible for their murders is Helen’s childhood friend, Raum, the tension
skyrockets.
Zink carefully balances romantic tension with plot, and for
a bit, your left wondering if Helen will choose the noble Griffen Channing or
the beautiful, broken Raum. It’s an excellent read, with enough alternate
history to leave you wondering if your reading historica, steampunk or fantasy.
I highly recommend it, and all of Michelle’s work.
And, because she’s fabulous, Michelle Zink will be joining
us on Monday for an interview about writing!
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