Review: DRIVE by Stephanie Fournet
I have loved everything I’ve read from Stephanie Fournet, and DRIVE did not disa[...]
Please give a warm welcome to Robin Bridges, author of the Katrina Trilogy. The Unfailing Light is the sequel to The Gathering Storm and releases October 9, 2012 from Delacorte Books. She’s here today to talk about the series!
Having had no choice but to use her power has a necromancer to save Russia from dark forces, Katerina Alexandrovna, Duchess of Oldenburg, now wants to forget that she ever used her special powers. She’s about to set off to pursue her lifelong dream of attending medical school when she discovers that Russia’s arch nemesis–who she thought she’d destroyed–is still alive. So on imperial orders, Katerina remains at her old finishing school. She’ll be safe there, because the empress has cast a potent spell to protect it against the vampires and revenants who are bent on toppling the tsar and using Katerina for their own gains. But to Katerina’s horror, the spell unleashes a vengeful ghost within the school, a ghost more dangerous than any creature trying to get in.
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Describe the Katerina Trilogy in 140 characters (the size of a tweet).
In the midst of superstitious and dangerous 1880’s Russia, young Duchess Katerina of Oldenburg hides a dark secret: she can raise the dead.
What and/or who inspired you to write the series?
I’ve always been interested in Russian history, since I grew up hearing stories of my great-grandparents’ bakery in Ukraine, and I fell in love with the late Imperial period- the years of Faberge and Tchaikovsky and Tolstoy- as well as the old Russian fairy tales. When I started wondering what life in the late 19th century would have been like if the imperial family possessed magical powers, I knew I wanted to write a story to find out.
How would you describe your writing process? What part is easiest? Most challenging?
Here’s my process: Get an idea, write a rough outline, write the first chapter, write a new outline, write the first draft, rewrite outline, rewrite draft, rewrite outline, rewrite draft. I usually love writing first drafts the most, but each book is different. Sometimes untangling the outline is the hardest part, and sometimes finishing the first draft is the hardest.
What hobbies or activities do you enjoy (besides writing)?
When I have time, I love playing video games, and I love to read.
If you could go anywhere in the world on vacation, where would you go and why?
I have a long wish list of places I’d like to see someday. Russia is at the very top, of course, because I’d love to see all the places that Katerina visits in the books. But I’d also love to visit England, Ireland, France, Egypt, Australia, Japan, and Tahiti!
What books are at the top of your to-be-read list?
Maggie Stiefvater’s The Raven Boys and Libba Bray’s The Diviners are two recent releases that I hope to read soon, and I’m dying to get a hold of Daniel Marks’ Velveteen, which comes out October 9!
Credit: Erin Glisson
About the author (from her website): By day, I am a mild-mannered writer of fantasy and paranormal fiction for young adults. By night, I’m a pediatric nurse. I live on the Gulf Coast with my husband, one soon-to-be teenager, and two slobbery Mastiffs. I like playing video games and watching Jane Austen movies. (Alas, if only there was a Jane Austen video game!) THE GATHERING STORM was my first novel.
Many thanks to Robin for stopping by today to answer my questions!
Twitter: jeneaw0716
says:
Great interview. This sounds like a wonderful series. I am off to find where I can get it. Thanks for sharing the interview.
Jenea @ Books Live Forever
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