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I’m thrilled to have been asked to be the official blogger for Pitch Dark Days and THE BURNING SKY by Sherry Thomas (click link for my review)! Check out the book below, my Q & A with Sherry Thomas, and then be sure to enter the giveaway for a chance to win a copy for yourself!
The Burning Sky (The Elemental Trilogy #1)
by Sherry Thomas
Publication Date: September 17, 2013
It all began with a ruined elixir and an accidental bolt of lightning…
Iolanthe Seabourne is the greatest elemental mage of her generation—or so she’s being told. The one prophesied for years to be the savior of The Realm. It is her duty and destiny to face and defeat the Bane, the greatest mage tyrant the world has ever known. A suicide task for anyone let alone a sixteen-year-old girl with no training, facing a prophecy that foretells a fiery clash to the death.
Prince Titus of Elberon has sworn to protect Iolanthe at all costs but he’s also a powerful mage committed to obliterating the Bane to avenge the death of his family—even if he must sacrifice both Iolanthe and himself to achieve his goal.
But Titus makes the terrifying mistake of falling in love with the girl who should have been only a means to an end. Now, with the servants of the Bane closing in, he must choose between his mission and her life.
In the length of a tweet (140 characters), tell us about THE BURNING SKY.
Girl summons lightning. Chased by minions of Dark Lord. Boy hides girl at all-boy school. Boy: U, overthrow Dark Lord. Girl: NO! And then…
Are you working on something new? Can you tell us what’s coming next?
I am working on the 2nd draft of the sequel to THE BURNING SKY and I expect to also work on drafts 3 & 4 at some point. My next book that will be hitting shelves, however, is a historical romance titled THE LUCKIEST LADY IN LONDON, which is all about a girl bagging someone who appears to be the handsomest, richest, and most gentlemanly entity since Mr. Darcy. And astronomy is involved, of course—I can never write a romance without throwing in some nerdy subject.
If you were stranded on a desert island what are 3 things you’d want to have with you?
A can-opener, in case there are tons of canned food the Dharma Initiative left behind. A fully loaded e-reader—so I can pass years until I am rescued. And of course, a solar charger, so the e-reader can work all those years.
If you could have any superpower what would you choose?
Is there such a superpower as putting a variety of healthy, delicious entrees on the table with the blink of an eye? That’s what I would choose. If not, any kind of mind control would also do, so that my family would think that’s what they are eating.
If you could jump into a book and live in that world, which would it be?
The one that comes to mind immediately isn’t a book world, but the world of Star Wars. I like advanced technology. I like faster-than-light travel. I like places where you can easily find women in positions of power and leadership. And I would like to vacation on Naboo, especially the parts that look like Lake Como. J
What is your dream cast for THE BURNING SKY?
Does it say something about me that I can’t really tell you who should play the protagonists from my book but I know exactly who I would like to play the villains? Tilda Swinton for the Inquisitor—she would be so awesomely scary. And Tom Hiddleston for the Bane—he would have no problem being courtly one moment and menacing the next.
What advice would you give to aspiring authors?
Accept that the book of your heart may not have any readership out there, and then write that book anyway.
What’s your favorite quote?
“Most men worry about their own bellies, and other people’s souls, when we all ought to be worried abut our own souls, and other people’s bellies.” ~ Rabbi Israel Salanter
What movie are you looking forward to this year?
Pacific Rim was the one movie I was dying to see and it totally delivered for me—huge robots aganst huge creatures, yay! Next, probably The Hobbit: Part 2.
What drew you to writing this genre?
I surprised myself by writing a fantasy–always thought I was more into SF, which had been my first love as a reader. Yet looking back, many of my favorite books since I came of age are fantasy–Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter, His Dark Materials, The Queen’s Thief series, so on and so forth. So I think what draws me to write is the same as what compels me to read. If I love to read a genre, then I will be drawn to write in it.
What book do you love that doesn’t get a lot of hype?
The Queen’s Thief series by Megan Whalen Turner. I adore a great love story—no surprise there. I adore a clever, intricately woven plot. And this series is a tremendous marriage of a great love story married to a clever, intricately woven plot.
About Sherry Thomas
Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads | Amazon | B & N
Sherry Thomas is one of the most acclaimed romance authors working today. Her books regularly receive starred reviews from trade publications and are frequently found on best-of-the-year lists. She is also a two-time winner of Romance Writers of America’s prestigious RITA® Award.
English is Sherry’s second language—she has come a long way from the days when she made her laborious way through Rosemary Roger’s Sweet Savage Love with an English-Chinese dictionary. She enjoys digging down to the emotional core of stories. And when she is not writing, she thinks about the zen and zaniness of her profession, plays computer games with her sons, and reads as many fabulous books as she can find.
Sherry’s next book, THE BURNING SKY, volume one of her young adult fantasy trilogy, will be available fall 2013.
Author photo by the lovely and talented Jennifer Sparks Harriman at Sparks Studio.
Dark Days Fall 2013 Tour
8/19: ASYLUM at Icey Books
8/26: THE BITTER KINGDOM at Good Books and Good Wine
9/2: DON’T LOOK NOW at A Life Bound by Books
9/8: NOT A DROP TO DRINK at The Broke and the Bookish
9/16: THE BURNING SKY at A Book and a Latte
10/7: THE BROKENHEARTED at Tales of the Ravenous Reader
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I enjoyed the interview. Thanks for the giveaway 🙂 I want to read this!
OMG!! I am DYING to read this book!!! And I just LOVE the cover:)))) I’m definitely crossing my fingers for this giveaway!! Thank you so much for this AWESOME giveaway!!!
I have a question for Sherry: Was there a person in your life who first convinced you to sit down and write your first book?
Thanks for the giveaway!
Hi Meghan,
I come from a family of engineers and scientists. Folks were perplexed–and my mom was downright alarmed–that I wanted to write fiction. So, lol, no one tried to convince me to write and Mom certainly tried to persuade me otherwise.
But I have never minded Mom’s objections. (Let me make it clear, I was not operating in a hostile environment. No one tried to stop me, but everyone understood clearly that despite my best efforts, I might never become a published author. They were concerned I might be wasting my time.)
To succeed at any creative endeavor, you must be propelled by your own drive. It took me eight years to get my first publishing contract. Other writers have toiled even longer. No one else can convince you to do that. You have to need to do it.
Hope this answers your question,
Sherry
Great interview! I love the quote that she mentioned. I hadn’t heard of it before but it’s definitely thought provoking 🙂
awesome interview! sherry is one of my favorite writers and people in general. 🙂
Good choice for the Inquisitor. I picture someone tall with a porcelain complexion and she certainly fits the bill.
I absolutely cannot wait to read The Burning Sky! I’ve heard such amazing things about this book and the author. I’m pretty sure all of what everyone is saying is not exaggerated 🙂 Thanks for hosting the giveaway!
The underlying plot reminds me a lot of the Grisha trilogy by Leigh Bardugo–in a good way! The young girl with supposedly super-powers being tapped to defeat a much older, much more knowledgeable about how to use his power, evil.
I love how two of the three thing’s Sherry would take with her on a deserted island have to do with books and reading. I’d do the same and take something with me to make a fire as my third.
S
I can’t wait to read The Burning Sky! It sounds amazing. And I love that she chose Tom Hiddleston as her dream actor to play the Bane. 😉
Thank you, everyone, for your kind words!
And thank you so much, Jen, for having me.
Twitter: bookandlatte
says:
Of course! I can’t wait to meet you at the Pitch Dark Days event in Denver! 🙂
Jen recently posted..Playlist/Giveaway: Not A Drop To Drink by Mindy McGinnis
The more I see this book, the more I *know* I need to read it. First, the cover is absolutely gorgeous, and even though I don’t read a lot of this type of fantasy, it sounds amazing to me! I can’t wait to read it!
Bree recently posted..Review: The Waking Dark by Robin Wasserman
This is one of my anticipated books for fall! I want to read this books so bad. The Burning Sky is right up my alley with the fantasy, kick-ass heroine and of course Prince <3
I have been seeing and reading some amazing reviews about this book and I can’t wait to read it I just started to get into the Fantasy genre and The Burning Sky looks like it will be a awesome read. I love Tom Hiddleston and he does play the best villains so evil but so charismatic! 🙂
Great interview, I really enjoyed it. You asked great questions – I never thought of asking authors about movies! *face-palm*.
Sherry sounds so sweet and smart. And I love the quote she picked – definitely agree with that. I haven’t watched The Pacific Rim yet, mainly because I am not really into big robots (please don’t hate me *hides*), but I’ll give it a try since you said it delivered!
I definitely need to catch up with The Queen’s Thief. I haven’t heard much about it, but what I did hear was always positive, so I guess it’s time!
Can’t tell you how excited I am for The Burning Sky! Can’t wait to read it 🙂 Thank you for the awesome post!
Evie recently posted..Hanging by a Thread by Sophie Littlefield (Review)
I like Ms. Thomas the more I read about her. Tom Hiddleston, Star Wars, astronomy, The Queen’s Thief… Yes yes yes yes. Also, Tilda Swinton would make an AMAZING Inquisitor.
Shelver506 @ Bookshelvers Anonymous recently posted..Cover Love #38
Hey there, You’ve got executed an unbelievable job. I’m going to definitely digg the item as well as in the see recommend in order to my girlfriends. I’m sure they’ll be benefited from this web site.
I love Sherry’s HR The Fitzhugh Trilogy and am very much looking forward to diving into her fantasy world in the Elementals Trilogy. The Burning Sky sounds like a fascinating beginning to an epic fantasy tale.
I’ve heard so many good things about this book that it’s crazy. I can’t wait to read it, it looks fantastic! I definitely need to get it ASAP!