Many thanks to Teen Book Scene in allowing me to participate in Karen Kincy's Bloodborn book tour and letting me host Karen on my blog today. So, who is Karen Kincy you ask? Karen grew up in Snohomish, Washington and was homeschooled along with her two sisters by her mom. She wanted to become a novelist at 13 years old. Karen has BA in Linguistics and Literature from The Evergreen State College, and is studying toward a Master’s in Computational Linguistics. Her Other series, an urban fantasy series, is a planned trilogy. The first book, Other, was selected by the American Library Association in 2011 as the Top Ten Popular Paperbacks for Young Adults. Bloodborn, the second book in the Other series but not a direct sequel, will be released on September 8th. Foxfire, the third book in the series, will be released September 2012. Karen mentioned on her website that though Bloodborn is chronologically after Other, you can still read each book as a standalone.
When I contacted Karen with my questions, I found out that today is Karen's birthday! I had a chat with her about birthdays. I hope you enjoy our interview and check back next Wednesday for my review of Other!
Welcome Karen and thank you so much for being here! Since today is your birthday, Happy Birthday!, I hope you don't mind me asking you some birthday related questions. What is the earliest birthday you can remember?
Oh, wow, I’m not sure… they have all sort of blurred together into a frenzy of ripping presents open and gorging on cake. I do remember when I was turning ten years old, and I suddenly realized that I got double digits for my age. Wow. Such an amazing thing! It may have been in part because my mom often used those plump number-shaped candles on top of my cakes, and suddenly I had two.
*Laughs and nods* I remember thinking that too when I was young. Some birthdays represent milestones in your life. Do you have a memorable birthday that you will never forget?
I like to think all my birthdays have been pretty memorable, in a similar sort of way. Some of the most memorable involved going to the Evergreen State Fair for my birthday, since the fair was usually winding down around then. (Yes! The Evergreen State Fair, which makes an appearance in both Other and Bloodborn, is 100% real.) Anyway, this one year I had entered their photography contest, and I remember walking into the building and looking for my photo on the wall with all the rest, then not finding it—only to see it inside a display case with a big purple-and-gold Best in Show rosette that was probably half as long as I was tall. That was certainly a nice birthday surprise!
Okay, confession time. What is the best and worst birthday gift you've ever received?
Best? Worst? Hmmm. I’m not sure I want to divide up my gifts into good and bad piles, for fear of making the gift-givers feel slighted. Also, I’ve gotten some pretty awesome stuff, in general, which I’ll also refrain from bragging about.
Your quite the diplomat. Alright, then tell us what is the one gift you hoped you would get for your birthday but never got?
A werepuppy! Seriously, I know they don’t exist, but if somebody gave me a sweet little drooly werepuppy with clumpy gray fur and a stubby tail, I would love it forever. Well, at least until it grew up into a full-size werewolf. That would be weird. Also, not sure how diapers would work when the werepuppy transformed into a baby.
I don't know. There are some werewolves out there that I wouldn't mind having. *Grins*. If your characters threw you a party what would the party theme be? Who would they invite?
The party theme would be, “Live to Celebrate Another Birthday!” because I can be quite mean to my characters. Many of them have come rather close to dropping dead or getting killed, so they would likely find it ironically amusing to give their author a taste of her own medicine. Hopefully they would at least serve Devil’s Food Cake and other sinful delights. They would probably invite all the werewolves I’ve ever mentioned to guard the exits, and a certain pooka would stare meaningfully at me with golden eyes until I promised to give them a vacation from serial killers, crazy sheriffs, and other trouble.
If you could invite anyone, past or present, to come and celebrate your birthday with you who would it be?
I would invite Alexander Skarsgård, who plays Eric in True Blood, and Daniel Craig, who plays the latest James Bond, to stand around with their shirts off and pose as statuary in the garden. They don’t have to talk. Just pose.
*Laughs* I think there are other people out there would have to agree with you. Peopel are pretty particular when it comes to birthday cakes. What's your favorite?
Chocolate mint cake, baked by my mom. Mmm. Deliciously chocolaty, with as much chocolate as possible crammed into one cake. I think one year she melted baking chocolate, chocolate candy bars, and chocolate chips for the cake. The only downside to this cake is that it’s so rich it can be hard to eat more than a sliver, though I’ve tried!
Yeah, there is no way I would be able to stop at a sliver. A sliver is what I call a taste test. What food would you request to have at your birthday party?
Pizza or pasta. Though not a pasta pizza, because that sounds revolting. Actually, something involving macaroni and cheese might not be too horrible…
Would you prefer a large party at a big venue or a small intimate party?
Small party, with my closest friends and family. So there’s more cake to go around. (Because that is, of course, my primary motivation for birthday parties.) Okay, okay, in truth it’s because I’m something of an introvert and a writerly hermit. I do like to meet new people, and I’m not shy about it, but I don’t want any parties of mine to get too rowdy or crowded. I like to spend time with my closest companions.
I'm the exact same way. In your opinion, what makes the best birthday?
One where you remember all the good things that have happened since your last birthday, and look forward to everything before your next! This birthday I will be hoping that Bloodborn does well on its book birthday, and that readers love it. I will also be looking forward to seeing how Foxfire turns out as I work on it with my publisher, and planning its book birthday next year.
I'm definitely looking forward to reading your books, Karen. Thanks again for stopping by on your birthday! Readers, if you would like to learn more about Karen, please visit her at her website, Twitter, Facebook, and Goodreads!
Bloodborn, Book 2 by Karen Kincy
When I contacted Karen with my questions, I found out that today is Karen's birthday! I had a chat with her about birthdays. I hope you enjoy our interview and check back next Wednesday for my review of Other!
Oh, wow, I’m not sure… they have all sort of blurred together into a frenzy of ripping presents open and gorging on cake. I do remember when I was turning ten years old, and I suddenly realized that I got double digits for my age. Wow. Such an amazing thing! It may have been in part because my mom often used those plump number-shaped candles on top of my cakes, and suddenly I had two.
*Laughs and nods* I remember thinking that too when I was young. Some birthdays represent milestones in your life. Do you have a memorable birthday that you will never forget?
I like to think all my birthdays have been pretty memorable, in a similar sort of way. Some of the most memorable involved going to the Evergreen State Fair for my birthday, since the fair was usually winding down around then. (Yes! The Evergreen State Fair, which makes an appearance in both Other and Bloodborn, is 100% real.) Anyway, this one year I had entered their photography contest, and I remember walking into the building and looking for my photo on the wall with all the rest, then not finding it—only to see it inside a display case with a big purple-and-gold Best in Show rosette that was probably half as long as I was tall. That was certainly a nice birthday surprise!
Okay, confession time. What is the best and worst birthday gift you've ever received?
Best? Worst? Hmmm. I’m not sure I want to divide up my gifts into good and bad piles, for fear of making the gift-givers feel slighted. Also, I’ve gotten some pretty awesome stuff, in general, which I’ll also refrain from bragging about.
Your quite the diplomat. Alright, then tell us what is the one gift you hoped you would get for your birthday but never got?
A werepuppy! Seriously, I know they don’t exist, but if somebody gave me a sweet little drooly werepuppy with clumpy gray fur and a stubby tail, I would love it forever. Well, at least until it grew up into a full-size werewolf. That would be weird. Also, not sure how diapers would work when the werepuppy transformed into a baby.
I don't know. There are some werewolves out there that I wouldn't mind having. *Grins*. If your characters threw you a party what would the party theme be? Who would they invite?
The party theme would be, “Live to Celebrate Another Birthday!” because I can be quite mean to my characters. Many of them have come rather close to dropping dead or getting killed, so they would likely find it ironically amusing to give their author a taste of her own medicine. Hopefully they would at least serve Devil’s Food Cake and other sinful delights. They would probably invite all the werewolves I’ve ever mentioned to guard the exits, and a certain pooka would stare meaningfully at me with golden eyes until I promised to give them a vacation from serial killers, crazy sheriffs, and other trouble.
If you could invite anyone, past or present, to come and celebrate your birthday with you who would it be?
I would invite Alexander Skarsgård, who plays Eric in True Blood, and Daniel Craig, who plays the latest James Bond, to stand around with their shirts off and pose as statuary in the garden. They don’t have to talk. Just pose.
*Laughs* I think there are other people out there would have to agree with you. Peopel are pretty particular when it comes to birthday cakes. What's your favorite?
Chocolate mint cake, baked by my mom. Mmm. Deliciously chocolaty, with as much chocolate as possible crammed into one cake. I think one year she melted baking chocolate, chocolate candy bars, and chocolate chips for the cake. The only downside to this cake is that it’s so rich it can be hard to eat more than a sliver, though I’ve tried!
Yeah, there is no way I would be able to stop at a sliver. A sliver is what I call a taste test. What food would you request to have at your birthday party?
Pizza or pasta. Though not a pasta pizza, because that sounds revolting. Actually, something involving macaroni and cheese might not be too horrible…
Would you prefer a large party at a big venue or a small intimate party?
Small party, with my closest friends and family. So there’s more cake to go around. (Because that is, of course, my primary motivation for birthday parties.) Okay, okay, in truth it’s because I’m something of an introvert and a writerly hermit. I do like to meet new people, and I’m not shy about it, but I don’t want any parties of mine to get too rowdy or crowded. I like to spend time with my closest companions.
I'm the exact same way. In your opinion, what makes the best birthday?
One where you remember all the good things that have happened since your last birthday, and look forward to everything before your next! This birthday I will be hoping that Bloodborn does well on its book birthday, and that readers love it. I will also be looking forward to seeing how Foxfire turns out as I work on it with my publisher, and planning its book birthday next year.
I'm definitely looking forward to reading your books, Karen. Thanks again for stopping by on your birthday! Readers, if you would like to learn more about Karen, please visit her at her website, Twitter, Facebook, and Goodreads!
Other, Book 1 by Karen Kincy
Seventeen-year-old Gwen hides a dangerous secret: she’s Other. Half-pooka, to be exact, thanks to the father she never met. Most Americans don’t exactly roll out the welcome mat for Others, especially not the small-town folks of Klikamuks, Washington. As if this isn’t bad enough, Gwen’s on the brink of revealing her true identity to her long-time boyfriend, Zack, but she’s scared he’ll lump her with the likes of bloodthirsty vampires and feral werewolves.
When a pack of werewolves chooses the national forest behind Gwen’s home as their new territory, the tensions in Klikamuks escalate–into murder. It soon becomes clear a serial killer is methodically slaying Others. The police turn a blind eye, leaving Gwen to find the killer before the killer finds her. As she hunts for clues, she uncovers more Others living nearby than she ever expected. Like Tavian, a sexy Japanese fox-spirit who rivals Zack and challenges her to embrace her Otherness. Gwen must struggle with her own conflicted identity, learn who she can trust, and–most importantly–stay alive.
Brock Koeman lost his brother to werewolves. Now he’s in danger of losing himself. Bitten by a werewolf at sixteen, he fights the transformation, taking the excruciating pain as a punishment for his mistakes. With the help of a risky drug called Lycanthrox, he’s managed to stay human for two full moons. But he knows he can’t last much longer.
Hungry for revenge, Brock vows to kill the silver wolf who bit him. But Brock’s ex, the fiery Cynthia Lopez, still cares about him enough not to let him do anything suicidally dangerous—never mind that Cyn gets her thrills from danger herself. Together again, the heat between them rekindles, but Brock feels like a beast beside her beauty. He can’t stay with her; he can’t ignore the werewolves howling outside his window. When he hunts down the pack, Cyn doesn’t sit on the sidelines. She’s right beside him as they get taken hostage and start running with the werewolves, the police hot on their tails. Brock has to get a grip on who he truly is—before the wolf within kills him, or someone else does.
Posts
"I would invite Alexander Skarsgård, who plays Eric in True Blood, and Daniel Craig, who plays the latest James Bond, to stand around with their shirts off and pose as statuary in the garden. They don’t have to talk. Just pose. "
Best. Birthday. Ever. LOVE IT! Happy Birthday Karen! And now I really want some chocolate mint cake despite it being 10am. Maybe for lunch...
Happy birthday! Love the werepuppy idea. But there werewolf would be a problem. Sorta like kittens turning into cats.
Oh, yes. Alexander Skarsgard. If I didn't love the author already, I was sold right there! Brilliant Q and A :)