17 March 2013

Author Interview and Giveaway: Marissa Meyer, Author of The Lunar Chronicles

Marissa Meyer, author of the amazing series The Lunar Chronicles, is coming to London for her first ever UK signing. To celebrate, and to help pass on the word, we have an author interview and a giveaway today!

1. Cinder and Scarlet are both very well developed characters, and very different. If you could choose one trait from each girl to have for yourself, which traits would they be?

I would love to be as resourceful as Cinder. She's like a girl MacGyver - able to fix things with floss and a piece of gum, or whatever. I, on the other hand, am not mechanically minded at all!

As for Scarlet, sometimes I wish that I could be as frank as she is. I'm one of those people that has trouble sending food back at a restaurant even if it's not what I wanted, but Scarlet has no trouble saying just what she thinks and feels. Of course, that habit tends to get her in trouble sometimes, so if I was the same way I would hope for a bit more of an on/off switch...

2. You're going to Bromley very soon. What kind of state is London in in Cinder and Scarlet's world?

London has some scarring from the war, but I don't envision it being quite as damaged as Beijing and Paris had been, and what was destroyed has been rebuilt by 126 T.E. (when Cinder takes place). It's still the home of the United Kingdom's royal family, who have returned to ruling power but with some checks and balances from a Parliament, and all of the UK plus Canada are now under the same government. Population wise, the UK is by far the smallest country in the Earthen Union, but its history as a global power has earned it a great deal of respect from the other countries.

3. Scarlet is one of my favourite YA heroines right now because she's just so kickass. Do you have any favourites of your own?

Thank you! One of my all-time favorite YA heroines is Fire (from FIRE by Kristin Cashore). She's brave and daring, but also sensitive - especially as her "kind" (she's a ridiculously gorgeous Monster) are treated with such scorn and hatred. Often, beautiful characters are treated as ring-leaders in fiction (the lead cheerleader, etc.), so I loved what Cashore did by turning that trope upside down.

4. I feel the need to express my love for Captain Thorne. He is such a charismatic, attractive, and funny guy. He is AWESOME. I must ask, if you had any control over casting, who would you have portray him in Scarlet, the movie?

Well, writers aren't supposed to choose favorites, but... between us, he might be my favorite character in the series. (Don't tell anyone!) I'm really, really bad at choosing actors to represent my characters, though! Some people have suggested the actor who plays Hook in Once Upon a Time, but I think he's too fierce looking. This is the inspiration photo I used for Thorne, so maybe we can track this guy down?

Except Thorne has blue eyes, so I don't know. I'm so bad at this!

5. Do you have another favourite fairytale that you would have loved to have covered, but that wouldn't have worked with the story you wanted to tell with The Lunar Chronicles?

I originally planned on including "Puss in Boots," which was going to be the fifth book in the series, and the identity of the True Lunar Princess wasn't going to be revealed until then. Obviously, this did not work out! I didn't get very far into the planning process before I realized that Puss in Boots needed to be cut out of the mix. There are plenty of other fairy tales that I think would be fun to adapt outside of the Chronicles, though. We'll see...
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Enter to win a swag pack with bookmarks, stickers, temporary tattoos, and signed book plates!

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And, if you live in the UK, I hope you can make it to Marissa's signing at Waterstones Bromley on the 26th March!

13 comments:

  1. thank you so much for the nice interview!

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  2. What an awesome review. I already liked Captain Thorne, but after seeing the inspiration picture, I think I like him even more :p Haha.

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    1. I think your fingers automatically typed 'review' XD Thanks! Captain Thorne ROCKS.

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  3. Such a great interview! I have yet to read either of her books, but Cinder is on my bedside table, waiting! Perhaps over spring break! I have to say, even though I don't know the character yet, I loved the inspiration for Captain Thorne! Thanks for the neat interview and cool giveaway!

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    1. Thanks! DUDE, hurry up! Cinder is AWESOME. And then Scarlet is just as great. You're welcome :)

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  4. Awesome interview! Yes, hunt that guy down! I won't be there at waterstones :( nooooooo! Intense disapointment. I hope lots of pictures are taken and blog posts are written though! Although that might make me feel worse...hm. :P

    Charlie "Star"

    xx

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    1. Thank youuuuu :D I won't be able to make it either :( So sad. I'll be waiting for pics from fellow UK bloggers XD

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  5. Yay for this interview and yay for Marissa loving Thorne as much as I do :D I really want more Thorne in Cress and Winter and OH HI he can look like that. I'm fine with that. ;) I think I should hop on a plane and come to this signing :) I would LOVE to meet her!

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    1. :D THORNE IS AMAZING. I am turning into such a stan. OMG now I've just imagined him dying heroically. My brain is messed up. Help.

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  6. I enjoyed this interview, though I am not familiar with the Lunar Chronicles (and, yes I will get it to it). It must have been exciting having Meyer on your blog!

    I love her reason for choosing Fire as her favorite YA heroine. I could not agree less. It is about time that norm is shattered. And Poor Puss in Boots. :(

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    1. WHAT. You must! XD Haha, it was very exciting! Marissa's answers were AWESOME.

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  7. This interview is adorable, and now I feel 32895340856 times worse that I still haven't read Scarlet. I shall work on that.

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Thank you for commenting!