Endless Blog Tour: Interview with Jessica Shirvington

I'm beyond pleased to welcome author Jessica Shirvington back to the blog today to answer a few questions about the newest installment of the Embrace series, Endless (releasing October 1st from Sourcebooks Fire). I absolutely LOVE this series, it's dark and emotionally challenging, and each book is better than the one that came before it. I can't recommend this series enough and I hope you all enjoy the interview!

If Lincoln and Violet could recruit one character from any other young adult book to fight with them against Lilith, who would they most like to join their team?

Valek from Maria V Snyder's Magic Study Series! He'd kick some serious exile butt! (and look good doing it!)

Now that Violet’s been putting all her physical training and fighting skills to use as she battles exiles, what would she say has been the best tip/trick/piece of advice she’s gotten on facing down an opponent?

Win at all costs even if you have to fight a little dirty. Exiles have no morals, no ethics when it comes to the fight. It is kill or be killed and Lincoln made sure Violet understood that getting caught up in code conduct fighting would be a fast way to get dead!

Let’s say Josephine requires Violet and Lincoln to take a class or two of their choice while at the Grigori academy in New York. Which ones might interest each of them most?

Violet definitely errs on the side of anything artistic or combat focused. In the Academy I imagine she would choose the more physical classes above any history studies etc. For Lincoln, though he is very physical I actually think he would thoroughly enjoy the academic side of studies so I would throw him into the history of mythology! Although, if Violet is next door sparring, I can't imagine Lincoln would miss his opportunity to be her partner. ;-)

Violet’s dad has been largely absent for most of her life, but he finally has his eyes opened and gets to see the young woman his daughter has become in this book. If he were given 5 minutes alone with her, what’s the first thing he would say?

I think he'd say something along the lines of: I'm sorry it took me so long to open my eyes and I hate that I let you, even for one minute, believe you weren't enough.

If you were in Violet’s shoes during testing in front of the assembly and were faced with the same three choices of weapon with which to demonstrate your skill, which one would you choose?

Tough choice considering one of the weapons isn't a ticket the hell out of there! Ah, so I guess I would go with the katanas like Violet. Not for the reasons she did of course, more because they would give the most distance between me and my opponent!

There are some dark and painful moments in this book, is there anything specific (listen to music, take a walk, etc.) you do to gear up to write those scenes?

I listened to a lot of music while writing ENDLESS. Music like Florence and the Machine, Sia, Land Del Rey, Muse... And not just while writing it, but also while writing the other books in preparation for it. I always knew this storyline was coming and my mind would often travel to it. It is safe to say a lot of emotion went into writing ENDLESS. I cried. A lot!

*Ummmmm. ME TOO. My heart hurts just thinking about this book, but it's a must read for fans of the series!*

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JESSICA SHIRVINGTON

One day, instead of picking up a new book, I started to write. The first name that came to mind was Violet. From there the rest naturally followed. I can honestly say, once Violet was discovered – she really did write the rest of the book!

Writing this book has drawn on my life experience – in my travels around the world and the different people I have met. It draws on love and loss and the overall confusion that comes with growing up. It also looks to many of my friends and their experiences.

I have always loved ancient history – tales and stories of the best kind.

Website • Blog • Embrace Website • Facebook 

 

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ENDLESS

 

 

LOVE WILL KILL US ALL
 

Violet Eden thought she was getting things under control. Then all hell breaks loose-literally. In the war between angels and exiles, she's about to face the biggest baddie of all time. Except she's not nearly ready.
 

The dark exile Phoenix is still messing with her head-not to mention her heart. And her undeniable attraction to Lincoln has gotten downright dangerous. When Hell unleashes its worst, Violet must embrace every facet of her angel self to save the people she cares about and the world as she knows it. But death is not the worst thing she will face...

 

Goodreads • Amazon

Interview + Giveaway: Jessica Shirvington and Emblaze

Today I'm thrilled to welcome young adult author Jessica Shirvington to the blog to talk a little bit about the third book in her Violet Eden series, Emblaze (releases March 5th from Sourcebooks). This is a series that, for me, has gotten better and better with each installment, and Emblaze is definitely the best one yet. I was a gloriously emotional mess by the time I reached the last page (my review will be posted soon), and I'm strongly considering moving to Australia just so I can get my hands on book four already. Who's with me?

If Lincoln was to sit down with Violet as part of the promotional tour for Emblaze, what’s the first question he would ask her?

Do you love Phoenix?

*Jenny dies a little inside at this answer*

What one piece of art might Violet say adequately summarizes her emotional journey since the events of Embrace?

I don't know that any one art piece sums up Violet. But I have often found myself looking at this depiction of The Last Judgement and thinking of my characters and the roles they play.

There’s something undeniably appealing about a bad boy, and Phoenix wears that label rather deliciously. Would Phoenix attach a different label to himself if asked?

At times I think he would be very comfortable with the bad boy image. But really, I think Phoenix is often looking for something with more substance. He just struggles to make the appropriate changes to get there.

What is one quirk Lincoln has that he’d be embarrassed by if Violet found out about it?

He can dance. Like really dance - ballroom dance! And she will find out...one day. ;-)

All the books in the series have single word titles that begin with the letter “e”. Were there any other title frontrunners for this third book that you can share?

I think EMBLAZE found its title fairly easily. I remember we almost called ENTICE, EXILE instead but there were a few books around with that title. I think for EMBLAZE we considered ENTRAP and maybe ENDURE but EMBLAZE was an easy pick in the end (once you've read it you'll know why).

Let’s say your characters get to spend a half hour with you in which they can ask you any questions they want about their world or how you wrote them; whose questions would you fear answering most?

Probably Steph. She would come at me all guns blazing wanting to know what the hell I was thinking and how I could have made things so hard for Vi. Yep, definitely Steph (never mess with a gal's bestie!).

If Violet were to paint a mural based on Emblaze, what color would be predominant in her palette?

Red. Things get more than a little fiery in this book!

Thanks so much Jessica for stopping by!

• • • • • • • • • •

JESSICA SHIRVINGTON

One day, instead of picking up a new book, I started to write. The first name that came to mind was Violet. From there the rest naturally followed. I can honestly say, once Violet was discovered – she really did write the rest of the book!

Writing this book has drawn on my life experience – in my travels around the world and the different people I have met. It draws on love and loss and the overall confusion that comes with growing up. It also looks to many of my friends and their experiences.

I have always loved ancient history – tales and stories of the best kind.

More information on Jessica and her books can be found here:

Website • Blog • Embrace Website • Facebook • Goodreads • Amazon

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EMBLAZE

Once again Violet Eden faces an impossible choice ... and the consequences are unimaginable.

Violet has come to terms with the fact that being part angel, part human, means her life will never be as it was.

Now Violet has something Phoenix - the exiled angel who betrayed her - will do anything for, and she has no intention of letting it fall into his hands. The only problem is that he has something she needs too.

Not afraid to raise the stakes, Phoenix seemingly holds all the power, always one step ahead. And when he puts the final pieces of the prophecy together, it doesn't take him long to realise exactly who he needs in order to open the gates of Hell.

With the help of surprising new allies, ancient prophecies are deciphered, a destination set and, after a shattering confrontation with her father, Violet leaves for the islands of Greece without knowing if she will have a home to return to...

Can't wait to read Emblaze? Then check out an excerpt HERE.

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 GIVEAWAY

Thanks to the fabulous people at Sourcebooks, I have one copy of Emblaze to give away on the blog today! To enter, please just fill out the Rafflecopter form below. Giveaway is open to US and Canada only, good luck everyone!

a Rafflecopter giveaway