Today I am very excited to be taking part in the blog tour for the third book in what has become one of my favorite series. When I first read Birthmarked, I was taken so by storm that I scarcely left the sofa. I was so enamored, in fact, that I immediately started reading Prized and stayed up all night just to finish it. Now we've come to the third book and I couldn't be more thrilled to dive back into the world that so captivated my attention for that 24 hour span of time. Promised is the culmination of Gaia's story which, if you've been following along, has been a harrowing one. I hope you enjoy this interview with the series' author, Caragh M. O'Brien and if you haven't read it already, I sincerely hope you give this series a try. It is well worth the time it takes to read it.
Marla: Hi, Caragh, and welcome to Starting the Next Chapter. I'm a huge fan of your books, so it's so great to have you here today!
My first question to you is this: What are 3 things your fans don't know about you that you think they should?
Caragh: Ha! Let me first say thanks, Marla, for having me by. It’s great to be here on Starting the Next Chapter, and I’ve enjoyed pondering your questions, especially the quirky ones!
1. It’s odd for me to think I have fans at all, so right there, that’s probably something people don’t know about me. If they did, they’d realize I’m completely grateful when they start up a conversation with me so I don’t have to stand in a corner looking awkward.
2. I wish readers knew that I always try to write back to people who contact me, but sometimes my replies are returned to me as delivery failures, which makes me sad.
3. People probably don’t know that hamburgers give me hiccups. I doubt that anyone particularly cares about this, but if we’re ever scarfing burgers together and I start jerking, that’s probably why and you shouldn’t worry.
Marla: Is Gaia based on anyone in particular, or is she a creation straight from your own mind?
Caragh: Gaia’s not based on anyone specific, but she’s certainly inspired by my kids and by my students. I’ve known some incredibly brave, insightful, funny, gutsy teens, and if Gaia captures only a fraction of how wonderful they are, I’m happy.
Marla: What is your favorite writing spot?
Caragh: My couch. I’m curled up right now with my feet tucked under me and a blanket between my lap and my laptop. I have a pillow under my elbow and Grooveshark playing a Sheryl Crow song. Our power was out earlier today, so I worked at Starbucks for a while, and I write in the library sometimes, too, for a change of pace. But here is nicest.
Marla: What are 3 of your most-loved books that you think your fans should read?
Caragh: I think people should read whatever books they want to, so I’m reluctant to say anyone should read what pleases me. I’ll gladly tell you a few of my favorites, though. I recently read Trish Doller’s Something Like Normal and liked Travis immensely because of his voice. The first page sucked me in. I really liked Steven Chbosky’s The Perks of Being a Wallflower and I’m curious to see how it flies as a movie. Neal Shusterman’s Unwind is absolutely great.
Marla: Out of all of your books, what is the most memorable scene you have written? (If any answer you make would require you to reveal a huge spoiler, definitely feel free to leave this one out.)
Caragh: The one that pops to mind is definitely a spoiler, and so are the next ones that come to mind, too, so I can’t go into details. It’s curious for me to think about this, though, because the scenes that resonate with me ought to be the ones that hit closest to home for me, personally, right? There’s also the practical consideration of how I threw out all the scenes that didn’t matter, so I’m left only with ones that are memorable to me. But actually, the most memorable scenes for me are all moments of discovery or loss for Gaia. They’re the turning points, and they’re painful or beautiful in some way that gets me here (I jab my chest).
Marla: I always try to throw in a fun or oddball question, so here goes: Taking all of their problems into account, which place would you rather live: The Enclave or Sylum?
Caragh: Marla, that’s a terrible question. I know because there’s this tiny, secret, selfish plink inside me that wanted to go to Sylum when I read this, just for a little while. It’s so beautiful there, and I like how the men treat the women so respectfully, but I would soon grow to hate the injustice and the dead-endedness. So I have to pick the Enclave, abusive as it is. I’d have to go where I could have hope of a future for my children and me.
Thank you so much, Marla, for having me by! This was great to have such interesting questions, and I’m so glad you’ve been part of my blog tour!
Marla: Thanks, Caragh! It has been a pleasure to participate in your blog tour and to work with you. Congratulations on the release of Promised!
About Caragh
Since earning a master’s in writing at Johns Hopkins University, Caragh O’Brien has been a high school teacher, a published author of romance novels, and now a novelist for teens. Her first young adult novel, Birthmarked, was a Junior Library Guild selection and an American Library Association Best Book for Young Adults, and was nominated for the YALSA Best Fiction for Young Adults list as well as the 2010 Amelia Bloomer list.
Find Caragh on: Her Site / Facebook / Twitter / Goodreads
About Promised
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| Out today! Click to add to GR! |
After defying the ruthless Enclave, surviving the wasteland, and upending the rigid matriarchy of Sylum, Gaia Stone now faces her biggest challenge ever. She must lead the people of Sylum back to the Enclave and persuade the Protectorat to grant them refuge from the wasteland. In Gaia's absence, the Enclave has grown more cruel, more desperate to experiment on mothers from outside the wall, and now the stakes of cooperating or rebelling have never been higher. Is Gaia ready, as a leader, to sacrifice what--or whom--she loves most?
Check Out the Rest of the Tour
Monday 9/24
http://thebookmuncher.
Tuesday 9/25
http://mundiemoms.blogspot.
Wednesday 9/26
http://www.
Friday 9/28
http://www.twochicksonbooks.
Saturday 9/29
http://www.thebookmonsters.
Monday 10/1
http://www.areadersadventure.
Tuesday 10/2
http://www.
Wednesday 10/3
http://birthofanewwitch.
Thursday 10/4
http://theninjalibrarian.
Friday 10/5
http://www.ibbookblogging.com/
The Giveaway (US/Canada Only)
One (1) lucky reader will win all 3 books in the Birthmarked series!
This is an awesome interview! I haven't read the series yet, but I so want to because the main character is very different from all the other main characters out there - she has a unique place, physically she's different, and the whole concept is different.
ReplyDeleteWhat is also cool is how there are two worlds in the series, and Caragh O'Brien takes readers to both, so we can decide where we'd be more comfortable. How cool that the author herself chose her favorite world from the two in the society.
this sounds like a great series. I have not read it but your love for it has piqued my interest!
ReplyDeleteI absolutely LOVE this series. It really gritty and just what I need. YA tends to be too fluffy for me. ( I fell in love with Leon )
ReplyDeleteI loved both Birth marked and Prized and am really looking forward to Promised! Thanks for your cool website! Annie Curtis
ReplyDeleteFantastic post. I loved the last question. I'd pick The Enclave as well!
ReplyDeleteMy favourite thing about the series is Gaia. Hands down. She's makes mistakes, sure, we all do. But she's incredibly strong, and that's inspiring.
The series is new to me. I'm intrigued by the world-building which sounds great. The main character is strong which I like.
ReplyDeleteI haven't read the series yet, but it's been on my wishlist forever! I think the whole premise sounds really interesting and I like the strong heroine. Thanks for the giveaway!
ReplyDeleteThe whole series sounds very well thought out and your recommendation couldn't be heartier. With all three books up for grabs this is the perfect chance for me to get started. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteI haven't read this series yet, but I have heard wonderful things about them.
ReplyDeleteCan't wait to read this series! I love dystopian novels and this sounds like something I would enjoy!
ReplyDeleteThanks,
Leanne
I have been wanting to read this series for awhile! Thank you for the giveaway!!
ReplyDeleteThis is a series I've seen floating around the blogosphere for awhile now and I've been meaning to read it. It sounds amazing! Thanks for the interview and giveaway :)
ReplyDeleteI read the first book and LOVED it! I just think I liked how very different the concept was. And also how very ordinary our heroine Gaia is.
ReplyDeleteI haven't read this series, but I've been hearing a lot of good stuff about it. Even my sister just asked me why I hadn't read it yet, so I guess I should move it to the top of my list : )
ReplyDeleteI haven't read the series but I can tell from the blurbs that the world building in this one is probably amazing. I love books with a great back story and lots of intriguing characters and I can tell that this is one of the those.
ReplyDeleteI haven't read the series yet, but the covers are amazing and I've heard some really good things about them.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the interview and giveaway! Unfortunately, I haven't been able to read any of the series so far, but the synopsis sounds like something I would enjoy.
ReplyDeleteYes, I have read the first two books in which I got from my library. I love them, such a beautifully tragic story with a pure romance between two amazing characters.
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