Shadow of the Mark Blog Tour: Interview + Giveaway

I'm so excited to be a part of the Shadow of the Mark blog tour hosted by Rockstar Book Tours! I was lucky enough to get to interview the lovely Leigh Fallon. So let's get to it!

In the Best Worlds: Since you write YA, what were you like as a teenager?

Leigh Fallon: I suffered from horrible awkwardness and shyness and I decided at an early age that I needed to put on a front to survive in the world of an all girls secondary school (in Ireland we don’t have middle schools. We start secondary school at 13 and do 6 years, graduating at 18ish). So I developed a confident persona, I joined sporting teams, but not cliques (I can’t bear cliques). I never relied on people and stood on my own two feet. It got me through, but the act was hard to drop as I moved into being an adult. It was second nature to me. I still struggle with being the real me a lot of the time. It leads to lots of mental postmortems about things I said and did during the day. It’s a constant battle. It’s kind of funny now that I’m an adult. My husband thinks it’s cute how I constantly dissect my conversations and beat myself up over them. I guess writing YA enables me to be the people I’d like to have been, or like to have met during those years.  It’s my brain working things out. LOL!

ItBW: I love Carrier of the Mark and I’m so stoked that there’s a sequel. Can you dish anything about Shadow of the Mark?

LF: I don’t want to give too much away, but things really hot up between a few people. The Marked ones start to see a surge in their abilities, some way more than others. We meet some new allies, a few enemies, and we might even say a farewell or two (sad face).

ItBW: You’ve built a fabulous world around Megan and Adam (thank you so much for setting it in Ireland). Were there any challenges that you met in world building? Is there anything about this world that you know about, but hasn’t quite made it into the books?

LF: Thank you! It’s a world I’ve adored writing. There are still a few secrets to be revealed about this world. You learn of some of them in Shadow, but real zingers are reserved for the last book.  With regard to challenges, to be honest, I haven’t encountered too many when building this world. I based it mainly on a world I already knew. I then mixed it up with fact, history, lore, and some superstitions and voila. It lends itself beautifully to being molded into what I needed it to be.

ItBW: What has been your favorite moment of being a published author so far?

LF: There have been so many amazing moments. The first contact with my editor, my first phone call with my agent. Those first few fan letters that left me astounded that there were people out there who had read and loved my story. It’s sort of surreal. They make me giddy. Nothing quite beats meeting your readers. One standout memory is my signing booth at Book Expo America. There was a line of people waiting for me that was so long that they had to turn some away.  It was an incredible hour and I met some awesome readers. Each book I signed was a memory to hold dear.

ItBW: I know you’ve lived quite a few fabulous places, but if you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be and why?

LF: Agh! If I knew the answer to that one I’d be living there already. Each place I go to I think is fabulous, then I move somewhere else and I fall in love with it. Then I can’t make up my mind.  I’m currently loving living on the west cost of the US. The Pacific North West is so stunning. You can’t really imagine its beauty until you’ve seen it. It’s so gorgeous I’ve started writing a story based here. I guess I’d love to try a stint in California sometime in the future. Some of my favorite bookish types live down that way and I really would love little sun and surf on my next pit stop.

ItBW: What is your #1 guilty pleasure?

LF: I can’t possibly just give you one. They are all on a par. Chocolate, coffee, really bad reality TV shows (Dance Moms & Married to Jonas spring to mind), and silence (not that I get much of it in a house with four kids).

ItBW: Finish these sentences…

We could be best friends if… you’re honest, straight up, and good for a laugh.

The natural element I most identify with is ...air...., because…the sound and feel of  the breeze makes me feel alive and content with life.

People would be surprised to know… I’m very sensitive and cry at practically anything. And I mean anything, commercials, beautiful music, Hallmark movies…yes, even the really pathetic ones. I’m an utter bag of mush.

Thanks so much to Leigh for answering my questions!

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About Shadow of the Mark: Their love could destroy them all.

Through the ages, Marked Ones have harnessed the powers of the four elements: Water, Fire, Earth, and Air. Much about the elements is shrouded in mystery, but one thing is certain: A relationship between two Marked Ones has the potential to cause widespread devastation.

Megan and Adam—Air and Water—are determined to defy the risks.

But the power that swirls inside Megan is growing in twisted ways. And the closer she is to Adam, the closer Megan comes to unleashing a dark force that could spell destruction for the entire Marked line.

Goodreads :: Amazon :: Barnes & Noble :: The Book Depository

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About Leigh: Leigh Fallon was born in South Africa, raised in Dublin, Ireland and moved to Cork in her 20's. While living in beautiful Kinsale, her novel, The Carrier of the Mark was conceived. She promptly abandoned her 'riveting' career in corporate treasury and discovered Inkpop, a website for budding writers of teen fiction. Within weeks her manuscript hit the coveted top five spot and was reviewed by an editor at HarperCollins. A few emails and some hysterical screaming later, she signed her first deal. Leigh and her family now share their time between Ireland and the US.

 Find Leigh Online: Website :: Blog :: Twitter :: Facebook :: Goodreads

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The Giveaway:

1st place - a signed copy of Shadow of the Mark and a boat load of goodies inc. a silver bookmark (pic attached) USA only. 

2nd  place - a $10 book depository gift card & some signed swag . International.

3rd place- signed swag International.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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         Check out the rest of the stops on this tour!

               7/1/2013- The Irish Banana Review
       7/2/2013- Emilie's Book World
                             7/3/2013- Jessabella Reads                            
               7/4/2013- Bookaholics Anonymous
                       7/5/2013- Tales of the Ravenous Reader 
                              7/8/2013- A Bibliophiles Thoughts on Books
         7/9/2013- The Best Books Ever
        7/10/2013- Reading with ABC
7/11/2013- BiblioJunkies
                 7/12/2013- In the Best Worlds          

Top Ten Tuesday

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish

This week's topic is: Top Ten Posts that would give the BEST picture of YOU (as a reader and a person)

I've been helping Hannah keep up her blog this summer and haven't actually made 10 blog posts altogether, so I'd actually like to share some of her blog posts that I've especially enjoyed and think really give a good picture of who she is...basically awesomeness! Ok, here goes, in alphabetical order:

1. Ashes by Ilsa J. Bick

2. Brooklyn, Burning by Steve Brezenoff

       

 

                                   3. Carrier of the Mark by Leigh Fallon

4. Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor 

       

5. The DUFF by Kody Keplinger

6. Graffiti Moon by Cath Crowley

       

7. Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins

8. Pandemonium by Lauren Oliver

      

9. Scarlet by A.C. Gaughen

10. Wildefire by Karsten Knight

      

All the book covers are linked to Hannah's post, instead of their page on Indiebound. Some of her reviews reflect my thoughts exactly, some do not. I've read some of these books, but not all. However, all of these posts will make you want to read every single one while giving a peak into Hannah's soul. I hope you enjoy them as much as I did. Let me know your thoughts!

Carrier of the Mark - Leigh Fallon

Synopsis: Their love was meant to be.
When Megan Rosenberg moves to Ireland, everything in her life seems to fall into place. After growing up in America, she's surprised to find herself feeling at home in her new school. She connects with a group of friends, and she is instantly drawn to darkly handsome Adam DeRÍs.
But Megan is about to discover that her feelings for Adam are tied to a fate that was sealed long ago—and that the passion and power that brought them together could be their ultimate destruction.


I  knew I was going to fall in love with this book before I even opened it. Way back in July, I think, there was a YA Scavenger Hunt hosted by a ton of awesome YA authors. Leigh Fallon was one of them and she posted a scene from the book. After that I was sold. But, of course, I then had to wait until October to actually read it. So I'm telling you now, it's a book that's worth the wait - but you don't have to wait anymore - and if you've been on the fence about it, just get down and pick it up.


I actually was choosing between reading this and a couple other books when I decided I really needed an Ireland fix. I travelled to Ireland last April and fell completely in love with it. It might be that it was my first time travelling to and staying in a new place by myself (I met up with friends later, but my first night and day I was by myself) but I feel a very strong connection to Dublin. It's a place of my own liberation and in my opinion, it's where the best of all worlds comes together. It's absolutely wonderful. So I've been toying with ways I can live there  (Ph.D programs, writing programs, marrying someone Irish....) so Ireland has been in the back of my mind for some time now.


And then Carrier of the Mark came along and now I'm positively burning to move there. Reading about Megan and Adam walking around Trinity was painful - I wanted to be there too. But I did love that most of this book was set in a small town, that's perfect for the setting behind all the dark whisperings about the DeRÍs family. There's a part where Megan and Adam are cozying up on the ancient ruins of an old fort and I just melted. You don't get ancient ruins to hang out on where I come from. I need ancient ruins!


Anyways, enough about my Ireland obsession. I don't want to give anything away but the magical aspects of this novel are thrilling. I love the ideas behind it all. I actually found it fascinating, the way the hierarchy of this world that Megan is discovering seems to have some sort of commentary on the British monarchy (this is my English major nerdiness surfacing. I just had to read The Wild Irish Girl by Sydney Owenson -a National Irish novel from 1806- and let me tell you- I enjoyed reading Leigh Fallon's Ireland so much more). The whole system is complex creating this illusion of a secondary world living and operating in the margins of our own society. And the fact that we are all dependent on this world without even realizing it....(As I'm writing this I'm resisting the urge to go into critical analysis mode...but hello colonialism!)


Ok- I'm gonna talk about the boy to get away from my critical interpretive tendencies. Adam is wonderful. This is one of those books where the two characters have an instant, intense attraction - which it's safe to say is getting old. However, it totally works here. It just feels like that's the way it's supposed to be. Leigh wasn't afraid to make their relationship complicated, but she also wasn't afraid to let them be together. I feel like a lot of these characters that have that instant attraction often have to struggle until the end of the series before they completely give in and let themselves be with that person. Megan and Adam get to go through their struggles together.


I'm going to stop raving soon, but I need to also put in a very quick word for the secondary characters. They provide such a strong and wonderful support system for Megan and Adam to stand on. They are all awesomely developed and you get the distinct impression that they all have their own lives and stories, they aren't just there for support.


Carrier of the Mark is the first in a trilogy - the second, Age of the Knights, is due to be released sometime in 2012. Here's a video of Leigh Fallon talking about Carrier of the Mark and how it was discovered on Inkpop (you have to love that accent!). Seriously, though. This is an awesome book.

Awesome Releases Today!

Today is another great day for book releases.
Check these highly-anticpated books out.


Silence by Becca Fitzpatrick

The noise between Patch and Nora is gone. They’ve overcome the secrets riddled in Patch’s dark past...bridged two irreconcilable worlds...faced heart-wrenching tests of betrayal, loyalty, and trust...and all for a love that will transcend the boundary between heaven and earth. Armed with nothing but their absolute faith in each other, Patch and Nora enter a desperate fight to stop a villain who holds the power to shatter everything they’ve worked for—and their love—forever.

Carrier of the Mark by Leigh Fallon

Their love was meant to be.

When Megan Rosenberg moves to Ireland, everything in her life seems to fall into place. After growing up in America, she's surprised to find herself feeling at home in her new school. She connects with a group of friends, and she is instantly drawn to darkly handsome Adam DeRÍs.

But Megan is about to discover that her feelings for Adam are tied to a fate that was sealed long ago—and that the passion and power that brought them together could be their ultimate destruction.

Eve by Anna Carey

Where do you go when nowhere is safe?

Sixteen years after a deadly virus wiped out most of Earth’s population, the world is a perilous place. Eighteen-year-old Eve has never been beyond the heavily guarded perimeter of her school, where she and two hundred other orphaned girls have been promised a future as the teachers and artists of the New America. But the night before graduation, Eve learns the shocking truth about her school’s real purpose—and the horrifying fate that awaits her.

Fleeing the only home she’s ever known, Eve sets off on a long, treacherous journey, searching for a place she can survive. Along the way she encounters Arden, her former rival from school, and Caleb, a rough, rebellious boy living in the wild. Separated from men her whole life, Eve has been taught to fear them, but Caleb slowly wins her trust . . . and her heart. He promises to protect her, but when soldiers begin hunting them, Eve must choose between true love and her life.

In this epic new series, Anna Carey imagines a future that is both beautiful and terrifying. Readers will revel inEve’s timeless story of forbidden love and extraordinary adventure.