Thursday, February 16, 2012

Character Interview with Finn + Signed Born Wicked + Swag Pack Giveaway!

Hi everyone! You’re probably looking for more books to win, right? So this is your chance. This is the last book up for grabs before the Apocalypsies Prize Pack. Make sure you stick around for my character interview with Finn Belastra from Born Wicked and for the lovely (read: worth it) giveaway later.

Can you introduce yourself to us?

Certainly. Pleased to meet you, miss. I'm Finn Belastra. I'm a bookseller at my mother's bookshop, and a gardener at the Cahill estate, and a classics scholar in my limited spare time. 

What's your dream girl like?

Clever. Brave. Beautiful. The Brothers think women should be subservient, meek, follow their husbands in all things. That's not what I want. A wife like that would be a dead bore. I grew up with a mother who was educated and strong, and I wouldn't want anything less in a wife. (grins) To be clear, I'm describing a particular girl. Pointy chin. Stubborn. Hint of red in her hair. 

Before you worked as a gardener for the Cahill family, what did you think of Cate?

I thought she was a bit stuck-up. She always seemed in a rush to get out of the shop, like we were beneath her. I know now how wrong that was.

What do you think of Paul, honestly?

Logically, he's a better choice for Cate than I am. He could provide for her. He has money and steady work and a good reputation. I've got nothing to offer but myself. But I don't think anyone could love her more than I do. And McLeod may say he wants a girl with spirit -- but would he understand Cate's secrets? I'm not certain he's as progressive as he thinks. 

Can you tell us about your most unforgettable experience?

The worst: when I came home from school to find my father dead. He was a great man. Principled, clever, loyal. I knew right away my life would be different, going forward; I'd have to help Mother run the shop and make ends meet instead of going away to university. 

The best: well, that would be a spoiler, wouldn't it? But it involves Cate.

Do you regret anything?

No. No matter what happens with Cate, whether we can find a way to be together or no, I'll never regret my time with her. 




Giveaway: Signed Copy of Born Wicked by Jessica Spotswood + Swag!

Last month, I reviewed Born Wicked. If you’re still undecided whether to read Born Wicked or not, let me convince you with my review.


"Blessed with a gift..."cursed" with a secret."

Everybody knows Cate Cahill and her sisters are eccentric. Too pretty, too reclusive, and far too educated for their own good. But the truth is even worse: they're witches. And if their secret is discovered by the priests of the Brotherhood, it would mean an asylum, a prison ship - or an early grave.

Before her mother died, Cate promised to protect her sisters. But with only six months left to choose between marriage and the Sisterhood, she might not be able to keep her word . . . especially after she finds her mother's diary, uncovering a secret that could spell her family's destruction. Desperate to find alternatives to their fate, Cate starts scouring banned books and questioning rebellious new friends, all while juggling tea parties, shocking marriage proposals, and a forbidden romance with the completely unsuitable Finn Belastra.

If what her mother wrote is true, the Cahill girls aren't safe. Not from the Brotherhood, the Sisterhood - not even from each other.




a Rafflecopter giveaway



After graduation, she moved to Washington, DC. I got my M.A. in Theatre History & Criticism at Catholic University while she interned in literary management at a few different DC theatres. Eventually she realized that she loved theatre, but not enough to make a career out of it. It was a scary thing to admit. She coped by rereading all of my favorite books from childhood. L.M. Montgomery's Anne of Green Gables and Emily of New Moon books led her to reading some of the brilliant YA that's being published now. In 2007, she started writing her own YA fantasy, Inheriting Garolass, about a portrait-painting girl who discovers her family's link to a world where artists are considered enemies of the state. This manuscript helped her snag her awesome agent, Jim McCarthy at DGLM. Unfortunately, Garolass didn't sell—but the next book did, in a pre-empt from Penguin for the whole trilogy. 

Now she lives in a hipster neighborhood in Washington, DC with her brilliant playwright husband and a very cuddly cat named Monkey, and she is a full-time author.

Connect with Jess: Twitter | Goodreads | Site

*photo credit to Anne Chan



81 comments:

  1. Sounds interesting, surely on my reading pile. Love the cover! I mean look at the colors!

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  2. Sighs. Oh Finn . . . why don't you exist? -_-

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  3. This book sounds good! And I like how the author has a cat named Monkey. LOL :)

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  4. Oh damn Finn, for a second I thought you're describing me here! ;)

    Thanks for the giveaway!

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  5. This book sounds absolutely phenomenal! Great to meet you Finn ! LOL

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  6. I'm almost done BW and LOVE IT. And Jess is so sweet herself, it's no wonder the book's so good. Here's to the Cahills' success! (And Finn, because, well, yes.)

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  7. All I can say is: Wow, that looks like an amazing book! I wants it so badly!!!!

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  8. I'm dying to get my hands on this book. Born Wicked sounds and looks wickedly awesome! Thank you for the character interview!

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  9. Hi Jessica, I must say I absolutely adore the cover of your book! I wonder how much of a say you had in its creation?

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  10. Coming home to find her dad dead? Geez. I'd love to read this book, and I've loved that cover from the moment it was first revealed!

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  11. I don't have much to say (A) Other than the fact that this book seems AMAZING! :D And I love the cover. <3 So pretty :)
    Thank you for this amazing giveaway and interview. <3 :D
    Love, Carina

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  12. I've coveted this book since I first heard about it! there are not so many books about witches around, and this one I definitely wanted to read, plus the cover is amazing!

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  13. This book has been gettin so much buzz! Its so exciting! I cant wait to read it! Great post!

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  14. This book sounds really so greaaat! I loved that it is about witches :)

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  15. Born Wicked sounds amazing. Great interview. I think I am in love with Finn!

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  16. Well, I'm already liking Finn even before I've read the book. :D It seems really great and the cover is so beautiful!

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  17. OH FINN! <3 Can I keep you? *tries to snatch him from inside the book pages* I finished Born Wicked yesterday and LOVE!!! Even though I was SO frustrated at the end (in an entirely good way). I wanted to tear at the pages to get to certain people - grrrr! But Finn Belastra... le sigh. This interview is doing nothing to weaken my love for him, obviously :D Love it!!

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  18. Team Finn!! I've heard lovely reviews about Born Wicked! Dying to read it!

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  19. I love love love the sound of this. o______o I love witches and historical fantasies and magic and awesomeness and basically I just really need to read this.

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  20. I'm really excited to read this book! Great interview :)

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  21. This sound pretty hardcore and very exciting! Putting in on my tbr list for sure.

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  22. The cover is so bloody awesome! Finn sounds very swoon worthy too :)

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  23. Sounds like I can add Finn to my fictional character crush list!

    Thanks for the giveaway!

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  24. I'll always love the book because witches are my weakness. :)

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  25. My friend recommended this book to me. And now I am in love with Finn)

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  26. I have set my eyes out for thia book since forever now! I can't wait to read it. Plus the cover looks amazing. Thanks for this giveaway.

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  27. Ive heard great things about this book! cannot wait to dig in :) thanks for the chance to win!

    Diana

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  28. Sounds like a really great read, and I love the cover!

    the imagine tree at aol dot com

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  29. Aww no regrets that exactly what I want to hear!

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  30. So excited about this book. The cover is probably one of the best I've ever seen!

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  31. Great interview. I am really looking forward to reading more about Finn

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  32. Sounds like a fantastic read :)

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  33. wow! thank you for the giveaway! sounds amazing! :-)

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  34. Gorgeous cover and interesting premise!

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  35. I've heard so many amazing things about BORN WICKED. I am just dying for this book! Gah!

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  36. OMG this book! I just love the cover, it's so perfect for a book about witches :) Can't wait to read it!

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  37. Sounds like there is plenty of mystery and intrigue to this book to keep you hooked and guessing!!

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  38. Born Wicked sounds super duper amazing! It is so secretive <3

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  39. Finn sounds like a great character and guy of course. I thought it was sweet of him to say that cate should choose another guy because he can give her everything. But in the end Finn himself could love her more.

    Very cute interview!! I really enjoyed it!
    Thank you for the giveaway as well

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  40. Thanks for the giveaway! Born Wicked is definitely on my TBR list!

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  41. I love reading about witches so Born Wicked is already up there in my huge wishlist. ;0

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  42. where's my finn? this book is definitely on my tbr list now : ) thanks for the giveaway!

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  43. I've heard so much about this book. Thanks for the giveaway! Finn sounds amazing, too bad he isn't real!

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  44. Sounds wickedly fantastic.
    Thank you for the giveaway.

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  45. I think I'm in love with Finn. And I've only read an excerpt of this, so that's something :D

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  46. I'm dying to get my hands on this book/ the covr the trailr
    i'm liking finn

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  47. Lovely book cover! I love reading about witches, so definitely looking forward to reading this!

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  48. Born Wicked looks amazing! I have read the reviews, watched the trailers, and, well, I just love it!

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  49. Everything about this book looks interesting and intriguing! I especially love the cover (and I do tend to judge books by their covers!)

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  50. Thanks for the interview. Finn sound like a nice guy and a bookseller on top of everything. Even if he isn't the rich provider kind of guy, he still has access to many books. That's a big plus on my list!

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  51. I just read some reviews about the book and they all tell me to go read it. It sounds like it would be a great book and I trust the reviewers opinions. I'd love the chance to win it.

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  52. I've only heard incredible things about BORN WICKED. And now I have a chance to win a signed copy?? Thanks!!

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  53. Awesome giveaway! Let's see about Finn, well he's just like the guy I could fall in love in with right away!

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  54. I've been dying to read this for ages! It sounds so good! :D

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  55. I've been dying to read this book! The cover is gorgeous and I love reading about witches.

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  56. This is such a great cover. I smell a possibly intriguing love triangle.

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  57. BORN WICKED sounds awesome and I can't wait to read it! Plus Finn is definitely a boy I want to get to know better...seems like such a gentleman! :-D

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  58. Born Wicked sounds so amazing! I can't wait to read it! Everyone on Goodreads says it's awesome! Finn seems like such an amazing character!

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  59. Finn sounds totally swoonworthy! I would love to read Born Wicked (:

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  60. Born Wicked sounds great! have been hearing lots about this book!

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  61. I don't know about Born WIcked because I Haven't yet this book^^
    but interview with finn, I like question about his dream girl,,,^^

    gfc name : imel cullen

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  62. Awesome giveaway. This book sounds good!

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  63. I think they are both amazing! Thanks for the great giveaway!!!

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  64. This seems like a very interesting read! Thanks for the giveaway.

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  65. Finn sounds so cute! I can't wait to read Born Wicked!! thanks for the chance! :)

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  66. I'm so excited to read Born Wicked. Someday I'll be able to!

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  67. So excited to read this book. I hear it is really good. Thanks for the giveaway!

    Sara @ upon a love story

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  68. Book boys are really making me lose faith in REAL boys *sigh* Oh well, that's why 90% of my free time is spent in a book. Thanks for the giveaway =D

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  69. I can't wait to read this book, it sounds amazing! And the cover is beautiful!

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  70. I haven't read Born Wicked yet, so I know nothing about Finn, but from what I know about it and him, I know I'm going to love them both. I can't wait to read it, and I'm really looking forward to it! Thanks for the giveaway!

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  71. I can't wait to read Born Wicked. I heard a lot about it and cover looks so beautiful.
    Thanks for the giveaway!

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  72. I've heard good things about this book, including from your review! I haven't read many books on witches & think this would be a good one! Thanks for the giveaway <3!

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  73. This book is on my to read list! I have wanted to read it for a while! But, I'm getting married in 6 days so my reading time has been severely limited! I am always up for a book about witches!

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  74. sound interesting.. just make me wanna read this book.. thanks for giveaway

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  75. OMG, I love Finn. He is one my favorite character's in my book. I just want to cry for him. Born Wicked is amazing!!

    - Beckie @ Bittersweet Enchantment

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  76. It sounds great! I'm adding it to my TBR list.

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