Character Interview with Gray + Giveaway: Ebook + Swag of Taken by Erin Bowman

Hi guys! Sorry for the delay. Work has been keeping me busy when I'm there and sleepy when I'm home. On to the agenda, I have a treat from debut author Erin Bowman! Fans of Taken, I'd like to present my semi-awkward but totally interesting character interview with Gray.

First of all, could you tell us something about yourself?
I spend a lot of time keeping to myself for a reason. *sighs as interviewer repeats the question* Fine. I'm a good hunter, I guess. I can set a snare twice as fast as Blaine--he's my brother--even though he's got a year of extra practice at it. That might be the only thing I'm better at though. He's nicer, and patient, and more considerate. Ma always said the only person she ever knew more stubborn than me was my father. *frowns as interviewer raises an eyebrow* This is exactly why I keep to the woods most days.

How would you describe your world? The history, the culture, the society?
Um...Depressing? Hopeless? I used to think life in Claysoot would be more bearable as a girl--you've got years beyond eighteen and eventually end up calling the shots, maybe even running the Council if you're lucky enough--but I'm not sure anymore. I honestly can't decide what's worse: knowing the Heist will take you; or losing every father, uncle, brother, son you've ever known and having to keep on living anyway.

What is the Heist?
It takes every boy the night they turn eighteen--blinding light, howling wind, and they're gone. It's a constant. The sun rises in the morning, and the moon cycles each month, and the Heist takes every last boy.

If you could change one thing about your life or your world, what would it be?
I'd love it if the Heist didn't exist, but that's like saying I wish there was no winter, or I'd like to fly. Honestly, at this point I'd settle for a good day of hunting. I haven't brought in anything but fowl the past few weeks, and I'm starting to worry large game is scarce this season.

If you could rule over your world, what are the things that you would do?
Get rid of the slatings. The Council pairs kids ups every month or so and it's the most forced, awkward process ever. I get it. I do. They're concerned about our numbers, about our future. Understandable when all the guys up and vanish at eighteen. But people can make their own decisions. I can make my own decisions.

Now, could you tell us about Emma?
Emma works at the Clinic. What? She does. Why are you smirking at me? *rolls eyes* Emma works at the Clinic and is a very good healer.

Any last words? :)
This has been as enjoyable as the lecture Blaine gave me yesterday about being less impulsive. So no. None at all.

Erin grew up in rural Connecticut, where she spent most of her childhood telling stories. It is rumored that her first words were not “Mama” or “Dada,” but “Once upon a time.” In middle school, when kids were going off to sleep-away camp for the summer, Erin was attending writing camp and penning short stories.

At the Rochester Institute of Technology in upstate New York, Erin studied web design (and minored in Creative Writing because she couldn’t stay away from stories). After several years working in advertising and designing websites for various brands, she has moved on to writing full-time. When not writing, she can often be found hiking, commenting on good typography, and obsessing over all things Harry Potter.

Erin is represented by Sara Crowe of Harvey Klinger. Her debut novel TAKEN will be published by HarperTeen April 16th, 2013. She lives in New Hampshire with her husband.


Follow Erin: Website | Twitter

Book Description:

April 16th 2013, Harper Teen

There are no men in Claysoot. There are boys—but every one of them vanishes at midnight on his eighteenth birthday. The ground shakes, the wind howls, a blinding light descends…and he’s gone.

They call it the Heist.

Gray Weathersby’s eighteenth birthday is mere months away, and he’s prepared to meet his fate–until he finds a strange note from his mother and starts to question everything he’s been raised to accept: the Council leaders and their obvious secrets. The Heist itself. And what lies beyond the Wall that surrounds Claysoot–a structure that no one can cross and survive.

Climbing the Wall is suicide, but what comes after the Heist could be worse. Should he sit back and wait to be taken–or risk everything on the hope of the other side?

What's up for grabs? An ebook and swag of Taken by Erin Bowman.

Open internationally.
You should be at least 13 years old.
Be a follower. :)

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