Title: MECHANICA
Author: Betsy Cornwell
Pub. Date: August 25, 2015
Publisher: Clarion Books (HMH)
Pages: 320
Formats: Hardcover, eBook
Find it: Amazon, Barnes
& Noble, iBooks, Goodreads
Nicolette’s awful stepsisters call her “Mechanica” to demean her, but the nickname fits: she learned to be an inventor at her mother’s knee. Her mom is gone now, though, and the Steps have turned her into a servant in her own home.
But on her sixteenth birthday, Nicolette discovers a secret workshop in the cellar and begins to dare to imagine a new life for herself. Could the mysterious books and tools hidden there—and the mechanical menagerie, led by a tiny metal horse named Jules—be the key to escaping her dreary existence? With a technological exposition and royal ball on the horizon, the timing might just be perfect for Nicolette to earn her freedom at last.
Gorgeous prose and themes of social justice and family shine in this richly imagined Cinderella retelling about an indomitable inventor who finds her prince . . . but realizes she doesn't want a fairy tale happy ending after all.
Now on to the playlist!
Book
Playlist.
I
started writing Mechanica way back in
2009, as part of a collection of fairy tales I wrote for a senior project at
Smith College. I’ve been building and rebuilding my Mechanica playlist ever since then, so I’m totally excited to share
it with you now!
I
usually have two playlists for each of my books: a ridiculously long one I used
for drafting and editing background noise, which includes every song I have
that’s vaguely relevant to the book’s mood or style. But then I have the
Official Playlist, which is limited to about twelve songs that really cut to
the book’s heart. So what I have here is that second list for Mechanica, including some of my longtime
favorite singers like Brandi Carlile, The Decemberists, and Iron & Wine.
They’ve been inspiring my writing since I was a teenager, and they’ll keep
doing so for a long, long time.
1. "Lay Low" Nancy Elizabeth https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NOeDMm01gPM
2. "Hard Way Home" Brandi Carlile https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8AV5TRO1BqU
3. "Never Be Daunted" Jaymay https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UdMxVlwBxYk
4. "Cinder and Smoke" Iron & Wine https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oSarZ7g1F-g
5. "Happy Home" Antigone Rising https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KBPRJHnJSgU
6. "The Engine Driver" The Decemberists https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bAD07HVFJxQ
7. "A New Place" Kyle Dawkins https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pid-udZrmcU
8. "Vito's Ordination Song" Sufjan Stevens https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I1Gs9CGschE
9. "Dragonfly" My Brightest Diamond https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MwA96dZm6Mw
10. "Lightning Girl" Cloud Cult https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B4VimbcqL0k
11. "Blue Northern Lights" Ollabelle https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o0Ezpsc2ERU
12. "Diana's Song" Antje Duvekot https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wSs-dvS3Yvg
13. "The Story I Heard" Blind Pilot https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XvmouWbk498
14. "Stacked Crooked" The New Pornographers https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VokdpAJm9vs
About Betsy:
Hi! I'm Betsy Cornwell, an American writer and teacher living
in a stove-heated cottage in west Ireland, together with my horse trainer
spouse, a small herd of dairy goats, and an increasing number of other animals.
I write fiction and
nonfiction and
blog about Irish folklore, travel, wild food, goats (of course!), homesteading,
and growing up.
Giveaway
Details:
1 winner will receive a finished copy of MECHANICA and a beautiful watch necklace from this etsy shop! US Only.
2 winners will receive a finished copy of MECHANICA. US Only.
2 winners will receive a finished copy of MECHANICA. US Only.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Check out the Tour Schedule!
Week One:
8/17/2015- Fangirlish- Interview
8/18/2015- Uncreatively
Zoey- Review
8/19/2015- Two Chicks on Books- Guest Post
8/20/2015- A
Backwards Story- Review
8/21/2015- Dark Faerie Tales- Guest Post
Week Two:
8/24/2015- Fiktshun- Interview
8/25/2015- Bookish
Lifestyle- Review
8/26/2015- Supernatural
Snark- Interview
8/27/2015- Bookhounds ya- Review
8/28/2015- Me, My Shelf and I- Guest Post
This books sounds exactly like my kind of read. Thanks for the giveaway. I love the cover!
ReplyDeleteI've had this on my TBR list for a while. So excited to read it!
ReplyDeleteThis book has intrigued me from the start! I can't wait to read it :D
ReplyDeleteSounds like a really cool take on Cinderella. Added to my TBR shelf!
ReplyDeleteI love the idea of a music list to go with the book! I'm listening now and I'll tweet it for sure. I am counting the days until I get the book in my hands. I started to read the ebook but it just isn't the same as having the book. I want to wait for it and savor each page.
ReplyDelete(Alisha Sienkiel in rafflecopter)
ReplyDeleteI am so excited to read Mechanica! It has been on my TBR since I first heard about it!! Thanks for the chance to win! :)