Hey everyone! I am thrilled to be hosting a spot on the blog tour for BLOOD ROAD by Amanda McCrina! I have an interview with Amanda to share with you today! And make sure to enter the giveaway below for an Owl Crate Box!
Haven't heard of BLOOD ROAD? Check it out!
Nineteen-year-old Torien Risto has seen dissidents dealt with before. He knows the young local girl who just knifed him will hang for assaulting an Imperial officer, unless he can stop it.
Someone inside the provincial government is kidnapping Imperial citizens and selling them across the desert to the salt mines, silencing anyone who tries to intervene. The girl’s brother is one of those who has been taken. Rejected by the corrupt courts, she’s waging a personal war against the Empire.
Determined to save her life, Torien sets out in search of answers on the Salt Road, the ancient trade route running deep into the heart of a desert—territory claimed by the hostile Mayaso tribe.
Now, Torien is no longer sure where his own loyalty lies, or how far he will go to break the cycle of tyranny, political bullying, and social injustice in an empire that seals its borders in blood.
Now on to the interview!
Thanks, Jaime!
For the readers: can you tell us a little bit about BLOOD ROAD and the characters?
BLOOD ROAD is a political fantasy set in a violent, Rome-like world. The main character, Torien, is a young Imperial army officer whose own people were conquered by the Empire not so very long ago, and who has to rethink his own loyalties as he attempts to solve a kidnapping.
Is this a series? And if so do you have a title for book 2 yet?
BLOOD ROAD is the first book of a planned duology. The sequel doesn’t have a release date yet, but the (working) title is WHERE THEY MAKE A DESERT, which I lifted from the famous line in Tacitus’s Agricola about Roman empire-building: “Where they make a desert, they call it peace.”
Were any of the characters in the book inspired by people from your real life?
Not directly, no.
Who was your favorite character to write? What about your least favorite?
Alluin, as the snarky voice of reason, was a lot of fun to write. I’m not sure I have a least favorite, though I tend to find villains challenging.
What is your favorite passage/scene in BLOOD ROAD?
No spoilers, but my favorite scene is a tense, pivotal conversation between two opposing characters who meet for the first time toward the end of the book.
What kind of research did you have to do for the story?
I did a lot of reading on desert survival (and venomous snakes), but I think the bulk of my research went into the food and medicine of the ancient Mediterranean world. I had a copy of Apicius, a Roman cookbook, on hand as a reference. Honestly, I think food may be the most important part of worldbuilding. If you know what people are cooking and eating, you’re in a pretty good position to guess at their health, their climate, their agriculture, their economy, and even their social hierarchies.
Who is your ultimate book boyfriend?
Costis from Megan Whalen Turner’s Queen’s Thief series, hands down. Part of me hopes we’ll see him again in Thick As Thieves, which comes out in May; part of me is VERY NERVOUS about what might happen if we do.
What inspired you to write YA?
I like reading YA, so that tends to be what comes out when I write. I think there’s a perennial need for stories about figuring out one’s place in the world, and YA usually handles this theme the best.
Lightning Round Questions
Most of what I’m reading right now is research material for my next project, so I’ll talk about something from my TBR pile—Among the Red Stars, by Gwen C. Katz. It’s about the Night Witches, the all-female Soviet bomber regiment from WWII, and it comes out in October. I can’t wait to read it.
What Hogwarts House would the Sorting Hat place you in?
I’m in Gryffindor on Pottermore, but usually when I take the sorting quizzes I end up in Hufflepuff.
Twitter or Facebook?
Twitter. Facebook stopped being cool when everybody’s parents got accounts.
Favorite Superhero?
Batman.
Favorite TV show?
The Big Bang Theory.
Sweet or Salty?
Salty.
Any Phobias?
In order: katsaridaphobia (I had to Google it, too, look at your own risk), acrophobia, claustrophobia.
Song you can’t get enough of right now?
Don’t Let Me Down, The Chainsmokers.
2017 Movie you’re most looking forward to?
I feel like it’s too easy to say The Last Jedi, so I’ll say it’s a toss-up between Alien: Covenant and Christopher Nolan’s Dunkirk.
Hey Amanda! First
I want to say welcome to Two Chicks on Books! BLOOD ROAD was freaking AWESOME
and I can’t wait for everyone to read it! And am so happy that you could stop
by for a visit!
Thanks, Jaime!
For the readers: can you tell us a little bit about BLOOD ROAD and the characters?
BLOOD ROAD is a political fantasy set in a violent, Rome-like world. The main character, Torien, is a young Imperial army officer whose own people were conquered by the Empire not so very long ago, and who has to rethink his own loyalties as he attempts to solve a kidnapping.
Is this a series? And if so do you have a title for book 2 yet?
BLOOD ROAD is the first book of a planned duology. The sequel doesn’t have a release date yet, but the (working) title is WHERE THEY MAKE A DESERT, which I lifted from the famous line in Tacitus’s Agricola about Roman empire-building: “Where they make a desert, they call it peace.”
Were any of the characters in the book inspired by people from your real life?
Not directly, no.
Who was your favorite character to write? What about your least favorite?
Alluin, as the snarky voice of reason, was a lot of fun to write. I’m not sure I have a least favorite, though I tend to find villains challenging.
What is your favorite passage/scene in BLOOD ROAD?
No spoilers, but my favorite scene is a tense, pivotal conversation between two opposing characters who meet for the first time toward the end of the book.
What kind of research did you have to do for the story?
I did a lot of reading on desert survival (and venomous snakes), but I think the bulk of my research went into the food and medicine of the ancient Mediterranean world. I had a copy of Apicius, a Roman cookbook, on hand as a reference. Honestly, I think food may be the most important part of worldbuilding. If you know what people are cooking and eating, you’re in a pretty good position to guess at their health, their climate, their agriculture, their economy, and even their social hierarchies.
Who is your ultimate book boyfriend?
Costis from Megan Whalen Turner’s Queen’s Thief series, hands down. Part of me hopes we’ll see him again in Thick As Thieves, which comes out in May; part of me is VERY NERVOUS about what might happen if we do.
What inspired you to write YA?
I like reading YA, so that tends to be what comes out when I write. I think there’s a perennial need for stories about figuring out one’s place in the world, and YA usually handles this theme the best.
Lightning Round Questions
What are you
reading right now? Or what do you have on your TBR that you’re dying to read?
Most of what I’m reading right now is research material for my next project, so I’ll talk about something from my TBR pile—Among the Red Stars, by Gwen C. Katz. It’s about the Night Witches, the all-female Soviet bomber regiment from WWII, and it comes out in October. I can’t wait to read it.
What Hogwarts House would the Sorting Hat place you in?
I’m in Gryffindor on Pottermore, but usually when I take the sorting quizzes I end up in Hufflepuff.
Twitter or Facebook?
Twitter. Facebook stopped being cool when everybody’s parents got accounts.
Favorite Superhero?
Batman.
Favorite TV show?
The Big Bang Theory.
Sweet or Salty?
Salty.
Any Phobias?
In order: katsaridaphobia (I had to Google it, too, look at your own risk), acrophobia, claustrophobia.
Song you can’t get enough of right now?
Don’t Let Me Down, The Chainsmokers.
2017 Movie you’re most looking forward to?
I feel like it’s too easy to say The Last Jedi, so I’ll say it’s a toss-up between Alien: Covenant and Christopher Nolan’s Dunkirk.
Thanks so much Amanda
for answering my questions! I can’t wait for everyone to read BLOOD ROAD!
Amanda McCrina has
studied in Italy, taught English in Japan, and currently tutors Latin in
Atlanta, Georgia. She received her BA in History from the University of West
Georgia, and is now pursuing her MA. She writes stories that incorporate her
love of history, languages, and world travel. She drinks far too much coffee
and dreams of one day having a winning fantasy-hockey season.
Giveaway Details:
1 winner will
receive a 1 month subscription to Owl Crate, US Only.
Tour Schedule:
Week 1:
4/24/2017- Rockin' Book Reviews- Review
4/24/2017- Month9Books- Excerpt
4/25/2017- Two Chicks on Books- Interview
4/25/2017- Doodle's Book
Reviews- Review
4/26/2017- Don't Judge, Read- Interview
4/26/2017- Book-Keeping- Review
4/27/2017- A Backwards Story- Review
4/27/2017- Hazel West's Character
Purgatory- Excerpt
4/28/2017- LILbooKlovers- Interview
4/28/2017- Wishful Endings- Review
Week 2:
5/1/2017- Exploring the Inner Universe- Review
5/1/2017- So Few Books- Interview
5/2/2017- Book Review Becca- Review
5/2/2017- Bibliobibuli YA- Interview
5/3/2017- Reading for
the Stars and Moon- Review
5/3/2017- I am not a
bookworm!- Review
5/4/2017- YA and Wine- Guest
Post
5/4/2017- Mundie Moms- Review
5/5/2017- Never Too Many To Read- Review
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