Hey everyone! I am thrilled to be hosting a spot on the blog tour for AIR AND ASH by Alex Lidell! Alex's high fantasy THE CADET OF TILDOR is still a favorite of mine to this day and her new series starts off with an bang with AIR AND ASH! It was totally awesome! If you love high fantasy I suggest you get this book now!
I have an interview with Alex to share with you today! And make sure to enter the giveaway below!
I have an interview with Alex to share with you today! And make sure to enter the giveaway below!
Haven't heard of AIR AND ASH? Check it out!
Master and Commander meets Tamora Pierce in a seafaring adventure of duty, love, magic, and a princess’s quest to protect her kingdom on her own terms.After a lifetime of training, seventeen-year-old Princess Nile Greysik, a lieutenant on the prestigious Ashing navy flagship, sails into battle with one vital mission—and fails.Barred from the sea and facing a political marriage, Nile masquerades as a common sailor on the first ship she can find. With a cowardly captain, incompetent crew, and a cruel, too-handsome first officer intent on making her life a living hell, Nile must hide her identity while trying to turn the sorry frigate battleworthy. Worse, a terrifying and forbidden magic now tingles in Nile’s blood. If anyone catches wind of who Nile is or what she can do, her life is over.But when disaster threatens the ship, Nile may have no choice but to unleash the truth that will curse her future.
AIR AND ASH is the thrilling first installment of the TIDES series. Recommended for fans of Sarah J. Maas, Tamora Pierce, and Naomi Novik.
Now on to the interview!
Hey Alex! First I want to say welcome back to Two Chicks on Books! It’s
been a while since you’ve been here I’m so happy you could stop by for a chat!
AIR AND ASH was absolutely fantastic and I can’t wait for everyone to read it!
Alex: Thanks,
Jaime! It has been a while since CADET
OF TILDOR, hasn’t it? That’s what
happens when kids come into the picture!
But I am excited to be back now. So,
what do you want to know?
For the readers:
can you give us a little info on AIR AND ASH and the characters?
A: It’s a YA fantasy
in my kick-ass girl style and most of the story takes place on a ship. I know - Have you seen the movie Master and
Commander? Think Sarah J Maas meets
Master and Commander and you’ve got Air and Ash!
So do we have a
title for book 2 yet?
A: Oh, we have better
than that. We have a title AND a
cover. WAR AND WIND (Tides book 2)
releases on June 20th and is a direct continuation of the story in AIR AND ASH.
Were any of the
characters in the book inspired by people from your real life?
A: People? No, but
themes/situations, yes, absolutely. There is a part in Air and Ash (don’t
worry, no spoilers) where Nile is in charge of a few people who don’t want to
do any work - they never actually overtly
refuse , they just keep saying “yes” but then not doing anything. We’ve all
seen variations of that and it’s super frustrating.
Who was your
favorite character to write? What about your least favorite?
A: Catsper! The
lieutenant of the marines. He is smart
ass, and competent, and has zero tolerance for stupidity. He was really fun to write. Least favorite to write? hmmm… Probably Captain
Rima. It’s not that I
dislike writing antagonists, it’s that he’s just a despicable human being and I hate how he twists the truth all
the time.
What is your favorite
passage/scene in AIR AND ASH?
A:
I slide inside to find the marine lieutenant sitting alone at
the end of the wooden table stretching the length of the officers’ narrow
common space. From the murderous look in his eyes and a stack of papers before
him, I’m certain I’ve caught him in the midst of catching up on overdue
reports. Sleeping cabin doors line one side of the room, the other side hosting
several viewports and a nine-pounder gun. The familiar sight calms my nerves,
and, despite myself, I run my hand over the gun. Cool black metal. Heavy and
faithful and familiar.
“Do you two want to be alone?” Catsper asks, cocking a
single brow. His dirty-blond hair is tied back with a leather thong now,
underscoring the square angle of his jaw.
I yank my hand back from the nine pounder.
He chuckles, muscles in his left forearm shifting as he plays absently
with a knife.
What kind of
research did you have to do for the story?
A: Great question.
Aside from the obvious answer of researching life in Nelson’s navy (which is
the equivalent time period to Nile’s fantasy world), I needed to do some
research in autism, epilepsy and asthma.
The magic in my world has side-effects which, although not called by
these names, embody common disorders. I
needed to research, for example, what having a seizure might feel like.
Who is your
ultimate book boyfriend?
A: Rhysand from A
COURT OF WINGS AND FURY!
What inspired you
to write YA?
A: Tamora Pierce’s
book, Alanna. When I moved to the United
States as a kid, I didn’t speak english, so it was a little while until I could
read books for fun. When I was ready to
try something that was outside of classwork, I shyly approached the librarian
because I had no idea where to look apart from kid books on anatomy (yes, i was
a weird kid, I liked anatomy books). And
she gave me Alanna. And I fell in
love. Tamora Pierce is still my golden
standard for writing.
Lightening Round
Questions
What are you
reading right now? Or what do you have on your TBR that you’re dying to read?
I am DRYING for A COURT OF WINGS AND RUIN.
What Hogwarts
House would the Sorting Hat place you in?
Gryphandor
Twitter or
Facebook?
Facebook
Favorite
Superhero?
My kid
Favorite TV show?
Buffy!
Sweet or Salty?
Sweet
Any Phobias?
Amazon sending a wrong file to readers!
Song you can’t get
enough of right now?
I can’t get too LITTLE of Old McDonald Had a Farm. Whoever came up with it is evil.
2017 Movie you’re
most looking forward to?
They still make movies? I
thought we all watched Netflix now...
Thanks so much Alex for answering my questions! I can’t wait for
everyone to read AIR AND ASH! Big hugs!!!!
Alex: Thanks, Jaime!
Hugs back. And don’t forget we are
having Thai Food with Rachel Carter in June!
I haven't forgotten! Can't wait!!!
About Alex:
Alex Lidell is an avid horseback
rider, paramedic and ice cream addict. Born in Russia, Alex learned English in
elementary school, where a thoughtful librarian placed a copy of Tamora
Pierce’s ALANNA in Alex’s hands. In addition to becoming the first English book
Alex read for fun, ALANNA started Alex’s lifelong love for YA fantasy books.
Alex’s debut novel, THE CADET OF TILDOR, was an Amazon Breakthrough Novel
Awards finalist. Her second book AIR AND ASH releases in May 2017.
Giveaway Details:
1 winner will receive a finished copy
of AIR AND ASH & a hardcover of A COURT OF WINGS AND RUIN by Sarah J. Maas,
INTERNATIONAL.
Tour Schedule:
Week One:
Week Two:
5/8/2017- BookHounds YA- Guest
Post
5/11/2017- Bibliobibuli YA- Review
5/11/2017- Booklove- Review
Great to meet you here Alex. The books look amazing.
ReplyDeleteAir and Ash looks like a great exciting adventure. Thanks for the post!
ReplyDeleteThis book sounds so cool! I'm totally kicking myself for not signing up for this tour right now! This is such a great interview though.
ReplyDelete