Thrice Interview + Giveaway: GILDED

Hi!  Today we’re celebrating Christina Farley’s GILDED, which came out on Saturday!

Before we start — why are they called Thrice interviews? The original titles for the Cahill Witch Chronicles were THRICE BLESSED, THRICE CURSED, and THRICE FATED. I have a tattoo with the word thrice, which is partly to remind me how joyful writing that first book was, back when it was just mine, and partly because I like threes. Cate Cahill is the oldest of three sisters, as am I. My birthday is May 3; my anniversary is Sept 30. So there’s a natural theme to these interview questions…

They say: Sixteen-year-old Jae Hwa Lee is a Korean-American girl with a black belt, a deadly proclivity with steel-tipped arrows, and a chip on her shoulder the size of Korea itself. When her widowed dad uproots her to Seoul from her home in L.A., Jae thinks her biggest challenges will be fitting into a new school and dealing with her dismissive Korean grandfather. Then she discovers that a Korean demi-god, Haemosu, has been stealing the soul of the oldest daughter of each generation in her family for centuries. And she’s next.

But that’s not Jae’s only problem.

There’s also Marc. Irresistible and charming, Marc threatens to break the barriers around Jae’s heart. As the two grow closer, Jae must decide if she can trust him. But Marc has a secret of his own—one that could help Jae overturn the curse on her family for good. It turns out that Jae’s been wrong about a lot of things: her grandfather is her greatest ally, even the tough girl can fall in love, and Korea might just be the home she’s always been looking for.

I say:  It’s so cool that this is set in Korea, with Korean mythology and a Korean-American protagonist. One of my goals this year is to read more diverse books. Judging from my friend Beth’s blurb (“This richly detailed novel kept me turning the pages well into the night. Jae Hwa starts off as a strong character and ends as a noble one, using both her brains and her brawn to win the day.” —Beth Revis, New York Times bestselling author of ACROSS THE UNIVERSE) it sounds like Jae Hwa is an awesome, complex heroine as well!

Now for our interview with Christina:​

1. Describe your main character in 3 adjectives + a noun.

Jae Hwa is a determined, deadly, and stubborn black belt.

2. Describe your book in 3 adjectives + a noun.

GILDED is a suspenseful, action-packed, mythological based fantasy.

3. Describe yourself in 3 adjectives + a noun.

I’m an energetic, chocolate loving, never-stopping girl.

4. If you could travel to any 3 countries, what would they be?

Bora Bora, Norway, Mongolia

5. If you could take any 3 non-writing-related classes, what would they be?

Cooking class (yum!), more taekwondo, and archery (JS: ooh, archery!)

6. If you could have any 3 alternate careers, what would they be?

Travel guide, singer, and rock climber

7. What are your 3 favorite flowers?

Roses, tulips, and gerbers (JS: Roses & gerber daisies are two of my faves as well!)

8. What are your 3 favorite foods?

Chocolate, salmon, and salad

9. What are your 3 favorite books?

PRIDE & PREJUDICE by Jane Austen (she’s my distant relative!), THE LORD OF THE RINGS by J.R.R. Tolkien (he’s a genius!), and WATERSHIP DOWN by Richard Adams (stunning characterization) 

Thanks for stopping by, Christina!

You can find out more about Christina and GILDED at her website, or by following her on Twitter, Facebook, or Tumblr.

Christina is giving away a signed copy of GILDED and a Korean swag bag (see below) to one lucky winner. The contest is open till next Thursday at midnight. US only. Please fill out the Rafflecopter  to enter!

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