Monday, April 2, 2012

Promotional Post & Giveaway: Immortal Rules by Julie Kagawa

*Available 4/24/2012*

The Immortal Rules
Author: Julie Kagawa
Release Date: April 24, 2012
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Blood of Eden Book #1
ISBN:   0373210515
ISBN13: 9780373210510
Genre: Young Adult

You will kill. The only question is when.

In the dark days since the insidious Red Lung virus decimated the human population, vampires have risen to rule the crumbling cities and suburbs. Uncontested Princes hold sway over diminished ranks of humans: their "pets." In exchange for their labor, loyalty and of course, their blood, these pets are registered, given food and shelter, permitted to survive.

Unregistered humans cling to fringes, scavenging for survival. Allison Sekemoto and her fellow Unregistereds are hunted, not only by vampires, but by rabids, the unholy result of Red Lung-infected vampires feeding on unwary humans. One night, Allie is attacked by a pack of rabids, saved by an unlikely hero...and turned vampire.

Uncomfortable in her undead skin, Allie falls in with a ragtag crew of humans seeking a cure, or cures: for Rabidism and for Vampirism. She's passing for human...for now. But the hunger is growing and will not be denied. Not for friendship—not even for love.

A Q&A with
New York Times Best Selling Author Julie Kagawa


After writing the Iron Fey series for so many years, how difficult was it to immerse yourself in a futuristic world filled with vampires, rabids and an enslaved human race?
It was...very different. I think the hardest thing for me was the fact that this story does take place in the real world -- a futuristic, vampire-infested world, but the real world nonetheless. Things had to make sense, for example: how far can a large group walk in a single day if there were no roads, they were going through thick woods, and there were children in the group? I had to have logical reasons for everything; I couldn't just make something work "because of faery magic," lol.

Just like Meghan Chase in the Iron Fey series, the main character in The Immortal Rules, Allison Sekemoto, is a “take charge and kick butt” kind of girl. Is this intentional? What woman – real or fictional, alive or deceased – do you look up to or admire?

Yes, Allison comes from a very different world than Meghan Chase. Meghan's upbringing was pretty normal; Allison grew up among vampires and monsters, where every day was a fight to live, so she couldn't afford to be weak. While Meghan had to learn to "take charge and kick butt," Allison's first impulse is stab first, talk later.

As for female role models, the first that comes to mind--when it comes to kicking vampire butt, anyway -- is Buffy Summers. Thank you, Joss Whedon, for making me love feisty, snarky, heroines who can dust all sorts of nasties but who also look good in a cheerleading outfit. ;)

You mention in your acknowledgements in The Immortal Rules that at the beginning of your writing career you promised yourself you wouldn’t write a vampire book. What changed your mind?

Well, there were already so many really good books about our favorite bloodsuckers, so many stories and ideas, I thought I didn't have anything new to add to the masses. I was actually toying with a post-apocalyptic YA novel when my agent mentioned I might want to try writing a vampire series. I wasn't intrigued with the idea at first, but then I thought about combining vampires with the post- apocalyptic novel and then rest sort of fell into place.

Allison claims she hates vampires and believes they are monsters yet when faced with a choice of die or become one, she becomes a vampire. Would you have made that same decision?

Me personally? No. I'm like Zeke in the belief that there is something better waiting for me beyond this life, and I just have to do my best until it’s time for me to go. Besides, I love pizza and Mountain Dew too much to give it up.

Who do you think the most complex character is in The Immortal Rules?


Probably Kanin, Allie's sire. He's a vampire who has made his peace about being a monster, yet chooses to live by his own set of moral rules. He warns Allison about getting too close to humans, yet he does not kill unless he absolutely has to. He is tormented about something in his past that he refuses to share with anyone. He is certainly the most mysterious of all the characters, if not the most complex.

How many books will be in the Blood of Eden series? When will the next book be coming out?

At the moment, there are three books planned, with the second coming out sometime next spring, after the release of the new Iron Fey series this fall.

Before you starting writing full time you were a professional dog trainer. Do the professions share any similarities?


Lol, well you have to think on your feet a lot. And some of the small dogs could be compared to tiny snapping goblins, but writing requires less dodging skills, though perhaps the same amount of creativity and problem solving.

When starting a new series, like Blood of Eden, do you have the entire series mapped out in detail or do you let the story develop book by book?

I have a high point that I write toward in each story; I know this and this has to happen, but getting from point A to point B usually develops as I go along.

And for the speed round:
What book have you read and re-read, and read yet again?

Any of the Harry Potter books.

Favorite song to play when writing a fight scene?


My "favorites" change daily. Right now its "Awake and Alive" by Skillet.

Worst job?

Working a kiosk in the mall during Christmas. It sold glass figurines, and the maneuvering space around the hundreds of very breakable merchandise was quite small. I was like a bull in a china shop.

Best vacation spot?


Walt Disney World

Sweets or salty?

Sweet.

One thing most people don’t know about you – and would never guess!

I used to play the flute when I was a kid. I was really good at it too, but my instructor stopped teaching to have a family, and I never went back to it.


US and Canadian mailing addresses only 
*Please note that book will not be mailed out until after release date of 4/24*
a Rafflecopter giveaway 

38 comments:

  1. I love all of Julie Kagawa's Iron realm series.. Soo good. So i will assume this series will be amazing as well.

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  2. I loooove Julie's Iron Fey series and looking forward to her new series!

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  3. I love Vampires and I love Dystopian so I think I'm bound to like this book! Thank you =)

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  4. The book sounds amazing! And it's by Julie Kagawa, so it has to be good. :D

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  5. The Iron Fey series is next up in my TBR pile, so I'm glad to see there will be plenty more to read by the same author once I'm done!

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  6. I want to read this book sooo bad. Thanks for the chance!

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  7. I saw this book reviewed recently, and jotted the title/author down to add to my TBR list. Glad to see it's getting some love. :)

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  8. I absolutely cannot wait for this book. Julie Kagawa is a genius. Can't wait to see what she does with this world. She's fabulous at creating them!

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  9. Thanks so much for the giveaway. I can't wait to read this book!!

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  11. Thanks for a great post and giveaway! I love the premise of this book!

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  12. I like Dystopian so will keep an eye out for this series.

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  13. I love YA Dystopian novels, so I would like to give it a try.

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  14. Immortal Rules sounds like such a fantastic story, I'm really looking forward to reading it.

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  15. I'm really excited for this book can't wait to read it

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  16. I cannot wait to get my hands on this book! Julie is such an amazing author.

    Valerie
    StuckInBooks.com

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  17. I love all of Julie Kagawa's novels! I can't wait to read The Immortal Rules. This sounds like a great start to a new series! :)

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  18. The series is new to me and I want to try it since I've heard a lot about Julie's books.

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  19. I saw this cover reveal awhile ago and ever since, I've been itching to get my hands on this book! Love the interview, i can only imagine working a kiosk at the mall doing christmal *cringe*... I sympathize. Thanks so much for the contest! Book Savvy Babe

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  20. I love the Iron Fae series, so I can't pass up this new book. Thanks for the giveaway, can't wait to read it.

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  21. This book sounds very good and I'm looking forward to reading it.

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  22. I'm really exited to check out Julie Kagawa's new series. I loved the Iron Fey and this new twist on vampires sounds very exiting!

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  23. looks like a great new series!



    great giveaway
    follow via gfc
    drakebdog@gmail.com

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  24. This book looks amazing! I have been stalking it online for the last few months and I can't wait to read it!

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  25. Sounds like a great book. I am really looking forward to its release!!

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  26. I'm in the middle of reading The Iron Fey. At first I wasn't that into it but now I can't put it down! Can't wait to read more by her!

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  27. I have been dying to read this book, it sounds so good.
    Thanks for the giveaway!!!

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  28. This book/series looks amazing! Quick reads. Thank you so much for the giveaway.

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  29. Hi Julie! i never had the chance to read your works. but i'd love to :)

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  30. I haven't read anything by Julie Kagawa but I'd love to read this one. It sounds so intense and amazing.

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  31. I am very excited for this book to be released! It sounds awesome. I love vampire books! This sounds like an interesting take on the matter! Thanks for the chance to win!

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  32. I loved Julie Kagawa's Iron Fey Series! I have been hearing so many good things about this book, I can't wait to read it.

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  33. I so love Julie Kagawa nd I think this book would be great

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  34. i have The Iron Fey series on my ereader its next up on my book list to read! im so pumped about it!

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  35. I just adore Julie's Iron Fey series. I can't wait to see what she has come up with now!

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  36. I really want to read it. It looks awesome

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  37. Thanks for sharing

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  38. I can't wait to start Julie Kagawa's new series since I loved The Iron Fey. Thanks!

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Thanks for stopping by =)