Blessed Blog Tour - Interview with Kieren (and a Giveaway)

Today, Kieren from Blessed by Cynthia Leitich Smith is visiting The Serpentine Library to answer some questions. 

Hi Kieren! Thanks for taking some time out of your busy schedule to stop by The Serpentine Library.  Since this is a book blog, let’s start with a book related question.  What's your favorite book? 

Call it a toss up between Alex Flinn’s Beastly and Annette Curtis Klause’s Blood and Chocolate.

Both great books in different ways. Since Blood and Chocolate has food in the title, what’s your favorite food or meal?

I like a rare beef tenderloin with a fist-full of peel-and-eat shrimp and beer-battered fries.

What’s your favorite thing to do in Austin?  

Fur on? Howling in the Hill Country. Fur free? Watch the moonrise over Lady Bird Lake with Quince.

Austin’s a great city, but if you could visit any place in the world where would you go?

Ireland—wherever in Ireland that my mom originally hails from. She doesn’t talk about her hometown much. I’m not sure why. I’m betting there’s a story there.

Hmm, you're probably right about the story. Wonder if your mom will ever share what it is. When did you first know that you were in love with Quincie?

Middle school. I got that she’s obsessed with Sanguini’s, her family restaurant, because it helps keeps the memory of her parents alive. For as long as I could recall, I found it boring when she talked about new recipes and napkins. I was polite, but…

Then one day, I found every word she said fascinating. Quince herself, fascinating. The way her lips moved… She could talk about napkins forever, and I’d be thrilled to hear it.

Aww, that it is so sweet! 

You seemed pretty anti-vampire there for awhile. How do you feel about Quincie being a vampire?

I’m still anti-evil vampire. Anti-soulless vampire. Anti the vampire who took her life away and tried to steal her love, too. But Quince didn’t ask for what happened to her, and she’s never hurt anyone. She’s strong enough to beat the temptation. I believe in her.

So, quite a few people have been moving to Austin from Chicago recently.  Let’s talk about those Chicagoans.  Let’s start with Zachary…there’s just something about him, maybe it’s his good looks or maybe it’s that sword he carries… What did you really think of Zachary when you met him?

That was not a good day. A lot of good Wolves had died, rain was pouring down, and I wasn’t sure if the über vamp who’d attacked the pack was really gone or what.

But Zach.... He missed the battle, but he still seemed devastated. He couldn’t stand being unable to really help. The grief, the frustration, for Wolves he didn’t even know. It was radiating off of him.

My wereopossum pal, Clyde, he’s asked me if I mind Zach hanging out with Quince so much. And you know, I get that Zach’s a good-looking guy. I’ve got eyes.

But it’s not like that. He watches out for Quince the way I do my little sister Meghan, and that’s a good thing. Between me, school, the restaurant, and what she’s become, Quince has a lot to juggle. She can use a close guy friend who’s not her boyfriend, too.

I trust my instincts, and I knew from the start that Zach was okay. Besides, he’s totally enamored with his girlfriend Miranda.

Is there anything else you would like us to know about you?

 I’m thinking about getting Quince a pair of turtles for Christmas.

Thanks for stopping by today Kieren!

Want more information about Blessed? Here is the official book trailer:

Cynthia Leitich Smith is the New York Times and Publishers Weekly best-selling author of ETERNAL, TANTALIZE, and BLESSED, all Gothic fantasies from Candlewick Press. She also has written several YA short stories as well as books for younger readers.

TANTALIZE was a Borders Original Voices selection, honored at the 2007 National Book Festival, and The Horn Book called it "an intoxicating romantic thriller." A graphic novel adaptation of TANTALIZE is in the works.

ETERNAL was a YALSA Teens Top Ten nominee, featured at the Texas Book Festival, and Publishers Weekly said, ".readers should be hooked by this fully formed world, up through the action-packed finale." It debuted at #5 on the New York Times best-seller list and #13 on the Publishers Weekly best-seller list.

BLESSED crossed over the two casts. The Horn Book cheered: "Quincie has a zest for life that shines through as she balances supernatural duties with schoolwork and running her family restaurant, the vampire-themed Sanguini's. Romance blossoms, too, as she and her beloved werewolf, Kieren, prove their devotion to each other under deadly duress. A hearty meal for the thinking vampire reader." And Kirkus Reviews said the novel was "wild and ultimately fascinating.the pages fairly smolder in describing their [Quincie and Kieren] attraction to one another."

Cynthia may be found on the Web at www.cynthialeitichsmith.com, Blogger, LiveJournal, facebook, Twitter, and YouTube.

Don't forget to check out the dates and locations for Cynthia Leitich Smith's Blessed Tour - she might be visiting a bookstore or library near you!

Cynthia Leitich Smith has also provided a prize pack to be given away!  It includes a stuffed plush toy bat, a series tie-in pin (either Sanguini's logo or I HEART my Guardian Angel), an angel wing charm, and Sanguini's logo magnet and a Sanguini's menu wipe board. 

This giveaway is for US mailing addresses only.

To enter fill out this Form by January 27, 2011