Wednesday, February 20, 2013

Paranormal YA Giveaway Hop, Featuring Kat Zhang, author of What's Left of Me and International Giveaway



Young Adult Paranormal Giveaway Hop

February 21st - 27th

Co - hosted by YA Between the Lines

Featuring Young Adult Books with Paranormal elements.


What's Left of Me (The Hybrid Chronicles, #1)Goodreads Book Description: Eva and Addie started out the same way as everyone else—two souls woven together in one body, taking turns controlling their movements as they learned how to walk, how to sing, how to dance. But as they grew, so did the worried whispers. Why aren’t they settling? Why isn’t one of them fading? The doctors ran tests, the neighbors shied away, and their parents begged for more time. Finally Addie was pronounced healthy and Eva was declared gone. Except, she wasn’t . . .

For the past three years, Eva has clung to the remnants of her life. Only Addie knows she’s still there, trapped inside their body. Then one day, they discover there may be a way for Eva to move again. The risks are unimaginable-hybrids are considered a threat to society, so if they are caught, Addie and Eva will be locked away with the others. And yet . . . for a chance to smile, to twirl, to speak, Eva will do anything.

Author Blurb: Kat Zhang is an avid traveler, and after a childhood spent living in one book after another, she now builds stories for other people to visit. An English major at Vanderbilt University, she spends her free time performing Spoken Word poetry, raiding local bookstores, and plotting where to travel next. What’s Left of Meabout a girl with two soulsis her first novel and was released by HarperCollins on 9/18/2012. She is represented by Emmanuelle Morgen of Stonesong. You can read about her travels, literary and otherwise, on her website or check her out on Twitter. 

Author Interview
1. It's so unusual to see someone so young to be such a successful author already! Please tell us a little about your journey and what it's like to still be in college and have to deal with the fallout of your success.

Sure thing :) I started writing when I was really young--mostly poetry at first, then quickly segueing into short stories. I began my first novel when I was twelve, and I  started writing WHAT'S LEFT OF ME the winter of my senior year of high school. The first draft took me a little more than a year. Then I revised for a few months and, after querying about 2 months, signed with my agent, Emmanuelle Morgen. I revised with her for a few more months, and then we went on submission to publishers and announced the deal with HarperCollins about a month after that.



I'm currently a senior at university, and writing the trilogy definitely takes up a significant chunk of my time, but I love it so much, and I feel incredibly lucky to have had the opportunity to share my stories with readers :) 


2. I absolutely loved your characters. You had the added difficulty of having multiple people in one body. What was the experience like having to be in two minds at one time? What were the easy parts and the hard parts?


Thanks! To be honest, for the most part, it wasn't actually that hard to write Eva and Addie in the same body. Dunno what that says about me ;) Characters are almost always my favorite part of a story, and often what makes or breaks a book/movie/television show for me. I love getting to know them, exploring their thoughts, memories, tics, etc. The hardest part, I'd say, was mostly the little details like figuring out pronoun use. For example, "John, Dave, and I ran home." sounds good. So does "We ran home." But if the "I" is really a hybrid--really two people in one body--and I still want to note that John and Dave were also running, then "John, Dave, and we ran home" sounds rather terrible. There was a lot of rephrasing/shuffling done on a case-by-case basis. 



Also, I had to pay attention to some of my metaphor use. Usually, saying something like "I felt so nervous I was sick to my stomach" is perfectly fine. But if it's the "recessive" soul of a hybrid pair who is feeling nervous, her body won't actually react at all, and she would not use this sort of phrasing.


3. Tell us a little about your setting and how you came up with this world. Are we going to learn more about how this dystopian setting came to be like it is?


WHAT'S LEFT OF ME is set in an alternative version of the 21st century--basically our own world with a few important changes. The most important, of course, is the fact that people in this world are born with two souls in one body, with one soul generally disappearing at around age 4 or 5. The other differences are hinted at in the first book, but explored more deeply in books 2 and 3. I can't really say much more without spoiling the series ;)


4. If you could meet any author, who would you meet and why?

Hmmm... I think I'd like to meet Philip Pullman. When I was little, THE GOLDEN COMPASS was my very favorite book, and in fact one of the books that really started me writing novels. He seems like an interesting guy--and I want to ask him when THE BOOK OF DUST is going to be released, and whether I could bribe a sneak peek, haha!

5. What is your favorite YA book of all time, and what was your favorite read in the past year?

Oh, man, I can't pick a favorite book! I'm terrible at these sort of questions. I'm horribly indecisive. Well, I already said that TGC was my favorite when I was a kid. I also love ENDER'S GAME and SABRIEL. Don't make me pick ;)

My favorite read in the last year? SHADOW AND BONE by Leigh Bardugo. I read the ARC and it gave me so many feelings!! Can't wait for book 2.

6. Who is your YA boyfriend?

Hahaha! Hmm, I dunno... I can come to really like and care about characters in a book, but I don't tend to crush on them, haha :P I know, I know. I'm lame.

TV characters are a different story. Does that make me shallow?? ;)

7. Tell us about what you have in store for your characters in the sequel of What's Left of Me and whatever else you have on the horizon.

I can't really talk too much about ONCE WE WERE (the sequel to WHAT'S LEFT OF ME) yet other than to say that things happen on a bigger scale. As for other writing projects, I'm tinkering away on a YA contemporary, high fantasy, and fantasy-of-some-other-sort/weird-ungenre-able-thing. Not necessarily in that order :)

Thanks for having me! 
Thanks to Kat for giving this terrific interview! Now sign up to win her book!
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This is a giveaway hop! Win some other great prizes. 

65 comments:

  1. Great interview. Everyone has been raving about WLOM. It clearly needs to jump a few spots in my TBR pile :)

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  2. Loving the chance to win this amazing book.

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  3. Wow what an intriguing cover. I had to really look at it to see the two faces.

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  4. Thank you for this great giveaway.

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  5. Thank you for this great giveaway.

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  6. This sounds like a fantastic read and one which i am so pleased to have discovered! Thank you for a brilliant review and blog post.

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  7. I love the cover and have been wanting to read this one for a while!

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  8. Thanks for the giveaway. I really want to read this book.... but i haven't gone out to buy it yet.

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  9. I've seen this book around and have been wanting to read it for a while! Thanks for participating in the hop!

    mestith at gmail dot com

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  10. Thank you! I'd love to read this! I heard great things about it, and it sounds great! :D
    - Angela

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  11. Thanks for the giveaway, I've been wanting to read this for ages.

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  12. What's Left of Me was a great book, with quite an original premise. Thanks for the giveaway!

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  13. Thank you for this giveaway! This book looks very interesting. I cannot wait to read this!

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  14. Thanks for the giveaway! The cover is gorgeous :)

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  15. i'm interested to read what happens with these hybrids!

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  16. i really want to read kat's book..
    i hope i win this giveaway...
    thx u :)

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  17. I'v been wanting to read What's left of me for ages! I'm so glad you're doing this giveaway! Hopefully i'll win and finally read it. :)

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  18. I'v been wanting to read What's left of me for ages! I'm so glad you're doing this giveaway. Hopefully i'll win and finally read it :)

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  19. I loved The Golden Compass when I was young too!

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  20. I'd really like to read What's left of me *_* It seems awesome! :D
    Thanks for the giveaway!

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  21. I saw a few blog posts for this book back when it came out a few months ago, but haven't seen anything recently. I had almost forgotten about it, thanks for reminding me so that i can stick on my list.

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  22. This book has been on my to-be-read list for the longest time, thanks for the giveaway ! I hope I can get my hands on this book soon !

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  23. I love the cover! Thank you for the chance to win. :)

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  24. Thanks for the interview and giveaway! I'd love to win a book card! :)

    When I was reading this book, I had not thought about the reaction of the body vs the soul!

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  25. This book looks really amazing! It has been on my TBR shelf! Thanks for the giveaway!

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  26. First time I've noticed this book, but a definite for the wishlist

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  27. Dual souls - a creative plot. One I've never come across before. Hope to win this one - you've got my interest.
    coreybrennan26@hotmail.com

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  28. Loved the interview. The cover is great too.

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  29. This sounds so intriguing and so unique. I had seen WLOM around the web but wasn't sure what it was about. zNow that I have a better understanding of what it's all about, I definitely want to read it. Thanks for the interview and giveaway!

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  30. This book sounds so good! I've wanted to read it for a while.

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  31. I've heard so many good things about this book, and the interview only cements my interest. Thanks for the giveaway!

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  32. This sounds like such an interesting story. Thanks for the great interview and giveaway!

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  33. I saw the book trailer on another book blog and I thought it was fantastic, it makes me think about The Host by Stephenie Meyer :)
    So thank you for this great giveaway and for making it International!

    Sara @ Sara In Bookland

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  34. I am definitely intrigued by the plot of this story and have my fingers crossed. Thank you for your generous sharing.

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  35. This book is something what I've wanted to read since I first heard about it :)

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  36. Harry Potter, all the way! And my favorite this year so far is Unspoken by Sarah Rees Brennan! Amazing. And I am so very much looking forward to What's Left of Me! Thanks for the chance to win!

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  37. This book sounds different

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  38. I'm amazed Kat could come up with such an intriguing, unique idea. Props to her! Looking forward to reading it. Thanks for the chance! :)

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  39. I admire Kat Zhang so much. She's not afraid to do what she wanted and didn't treat her age as hindrance to reach her dreams. I would like to be her someday, fearless.

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  40. Thanks for the giveaway! I so want to read What's Left Of Me!

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  41. The story sounds really cool. I am curious to know what happens.

    Thanks for the giveaway

    raffle name: Nikki O

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  42. liked the description and interview thanks for the giveaway! - regnod(at)yahoo(d0t)com

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  43. I've seen this book on a lot of blogs and I have been wanting to read this one!! It sounds so good. This is my type of story I love to read. I am so looking forward to reading this one!! Thank you for a chance to win and for being a part of this fun and awesome blog hop!!

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  44. My sister has read this book and enjoyed it, however I LOVE the idea behind the plot and would really love to read it sometime soon.

    awesome giveaway!
    - Juhina @ Maji Bookshelf

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  45. I hope I get to win this book. I've been wanting to read it since I first saw it at Goodreads. Awesome giveaway!!! :D

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  46. I am intrigued by this book from the cover, story line and Author. Can't wait to read it!!!

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  47. Thank you for the wonderful giveaway!

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  48. So excited about this book!Thanks! :)

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  49. Great Giveaway! The book sounds Great!

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  50. Thanks for the great giveaway. Really want to read this book!

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  51. I'm actually reading this book today! I'm only 20% in, but it's amazing already!

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  52. Can't wait to read this book...I think its great that Kat is so successful at such a young age :) Thanks for your giveaways
    oddball2003 at hotmail dot com

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  53. I wanna read this book for soo long, Thanks for the giveaway :)

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  54. Thanks for the giveaway! This book has already been on my to-read list on goodreads forever!

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  55. Sounds like a great book! Thanks for the chance to win!

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  56. Sounds like a good book. Thank you for your generosity.

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  57. sounds like a great book. Thanks for the chance

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