February 18, 2016

The Rule of Mirrors Tour: Author Interview + Giveaway

 
Welcome to my stop on the blog tour for THE RULE OF MIRRORS! I have a great interview with the author to share with you today - and don't forget to enter the giveaway! To follow the rest of the tour, check out the schedule at the bottom of the post.

 
The Rule of Mirrors (Vault of Dreamers #2)
Author: Caragh M. O'Brien
Genre: YA Science Fiction/Dystopia
Release Date: February 16, 2016
Publisher: Roaring Brook Press

Description:

The fast-paced, psychologically thrilling sequel to The Vault of Dreamers follows Rosie after her consciousness has been split in two.

The entire country was watching when Rosie Sinclair was expelled from Forge, the prestigious arts school that doubles as a reality TV show. But few know how Dean Berg was mining students' dreams in laboratories deep below the school. And no one, least of all the Dean himself, knows that when Rosie's dreams were seeded into the mind of another patient, Rosie's consciousness woke up in that body--a girl far from Forge, a girl with a completely different life from Rosie, a girl who is pregnant.

Told from alternating points of view between Rosie as she makes sense of her new identity and the shattered subconscious that still exists in her old body, this sequel to The Vault of Dreamers will keep readers on the edge of their seats and leave them hungry for more. 


https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23310692-the-rule-of-mirrors?ac=1&from_search=1
1. What inspired you to write The Rule of Mirrors/The Vault of Dreamers series?

Let me first say thanks, Steph, for having me by A Dream Within A Dream. It’s such a pleasure to be here for the Rule of Mirrors Blog Tour!

My inspiration really came from a combination of things. I’ve always been interested in dreams, which seem so creative as they defy the constraints of logic. I know that sleep is essential to learning, and I loved being a high school English teacher. I remember when our school first installed surveillance cameras everywhere and how that felt so invasive to me. I’ve enjoyed watching reality TV shows, too, and puzzled over why they satisfy. With all these different ideas bumping up against each other, I came up with the basic premise for the Vault of Dreamers series, where a boarding school doubles as reality TV show, and a girl discovers the students’ dreams aren’t safe.

2. How do you come up with the ideas for all of your novels?

I’m curious, and I’m especially drawn to ponder things that confuse or trouble me. I usually start with a disturbing concept (taking babies from mothers, or dream mining, for example) and a character that hooks into my heart in some way, and then I keep writing to see what will happen.

3. What's the hardest part of writing a novel, in your opinion?

On a practical level, writing a first draft is difficult for me. I run down so many dead ends that my initial progress is very slow. What is truly challenging, however, is having faith that I’ll be able to come up with a decent book by the end. I think a lot of writers struggle with this.

4. Are any of your characters based on people you know or yourself?

Not consciously. I’ve been inspired by my children and my students, but I don’t base my characters on specific people I know. Instead, I try to give my characters room to make mistakes and get ugly. That’s where I discover things about myself and how the world works.

5. Was there a specific person or event that made you want to become an author?

For many years, I read a lot, kept a journal, and wrote stories, but I didn’t realize those activities were leading me toward a life as a writer. I wanted to write, which isn’t quite the same thing as wanting to become an author, and as far as I can tell, that desire came from within.

6. Favorite book and/or author?

Jack London is one of my favorite authors. I love what he did with Call of the Wild and White Fang. For a more recent favorite, I very much enjoyed Mary Pearson’s Kiss of Deception. She pulls off some very intriguing mind games.

7. Any tips for aspiring authors?

It is helpful for me to remember that all the writers I know have their own ways of writing, and no single way is the right way to do it, so I would encourage other writers to keep exploring, to focus on whatever fascinates you, and trust that will take you where you need to go.

8. What's up next for you?
I’m working on the third book in the Vault of Dreamers series, and I’m enjoying the challenge. Thanks again for having me by. Happy reading! 

Thanks so much for stopping by and chatting with us today Caragh - and congratulations on your newest release!
Caragh M. O'Brien is the author of the BIRTHMARKED trilogy and THE VAULT OF DREAMERS series, both from Macmillan/Roaring Brook Press. Born in St. Paul, Minnesota, Ms. O'Brien was educated at Williams College and earned her MA from Johns Hopkins University. She recently resigned from teaching high school English in order to write young adult novels. For more information, visit http://www.caraghobrien.com.

Author Links:

*Author information taken from Goodreads.*
 Giveaway: (1) Finished paperback copy of The Vault of Dreamers or a finished hardcover copy of The Rule of Mirrors - Winner's choice! Open to US only!!

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