THE BLACK KEY
Author: Amy Ewing
Publication Date: October 4, 2016
Publisher: HarperTeen
Pages: 304
Formats: Hardcover, eBook
For
too long, Violet and the people of the outer circles of the Lone City
have lived in service to the royalty of the Jewel. But now the secret
society known as the Black Key is preparing to seize power.
And
while Violet knows she is at the center of this rebellion, she has a
more personal stake in it—her sister, Hazel, has been taken by the
Duchess of the Lake. Now, after fighting so hard to escape the Jewel,
Violet must do everything in her power to return to save not only Hazel,
but the future of the Lone City.
1. Where did you come up with the ideas for your trilogy?
The concept for The Jewel came from a lazy Sunday afternoon I spent watching movies on basic cable. Taken came on TV, and I thought to myself, “Sure, why not? I like Liam Neeson.” And there is this one scene when his daughter (the one who gets taken) is paraded onto a stage and bid on by powerful men who want to buy her as, essentially, a sex slave. As I watched that scene, I wondered to myself what it would be like if, instead of men, it was women bidding on her. Why would a woman buy another woman? I thought at first it would be to carry their children for vanity purposes. Why go through nine months of hormones and stretch marks and dietary restrictions when you can have some other girl do it for you? Slowly the idea evolved to the point that these women needed these girls. That generations of inbreeding had caused too much chromosomal damage, and that these surrogates had the power to fix it. And so, the Auction was born, and Violet’s story came to life.
2. What's the hardest part of being an author, in your opinion?
I would say the ever present self doubt combined with the need to self motivate. It can be so hard just to open the document in the morning sometimes. Other days I’ll put off writing and then feel tremendous guilt. And sometimes the fear that no one will like what I am pouring my heart and soul into can be crippling. So much of being an author is sitting alone in a room with your imaginary friends, and hoping against hope that you are doing them justice and that real people will like them. It can be very lonely and very scary.
3. Favorite book or author?
They go hand in hand for me: The BFG by Roald Dahl. Dahl was a huge influence on me as a child—I loved his dark imagination and his whimsical prose.
4. Any tips for aspiring writers?
Don’t give up! There is a lot of rejection in this business but you’ve got to keep plowing through. Remember why you love your story and focus on that. And finish what you start. There is tremendous power in finishing a project. Plus you can never really see your story fully until you reach the end of it.
5. What's up next for you?
I’m so excited to be working on a whole new series with all new characters and places and a new brand of magic! It’s much more straight fantasy, with multiple narrators and strange new cultures. The first book is called The Cerulean and will be out sometime in 2018.
Thanks for stopping by and chatting with us today, Amy!
THE WHITE ROSE
Author: Amy Ewing
Release Date: October 6, 2015
Pages: 320
Publisher: HarperTeen
Formats: Hardcover, eBook, audiobook
Violet
is on the run. After the Duchess of the Lake catches Violet with Ash,
the hired companion at the Palace of the Lake, Violet has no choice but
to escape the Jewel or face certain death. So along with Ash and her
best friend, Raven, Violet runs away from her unbearable life of
servitude. But no one said leaving the Jewel would be easy. As they make their way through the circles of the Lone City, Regimentals track their every move, and the trio barely manages to make it out unscathed and into the safe haven they were promised—a mysterious house in the Farm. But there’s a rebellion brewing, and Violet has found herself in the middle of it. Alongside a new ally, Violet discovers her Auguries are much more powerful than she ever imagined. But is she strong enough to rise up against the Jewel and everything she has ever known? The White Rose is a raw, captivating sequel to The Jewel that fans won’t be able to put down until the final shocking moments.
THE JEWEL
Author: Amy Ewing
Release Date: September 2, 2014
Pages: 358
Publisher: HarperTeen
Formats: Hardcover, Paperback, eBook, audiobook
Find it: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | iBooks
Description:
The Jewel means wealth. The Jewel means beauty. The Jewel means royalty. But for girls like Violet, the Jewel means servitude. Not just any kind of servitude. Violet, born and raised in the Marsh, has been trained as a surrogate for the royalty—because in the Jewel the only thing more important than opulence is offspring. Purchased at the surrogacy auction by the Duchess of the Lake and greeted with a slap to the face, Violet (now known only as #197) quickly learns of the brutal truths that lie beneath the Jewel’s glittering facade: the cruelty, backstabbing, and hidden violence that have become the royal way of life. Violet must accept the ugly realities of her existence... and try to stay alive. But then a forbidden romance erupts between Violet and a handsome gentleman hired as a companion to the Duchess’s petulant niece. Though his presence makes life in the Jewel a bit brighter, the consequences of their illicit relationship will cost them both more than they bargained for.
Book Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=61vzkhFVKuM
Amy Ewing earned her MFA in Writing for Children at The New School and received her BFA at New York University. The Jewel started off as a thesis project and became her debut novel. She lives in New York City. You can visit Amy online at www.amyewingbooks.com or on Twitter @AmyEwingBooks.
(1) Winner will receive a signed finished copy of THE JEWEL & THE WHITE ROSE - US Only!
Tour Schedule:
Week One:
9/26/2016- The Cover Contessa- Interview
9/27/2016- Once Upon a Twilight- Excerpt
9/28/2016- Take Me Away To A Great Read- Guest Post
9/29/2016- Andi's ABCs- 10's Post
9/30/2016- A Dream Within A Dream- Interview
Week Two:
10/3/2016- Lisa Loves Literature- Excerpt
10/4/2016- Literary Meanderings- Guest Post
10/5/2016- Fantasy Book Critic- 10's Post
10/6/2016- Two Chicks on Books- Interview
10/7/2016- Curling Up With A Good Book- Excerpt
