Blog Tour: Character interview: Tiki from The Faerie Ring by Kiki Hamilton

Welcome to today's stop in the Faerie Ring blog tour hosted by the lovely Mundie Moms. I'm super excited to share with you guys an interview with Tiki, the main character of The Faerie Ring! Kiki's debut novel is in store NOW and I highly recommend you go pick up a copy. To find out more about the blog tour you can go here.

And don't forget to go to tomorrow's stop at Girls in the Stacks with a guest post from Kiki. To find out about all the stops on the tour go HERE.

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Hi Tiki thanks for being here today. How would describe yourself in five words or less? 
Hallo Dani, thanks for inviting me over. I guess I would say this: sixteen, orphaned, caring, some say clever and perhaps a bit sneaky at times.

Tell us two truths and a lie.
Do I have to tell you which is which? Since you didn’t say so, I think not. Let’s see if you can figure it out.

1. My parents died two years ago and I was sent to live with my aunt and uncle.

2. My mum would tease me as a little girl and tell me I’d been marked by faeries.

3. Rieker taught me how to pick a pocket.

I know you are an avid reader. If you could live in any book, what book would it be? 
There’s a book called Pride and Prejudice written by Jane Austen, a writer from Bath, that is quite enchanting. Mr. Darcy seems the prig, but in the end is rather charming.

What is one of your favorite childhood memories? 
I used to love when my father would read faerie stories to me. We’d sit before the fire and he’d read out loud. My mother would do her fancy work in a nearby chair and my cocker spaniel, Scotty, and I would sit on the floor and listen. I loved that time.

What is your favorite place in London to escape from the chaos of daily life?
St. James Park is about 15 minutes from Charing Cross. And then beyond that there is the Queen’s Park and Hyde Park. I love all those parks – the trees and the water – it’s like visiting another world.

What is your biggest fear? 
That I’ll be caught and thrown into the workhouse and separated from the others. That I wouldn’t be there to help care for the little ones.

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About the book:

The Faerie Ring
Kiki Hamilton
Publisher: Tor Teen
Released: September 27, 2011

Synposis:

Debut novelist Kiki Hamilton takes readers from the gritty slums and glittering ballrooms of Victorian London to the beguiling but menacing Otherworld of the Fey in this spellbinding tale of romance, suspense, and danger.

The year is 1871, and Tiki has been making a home for herself and her family of orphans in a deserted hideaway adjoining Charing Cross Station in central London. Their only means of survival is by picking pockets. One December night, Tiki steals a ring, and sets off a chain of events that could lead to all-out war with the Fey. For the ring belongs to Queen Victoria, and it binds the rulers of England and the realm of Faerie to peace. With the ring missing, a rebel group of faeries hopes to break the treaty with dark magic and blood—Tiki’s blood.

Unbeknownst to Tiki, she is being watched—and protected—by Rieker, a fellow thief who suspects she is involved in the disappearance of the ring. Rieker has secrets of his own, and Tiki is not all that she appears to be. Her very existence haunts Prince Leopold, the Queen’s son, who is driven to know more about the mysterious mark that encircles her wrist.Prince, pauper, and thief—all must work together to secure the treaty…

Trailer:

Waiting on Wednesday (68) - Reunited

Reunited

Hilary Weisman Graham

Publisher: Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing

To be released: June 12, 2012

Summary (from Goodreads):

1 Concert 
2,000 Miles 
3 Ex-Best Friends 

Alice, Summer, and Tiernan are ex-best friends. 

Back in middle school, the three girls were inseparable. They were also the number one fans of the rock band Level3. 

But when the band broke up, so did their friendship. Summer ran with the popular crowd, Tiernan was a rebellious wild-child, and Alice spent high school with her nose buried in books. 

Now, just as the girls are about to graduate, Level3 announces a one-time-only reunion show. 

Even though the concert’s 2000 miles away, Alice buys three tickets on impulse. And as it turns out, Summer and Tiernan have their own reasons for wanting to get out of town. Good thing Alice’s graduation gift (a pea-green 1976 VW camper van know as the Pea Pod) is just the vehicle to get them there. 

But on the long drive cross-country, the girls hit more than a few bumps in the road. Will their friendship get an encore or is the show really over?

I first heard about this when I met the author at Book Blogger Con and it peaked my interested. I mean road-trip, ex-best friends, a rock band and VW van, how could I not be interested. Also, the author went to BU which makes me want to read it even more to support BU alum. (GO TERRIERS!) Definitely cannot wait to read this one!

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event highlighting exciting upcoming releases. It is hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine.

The Faerie Ring by Kiki Hamilton

The Faerie Ring

Kiki Hamilton

Publisher: Tor Teen/ Macmillian

Release Date: September 27, 2011

Series or Standalone:  The Faerie Ring #1

ISBN: 9780765327222           

Format: ARC

Pages: 352

Source: BEA

Websites:

Kiki Hamilton – Author Site

Kiki Hamilton – Twitter

The Faerie Ring – Book Site 

Rating: 5 Stars

I’ve sat down multiple times to try to write this review and each time I have been unable to clearly articulate how much I loved this book. So I’m giving up on that and just gotten write what I feel.

The Faerie Ring was the book I was most looking forward to getting at BEA this year. As long as I got it, I would be satisfied. I get it I did. It was also the first book I read after BEA finished. And then I reread it again. And then again. And then again. I think since I got the book in May I have read it at least 5 times now. If you cannot tell I really like this book.

One of the things I love best about this book is the blend of historical elements with elements of faerie. Faeries are very popular currently, but most books that I read about them take place in a contemporary setting. The balance between the historical aspect of the novel and the faerie aspect was perfect. I loved how Kiki took actual historical figures, such as Prince Leopold and Queen Victoria, and incorporated them into the plot, creating this world were the royal family of Victorian England are the holders of a truce between the Fey and humankind. I loved that these prominent historical figures could be embroiled in this mythical event.

I must admit, I’m a sucker for historical fiction. I really wish that there were more YA books that could be classified as historical fiction. I feel like the Faerie Ring incorporated the Victorian Era perfectly, It adds this extra element to the plot. The setting becomes part of the story. The mysteries of the Victorian era, the hidden secrets and scandals, the troubles, all add to the book. The setting is as much its own character as any of the actual characters. And Kiki Hamilton has put a lot of effort into crafting the setting and making it accurate.

A lot of my love for this book is because of its characters. I felt this story had very strong characters that really drove the story forward. I really loved Tiki. She is such a strong female character, especially in contrast to the women of that age. Tiki is a pickpocket, who dresses as a boy, to help provide for her “family”. Tiki is devoted to her “family”, a group of other street children who she helps care for as the eldest in the group. Tiki’s devotion to her family is admirable. She is willing to do anything to make sure they survive, even stealing from the crown. She’s stubborn in her devoted and love to them and I really loved that aspect of her character. All of Tiki’s actions are done with her family in mind, what would be best for them and how to protect them. I really loved that about her. Along with her devotion to her family, I really loved that Tiki was smart and resourceful. She found a way to survive on the streets of London and be prosperous. She’s clever and tries to figure out the best course of action. Also, she loves to read. I loved this about Tiki because, obviously, I love to read as well. I really enjoyed learning more about Tiki’s character as the book went on and seeing her growth and devotion to her family.

Besides, Tiki, I also really loved Rieker. He is, hands down, my favorite character in the book. He’s a bit of mystery to Tiki and her gang, a bit of a mystery to everyone, but slowly pieces of who Rieker are revealed and I loved learning about him. He’s charming, funny and definitely surprising. I loved how Rieker would pester and annoy Tiki and I loved the back and forth nature of their relationship. Rieker definitely did surprise me. Certain aspects of his character I did not expect and I really loved seeing the true Rieker be unveiled. Rieker was not a one dimensional character and I really cannot wait to see more of him and learn more about him in the coming books. I feel there is still so much to learn about Rieker and I cannot wait to learn more about him.

The plot of The Faerie Ring was awesome. I loved how all the little subplots all tied together into the bigger overarching plot of the stolen ring. I felt everything came together perfectly. I kept wanting to keep reading the book to see what would happen next to the characters. I love how everything was revealed too. There were no huge sudden revelations that came from left field and were suddenly accepted. Everything built up on what came previously until all the pieces came together. And I loved how everything was unveiled. The timing was perfect, nothing was rushed or too drawn out. Every time I go back and reread the book, I still am captivate by the story and just keep wanting to read it again and again. Kiki Hamilton was able to wrap up the main plot points, but there are still a few left opened to be explored in coming books, especially the mysteries surrounding Tiki. I was satisfied with how the book ended and left wanting more, even if it was not a cliffhanger ending.

The Faerie Ring is a perfect blend of mystery, history, romance, and faeries. The Faerie Ring is everything I want in a book and more. Kiki Hamilton’s debut novel has me enamored. I loved every minute of reading it, definitely one of my top ten books of this year. I cannot wait to see where Kiki will take these character in the other books in the series (I’m so happy this is a series you have no idea!) I highly recommend this book to everyone. It has something for everyone and is a great twist on faeries. I’m going to anxiously sit here, rereading this book until I can get my hands on its sequel! 

Author Interview: Kiki Hamilton

I'm super thrilled to have Kiki Hamilton, author of The Faerie Ring, here on the blog today! If you didn't know, Kiki's debut novel comes out TOMORROW and it's one of my favorite books this year. In order to celebrate the release, I'm devoting most of this week to The Faerie Ring. Make sure to stop by later in the week for a giveaway!

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Describe your book in five words or less. 

Victorian London, pickpockets, faeries, mystery and romance.

Who is your favorite character to write? 

 Well, you don’t see a whole lot of her in this book, but I love Larkin. She is so complicated. We haven’t even peeled back the first layer yet.

My favorite time period is Victorian England, the era which the Faerie Ring is set.  What is one of the reasons you were drawn to this era for the setting of the book? 

I love the mystery of Victorian London. The dichotomy of knowledge between great technological advances and the deep belief in mysticism. I also love the idea of not knowing all the ‘facts’ of history – of the untold stories that have either slipped through the cracks or not been told because if they were, everything would change…

What type of faerie myths and lore did you draw inspiration for the Faerie Ring from?

I did a lot of reading of general faerie lore as well as myths from the British Isles. There are parts I like and others I don’t, which is partly why I wrote this book – it was the book I wanted to read, but couldn’t find.

What was your favorite scene to write in the book?

I have to admit one of my very favorite scenes occurs when Tiki is in the ballroom at Buckingham Palace and involves William Richmond and Prince Leopold.  I still laugh at the expression on Leo’s face.

(That's my favorite scene as well!)

Do you outline or just write and see where it takes you? Did you know the how the series was going to end before you started writing?

I would love to outline, but I don’t.  When writing fantasy I start at the beginning and write straight through. So far, I haven’t even written scenes out of order – and while I know a few things that are going to happen, for the most part I just follow my characters.  Oddly enough, I just finished writing a YA contemporary and my process was completely different. I had a playlist I listened to when I wrote, I wrote the ending when I was only 1/3 through the book and wrote scenes out of order. 

What is harder to write, the first sentence or the last? 

The first sentence changed a few times. The last sentence was always the same.

If you could spend a day with a character from any book, who would it be and why?

I’m probably so predictable but it would totally  be Harry Potter. SO MANY places to explore! Hogwarts, Hogsmeade, Diagon Alley,  the Burrow, the Dark Forest…  and of course, there’s magic and flying brooms!

If you had a time machine and could travel to any time and place, where would you go?

Well, it would definitely be someplace in Europe and most likely in England.  When I visited London a couple of years ago we visited Windsor Castle, which has been inhabited by English royalty for 1,000 years. I’ve read lots of stories, and watched lots of movies set in England and as I stood on the parapet of Windsor Castle, in the footsteps of kings, and looked out over England  - I totally got it. It was fantastic!

What YA book do you wish had been published when you were a teen? 

I would have loved Harry Potter at any age and I certainly would have been thrilled to read those books as a teen.

Thank you so much for inviting me over, Dani! 

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I want to so thanks so much to Kiki Hamilton for stoping by and providing such lovely answers!

You can find out more about Kiki Hamilton over at her website: http://www.kikihamilton.com. You can find her on Twitter and Facebook as well.

Don't forget to check back this week for a review, a character interview and a giveaway of The Faerie Ring!

Supernaturally Blog Tour!

I'm really pleased to have Kiersten White here today with a super awesome guest post for the Supernaturally blog tour.. Today we have another IPCA Dossier and artist rendering of another creature from Evie's world in Paranormalcy and Supernaturally. Read on to learn more about the Elementals in the books.

IPCA Employee Handbook Section 3.1.9

Elementals

Level Six

Ancient Origins, Separate Evolution, Various Forms

Immortality: Insofar as such things can be considered alive, yes

Breeding: No breeding threat

Types: Earth (gnomes), Water (nymphs, ondines, etc), Air (sylphs*), Fire (salamanders**)

*Visual confirmation has never been successfully achieved

**Fire salamander birth from flames has yet to be witnessed

Myths: Personification of various types of elementals; no known extensive human-elemental interaction. Little is known of origin or types. Though IPCA officially recognizes these four elementals, their existence (with the exception of gnomes and a few localized nymphs) is not proven. Additionally, some feel faeries are classified as elementals under “spirit.” (See Appendices: Elementals, Discussion of, 89.745.)

Facts: Few undisputed facts about elementals. Please see further information on Gnomes and Salamanders, as well as supplemental pamphlets “My Time with Ondine” and “Digging for Gnomes” (both pre-dating IPCA, from APCA).

Dangers: Unknown.

Information contributed by Evelyn age 15 (please see Appendices Catalog, Section 7, for details on glamour-piercing abilities), transcribed from the original audio:

Elementals? Like, what do you mean? [interviewer unintelligible] Oh. Yeah, I don’t really want to talk about elementals. Do you know what they had me do when I was thirteen? I had to sit on the banks of this river in Greece for THREE WEEKS just staring at the water trying to see something! Do you have any idea how boring it is trying to see a nymph? They tell me a trip to Greece, and then that’s all I do. It sucked. So when they asked me to sit on a mountainside for a couple of weeks staring at the air—the bleeping AIR—looking for evidence of a sylph I faked sick. Don’t sigh like that, Raquel. You would have, too. As far as salamanders, I asked for one for Christmas last year. Still waiting.

Artist rendering of Evelyn’s Salamander description:

How cool is that? I personally would love a salamander as well!

Make sure you follow the rest of the tour to find out more about the creatures in Evie's world. The next tour stop will be over at Good Books and Good Wine on Friday, September 23. 

I really love Paranormalcy (my review) and Supernaturally (my review) and I love the background information we are getting with this tour! 

And here's a bit more about the book in case you haven't heard anything about it.

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Supernaturally by Kiersten White
(Paranormalcy #2)

Evie finally has the normal life she’s always longed for. But she’s shocked to discover that being ordinary can be . . . kind of boring. Just when Evie starts to long for her days at the International Paranormal Containment Agency, she’s given a chance to work for them again. Desperate for a break from all the normalcy, she agrees.

But as one disastrous mission leads to another, Evie starts to wonder if she made the right choice. And when Evie’s faerie ex-boyfriend Reth appears with devastating revelations about her past, she discovers that there’s a battle brewing between the faerie courts that could throw the whole supernatural world into chaos. The prize in question? Evie herself.

So much for normal.

Kiersten White

Kiersten White is the NYT Bestselling author of Paranormalcy.  She has one tall husband and two small children and lives near the ocean, where her life is perfectly normal.  This abundance of normal led her to a fascination with all things paranormal, including but not limited to vampires, faeries, and pop culture. Visit her at http://kierstenwhite.com.

Kiersten White is also going on a physical tour where you can meet her in person. To learn more about the tour, where she is visiting and who she's traveling with visit here.

Paranormalcy and Supernaturally are in stores now! I highly recommend you go pick up a copy!

Waiting on Wednesday (67) - Where It Began

Where It Began

Ann Redisch Stampler

Publisher: Simon Pulse

To be released: March 6, 2012

Summary (from Goodreads):

Gabby Gardiner wakes up in a hospital bed looking like a cautionary ad for drunk driving and lacking a single memory of the accident that landed her there. What she can remember, in frank and sardonic detail, is the year leading up to the accident.

As she takes us through her transformation from invisible girl to on-trend Girl Who Dates Billy Nash (aka Most Desirable Boy Ever), she is left wondering: Why is Billy suddenly distancing himself from her? What do her classmates know that Gabby herself does not? Who exactly was in the car that night? And why is Gabby left alone to take the fall?

Putting the pieces together will take every ounce of Gabby's strength. As she peels back the layers of her life, she begins to realize that her climb up the status ladder has been as intoxicating as it has been morally complex...and that nothing about her life is what she has imagined it to be.

I’m super excited for this book. It sounds like a really great contemporary novel and I love the cover! Cannot wait to read!

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event highlighting exciting upcoming releases. It is hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine.

Blood by K.J Wignall

Blood

K.J. Wignall

Publisher: EgmontUSA

Release Date: September 27, 2011

Series or Standalone:  Mercian Trilogy #1

ISBN: 9781606842201

Format: eGalley

Pages: 336

Source: NetGalley

Websites:

K.J Wignall – Author Site

Blood – Goodreads Page

Rating: 4.5 Stars

This book surprised me. From the title, cover and summary I thought I was in store for just another vampire book, but I was wrong. This book was not what I was expecting and I mean that in the best way possible.

I really loved the characters in Blood. This book was very character driven and the two main characters were really authentic, even if one of them is a vampire. Will is the last Earl of Mercia, even though he died way back in the 13^th century. He is a vampire, but has no clue how he became how he is. He is all alone, up until now in the 21^st century. I really sympathized with will because he has no one. He is lonely until he meets Eloise. Will is also a genuinely nice guy who was made into one of the “undead” as he likes to call himself. And then there is Eloise, a girl who seems to be part of Will’s destiny. I loved that Eloise was not some weak, defenseless female character. Instead, she takes everything in stride and offers Will friendship, something he hasn’t had in years. While Eloise seems to be tied up in Will’s destiny, the relationship between them does not feel forced. Even though Will and Eloise haven’t known each other for a long time, their relationship just works, it clicks. Eloise understands Will and his loneliness and will stick by him even if it buts her life in danger. They just work together.

Blood’s story literally blew me away. I’m not really sure what I was expecting from this book, probably some typical cheesy vampire story, but that was not what Blood was about. I loved that Will being a vampire or “undead” was not the true center point of the story. At times I even forget he was a vampire. The plot unraveled at a perfect pace and all the pieces of the mystery of who Will really is and why he is the way he is slowly clicked into place perfectly. As the first book in a trilogy, Blood set up the story perfectly. It wrapped up certain questions but left others unanswered and established a larger story arc for the series.

The writing in this book fit the story extremely well. I really liked that the writing made it very easy to visualize everything that was going on. For me, this book read like a movie in my head. It kept me engaged with the story. The writing definitely was more sophisticated then I was expecting.

I’m really glad I just randomly picked up Blood because it blew me away. This was a great first book in a series and now I really want to find out what happens next with Will. Enough questions were answered to leave me satisfied but some still have not been answered and I cannot wait to find out the answer. I am greatly looking forward to next two books in this trilogy! 

Waiting on Wednesday (66) - Touch of Power

Touch of Power

Maria V. Snyder

Publisher: Mira

To be released: December 20, 2011

Summary (from Goodreads):

Laying hands upon the injured and dying, Avry of Kazan assumes their wounds and diseases into herself. But rather than being honored for her skills, she is hunted. Healers like Avry are accused of spreading the plague that has decimated the Territories, leaving the survivors in a state of chaos. 

Stressed and tired from hiding, Avry is abducted by a band of rogues who, shockingly, value her gift above the golden bounty offered for her capture. Their leader, an enigmatic captor-protector with powers of his own, is unequivocal in his demands: Avry must heal a plague-stricken prince—leader of a campaign against her people. As they traverse the daunting Nine Mountains, beset by mercenaries and magical dangers, Avry must decide who is worth healing and what is worth dying for. Because the price of peace may well be her life....

So I’ve become a very big fan of Maria V. Snyder over the summer and now I really want to read her new series. It looks awesome. And if it’s anything like the Study series, I will love it.

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event highlighting exciting upcoming releases. It is hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine.

Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor

Daughter of Smoke and Bone

Laini Taylor

Publisher: Little Brown & Company

Release Date: September 27, 2011

Series or Standalone:  Daughter of Smoke and Bones #1

ISBN: 9780316134026

Format: ARC

Pages: 432

Source: BEA

Websites:

Laini Taylor – Blog

Laini Taylor – Twitter

Daughter of Smoke and Bone - Official Website

Rating: 5 Stars

Daughter of Smoke and Bone  is a beautiful magical book. Laini Taylor will leave you awestruck after you read this, it’s that good.

When I started Daughter of Smoke and Bone I told myself I was just going to read a few chapters and go to sleep. Well, a few chapters turned into a few more chapters, and then a few more, until I ended up reading the book in one sitting. I got so drawn into this book I couldn’t put it down. Once I started reading, I couldn’t stop. It was addicting.

Everything was perfect in this book. There was nothing I did not like. The writing was breathtakingly beautiful. Laini Taylor has a way with words that just leaves you sitting there in awe. Her descriptions were vivid and beautiful. I felt like I was in the story with the character in the fairy tale. I was in awe of the writing. I think It can seriously give classic authors a run for their money.

Not only is the writing beautiful, the storytelling is spot on. This book I a modern fairy. The world building seemed effortless and you could truly see and understand Karou’s world. I really loved how the story was revealed, as you were reading everything slowly came together in like layers until the big picture was revealed. The pacing of the plot was spot on, it was not to fast and not too slow and there was a perfect balance of action, drama, romance and mystery. I was engrossed by Karou’s story and wanted to know more about the mystery surrounding her. When it was time for the “big reveal” as I’ll call it, I kind of just sat there staring at the book because once it was mystery was revealed it seemed so obvious, but when you first read it, it’s not. I was amazed at how Laini Taylor was able to take all the puzzle pieces and clues and make them come together. Everything just clicked. When everything clicked that was when I had my “ah-ha” moment and understood what the title really meant and how the title was staring me in the face the whole time. The balance of the supernatural (angels/demons) was perfect, it felt like just a part of the story.

I really loved the characters in this book. Each character was fully developed and played a role in the story. Karou was definitely a different type of protagonist. I mean she had blue hair (AWESOME) and was part of this world full of strange, monster like creatures that other people would run screaming away from. One think I really liked about Karou was that she was willing to take risks to find out more about herself, even if the truth was painful. And then there is Akiva, an angel. But these aren’t the typical angels. He’s here for a purpose, and from the point of view of Karou, not exactly a good guy at first (he did try to kill her…). He is a warrior and is frightening at first. As the story progresses we learn more about Akiva and he really grows on you. You begin to understand more about him and how Karou and him are connected. You sympathize with him and really like his character by the end.

Daughter of Smoke and Bone is beautiful, haunting, lyrical and romantic. I feel like my review cannot do it justice. I know you hear time and time again that a book is unique, but truly, this book is unlike anything I’ve read before. It take elements that appear commonly in books, but makes this completely new story that has never been told before. Daughter of Smoke and Bone is truly a modern fairy tale and what every fairy tale should aspire to be.

Waiting on Wednesday (65) - Perception

Perception

Kim Harrington

Publisher: Scholastic Point

To be released: March 1, 2011

Summary (from Goodreads):

When you can see things others can't, what do you do when someone's watching you? 

Everybody knows about Clarity "Clare" Fern. She's the psychic girl in school, the one who can place her hands on something and see hidden visions from the past. 

Only Clare would rather not be a celebrity. She prefers hanging back, observing. Her gift is not a game to her. 

But then someone starts playing with her head . . . and heart. Messages and gifts from a secret admirer crop up everywhere Clare turns. Could they be from Gabriel, the gorgeous boy who gets Clare's pulse racing? Or from Justin, Clare's hopeful ex-boyfriend who'd do anything to win her back? 

One thing is certain. Clare needs to solve this mystery, and soon. Because the messages are becoming sinister, and a girl in town has suddenly disappeared

So I loved Clarity and I REALLY cannot wait to read it’s sequel Perception. Also, Kim is awesome and I’m really excited for her second novel. I’ll even wear my Fern Family Readings shirt while reading this. And I love the cover (even if the model is different from the first book) it’s just so pretty.

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event highlighting exciting upcoming releases. It is hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine.

Skyship Academy: The Pearl Wars Blog Tour – ON THE FRINGES: The Skyship Community

I’m thrilled to be on the blog tour for Nick James’s Skyship Academy: The Pearl Wars. This book is pretty awesome and I am excited for it’s release. Below we have some additional information about the Skypship community, a major part of the book, so check it out! You can learn more about the book over at Goodreads and you can pre-order it from Amazon, Barnes and Noble and the Book Depository.

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The Skyship Community began as a separatist movement. In protest to the changes in America’s government, a band of rebels hijacked the Skyship Program (a series of large ships developed to ease population control) and set sail for the skies. The ensuing war resulted in the signing of the Hernandez Treaty, which declared the Skyship Community a sovereign nation, essentially hovering on top of another sovereign nation.

The community is comprised of over a hundred ships, though only a few are large enough to be classified as “floating cities.” Most are mid-sized, capable of housing around one to two thousand passengers.  Some are not residential at all, though each has an overriding purpose (ie: agri-ships, storage ships, hospitals). The nation’s capital is Skyship Atlas, which hovers symbolically over the ruins of Washington D.C.  Skyship Academy, where much of the book’s story takes place, is known to outsiders as a selective college for liberal arts. In reality, it’s a training ground for Pearl Agents.

Author’s Inspiration: I’ve always been in love with the idea of cities in the sky. Of course, the idea of skyships, or floating cities, has been around for a long time, but usually with more emphasis on the technical side. I wanted to humanize the types of people that would live above the clouds. Specifically, the isolation one might feel living in the sky really appealed to me. 

Terms to know:

The Hernandez Treaty - resulted in the creation of the International Skyline, an invisible, horizontal border that keeps the Skyships and the Surface separate.

The Tribunal - the Skyship Community’s acting government, comprised of three representatives.

Skyship Academy - a training ground for would-be Pearl Agents. After all, the community relies on Pearl Power to keep its ships aloft. 

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Sound cool doesn’t it? And don’t forget to check out today’s other stop on the tour over at http://www.prationality.com/ were Poisoned Rationality has an interview with Author Nick James. The tour continues tomorrow over at Reading Fever so make sure you stop over there!

And don’t forget to visit each blog each day to find the answers to the 8 clues. How the clues work:  Throughout the tour's 15 stops, there will be 8 clues scattered on the blogs. Make sure you go to every stop on the tour so you can find the clues. These clues spell out a secret coordinate and you need this coordinate so you can win on the last stop of the tour over at Frenzy of Noise.

If you win, you win a supplemented copy of the book a bonus Skyship diagram and bonus chapter or annotation. A pretty cool prize if I do say so myself.

So go ahead an make you check out all the stops on the tour and pre-order Skyship Academy: The Pearl Wars out September 8, 2011.

Winners!

Thanks to everyone who entered. I have winners for two different contests.

DARK SOULS WINNERS
The two winners of a copy of Dark Souls by Paula Morris are Irish @ Ticket to Anywhere and Ashley Holt @ Bookcase Siren

FURY WINNER
The winner of a signed copy of Fury by Elizabeth Miles is Amber Elise @ Du Livre.