Announcements!





Monday, January 17, 2011

Blessed Blog Tour - Interview with Quincie + Giveaway




Today, I have Quincie from Blessed by Cynthia Leitich Smith to answer a few questions. Quincie is also the main character from Tantalize by Cynthia Leitich Smith.

What is the best thing about being a vampire and what's the worst?

The best: energy. I’ve always struggled to balance school with working in my family restaurant, Sanguini’s. We’d close late, and then I’d have to be awake and at least pretending to pay attention in Econ the next day. Now I can go a couple of days at a time without sleep.

The worst: temptation. I’m coping, I am. I drink warmed porcine blood, and I have my very own chef, Nora, preparing me porcine blood JELL-O and popsicles. But if I want to stay wholly souled, that means “people” must remain firmly off my personal menu.

Close second: not being able to keep down solid foods. I’m told that I can build up a tolerance, and I’m working on it. But what I wouldn’t give to dive into a deep-dish pan of sausage lasagna right now.

If you had three wishes, what would they be and why?

My first instinct is to wish the past—at least some of it—away. To wish that no one I loved had ever died, to wish I’d never doubted Kieren’s innocence. But I don’t know what the ripple effects might be. So, I’m going to keep this simple.

I wish I had a pet that was 100 percent safe from my fangs.

I wish my pal Freddy and I could come up with a plan for off-site catering that doesn’t compromise any of the magic or thrills of Sanguini’s.

I wish I could find a belt that perfectly matches my blood-wine, kangaroo leather cowboy boots.


What's your favorite type of cuisine or favorite dish?

Italian of course, and I’m a (too) easy mark for anything in a smokin’ marinara.


What was your childhood like?

My parents were still alive. Daddy traveled a lot on his archeology expeditions and to conferences—mostly conferences. Mama practically lived at the restaurant, which was called Fat Lorenzo’s back then, and so did I. The staff was like an extended family. Especially Vaggo, our original chef. He was like a grandfather to me.

I had a best friend who was a girl, Sumi, but then she moved with her family back to India. And I had Kieren. I’ve always had Kieren. He’s my forever.


What do you want to do when you... grow up…or at least as the years pass?

Eventually, I want to take over management of Sanguini’s, but I’d never fire our current manager, Sergio. I’ll just wait for him to retire. I have no idea how I’ll explain not aging, but I have a few years to figure that out. Most of all, I want to build a future with Kieren—first here on earth and for eternity in heaven.

I’m not sure what to expect exactly. Both my Wolf man and my guardian angel have hinted that the End Days are nigh, but for all I know, they could be talking about two years or 200.

Thank you Quincie for stopping by the blog today.

Take a look at the book trailer for Blessed.




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.


You can also find Cynthia on tour!


BLESSED by Cynthia Leitich Smith: Central Texas & NE U.S. Tour
Saturday, 1/29/11

2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. BookPeople - launch party with Night School (Blood Coven) author Mari Mancusi (PUBLIC EVENT)

Wear red and black if you're on the side of Evil or blue and black if you're on the side of Good. Bonus points (prize entry) to anyone who dresses up as a vampire, shape shifter, vampire slayer, angel or faerie!

603 North Lamar, Austin, Texas

Sunday, 2/6/11

1 p.m. to 3 p.m. - Books of Wonder - reading/Q&A/signing to public with Another Pan author Daniel Nayeri (PUBLIC EVENT)

18 W. 18th St., New York, N.Y.

Monday, 2/7/11

10 a.m. to 11:34 a.m. Francis Lewis High School

6 p.m. Borders Bookstore - reading/signing (PUBLIC EVENT)

Borders Columbus Circle
10 Columbus Circle, New York, N.Y.

Tuesday, 2/8/11

4 p.m. to 5 p.m. New Brunswick Free Public Library - reading/Q&A/signing (PUBLIC EVENT)

6:20 p.m. to 9 p.m. Rutgers University -- guest lecture, "Materials for Young Adults" -- room 203

School of Communication and Information -- 4 Huntington St., New Brunswick, N.J.

Wednesday, 2/9/11

10 a.m. NYPL Mulberry Branch - visit with schools

10 Jersey Street (Between Lafayette & Mulberry Streets) New York, N.Y.

8 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. New School Creative Writing Graduate Class - guest lecture

66 West 12th Street, between 5th and 6th Avenues

Thursday, 2/10/11

11:15 a.m. to 12 p.m. Brooklyn Public Library - Professional Development Day

Central Library, 10 Grand Army Plaza

4:00 p.m. to 4:45 p.m. Brooklyn Public Library - Will You Be My Paranormal Valentine Party (with teens)(PUBLIC EVENT)

Central Library, 10 Grand Army Plaza

Friday, 2/11/11

2:15 p.m. to 3 p.m. Elisabeth Irwin High School Visit

Little Red School House & Elisabeth Irwin HS, LREI

272 Sixth Avenue, New York, N.Y.

7 p.m. The Voracious Reader - "Will You Be My Paranormal Valentine?" event with Another Pan author Daniel Nayeri (PUBLIC EVENT)

Saturday, 2/12/11

1:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. Mercer County Library Event -- West Windsor Branch (PUBLIC EVENT)

333 North Post Road, Princeton Junction, N.J.

6:30 p.m. Barnes & Noble, Cherry Hill, N.J. (Greater Philly area)(PUBLIC EVENT)

911 Haddonfield Road, Cherry Hill, N.J.


Check out the other blogs on tour for Blessed via Teen Book Scene.

Now for the giveaway, I have not only the sweet prize pack pictured below but also an ARC of Blessed to giveaway. There will be two winners, US only. Fill out the form below by Wednesday, January 26th to enter.



post signature

7 comments:

  1. I love reading character interviews! And, thanks for the giveaway!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Thanks! I remember picking up Tantalize so long ago, and wishing for a sequel - it seems that I have missed one and now a new one is on the way! Thanks for the contest and the head's up! :)

    ReplyDelete
  3. This book looks wonderful and I am in total cover love!!!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Quincie is so awesome haha great character interview/giveaway! :)
    I've been counting down for Blessed, the cover is amazing and her first two books Tantalize, Eternal were great reads. I can't wait to meet Cynthia and Mari in Austin! *woo* fingers crossed for the giveaway, thanks for the opportunity :)

    Vanessa
    Books Are My Haven
    @vmartinezwrites
    vmartinez1218(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  5. I'm really looking forward to this one. I LOVED Tantalize!

    Also, GREAT POST! :D

    ReplyDelete
  6. It's so cool we get another book in the series. Thanks for the interview.

    ReplyDelete
  7. The little stuffed toy looks pretty cuddly - lol. :)

    ReplyDelete

Leave some love!