Through the Zombie Glass: Author Interview, Review, and GIVEAWAY!
We here at Reading Lark are excited for the opportunity to participate in this event! I read and reviewed book 1 of the series, Alice in Zombieland, here. I did character features on Ali here and Cole here. We have featured the series in Cover Crazy, Teaser Tuesday, and Waiting on Wednesday posts because I just can't get enough of this series, and I have been pushing it on everyone who will listen. :)
In all of those posts, the one thing I've been missing has been an author interview. As luck would have it, I got lucky enough to snag an interview spot for the Through the Zombie Glass tour- yay!!
After the interview, stick around for my review, followed by info about awesome GIVEAWAYS.
Author Interview: Gena Showalter
RL: You really turn out new work quickly! When
you start fresh with a new book idea, where do you typically start? Do you plot
first, develop characters, or something else?
GS: It’s been different for each book. If plot points come to me first, I sit down
and map out how to get to them. If a
character comes to life first, I sit down and let him (or her) walk and talk on
the page. Everything else springs from
there.
RL: I always wonder what authors
were like when they were children. Were you a storyteller as a child, or did
that come to you later in life?
GS: Gena as a child…shudder. I didn’t become a storyteller until junior
high, after I’d developed a love of fiction.
At first, I rewrote scenes and endings from the books I was reading, but
it wasn’t long before my own ideas began to take shape.
RL: One of my favorite things
about Ali is she is not a helpless little girl in need of a savior; she is a
strong, independent young woman. Is that a conscious choice on your part, or
just a reflection of the kind of character you like to write?
GS:
It wasn’t a conscious choice. She
wasn’t fully fleshed out for me when I sat down to write the book. I only knew bits and pieces about her. But every time I would put her up against something
bigger and stronger, she would refuse to back down, and I’d find myself loving
her more and more.
RL: I'm hoping to help readers get a “taste” of
Ali's world with this question: if Cole was a dessert, what would he be?
GS: Ice cream. You just want to lick him up.
RL: Agreed. :)
Which scene in the book was
most fun to write?
GS: I actually had the most
fun writing the texts between Ali and Cole, and Ali and Kat. I grinned the entire time.
Kat to Ali: How do
you feel about murder? 4 or
against? Be4 you answer, know that I
have good reason!
Ali to Cole: Go screw yourself!
Cole to Ali: I have.
I prefer 2 have a partner.
RL: Those were really fun to read, too. Thanks so much for chatting with us today, Gena!
“Look for the White Rabbit” - Question:
Gena thinks Cole would be like ice cream. What do you think? if Cole were a dessert, what would be be for you?
REVIEW
Through the Zombie Glass
Through the Zombie Glass
By: Gena Showalter
Published by: Harlequin Teen
Release date: September 24, 2013
Genre: YA paranormal
480 pages
Buy it at Amazon, IndieBound, The Book Depository, or Barnes & Noble
Source: ARC kindly provided by publisher
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Read my review of book 1, Alice in Zombieland, here.
All my friends out there who love their YA with a paranormal flavor and a side of hottie need to be reading this series! Whether you love Alice in Wonderland or couldn't care less, you will love this re-imagining of the classic tale. There are enough references for the fans to appreciate, while the story stands on its own apart from the Alice connections.
The zombies in this series are very different from traditional zombies, the shuffling reanimated corpses- these zombies are just as scary, if not more so, and yet a completely new literary creature. They are creepy and wicked and deadly. The slayers who hunt them must be very well-trained and smart- and so they are.
There is quite a group of slayers in these books. Ali and Cole are certainly the featured couple, yet this volume also gives the reader a good look at several other slayers, as well as glimpses into their romantic relationships. I really enjoy that these books are able to support so many characters without the sheer number becoming cumbersome and unmanageable as so often happens in YA.
As for Ali and Cole's romance- it's hotter than ever in this book, but also achingly ice cold. I won't reveal the outcome, but I will warn die-hard shippers that there is trouble in paradise- and yet, there are still several scenes that sizzle.
The romance is paced well with interspersed high-action scenes. The combination yields an un-put-downable addictive read that will leave you both dreading and yearning for the next volume. I can't wait to get to read more of this series, and I hope that there are many more books to come!
All my friends out there who love their YA with a paranormal flavor and a side of hottie need to be reading this series! Whether you love Alice in Wonderland or couldn't care less, you will love this re-imagining of the classic tale. There are enough references for the fans to appreciate, while the story stands on its own apart from the Alice connections.
The zombies in this series are very different from traditional zombies, the shuffling reanimated corpses- these zombies are just as scary, if not more so, and yet a completely new literary creature. They are creepy and wicked and deadly. The slayers who hunt them must be very well-trained and smart- and so they are.
There is quite a group of slayers in these books. Ali and Cole are certainly the featured couple, yet this volume also gives the reader a good look at several other slayers, as well as glimpses into their romantic relationships. I really enjoy that these books are able to support so many characters without the sheer number becoming cumbersome and unmanageable as so often happens in YA.
As for Ali and Cole's romance- it's hotter than ever in this book, but also achingly ice cold. I won't reveal the outcome, but I will warn die-hard shippers that there is trouble in paradise- and yet, there are still several scenes that sizzle.
The romance is paced well with interspersed high-action scenes. The combination yields an un-put-downable addictive read that will leave you both dreading and yearning for the next volume. I can't wait to get to read more of this series, and I hope that there are many more books to come!
Summary:
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Inspired by the childhood classic Alice in Wonderland, this harrowing and romantic story features teen zombie slayer Alice Bell who has lost so much—family, friends, her home. After a strange new zombie attack, Alice fears she may be losing her mind as well. A terrible darkness blooms inside her, urging her to do wicked things. The whispers of the dead assault her ears and mirrors seem to come frighteningly to life. She’s never needed her team of zombie slayers more—including her boyfriend, Cole—than she does now. But as Cole strangely withdraws and the zombies gain new strength, Ali knows one false step may doom them all.
GIVEAWAY #1
“Look for the White Rabbit Contest”: Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays , the white Rabbit will appear on a different blog and stays there for 48hrs. Once you have found the Rabbit, click on it and you will be directed to a Rafflecopter entry form for the Grand Prize Giveaway! To enter, you must answer the daily question found at the Tour Stop!!!
Where could the Rabbit appear? On all Book Blogger Tour Hosts and The Harlequin Paranomal Blog, so now go and hunt the Rabbit. Will you find it?
GRAND PRIZE GIVEAWAY
Tour schedule:
Monday, September 2nd - Harlequin Paranormal Blog
Tuesday, September 3rd - Bewitched Bookworms
Wednesday, September 4th - Parajunkee
Thursday, September 5th - IB Blogging
Friday, September 6th - Julie Kagawa
Monday, September 9th - fiktshun
Tuesday, September 10th -Harlequin TEEN Facebook (Tab)
Wednesday, September 11th - Katie McGarry
Thursday, September 12th - White Rabbit Chronicles Website
Friday, September 13th - The Irish Banana
Monday, September 16th - Supernatural Snark -
Tuesday, September 17th - Gena Showalter Facebook (Tab)
Wednesday, September 18th - Reading Lark
Thursday, September 19th - Aimée Carter
Friday, September 20th - Tater's Tall Tails
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I still need to read book 1 but my reading schedule has been mad, can't wait to binge read both books!
ReplyDeleteWell, I wouldn't exactly call myself a survivor in terms of a zombie apocalypse. I'm pretty sure I would go down quickly but it definitely wouldn't be without a fight! Hopefully I would have some kind of a weapon in my hands to help me out a little. haha Thanks for the chance to win! :)
ReplyDeleteLove Gena! Looking forward to Through the Zombie Glass! Loved Alice in Zombieland!
ReplyDeleteI would do anything I had to do. Literally. LOL
ReplyDeleteI would be kicking some arse and taking names. : )
And hopefully with a hot guy to help me !
Thanks for hosting !
I'd want a hunky boy like Cole to save me from the baddies! XD
ReplyDeleteTo answer the 'copter question: Stealth and stamina is how I would survive. Never let them see you coming.
ReplyDeleteIce cream sounds good to me *Grin*
ReplyDeleteI would survive by being a fighter!
ReplyDeleteTrain with crossbow and daggers and then train to run so that if a zombie comes after me and I can't fight it off I could run away faster.
ReplyDeleteTo survive I would be on the offense. Always ready to fight
ReplyDeleteOk, I heart Gena Showalter as a writer and am looking forward to reading this series :)
ReplyDeleteI can't wait! I loved the first book!!! I love to read Gena's books!!!
ReplyDeleteI think I'd have to hide a lot and try to find some trustworthy friends. Frankly, I don't think my chances are very good.
ReplyDeleteI would have a bow and arrow ready at all times! :)
ReplyDeleteI am not much of a fighter, but I bet I would come up with new weapons. I would try to live of the land. IDK! As for Cole being a dessert... Red Velvet Cake :)
ReplyDeleteI would totally take lessons from Cole. Maybe pretend I'm not catching on just so I can spend more time with him. Also, learn how to run really fast.
ReplyDeleteGather loads of weapons!
ReplyDeleteI'd try to survive with a crew of fighters and a lot of weapons! Thanks!
ReplyDeleteI would survive by dragging Cole with me lol
ReplyDeleteI would probably survive by learning how to run... really really fast.
ReplyDeletewith a sword
ReplyDeleteWith some friends at my back and some luck and practice, hopefully I would survive fairly well... and if I couldn't see the Zombies, well, I would just have to use my mad Engineering skills to figure out better ways to fight them.
ReplyDeleteKill zombies whenever possible, train the rest of the time.
ReplyDeleteStick with Ali.
ReplyDeleteStaying close to Alice, Cole, and friends. got to watch each other back.
ReplyDeleteI'd have a solar powered high lumen lantern and a hatchet on me at all times.
ReplyDeletewith a sword maybe. although I wouldn't be good at using it
ReplyDeletekit kat, I'm not sure why but I really like them.
I need to win these books so I can use them as a survival guide and then answer your question ;)
ReplyDeleteSadly I do not think I would survive Alice's world. I'm more of a bookworm than zombie killer. ;-)
ReplyDeleteI think I would always have a gun at the ready. I might not much it long but I'll go down fighting. I'm so excited for this book can't wait!
ReplyDeleteWith Cole and the gang at my side, armed to the teeth with weapons and fighting skills.
ReplyDeleteI'd survive with Cole, some fellow zombie slayers, fire, crossbow, a machete, and some Twinkies! :P lol
ReplyDeleteI would partner up with someone. No way would I survive on my own.
ReplyDeleteI would find a safe shelter, stock up on food and weapons and only go out during day time and as little as possible. Some training would also come in handy, so I'd have my own training room in my well protected hiding spot :D And a hot guy to protect me?
ReplyDeleteI just finished this book last week and loved it!
ReplyDeleteIf you haven't read Carrie Jones's Need series, try it. I think fans of either series will like the other.
DeleteZombies and Alice in Wonderland? I'm down for that!
ReplyDeleteIt's a surprisingly good combo!
DeleteAwesome review. I've had Alice in Zombieland on my wishlist for long enough that I think it's time to buy it!
ReplyDelete