It has been such a dream to work with Inkyard Press for the Night of the Dragon Blog Tour! I'm sending so many hugs to them for asking me to be a part of this Spring 2020 Reads blog tour and providing me with an ARC of this fabulous book! In this blog post you will learn more about Night of the Dragon, read an excerpt, experience a Q&A with the fabulous and talented Julie Kagawa and see a unique picture I posted for Instagram! ENJOY! **This is the third book in the series so if you haven't read Shadow of the Fox or Soul of the Sword you will be terribly lost and things will be spoiled for you!** About the BookNight of the Dragon (Shadow of the Fox, #3) by Julie Kagawa On Sale: Mar 31, 2020 Inkyard Press Young Adult Legends, Myths, Fables, Young Adult Paranormal, Occult & Supernatural, Young Adult Fantasy 9781335146786; 1335146784 $19.99 USD 368 pages SYNOPSIS All is lost. To save everyone she loves from imminent death, kitsune shapeshifter Yumeko gave up the final piece of the Scroll of a Thousand Prayers. Now she and her ragtag band of companions must make one desperate final effort to stop the Master of Demons from using the scroll to call the Great Kami Dragon and make the wish that will plunge the empire into chaos. Shadow clan assassin Kage Tatsumi has regained control of his body and agreed to a true deal with the devil—the demon inside him, Hakaimono. They will share his body and work with Yumeko to stop a madman, and to separate Hakaimono from Tatsumi and the cursed sword that trapped the demon for nearly a millennium. But even with their combined skills and powers, this unlikely team of heroes knows the forces of evil may be impossible to overcome. And there is another player in the battle for the scroll, a player who has been watching, waiting for the right moment to pull strings that no one even realized existed…until now. Read an ExcerptPurchase a Copy!Q&A with Julie Kagawa!Q: What were your biggest influences when creating this world in story, whether they be legends, folklore, anime, manga or other novels? A: Anime, Manga and video games have been my biggest influences when writing the world of Shadow of the Fox, but also the works of Akira Kurosawa like The Seven Samurai, Yojimbo and Rashomon. Q: Would you ever consider using this world and/or some of the characters in future stories that you write? A: I love Japanese legends and folklore, so I might very well return to this world someday. Maybe not through the eyes of a kitsune, but there is always the possibility of future books set in the land of Iwagoto. Q: Did Night of the Dragon have a certain soundtrack you listened to while writing? A: I listen to a lot of movie and anime soundtracks while writing, but nothing specific. Q: What was the hardest scene to write? What was the easiest? A: The hardest scene was the last battle with the Final Boss at the end. Without giving away spoilers, there was a lot of kitsune magic, illusion and misdirection, and trying to show everything that was going on without making it too confusing was a challenge. I don’t remember an easy scene to write, but I did enjoy writing one of the final chapters (where I hope everyone cries). Q: Did you hide any secrets in your book? (names of friends, little jokes, references to things only some people will get) A: There are a few references that only those very familiar with Japanese folklore would get. For example, the names of the Reika’s two dogs, Chu and Ko, come from a Japanese novel called The Eight Dog Chronicles, which has been adapted into manga, anime, and even video games. In Soul of the Sword, Yumeko and her friends are on their way to the home of the tengu, when they encounter a pair of magical stone guardians called Yoshitsune and Benkei, two real life historical figures that inspired countless legends and stories. In folklore, Minamoto no Yoshitsune was a near mythical swordsman who had been trained by the king of the tengu, and Benki was a warrior monk who was his stalwart companion. Q: What do you hope people remember about Night of the Dragon? A: I hope people come away with a new appreciation of Japanese myth and folklore, particularly all the wonderfully bizarre yokai, yurei and bakemono that populate these stories. From kitsune and tanuki to oni and kirin, I hope it inspires readers to learn more about the world of Japanese myth and legend. And I hope people remember how much they cried at the end of the story. Q: What is your dream cast for Night of the Dragon? A: I am so bad at this question. I really can’t answer it because one: I am terrible at keeping up with current actors/actresses. And two: I see everyone in Shadow of the Fox as anime characters. Q: Is there a character that you found challenging to write? Why? A: Taiyo Daisuke was probably the most challenging, because it was a balancing act of making him a noble and making him likable. Nobles in fantasy stories tend to be arrogant, snooty, mocking, and manipulatieve. More often than not they are the villains, or at least an unpleasant obstacle the heroes must get around. Daisuke was very clearly an aristocrat, so I made very certain to give him qualities atypical of a noble. Kindness, humility, and viewing everyone, even the ronin, as an equal was certainly not the mindset of a typical samurai, but it was necessary to make Daisuke a well loved member of the team and not a person the reader, and the other characters, hated. Q: How does a typical writing day look like for you? A: I work from home, so times vary, but I try to head into my office and start writing around 9am everyday. I have a quota of 1,000 words a day, except when I’m close to deadline, then the word count jumps by a few hundred words. Sometimes I reach my quota in a few hours, sometimes it takes me all day, but I try not to stop writing until my word quota is reached. Q: What is your current read? A: At the moment, the words on my computer screen, lol. Its deadline crunch time, so my current WIP is the only thing I have time for now. Hopefully I can get back to pleasure reading when I’m finished. Q: What part of the Shadow of the Fox series was the most fun to write? A: I really enjoyed writing the parts with Yumeko’s kitsune illusion magic. One of my favorite scenes was when Yumeko and the others attended a formal tea ceremony with a snooty noble of the Shadow Clan. I won’t give away spoilers, but what Yumeko does at the tea ceremony still makes me smile, and remains one of my favorite parts of the series. Q: Was there a scene or backstory about a favorite character that didn't make it into the final version of NIGHT OF THE DRAGON that you can share with us? A: There was an earlier draft where Taka, Lord Seigetsu’s servant, was a human boy instead of a small, one-eyed yokai who could see the future. But it seemed more interesting to have him be a yokai instead. Also in an earlier draft, Yumeko was not a half kitsune but a full fox who lived in a den with her grandmother fox and two brothers. That also, got cut, as a half-human Yumeko was more sympathetic and relatable than one who was full kitsune. Q: The Iron Fey series was your first large published success. How did you feel as a writer when you reflect upon those books? How did/do you feel as a reader when you read or re-read those books? A: The Iron Fey series holds a very special place in my heart as my first published series. I know I’ve grown since then, and when I re-read the Iron Fey I know I’ve come a long way as an author. But I also know that I wrote the best books I could at the time, so even though I wouldn’t write them the same way now, I’m happy with them. Q: What is it about fantasy that draws you to it? A: Is everything a good answer? I love myths and legends, other worlds, magic, swords, wizards, dragons, evil gods, epic quests, and the battle between good and evil. I read to escape, but also to travel to far away places and encounter creatures and beings I would never meet in real life. Who hasn’t daydreamed about flying on the back of a dragon? I read fantasy for the same reason. Q: How much research goes into your books and at what point do you stop using research and build off it? A: It depends on how much I already know about certain aspects of the book. For example, from the amount of anime and manga I’d consumed over the years, I knew a lot about kitsune, oni, tanuki, and various other Japanese monsters. I still did a fair amount of research, though it was more about the samurai and the Sengoku Jidai, the era I was basing the book off of. I never really stop researching, though most of it goes into book one, which is where much of the world building takes place. Q: Would you ever write adult fantasy? If so, what would it look like? A: I certainly have considered it, though it would look a lot like my YA books, just with older protagonists. When I write, I don’t think “This is for teens,” I just write how I would always write. Really, the only thing that differentiates YA from adult is the age of the heroes and the lack of graphic sex in YA. And even that is changing. Q: Finally, out of all the books you have written, which has your favorite world and why? A: Probably the Iron Fey series, though Shadow of the Fox is a close second. I love fantasy and all the fantastic creatures that populate it, so the Nevernever is my favorite world for that alone. Even though I wouldn’t last a day there without getting eaten by an ogre, a redcap or a kelpie. Maybe if I could find a big gray cat... About the AuthorJULIE KAGAWA, the New York Times bestselling author of the Iron Fey, Blood of Eden, Talon, and Shadow of the Fox series was born in Sacramento, California. But nothing exciting really happened to her there. So, at the age of nine she and her family moved to Hawaii, which she soon discovered was inhabited by large carnivorous insects, colonies of house geckos, and frequent hurricanes. She spent much of her time in the ocean, when she wasn’t getting chased out of it by reef sharks, jellyfish, and the odd eel. When not swimming for her life, Julie immersed herself in books, often to the chagrin of her schoolteachers, who would find she hid novels behind her Math textbooks during class. Her love of reading led her to pen some very dark and gruesome stories, complete with colored illustrations, to shock her hapless teachers. The gory tales faded with time, but the passion for writing remained, long after she graduated and was supposed to get a real job. To pay the rent, Julie worked in different bookstores over the years, but discovered the managers frowned upon her reading the books she was supposed to be shelving. So she turned to her other passion: training animals. She worked as a professional dogtrainer for several years, dodging Chihuahua bites and overly enthusiastic Labradors, until her first book sold and she stopped training to write full-time. Julie now lives in North Carolina with her husband, two obnoxious cats, and a pair of Australian Shepherds that have more Instagram followers than she does. Website || Facebook || Twitter || Instagram || Goodreads
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I'd like to brag about how amazing bookstagrammers are because they make me feel so loved on a daily basis and I really want to give that love back to them! 😘 So...I've developed a little segment to my blog called "The Bookstagrammer Ballads." This Monday I am featuring the lovely, @cindystorybook! Meet Cindy, @cindystorybook!Why did you decide to start a Bookstagram? I love to talk about books that speak to my heart, but my close friends and family are not a fan of reading. What is your favorite genre? Fantasy😍 What are you currently reading? Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo What's your favorite color, movie, song, band, TV show, food, animal, etc? Favorite Color: Grey, Black & White Favorite Movie: Facing the Giant and Fireproof Favorite TV show: Sherlock Holmes, Stranger Things, The Witcher Favorite Food: Eggs cook in many ways🤣 Favorite Animal: Cats and Dogs What is your biggest fear? Uncertainties Who are your Top 5 favorite characters in literature? In no particular order: 1)Feyre Archeron (ACOTAR series by Sarah J. Maas) 2)Hermione Granger (Harry Potter series) 3)Bryce Quinlan (House of Earth and Blood , Crescent City by Sarah J. Maas) 4)Vin (Mistborn Trilogy) 5)Scythe Curie (The Arc of the Scythe series by Neal Shusterman) What do you love about being a bookstagrammer? Bookish friends who support one another!🙆♀️😍 What are your hobbies outside of Bookstagram? Cooking and Exercising List some bookstagrammers that have inspired you on this bookish journey! 1) Jennie @jlbooksandtea 2) Bex @bex_reads 3) Jennifer @jlltigger_bookhopper 4) Barb @barbsbookishcorner 5) Krystallia @house.of.tales_ 6) Whitney @whitney_mouse 7) Stephenie @bookish_snippets 8) Amy @loverofallthingsbookish What are some important things you've learned as a bookstagrammer? Books have connected the community with each other, differences are put aside, and everyone is accepted for being who they are. Follow Cindy on Instagram at @cindystorybook!! Be sure to check out my stories on Instagram @the_bookish_ballad all week for a more interactive feature and get to know Cindy more.
Next Monday, I'm singing the ballad of @rainbowsandbookshelves! Stay tuned... I'd like to brag about how amazing bookstagrammers are because they make me feel so loved on a daily basis and I really want to give that love back to them! 😘 So...I've developed a little segment to my blog called "The Bookstagrammer Ballads." This Monday I am featuring the lovely, @talesofanavidreader! Meet Lisa, @talesofanavidreader!Why did you decide to start a Bookstagram? To discover more books and get to know people who love to read as much as I do! What is your favorite genre? Fantasy What are you currently reading? All the Stars & Teeth by Adalyn Grace What is your biggest fear? SPIDERS/BUGS IN GENERAL! I seriously do not do well with bugs. Also a more serious answer would be losing those I love. What's your favorite color, movie, song, band, TV show, food, animal, etc? Favorite Animal: So I have 3 favorite animals that I cannot possibly choose from . . . Sloths, Elephants, and Owls! Favorite TV Show: There are far too many to choose from, but right now I would say Schitts Creek, Sex Education, The Boys, and The Umbrella Academy! Favorite Song: Again, I don’t have one favorite, but recently I’ve been listening to AJR and Bob Dylan by Fall Out Boy nonstop! Who are your Top 5 favorite characters in literature? 1.) Aelin Ashryver Galathynius 2.) Hermione Granger 3.) Arya Stark 4.) Mia Corvere 5.) Vin from Mistborn It’s so hard to choose just five! What do you love about being a bookstagrammer? I love seeing everyone’s gorgeous photos and discovering new reads! What are your hobbies outside of Bookstagram? I’m a NICU nurse so that is my biggest passion. Honestly reading is my biggest hobby. Otherwise, I love to nerd out over books, tv shows, movies, and fandoms in general! To add to my overall nerdiness (my life motto is “let your nerd flag fly”) I really enjoy doing jigsaw puzzles! List some bookstagrammers that have inspired you on this bookish journey! @VENTURESWITHBOOKS - Kelsea & I work together and she is my book bestie! I definitely got into the world of Bookstagram because of her! What are some important things you've learned as a bookstagrammer? Hmmm . . . I think the most important thing I’ve learned is that there is a huge community of people like me! Follow Lisa on Instagram at @talesofanavidreader!! Be sure to check out my stories on Instagram @the_bookish_ballad all week for a more interactive feature and get to know Lisa more.
Next Monday, I'm singing the ballad of @cindystorybook! Stay tuned... I'd like to brag about how amazing bookstagrammers are because they make me feel so loved on a daily basis and I really want to give that love back to them! 😘 So...I've developed a little segment to my blog called "The Bookstagrammer Ballads." This Monday I am featuring the lovely, @bookishbellee!! Meet Bel, @bookishbellee!Why did you decide to start a Bookstagram? Initially it was to learn about new books and older series I hadn’t heard of. Then I became obsessed with all the pretty book pics and wanted to give it a try. What is your favorite genre? YA Fantasy and adult contemporaries What are you currently reading? Currently reading Outlander and listening to The Bridge Kingdom by Danielle L Jensen. What's your favorite color, movie, song, band, TV show, food, animal, etc? Color: Blue Movie: 10 things I hate about you Song: Daniel Craig- 7 days Tv show: Reign Food: Anything and everything pasta Animal: Koalas What is your biggest fear? What am I not afraid of 😂 Snakes, clowns, spiders, dolls and losing a loved one. Who are your Top 5 favorite characters in literature? 1.) Aelin from Throne of Glass 2.) Emma Carstairs from The Dark Artifices 3.) Will Herondale from The Infernal Devices 4.) Elizabeth Bennett from Pride and Prejudice 5.) Malachaisz from Wicked Saints What do you love about being a bookstagrammer? I love all the amazing people I’ve met, the opportunities I’ve received, the book recommendations I’ve gotten and the huge smile it puts on my face. What are your hobbies outside of Bookstagram? Usually sleeping, eating... just kidding. I love writing but don’t do it enough, I love hiking and swimming and organizing my home...for fun. I’m weird, I know. List some bookstagrammers that have inspired you on this bookish journey! I first took inspiration from @darkfaerietales_, @myfriendsarefiction, @xenatine, @br.enda, and @bookwormgram now I take inspiration from every feed I encounter, sometimes it’s a certain angle shot, sometimes the way a flat lay is arranged, other times it could just be a certain color palette or the simplicity of ones feed, I’m inspired every day by all the feeds I encounter. What are some important things you've learned as a bookstagrammer? Not to pressure myself about deadlines and reading fast (we’re all here for enjoyment at the end of the day) and to be myself, have fun, not to worry about people hating on what I read or what I post. Follow Bel on Instagram at @bookishbellee!! Be sure to check out my stories on Instagram @the_bookish_ballad all week for a more interactive feature and get to know Bel more. Next Monday, I'm singing the ballad of @talesofanavidreader! Stay tuned... QOTD: When you learned history in school, what was an event in our past that strongly impacted you? • • Today I'm excited to partner with @wunderbookspr @forgereads and @ed_ruggero_author to share former Army Officer Ed Ruggero's new historical fiction novel Blame the Dead with you all! It is the thrilling start of an action-packed and timely World War II series. Scroll down to read an excerpt of Chapter 1!! About the BookBLAME THE DEAD by Ed Ruggero On-sale: March 3, 2020 Macmillan/Forge Hardcover ISBN: 9781250312747 eBook ISBN: 9781250312730 SYNOPSIS The nurses of the US Army’s Field Hospitals, mobile units that operate just behind the battle lines, contend with heat, dirt, short-handed staffs, the threat of German counterattack and an ever-present flood of horribly wounded GIs. At the 11th Field Hospital near Palermo, Sicily in the bloody summer of 1943, nurses also live with the threat of violent assault by one of their own―at least until someone shoots Dr. Myers Stephenson in the head. Enter Eddie Harkins, a tough former Philadelphia beat cop turned Military Police lieutenant, who is first on the scene. Although he has never been a detective, Harkins soon finds himself the lone investigator, either because the Military Police are under-staffed or because someone in power thinks this rank amateur will never get close to the real killer. When the hospital commander tries to derail Harkins’ investigation by transferring or harassing key witnesses, it becomes clear to Harkins that the unit is rotten to its core, that the nurses are not safe, and that patients who have survived Nazi bullets are still at risk after they arrive at this place that is supposed to save them. Harkins fights―and worries that he is losing―multiple battles. He is driven to give hope to nurses who just want to do their life-saving work, to right at least a few of the wrongs around him, and to do penance for sins in his own past. The one bright note for Harkins is a rekindled relationship with Kathleen Donnelly, a nurse from Harkins’ old neighborhood; but even that is complicated when Donnelly becomes a victim. Purchase the BookRead an Excerpt
About the AuthorED RUGGERO is uniquely qualified to write such a poignant tale of World War II. He is a West Point graduate and former Army officer who has studied, practiced, and taught leadership for more than twenty-five years. His client list includes the FBI, the NYPD, CEO Conference Europe, the CIA, the Young Presidents Organization, Forbes, among many others. He has spoken to audiences around the world on leadership, leader development, and ethics. Ruggero is also the author of eleven books, including Duty First: West Point and the Making of American Leaders, a study of leader development at the US Military Academy, and Combat Jump: The Young Men Who Led the Assault Into Fortress Europe, July 1943, which became a one-hour docudrama on The History Channel. Ed is also the co-author of The Leader’s Compass, a fictional story of how one leader developed a personal leadership philosophy. His most recent book is The First Men In: US Paratroopers and the Fight to Save D-Day. |
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