Interview & Giveaway with Rachel Vincent
I’m a big fan of agent-mate Rachel Vincent’s Shifters series, so I was thrilled when she agreed to participate in an interview/giveaway here on my blog for her upcoming new release, PRIDE which is in stores on February 1 (Rules for the giveaway are at the bottom of the interview).
I’m on trial for my life. Falsely accused of infecting my human ex-boyfriend—and killing him to cover up the crime. Infecting a human is one of three capital offenses recognized by the Pride—along with murder and disclosure of our existence to a human.
I’m two for three. A goner.
Now we’ve discovered a rogue stray terrorizing the mountainside, hunting a wild teenage tabbycat. It’s up to us to find and stop him before a human discovers us. With my lover Marc’s help, I think I can protect the vulnerable girl from both the ambitious rogue and the scheming of the territorial council.
If I survive my own trial…
I was lucky enough to get to read PRIDE early, and it is the best of the series so far. I stayed up until 5 a.m. devouring the second half of the book. I don’t want to give away any spoilers, but there’s more emotional resonance, action and hard choices for Faythe in this book. It stuck with me even after I closed the back cover.
First, congrats on your upcoming release of PRIDE! This will be your third book in the stores. Is it still as exciting as when your first book hit the shelves?
It’s still every bit as exciting, and much more intimidating. With Stray, I had something to show off. (My first book!) With Rogue, I had something to prove. (That I could avoid the Sophomore Slump.) But with Pride, there are already lots of expectations out there, and I want to not only do justice to the first two books in the series, but improve upon them, and the pressure to do that can be pretty intense.
That’s not to say this isn’t fun. A new release is always fun, and so far each one has brought new, exciting opportunities. You meet new people, hear from new readers, get mail/feedback from returning readers, sign lots of books, and occasionally revel in praise. But this is also a job, and after each release there’s a very tense wait for the first sales figures, and… Well… Now that I know that’s coming, I’m having to try harder than every before to focus on only the fun part. 
I know you have several more books planned in the series. Do you have an end in sight yet or an idea of how many books will ultimately be in the series?
Yes! There will be six books, total, in the werecat series. At least, Faythe’s story will be complete at the end of the sixth, though I wouldn’t be opposed to writing novellas in that world from other perspectives. I still have to write the last two volumes, but I do know how the series will end. Now the challenge is living up to what I’ve built the series toward…
The first line of STRAY is one of my favorite first lines I’ve read. It really grabbed me when I read it. “The moment the door opened I knew an ass-kicking was inevitable.” Is it easy for you to come up with first lines or do you spend a lot of time thinking about them?
Ha! Is there any part of this job that’s easy?
And thank you!
Seriously, though, that line didn’t come into the book until the sixth draft. I’ve written ten books so far, and less than half of them have been fortunate enough to keep their original opening scene, much less the original opening line. Neither Stray nor Rogue were published with the original openings. Every now and then, though, the first line (and the first scene) is just there waiting for me. That was the case with Pride.
And can you share the first line of PRIDE with us? : )
Sure!
“Ms. Sanders, tell us why you killed your boyfriend.”
I liked this one, because it plops us down right in the middle of Faythe’s trial, during the most intense part of it. Everyone there is already either furious or terrified, or both.
You have a lot of thought-out world-building in your books. How do you keep track of the many details of your world and your characters?
Um… Spreadsheets. Seriously. I keep the details there, because around the third book, I got tired of having to search through the previous manuscripts for specifics I’d long since forgotten. Who belongs to which Pride. Who’s related to whom, and how. Who is loyal to which Alpha, and why… But if you think the world-building in the Shifters series is thorough, wait until you meet Kaylee Cavanaugh, and her world, in my new YA series. I’ve never had so much fun building a world, and I can’t wait to show it off.
Your first YA novel is set to release this year as well. Can you tell us a little about it?
I’d love to! Really.
The series is called Soul Screamers. And the first book, My Soul to Take, is about a highschool junior who thinks she’s losing her mind when she discovers that she knows when someone near her is about to die. In fact, she’s spent time under psychiactric evaluation before, when these hunches were misdiagnosed as panic attacks.
But she soon learns that she’s actually a bean sidhe (the original spelling for banshee), and perfectly sane. If a little weird.
Then things get really complicated when the series of unexplained deaths that brought out the truth about her abilities begin to hit closer to home…
Sound interesting?
Very interesting!
Have you found writing YA novels to be much different than writing adult novels?
Actually, no. Not as much as I expected. In fact, the subject matter of my YA novels is actually darker than that of the Shifters books, but the YAs have no actual sex, and very little violence. Though the low violence content is because Kaylee doesn’t fight with her fists, unlike Faythe. She has abilities, but they aren’t offensive, so she’s often completely dependent on her courage and her brain.
I think the hardest part of the transition from adult to YA was getting into Kaylee’s head. Both series are told in first person, but Kaylee’s a completely different person from Faythe, so her thoughts and actions come from a completely different place. But in a lot of ways, she’s more mature than Faythe, because their backgrounds are so different. Faythe was coddled and spoiled, because she was considered special and important. Kaylee is average, and often overlooked. She’s used to fending for herself emotionally, whereas Faythe is accustomed to fending for herself physically.
It’s been fun to try something different!
And since we’re both writing YA, can you share your favorite YA you’ve read lately? (Mine is The Hunger Games!)
Yes! Last year I read Wake, by Lisa McMann, and have been eager for the sequel, Fade, ever since. And currently… well, I was fortunate enough to get my hands on an early copy of Fragile Eternity, by Melissa Marr, and I’m reading that right now. And so far, it’s amazing. That’s all I’m sayin’…
Thanks so much for stopping by! Can’t wait to see it on the shelves!
Thank you so much for having me!
If you’d like to be entered to win a copy of PRIDE, just comment below.
Rules:
- You must comment by 11:59 pm on Friday, January 23.
- Only one entry per person.
Comments
Getting to interview one of your favorite authors? That must have been incredible.
MY SOUL TO TAKE sounds pretty interesting…going to go add it to my list right now.
It must be amazing to interview such a wonderful author. The new book PRIDE sounds so wonderful and I look forward to reading it.
wow,great interview!!totally gutted to see there will only be 6 books!
Great interview! I love Rachel Vincent and can’t wait to read Pride.
Cool interview. I cant wait to read Pride and her new YA novels too.
I’m glad you got to keep your original first line on this one! And it’s very interesting to hear about all the spreadsheets to keep organized and file information. Seems a good system. Thanks for the interview!
Wow! I cannot wait for Pride. It sounds like it is going to be totally and completely awesome!! Even her new YA series sounds fab. I haven’t really read much YA since I turned over to the urban fantasy genre geared towrads young adults and adults. But since Rachel is taking a stab at it, I’ll probably buy the book anyway!
I’d love to win a copy of Pride. Thanks for the interview.
I can’t wait to read Pride. Love the first line, it means things get right down to business
Love the first line- gets it going right from the beginning!
Woot! Enter me. Glad I put you in my google reader!
This really sounds like an incredible book. I’m looking forward to reading it.
Rachel Vincent’s series is one of my favorites. I make sure to run out and get her books the day they come out adn usually finish reading it by the end of that night or the next. They are so good, I just can not put them down. Then I spend the next months waiting for the next book, reading any blog I can that will give me a “shifters” fix. Can’t wait to read some more.
Can’t wait to read Pride! Rachel’s books just keep getting better.
I can’t wait to read Pride. Rachel’s books just rock.
Awesome interview! I really can’t wait for Rachel’s next book. She really rocks!
I have to win this book. You see, my husband is going to kill me if I buy another book…and well, I don’t know, I may just risk it for this book!
Thanks for the interview!!
Natasha A.
Awesome interview!!
Rachel is one of my favorite authors.
I’d love to win a copy of Pride!! I can’t wait to read it.
Woot! sign me up!!
Also cheers for the interview!!!
Please consider me for the contest. I would love to win Pride!
Rachel I love your books, they’re simply amazing!
i’d love to win a copy, i’ve been going crazy waiting for pride. =]
Great Interview.
I can’t wait to read her YA novels.
Please enter me in your contest, i would love to win a copy of Pride
(sorry if this gets posted twice - problems with my browser)
Ok, that first line from Stray has me sufficiently intrigued to track it down!
Great interview!
I’ve been looking forward to this one, count me in! tWarner419@aol.com
Really can’t wait to read Pride! Please enter me.
Great interview! I’m so excited to read Pride… love this series!
Also, very cool about the YA series… I’ll keep my eyes peeled for that, too!
I would love a copy of Pride. The suspense has literally turned a couple hairs on my head white! Great Interview too.
very good interview. Love this series and would like to win.
scrtsbpal at yahoo dot com
I have The Hunger Games waiting patiently on my shelf. Alas, I have a whole lot of other stuff to read first. Damn me and my carefully organised system!
Here’s hoping I can get my filthy Australian mitts on Pride…
Thank you, both, and have a lovely day!
Win a book? Count me in!
What a nice interview too, it was cool to see some more inside info about the YA series. Can’t wait to read any book by Rachel Vincent!
count me in!
Interviewing Rachel Vincent. How cool is that? Great interview, too. I can’t wait for Pride (and Prey, when it comes out). And of course, I’m on the edge of my seat waiting for the Soul Screamers to come out.
Great interview!
Great interview. I’m really looking forward to reading this book! I’ve been loving the series so far!
Great interview. Looking forward to reading Pride.
ONLY 6! Is there a methadone clinic for readers of this series?
The interview was amazing. Rachel Vincent is my favourite author!!! I have just finished my exams -sigh of relief- so I actually have time to read. I can NOT wait until PRIDE is out, it’s number one on my book list and i’ve just added Teen Ghost.
xxxxxxx
I would love a free copy! I love her books and can’t wait for the next book to come out.
Please enter me. I cant wait to read this.
Thanks!!
What a wonderful interview and a lovely read! Count me in on the contest. Thanks for the giveaway and the lovely interview!
Great interview, Rachel and Jen! I can’t wait to read Pride and all your other upcoming releases, Rachel.
I would love to win a copy of this book. I can’t wait for Rahcel’s YA also. Enter me please.
I am reading the summoning right now and it is fabulous!
Ok so I hope this comment works this time 3rd times a charm.. I love the werecats series and I’m excited for Pride and Prey’s release. I am also looking fwd to the YA series that is soon to be released.
~M~
I loooove that first line. It keeps drawing me in. That was a wonderfully thought out interview. Cant wait to read the book. I would love to win a copy.
totally wierd——-read your book and I am NOT a reader. The cat-aspect facinated me, and kept my attention for a good week (left the book at outdoor job)
Marc and Faythe, and the shifting of the bodies from human to cat,,,,,omy!!!!
Besides,,,saw your picture on the inside cover;then was saddened by your phobia of adorable felines!
I dont care to win this book, but will read it, when I make the time.
TY for reading this
meowwwwwwwwwww
Kitty ( yes, my real name )
Can’t wait for Pride! Sign me up for the ARC!!
Sign me up for the ARC!! Love this post btw.
So far I’ve read all of Rachel Vincent’s novels, though they may be longer than I expected, they were definitly worth it!
So don’t forget to include me on this unavoidable giveaway!
P.S. Kudos to the interview
great interview.
I’ve been a fan since the first novel in the series.
I can’t wait to read Pride.
I can’t wait to read Rachel’s new book (and her YA’s)–and now I can’t wait to read yours either…they *all* sound great
-Lucile
Great interview! I’d love a chance to win this book, it sounds awesome.
I love these books! Im so excited about reading Pride!
Please enter me! I would love a copy…have pre-ordered but my local Amazon still hasn’t give me an estimated delivery date!
Great interview!! I Love Rachel Vincent’s werecat series!! I seriously can’t wait to read Pride!!
I love this series. Thanks for the interview and an opportunity to read this book. February 1st seems like a long time to wait!
I’m a huge fan of the Werecat series. I can’t wait for the release of Pride.
great interview. Please enter me in the drawing I would love to win a copy of Pride
would love a chance to win an ARC!
thanks for the interview!
Would love to win a copy. I’ve entered all the giveaways. No luck so far
Hi Rachel
Your YA series sounds really interesting. I like a character that is sane but weird. lol
I’d love a copy of Pride. I can’t wait to read it. I love the series. I can see why she would need spreadsheets to keep track of everything though. Alot of info to remember
I love this series and I cant wait to read pride add me to the list. I also cant wait for rachels new YA series My soul to take.
Hey, guys, and thank you so much! I can’t tell you how much it means to me to see all the enthusiasm!
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