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Monday 27 August 2012

Interview and Giveaway with Caitlin Kittredge

Happy Release Day!

We are so excited to have the amazing and talented Caitlin Kittredge here with us today!  If you are looking for a dark, gritty and unique UF to dive into, then look no further than the Black London series.  Today marks the release of the fifth book in the series so please help us celebrate with Ms. Kittredge and give her a warm welcome to UTC!

Let's get to know you! Tell us five things about yourself that may shock or amuse us!
 

Let's see...I don't really have any shocking secrets, but I'll do my best to amuse you:

1. I can dislocate some of my toes, which serves no purpose other than to gross people out
2. I've seen the movie Showgirls 12 times
3. I played classical violin for 10 years and was going to be a music major, but changed my mind in high school
4. My favorite karaoke song is "Bad, Bad Leroy Brown" by Jim Croce
5. Joss Whedon literally ran into me once at ComicCon. I found out A) He's very nice and B) I'm six inches taller than him

What can you tell us about Soul Trade the fifth book in your Black London series?

Soul Trade takes Jack and Pete to the English countryside, where they find that things are far from idyllic--that in fact, a zombie uprising is underway, and it may just be the beginning of something much worse, that could swallow up all of England, making it a realm of the undead and the things that feed on them, if they don't put a stop to it.

Your Black London series is one of my favourite UF series, it is dark, gritty and I am never quite sure who the good guys are, what inspired you to write something so intense?

I guess my natural tendency is to not keep things light. I've always been a fan of fantasy novels that examine the world the way it really is, with the fantastical elements added. While I love all things grim and gritty, I hate stories that are unrelentingly grim with no high notes. You don't have to throw in an HEA, but the human condition is not devoid of hope or happiness, so I try to mix in a few bright spots with the darkness that permeates Pete and Jack's world.

Jack Winter is such a fascinating character and not someone you would usually cast in the role of a "hero". Is he hard character to write, what gave you the idea to write someone like him?

He can be hard to pin down, yes. I started off wanting to write a story with a hero who was kind of a jerk--not the "alpha male asshole" stereotype...a hero who genuinely had zero interest in being the hero. Jack isn't fundamentally selfish, but his life and his abilities have made him one out of necessity. He's also conflicted, because his better nature keeps sucking him into situations where he could easily end up dead. His bastard side, though, ensures that he's a match for the really bad people and creatures that inhabit the Black. Jack could easily have been the bad guy in a more traditional urban fantasy. I've always been really drawn to stories with antiheroes--the guys who just want to be left alone, who have no stake in being a white knight, and these books are my own exploration of that.

You also write YA Iron Codex series, how does that compare to writing adult UF books, do you ever have to hold back on something you are writing? How different is it to writing something that is for an older audience?

The experience is basically the same. It all comes down to character voice--characters in YA are younger, and therefore their voice and experience will be different. I never set out to censor myself writing YA--if something won't fly, my editor will take it out. Writing for the adult market, the only real difference is in the level of profanity. You can let the f-bombs fly with abandon in adult UF, and in YA I've found that generally you have to be a little more careful.

Do you have playlists for your books?

I have character playlists, since I can just keep adding to them as time goes on, and I usually swap back and forth between Pete and Jack's when I'm working on the London books.

Do you have a writing process? Do you have to listen to music, have complete silence, write only on a full moon?

My process is to try and write every day until the book is done. On a more serious note, I'm a big proponent of training yourself to write anywhere, so you can learn to hit deadlines and keep up a routine. Ideally, though, I do have some music or the TV going, and I prefer to be comfortable, which usually means my oh-so-glamorous sweatpants and slippers.

If you could live in another author's urban fantasy world, whose would you pick and why?

I'd like to visit Richard Kadrey's weird, twisted, Hellish version of LA from his Sandman Slim novels, but I wouldn't want to live there--I probably wouldn't last more than a day.

What does your writing workspace look like? Clean and orderly? Scattered with notes? Any visual would be nice.   

Right now my office is undergoing renovations, so I write in my living room on my laptop. I am usually surrounded by bottles containing something caffeinated and/or covered in cats.



Thank you so much for stopping by!


About the Author
Caitlin Kittredge is the author of the Nocturne City and Black London urban fantasy series, and the Iron Codex trilogy, a steampunk adventure series for young adults. She lives in Massachusetts in a real-life Victorian mansion with her comic books, three cats and collection of Batman action figures.
Website | Twitter

 BLACK LONDON REVIEWS

We are giving away winners book of choice from the Black London series!  Print or ebook.  You choose.  International. 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

33 comments:

Angie said...

Showgirls was a good movie! I've only seen it once though.

I haven't read anything by this author yet, but her books do all look fantastic! I'm going to check my library for them. :)

elaing8 said...

I really enjoyed Caitlin's Nocturne City series.I wish there were more.I still have to catch up on the Black London books.

Sheree said...

Congrats on your new release! I'm waiting for my pre-order to arrive.

I love the covers with Paul Marron by Chris McGrath! What is the name of the female model?

cutiephinphin said...

Great interview! I've not read any books by Caitlin but Jake and Peter sure sounds interesting. Will definitely check her out.

Anonymous said...

Nice interview and giveawaay!!

Marka

Rebe said...

I love this series, especially since I never know what to expect from Jack Winter. The books are so dark and gritty - perfect UF.

Kaylyn D said...

You met Joss Whedon?!? I'm so jealous! Love your cover.

Joanne said...

Congrats on the new release. This book sounds fantastic. Can't wait to read it. Thanks for the great interview.

powerse said...

thanks for the interview....I love jack!!

bnbhb@hotmail.com

erin said...

Thanks for a fun interview! I'm very excited cuz I just got the first 3 books in this series ;)

Suzie said...

Thanks for sharing. I love the nocturne city series and have gotten friends reading it. I am midway through the black London series and enjoy it.

Your characters are great partly because there not perfect. I like the reluctant hero, it makes for an interesting read.

Anonymous said...

Congrats on your new release! This series sounds awesome, thank you for the giveaway. :)

wade2121 said...

Thank you for the interview! Now, I really want to read this series.

Maria D. said...

Congratulations on the new release to Caitlin! I haven't had the chance to read any of the books in this series but I love UF so this sounds like it would be right up my alley.
Thanks for the giveaway!

Maris said...

I love the covers of your books. Looking forward to the new book. Thanks for offering the giveaway.

Damaris (Maris)

Zita said...

I love this series <3

Timitra said...

I love the book covers...definitely enticing me to check this series out-great interview btw.

pamerd said...

Hi

I really enjoy this series, love dark UF. Great interview, it is so interesting to get info on the series I am following. However, I need to catch up and read the last one.

Thanks for the chance
Pam
tpibrew@msn.com

Vanessa N. said...

Great interview. This series sounds cool. Thanks for the giveaway.

mythic021@gmail.com

Bethany C. said...

I've only read the first Black London book; guess I've got some catching up to do!

Barbara E. said...

I loved Caitlin's secrets and ewww - dislocating her toes! I somehow haven't managed to read any of the Black London series yet, I don't know how I could have been so lacking in judgement. :D I'm definitely going to get on that right away.

Celeste said...

Can't wait to read this book.

Jen B. said...

I haven't read any of these books yet. I don't know why! I love UF and I am always looking for something new to read. Thanks for the giveaway. jepebATverizonDOTnet

wanda f said...

A new to me author I love finding them I cannot waitto read this book it sounds amazing .Have a fantastic week

Lisa Richards/alterlisa said...

I love dark and gritty UF and this is one of my fav series!

donnas said...

Great interview. Sounds like a really good series.

laurie said...

Great interview! I've not read any books by Caitlin but Jake and Peter sure sounds interesting. Will definitely check her out.

parisfan_ca@yahoo.com

Mary Preston said...

All of the books look amazing. I need to catch up & quickly I think.

nurmawati djuhawan said...

hi Caitlin Kittredge ....
i collect black london series,...i love pwte...she is a kick-ass girl..
but i have only first 3 books...so i hope i win this giveaway to get black london series no 4 or 5 :)

thx 4 the chance of win...

-nurma-

Escapism Fanatic said...

I read upto book 3 and I need to back on track with this great series.
Nice interview.

SdyLion said...

What a great way to celebrate your new release! sdylion(at)gmail(dot)com

Unknown said...

Loved the interview. The part about dislocating your toes grossed me out.

Anonymous said...

This series looks good. I have not read any of it before. Thanks for the giveaway.