Don't miss this interview and #giveaway... The Lantern's Ember by Colleen Houck

Wednesday, September 12, 2018 - Leave a Comment

I'm thrilled to be sharing an interview with Colleen Houck today in honor of
her newest release! Be sure to check that out as well as the giveaway below...

The Lantern's Ember

By Colleen Houck
YA Fantasy, Steampunk
Hardcover, Paperback & ebook, 416 Pages
September 11th 2018 by Delacorte Press

Summary

Welcome to a world where nightmarish creatures reign supreme.

Five hundred years ago, Jack made a deal with the devil. It’s difficult for him to remember much about his mortal days. So, he focuses on fulfilling his sentence as a Lantern—one of the watchmen who guard the portals to the Otherworld, a realm crawling with every nightmarish creature imaginable. Jack has spent centuries jumping from town to town, ensuring that nary a mortal—or not-so-mortal—soul slips past him. That is, until he meets beautiful Ember O’Dare.

Seventeen, stubborn, and a natural-born witch, Ember feels a strong pull to the Otherworld. Undeterred by Jack’s warnings, she crosses into the forbidden plane with the help of a mysterious and debonair vampire—and the chase through a dazzling, dangerous world is on. Jack must do everything in his power to get Ember back where she belongs before both the earthly and unearthly worlds descend into chaos.

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Author Interview

Q: What inspired you to write THE LANTERN’S EMBER?

A: I’ve always loved Halloween. It’s probably because my birthday is in October and it’s the kickoff to the holiday season but there’s something about the fall that’s intrigued me since I was young. I was never one for horror but I love black cats, bats, witches, and the classic Halloween characters. Every year I watch Hocus Pocus and I was always a big fan of the story of Ichabod Crane and the Headless Horseman. I knew I wanted to write my own version of the story someday.

I think it's a marvelous idea!

Q: Would you tell us a little more about your main characters?

A: Ember O’Dare is my witch. She’s a descendent of the Dare family who disappeared from the lost Roanoke Colony that first settled in the Americas. She doesn’t know she’s a witch at first and begins to figure it out for herself. Jack is my hero. He’s a lantern and a horseman and actually not headless at all. He gained that reputation because of his pumpkin that follows him around. It contains his ember, also known as his life force, which gives the gourd sentience. Jack carved a face in the pumpkin long ago so he could see the light inside and the pumpkin has kept him company over the centuries. It also helps him scare witches away from his bridge, like the bumbling Ichabod Crane. Once Ember sneaks past Jack and enters the Otherworld we meet many Otherworld characters including vampire pirates, a werewolf, a mad scientist, a steampunk Frankenstein, and many more.

Oooh! Love the sound of this! And a steampunk Frankenstein! I can't wait to meet him!

Q: What’s the most dangerous thing about Ember crossing over to the Otherworld?

A: Ember doesn’t realize that her very nature powers the Otherworld and just by moving about she triggers machines she’s never seen before. There are many people who would capture her to exploit her energy and sometimes the people she wants to trust are the people she shouldn’t. None of the characters quite know the whole story so each one has to add their own piece of the puzzle so they can figure out what’s really going on.

I'm looking forward to figuring it all out along with them!

Q: What is your favorite aspect or part of the story?

A: I love the steampunk world. I’ve always wanted to write something steampunk and something Halloween and this book is a perfect mashup of both. It was so fun for me to explore the food, the costumes, the machines, and the monsters all in one.

I adore steampunk myself. It's such a fun mix of things, which this book seems a perfect fit for.

Q: Did you listen to any specific music while writing THE LANTERN’S EMBER?

A: I wish I was one of those authors who could listen to music as I write but I can’t. I have to write in absolute quiet. Having said that, I do make playlists that go with the books afterwards. You can find them on my website. This book’s playlist would make a great Halloween party playlist too.

Well, I had to go check that out. Some of the songs I'm not familiar with, but it looks like a fun playlist! (Readers - it's on Colleen's site here along with a book trailer, but you can also find the playlist directly on Spotify here.)

Q: Do you have any favorite stories that have an otherworld (books and/or movies)?

A: There are lots of movies and books that journey to an otherworld. Alice in Wonderland, Labyrinth, Peter Pan, Narnia, Willie Wonka & the Chocolate Factory. I’m sure there are dozens more.

Great picks!

Q: What are you working on next?

A: I just finished a sci-fi book that my agent is pitching and I’m working on a time travel book next.

Both sound fabulous! I'm looking forward to, hopefully, eventually seeing them released.

Q: What book(s) are you currently reading or looking forward to reading this year?

A: I always have a list a mile long. On my TBR list for 2018 I still have Dance of Thieves by Mary E. Pearson, Reaper at the Gates by Sabaa Tahir, Reign the Earth by A. C. Gaughen, The Fates Divide by Veronica Roth, and Shatter by Aprilynne Pike.

These are all on my list as well. :) Thanks so much for taking the time to answer my questions, Colleen!

About the Author

New York Times Bestselling author Colleen Houck is a lifelong reader whose literary interests include action, adventure, paranormal, science fiction, and romance. When she’s not busy writing, she likes to spend time chatting on the phone with one of her six siblings, watching plays, and shopping online. Colleen has lived in Arizona, Idaho, Utah, California, and North Carolina and is now permanently settled in Salem, Oregon with her husband and a huge assortment of plush tigers.

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Tour Schedule

Week One:

9/3/2018- Captivated Reading- Review

9/4/2018- Jrsbookreviews- Review

9/5/2018- Portrait of a Book- Review

9/6/2018- YA Books Central- Interview

9/7/2018- Zach's YA Reviews- Review

Week Two:

9/10/2018- Such A Novel Idea- Review

9/11/2018- Lisa Loves Literature- Review

9/12/2018- Wishful Endings- Interview