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Thursday, May 4, 2017

Blog Tour AIR AND ASH by Alex Lidell An Interview & Giveaway!


Hey everyone! I am thrilled to be hosting a spot on the blog tour for AIR AND ASH by Alex Lidell! Alex's high fantasy THE CADET OF TILDOR is still a favorite of mine to this day and her new series starts off with an bang with AIR AND ASH! It was totally awesome! If you love high fantasy I suggest you get this book now!

I have an interview with Alex to share with you today! And make sure to enter the giveaway below!


Haven't heard of AIR AND ASH? Check it out!

Title: AIR AND ASH
Author: Alex Lidell
Pub. Date: May 2, 2017
Publisher: Danger Bearing Press
Pages: 284
Formats: Paperback, eBook
Find it: AmazonB&N, Goodreads
Master and Commander meets Tamora Pierce in a seafaring adventure of duty, love, magic, and a princess’s quest to protect her kingdom on her own terms. 

After a lifetime of training, seventeen-year-old Princess Nile Greysik, a lieutenant on the prestigious Ashing navy flagship, sails into battle with one vital missionand fails.

Barred from the sea and facing a political marriage, Nile masquerades as a common sailor on the first ship she can find. With a cowardly captain, incompetent crew, and a cruel, too-handsome first officer intent on making her life a living hell, Nile must hide her identity while trying to turn the sorry frigate battleworthy. Worse, a terrifying and forbidden magic now tingles in Nile’s blood. If anyone catches wind of who Nile is or what she can do, her life is over.

But when disaster threatens the ship, Nile may have no choice but to unleash the truth that will curse her future.


AIR AND ASH is the thrilling first installment of the TIDES series. Recommended for fans of Sarah J. Maas, Tamora Pierce, and Naomi Novik.

Now on to the interview!


Hey Alex! First I want to say welcome back to Two Chicks on Books! It’s been a while since you’ve been here I’m so happy you could stop by for a chat! AIR AND ASH was absolutely fantastic and I can’t wait for everyone to read it!

Alex: Thanks, Jaime!  It has been a while since CADET OF TILDOR, hasn’t it?  That’s what happens when kids come into the picture!  But I am excited to be back now.  So, what do you want to know?

For the readers: can you give us a little info on AIR AND ASH and the characters?

A: It’s a YA fantasy in my kick-ass girl style and most of the story takes place on a ship.  I know - Have you seen the movie Master and Commander?  Think Sarah J Maas meets Master and Commander and you’ve got Air and Ash!

So do we have a title for book 2 yet?

A: Oh, we have better than that.  We have a title AND a cover.  WAR AND WIND (Tides book 2) releases on June 20th and is a direct continuation of the story in AIR AND ASH. 



Were any of the characters in the book inspired by people from your real life?

A: People? No, but themes/situations, yes, absolutely. There is a part in Air and Ash (don’t worry, no spoilers) where Nile is in charge of a few people who don’t want to do any work - they never actually overtly refuse , they just keep saying “yes” but then not doing anything. We’ve all seen variations of that and it’s super frustrating. 

Who was your favorite character to write? What about your least favorite?

A: Catsper! The lieutenant of the marines.  He is smart ass, and competent, and has zero tolerance for stupidity.  He was really fun to write.  Least favorite to write? hmmm Probably Captain Rima.  Its not that I dislike writing antagonists, its that hes just a despicable human being and I hate how he twists the truth all the time.

What is your favorite passage/scene in AIR AND ASH?

A:

I slide inside to find the marine lieutenant sitting alone at the end of the wooden table stretching the length of the officers’ narrow common space. From the murderous look in his eyes and a stack of papers before him, I’m certain I’ve caught him in the midst of catching up on overdue reports. Sleeping cabin doors line one side of the room, the other side hosting several viewports and a nine-pounder gun. The familiar sight calms my nerves, and, despite myself, I run my hand over the gun. Cool black metal. Heavy and faithful and familiar.

“Do you two want to be alone?” Catsper asks, cocking a single brow. His dirty-blond hair is tied back with a leather thong now, underscoring the square angle of his jaw.
I yank my hand back from the nine pounder.

He chuckles, muscles in his left forearm shifting as he plays absently with a knife.

What kind of research did you have to do for the story?

A: Great question. Aside from the obvious answer of researching life in Nelson’s navy (which is the equivalent time period to Nile’s fantasy world), I needed to do some research in autism, epilepsy and asthma.  The magic in my world has side-effects which, although not called by these names, embody common disorders.  I needed to research, for example, what having a seizure might feel like.

Who is your ultimate book boyfriend?

A: Rhysand from A COURT OF WINGS AND FURY!

What inspired you to write YA?

A: Tamora Pierce’s book, Alanna.  When I moved to the United States as a kid, I didn’t speak english, so it was a little while until I could read books for fun.  When I was ready to try something that was outside of classwork, I shyly approached the librarian because I had no idea where to look apart from kid books on anatomy (yes, i was a weird kid, I liked anatomy books).  And she gave me Alanna.  And I fell in love.  Tamora Pierce is still my golden standard for writing.

Lightening Round Questions

What are you reading right now? Or what do you have on your TBR that you’re dying to read?

I am DRYING for A COURT OF WINGS AND RUIN. 

What Hogwarts House would the Sorting Hat place you in?

Gryphandor

Twitter or Facebook?

Facebook

Favorite Superhero?

My kid

Favorite TV show?

Buffy!

Sweet or Salty?

Sweet

Any Phobias?

Amazon sending a wrong file to readers!

Song you can’t get enough of right now?

I can’t get too LITTLE of Old McDonald Had a Farm.  Whoever came up with it is evil.

2017 Movie you’re most looking forward to?

They still make movies?  I thought we all watched Netflix now...

Thanks so much Alex for answering my questions! I can’t wait for everyone to read AIR AND ASH! Big hugs!!!!


Alex: Thanks, Jaime! Hugs back.  And don’t forget we are having Thai Food with Rachel Carter in June!

I haven't forgotten! Can't wait!!!


About Alex:
Alex Lidell is an avid horseback rider, paramedic and ice cream addict. Born in Russia, Alex learned English in elementary school, where a thoughtful librarian placed a copy of Tamora Pierce’s ALANNA in Alex’s hands. In addition to becoming the first English book Alex read for fun, ALANNA started Alex’s lifelong love for YA fantasy books. Alex’s debut novel, THE CADET OF TILDOR, was an Amazon Breakthrough Novel Awards finalist. Her second book AIR AND ASH releases in May 2017.


Giveaway Details:


1 winner will receive a finished copy of AIR AND ASH & a hardcover of A COURT OF WINGS AND RUIN by Sarah J. Maas, INTERNATIONAL.





a Rafflecopter giveaway




Tour Schedule:

Week One:
5/1/2017- Wandering Bark BooksExcerpt
5/1/2017- Twinning for BooksReview

5/2/2017- Don't Judge, Read- Interview

5/3/2017- Fiction FareReview
5/3/2017- Book Princess ReviewsReview

5/4/2017- Two Chicks on BooksInterview
5/4/2017- Reading for the Stars and MoonReview

5/5/2017- Margie's Must ReadsReview
5/5/2017- Angelic Book ReviewsReview

Week Two:
5/8/2017- BookHounds YAGuest Post
5/8/2017- Book BriefsReview

5/9/2017- A Backwards StoryInterview
5/9/2017- Mundie MomsReview

5/10/2017- Book Sniffers AnonymousExcerpt
5/10/2017- J.R.'s Book ReviewsReview

5/11/2017- Bibliobibuli YAReview
5/11/2017- BookloveReview

5/12/2017- Reese's ReviewsReview
5/12/2017-A Dream Within A DreamReview


3 comments:

  1. Great to meet you here Alex. The books look amazing.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Air and Ash looks like a great exciting adventure. Thanks for the post!

    ReplyDelete
  3. This book sounds so cool! I'm totally kicking myself for not signing up for this tour right now! This is such a great interview though.

    ReplyDelete

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