Author Interview with Jessica Shirvington + UK/IRE Giveaway

Embrace (Violet Eden Chapters #1)
by Jessica Shirvington

Publishers: Orchard 

Buy :  Amazon UK / Amazon US/ The Book Depo

It starts with a whisper: "It's time for you to know who you are..."

On her 17th birthday, everything will change for Violet Eden. The boy she loves will betray her. Her enemy will save her. She will have to decide just how much she's willing to sacrifice. 
Dangerously exciting and darkly romantic, EMBRACE is a compelling novel of good and evil, seductive desires and impossible choices. A centuries old war between fallen angels and the protectors of humanity chooses a new fighter. It's a battle Violet doesn't want, but she lives her life by two rules: don't run and don't quit. If angels seek vengeance and humans are the warriors, you could do a lot worse than betting on Violet Eden. 
LINCOLN: He's been Violet's one anchor, her running partner and kickboxing trainer. Only he never told her he's Grigori--part human, part angel--and that he was training her for an ancient battle between Angels and Exiles. 
PHOENIX: No one knows where his loyalties lie, yet he's the only one there to pick up the pieces and protect her after Lincoln's lies. In a world of dark and light, he is all shades of gray. 
Two sides: Angel or Exile.
Two guys: Lincoln or Phoenix.
The wrong choice could cost not only her life, but her eternity... 

Author Interview with Jessica Shirvington

1) When and why did you begin writing?

   I only began to write seriously when I started the story of Embrace. It's a strange thing, but writing a book didn't ever occur to me - it wasn't until I was near the end of my first draft that I realised what was going on. I'm really grateful it happened this way as I'm sure the task of writing a novel would've been altogether too daunting otherwise. :)

2) What inspired you to write Embrace?

   It started with wanting to write a story about a girl who had a history she was trying to overcome, who was flawed, who made mistakes and had to deal with the consequences, but who was also strong and determined and willing to make the biggest sacrifices. From there I started to research angel mythology and when I discovered the angel hierarchy I knew I wanted to incorporate that along with a world that wasn't black and white, but rather grey and open to interpretation.

3) How did you come up with the title?

   I didn't! My publishers came up with the title of Embrace. I think they came up with Entice too, and then I suggested Emblaze for book 3 and Endless for book 4. Once we decided on the 'E' theme for the titles it was really a matter of suggestion and elimination. I must admit it can be a bit frustrating when searching for the right word, but overall, I love the way it connects the titles and covers.

4) Is there a message in your book that you want readers to grasp?

   No real message. The idea of reading a book and in particular a series, is to go on a journey with the characters. I want readers to enjoy the stories and see that characters can make crazy decisions and big mistakes, but that they can come through the other side strong and capable because of those mistakes. My goal as a writer is to entertain readers, to tell the best story I can. If they take a message away, then great (if it is a good message of course!).

5) Who's your favourite character to write?

   I spend all of my time in Violet's head. My husband jokes that she is the fifth member of our family, and in many ways he is right. I feel like she is with me all the time and I am always considering her reactions to situations (yes...weird!). I had a lot of fun discovering and developing Spence's character in Entice. He is such a fun character and writes himself half of the time. I also have a soft spot for Onyx.

7) Who's the hardest character to write?

   Sometimes I find Lincoln a challenge. Mostly because a lot of his thoughts come through in his actions and he keeps many of his emotions bottled up and then they kind of come to a head. Showing how he is feeling and giving readers insights into his thoughts without putting them out there like a neon sign is a challenge. But it just wouldn't be him otherwise.

8) What's your favourite quote from Embrace? 

   When Violet has to make a huge choice and sacrifice for someone she loves and Griffin, her mentor, explains to her that it must be made completely of her freewill. I feel so much for her at this point, it is a cruel choice to be faced with. Griffin sees this too. He says:

"A terrible freedom.' He smiled mournfully and squeezed my hands.

"Yes." I barely breathed the word. 

That mention of terrible freedom is one that always meant a lot to me because so often in life having a choice can be the hardest thing.

9) How many books will there be in the series?

   To be honest., I'm not 100% sure, but I can fairly confidently say it will be 5 or 6. I'm just starting to map out 5 at the moment and I'll see where it ends up. It is very important to finish the story at the right point - I don't want to drag it out and at the same time don't want to tie it up in some neat little bow that wouldn't be true to the characters. 

10) Can you share a little of your current work with us?

   At the moment, as I said, I'm starting to map out book 5 in the series. I also have a separate stand alone novel that will be coming out in 2013. It's about a girl who lives two lives, effectively repeating each 24 hour period a second time in another world, but no two days are ever the same. She discovers that there might be a way she could have just one life but it would mean doing something very drastic and dangerous. And then she has to consider, if she was able to get her wish and just have one life, which life would she choose?

Author Bio: 

Jessica Shirvington is the author of THE VIOLET EDEN CHAPTERS also known as THE EMBRACE SERIES. An entrepreneur, author, and mother living in Sydney, Australia, Jessica is also a 2011 finalist for Cosmopolitan’s annual Fun, Fearless Female Award. She’s also one of the lucky few who met the love of her life at age seventeen: Matt Shirvington, a former Olympian and current sports broadcaster for FOXTEL and Sky News. Married for almost eleven years with two beautiful daughters, Sienna and Winter, Jessica knows her early age romance and its longevity has definitely contributed to how she tackles relationships in her YA novels. Previously, she founded a coffee distribution company, Stella Imports, in London, and before that was involved in the management of restaurants Fuel Bistro and MG Garage in Sydney. Jessica is now a full-time novelist and living her dream.

GIVEAWAY! 
- Fill out the rafflecopter details below
- Ends 31st October 
- UK/IRE ONLY 

a Rafflecopter giveaway