Saturday, September 7, 2013

Blog Tour Interview: A Thousand Perfect Things~Kay Kenyon



Book Blurb:

In an alternate 19th century, there are two warring continents on an reimagined earth: the scientific Anglica (England) and magical Bharata (India). Emboldened by her grandfather’s final whispered secret of a magical lotus, Tori Harding, a young Victorian woman and aspiring botanist, must journey to Bharata, with its magics, intrigues and ghosts, to claim her fate. There she will face a choice between two suitors and two irreconcilable realms.

In a magic-infused world of silver tigers, demon birds and enduring gods, as a great native mutiny sweeps over the continent, Tori will find the thing she most desires, less perfect than she had hoped and stranger than she could have dreamed.


An Interview with Kay Kenyon

--The Twitter version: tell us about your book in 140 characters or less.
An alternate England & India. A Victorian woman seeks a hidden magical power, taking on the British Raj, palace intrigues, ghosts & demons.

--How did you get the idea for the story?
I love Victoriana. The themes of neo-Victorian novels are often sex, the role of women, emancipation, suffering and courage. A perfect stage for a gripping drama. The idea for A Thousand Perfect Things came specifically from reading about the British Raj in India. It suggested to me the idea of a young Victorian woman in an exotic land. Also, it was a great setting for a love triangle, with a handsome British officer and a prince.

--Which character would you most/least like to have dinner with?
Most: Prince Jai, youngest son of the Rana, who has some Western education and yet is thoroughly a prince of the mystical land of Bharata. He is open minded, fiercely loyal and alluring.
Least: Well, there is a prominent ghost in the story, Drapadi. She can be a helper, but is she trustworthy? And sometimes her hair seems to be alive on its own!

--What book is your book’s “cousin”?
There is a wonderful book chronicling the adventures of an outcast British officer serving in India: Far Pavilions by M. M. Kaye.

--What are some of your favorite books? Do you still have much time to read?
I couldn't live without reading books. Some of my favorites are: Jane Eyre, George R.R. Martin's Song of Ice and Fire series, Naomi Novik's Temeraire series and Michael Swanwick's The Iron Dragon's Daughter.

--If a fairy godmother told you could be put into the world of your favorite book for 24 hours, which book would you pick and why?
I love exotic locales. For that reason, I'd love to be in Guy Gavriel Kay's alternate history set in ancient China, Under Heaven. But I'd want to be part of the nobility, of course.
--If you could have any superpower what would you choose?
Reading minds. Most of the interesting stuff never comes to light, so to know what people are hiding would be fascinating. But I'd put the condition on it that I could turn it off when it became too distracting.

--What is one thing you would tell your 15 year old self?
Start writing! Geez, girl, don't wait until you're way in your thirties to have such fun!

--Is there anything else you want to add or say to your readers?

If you haven't tried historical fantasy as a sub-genre of fantasy, please give it a try. It's fun to find a new genre, and exotic historical periods beyond the usual medieval stock setting can make for a fascinating read!




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Kay Kenyon

Bio:
Kay Kenyon is the author of eleven science fiction and fantasy novels, including The Entire and the Rose series that was hailed by The Washington Post as “A splendid fantasy quest as compelling as anything by Stephen R. Donaldson, Philip Jose Farmer or yes, J. R. R. Tolkien”. Kay’s newest work “A Thousand Perfect Things” blends the reason of the Victorian Age and the magics of an alternate Earth.

Connect with Kay here:

Tour Schedule

August 28 - Asteria's Blog *Review & Giveaway

August 29 - Behind a Million and One Pages *Excerpt & Giveaway

September 1 Author Jonathan Ryan *excerpt & Giveaway

September 2 - Chirenjenzie  *Favorite Pinterest Pins & Giveaway

September 3 - Dave-Brendon's Fantasy and Sci-Fi Weblog *Excerpt & Giveaway

September 4 - Mindy Ruiz *Excerpt & Giveaway

September 5 - Elizabeth Isaacs' Blog *Excerpt & Giveaway

September 6 -   Hooked in a Book *Review, Excerpt & Giveaway

September 7 - BlKosiner's Book Blog *Interview & Giveaway

September 8 - Delphina reads too much *Excerpt & Giveaway

September 9 - A Dribble of Ink *Featured Article

September 10 -Lilliputian's Journey *Excerpt & Giveaway

September 11 - Mom With A Kindle *Author Interview & Giveaway

September 12 - A Dragon's Love *Review & Giveaway

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2 comments:

  1. This sounds like a really intriguing book. I'll have to keep an eye out for it in the library! Thanks for sharing.

    ReplyDelete
  2. I love the sound of this book-Victorian setting, alternate fantastical history, and going to India are all topics I love!

    ReplyDelete

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