Monday, December 18, 2017

BLOG TOUR & AUTHOR INTERVIEW with Erica Cameron for "Sea of Strangers (The Ryogan Chronicles, #2)"


Sea of Strangers (The Ryogan Chronicles, #2)
by Erica Cameron
Publication Date: December 5, 2017
Publisher: Entangled Teen

Know your enemy if you want to survive…

The only way for Khya to get her brother back alive is to kill Varan — the immortal ruler who can’t be killed. But not even Varan knew what he was doing when he perverted magic and humanity to become immortal.

Khya’s leading her group of friends and rebels into the mountains that hold Varan’s secrets, but if risking all their lives is going to be worth it, she has to give up everything else — breaking the spell that holds her brother captive and jeopardizing her deepening relationship with Tessen, the boy who has been by turns her rival and refuge since her brother disappeared. Immortality itself might be her only answer, but if that’s where Khya has to go, she can’t ask Tessen or her friends to follow.

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OTHER BOOKS IN THE SERIES:

~AUTHOR INTERVIEW with Erica Cameron~

1) What gave you the inspiration for the storyline?  

Everything about Sea of Strangers came from Island of Exiles, honestly. With second books, that’s normally how it goes. The shape of the first story and the arc changes the shape of the second one. I had to start Strangers where Exiles left off, but finding the right path to take from there wasn’t easy. I had to rewrite the whole book—as in scrap it and start over—twice. The only chapter that has remained the same from the first draft to the last (more or less, anyway) is chapter one. What’s interesting, actually, is that an early version of the chapter was printed in the back of Island of Exiles, so for those who find the editing process interesting, you can compare that version to the one that will appear in the final version of Sea of Strangers.

2) Are there any hidden themes in the book that you hope readers will discover?

Definitely. There are certain questions I play with and messages woven throughout the series. However, one of the best things about reading is that everyone who approaches a story is going to walk away from it with a different interpretation. I love that, so I try not to tell people too much about what I buried in the sand. I like seeing what others dig up when they go searching.

3) Are any of the characters based on real people you know?

Not really. Although my own life experience is going to invariably influence the characters I create, I don’t purposefully shape my characters after anyone I know. Or use the names of anyone I’m close to. Exceptions have to be made for incredibly common names, of course, but it’s a rule I’ve mostly stuck to in my books.

4) Who has influenced you most as a writer?

There are hundreds of authors whose work I’ve adored over the years, but Tamora Pierce and Stephenie Meyer have definitely had an especially large impact on me. In my personal life, my dad is the one who introduced me to science fiction and fantasy, and my mom is the one who encouraged me to chase the dream of creating my own. My sister was my first fan, consuming all of my early attempts at writing with encouraging relish, and several of my friends were my first editors, gently steering me toward being a better writer. So many people have influenced me—both in my life and from afar—and without any one of them, I might not be the writer I am today.

5) If you could have any three literary characters over to your place for game night, who would you invite, what would you play, what would you serve, and why?

That’s such a hard choice! There’s something about favorite characters from childhood books, though, that makes an impact. I’ve always wanted to meet the characters from Tamora Pierce’s Tortall universe, and Lyra from the His Dark Materials series. I’d also love to have a conversation with Phèdre nó Delaunay de Montrève  from Jacqueline Carey’s Kushiel saga, because she is an absolutely fascinating character.

AUTHOR INFO:


Erica Cameron is the author of books for young adults including the Ryogan Chronicles, the Assassins duology, and The Dream War Saga. She also co-authored the Laguna Tides novels with Lani Woodland. An advocate for asexuality and emotional abuse awareness, Erica has also worked with teens at a residential rehabilitation facility in her hometown of Fort Lauderdale.


Giveaway Information:
Sea of Strangers Prize Pack, including:**
* A signed copy of Sea of Strangers
* A $20 Visa gift card
* A swag pack
**For international: 1 copy from book depository and a $20 Visa gift card

Check out the entire Tour Schedule for "Sea of Strangers" here!

@chapterxchapter  @byericacameron  @entangledteen
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