Monday, May 07, 2012

Charming Canucks: Interview and Giveaway with Kathleen Peacock

Charming Canucks is a feature I’ve created that will be posted every other month in an effort to spotlight more Canadian YA authors and their books. 
Today, I'd like to welcome Kathleen Peacock.
 
A bit about Kathleen (as found on her website): Kathleen Peacock spent her teen years crushing on authors and writing short stories about vampires. She put her writing dreams on hold while attending college, but tripped over them when office life started leaving her with an allergy to cubicles.

Hemlock, your debut novel, will be released on May 8 by Katherine Tegen Books. Give three reasons why everyone should read it.
Murder. Mayhem. Kissing.

Hemlock is an urban fantasy. Is there another genre you’d love to try your hand at someday? Is there a genre you could never see yourself writing?
There are a few genres I’d love to try. At the top of the list (at least currently) are magical realism and YA contemp. I’d also love to try writing a screenplay someday. “Never” has a way of biting me in the behind, but I can’t see myself writing sci-fi. I’d love to – I’ve been a fan for most of my life—but I’m not sure my mind turns in quite the right way to actually write it.

What is your writing process like? Are you a pantser or a planner?
I like to call myself a reformed pantser. I love the freedom and surprises that come from writing without an outline, but I tend to get lost and sometimes get so caught up in characters talking to each other and being snarky that I forget most stories need beginnings, middles, and ends.

Describe your writing space.
I write in my home office. It’s got a desk, several dry erase boards, and piles of books (and, quite often, laundry). A few action figures hang out on the desk: Enid from Ghost World, Stitch from Lilo and Stitch, Sirius from Harry Potter, and Edward Scissorhands. The only things I absolutely need are headphones and hair elastics (for some reason, I can’t write unless my hair is tied back).

I know Hemlock is the beginning of a planned trilogy. Can you give a hint of what to expect in the sequel?
More on the camps, more action, and more werewolf angst.

Quick Questions:  

What’s the best thing about living in New Brunswick? 
The coastlines – especially along the Bay of Fundy and the Bay of Chaleur.

You go on a cross-country trip across Canada. What is the one place you have to visit?
Calgary so I can hang out with my kid sister. 

What's your favourite book by a Canadian author and why? 
Oh, gads. Just one? This seriously changes every few weeks. Can I pick one YA and one adult? Please? Please?

Young Adult: Fall for Anything by Courtney Summers because - like all of her books - it grabs you and shakes you about. If I could, I’d stamp “National Treasure” on her forehead. I suspect, however, that she’d object to that.

Adult: The Flying Troutmans by Miriam Toews because the voice and writing style is just amazing. I don’t think it got quite the attention A Complicated Kindness received which, imo, is a shame because it’s an incredible book.

A huge thank you to Kathleen for taking the time to answer my questions!

Kathleen can be found on: [her blog] [her website] [Twitter] [Facebook] [Goodreads]
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Click here to find out more about Hemlock!
For this giveaway, one person will get the chance to win a copy of Hemlock. To enter, fill out the Rafflecopter form below.


a Rafflecopter giveaway

23 comments:

  1. I decided to go and read up about it on GR and it sounds super interesting, I even added it to my wishlist so I wont forget about it when I don't win :D

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  2. Fun interview with a reformed pantser. ;-) New blog follower here!

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  3. A reformed pantser! Hahahaha love it:) I can imagine it would be easy to get caught up in the characters lose track of what they're supposed to be doing/accomplishing. I lose track of my point when writing a review all the time and it's only 4 paragraphs O_o Awesome interview ladies, I just adored Hemlock!

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  4. I like the action figures hanging in your work space. Sounds motivating :) It sounds simple and very open which is how I like my work space. Though clutter often makes it way there.

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  5. You know what? I never knew that Kathleen Peacock is a Canadian so that gives me another reason to want to read her book.

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  6. I'm really excited to read "Hemlock". I can't get enough of paranormal mysteries. Nice interview, ladies!

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  7. Anonymous2:48 pm

    Kathleen Peacock got me at "Murder. Mayhem. Kissing." :D
    I'm really looking forward to reading Hemlock.

    Thanks for the giveaway! :)

    - Noely Jeleen

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  8. My dear! amazing interview! Im not team werewolves but I have read so, so many awesome reviews about this book that I am definitely gonna read this one =D
    I love your interview! we get to know a lot about the author and her writing ^.^ and YAY! she IS Canadian! <3 Oh Canadaaaaaaaa!! <3 <3 <3

    happy reading sweetheart! ^.^

    thnx for the awesome giveaway =9 *fingers crossed*

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  9. Mayhem. Kissing. BEST reasons to read a book!!! Very nice interview, I'm starting to see some info about the book and definitely gonna read it!

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  10. Werewolves! YES! Plus the mayhem and kissing and other things are good too.

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  11. Love her three reasons to read Hemlock! This book sounds amazing!
    Thanks a lot for the giveaway!

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  12. Wait, did I read this right? Kissing! Okay, I'm on board. :)

    And it is funny how NEVER has a wait of biting back. I never thought I'd be a fan of contemporary YA, but surprise, surprise, I do love it. I think it's great you are considering other genres!

    Now about that werewolf angst...no wonder kissing is involved. :)

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  13. Oh my gosh, I'm SO SO SO excited to read this book!! And that was my level of excitement before I even found out that Kathleen was Canadian too, so you can only imagine how amplified that is now! x) I love how down-to-earth and free her answers to your questions were, and I think that murder, mayhem, and kissing are all FANTASTIC reasons why Mimi should add this book to her must-buy list! ;)

    Thanks so much for the amazing interview and even more amazing giveaway, Z!! <3 *crosses fingers* :')

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  14. I had no idea that she was Canadian! Now I want to read Hemlock even more (as if I didn't when I heard Murder, Mayhem, and Kissing!). I also really need to read Fall For Anything.

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  15. This book definitely sounds interesting! I wasn't sure about werewolfes but I heard from someone that it completely changed their view of them, in a good way, so I'm SO onboard now! Plus, Murder. Mayhem. Kissing - YES PLEASE!

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  16. I had to laugh at the "reformed pantser" comment! I get how she could write only dialogs and forget the main story, its easy to get lost on the characters interactions.
    Its funny that she can't write with her hair down o.o

    Penny Pe

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  17. I'm excited to read Hemlock. There will be lot of actions! Murder thing will get me goosebumps and surely, i'm gonna swallow my throat many times. Thank you for the giveaway! :D - Flord Naezel

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  18. I have heard some amazing things about Hemlock. A blogger I watch videos of has talked about it a lot and has actually read a snippet of it in one of them. It sounds cray interesting.

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  19. This seems like a great and intersting read.


    Thanks!

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  20. Murder. Mayhem. Kissing.
    I don't know what I'm more excited for, the mayhem part (because who doesn't love craziness?) or the kissing? (because who doesn't love kissing?!) and since I love YA contmep I say YES YES YESSSS try YA contemp!!

    Racquel @ The Book Barbies♥

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  21. Hemlock sounds so amazing!I have it on my wishlist.
    I haven't read anything by Courtney Summers but her latest book This Is Not A Test sounds good.I'll definitely check her out! :)

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  22. Hemlock sounds amazing!
    I haven't read anything by Courtney Summers yet but I'll definitely be checking out her books as well :)

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  23. Fall for Anything was such a good book. I can see why she's recommend it :) I've heard awesome things about HEMLOCK, thanks so much for a chance to win!

    Diana

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