Chat & Contest with Lauren Kate author of Fallen [NOW CLOSED]

Today I welcome Lauren Kate, author of Fallen. Lauren recently finished her M.A. in Creative Writing at UC Davis, where she also teaches. She lives in Los Angeles, CA. Her first novel,The Betrayal Of Natalie Hargrove was published in November. FALLEN is out today! (17/12/09)

There is also the chance to win a signed copy of Fallen, so make sure you enter the contest at the end of this interview!

You can read my review of Fallen here.

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Hi Lauren, thank you for taking the time to answer my questions and for being on Book Chick City.

BCC: What made you write about angels rather than vampires and werewolves which is prevalent in YA at the moment?

Lauren: Actually, I was inspired by a line in Genesis, which talks about a group of angels who were cast out of heaven for falling in love with mortal women. I started thinking about who that mortal woman might be, and what it would be like to date an angel, and the story came from there. I know paranormal romance is huge right now—it’s hard to have a pulse and not know that!—but I guess I didn’t think too much about it as I was writing. The story originated with the characters and their predicament and the rest just flowed from there.

BCC: Do you think the current trend of werewolves and vampires in YA is coming to an end, with angels taking over?

Lauren: Oh yes, forget what I just said above! Down with the vamps! Just kidding. Though I was in a bookstore the other day and overheard someone saying that angels are the new vampires. I’ll take it! 

I think the perennial appeal of angels comes from a similar place as vampire-appeal. We grow up learning this mythology—we connect with a fixed image about what a vampire is supposed to be, or what an angel is supposed to be. But when I started thinking about writing Fallen, the more I read about angels, the less I knew for sure about them! And that’s what keeps me interested. They elude our grasp so there’s always a new twist to be put on an old story.

BCC: The cover of Fallen is absolutely luscious (book bloggers are obsessed with covers!!) - did you have any input?

Lauren: No input whatsoever—and that’s good news for everyone! I might have offered some sort of dorky clip-art angel wing. Actually, I was stunned silent when I first saw the cover pop up as a jpeg in my inbox. It was wild to see someone else pair such an incredible image with a story that previously existed only in my head. I loved it from the get-go. To me it really feels like you’re stepping into a full, rich world, which is how I felt writing the story. 

BCC: Have you always been interested in the paranormal?

Lauren: I’ve always been interested in any story that took me on a journey, and often paranormal journeys are the most fun. One of the most fun parts about writing Fallen (and even more so, about writing the sequel, Torment) is making up the rules of the world. Anything goes as long as you can explain it well enough, and I find that both liberating and challenging—in a good way.

BCC: Fallen is the first in a four-book series - what can you reveal about the series, without giving too much away?

Lauren: I’m having so much fun writing Torment that it’s hard for me not to spill everything right now so I can say, “Aren’t you excited? Won’t this be great?” But my publisher would probably have my head. So in lieu of that, I’ll reveal just three things:

1. As Luce learns more about her past, she comes into a host of powers she never knew she had—and they might involve the shadows. 

2. After the second book comes out, a prequel (which will span thousands of years!) will follow before the final book in the series.

3. Even though, of course, Daniel is Luce’s one-and-only, a new character is introduced in Torment that offers him some stiff competition.

Wow, I just can't wait, the series sounds so good!! Thank you so much Lauren!

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Okay, on to the CONTEST!

Thanks to the lovely people at Random House Children's Books, I have THREE SIGNED copies of Fallen to giveaway!

All you have to do for the chance to win a copy is the following:

1. Blog/Tweet about this contest and leave link with comment

2. Leave your email address with your comment

3. 1 entry per person please!

That's it - as usual it's easy peasy, lemon squeezy!

This contest is open WORLDWIDE and ends 31st Dec.

GOOD LUCK!!!