Tuesday, April 5, 2011

Hex, A Witch and Angel Tale by Ramona Wray: Interview and Giveaway!

GIVEAWAY CLOSED! Thanks for entering!

Hex, A Witch and Angel Tale by Ramona Wray

2011; CreateSpace

-I received this book free from the author in exchange for an honest review.


Summary

Like most girls at Rosemound High School, seventeen-year-old Lily Crane is acutely aware of Ryder Kingscott. Hands down the cutest guy in school, Ryder is cool, mysterious, and utterly untouchable…especially for Lily. For when she touches someone, Lily instantly learns all about their lives. And while such a skill might seem nifty, in truth it is wrecking Lily’s life. So she is shocked when Ryder asks her out — and even more shocked to discover he has a rival. Lucian Bell is the gorgeous new kid who can’t take his eyes off of Lily. Being pursued by two hotties should make a girl happy, but Lily is skeptical. The boys act as if they’ve met before, hating each other with a passion that could only be rooted in a dark, dangerous past. A past full of terrible secrets. The kind of secrets that could get a girl killed. (courtesy of Goodreads)

Interview

Ramona was kind enough to answer a few questions for me. Please welcome Ramona to Alison Can Read!

1. Please describe Hex in a few sentences.

Hex is a story about a lovable seventeen year-old, Lily, who can see into people's minds through a simple touch. This puts serious strain on her ability to form normal relationships with just about anyone, as people generally tend to steer clear of her. But then she discovers that her gift/curse doesn't apply when it comes to Ryder, the one guy she was always interested in. In comes a second guy, Lucian, and together they embark on an adventure that will lead to startling discoveries, impromptu trips to seventeenth-century England, and the unravelling of a very old curse that has been running all their lives for the past 300 years. It's a story of love, magic, and betrayal, wrapped up in the narrative of someone whose natural defense against the cruelty of others is to crack inappropriate jokes and laugh at herself. It's funny, quirky, and quite endearing, in parts.

2. Why did you decide to set the book in the United States since you live in England?

Well, first of all, I was actually living in Russia when I wrote Hex :-) But I always knew I wanted the book to be published in the US, so it made sense to set it there. In fact, most of the books I ever wrote are set there, which is quite funny because I have never even visited the place yet. I guess I just find it inspiring.

3. I would love to visit Romania some day. What are a few must-see places?

Lots. For a bit of history, you must see Transylvania, particularly Sighisoara, an authentic and extremely well preserved medieval town dating back to the 12th century. Gorgeous location. Then there's Dracula's Castle (or, as we call it "Bran Castle"), which is near Brasov, another historical place. The Danube Delta is a natural paradise for those interested in wildlife - over 2000 miles of marshes, reed islands, canals, little rivers - it really is an amazing spot. Bucharest, of course, still has some old neighborhoods that are worth seeing, architecture-wise. There are also a number of really old churches in Moldova (the eastern part of the country) which I think are spectacular (but then, I love old things :-) And, of course, the mountains. The scenery of the Romanian Carpathians is truly breathtaking.

4. What is your favorite place that you'd traveled to and/or lived? What place or places do you most want to travel to?

Italy, no question about it. Where would I want to go? I guess, everywhere :-) The US is first on my to-see list. Other than that, I'd like to go to Rio, and Africa, and South America and, like I said, pretty much everywhere.

5. What is your writing process like? Are there differences when you write in Romanian versus English (i.e. the amount of pre-planning required) or is the language the only difference?

Oh, I haven't written in Romanian for years! I actually think I would find it difficult now, compared with English. My writing process is pretty standard, I'd say. I spend a great deal of time getting to know my characters - what I call the post-it phase, because this is when I write all sorts of things about my protagonists (dialogue lines, past-related details, research bits, etc) on post-its, which I stick everywhere around me - and then I sit down and write. I write everywhere, and every spare moment I've got, once the story starts flowing, though I'm at my best early in the morning. I use a MacBook, but I make loads of notes on sheets of papers everywhere. Yeah, I'm pretty messy when I get going :-)

6. What are a few books that you loved when you were young and a few current books you've really enjoyed?

As a child, I loved Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Bridge to Terabithia, all the Greek myths, Jules Verne, H.G. Wells. On Christmas I always got a stack of records and then I'd listen to these audio stories, over and over again.

Recently, I loved Before I Die by Jenny Downham, Demon's Covenant by Sarah Rees Brennan, everything by Maggie Stiefvater, or Holly Black. Right now, I?m reading The Iron Thorn by Caitlin Kittredge, and I'm quickly falling in love with it too.

Giveaway

Enter to win a copy of Hex, A Witch and Angel Tale.

Leave a comment with a valid e-mail address to enter.

+1 Follower
+1 Follow Ramona on Goodreads

+1 Follow Ramona on Twitter

Contest ends April 19; 10 PM CDT


-Must be 13 or older
-US only

33 comments:

  1. Enjoyed your review of this book and now I want it!

    I'm a follower!

    annettesspot@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  2. Thanks so much for this giveaway! I got the opportunity to visit Italy back in college and I would go there in a second again if I could, I adored it:) Looking forward to reading this one!

    +1 follower
    +1 follow Ramona on Twitter

    supernaturalsnark(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  3. Great interview, and thanks for the giveaway! +1 follwer (GFC)

    caldellizzi(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  4. Thanks for the awesome interview and giveaway!

    +1 Follower (GFC - Marg K.)
    +1 Follow Ramona on Twitter (@clockworkrevery)

    gosia727(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  5. Thank you for having me over, Alison. It's been such a pleasure working with you:-)

    ReplyDelete
  6. Great review! I'm currently reading this and love it!

    ReplyDelete
  7. I have been wanting this one for a while, the review and interview was fantastic!!!!!

    korra_950(at)hotmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  8. Oooh I really want to go to Italy too! Someday I say, someday

    +1 follower

    snifflykitty@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  9. Nice review! This book looks really good and thanks for the giveaway!

    Brittanylovesbooks@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  10. awesome give away! I have seen this book around the blogosphere for a few weeks now, after reading this interview i really want to read it! the cover reminds me of bewitched! Love the cover thanks for the giveaway!

    +1 GFC Blog follower (Melissa Nunez)
    +1 Ramona on twitter (mnunez466)
    +1 Ramona on goodreads (Melissa Nunez)
    = Total of +3

    email: mnunez466(at)gmail(dot)com

    thanks!

    ReplyDelete
  11. awesome interview, and thanks for the giveaway :)

    +1 Follower

    tiffanyinwonderland(at)hotmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  12. The book sounds really cute! I'd love to read it.

    shoshanahinla(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  13. This book looks so cute! Great interview too.

    I'm a GFC follower and I'm following Ramona on twitter (@bittenbooks).

    bittenbooks@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  14. Aww this book is adorbs :)

    I'm a follower!
    tripisu@hotmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  15. I really want to read this book - it sounds great!

    I'm a GFC Follower.

    crackaspinebookreviews@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  16. +1 Follower
    +1 Follow Ramona on Goodreads
    +1 Follow Ramona on Twitter

    americangirlie1991 AT yahoo DOT com

    ReplyDelete
  17. This book sounds intriguing. Thanks for the opportunity. I am a GFC follower.

    riverboat38@hotmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  18. This looks like a fun book.
    I am a gfc follower.
    New twitter & goodreads followe for Ramona.
    Ke7yca@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  19. What a cute cover! And a cool story! I remember being fascinated with Greek mythology as a young reader, and even now, I still love reading fiction with mythological elements or references. Thanks for the chance to win!

    +1 follower via GFC as jewelknits

    ReplyDelete
  20. Great interview and thank you so much for the giveaway!

    +1 Follower
    +1 Follow Ramona on GoodReads
    +1 Follow Ramona on Twitter
    Both my GoodReads and Twitter names are JamesterCK

    JamesterCK@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  21. this books sounds so great!

    +1 Follower BLHmistress
    +1 Follow Ramona on Goodreads Dawna Newman
    +1 Follow Ramona on Twitter @BookLovershaway

    vampiremistress2010(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  22. I've heard great things about this one! Please sign me up. :)

    books[a]muggle-born.net
    +1 follower

    ReplyDelete
  23. Thanks for the review! Interview was also fun to read.

    Sign me up!

    I am your follower +1
    Following Ramona on Goodreads +1
    Followrin Ramona on Twitter +1

    inga(dot)kupp(at)gmail(dot)com

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  24. Thanks for the review and giveaway!

    +1 follower
    +1 Goodreads friend
    +1 twitter follower: @Lilixtreme

    chicareader(at)gmail.com

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  25. Follower = )
    thelostbookreports@yahoo.com

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  26. Thanks for the giveaway! +1 follower

    contact(at)bibliosaurustext(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  27. Oh, this sounds like a really good story! :) Thank you for hosting the giveaway though I think if I don't win, I'll have to get a copy for myself!

    +1 Follower
    +1 Follower on Goodreads (DJL)

    djlibrarian3(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  28. Thanks for hosting - sounds like a good one!
    bevsharp@desch.org
    +1 - follower

    ReplyDelete
  29. Thanks for the giveaway!

    +1 Follower
    +1 Follow on Goodreads (Missy @ Two Readers)
    +1 Follow on Twitter (@missyreviews)

    ourbookblog@gmail.com

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  30. Great Giveaways and awesome reviews

    +1 follower

    hannahtwinn_415@hotmail.com

    ReplyDelete

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