Holly Black Interview Part II
Holly Black’s newest novel, WHITE CAT, is amazing! It’s the first book in her new series THE CURSEWORKERS. Here’s what Kami & Margie have to say about it:
“White Cat is the Godfather of urban fantasy/romance – one of those rare books that makes the rest of us writers look like idiots.” – Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl
We convinced Holly to give us an exclusive interview. Read the first part of the interview on the Beautiful Creatures blog HERE. Kami & Margie are also giving away a signed copy of WHITE CAT.
Our Interview with Holly Black:
Yvette: Why did you decide to combine fantasy and organized crime (aside from the fact that it’s genius)?
Holly: I knew I wanted a world that would make for a good noir setting where there could be con and caper plotlines, I wanted the magic of the world to feel appropriate.
So I was thinking about magic and the way that in novels magic is organized and institutionalized. You have this idea of solitary wizards like Gandalf, you have magic schools, like Harry Potter attends, you have lots of books where a wizard teaches one or more students in a pseudo master and apprentice medieval model. So I was thinking about other models and I thought:
Well…what if magic worked like organized crime.
And then I thought about the time that organized crime was at it’s most powerful – Prohibition. That’s how I got to magic being illegal.
Vania: What are four words to describe White Cat?
Holly: Conmen. Mobsters. Gloves. Girl.
Yvette: What are your must-haves when you’re writing?
Holly: So much coffee.
Vania: What’s next for Cassel?
Holly: RED GLOVE starts up sixth months after the end of WHITE CAT. Cassel has spent the summer with his mother and is starting up his senior year at Wallingford. And, uh, someone else has decided to enroll there too.
Yvette: If you were trapped on a deserted island, and you could only have two books, which ones would you choose?
Holly
1 A Field Guide to Venomous Animals and Poisonous Plants.
2. Tales of the Flat Earth by Tanith Lee. I had these in a huge Science Fiction Bookclub bind-up when I was a kid, so I am counting them as one book. They were a huge influence on me as a young writer and I still love them.
Vania: What’s something most people don’t know about you?
Holly: I have a hairless cat named Lily. She is kind of rubbery to the touch, warmer than a normal cat and very affectionate. She also nurses on the skin of her own paw like a tiny vampire.
WHITE CAT is on sale now. Find it at your local library or bookstore.
Want to find out more??? Read Part I of this interview HERE.
Holly is currently on tour. Check out her schedule to see if she is coming to a bookstore near you. She will also be touring with the Smart Chicks Tour (and us) in September.
Alannah said:
“And, uh, someone else has decided to enroll there too.” hahahah! I can take a stab at that =P! Can’t wait, can’t wait, can’t WAIT!
Margie said:
She nurses on her own paw like a tiny vampire? That has to be the line of the day! I’m going to have bad dreams…
OH AND BY THE WAY – TEAM CASSEL ALL THE WAY!
Jennie said:
I just got this one in the mail the other day with swag! Had a sweet letter from Holly too… can’t wait to start it. Great interview ladies!
Randolf said:
She nurses on her own paw like a tiny vampire? That has to be the line of the day! I’m going to have bad dreams…OH AND BY THE WAY – TEAM CASSEL ALL THE WAY!
+1