We, the girls at Good Choice Reading, are huge fans of Claudia Gray and her Evernight series. So when HarperCollins contacted us and asked if we would like to participate in this blog tour, we jumped at the chance. Here is our interview with Claudia, hopefully she will answer some of your questions, along with ours! And if you'd like to read my review for Afterlife, just keep scrolling down.
1. Since Afterlife is the fourth and final book to this series, do you
think your readers will be happy with the way it all ended?
I certainly hope so! My goal was to create a meaningful finish for the
characters, the romance and the plot, and you guys will have to let me
know if I succeeded.
2. Who was your favorite character and why?
I never had one set, permanent favorite. My favorite is usually the
one who's the easiest to write on any given day. That said, some of
the characters who were often a joy to write were Balthazar, Dana,
Vic, Ranulf and Mrs. Bethany.
3. What was your inspiration for writing this series?
The idea of the school itself, really -- it was a much more dramatic
version of the boarding school I always wished I could go to myself! I
don't think I used to wish for vampires specifically, but I'd have
been thrilled if they'd have been there! But mostly I wanted all that
stonework, and the stained-glass windows, and the library, and the
never-ending supply of hot guys. That's pretty much the definition of
an ideal high school, right there.
4. Do you think if Bianca could go back to the day when she met Lucas
at Evernight Academy, and change everything, would she?
No, though I think she'd try harder to get answers from both Lucas and
her parents a lot earlier on. She has to make a lot of difficult
choices based on very limited information, which isn't always her
fault.
5. Did you name any of the characters after people you knew in real life?
No, but two of the characters are named after actors who were part of
the fifth season of my all-time favorite television show, "Alias."
6. Given the choice, would you rather be a wraith or a vampire?
Tough call. Given my luck, I'd probably die while wearing my laundry
day underwear, baggy jeans and the T-shirt I use to do chores in,
which has a faded cartoon cat on the front that says PARTY ANIMAL. So
let's say vampire. At least I could change out of that.
7. What message do you want your readers to understand from reading this series?
Oh, I tried really hard NOT to make it a message-first story. But
anything that you, as a writer, believe -- that ends up in the book
whether you mean it to or not. So probably there's a lot in there
about self-determination, and about not letting other people think for
you. Bianca and Lucas both have to set aside a lot of their prejudices
and assumptions to make their romance work, and it ends up changing
the destinies of many of the people around them, too.
8. Since Balthazar is getting his own series, is there anything you
can tell us about it without giving away spoilers?
Balthazar is getting his own book, not a series (though I would love
to write even more about him.) But in that book, I can tell you that
you learn a lot about how he became a vampire, and you'll meet his
single greatest vampire enemy. And of course, Balthazar's always been
unlucky in love, but I think it's high time that changed, don't you?
_______________________________________________________
Well I think I can safely say that book number three Hourglass, left us all reeling. Since she did not take a human life, Bianca died and became a wraith. And thanks to Balthazar's evil sister Charity, Lucas has now become a vampire. So things are pretty complicated to say the least. But the love between Bianca and Lucas is so strong that they're determined to stay together at all costs...
Realizing they have no other choice but to return to Evernight Academy, Lucas seeks sanctuary there while Bianca hides from her parents and Mrs Bethany. Initially Lucas is shocked to discover that he is welcomed back into school with open arms. However a few challenges await him, because he has to not only learn how to control his blood-lust, but also figure out what Mrs Bethany is up to concerning the wraiths. Get ready for more action, more intrigue and more surprises in this gripping conclusion to Claudia Gray's Evernight Series!
It's very hard to talk about how great this book was, without giving too much away. This series has no doubt been one of my favorites. I was mesmerized since book one, when Lucas and Bianca first crossed paths. They are a couple unlike any other I've read. Lucas was raised to hate vampires and kill them. But when he found out what Bianca was, it didn't matter because he had fallen so in love with her. It is a beautiful love story because they were both able to look beyond what each other was, and see the soul underneath.
I have most definitely recommended this series in the past, and will continue to do so in the future. I think what makes it so great is that Bianca is the kind of character that many girls can relate to, well except for the whole vampire aspect! She also is inspiring because she not only fought for love, but for what she believed in too. In a way its sad that this series is over, but like the saying goes "all good things must come to an end." Thank you Claudia for writing such a wonderful story, and I can't wait to get my hands on the Balthazar book!
For more info on Claudia Gray and the Evernight Series check out:
http://www.claudiagray.com/
*Find her on twitter @claudiagray
*And facebook: Claudia Gray on FB
1. Since Afterlife is the fourth and final book to this series, do you
think your readers will be happy with the way it all ended?
I certainly hope so! My goal was to create a meaningful finish for the
characters, the romance and the plot, and you guys will have to let me
know if I succeeded.
I never had one set, permanent favorite. My favorite is usually the
one who's the easiest to write on any given day. That said, some of
the characters who were often a joy to write were Balthazar, Dana,
Vic, Ranulf and Mrs. Bethany.
3. What was your inspiration for writing this series?
The idea of the school itself, really -- it was a much more dramatic
version of the boarding school I always wished I could go to myself! I
don't think I used to wish for vampires specifically, but I'd have
been thrilled if they'd have been there! But mostly I wanted all that
stonework, and the stained-glass windows, and the library, and the
never-ending supply of hot guys. That's pretty much the definition of
an ideal high school, right there.
4. Do you think if Bianca could go back to the day when she met Lucas
at Evernight Academy, and change everything, would she?
No, though I think she'd try harder to get answers from both Lucas and
her parents a lot earlier on. She has to make a lot of difficult
choices based on very limited information, which isn't always her
fault.
No, but two of the characters are named after actors who were part of
the fifth season of my all-time favorite television show, "Alias."
6. Given the choice, would you rather be a wraith or a vampire?
Tough call. Given my luck, I'd probably die while wearing my laundry
day underwear, baggy jeans and the T-shirt I use to do chores in,
which has a faded cartoon cat on the front that says PARTY ANIMAL. So
let's say vampire. At least I could change out of that.
7. What message do you want your readers to understand from reading this series?
Oh, I tried really hard NOT to make it a message-first story. But
anything that you, as a writer, believe -- that ends up in the book
whether you mean it to or not. So probably there's a lot in there
about self-determination, and about not letting other people think for
you. Bianca and Lucas both have to set aside a lot of their prejudices
and assumptions to make their romance work, and it ends up changing
the destinies of many of the people around them, too.
can tell us about it without giving away spoilers?
Balthazar is getting his own book, not a series (though I would love
to write even more about him.) But in that book, I can tell you that
you learn a lot about how he became a vampire, and you'll meet his
single greatest vampire enemy. And of course, Balthazar's always been
unlucky in love, but I think it's high time that changed, don't you?
_______________________________________________________
Review: Afterlife by Claudia Gray
The fourth book in this electrifying vampire series has all the romance, suspense, and page-turning drama that have made Claudia Gray’s Evernight books runaway successes.
Having become what they feared most, Bianca and Lucas face a terrifying new reality. They must return to Evernight Academy, Lucas as a vampire and Bianca as a wraith. But Lucas is haunted by demons, both personal and supernatural. Bianca must help him fight the evil inside him, combat the forces determined to drive them apart—and find the power to claim her destiny at last. Readers have fallen in love with Bianca and Lucas, and they will be thrilled to read this exciting conclusion to their romantic adventure.
Well I think I can safely say that book number three Hourglass, left us all reeling. Since she did not take a human life, Bianca died and became a wraith. And thanks to Balthazar's evil sister Charity, Lucas has now become a vampire. So things are pretty complicated to say the least. But the love between Bianca and Lucas is so strong that they're determined to stay together at all costs...
Realizing they have no other choice but to return to Evernight Academy, Lucas seeks sanctuary there while Bianca hides from her parents and Mrs Bethany. Initially Lucas is shocked to discover that he is welcomed back into school with open arms. However a few challenges await him, because he has to not only learn how to control his blood-lust, but also figure out what Mrs Bethany is up to concerning the wraiths. Get ready for more action, more intrigue and more surprises in this gripping conclusion to Claudia Gray's Evernight Series!
It's very hard to talk about how great this book was, without giving too much away. This series has no doubt been one of my favorites. I was mesmerized since book one, when Lucas and Bianca first crossed paths. They are a couple unlike any other I've read. Lucas was raised to hate vampires and kill them. But when he found out what Bianca was, it didn't matter because he had fallen so in love with her. It is a beautiful love story because they were both able to look beyond what each other was, and see the soul underneath.
I have most definitely recommended this series in the past, and will continue to do so in the future. I think what makes it so great is that Bianca is the kind of character that many girls can relate to, well except for the whole vampire aspect! She also is inspiring because she not only fought for love, but for what she believed in too. In a way its sad that this series is over, but like the saying goes "all good things must come to an end." Thank you Claudia for writing such a wonderful story, and I can't wait to get my hands on the Balthazar book!
For more info on Claudia Gray and the Evernight Series check out:
http://www.claudiagray.com/
*Find her on twitter @claudiagray
*And facebook: Claudia Gray on FB
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