Jacqueline Carey Interview and Giveaway *ended* of Naamah's Kiss!

Note: Jacqueline Carey writes adult books, some of this interview is more for adults eyes only!

I'm so excited!  My favorite author, Jacqueline Carey,  was nice enough to do an interview for us!  Here's the great interview she did.  At the end you'll find a giveaway for Naamahs' Kiss.  You can find my review of Naamah's Kiss Here.  I also did an overview of Kushiel's Dart, Kushiel's Chosen and Kushiel's Avatar Here.  And my overview of Kushiel's Scion, Kushiel's Justice and Kushiel's Mercy Here.   
So without further ado, here's the interview with Jacqueline Carey!


1. My sister in law and I were talking the other day and we both were wondering how authors who write sex scenes even deal with telling their family or having them read it.  When you wrote the Kushiel's Legacy Series did your family read it?  How did you deal with that?  My family is NOT open minded so I know I would have been using a pen name and probably would never tell them, ha ha.

If you want to write sex scenes, it’s crucial to get past the self-consciousness that it entails and just go for it.  That said, no way I let any of my family read Kushiel’s Dart until after it sold!  And my family is fairly open-minded.  If they weren’t, I might not have told them... although it would be rather hard to explain how I make a living by this point!

2. How did you come up with the Kushiel's Legacy world and characters? Some authors have dreams, others just start writing and it just happens.  How was it for you?

There’s no one answer.  The setting was inspired in part by a trip to the south of France, in part by a vivid dream, in part by research into angelology and religious lore.  I honestly don’t know where characters come from, I’m just glad they do!  I’ve always said part of the creative process is a mystery in the oldest sense of the word.  I do work out my plots fairly extensively in advance, rather than just starting to write.

3.I find similarities in the world to earth and am always picking out what 'country' is what.  I love that actually.  Was that intentional?

Definitely.  I love history and travel, and I enjoy scattering real-world details in my alternate world-building.  I think of them as little puzzle pieces for like-minded readers to enjoy.

4. Did you know the world was going to go this far into more series (trilogies)?

When I had the concept for the first trilogy, I knew that with all his baggage and torments, Imriel would be a good springboard character for a second trilogy.  I hadn’t planned any further, but after finishing the second trilogy, I was engaged by the idea of doing another that featured a scion of a different one of Elua’s Companions; and I settled on Naamah.

5. What is planned for the future?  I know Naamah's Curse comes out soon what comes after that?

There’s one more volume yet to come, Naamah’s Blessing, and I’m also working on a sequel to Santa Olivia.  After that, I’ll have to take some downtime to figure out what comes next!

6. Phedre is my favorite character in your books.  Well, probably my all time favorite character EVER.  Who is your favorite character in your books?

Phedre is such a unique character, it’s hard not to choose her.  But I love all my heroines and heroes!  Some of my favorites are secondary characters that are lots of fun to write, like the pirate captain Kazan Atrabiades in Kushiel’s Chosen or half-mad Gallus Tadius in Kushiel’s Scion.  And of course, Melisande Shahrizai is one of the most fun characters ever to write.  She’s so deliciously amoral.

7. Do you have a favorite book that you wrote that you think turned out much better then you'd ever expected? My favorite is Kushiel's Chosen, love the pirates!

Obviously, so do I!  But Kushiel’s Mercy was one of the toughest challenges to tackle, because I had to figure out a way to 1) separate my star-crossed lovers yet again, 2) Give Sidonie a more prominent role in the plot, and 3) bring around the entire series to a satisfying conclusion.  I ended up being very pleased with the result.

8. How do you come up with the names for your characters?  I think you do a fantastic job coming up with names that fit perfectly. And, btw, my daughters name is Phaedra, and I picked the name BEFORE I read the Kushiel's Legacy series.  That's actually a funny story and I'll share it real quick because it's something that will never fade from memory. I had called my best friend who lived on the other side of the US to tell her I picked a name but as soon as she answered she was squealing that she found the perfect name!  Well the name she picked was Phedre! The same name I was going to tell her.  She had just read the Kushiel's Legacy series and that day I went and got the first book.  And we're both very happy with the name 'we' picked.  And the series is both our favorites.

That’s quite a coincidence!  For me, choosing names is a process that combines research with intuition.  I pore over lists of setting-appropriate names until something clicks.

9. What are some of your all time favorite books that you recommend?

I find it hard to give recommendations, because my readers span a wide range of literary taste.  But Guy Gavriel Kay is an author I often recommend.  He writes fantasy set in recognizable alternate historical settings, with an adult emotional sensibility and a strong use of mythology.  His standalone “Tigana” is a good starting point.
 
Thank you so much Jacqueline!  I had a fantastic time at the booksigning and can't wait until next year when I hope you return!  

Now Jacqueline is so awesome and provided me a hardcopy *signed* of Naamah's Kiss for giveaway!  Now isn't that awesome?!  

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Naamah's Curse, June 2010

Naamah's Kiss by Jacqueline Carey Review

This is an adult novel.



Naamah's Kiss by Jacqueline Carey is the first book in her new trilogy.  Although it's considered #7 in the Kushiel's Legacy series, it is easily a trilogy that can stand alone.  The first two trilogies are a couple hundred years in the past to this one.  Since I've read the first trilogies I can't tell you if the world building is less as I have a firm visual on the world from the first 6 books.  I think that without back tracking or repeating herself for those who have read the others she still does a great job of describing the world.  I think this is done so smoothly because the main character, Moirin, is discovering it as well.  We are seeing it all through her eyes.  And I can tell you that Jacqueline Carey has a knack for world building as well as some serious descriptive talents.  I guess she is a writer, so that's to be expected!

Description:

Once there were great magicians born to the Maghuin Dhonn; the folk of the Brown Bear, the oldest tribe in Alba. But generations ago, the greatest of them all broke a sacred oath sworn in the name of all his people. Now, only small gifts remain to them. Through her lineage, Moirin possesses such gifts - the ability to summon the twilight and conceal herself, and the skill to coax plants to grow. Moirin has a secret, too. From childhood onward, she senses the presence of unfamiliar gods in her life; the bright lady, and the man with a seedling cupped in his palm. Raised in the wilderness by her reclusive mother, it isn't until she comes of age that Moirin learns how illustrious, if mixed, her heritage is. The great granddaughter of Alais the Wise, child of the Maghuin Donn, and a cousin of the Cruarch of Alba, Moirin learns her father was a D'Angeline priest dedicated to serving Naamah, goddess of desire. After Moirin undergoes the rites of adulthood, she finds divine acceptance...on the condition that she fulfill an unknown destiny that lies somewhere beyond the ocean. Or perhaps oceans. Beyond Terre d'Ange where she finds her father, in the far reaches of distant Ch'in, Moirin's skills are a true gift when facing the vengeful plans of an ambitious mage, a noble warrior princess desperate to save her father's throne, and the spirit of a celestial dragon.

My Thoughts:
Things that may catch your attention in that description are that Moirin has some magic.  She can go invisible,  she can coax plants to grow, and I can tell you that later some other gifts come to fruition as well.  She also has an amazing ability to just feel and know the world around her.  Great senses, I guess you could say.  She's blessed with gods smiling down on her and gifts from each one of them have been bestowed upon her. Which happens to be unusual anymore in this world, so many see her as a witch (or call her thusly) though once they get to know her they always love her.
Moirin shows how human she is by being saddened by leaving those she loves behind, but she is very brave in accepting her destiny and following it where it takes her.  She accepts her lot, although makes a few mistakes, which once again, shows only how human she really is.
Moirin finds herself through her gods smiling upon her.  And she follows her destiny where it takes her whether she really wants to or not.   Moirin finds love, or what she thinks is love, a few times but it's not until later that you really feel she has found her Joscelin (you'll only understand that if you've read the first Kushiel's Trilogy), her man who is there to stand by her no matter what and is her 'soulmate' so to speak, even while she follows the path of Naamah.  Although not a courtesan, she learns the skills of the bedchamber by the Queen of Terre D' Ange herself and it comes in handy in her travels (as I'm sure it will in the future also).  
Moirin's destiny takes her into some 'strange' circumstances as she is the first to say.  A lover to a dragon, trapped in a Ch'in princess.  Can you say strange?  Yes, very.  She finds herself the necessary companion to the Ch'in princess as they go on a journey to expel the dragon.  This travel takes us through some beautiful lands in Ch'in (China) and the descriptions were beautifully done.  Anyone who's seen China on TV, or even better, in real life, will be able to picture it all very well.  And likely even if you haven't (but who hasn't?).  The story in this final quarter of the book is so unique and so beautiful as they see horror wrought by the Divine Thunder (cannons), but beauty restored as many sacrifice themselves to the princess, Moirin and the Ch'in Empire.  The final conflict is is wonderfully done but the book is left wide open as Moirin sets off to find her destiny once again.
Naamah's Kiss is filled with beauty, adventure, and love.  And balanced with cruelty and trials, the world, the characters, the entire story is completely and utterly amazing.  Jacqueline Carey did not, for one minute, lack a single thing in this book.
She brought the adventure I loved from the first trilogy, as well as the love(s) and the world, of course.  But it is unique in that it's all new characters, some new countries,  and a dragon.  Okay come on, a dragon.  Now that is a very cool place to take the story, if you ask me.
I place this book above most of my 5 star books.  These books are just so amazing, nothing can quite live up to them.  But I only do up to 5 stars, so I give it the best rating possible, 5/5 moons!

This book was provided to me by the author for review (and giveaway!).  I was not paid for this post.  The opinions expressed are my own.
Now I've done some posts about Jacqueline Carey and her books already.
You can find my post on the signing and pictures here.
You can find my overview of the first trilogy (Kushiel's Dart, Kushiel's Chosen and Kushiel's Avatar )Here.  
And my overview of the second trilogy (Kushiel's Scion, Kushiel's Justice and Kushiel's Mercy) Here.
I'll have my interview with Jacqueline Carey posted soon as well as a giveaway of Naamah's Kiss.
You can find Jacqueline Carey on her website | facebook
You can purchase at your favorite bookstore, or at amazon.

Jacqueline Carey signing *Woo hoo!*

I just got home from the Jacqueline Carey book signing.  I had to bring my kids but it was still AWESOME!  
My friend Violet from The Eager Readers met me there.  She lives a couple hours south but after discovering each other and having such a great time the first time (a couple months ago) we'll probably always go to signings together.  It makes it so much better to have someone to share it all with.  
So Jacqueline Carey read from her future book that's not quite finished (almost, but not quite) that has the tentative title of Naamah's Blessing.  It made me more excited to read Naamah's Curse (which is the book newly released and which she's on the tour for).  I didn't buy it because $26 is just too much.  I probably should have bought it on amazon before, but I have some bookplates here or I'll wait until next year when she hopefully comes back so it will be a signed copy.  I did buy her books I haven't read other then that though.  I got Santa Olivia, which is one that many of you may enjoy.  Going by the description anyway.  
Here's a brief description from goodreads:
"A SF/fantasy novel set in the near future and featuring a young woman with special genetically engineered 'wolf-like' powers"


Certainly sounds very different from the Kushiel's Legacy books!  I also purchased Banewreaker and Godslayer which I haven't yet read either.  
Here's the description of Banwreaker from Goodreads: 

Once the Seven Shapers dwelled in accord. First-born among them was Haomane, Lord-of-Thought - and with his six sibling gods, they Shaped the world to their will. But Haomane was displeased, for he thought that his younger brother, Satoris, was too prideful (and too generous) in his gifts to the race of Men." "Satoris refused to bow to Haomane, and so began the Shapers' War, which Sundered the world. Haomane and his siblings lay at one end of a vast ocean, unable to touch their creations, while Satoris and the races of the world dwelled on the other. Satoris is reviled because most of the races believe that it was he alone who caused the rift." "Satoris sits in Darkhaven - seeking neither victory nor vengeance. He is not alone, for with him came his allies from the various races. And chief among them is Tanaros Blacksword, immortal Commander General of his army. Once a mortal man who was betrayed by king and wife, Tanaros fled to Darkhaven a thousand years ago, and in Satoris's service has redeemed his honor - but left his humanity behind." "Now a new prophecy has come that tells how the world could be made whole if Satoris were destroyed. In order to thwart the prophecy, Satoris orders Tanaros to capture the Lady of the Ellylon, the beautiful Cerelinde, to prevent her alliance with the last High King of Men." What neither Satoris nor Tanaros realize is that meeting Cerelinde will prove that not all of Tanaros's heart was turned to stone by his wife's betrayal, and that part of him is still very human. This will irrevocably change Tanaros's world forever - and could doom Satoris in the process.


Godslayer is the second in that series.  I bought Naamah's Kiss for my BFF too since she loves the first trilogy, though I'm not sure she's read the second.  But she should love it anyway.  And it's signed.  So that makes it more special.  

Anyway, after the reading Jacqueline Carey did a Q&A and there were a lot of writing questions.  Apparently a lot of writers in the audience!  I didn't ask any questions because she answered mine in my interview!  (Which is to be posted soon, btw!)  Also I hate yelling and I wasn't in the front.  I wasn't in the way back either though.   At one point she mentioned Phedre (her character from the first trilogy) and my daughter, Phaedra, said "mom that's my name, Phae'a'".  That was really cute.  It seemed quiet in there and like her voice was super loud, but I'm not sure it really was.  I was probably paranoid that she was bothering everyone.  If she was it was just super cute and no one was really bothered (I don't think).  
Someone asked about her travel and research because her world created is based on our own world and countries and she laughed and said all her travel is for research.   She does seem to do a lot of research on them and looks back in the history and then works from that.  She said the names she comes up with for the countries are sometimes ones she just makes up.  Other times it's something like a nickname of that place in real life, or a country that has the last name in our real world of someone in history, she just changed it to have that persons first name.  Whatever she does, they are unique names and and to me give nothing away of what country it is.  Well, most of the time.  Ch'in kinda gives it away for China though.  But once you read about it you can usually the country.  
Once the signing time came around I went and took the kids to the play area for awhile to let the line go down.  I came back and hopped in line with Violet and we met Jacqueline and I told her I was Candace, and here's Phaedra and she knew who I was (I've chatted with her a bit since I did the interview and she sent me books for giveaway).   We got pictures taken and she signed my HUGE stack of books.  Ummm, yeah, I had like ALL of her books.  
It was a GREAT time though and I'm so glad I finally got to meet my favorite author!  
Be sure to watch for my review of Naamah's Kiss and my interview with Jacqueline Carey and giveaway of Naamah's Kiss!  

Kushiel's Legacy, 1st trilogy

This isn't a review of one book, it's more of an overview of the first trilogy of Kushiel's Legacy by Jacqueline Carey.  Perhaps you have seen me rave about them?  For certain they are my favorite books of all time.  

The series begins with Kushiel's Dart and is the beginning of  Phedre no Delaunay's journeys and exploits.  I have heard said, and remember well myself, that the beginning of Kushiel's Dart is a bit much to take in.  It has the descriptions of this complex, though very creative and unique world, as well as all the houses of the Night Court where Phedre serves as an adept.  To be sure this is an adult novel, so if your not over 17 then please turn your eyes away now (but remember to check these books out when your older).  I'm not going to actually get into too much detail, but a very important aspect of these books is the sex.  It's very there.  And although not exactly erotica, it certainly has plenty of erotica like aspects.  So if your not open minded then you may not enjoy these books.  But these books are not all about sex.  The adventure and intrigue certainly dominates!  Once you get through the first half of Kushiel's Dart the story really picks up and the adventure begins.  Here is a description from Goodreads in case you are unfamiliar with the book:

The land of Terre d'Ange is a place of unsurpassing beauty and grace. It is said that angels found the land and saw it was good....and the ensuing race that rose from the seed of angels and men live by one simple rule: Love as thou wilt. Phèdre nó Delaunay is a young woman who was born with a scarlet mote in her left eye. Sold into indentured servitude as a child, her bond is purchased by Anafiel Delaunay, a nobleman with very a special mission....and the first one to recognize who and what she is: one pricked by Kushiel's dart, chosen to forever experience pain and pleasure as one. 

Phèdre is trained equally in the courtly arts and the talents of the bedchamber, but, above all, the ability to observe, remember, and analyze. Almost as talented a spy as she is courtesan, Phèdre stumbles upon a plot that threatens the very foundations of her homeland. Treachery sets her on her path; love and honor goad her further. And in the doing, it will take her to the edge of despair....and beyond. 

Hateful friend, loving enemy, beloved assassin; they can all wear the same glittering mask in this world, and Phèdre will get but one chance to save all that she holds dear. Set in a world of cunning poets, deadly courtiers, heroic traitors, and a truly Machiavellian villainess, this is a novel of grandeur, luxuriance, sacrifice, betrayal, and deeply laid conspiracies. Not since Dune has there been an epic on the scale of Kushiel's Dart, a massive tale about the violent death of an old age, and the birth of a new.

The second book, Kushiel's Chosen, is my favorite of all the books.  After reading Kushiel's Dart (6 years ago!) I rushed out to get this one.  Once I started it I could not put it down!  The adventure!  The creative, unique and complex world created!  The stunning scenery! Characters so vivid, so amazing, and you fall in love over and over again.  Others you want to reach in and strangle for all their stupidity!  You never know where a character may go.  They may be good in one chapter and are betraying their province or country the next!  The twists, the turns, the impending doom and the great Cassiline Warrior that drops in to the save the damsel (who manages quite well on her own, I might add!) and the world over and over again!    Here's a description for Kushiel's Chosen, minus the first paragraph which is in the description of Kushiel's Dart.

Phèdre has trained in the courtly arts and the talents of the bedchamber, but, above all, the ability to observe, remember, and analyze. Having stumbled upon a plot that threatened the very foundations of her homeland, she gave up almost everything she held dear to save it. She survived, and lived to have others tell her story, and if they embellish the tale with fabric of mythical splendor, they weren't far off the mark.

The hands of the gods weigh heavily upon Phèdre's brow, and they are not yet done with their charge - for while the young queen who sits upon the throne is well loved by the people, there are those who believe that other heads should wear the crown. And those who escaped the wrath of the mighty are not yet done with their schemes for power and revenge. To protect and serve, Phèdre will once again leave her beloved homeland.

From the sun-drenched villas of La Serenissima to the wilds of old Hellas, from a prison designed to drive the very gods mad to an island of immutable joy, Phèdre will meet old friends and new enemies... and discover a plot so dreadful as to make the earth tremble, masterminded by the one person she cannot turn away from.

Kushiel's Avatar is the third book and the final in this first trilogy.  It follows a very close second in my favorites after Kushiel's Chosen.  This one is more emotional and has parts that are quite difficult to take in.  Although they all have parts with torture, this one, if my memory serves right, is the hardest of all to deal with.  It's the tale of Phedre and Joscelin as they travel to free a captive child and to find the secret to release Phedre's childhood friend, Hyacinthe from being Master of the Straits.  Here's the description:

Phèdre nó Delaunay has lain with princes and pirate kings, battled a wicked temptress, and saved two nations. Through it all, the devoted swordsman Joscelin has been at her side, following the central precept of the angel Cassiel: Protect and serve.

But Phèdre's plans will put his pledge to the test, for she has never forgotten her childhood friend Hyacinthe. She has spent ten long years searching for the key to free him from his eternal indenture to the Master of Straights, a bargain with the gods to save Phèdre and a nation. The search will take Phèdre and Joscelin across the world and down a fabled river to a forgotten land. . . and to a power so intense and mysterious, none dare speak its name.

I have a poor memory and to be sure I could never find the words to describe this series and the joy they've brought me.  But Jacqueline Carey has created a world not unlike our own but with magics and beauty that is unsurpassed.  Every time I'm asked what my favorite book is it's very easy for me to answer.  For there are no books that can match Jacqueline Carey's Kushiel's Legacy books.  

Next time I'll tell you of the second trilogy in Kushiel's Legacy, which is the story of Imriel.  Phedre and Joscelin's adopted son and Melisande's true son.  

I am currently reading the first book in the third trilogy, Naamah's Kiss and will be doing a review when I finish.  This is a trilogy that could be read without reading the first 6 books.  It has new characters and is a couple hundred years later.  I'm finding that mentions of past characters and the traditions that are played out once again are bringing back memories and I actually find myself with tears in my eyes.  I really can't recommend this series any more strongly!  

Also I will be doing an interview with Jacqueline Carey and a giveaway!  I'm going to her signing on Friday and am so excited to meet her!

Stay tuned for the future posts featuring Jacqueline Carey and her books!