Interview with Maurissa Guibord, author of Revel (and Giveaway)!

Hello! Recognize that beauty up there? That is Revel, a standalone novel written by the fabulous Maurissa Guibord, also the author Warped, another standalone novel (not associated with Revel). 

Revel came out on February 12, 2013, and I recently have had the pleasure of reviewing Revel and interviewing Mrs. Guibord. Stick around, because at the end there is a giveaway for a signed copy of Revel!

Check out my review of Revel HERE.

The Interview:

Alyssa: Hi, Ms. Guibord! Thank you so much for doing this interview with me! I am so excited to pick apart your brain! I absolutely adored Warped, and when I saw that you had another book hitting the shelves, I was beyond crazy excited! So, How does it feel to be a published author AGAIN?!

It’s wonderful and intimidating too, I really hope that readers will like this story as much as they did Warped!
(trust me, we did! Or, we will!)

How was the publication process different, the second time around?

Well this book was with my same wonderful editor, Michelle Poploff from Random House so I knew a bit more of what to expect with the process of editing and how she works. The level of work, rewriting and anxiety was just the same though. With each new story I have a feeling of jumping off the high dive board- in a skimpy bathing suit- in front of a crowd…

What was something different about writing Revel, in comparison to Warped?

It is different to write a book on a deadline, with a contract. Not bad by any means! Just different. It becomes a commitment to the publisher and the readers to get the job done. It some ways it’s a very good thing- it makes a girl step away from the Netflix queue and get cracking. It also means that someone likes your work and wants more- always a good thing!

Both Warped and Revel have paranormal aspects. Why paranormal?

I always liked the feeling when I was younger, of reading a story and thinking “Yes, that could happen to me!” No matter how strange the events. In fact, the stranger the better! As long as the author helped me to enter that world and believe in it. That’s great story telling and that’s what I aim for.

Do you ever read reviews of your books?

Honestly I try not to read any. I may read a sentence or two to get the gist- then I stop. The good or the bad- both make me uncomfortable. I love to hear that someone enjoyed my book- but to have it analyzed is just painful. Although I have to say- I did read a few criticisms of the first book and realized there were things I could do better. Hopefully that shows in Revel. I want to please readers and to entertain them.

Alyssa: Is there an author (or authors!) that has greatly influenced you and your writing?

Yes, I love the crisp plotting and story telling of Agatha Christie- I’m always amazed by her ability to surprise.

Alyssa: I know that Maine is absolutely beautiful, year-round! The nature there is still much more intact than here in Maryland. What do you do (or would like to do) when you are not writing or editing?

I really enjoy spending time walking along the beach, picking up shells and sea glass and looking out at the water. Especially on a cool, windy day- there is nothing like it to wash away my worries and get my imagination churning.

Alyssa: What’s your least favorite part of the publication process?

That would be the waiting. I was amazed to learn how long it takes to go from a finished, edited manuscript and the book actually appearing. For some folks it can be a year, two years, even longer!

Alyssa: As of right now, are both Revel and Warped standalone novels? 

Yes, both are standalones.

What are you currently writing? 

It involves a girl travelling to the underworld, to Tartarus, and trying to solve a mystery. Like my other books it takes a story from mythology and twists it around a bit. Unlike my other books though- it is very much a mystery- a case of whodunit .There’s also a hint of romance and humor- because you know, I can’t live without those!

A few non-book-related questions…

Alyssa: What’s one of the most embarrassing things you've done in college?

Going to a Halloween party dressed as an atom. Yes. Black leotard. Yellow styrofoam electrons swinging from yarn. I think it was a Chlorine atom but I can’t remember why it should have been chlorine. I had to spin around for the full orbit effect, of course. I didn’t have a car so I traveled to the party on the city bus. Oy.

Yes, I was a nerd girl.

If you decided to stop writing, and could get paid to do whatever you wanted, what would you do?

I would be involved in the theater, maybe backstage creating sets or helping with makeup or costumes. I love the energy and friendship of theater people.

Alyssa: What is your favorite thing about living in Maine!

Lobster rolls!

Alyssa: Thank you so much for being here! And good luck with your current projects :)

Maurissa's Site | Maurissa's Goodreads | Maurissa's Twitter

Revel on Goodreads | Revel on Amazon | Revel on B&N

Warped on Goodreads | Warped on Amazon | Warped on B&N

The Giveaway:

Maurissa is all sorts of awesome, and has sent me a SIGNED copy of Revel to give away! Here are the rules:

- US ONLY (sorry to all the international folks!)

- There will be ONE winner

- You must be 18 years old or older, or at least 13 years old with a parent or guardian's permission (I didn't know this, and it makes sense, but it's illegal to take addresses from minors under the age of 13 years old)

- Winner must respond to the email within 48 hours. Failure to do so will result in me choosing another winner

- Please enter via the Rafflecopter widget below

- DO NOT CHEAT!

Good luck! :)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Review: Revel by Maurissa Guibord

Revel by Maurissa Guibord

Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers

Publication Date: February 12, 2013

Rating: 5 stars

Source: Copy provided by the author

Summary (from Goodreads):

There’s an island off the coast of Maine that’s not on any modern map.

Shrouded in mist and protected by a deadly reef, Trespass Island is home to a community of people who guard the island and its secrets from outsiders. Seventeen-year-old Delia grew up in Kansas, but has come here in search of her family and answers to her questions: Why didn’t her mother ever talk about Trespass Island? Why did she fear the open water? But Delia’s not welcome and soon finds herself enmeshed in a frightening and supernatural world where ancient Greek symbols adorn the buildings and secret ceremonies take place on the beach at night.

Sean Gunn, a handsome young lobsterman, befriends Delia and seems willing to risk his life to protect her. But it’s Jax, the coldly elusive young man she meets at the water’s edge, who finally makes Delia understand the real dangers of life on the island. Delia is going to have to fight to survive. Because there are monsters here. And no one ever leaves Trespass alive.

What I Liked:

First, let me say that this book is in no way associated with Mrs. Guibord's first novel, Warped. Warped (2011) is AMAZING, a story about time-travel and curses and Fate, and I totally recommend to anyone, but Revel is not related to Warped in any way. Just a note :)

Second, can I just say how GORGEOUS the cover of Revel is!? I love the blue and white swirls, and trust me, it's even prettier in person. AND SHINY. This one is quite the stunner from Delacorte.

Okay, now the actual book. This review might be a little short, because I LOVED this book. And usually, with books that I absolutely love, I tend to go on and on and gush endlessly about things that I loved (which tends to be everything), and I'm sure people get the idea after a while.

The story does not start slowly at all - which I appreciated. While I will read through them, I am not a fan of slow starts. Revel kicks off quickly and gains speed, adding the mythological aspect of the book faster than I expected (not at all a bad thing). The pacing of this book was perfect (in my opinion), and fit the story extremely well.

I enjoyed reading about Delia. She is a heroine that anyone can like, and she is tough and inquisitive. I love the way she stood up for herself at every chance she got. She wasn't snarky or rude, but she was assertive, and I found myself cheering her on. It is never easy fitting in a place where no one wants you. I think she handled everything thrown at her very well, especially the no-technology-on-this-island thing. That one would not have sat well with me.

Delia's Gran is a fabulous mentor, and Zuzu and Reilly are excellent friends. Each character's relationship with Delia is different and rocky, but each character cares about each other and Delia, so I genuinely liked each of them by the end of the book. Sean is another sweet secondary character who fights to protect everyone on the island, which almost ended up being a disaster for him.

But Jax. Jax is my favorite character of this book. Right from his formal introduction (there was an informal one first), we know that he is not perfect, or godlike (no pun intended), or the stereotypical divine male that pops out of nowhere and is suddenly a love interest. He still is a love interest, but he's not like, the usual HOT supernatural male creature. That made me love him even more. He is an outcast, but he is so noble. There seriously aren't enough to describe this guy. Just trust me - he's amazing in a not-so-typical way. I feel like only shallow readers wouldn't like him, because he isn't perfect. But I think his imperfections make him even more appealing, and apparently, Delia thought so, too (hint hint).

So, yes, there is sort of a love triangle. But you can tell where it was going as soon as you read about both love interests. It is so obvious, which is GOOD. No choosing teams or getting up-in-arms over Delia. She knew what she really wanted, they knew what they really wanted, and the romance wraps up cleanly.

The plot of this book was fantastic. I don't want to give anything away, but believe me, you will not be bored at any point in this book. I always found myself wondering, "What happens next?" throughout the book, and I could not wait until the end to find out. And contrary to what I thought, the ceremony Revel is NOT the climax of the book. Usually, the one big event of the book is the climax, towards the end-ish. Well, the ceremony Revel is past the middle, but it isn't the climax. A nice surprise for me, who usually has things figured out halfway through books. The monsters, the transformations, the deaths... you will NOT be disappointed! Or bored! 

I thought this was going to be a short review, and I wouldn't gush. Oops.

What I Did Not Like:

There really isn't anything that I can put here. Maybe the fact that I can't understand how Delia gave up technology to live on Trespass Island? I could never do that. But that's more of a personal preference, not a negative in a book.

Would I Recommend It:

YES! Go get it NOW! Anyone can read and will most likely love this book. 

Rating: 

5 stars - there was no doubt in my mind after I finished this one that it would be 5 stars from me. Revel will definitely be in my favorites of 2013 list, just as Warped as in 2011!

Author Blog | Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes and Noble

Was this review helpful? Please let me know in the comments section!

Swoon Thursday (#8): Warped by Maurissa Guibord

Swoon Thursday is a hot meme hosted by the fabulous ladies at YA Bound!

- From the book you’re currently reading, or one you just finished, tell us what made you SWOON. What got your heart pounding, your skin tingling, and your stomach fluttering

- Try to make the swoon excerpt 140 characters (or less), if you are going to tweet about it. Use the hashtag #YABOUND when tweeting

This week, my swoon is from Warped by Maurissa Guibord (which I am re-reading for the ten billionth time)!

 

 

He pulled her to him, lowered his head, and kissed her.

 

With the touch of Will's lips to hers, Tessa's world shrank. There was nothing beyond the small, dark space between them, nothing beyond the sensations that enveloped her like a wave. Like an ocean. She was sinking and yet weightless as his breathh mingled with hers, his mouth molded softly to her own. She twined her arms up and around his neck and felt herself drawn even more tightly to him.

 

- Page 213

 

Author Blog | Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes and Noble

Check out the summary (from Goodreads):

Tessa doesn't believe in magic. Or Fate. But there's something weird about the dusty unicorn tapestry she discovers in a box of old books. She finds the creature woven within it compelling and frightening. After the tapestry comes into her possession, Tessa experiences dreams of the past and scenes from a brutal hunt that she herself participated in. When she accidentally pulls a thread from the tapestry, Tessa releases a terrible centuries old secret. She also meets William de Chaucy, an irresistible 16th-century nobleman. His fate is as inextricably tied to the tapestry as Tessa's own. Together, they must correct the wrongs of the past. But then the Fates step in, making a tangled mess of Tessa's life. Now everyone she loves will be destroyed unless Tessa does their bidding and defeats a cruel and crafty ancient enemy.

 

Guys. You do not UNDERSTAND how much I love this book. I read it back in 2011, when it was published. It's one of those that you read, re-read, leave for a while, and pick up periodically to read again and again. I seriously love this book so much!

 

Interesting how the names of these protagonists - Will and Tessa - are the same as the ones in The Infernal Devices, right? Except, this book came out a year and a half BEFORE the first Infernal Device book came out. But still, something to notice.

 

Next week, I promise I will have a new book that is NOT adult fiction! I'm currently reading an adult book, and I'd rather use a YA book that I am reading, but not for the first time.

 

Anyway! What book made you swoon this week?

Waiting on Wednesday (#3): Revel by Maurissa Guibord

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating. 


This week I'm featuring:

Revel by Maurissa Guibord

Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers

Publication Date: February 12, 2013

Summary from Goodreads:

There’s an island off the coast of Maine that’s not on any modern map.

Shrouded in mist and protected by a deadly reef, Trespass Island is home to a community of people who guard the island and its secrets from outsiders. Seventeen-year-old Delia grew up in Kansas, but has come here in search of her family and answers to her questions: Why didn’t her mother ever talk about Trespass Island? Why did she fear the open water? But Delia’s not welcome and soon finds herself enmeshed in a frightening and supernatural world where ancient Greek symbols adorn the buildings and secret ceremonies take place on the beach at night.

Sean Gunn, a handsome young lobsterman, befriends Delia and seems willing to risk his life to protect her. But it’s Jax, the coldly elusive young man she meets at the water’s edge, who finally makes Delia understand the real dangers of life on the island. Delia is going to have to fight to survive. Because there are monsters here. And no one ever leaves Trespass alive.

Author Blog | Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes and Noble

GUYS GUYS GUYS I AM SO EXCITED FOR THIS BOOK!!! I absolutely ADORED Maurissa Guibord's debut, Warped (click HERE for Goodreads information). I cannot wait to get started on a new book (series?) by Ms. Guibord!!! And look at the gorgeous, abstract-looking cover! It's so pretty. There are so many great releases in February, and this one is at the top for me!

What are you waiting on?