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An interview with
Liz DeJesus
Liz DeJesus
GLASS FROST picks up right where the first book ended. Bianca definitely does a lot of growing up in the sequel, she learns a little bit more about what she’s capable of, and discovers that her feelings for Terrance go way beyond a simple crush. Bianca’s relationships are definitely put to the test. She realizes what she’s willing to do to protect her family, friends and Terrance.
Bianca & Co. go deeper into the Everafter Forest and meet Queen Titania. They discover what happened to the Frog Prince after he lived ‘Happily Ever After’. They also learn what happened to the Seven Dwarves after Snow White married the handsome prince.
Oh! And Terrance and Prince Ferdinand get to visit the ‘real world’ and I love those scenes, where they’re looking at DVD players, telephones and modern plumbing (Ferdinand is fascinated with the toilet).
I feel like GLASS FROST answers a lot of the questions people asked while reading FIRST FROST. I sincerely hope that people enjoy this book; I had a great time writing it.
How many? I’m not sure. It’s my hope that it can be an ongoing series. But if that doesn’t work out then at least five books. I’m still working on book #3 (tentatively titled SHATTERED FROST) and it’s definitely going to be a while before I have a release date for that book since I’m still in the middle of writing it. Things definitely get more complicated for Bianca and Ming.
Hints? Bianca and Ming go back to Everafter for the Winter Ball (it’s like a Yule Tide celebration where they prepare for the arrival of the Snow Queen). A descendant of Captain Bluebeard becomes fascinated with Bianca. Another hint? Alice in Wonderland is definitely involved in the story as well and we find out more about Terrance’s parents.
But if I tell you anything else it’ll give the story away.
One of my favorite scenes is in GLASS FROST where Prince Ferdinand is learning how to use the telephone to call Ming. He holds the receiver at arm’s length, shouts to Ming asks her to the Winter Ball (which will happen in book #3). I love Prince Ferdinand, he’s goofy, loveable, charming and has a heart of gold.
If you could own any item from a fairytale, what would it be? (eg. The Queen’s magic mirror from Snow White and the Seven Dwarves, the magic harp from Jack and the Beanstalk).
Earth. I like having my feet planted firmly on the ground. Plus, I like flowers and the idea of being able to have a garden.
There once was a youth who went forth to learn about the shivers. What are you afraid of?
Quickfire Stuff: This or That?
-City of Atlantis or Camelot?
-Mermaid or unicorn?
-Talking frog or talking donkey?
Quickfire Stuff: Would You Rather...?
-Be cursed with 10 curses in a row or be cursed 5 times from now until eternity?
-Eat a poisoned apple (Snow White) or eat pomegranate arils/seeds (Persephone in Greek myth)?
-Would you rather open and unleash Pandora's Box or unlock and enter Bluebeard's locked doom room?
EXCERPT FROM
FIRST FROST
Bianca got out of her car and ran inside the house. She called for her mother as she searched for her upstairs in all of the rooms. Nothing. She quickly ran downstairs and was ready to go down to the basement when a strange turquoise light caught her eye. She looked out the kitchen window; she couldn’t believe what she saw. Her mother was throwing what Bianca could only describe as balls of turquoise fireballs at a woman wearing a black hood. Bianca couldn’t see the woman’s face, but she could see her pale hands and slender fingers.
Bianca tried to make sense of it all. She kept expecting to see a special effects crew to come out from behind the trees and tell her that it was all part of an elaborate prank. But no such thing happened. All she knew was that a strange turquoise flame was coming out of her mother’s hands.
She knew that her mother sometimes read old dusty books on witchcraft, but she didn’t know she had actual powers. She thought about all the little quirks her mother had. Things that Bianca thought were essentially Rose. Her mother talked to plants and trees. She would sometimes stare off into space as though she were looking at something in another world. Something only she could see. She read tarot cards to random people and would tell them things about his or her life as though she were reading an open book. Bianca always thought she just made really lucky guesses. She chose not to believe in this other world and everything it stood for. Magic represented a life out of the norm, and Bianca desperately wanted to be normal. Just like everyone else.
Bianca pulled herself out of her thoughts. As she looked at the blue and green flashes in the backyard, she quickly realized that this was something she couldn’t escape. Normal was no longer a part of her world. Normal was no longer an option for her.
Bianca didn’t know what to do. She was frozen in place. She was afraid to distract her mother for even a second. She ducked behind the screen door; at least this way she could still hear what they were saying to each other.
“Did you really think I wouldn’t come?” the witch shouted.
“Oh, I knew you’d be back,” Rose replied.
Bianca slowly lifted her gaze and peeked above the screen. She saw her mother standing behind the shed on the left side of their backyard. The witch was still too far away for her to get a good look at her, but Bianca could tell that she was on the far right corner of their yard.
“Where’s the book?” the witch demanded.
“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” Rose replied with a smirk.
“Don’t be coy with me. You know very well what I’m talking about.”
“Sorry. I can’t help you.” Rose’s breathing was becoming more labored and she was drenched in sweat…obvious signs of exhaustion, but Bianca could tell by the look on her mother’s face that she wouldn’t give up.
“The wards in the museum are impressive. I couldn’t get past them. But maybe…she’ll know where the book is,” the witch said as she looked in Bianca’s direction and threw a sickly olive-colored fireball at the screen door.
Bianca shrieked and jumped out of the way. The screen door fell off its hinges and landed on the kitchen floor with a loud thud. “Bianca!” Rose screamed.
Bianca tried to make sense of it all. She kept expecting to see a special effects crew to come out from behind the trees and tell her that it was all part of an elaborate prank. But no such thing happened. All she knew was that a strange turquoise flame was coming out of her mother’s hands.
She knew that her mother sometimes read old dusty books on witchcraft, but she didn’t know she had actual powers. She thought about all the little quirks her mother had. Things that Bianca thought were essentially Rose. Her mother talked to plants and trees. She would sometimes stare off into space as though she were looking at something in another world. Something only she could see. She read tarot cards to random people and would tell them things about his or her life as though she were reading an open book. Bianca always thought she just made really lucky guesses. She chose not to believe in this other world and everything it stood for. Magic represented a life out of the norm, and Bianca desperately wanted to be normal. Just like everyone else.
Bianca pulled herself out of her thoughts. As she looked at the blue and green flashes in the backyard, she quickly realized that this was something she couldn’t escape. Normal was no longer a part of her world. Normal was no longer an option for her.
Bianca didn’t know what to do. She was frozen in place. She was afraid to distract her mother for even a second. She ducked behind the screen door; at least this way she could still hear what they were saying to each other.
“Did you really think I wouldn’t come?” the witch shouted.
“Oh, I knew you’d be back,” Rose replied.
Bianca slowly lifted her gaze and peeked above the screen. She saw her mother standing behind the shed on the left side of their backyard. The witch was still too far away for her to get a good look at her, but Bianca could tell that she was on the far right corner of their yard.
“Where’s the book?” the witch demanded.
“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” Rose replied with a smirk.
“Don’t be coy with me. You know very well what I’m talking about.”
“Sorry. I can’t help you.” Rose’s breathing was becoming more labored and she was drenched in sweat…obvious signs of exhaustion, but Bianca could tell by the look on her mother’s face that she wouldn’t give up.
“The wards in the museum are impressive. I couldn’t get past them. But maybe…she’ll know where the book is,” the witch said as she looked in Bianca’s direction and threw a sickly olive-colored fireball at the screen door.
Bianca shrieked and jumped out of the way. The screen door fell off its hinges and landed on the kitchen floor with a loud thud. “Bianca!” Rose screamed.
~*~
O F F I C I A L I N F O:
Title: FIRST FROST
Author: Liz DeJesus
Release Date: June 22, 2012
Publisher: Musa Publishing
SUMMARY:
For generations, the Frost family has run the Museum of Magical and Rare Artifacts, handing down guardianship from mother to daughter, always keeping their secrets to “family only.”
Gathered within museum’s walls is a collection dedicated to the Grimm fairy tales and to the rare items the family has acquired: Cinderella’s glass slipper, Snow White’s poisoned apple, the evil queen’s magic mirror, Sleeping Beauty’s enchanted spinning wheel…
Seventeen-year-old Bianca Frost wants none of it, dreaming instead of a career in art or photography or…well, anything except working in the family’s museum. She knows the items in the glass display cases are fakes because, of course, magic doesn’t really exist.
She’s about to find out how wrong she is.
Gathered within museum’s walls is a collection dedicated to the Grimm fairy tales and to the rare items the family has acquired: Cinderella’s glass slipper, Snow White’s poisoned apple, the evil queen’s magic mirror, Sleeping Beauty’s enchanted spinning wheel…
Seventeen-year-old Bianca Frost wants none of it, dreaming instead of a career in art or photography or…well, anything except working in the family’s museum. She knows the items in the glass display cases are fakes because, of course, magic doesn’t really exist.
She’s about to find out how wrong she is.
Title: GLASS FROST
Author: Liz DeJesus
Release Date: July 19, 2013
Publisher: Musa Publishing
SUMMARY:
When joined together, Cinderella's slippers grant the wearer her heart's desire. But whose wish will be granted?
When Cinderella’s glass slipper is stolen, Queen Felicia sends her faithful steward Terrance to the real world to retrieve his love and witch-in-training, Bianca Frost. The power of the glass slipper in the wrong hands could ruin peace in Everafter. Bianca must gather every bit of magic she has learned in the past few weeks to find the slipper and protect her new love. Together, Bianca, Ming, Prince Ferdinand, and Terrance venture deep into the heart of Everafter to seek clues as to who has stolen the slipper and why. Along the way, they uncover what happened to the Seven Dwarves after Snow White married the prince, but also learn the awful risk of tampering with black magic and the high price that must be paid for magical aid, even when used for good.
Bianca and Terrance’s relationship is put to the test. Through the pain of suffering and loss, Bianca must determine if following her gallant boyfriend into his faraway world is in fact her heart's desire.
When Cinderella’s glass slipper is stolen, Queen Felicia sends her faithful steward Terrance to the real world to retrieve his love and witch-in-training, Bianca Frost. The power of the glass slipper in the wrong hands could ruin peace in Everafter. Bianca must gather every bit of magic she has learned in the past few weeks to find the slipper and protect her new love. Together, Bianca, Ming, Prince Ferdinand, and Terrance venture deep into the heart of Everafter to seek clues as to who has stolen the slipper and why. Along the way, they uncover what happened to the Seven Dwarves after Snow White married the prince, but also learn the awful risk of tampering with black magic and the high price that must be paid for magical aid, even when used for good.
Bianca and Terrance’s relationship is put to the test. Through the pain of suffering and loss, Bianca must determine if following her gallant boyfriend into his faraway world is in fact her heart's desire.
~*~
****Giveaway*****
Ready to discover Liz DeJesus?
One lucky Fairy Tale Fortnight reader will win e-book copies of both FIRST FROST and GLASS FROST, as well as some some awesome swag that includes signed bookmarks, stickers, and limited edition FIRST FROST/GLASS FROST lip balm!
This giveaway is open to US/CAN, and ends May 10th, 2014 at midnight.
Fill out the Rafflecopter to enter, and make sure to leave Elizabeth some comment-love!
This giveaway is open to US/CAN, and ends May 10th, 2014 at midnight.
Fill out the Rafflecopter to enter, and make sure to leave Elizabeth some comment-love!
All FTF giveaways run until May 10th.
You must register on the Giveaway Registration Form during the event to be considered for any prizes in individual giveaways throughout the event.
Great interview. Sounds great that the author gets to play around with fairy tales and seeing the characters grow.
ReplyDeleteLoved this interview!! Cannot wait for the next book!!
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