Interviewing BAREFOOT ON THE WIND Author Zoë Marriott...and you could win a copy!!!

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Welcome to A Week of Beauty and the Beast in celebration 
of the beloved couple that has has captured our hearts for years...
not to mention the launch of Disney's new live-action movie Beauty and the Beast!!
Join our celebration daily at A Backwards Story and That Artsy Reader Girl!
Check out our daily schedule of events at ABS and TARG!
Stop back all week long for fun author interviews, exciting giveaways, reviews,
and more!


I've previously reviewed THE SWAN KINGDOM, DAUGHTER OF THE FLAMES (as well as a feature post on the mythology used in the novel), and FROSTFIRE. When SHADOWS ON THE MOON released in the USA, I re-posted my review AND Zoë did a really cool guest post on the differences between the UK+US releases!

 Zoë was kind enough to visit ABS previously during A Week of Cinderella, where she revealed secrets about SHADOWS ON THE MOON with us in a fab interview.  

 
 An Interview With
Zoë Marriott

AUTHOR BIO: 
Zoë Marriott got her first publishing contract when she was twenty-two, but had to wait until she was twenty-four to see her debut novel - THE SWAN KINGDOM - published. It went on to be shortlisted for the Branford Boase Award and the Lincolnshire Young People's Book Award, and become a USBBY Outstanding International Book, among other honors.

 Since then, she has written many other books and has been lucky enough to win or be nominated for many other awards, including the Great Britain Sasakawa Prize and a second place in the Lancashire Book of the Year Awards. She has also received grants from the Royal Literary Fund and the Arts Council England.

 Zoë currently lives in a little house in a town by the sea, with her two rescued cats, one called Hero after a Shakespearian character and one Echo after a nymph from a Greek myth. She also has a springer/cocker spaniel called Finbar (otherwise known as The Devil Hound). 

You can find Zoë on 




What are a few of the ways in which your retelling differs from the original tale?

Well, the tale we all know was originally French, but I set mine in the Moonlit Lands, which is a fairytale version of Feudal Japan. I also set out to try to make the story truly embody that message about inner beauty and true love, and to make it Feminist. So in my version I decided that Beauty was plain and the Beast was beautiful. And our heroine is in control of her own choices rather than being manipulated or bullied into doing what other characters want her to do. I also wanted to demonstrate that the Beast had learned that central lesson of the story. That he really loved Beauty and wanted to be with her - and was worthy of her.

Do you prefer the Disney version or the original tale?

Disney, definitely! The original version has some seriously icky class stuff at the end, where the fairy who started it all refuses to let Beauty marry the Beast because she's not his equal in rank. No thanks.

 Which of your characters do you see the most of yourself in?

Frost from FROSTFIRE  I think. But also Hana in BAREFOOT ON THE WIND. They're both very focussed on doing what needs to be done, but also on being kind to others. Those are mottos I try to live by.

Beauty needs reading recommendations! What should she read?

UPROOTED by Naomi Novik. It's another Beauty and the Beast retelling - for adults - set in 1700s version of Poland. It's deliciously dark and exquisitely written.
What magical/beautiful surprise would you hope the Beast had for you? (Belle's library, Feyre's art gallery, etc.) 

The library in Robin McKinley's version of the story, which contains all the books which have ever been written, or will be written. Although I'd probably have to move in there and not leave except for baths, for a decade or two...


Bookworms, go check out the second part of today's awesome interview with Zoë Marriott right now at That Artsy Reader Girl!
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O F F I C I A L   I N F O:

Title:  BAREFOOT ON THE WIND
Author:  Zoë Marriott
Release Date: Sept. 1, 2016
Publisher: Walker Books
SUMMARY:

 A companion title to Zoë Marriott's critically acclaimed SHADOWS ON THE MOON, BAREFOOT ON THE WIND is a darkly magical retelling of Beauty and the Beast set in fairytale Japan. 

There is a monster in the forest... 

Everyone in Hana's remote village on the mountain knows that straying too far into the woods is a death sentence. When Hana's father goes missing, she is the only one who dares try to save him. Taking up her hunting gear, she goes in search of the beast, determined to kill it - or be killed herself. 

But the forest contains more secrets, more magic and more darkness than Hana could ever have imagined. And the beast is not at all what she expects...

***NOTE: SHADOWS ON THE WIND has gone out of print in the United States, but you can still scoop it up at a great price (Currently $7.27 USD)--and get FREE international shipping/handling!--from Book Depository. You can also import BAREFOOT ON THE WIND (Currently $6.78 USD)  from the UK this way. It's well worth it!!!***


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****Giveaway*****


During A Week of Beauty and the Beast,
we're giving away a book of YOUR CHOICE
from the event!

It could be BAREFOOT ON THE WIND!


This giveaway is INTERNATIONAL to any country that Book Depository ships to.  You can also claim an e-book as a prize; it doesn't have to be a physical copy!

You must be at least 13 years old to enter or have a parent's permission!

Enter now!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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