MFT Guest: Interview with Cindy Pon and Giveaway!

Today for My Favorite Things I have Cindy Pon on.  Cindy is the brilliant author behind  Silver Phoenix and Fury of the Phoenix.  These are young adult Asian Inspired fantasies.  I loved both books and am excited to have Cindy on to answer a few questions.  
Before we get started here's a description of Silver Phoenix:

No one wanted Ai Ling. And deep down she is relieved—despite the dishonor she has brought upon her family—to be unbetrothed and free, not some stranger's subservient bride banished to the inner quarters.
But now, something is after her. Something terrifying—a force she cannot comprehend. And as pieces of the puzzle start to fit together, Ai Ling begins to understand that her journey to the Palace of Fragrant Dreams isn't only a quest to find her beloved father but a venture with stakes larger than she could have imagined.
Bravery, intelligence, the will to fight and fight hard . . . she will need all of these things. Just as she will need the new and mysterious power growing within her. She will also need help.
It is Chen Yong who finds her partly submerged and barely breathing at the edge of a deep lake. There is something of unspeakable evil trying to drag her under. On a quest of his own, Chen Yong offers that help . . . and perhaps more.

On a Saturday or Sunday afternoon what is your favorite thing to do?

Reading for pleasure (by the sea if possible) or working on a current
novel at the boba shop.

If you were able to travel to any country in the world what country would you pick and why?

Definitely China. I'd love to take a month to learn Chinese brush
painting at the art university there and see
the beautiful scenery I see so often in the paintings.

What are your top 5 most favorite foods?

Oh. Tough one. I do love frozen yogurt with mochi balls, Taiwanese food, dumplings, buns, noodles, pasta, caprese salad, fresh baked french or Italian bread, Thai and Indian curry... er, is that five?

What are your top 5 books (or series) that come to mind?
I'll mention the top five i've read most recently that I've really enjoyed:

Nevermore by Kelly Creagh
You Against Me by Jenny Downham
The House You Pass Along the Way by Jacqueline Woodson
Deerskin by Robin McKinleyRed Glove by Holly Black

If you were to pick two characters from two different books (series, authors, etc) to be together who would you pick?

Huh. Nick from Sarah Rees Brennan's The Demon's Lexicon series with Billi from
Sarwat Chadda's The Devil's Kiss series.
Who was your favorite character to write about?

Zhong Ye from Fury of the Phoenix.

When it comes to Chinese lore and legend how much played a role in your books?  And what was your favorite piece you read about and felt you HAD to include something like it in your books?
I didn't grow up with much lore or legend, alas. All that I knew were tied to specific holidays. I'm really intrigued by the snake demon, a woman shapeshifter that usually seduces men.
It's a common Chinese folklore.
You're a brilliant artist as well as writer, which came to you first?

Thank you! I'm definitely a writer first. This year, I'll have been a student of Chinese brush painting for ten years! But I'm still a baby student compared to my other classmates. I've been writing since I was around twelve so I definitely feel more comfortable with the writer label than the artist one.

Do you have anything in the works that your able to share with us?

Yes, I'm starting on a third novel this summer (not yet sold) which is another Asian inspired fantasy. It will star a shape shifting snake demon as a heroine and the hero will be a wannabemonk. I'm excited to write it! =)

Thanks so much for having me, Candace!


Thanks for being on Cindy!-- 
Silver Phoenix : Beyond the Kingdom of Xia
Greenwillow Books/HarperCollins, April 28 '09

Fury of the Phoenix
Greenwillow Books/HarperCollins, March 29, '11

cindypon.com


The Giveaway:
Cindy is giving one lucky person a paperback copy of Silver Phoenix and some swag (including postcards and bookmark).
Open to US only.
Must be 13 or older to enter.
Ends July 5th, 2011


To Enter:
Leave a comment with contact info :)





 

For the schedule of The Favorite Things event check out the schedule post.  And make sure you head over to My Bookish Ways to see what she has going on today as well!