MFT Guest: Interview with Kimberly Derting and Giveaway of The Pledge and swag (CLOSED) and a Mini Review

Today I got super duper lucky and I have Kimberly Derting on the blog for a short interview along with a Giveaway of THE PLEDGE (Woo hoo!).  I just finished it and it was FABULOUS!  Absolutely amazing story.  I can't wait until everyone can get their hands on it and read it! It comes out November 2011 (I know, a long wait).

The Pledge:

Words are the most dangerous weapon of all... 
In the violent country of Ludania, the classes are strictly divided by the language they speak. The smallest transgression, like looking a member of a higher class in the eye while they are speaking their native tongue, results in immediate execution. Seventeen-year-old Charlaina has always been able to understand the languages of all classes, and she’s spent her life trying to hide her secret. The only place she can really be free is the drug-fueled underground clubs where people go to shake off the oppressive rules of the world they live in. It's there that she meets a beautiful and mysterious boy named Max who speaks a language she's never heard before . . . and her secret is almost exposed. 
Charlie is intensely attracted to Max, even though she can’t be sure where his real loyalties lie. As the emergency drills give way to real crisis and the violence escalates, it becomes clear that Charlie is the key to something much bigger: her country’s only chance for freedom from the terrible power of a deadly regime.

Mini Review:
This book did not disappoint!  All the elements in the story were perfectly balanced and the world that Kim created was just amazing, and I feel like it's just the tip of the iceberg, there's so much MORE to come.  To see, to discover, etc.
I loved the characters, they were well developed and easy to relate to.  I didn't always know what to expect from them (which is a good thing!) and didn't always know who could be trusted.  Although at times I had a good idea of who was who I was still surprised by the way a lot of things turned out or who someone ended up being.
The romance was pretty awesome. It all played out in a way that I just wanted to reach and smoosh their faces together forcing that kiss already.  But really, it was perfect.
I could so easily go on and on but this is suppose to be a teeny tiny mini review.  It seems it's a bit of a challenge.  I kind of just want to go on and on telling you guys how awesome the book is...

Let's get on to the interview already!

In all your books who was your most favorite character and why? 

This question is like asking me to choose which of my kids I like best…but I’m totally gonna do it (the character, not the favorite kid!).  Here goes…

Angelina.

You have no idea who I’m talking about, do you?  That’s because she’s Charlie’s little sister in The Pledge, and as I wrote her, I completely fell in love with her too.  

Having just read The Pledge I can totally see where you're coming from.  There's no way anyone could ever dislike her.

In The Pledge what was some of your favorite parts of the story to write?

It might surprise those of you who’ve read my kissing scenes to hear that I love writing action scenes best. The more tension and drama, the better!  So in The Pledge, one of my favorite scenes is when the city is under attack and Charlie is trying to get to her family while bombs are destroying homes and the air raid sirens are blaring all around her.  

Oh yes, that was a great scene!  Though there's a particular kissing scene in my mind that I had been just sure you would mention... ;)

What are some of Charlie's favorite things?  

Her sister, voices, the feel of silk, bright colors, and breaking the rules.  (Okay, that last one might not be one of her favorite things, it just sort of happens.)

What are a few of your favorite things?  

This will be really random, but here goes:  My bathrobe, mascara, bubble gum, books (surprise!), watching crime dramas with my family, s’mores, lotion (is it weird that I like unscented?), and beach towels.  There, now you have a glimpse into how simple I really am!

What are 5-10 of the best books you've recently read?

I just finished The Vespertine by Saundra Mitchell (totally loved it…she’s incredible!), Possess by Gretchen McNeil (one word: DEMONS!), City of Glass by Cassandra Clare (I didn’t think it was possible tolove Jace any more than I already did, but yeah…),Graveminder by Melissa Marr (okay, so I read this a while back, but I’m super in love with it, so I’m just going to keep listing it!).

I can't WAIT to read Possess!  But I've heard a lot of good things about Graveminder as well... I'll have to get my hands on it.

Huge thank you to Kim for fitting this interview into her very busy schedule!  

Go find Kim on her website: http://kimberlyderting.com/

The Giveaway: CLOSED

One very (VERY) lucky person will win a *signed* ARC of THE PLEDGE along with a passport tag on a lanyard, bookmark and some stickers.

Open Internationally (yeah, I figured I can manage to mail this one overseas since I KNOW you all want it!)

Must be 13 or older.

Ends July 10th

 To Enter: CLOSED

Leave a comment with contact information.  


Extra Entry: *please leave it in a separate comment!*
This is the only giveaway through the My Favorite Things Event that I'm doing an extra entry.  For this entry you can tweet the giveaway.  Please add @candacemom2two onto it and then leave a comment linking to your tweet.

 

This is just one giveaway of this great event!  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!