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Tuesday, June 26, 2012

Interview & Giveaway with Shadow and Bone Author, Leigh Bardugo!



Today Leigh Bardugo, debut author of the fantastic Shadow and Bone, is here at The Hiding Spot to answer a few questions about her novel, her inspiration, words, and hiding spots. Enjoy!
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Did you have trouble writing any of your characters or specific scenes within the novel? Or, were any characters or scenes particularly easy to write? 
There's a scene a little over halfway through the book that I call the "pivot," where everything changes for my main character. Big revelations. Lots of new information. I rewrote that scene so many times that I actually gave myself hives. I am not exaggerating. I don't know that anything was "easy," but I really enjoyed writing the scenes between Alina and Genya. On the surface, they're so different, but they're both outsiders who have found their own ways to survive. I like the bond that forms between them. 
Has the title changed or stayed relatively the same as your novel journeyed towards publication? 
Oh no, Shadow and Bone has had a few titles. Back when it was a WIP, I called it The Darkling. Then I heard about a little book called Graceling and I knew I had to change it before I queried agents. I wanted something that would stand out and hint at the book's Russian inspiration, so I called it The Grisha (referring to the kingdom's magical elite). Then, after the sale, my publisher felt that particular title would be too hard to pronounce or google, so we put our heads together and came up with Shadow and Bone. I know it's been confusing because of Laini Taylor's and Robin Wasserman's books, but hopefully the cover will help it stand out in people's minds. (On a sidenote, I posted about this on Pub(lishing) Crawl recently and Robin tweeted that she'd been thinking about calling her next book The Gathering Dark-- the UK title of Shadow and Bone!) 
What book or author has most influenced you as a writer or in general? 
Such a hard question. I'm not sure about influences, but I can tell you that Dune was the first book I was truly sorry to finish. I just didn't want to leave Frank Herbert's world behind, and that was a powerful thing. Also, I remember Louise Erdrich's story "Fleur" wrecked me. I read her a lot when I was younger, and she had a big impact on the way I understood myth in relation to narrative and language. 
What jobs did you have on your way to becoming a writer/published author? Is there a certain work experience that has shaped your writing? 
I worked at an ad firm, as a journalist, for a dotcom, for the FOX network, and as a beer girl. (I sat at bars and said, "Brand X beer tastes delicious!" Lies! That beer did not taste delicious.) I wrote movie trailers ("in a land without justice" etc.) and eventually I ended up as a makeup and special effects artist. I've had a few monstrous bosses and I suspect they've all made it into my work, one way or another. 
If you had to pick a favorite word, what would it be and why? 
Oooh, so many! Kerfuffle! Dubloon! Umbrage! Rhombus... Oh how I love to say "Rhombus." Also, "toothsome" makes me laugh for some reason. "Was he hot?" "Oh yes, get this, he had all of his teeth." I really want to bring that back. Who's in? 
My blog is dedicated to my personal hiding spot, books. Who, what, or where can be credited as your personal escape from reality? 
Last year, my friends and I spent July 4th eating pupusas, drinking cocktails in the garden, and marathoning the entire first season of Game of Thrones. Days like that are all the escape from reality I need.
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You can find out more about Leigh and her novel on at her website. And be sure to check out my review of Shadow and Bone, here! Don't forget to enter to win a copy for yourself below!

a Rafflecopter giveaway


31 comments:

  1. Great interview and thanks for the giveaway!

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  2. I'd like to give toothsome umbrage before you have a kerfuffle about this great interview. Wow. Leigh really got hives from writing the pivot scene? I loved this interview. She sounds like such a neat, down to earth writer! I'm super excited to get a chance to read/review this book. Thank you very much for the opportunity! :D

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  3. I am so super excited for this book. The blurbs had me hooked and then I read reviews, and then I read her short story, and now interviews that make me want to know her because she seems like an awesome person. Excellent interview!

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  4. Love those questions and answers.

    I am all about bringing back 'toothsome' - having nice teeth is actually a very attractive quality to me.

    Also: PUPUSAS on the 4th! That is such a great idea. I am stealing it. *grin*

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  5. Hi Sara and Ms Bargudo!
    I've heard so much about this book and I'm really eager to start reading it!
    It seems that Ms. Bargudo's had an exciting career (haha, a beer girl?) I love to say "rhombus" too :) Sounds very robust! My brother watches Game of Thrones, but I heard it's quite inappropriate for younger audiences so...maybe when I grow up :D
    And great questions Sara! I've never heard them before, and awesome answers :)

    -Kirthi
    P.S. Thank you so much for the giveaway! I have my fingers crossed :)

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  6. I'm reading the book right now (loving it!) and I was just thinking that I need to find out more about Leigh, especially since I'm going to her signing on Thursday. Squee!

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  7. I love the words that you love! Toothsome always made me laugh, too, and I love love love kerfuffle. Salubrious is fun, too.

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  8. I love the words that you love! Toothsome always made me laugh, too, and I love love love kerfuffle. Salubrious is fun, too.

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  9. Odd, but funny words. :D made me laugh.

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  10. Awesome interview and cool giveaway! :D

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  11. I love this giveaway! I have heard a lot about Shadow and Bone and think it will be an interesting read.

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  12. I love hearing about the jobs authors had before they become authors and I can not wait to read this book!

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  13. Oooh, I like hearing what possible title names Shadow and Bone could have had! Love the favorite words. For some reason I like to say 'pop'. Great interview! :)

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  14. It must be so weird for the writer when titles keep changing. You'd have to constantly re-fit that new title into the way you think about it.

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  15. "Umbrage" is such a cool word. I'm going to work into conversation tomorrow. (So is "rhombus" but it'll be a bit harder to sneak in.)

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  16. Great interview. I've really been enjoying Leigh's blog tour. I can't wait to get my hands on Shadow and Bone!

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  17. Great interview! Thank you for the giveaway!

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  18. reat interview. I cant wait to read the book.

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  19. The interview just makes me more impatient to get my hands on a copy of this book! Thanks for the giveaway!

    Rafflecopter name: Samantha R.

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  20. Great interview! I want to read this book so bad!

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  21. Haha the word Toothsome also makes me laugh! Great interview =D Usually all the questions people ask are all the same, but yours were really great ^^

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  22. I'm always curious to know what authors did before they became an author, or even what they currently do outside of writing. It really shows we come from all different walks of life. While I never would have thought of authors writing movie trailers it does really only make sense when you think about it. Great interview!!

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  23. I had forgotten about the word rhombus! Math really does have some fun words, doesn't it? And that's a perfect question - love it :)

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  24. Thanks for the giveaway. Loved the interview

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  25. great interview. I cant wait to read the book.

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  26. Love love love this book, hopefully I'm lucky enough to win it :)

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  27. I love this interview! I loved the question about the title and learning how the title of the book changed over time. I really like a peek into the process from author's that we don't always hear about.

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  28. I'm always interested to read about what authors did/ still do before the book deal. She had a lot of amazing job apparently.

    I can't wait to read this book.

    --Markella

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  29. Rhombus, what a FUNNY word!!! lol

    I'm liking pithy right now ;)

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