Contest: Win a copy of Everlasting by Angie Frazier!

Angie Frazier is generously donating a signed copy of EVERLASTING to one lucky reader at The Hiding Spot!

Prize:

(1) Signed hardcover copy of EVERLASTING

How to Enter:
You MUST comment on my review of EVERLASTING or the interview with Angie Frazier. (Only one comment is required.) Then you MUST fill out this FORM. If you neglect to comment on at least one of the posts or fill out the form, you will not be entered to win.


Extra Entries:
Not required. Extra entries are detailed on the entry form as well.
+5 entries - Comment on my review or interview (whichever you did not comment on for your original entry)
+5 entries - I've been awaiting EVERLASTING's release for months. Comment on this post telling me about a book you waited months for or are currently waiting for.
+4 entries - Old Follower/Subscriber (Thank you!)
+2 entries - New Follower/Subscriber (Welcome! You will gain 4 entries in the next contest you enter at The Hiding Spot as an Old Follower/Subscriber!)
+2 Follow me on Twitter (@thehidingspot)
+2 Follow Angie Frazier on Twitter (@angie_frazier)
+3 Tweet this contest. (Leave a link.)
+3 Link this contest on your sidebar, in a post, or on FB. (Leave a link.)


Details:
Contest will close June 29th 2010. Open to US and Canadian mailing addresses only. Sorry International readers!

Good luck!

Interview: Angie Frazier (Author of EVERLASTING!)

After months of waiting, I'm thrilled to finally have debut author Angie Frazier here to discuss her debut, EVERLASTING! Be sure to check out my review of the novel too!

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A Brief Bio

Angie lives in New Hampshire with her husband and two daughters, their big black lab, and a pair of highly destructive cats. Her debut young adult novel, EVERLASTING, is the result of an overactive imagination, an addiction to historical research, and dozens of vintage travel posters plastered to the ceilings of a cottage she rented one long, snowbound winter.

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The Interview

Give a short statement describing EVERLASTING.

EVERLASTING is a romantic adventure set in the Australian wilderness in 1855. After Camille Rowen loses her father in a shipwreck, she learns there might be an ancient stone that could bring him back to life. She also find out that her mother, whom Camille always believed was dead, is in fact alive and has the key to the stone. Camille and Oscar, her father’s loyal (and of course handsome!) first mate, set out into Australia to find her mother and the stone before Camille’s father’s rival can beat them to it.


The setting of EVERLASTING is integral to Camille’s story. How does the time period in which Camille lives shape her actions and personality? In what ways would Camille be different if her story was set in modern day?
I love this question! Yes, the time period is important. In that period young ladies were expected to marry and have babies and please others. If women went against the norm, they were ostracized and set apart. And though Camille has always had a separate kind of freedom sailing aboard her father’s ships, she doesn’t want to bring shame down onto her father or his business, and truthfully, herself. She knows what she wants, but she’s afraid to go after it and lose everything she’s ever known. If the story was more modern day, then the different social classes and the conflict between Camille and Oscar wouldn’t be the same or hold the same weight.


The forbidden romance between Camille and Oscar is definitely one of my favorite aspects of the novel. Camille’s father sees the connection between the two and does not approve. When he is claimed by the sea, Camille and Oscar grow even closer, but Oscar still pulls away out of respect for Camille’s father and for Camille herself, despite his deep love for her. What does this say about Oscar? Do you think that Camille’s father would have eventually come to terms with their relationship?
I don’t think Oscar is only tiptoeing around his feelings for Camille out of respect for her and her father, but also for himself. He knows as well as Camille does that he has nothing to offer her—and 1855 was a day and age when money and position and dowries were all still very relevant and a big factor in marriages. If Oscar was to admit his feelings, if Camille confessed hers to him, and if anything happened between the two of them, then how could Oscar go back from there? He’s protecting himself with his stoic, protector-like persona. And I think Camille’s father would have eventually accepted their relationship, but it would have come at a high cost, and hurting her father or disappointing him would have been torture for Camille.

Character names often contribute to my perception of a character. The main characters, Camille and Oscar, have particularly unique names. Was it difficult to decide names for your characters and is there a particular reason, other than the time period, that contributed to your decision?
If I remember correctly I came up with their names pretty quickly. I wanted something burly and rough for the lead guy, and Oscar fit perfectly. For my main female character, I wanted something sweet yet sexy. I’m actually not sure if Camille or Oscar were popular names during that time period, but I really liked them!


Can you tell us anything about your next YA novel?
Well, my next YA is going to be the second Everlasting book coming out next summer. I couldn’t end Camille’s story just yet. I don’t think I can say anything more about it just yet, but there should be at least a title soon to share.


My blog is dedicated to my personal hiding spot, books. Who, what, or where can be credited as your personal escape from reality?
My escape consists of reading in bed on a Sunday morning with a cup of coffee or tea while my girls eat breakfast and watch PBS cartoons. Just give me an hour and I’m ready to go for the whole day!

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Thanks, Angie!

To learn more about Angie and EVERLASTING, check out her website and my review.

Review: Everlasting by Angie Frazier

Title: Everlasting
Author: Angie Frazier
Publisher: Scholastic
Pub. Date: 6.1.10
Genre: Historical YA
Keywords: Love, Loss, Adventure, Quest, Magic
Pages: 336
Description (from GoodReads):
Sailing aboard her father’s trade ship is all seventeen-year-old Camille Rowen has ever wanted. But as a girl of society in 1855 San Francisco, her future is set: marry a man she doesn’t love, or condemn herself and her father to poverty.

On her final voyage before the wedding, the stormy arms of the Tasman Sea claim her father, and a terrible family secret is revealed. A secret intertwined with a fabled map, the mother Camille has long believed dead, and an ancient stone that wields a dangerous—and alluring—magic.
The only person Camille can depend on is Oscar, a handsome young sailor whom she is undeniably drawn to. Torn between trusting her instincts and keeping her promises to her father, Camille embarks on a perilous quest into the Australian wilderness to find the enchanted stone. As she and Oscar elude murderous bushrangers and unravel Camille’s father’s lies, they come closer to making the ultimate decision of who—and what—matters most.
Beautifully written and feverishly paced, Everlasting is an unforgettable journey of passion, secrecy, and adventure.


When I first heard about Angie Frazier's debut novel, it didn't even have a cover. All that I knew about the novel was from the short description listing on GoodReads, but I was drawn to the story. To be honest, the description strongly reminded me of the movie Pirates of the Caribbean, which left me intrigued. I'm happy to report that EVERLASTING lived up to my expectations... and actually was a bit like the movie..


I'm usually not a fan of historical YA. Generally, the pace moves too slowly and fails to hold my attention, but EVERLASTING triumped where so many others failed. I'll admit to my attention wavering in a couple spots, but I was quickly pulled back in. Most of the time, once I've lost interest, I can't bring myself to return to the novel, so it's impressive that Frazier could recapture my attention. I think the adventure - and Frazier's inclusion of magic and romance - added excitement and remedied the issues I usually experience with this type of novel.


Oscar and Camille's relationship was definitely the aspect I found most memorable. I'm always drawn to forbidden relationships, especially if they're filled with tension and longing looks. I loved their scenes together!


Frazier has succeeded in writing a tale of epic adventure and romance! It pains me that after waiting months to read EVERLASTING, I'm now waiting (again!) to read its sequel.


Grade: A-


Cover Notes:
Since Oscar and Camille's romance was my favorite aspect of the novel, I like that they are the focal point of the cover. I think the font used for the title is gorgeous as well!

Buy It!

Amazon/IndieBound

Cover Alert: Everlasting by Angie Frazier!

I've been waiting for this cover FOREVER! Seriously, I've been waiting for months!

Everlasting by Angie Frazier (Scholastic, June 2010)

Sailing aboard her father’s trade ship is all seventeen-year-old Camille Rowen has ever wanted. But as a girl of society in 1855 San Francisco, her future is set: marry a man she doesn’t love, or condemn herself and her father to poverty.

On her final voyage before the wedding, the stormy arms of the Tasman Sea claim her father, and a terrible family secret is revealed. A secret intertwined with a fabled map, the mother Camille has long believed dead, and an ancient stone that wields a dangerous—and alluring—magic.
The only person Camille can depend on is Oscar, a handsome young sailor whom she is undeniably drawn to. Torn between trusting her instincts and keeping her promises to her father, Camille embarks on a perilous quest into the Australian wilderness to find the enchanted stone. As she and Oscar elude murderous bushrangers and unravel Camille’s father’s lies, they come closer to making the ultimate decision of who—and what—matters most.
Beautifully written and feverishly paced, Everlasting is an unforgettable journey of passion, secrecy, and adventure.

I'm so excited for EVERLASTING. I think the cover is gorgeous! The couple in the boat is perfect and simple and the lettering has a romantic feel. Bravo!

For more information about EVERLASTING and Angie Frazier, go here!