Today I have a lovely Q & A with author Aimee Carter, Goddess Test & Goddess Interrupted, and a giveaway of Goddess Interrupted for you!

How familiar were you with Greek myths and folklore before writing the Goddess Test series?  Was a lot of research required?

+ I first fell in love with Greek mythology when I was a kid learning how to read, and my infatuation only grew from there. I’ve studied various kinds of mythology for years, sometimes for class and always for fun, but even then I put a great deal of research into the Goddess Test series. Mostly as a refresher to make sure I was getting my facts right, but I also researched the various myths looking for ways to tie the plots and characters together in unexpected ways.

Was Goddess Interrupted any easier or harder to write than the first book in the series, The Goddess Test?

+ It was both easier and harder, in a strange way. I rewrote The Goddess Test multiple times, and I’ve never edited a book more heavily in my life. Goddess Interrupted did require some editing, of course, but it was much easier.

However, the pressure to deliver a sequel worthy of the series made the writing process for Goddess Interrupted more difficult than I’d anticipated. There’s something called the “sophomore slump”, where sequels or second books generally don’t quite match up to the second, and I wanted to avoid that at all cost. So that added a lot of stress, but in the end, I was very happy with the results.

You give the gods and goddesses in the series “ordinary names” – Zeus is named Walter, Aphrodite goes by Ava, Hermes is named James.  Why did you do that and do the more contemporary names have any significance?

+ This was something I went back and forth on multiple times. Initially the characters Kate encounters weren’t council members at all – I changed that very, very quickly though. By the second draft, I had a place for each of the Olympians, and I did some heavy rewriting to replace my first draft characters with the gods. I wanted to find a way to keep their names the same, but since they’re supposed to live among us in secret in the modern world, it didn’t really make sense. How many men named Zeus do you know, or women called Aphrodite? On top of that, keeping the council’s identities secret was incredibly important to the plot. So eventually I decided they would have changed their names when Western civilization stopped worshipping them as gods, allowing them to live freely among us.

I did choose each name for what it means, some more than others – Walter, for instance, means “army leader”, while James means “supplanter”. The exception is Calliope, which in the story was chosen by her counterpart for its Greek roots. The reason the gods changed their names – and why Artemis didn’t wind up with the name Diana – is explained throughout the series, but you get to actually see this happen in The Goddess Legacy (July 31).

Goddess Interrupted begins with the main character Kate Winters adjusting to her new life as an immortal.  Given Kate’s innate strength and stubbornness, was it difficult to switch gears to portray her as a bit more vulnerable and unsure of herself in her new role as goddess AND wife?

+ Not so much, to be honest – her progression felt natural to me. While Kate is very tough in certain ways, she’s extremely vulnerable as well. She’s emotionally dependent on the people around her (her mother in the first book, Henry in the second), and that in and of itself carves the path she takes in the sequel. She’s spent six months with Henry, falling in love with him and forming a relationship she thinks is going to last for eternity. But Henry is battling his own demons and isn’t ready to be the person she needs him to be, and because Kate is so stubborn, she has a hard time coming to terms with that. In the sequel, Kate really is her own worst enemy emotionally – her entire world has changed, after all, and that’s a lot for anyone to take – but it’s all part of her development into a goddess and queen.

Kate finds herself trying to work through her rather complicated relationship with James, as well as her relationship with her new husband, Henry (Hades).  Neither seems to be black and white, but rather varying shades of gray.   Were any of Kate’s feelings or situations based on any relationship struggles you’ve been through? 

+ Not personally, no, but I did try to make Kate’s relationships with the people in her life as realistic as possible. She isn’t perfect, and neither are they, and that’s something they all have to work through at varying points in the series. None of the relationships in the books are based off of specific experiences I’ve been through though.

What is your favorite part of the writing process?  Least favorite?

+ Outlining is by far my favorite part of the process. I love the idea stage, where anything’s possible, and it’s such a shiny place. All of that comes crashing down when I write the first draft though, which is the hardest part for me. I tend to get mentally exhausted about two thirds to three quarters of the way into the manuscript, and it’s always a struggle for me to push through it, especially if I’m on a deadline. And inevitably there are a ton of problems I didn’t notice in the outline stage that have to be fixed for the story to work. I’m a perfectionist, so in order for me to continue writing the story, everything I’ve already written has to make sense.

Do you have a favorite quote or line from a poem or book?

+ I love so many quotes that I couldn’t possibly pick a favorite.

How did you get your first publishing deal and how did that feel?

+ My agent, Rosemary Stimola, sent the manuscript out to various publishers, and after a long submission process, Harlequin TEEN offered to publish it! I was stunned at first, but that quickly gave way to giddiness. It was an incredible feeling to know I’d be published, and to this day, I still can’t quite believe it.

When is the next book in the series due out? Any hints on what will happen in book 3?

+ Goddess Interrupted, the sequel to The Goddess Test, came out in late March. The next book in the series, The Goddess Legacy, will be out July 31. It’s a collection of five novellas told in the perspectives of Calliope, Ava, Persephone, James, and Henry, and together they form one story.

The third book in the series, The Goddess Inheritance, is currently scheduled to be released in March 2013. Unfortunately I can’t say too much about it, but the challenges that Kate will face are pretty clear by the end of the sequel!

After the huge success of The Goddess Test, Goddess Interrupted is on many, many TBR lists for this summer.  What’s on your TBR list? 

+ I’m so excited for a slew of books coming out – The Girl in the Clockwork Collar, Grave Mercy, The Selection, The Serpent’s Shadow, Philippa Gregory’s YA novel, and a ton of others. I never have as much time to read as I want, but I’m definitely making time for all of those and more!

Yearbook Superlatives! If you went to high school with the Greek gods and goddesses, who would you vote for?

* Most likely to succeed? – Hera

* Class clown? – Hermes

* Nicest? – Demeter or Hephaestus

* Best dressed? – Aphrodite

* Best dancer? – Apollo

* Most school spirit? – Iris

* Most likely to attend summer school? – Ares

* Teachers pet? – Athena

Interested in learning more about the Goddess trilogy? Visit the website here!
And check out my reviews for The Goddess Test & Goddess Interrupted!

Also, thanks to the fabulous people at Harlequin, I have one copy of Goddess Interrupted for a lucky visitor.

01. You must be at least 13 years of age to enter.
02. You are not required to follow or spread the word (although both are very much appreciated). You just have to fill out the form.
03. The winner will have 48 hours to respond and claim their prize.
04. Closes for entries on May 25th at midnight.
05. US & CAN Only.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Title: Wanted

Author: Heidi Ayarbe

Read via: Teen Book Scene

A one-word text message: That’s all Michal “Mike” Garcia needs to gather a crowd. Mike is a seventeen-year-old bookie, and Sanctuary is where she takes bets for anyone at Carson High with enough cash. Her only rule: Never participate, never place a bet for herself.
Then Josh Ellison moves to town. He pushes Mike to live her life, to feel a rush of something — play the game, he urgest, stop being a spectator.
So Mike breaks her one rule. She places a bet, feels the rush. And loses.
In an act of desperation, she and Josh — who has a sordid past of his own — concoct a plan: The pair will steal from Carson City’s elite to pay back Mike’s debt. Then they’ll give the rest of their haul to those who need it most. How can burglary be wrong if they are making things right?

A teenage bookie, how many book revolve around that? So, of course, I had to check this book out. Plus the girl on the cover really reminds me of someone, although I cannot figure out who. Anyways, I was very excited to read this one, but it did not really live up to the expectations I had.

Mike interested me from the beginning. She was compelling and decidedly different from the typical YA protagonist. I admired her ability to do something for herself, especially with the element of risk involved. Mike was such a complex character. I truly appreciated the blend of strength and vulnerability that she possessed. Josh, I was not as much of a fan of, he seemed like a rich kid that was playing at caring. I had trouble finding any kind of sympathy for him. The romance between Mike and Josh felt rather forced to me, and I never really felt the chemistry between the two of them. Personally, I thought the relationship between Mike and her childhood friend (sorry, his name escapes me at the moment) had a lot more going for it.

The story was interesting, and it dealt with a lot of hot topics. I appreciated the glimpse into the world of illegal immigrants and their struggle. Also learning about betting and the world of a bookie was engrossing. However, I felt as if the story lacked and redeeming element of hope, which made it into something very depressing. I had trouble accepting Mike and Josh’s actions, and their rationalization of them was not acceptable to me.

Overall, this book had an interesting storyline, but it was extremely dark, depressing. I have read and appreciated books that deal with extremely dark subjects, but I feel as if their needs to be some type of hope within the story. Perhaps I am just an eternal optimist, but I had trouble with this book. Maybe it just was not for me. This is not one to add to my favorites or my recommend lists.

Cover: 3
Plot: 4
Writing: 2.5
Personally: 2.5

Overall: 3 out of 5

• Tags: contemporary, social issues, YA•

WOW is a weekly meme hosted at Breaking the Spine that spotlights upcoming books that we’re highly anticipating.

How can you talk about something you can’t remember?
Before the ski trip, sixteen-year-old Cassidy “Sid” Murphy was a cheerleader (at the bottom of the pyramid, but still…), a straight-A student, and a member of a solid trio of best friends. When she ends up on a ski lift next to handsome local college boy, Dax Windsor, she’s thrilled; but Dax takes everything from Sid—including a lock of her perfect red curls—and she can’t remember any of it.
Back home and unable to relate to her old friends, Sid drops her college prep classes and takes up residence in the A/V room with only Corey “The Living Stoner” Livingston for company. But as she gets to know Corey (slacker, baker, total dreamboat), Sid finds someone who truly makes her happy. Now, if she can just shake the nightmares and those few extra pounds, everything will be perfect… or so she thinks.

Why? I am a huge fan of contemporaries dealing with serious issues, ,and this sounds like one of those. Plus, it sounds like there’s also a little bit of romance and mystery, and this is a debut!

This title is set to be released on October 9th. Add it on Goodreads?

Title: City of Lost Souls

Series: Mortal Instruments #5

Author: Cassandra Clare

Read via: Purchased

The demon Lilith has been destroyed and Jace has been freed from her captivity. But when the Shadowhunters arrive to rescue him, they find only blood and broken glass. Not only is the boy Clary loves missing–but so is the boy she hates, Sebastian, the son of her father Valentine: a son determined to succeed where their father failed, and bring the Shadowhunters to their knees.
No magic the Clave can summon can locate either boy, but Jace cannot stay away—not from Clary. When they meet again Clary discovers the horror Lilith’s dying magic has wrought—Jace is no longer the boy she loved. He and Sebastian are now bound to each other, and Jace has become what he most feared: a true servant of Valentine’s evil. The Clave is determined to destroy Sebastian, but there is no way to harm one boy without destroying the other. Will the Shadowhunters hesitate to kill one of their own?
Only a small band of Clary and Jace’s friends and family believe that Jace can still be saved — and that the fate of the Shadowhunters’ future may hinge on that salvation. They must defy the Clave and strike out on their own. Alec, Magnus, Simon and Isabelle must work together to save Jace: bargaining with the sinister Faerie Queen, contemplating deals with demons, and turning at last to the Iron Sisters, the reclusive and merciless weapons makers for the Shadowhunters, who tell them that no weapon on this earth can sever the bond between Sebastian and Jace. Their only chance of cutting Jace free is to challenge Heaven and Hell — a risk that could claim any, or all, of their lives.
And they must do it without Clary. For Clary has gone into the heart of darkness, to play a dangerous game utterly alone. The price of losing the game is not just her own life, but Jace’s soul. She’s willing to do anything for Jace, but can she even still trust him? Or is he truly lost? What price is too high to pay, even for love?

Mortal Instruments is one of the best YA series ever. Cassandra Clare is my idol. As one might imagine, the day City of Lost Souls was released I was at the store buying it. City of Lost Souls starts with a gorgeous cover, the best of the series in my opinion, and throws in the amazing characters and twisty plot that remain trademarks of the series.

This series has arguably some of the best characters in the world of YA. To start with there is Clary, who I adore. She’s intelligent, full of love, and completely unafraid of doing what she feels is right. Then there is Jace. Jace consists of gorgeous good looks, the best dialogue perhaps ever uttered by a male lead, and a love for Clary that manages to beat any and all odds. Simon, who I could not stand in the first two books, has finally come into his own, and has become a remarkably strong lead. I have fallen in love with his quiet strength and the way that he thinks of everyone else before himself. I must also mention Isabelle. Isabelle is one of my all-time favorite characters to ever exist. I have adored her from the beginning of the series, but the scenes in City of Glass, which I cannot explain further without major spoilers, cemented my admiration for her. I would happily read the Mortal Instruments series all over from Isabelle’s point-of-view, and it would totally blow my mind. She is such a mix of grace and strength, of vulnerability and desperation. The complexities of her character continually astound me. Finally, the books also have Magnus, Alec (who faces some major issues in this book), Maia, Jordan, Luke, and so many other fantastic characters.

The beginning of City of Lost Souls picks up just after the conclusion on City of Fallen Angels. Jace is missing, and everyone is searching for him. Jace’s absence and the reasons behind it cause a variety of stresses for not only Clary, but everyone in the circle of friends that we have come to love. But even though Jace is gone, the world continues on. Relationships develop and fall apart. The world of the Shadowhunters faces a threat even graver than Valentine, and the foreshadowing within this story is absolutely chilling. The hint of what is to come makes the struggles everyone faces here seem like a breeze.

Overall, City of Lost Souls is another beautiful installment to the Mortal Instruments series. At its core, the books revolve around the relationship between Jace and Clary, but there is so much more to the series. We get a glimpse into the relationships of everyone, and the interactions between the characters have become even more intense than before. I would highly, highly recommend this series. City of Lost Souls has moments that will stop your heart, and others that will make it beat faster than it ever has.

Cover: 5
Plot: 4
Writing: 5
Personally: 4

Overall: 4.5 out of 5

• Tags: romance, series, YA•

Image from Google

If you are interested in any of these books please e-mail me at paperdreamsreviews@gmail.com with the subject line “Book Sale/Trade” or something similar. The books will be available on a first come-first serve basis.

If you are purchasing a book I will send you an invoice via Paypal, and once that has been paid, I will e-mail you with the delivery confirmation number of your package.
If you are trading for a book, I will ask you to mail the book you are sending to me, e-mail me the delivery confirmation number, and I will then mail yours and send you the delivery confirmation number.
*Below you can find links to my wishlists & info about what I am willing to trade for.

SALE OR TRADE
*There will be a $2 shipping fee for each order (US/CAN Only).
(If you get one book shipping will be an additional $2 or if you get four books shipping will be an additional $2, etc.)

Hardcover – $6 (Like New-LN) $4 (Good Condition-GC)
Paperback- $4 (Like New- LN) $2 (Good Condition-GC)

Elsewhere by Gabrielle Zevin – HC/GC
The Gathering by Kelley Armstrong – HC/LN
Girl Overboard by Justina Chen Headley – PB/GC
A Great and Terrible Beauty by Libba Bray – PB/LN
Harry Potter & the Order of the Phoenix by J.K. Rowling- HC/GC
Jason & Kira by Dana Davidson – PB/GC
Life of Pi by Yann Martel – PB/GC
The Nature of Jade by Deb Caletti – PB/GC
Pitch Black: Color Me Lost by Melody Carlson – PB/LN
Saving June by Hannah Harrington – PB/LN
Second Summer of the Sisterhood by Ann Brashares – PB/LN
Secrets of My Hollywood Life by Jen Calonita – PB/GC
Sisters of Misery by Megan Kelley Hall – PB/LN
Twilight: Breaking Dawn by Stephanie Meyers - HC/GC
Twilight: Eclipse by Stephanie Meyers- HC/GC
Twilight: New Moon by Stephanie Meyers - PB/GC
Two Willows by Ann Brashares – HC/LN
Violet on the Runway by Melissa Walker – PB/GC
What Happened to Goodbye by Sarah Dessen – HC/LN
When the Stars Go Blue by Caridad Ferrer – PB/LN
Where I Belong by  -PB/LN
Wolves, Boys, and Other Things That Might Kill Me by Kristen Chandler -HC/LN

TRADE
All of the following are ARCs(Advanced Reading Copies) and are available for TRADE ONLY.

Always a Witch by Carolyn MacCullough
Everneath by Brodi Ashton
Girl in the Steel Corset by Kady Cross
The Savage Grace by Bree Despain
Texas Gothic by Rosemary Clement-Moore
Wanted by Heidi Ayarbe

Will Trade For:
-Finished Copies:
Always a Witch by Carolyn MacCullough
Demonglass by Rachel Hawkins
Everneath by Brodi Ashton
Going Too Far by Jennifer Echols
Honey, Baby, Sweetheart by Deb Caletti
Iron Daughter by Julie Kagawa
Linger by Maggie Stiefvater
Nightshade by Andrea Cremer
Runaway by Meg Cabot
Savage Grace by Bree Despain
Story of Us by Deb Caletti
Tiger Saga 1-3 by Colleen Houck
Where She Went by Gayle Forman
Goodreads Wishlist
Of course, you are welcome to also let me know what books you have available, and we could possibly work out a trade for something not on my wishlist.

-ARCs
Bitterblue by Kristin Cashore
Dreamless by Josphine Angelini
Golden Lily by Richelle Mead
This is Not a Test by Courtney Summers
Any forthcoming title on my Goodreads Wishlist

This post will be upated as books come/go.