Black Heart Blog Tour! 5 Questions with Holly Black!
1. I'm a big fan of the Curse Workers Trilogy, and I find the whole “worker” concept so unique, where did you get the idea for it?
Well, I started with two ideas and the character of Cassel. My first idea was that I wanted to retell my favorite French fairy tale, "The White Cat," and my second was that I wanted to tell a story about con artists. Putting those together, I realized that I needed a magic system that would fit into a world where I could do both.
From there, I started to think about the way magic systems are organized. I thought about schools of magic, and the medieval master/apprentice approach to magicians, and then I thought...what if I based the behavior of the magicians in my world on organized crime?
But I also had this character: I knew his name was Cassel and I knew he'd grown up in a family where everyone was proud of being outside of the law. Cassel's struggle is to figure out who he is, who he loves, and who he'd like to be. So the more I developed the world, the more I developed him and the more I developed him, the more I was able to develop the world.
2. If you were a worker, what kind do you think you’d be? And how would you use your ability?
I'd like to be a luck worker, because so long as I mostly worked people in positive ways, I would get good luck too. The blowback on the other types freak me out too much. Although I like to write about lunatic criminals, I don't have the nerves to be one.3. Poor Barron has to leave himself post-it notes so that he doesn’t forget things. If you were in Barron’s position, what would you put on your post-its? Would you just put the basics, or do you think you’d craft an entirely different life for yourself?
That's a really interesting question, because we see much more about what Barron wants -- and the kinds of notes he leaves himself -- in BLACK HEART.
For me, I think I would write down what I remembered about the truth, because so much of the rest of my life would be fabrication. And each time I used my power, I would lose something without even knowing what was lost.
I am so glad! It's bittersweet for me that the series is over, but I am glad to be giving Cassel and company a resolution. They do keep going on in my imagination, though, which is fun for me. Sometimes I even take notes.
5. Now that the Curse Workers Trilogy is finished, what do you plan to write next?
In 2013, I actually have TWO books coming out. Both are standalones.
The first is a middle grade called DOLL BONES, about three kids -- Zachary, Poppy and Alice -- who go on a journey, despite their own uncertain friendship, to bury a doll that may or may not be made from human bones. It's creepy and fun and it may be the most difficult thing I've ever written. I am really, really proud of it.
The second is a teen novel, called THE COLDEST GIRL IN COLDTOWN. It's based on a short story I wrote a few years ago and it's set in a world where the sudden spread of vampirism caused the United States to wall off parts of cities, creating "Coldtowns" where humans and vampires live side by side in a lawless and decadent détente. Outside the quarantined zones, people watch videos uploaded from inside with fascination, making instant celebrities of monsters. When only Tana Bach and her ex-boyfriend, Aidan, survive a lockdown party massacre that leaves both of them infected, they have to travel with a half-mad vampire named Gavriel, into the heart of everything that Tana has always feared.
That's the first time I tried to summarize COLDTOWN -- it's hard because I'm not quite finished with it yet!
Wow! I was thrilled when I got asked to participate in the blog tour for Black Heart...and that I got to ask Holly Black some questions!!! I had a total freak out fangirl moment when I got the email about it...and when I got the answers back I freaked out again! Her answers were awesome, and her new books sound amazing!!!! :D I'm definitely looking forward to them both! Plus, this is the first time she's tried to summarize COLDTOWN...how cool is it that it's on my blog?! :D *end of fangirling little gush moment* ;)
So, what did you guys think of Holly's answers??
Are you looking forward to Black Heart???
Any other thoughts??? :)
That's so awesome you interviewed Holly Black! I know what a huge fan you are. Her books, including the 2013 ones, sound amazing and I can't believe I still haven't read any. I'm so sick of vampires but the Coldest Girl sound incredible cool (and that's neat this is her first time writing about it!)
ReplyDeleteAlso, it's clear what book covers you prefer for this trilogy :P
I was very very excited! :D I sure am! You totally have to read one of her books in the future...and since you won't have any wait time for the Curse Workers now, you could always start with that one. ;) lol
ReplyDeletehaha...that obvious, huh? I just love the feel of the older ones, and I love the gloves, it's just such a small detail, but it's so representative of the books! The new ones are just too art deco and modern for me...plus, the model for Cassel is pretty darn hot, which let's face it, is never a bad thing. ;) lol
I just may have to start with this series, it sounds really neat! I've heard great things about Tithe too, I plan to read that one eventually.
ReplyDeleteI haven't read the books, but the old covers were nice, it wasn't a series where I really understood why they changed it. I find the images on the new covers pretty to look at though, but it sounds like it doesn't represent the books quite as well.
Glad to hear it! :D If you weren't moving to Halifax and we lived closer, I would totally borrow them to you. :P
ReplyDeleteI loved them, but oh well, no point in dwelling on it now. :P Ya, I didn't get it either. I wish they'd waited until Black Heart was published in hardcover first though with the old one, so that they'd match. Ya, they are pretty, but I think you're right. :)
Black Heart was a great ending to the story of Cassel, Lila, and the crew. Loose ends were tied up and people, essentially, got what was coming to them. Did I like it as much as the first two? No, but that's because it felt like not enough stuff was going on. It wasn't as thrilling as the first two and I guess that usually happens in the final book of a series. I wanted more from Black Heart but let me be clear that I still loved this book.
ReplyDeleteCassel really comes into his own in this book. I don't know quite how to describe it but he goes from being "baby bird brother" to a REAL MAN. And I've enjoyed watching him learn and grown over this series.