Tuesday, August 25, 2015

Court of Fives Blog Tour: Interview with Kate Elliott

http://thenovl.com/post/127083441040/lets-run-welcome-to-the-fantasy-of-all

Today I have the pleasure of welcoming author Kate Elliott to the blog as part of the promotional tour for her first foray into YA fiction, Court of Fives. Kate was nice enough to answer a few questions for me about Jes, Kal, and all things competitive sports, and I was even able to pry from her a 5 word sneak peek at what's in store for us in the next installment. *pats self on back* I hope you guys enjoy the interview, and be sure to check the bottom of the post for the full list of participating blogs!

If Jes was helping you train to compete in The Fives, what would the first words out of her mouth be on day one when she evaluated your fitness and strategy?

“I have so much respect that you have come to train, Honored Lady, but at your age I have to suggest that you might think twice about setting your sights on the highest levels of competition.”

What was Kal’s first thought when he saw Jes first compete in The Fives?

How does she DO that???

If Jes lived in our modern world, what are the top three Olympic sports she’d be dying to compete in?

Jes would be dying to compete in American Ninja Warrior, of course! As for the Olympics, she would leap at the chance to try out the snowboard halfpipe with its twists and tricks, as well as the one sport the Olympics finally just last year allowed women to compete in: the ski jump. Nothing like the adrenalin rush of flying!

The social and gender divide in this world was enough to make me want to throttle a few select characters for their treatment of another human being. What’s the last book you read that made you spitting mad (the good, “I’m so involved in this story” kind of mad)?

Can I change the medium? I adore the television show Nashville, and probably the last time I got spitting mad with a narrative in the “I am so incredibly involved in this story and in these people’s lives that I have lost all perspective given they aren’t even real” has been with Nashville. Whether it’s Jeff, or Juliet, or Deacon, or even stubborn Rayna (why did you dump Luke???), I love this show exactly because I get exasperated with the characters in the same way I might with people I know in real life. That’s the magic of narrative!

If Jes could ask an Oracle what she’ll have to face in the next book, what are a few of the words she might hear in the Oracle’s answer?

poet

desert

cheat

murder

heart

Cheat and murder do not sound good. *bites nails* Thanks so much for answering my questions Kate!

• • • • • • • • • • •

COURT OF FIVES


The greatest danger is that she might win.

In this imaginative escape into an enthralling new world, World Fantasy Award finalist Kate Elliott's first young adult novel weaves an epic story of a girl struggling to do what she loves in a society suffocated by rules of class and privilege.

Jessamy's life is a balance between acting like an upper-class Patron and dreaming of the freedom of the Commoners. But away from her family she can be whoever she wants when she sneaks out to train for The Fives, an intricate, multilevel athletic competition that offers a chance for glory to the kingdom's best contenders. Then Jes meets Kalliarkos, and an unlikely friendship between two Fives competitors--one of mixed race and the other a Patron boy--causes heads to turn. When Kal's powerful, scheming uncle tears Jes's family apart, she'll have to test her new friend's loyalty and risk the vengeance of a royal clan to save her mother and sisters from certain death.


• • • • • • • • • • •

KATE ELLIOTT


Kate Elliott has been writing stories since she was nine years old, which has led her to believe that writing, like breathing, keeps her alive. As a child in rural Oregon, she made up stories because she longed to escape to a world of lurid adventure fiction.  She now writes fantasy, steampunk, science fiction, and YA.

It should come as no surprise that she met her future husband in a sword fight. When he gave up police work to study archaeology, they and their three children fell into an entirely new set of adventures amid dusty Mexican ruins and mouthwatering European pastry shops.  Eventually her spouse's work forced them to move to Hawaii, where she took up outrigger canoe paddling. With the three children out of the house, they now spoil the schnauzer.

 
• • • • • • • • • • •
 
BLOG TOUR
 

23 comments:

  1. The answer to the first question made me laugh. I've got this one in my TBR pile, Jenny, and am looking forward to reading it. The sequel sounds very interesting.

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    1. Right? I don't think I want to know what Jes would have to say to me after I limped my way through a practice course... ;-)

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  2. Fantastic interview as always Jenny! And those five words as answers to what's to come in the sequel don't sound all that reassuring!

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    1. NO THEY DO NOT PILI! I feel like I need chocolate....

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  3. I should really watch more TV--Nashville sounds AWESOME. I love being so immersed in a book/show so much that anything/one that gets in a character's way... DIEDIEDIE. (I swear I'm not this violent in real life...) Also "murder" for the sequel... I am excited. Awesome interview, Jenny!!

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    1. I think I need to watch Nashville too Aimee, I don't have any shows I'm overly involved in at the moment:)

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  4. Oh snappppppp
    Cheat and Murder have me worried for book 2!!!!! It's going to be really intense isn't it? I am going to need all the candy.

    ALSO cracking up at Elliot's response to the first question. I feel like Jes would have a similar response if it were me instead :P

    Thank you so much for sharing this awesome interview!! :D

    Rashika @ The Social Potato

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    1. YES RASHIKA!!!! All the candy is clearly necessary:)

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  5. I like the sound of Jes a lot. She sounds kick-ass!
    But OMG! I haven't even read the book yet, but I'm already worried about cheating and murders in book 2! You're going to have to prepare yourself, Jenny!
    Thanks for sharing!

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    1. You and I are the same Nick. We see the word cheat and we shudder. I'm thinking cheat doesn't have a romantic context in this series though, so that's at least something. At least I hope it doesn't:)

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  6. Great interview! This normally isn't my thing, but it sounds really interesting!

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  7. poet

    desert

    cheat

    murder

    heart


    Okay those are all super intriguing!
    I think I would really love this book Jenny! Great interview!

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    1. Aren't they? I find murder to be particularly unnerving:)

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  8. I have been eyeing this one. I think Jes sounds like a bad ass girl. Totally want to meet her. What an intriguing list of words. I definitely want to know more. Lovely interview as always, Jenny.

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    1. Thanks Heidi! I'll be interested to see what you think of this one if you decide to give it a go:)

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  9. Oooo~ This sounds interesting... I like the concept for the book. I might have to look into it.

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  10. Oh totally curious about this one now. I'm also in need to watch Nashville. I haven't seen the show and now I'm also curious about that one as well! LOL

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    1. ME TOO! I feel a binge watching session coming on...:)

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  11. I have a feeling that if Jes was unfortunate enough to be my trainer, she'll quit right there and then. Lol.

    Great interview, Jenny!

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  12. Great interview questions, Jenny! I just finished this and loved every moment of it! That last question for the Oracle has me very curious...
    Thanks for the great post :)

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  13. Her answer to the first question made me giggle. This sounds like a promising fantasy. Fantastic, fun and informative interview Jenny!

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