Wednesday 2 May 2012

Setting The Scene with Amy Plum & Giveaway

Some of you may remember my obsession last year with Amy Plum's debut novel, Die For Me. I may have been a little bit stalkerish, but I am pretty sure Atom and Amy forgave me. I mean, at least the restraining order has been lifted and I can happily scoot into Foyles tonight to see Amy Plum herself! 
To celebrate the publication of Until I Die, the second book in the series, I am ecstatic to have Amy Plum back on the blog. Stick around until the end of Amy's fabulous post, because there will be a super giveaway, thanks to the generosity of Atom Books. 
Someone once asked me if DIE FOR ME could have been set in another city. I didn’t even have to think before answering: Paris is the only place DIE FOR ME could have taken place, because the city is one of the trilogy’s main characters. Paris in all of its immortal, romantic, creepiness is essential to Kate and Vincent’s story.
I first visited Paris when I was 22. I had gone to Egypt for a week first, and had gotten dysentery so badly that I had to crawl back and forth on my hands and knees to the bathroom on my Nile River tour boat. The last three days I hadn’t been able to eat anything but chicken broth. At the end of the tour, I flew from Cairo to Paris, and in a very weakened state arrived at the Gare de l’Est. I went straight to the first cafĂ© I saw, just outside the train station, sat down, and ordered a cassis-flavored ice cream. And I have to tell you, that ice cream was the best thing I ever put in my mouth.
I spent the next week getting stronger as I ate and walked my way through Paris. I didn’t move back to Paris until a year later, but that memory is indelibly imprinted into my mind: a young, weakened girl arriving in Paris and being nurtured back to health by the city’s vitality.
Kate arrives in Paris after the death of her parents—a huge emotional blow that leaves her devastated. Little by little she is weaned back to health by the city and her fascination for it and its inhabitants...one habitant in particular. In book 2, UNTIL I DIE, Kate mines Paris’s wealth to solve a mystery that could help her love story with Vincent survive. So, once again, Paris is integral to our protagonist—it shapes who she is and who she will become.

Thank you Amy, for a beautiful post. 
Until I Die by Amy Plum is published by Atom on the 3rd May 2012, £6.99

 The lovely people at Atom are offering a fantastic prize. They are giving away TWO sets of Amy Plum's books. If you enter the competition below you have a chance of winning Die For Me and Until I Die! Isn't that amazing! If I hadn't read them, I would definitely be entering this competition. This is a UK only competition, I'm afraid, so apologies to my international followers. The closing date for the competition is midnight (UK time) on the 9th May. a Rafflecopter giveaway

10 comments:

  1. I Loved Die for me,consuming it in one sitting. I can't wait to get my grubby mits on Until I Die and I am SOOOO EXCITED to be meeting Amy at Foyles this evening!!! See you there.
    Caroline

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  2. Really interesting post, I love hearing about inspirations like this.

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  3. Die for Me was such a fabulous read! A breath of fresh air in the YA PNR/fantasy genre if you ask me :)

    It is impossible not to fall in love with Paris through Amy's writing, I can see why the story couldn't take place anywhere else. I so want to go there some day! Excellent guest post.

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  4. Yay! Love this comp! And the book of course, can't wait to read Until I Die. I have been to Paris before, but I'm itching to go again and pretend to be in the bo... I mean, really immerse myself in the Parisian culture... ;)

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  5. Love this Review and contest. Never bin 2 Paris but took a few steps there thru Die for Me and I wanna go bak so can't wait for Until I die. Love the series Amy ur Amazing! Thanks 4 the Opp Serendipity!

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  6. oh darn, I'm so sorry I entered this before I read that it's UK only. I'm sorry, please delete my entries!!!

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  7. Thank you for such a fantastic oportunity, as this book looks increadible & i adore the front cover which is stunning! Thank you. Xx

    From: Miss. Lucinda Fountain
    Email: lfountain1@hotmail.co.uk

    *note- i am a UK resident :)

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  8. I have heard so much about these books, but haven't got around to reading them yet - hoping I can win a set instead!

    Name: Jennifer OGorman
    Email: randygrapes@hotmail.com
    UK resident.

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  9. Hey.. thanks for this amazing giveaway I haven't read the series yet but I've heard rave reviews and would love to read the books...
    :)

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  10. Wow! Thanks for such an amazing giveaway! I would love to read these books! Nice to find another UK blogger too :)
    Sarah

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Hiya, thanks for stopping by, it is always nice to hear what you have to say, so do leave a comment if you have time.