Review: The Darkest Minds Review: Chasers Review: Cornered Review: Finale Review: Leopard Moon

Wednesday, November 2, 2011

Blog Tour: Destined


Hello everyone! Today, I have author Jessie Harrell talking about her new book Destined!
Check It Out!

"When Psyche receives a prophecy gone horribly wrong, she learns that even the most beautiful girl in Greece can have a hideous future. Her fate? Fall in love with the one creature even the gods fear.

As she feels herself slipping closer into the arms of the prophecy, Psyche must choose between the terrifyingly tender touch she feels almost powerless to resist and the one constant she's come to expect out of life: you cannot escape what is destined.

Destined is a fresh and heartachingly romantic retelling of the Cupid & Psyche myth from debut novelist, Jessie Harrell."



 What inspired you to write?
My husband's flippant suggestion that we should write picture books because "how hard can that be?"  He bought some books, I took an online writing course, and the next thing I knew, I felt a calling to write YA. (He, however, has not written word 1.)


 In writing Destined, is there a character you found particularly hard to write?
Aphrodite's character was hard for me at first because she was so cold and heartless and she kept feeling like a one-dimensional soap star.  It wasn't until I decided that she needed her own non-evil motivation for her actions that her character really came to life for me.  (I can't tell you much more with giving away parts of the story.)

 How much research goes in before you begin writing?
For this book, I didn't do much research before I started, but researched a TON along the way.  There were a bunch of little things that kept cropping up and I would have to run off and find answers before I could go on (like making sure I had flowers, trees and food historically accurate).

With the second novel (that I co-wrote with Nikki Katz), we did the majority of our research in the beginning so that we would be on the exact same page as we were writing.  I don't really prefer one way over another.  I think each book probably has its own way it needs to be approached.

Are any characters based on people you know?
Psyche's nervous ticks, like chewing the inside of her cheek and picking at the skin around her nails, are things that I do.  And Ceres has some of my mom's characteristics are far as being artistic and carefree.  But for the most part, the characters are a product of my creation and I was inspired more by the faces I associated with them in my head than anyone I know in real life.

 What books are you looking forward to reading this fall?
Oh my gosh - my Kindle is totally packed with books I can't wait to read.  Lola and the Boy Next Door, Possessed, Anna Dressed in Blood, The Night Circus... the list goes on and on.  I may never write again if I try to keep up with my ever-growing TBR pile!

Thank you for being here today!

About the author:



Ms. Harrell is giving away a e-copy of her book. Please leave a comment below with your email address in order to be entered to win.

Happy Reading!





29 comments:

  1. Sounds like a great book=) Hope I win it!

    ansindt@hotmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  2. Thank you for a great interview and the giveaway. Fingers cross!

    ktturner111(at)me(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  3. Seems like a great book!

    chelsielichty@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  4. I'm taking part in this tour too!

    Destined was a fun read! :)

    [Not entering the comp as I already have a copy of the book!x]

    ReplyDelete
  5. Thanks for being a part of the Destined blog tour! Good luck to everyone who enters & remember, I'll be giving away an e-ARC at every stop on the tour. Lots of chances to win!

    ReplyDelete
  6. This cover is absolutely stunning, I could just sit and stare at it all day:) Sounds like such a great book, I'm a huge fan of Greek mythology so this is right up my alley:) Love that the husband hasn't written a single word, that's exactly how mine would be!

    ReplyDelete
  7. I am from Greece and I am really happy when I find books about our history. It has very beautiful story!
    Thank you for the giveaway!

    artgiote at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  8. I'm with Jenny: the cover is just gorgeous! It's neat that Jessie added a bit of herself to Psyche. Thanks for the interview! :)
    - Lauren

    ReplyDelete
  9. great giveaway, thanks!
    darksiry(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  10. Awesome interview hun! This book sounds amazing thanks for the giveaway! (:

    Haley from Ya-Aholic.com

    haleyelisehagen@hotmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  11. Okay, you had me a Psyche! Plus that cover! SWEET! I'm so curious as to how this world plays out.

    books (dot) things (at) yahoo (dot) com

    ReplyDelete
  12. Ha! Well maybe there will be time for that picture book in the future! :)

    Thanks for the interview and giveaway
    missie at theunreadreader.com

    ReplyDelete
  13. Destined sounds amazing and I can't waiting to read it! I love your interview Savy! <3

    ReplyDelete
  14. I really can't wait for this book. I've heard great things about it - and it's one of the few books that doesn't seem to have a love triangle ._.

    Seattlelover7@aim.com

    ReplyDelete
  15. Love the cover, love the idea. I told myself I would not enter any more giveaways, but this one I've made an excecption for. Sounds great.

    ReplyDelete
  16. I am so excited for this! Thanks for the opportunity to win!


    theatredreamer08(at)hotmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  17. Thanks for the interview, I love hearing how authors came to be. =)

    ReplyDelete
  18. Thanks for the wonderful interview. I adore the cover :)

    Vivien
    deadtossedwaves at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  19. Great Q and A, Savy! This one sounds right up my alley, and I'd just love to review it :)

    iswimforoceans at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  20. Thank you so much for sharing this wonderful interview today and for the lovely giveaway opportunity. I think Destined sounds great and send congratulations on the release and tour. I look forward to reading it :)

    dz59001[at]gmail[dot]com

    ReplyDelete
  21. Thanks for the interview! It's so interesting to see how books came to be. This is one beautiful cover.

    davisjoy@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  22. Destined sounds AMAZING! here some really good things about it too!

    rteenbookworm @ gmail . com

    ReplyDelete
  23. The books sounds great. I know I would enjoy reading it. Thanks for this chance to win it. :)

    vanillaorchids69(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  24. Congrats to DARK WOLF who won the eARC of DESTINED on this tour stop. For the rest of you, you can check out the rest of the stops for more chances to enter. The schedule is posted here:
    http://jessie-harrell.blogspot.com/p/blog-tour.html

    ReplyDelete
  25. What a terrific interview! Possessed, Anna Dressed in Blood and The Night Circus are on my list of books to read as well!! I'm definitely adding yours to my list now, though :)

    jwitt33 at live dot com

    ReplyDelete
  26. Anna dressed in blood and possessed are also on mine! I just added destined

    ReplyDelete
  27. Thanks for the giveaway!
    I would love to win a e-copy of Destined. :)

    Memrie
    darkangel231988(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  28. I hope I didn't miss this, I would love a chance to win this! Sounds amazing!!

    june111(at)att(dot)net

    ReplyDelete
  29. This sounds awesome! Thanks! :)

    super_girl7@msn.com

    ReplyDelete

Hello lovely reader! Thanks for commenting! I enjoying reading what you have to say :) I have turn on the comment mod due to a large amount of spam. Thanks :)