Blog Tour: Cinders & Sapphires

February 8, 2013 Heidi Uncategorized 0

So, my review of Cinders & Sapphires went live on Monday. I just have to reiterate… I had so much fun reading this book. I just loved it! So, you can imagine how thrilled I was at the opportunity to interview the series editor, Emily Meehan, for the blog tour. First, the basic info about the book for those not in the know 😉

One house, two worlds…

Rose Cliffe has never met a young lady like her new mistress. Clever, rich, and beautiful, Ada Averley treats Rose as an equal. And Rose could use a friend. Especially now that she, at barely sixteen, has risen to the position of ladies’ maid. Rose knows she should be grateful to have a place at a house like Somerton. Still, she can’t help but wonder what her life might have been had she been born a lady, like Ada.

For the first time in a decade, the Averleys have returned to Somerton, their majestic ancestral estate. But terrible scandal has followed Ada’s beloved father all the way from India. Now Ada finds herself torn between her own happiness and her family’s honor. Only she has the power to restore the Averley name—but it would mean giving up her one true love . . . someone she could never persuade her father to accept.

Sumptuous and enticing, the first novel in the At Somerton series introduces two worlds, utterly different yet entangled, where ruthless ambition, forbidden attraction, and unspoken dreams are hidden behind dutiful smiles and glittering jewels. All those secrets are waiting . . . at Somerton.

And now for the interview with Emily Meehan:

I flew through Cinders & Sapphires, the first book in the At Somerton series. What aspects of the story caught your attention as an editor?
I love the vivid details that Leila created in the lives of the gentry and servants. She does such a wonderful job bringing this world to life and I love all of the relationships between the characters.

You’ve acquired books in a number of different genres for a variety of age groups. I assume working with a sci-fi series like Rachel Cohn’s Beta is different than working on the At Somerton series. Am I way off here? What are some of the challenges and rewards that go with working on such varied projects?
Actually, both projects are alike in that the authors had to create vivid worlds for their readers. One historic, one completely made up. I think a big challenge is pulling the world out of the author’s head and making sure it gets down on paper. The rewards are many, but I think the biggest is when a revision comes in and it’s spectacular.

Speaking of working on series… when I asked twitter what questions they would have for an editor of YA book series’s a number of people asked about consistency within a series. Is it hard to keep things consistent? How do you keep track? Do you have to re-read book one before looking at the next book? Etc…
The fans are SOOO much better at this than we are. We in editorial keep track by just trying to remember from book to book, but copyeditors rely on style sheets and sometimes re-reading the previous book, depending on how long it has been. I always try to make sure the same copyeditors work on the same series because that really helps. But fans are always pointing our inconsistencies and we like it. It helps!

Has being an editor changed the way you read for pleasure? Do you look for the same qualities in your personal reading as you do in books you work on?
Yes and yes. I read many books at once now. I try to always read one children’s book and one adult book at any time. But it’s hard. As a book consumer, I tend to get stuck on one author and read everything they’ve written. Right now I’m on an Alexander McCall Smith kick.

Soooooo, is there any chance you can share some of what’s in store for the At Somerton crew? The ending ofCinders &Sapphires has me dying for more! Any hints would be welcome 😉

The next book is called Diamonds and Deceit and it continues the story of all of the characters, with particular focus on Rose and Ada’s stories. I’m due to read the first draft and moment now and I am probably more excited than you!

Check out the book trailer too!