Class of 2K12 -- Interview with Robin Bridges, THE GATHERING STORM -- and an ARC giveaway

Welcome! Today, I'm thrilled to be interviewing Robin Bridges, author of the debut YA novel, THE GATHERING STORM,  which pubs January 10, 2012, from Delacorte Press.

 Book One of the Katerina Trilogy
Book One of the Katerina Trilogy

In the midst of superstitious and dangerous 1880's Russia, Katerina of Oldenburg hides a dark secret: she can raise the dead.  Here's the official trailer from Random House to show you more:

Wow!  That's a cool trailer and a  beautiful cover.  And what a great premise!  Robin, did you start with a character or with an image or phrase or setting?  This story actually started with the setting.  I’ve always loved Russian history and wanted to write a fantasy based in a Slavic-type kingdom.

I love Russian history too! Do you outline before you write? If so, does it end up changing before you finish the first draft? What change surprised you the most?  Yes and no.  I have a road map, a list of scenes I want to include, and then I write and rewrite trying to figure out exactly what happens.

 Robin Bridges (photo by Erin Glisson)

Coffee, tea, or hot chocolate while writing? And where do you write? Briefly describe your writing space. Diet Coke is my poison of choice.  My writing space is a computer nook off of my living room.  I only get to write when the rest of the family is asleep or at school/ work and the living room is quiet.

Do you listen to music while writing or at least while thinking about and planning a book? What song or album had the most influence on this novel?  Katerina’s playlist was mostly classical Russian composers like Tchaikovsky and Glinka, but it’s kinda eclectic:

A Life for the Tsar: Polonaise and Mazurka by Glinka

Eugene Onegin: Polonaise by Tchaikovsky

Queen of Spades: Overture and Lisa’s Aria by Tchaikovsky

Kol Slaven

Black Eyes (old Russian love song)

Chrysanthemums (old Russian love song)

Skazhite Yey (Tell Her) (old Russian love song)

Russian Easter Festival Overture by Rimsky-Korsakov

Forestalling the Morning (and other Russian Orthodox chants)

Snow White Queen and Lacrymosa by Evanescence

Transylvanian Concubine by Rasputina

Second Waltz by Shostakovich (written past Katerina’s time but I still love it)

That's an amazing song list, Robin.  Tchaikovsky is one of my favorite composers!  And my son introduced me to Rasputina.  I studied Russian in college and I love that your novel has so much Russian influence.   

Thank you so much for joining us today, Robin!  And happy launch day next week!  

To learn more about Robin, visit her website or the Class of 2K12 website.

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Readers, I'm happy to tell you I have an ARC of The Gathering Storm to give away.  It's simple: be a follower and leave a comment on this post.  This giveaway is open internationally and will close at 11:59 pm EST on Wednesday, January 18.  Don't forget my other giveaway of a middle grade novel, MAY B. by Caroline Starr Rose.  Go to this post to enter (edited to add the link!).

Visit My Brain on Books next Friday for another interview with a debut YA author, Megan Bostic, author of NEVER EIGHTEEN.