Monday, October 27, 2014

INTERVIEW + Giveaway: Balance Broken by Hilary Thompson




Balance Broken
by Hilary Thompson 
Series: Starbright #2
Release date: October 28th 2014
Purchase: Amazon

Synopsis via Goodreads:
Balance Broken is the second in the Starbright series. In the first book, Justice Buried, Astrea fights to remain independent in a world which demands she submit to an ancient prophecy. In Balance Broken, she learns that independence means little when the world is depending on her.

The world cries for Order, but she’s igniting a revolution.

One hundred years before, the Great Sickness reduced the world to three cities. Now, Asphodel no longer lingers underground, and the Starbright Maiden of Justice has returned.

Everyone has faith in Astrea’s ability to save the world - but only she knows the dark truth about her powers.

Astrea teams with Stian, Lexan, and Zarea to enlist the help of Lord Hadeon of Tartarus. They hope Hadeon will aid in attacking Asphodel’s First Leader Keirna, but the Destroyer usually takes lives, not sides.

As Astrea discovers life outside of Asphodel, she begins to wonder whether the remaining world is too broken to save - especially since the price of freedom just might be her own life.




Do you like the spotlight or lurking in the shadows?

I’m in the spotlight quite a bit when I’m teaching class, so I’m comfortable there as long as I’m prepared. But…I really prefer to people-watch! I’m more natural and at-home when I can observe and listen before adding to the conversations around me.

How many books are in your TBR pile?

A seemingly infinite number! I read a lot of YA, but I’m constantly searching other genres for inspiration too. I think it helps your craft and idea base to read widely, and I depend on my book clubs to help me with that! (Plus, I have a bit of an issue with impulse buying.) 

What is next on your to read list?

That’s a hard question, simply because I read different books in different moods - so I often scroll through my Kindle stash and pick one randomly. But I’m SO ready to read Maggie Stiefvater’s Raven Cycle 3: Blue Lily, Lily Blue! I ordered it as a self-birthday present, and I’m waiting for a quiet afternoon to dive in.

What one item would you eat for the rest of your life?

Mmmmm…cheese…as long as I could have variety!

What is the last thing you bought?

Snacks for my book club - in honor of fall and my recent trip to Holland, Michigan, we had caramel apple dip, brown-rice crackers, and Dutch cookies called stroopwafels!

Pet peeves?

People who don’t use the time they’re given. I know it’s a total value judgment on my part, but I hate it when I see people wasting time on mind-numbing activities when they could be improving their situation. Now, I know we all need a little down time (my preferred method is Pinterest) - but I’m talking about some young people I see day after day: failing my class, but spending hours on games or social media.

Pizza or pasta?

Pizza cuz it’s easier and my kids will always eat it.

What is something people would be surprised to know about you?

Most people who meet me now see the confidence I’ve trained myself to show - but getting up in front of a room full of people and teaching something would have been panic-inducing when I was in high school. I’m always sensitive to the quiet or shy kids because I know where they come from. But I always try to encourage them to try something new, because I know how freeing it is to stop worrying about what others think!

If you had 24 hours alone how would you spend it?

Reading and writing! That’s actually a recurring fantasy of mine. 

If you could meet one person who has died who would you choose?

Umm, don’t like ghosts. I would run away. Assuming non-ghost status, I’d love to meet an early feminist writer like Kate Chopin, and show her about how she helped start today’s awesome women’s publishing industry.

What do you do in your free time?

Most of my free time is devoted to my family or writing, but I’m totally hooked on Supernatural, which I watch on Netflix when I’m supposed to be sleeping.

Can you share a little about the current title you are working on?

Stian’s Mistake: I’m writing another novella to go with the Starbright series - this one is from Stian’s point of view, and it actually takes place before the series begins. It gives a cool snapshot of how the Tribes live, as well as some back story to Stian and Zarea and how they screwed up their own relationship. Stian has a few secrets that need to be aired before he can move on - his soul is blacker than Astrea expected…

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Hilary Thompson was born to parents who made a habit of taking roads less traveled. But she was also a first child, and an independent, willful child, so she has made a habit of taking a few roads on her own.
After trying on hats made for artists, architects, restaurant and retail workers, landscape designers, legal secretaries, and professional students, she retreated back to her first loves of education and writing.
Hilary now teaches high school full time, writes whenever and wherever she can, and reads as much as her eyes can handle. She also tries not to spoil her own independent, willful children or neglect her wonderful soul-mate of a husband too much. She tends to ignore laundry baskets and dirty dishes.



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3 comments:

Shane @ItchingforBooks said...

Great interview. Thanks for participating :)

Unknown said...

Thanks so much for the interview! Hope your readers enjoy it :)

Brooke Showalter said...

Fun interview! This sounds like a great book.