Friday Five -- Elizabeth Richards

Today's Five features the author of The Black City, the gorgeously dark and lovely-sounding romance published by Putnam on the 13th.  Elizabeth is a journalist and world traveler and lives in England.  Her website bio states that she'd like to see ten volcanoes before she dies - I hope one day she makes it to California, because as the daughter of a geologist, I could show her a few...

THE FIVE:

1. What scares you most?

I’m petrified of spiders (specifically evil house spiders that like to leap on me in the shower, bleurgh) and ever since I was a kid I’ve had nightmares about being eaten by sharks. However, I have to say my biggest fear is losing my husband and family. I couldn’t function without them – they’re my strength, my heart, and I need them.

2. Who would play you in the film of your life?

Probably Thora Birch during her American Beauty years. We look quite alike (round faces, wide eyes and ghostly pale skin!), plus she gives off this weird, sullen vibe that matches my character.

3. What living person do you most admire and why?

Stephen Fry! He’s funny, intelligent, silly, gentlemanly, artistic, humble, sexy – the list goes on. I’ve been a fan of his work ever since I was a teenager. I just find him fascinating.

4. What other profession would you like to learn?

I’d love to learn to be an illustrator. I adore drawing and painting and whenever I get a free moment (which I admit isn’t very often these days), you can find me up in the study working on a new art project. It’s a very fulfilling and relaxing pastime and it would be a joy to do that for a profession, but I would never give up being an author!

5. What profession would you never, ever want to have?

I would never, ever want to be a politician. I’m too blunt.

ABOUT BLACK CITY:

In a city where humans and Darklings are now separated by a high wall and tensions between the two races still simmer after a terrible war, sixteen-year-olds Ash Fisher, a half-blood Darkling, and Natalie Buchanan, a human and the daughter of the Emissary, meet and do the unthinkable--they fall in love. Bonded by a mysterious connection that causes Ash's long-dormant heart to beat, Ash and Natalie first deny and then struggle to fight their forbidden feelings for each other, knowing if they're caught, they'll be executed--but their feelings are too strong.

When Ash and Natalie then find themselves at the center of a deadly conspiracy that threatens to pull the humans and Darklings back into war, they must make hard choices that could result in both their deaths.

You can order BLACK CITY here!

ABOUT ELIZABETH:

You can find Elizabeth on her website.

On Twitter.

And on Facebook.

Books! Books! And More Books!

As you all know, I'm a proud member of the Class of 2k12.  We are a group of debut authors of young adult and middle grade books who came together as a marketing collective and through the course of the year became friends, confidantes, and - I hope - a lifelong support network.  These authors are great people.  And now you all get the chance to find out what great authors they are, too.  There is something for everyone here - middle grade verse, deep dark YA mayhem, faeries, astral projection, history, legend, elephants, war... Need I go on?

The Class is hosting a huge end-of-the-year giveaway on the class blog, and I'm doing my bit by spreading the news and giving you the chance to win here, too!  The giveaway closes on the 12th of December!  I regret to say, it's open to US and Canada only - our coffers can't spread to sending 21 books abroad.

Check out the Rafflecopter to find out which books will be coming your way if you win, and then enter!  You want these books....


a Rafflecopter giveaway

Bonus!  I'm also posting over at the Corsets, Cutlasses and Candlesticks blog today - hop over and find out what a Tudor feast was like - and be thankful you don't have to cook (or eat) one yourself!