Pink Polka Dot Books: Welcome to the FFBC: Amber & Dusk by Lyra Selene-- Interview & Giveaway!!

Amber & Dusk

by Lyra Selene
Publisher: Scholastic Press
Release Date: November 27, 2018

Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy

Synopsis:

Sylvie has always known she deserves more. Out in the permanent twilight of the Dusklands, her guardians called her power to create illusions a curse. But Sylvie knows it gives her a place in Coeur d'Or, the palais of the Amber Empress and her highborn legacies.

So Sylvie sets off toward the Amber City, a glittering jewel under a sun that never sets, to take what is hers.

But her hope for a better life is quickly dimmed. The empress invites her in only as part of a wicked wager among her powerful courtiers. Sylvie must assume a new name, Mirage, and begin to navigate secretive social circles and deadly games of intrigue in order to claim her spot. Soon it becomes apparent that nothing is as it appears and no one, including her cruel yet captivating sponsor, Sunder, will answer her questions. As Mirage strives to assume what should be her rightful place, she'll have to consider whether it is worth the price she must pay.

Interview

Hi Lyra!! We’re so excited to have your book in our FFBC Tours, and can’t wait to ask you a couple of questions about AMBER & DUSK!!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Favorite Book?

You realize this is the hardest question for a book lover to answer? I have so many favorites, but I Capture the Castle by Dodi Smith ranks near the top.

Favorite TV Show?

Definitely Buffy the Vampire Slayer—I’ve rewatched it so many times!

Favorite Movie?

Amelie—it’s heartfelt, whimsical, and wildly romantic!

Your Favorite Song?

Dissolve Me, by Alt-J

Favorite Food?

Ambrosia of the gods, of course!

Name 3 fictional places you would move to in a heartbeat.

Red London (from V. E. Schwab’s Darker Shade of Magic series), Alaka (from Roshani Chokshi’s A Crown of Wishes), and of course Hogwarts!

Name a recent book you’ve read that you would recommend to our YA fans.

I recently read The Belles by Dhonielle Clayton, and absolutely adored it!

What were your favorite books while growing up?

The Dark is Rising series, by Susan Cooper, The Song of the Lioness quartet, by Tamora Pierce, and ElfQuest, by Wendy and Richard Pini

Favorite Quote?

"A dreamer is one who can only find his way by moonlight, and his punishment is that he sees the dawn before the rest of the world.” —Oscar Wilde

What are your fandoms?

Harry Potter, BtVS, ToG, SPN, Jane Austen

ABOUT THE BOOK:

Could you tell our Book Addicts a little bit about AMBER & DUSK?

In the sun-scorched twilight of the Amber Empire, an illusionist with a mysterious past fights for a place at the royal court of Coeur d’Or. But the palais’ mirrored hallways, winter gardens, and gilded marble may be nothing more than a mirage to hide a brutal past and deadly secrets.

How did you come up with the story? Did you find inspiration in any other story/movie/show and how has this affected your writing?

I daydreamed of the world first—a vast empire lit by an unmoving sun. And although it was years before the story came together, I always knew it would be the kind of book I wanted to read: courtly politics and ball gowns, treachery and sarcastic banter, flawed characters and romance!

I am constantly trying to fill the creative well with all kinds of stories. I take inspiration from so many incredible authors—Angela Carter, Roshani Chokshi, Holly Black, David Mitchell, Leigh Bardugo, Haruki Murakami, Sabaa Tahir. And I always find inspiration in TV/movies with plenty of magic and glamor, like Outlander, Reign, and Howl’s Moving Castle.

Can you tell us 3 interesting things about Sylvie?

I wrote Sylvie to be a complicated and sometimes difficult heroine. She is ambitious—she will reach too high even if it means falling too far. She cares what other people think, even though she pretends she doesn’t—she desperately wants to belong somewhere. And she is a dreamer—she dreams of a radiant, exquisite world that just might be impossible.

Tell us your favorite quote from AMBER & DUSK.

"I may not have been born in a palais, but my bones were forged in the dusk and my veins are alight with dreams. Do not ask whether I deserve a place at court. Ask whether this court deserves me.”

If you had to pick one song to be the Theme Song for AMBER & DUSK– Which one would you pick?

Control, by Halsey

What 3 hashtags would you most associate with your book? (Could be a word or phrase or anything that would instantly make you think of AMBER & DUSK.)

#dusklands #perilousdreams #impossibleworlds

Do you have favorite fantasy books/movies/tv shows?

In addition to all the ones I’ve already mentioned, I adore Laini Taylor’s Daughter of Smoke & Bone series, LotR, The Magicians, and Legend of the Seeker!

Are there any recommendations you could give your readers to be in the “perfect mood” to read AMBER & DUSK (specific music, snacks…)?

Dim the lights, burn a candle that smells like resin and shadows, and nibble on something luxurious and decadent, like truffles or macarons!

What’s next for you?

I’m currently drafting a secret project that readers of A&D will hopefully be very interested to read!

Thank you so much for everything, Lyra!

Thanks for having me!

Lyra Selene was born under a full moon and has never quite managed to wipe the moonlight out of her eyes. When she isn’t dreaming up fantastical cities and brooding landscapes, Lyra enjoys hiking, rainstorms, autumn, and pretending she’s any good at painting.

She lives in New England with her husband, in an antique farmhouse that’s probably not haunted. AMBER & DUSK is her debut novel.