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6.08.2010

Guest Post: Author Kelly Link

Pretty Monsters: StoriesContest Ended. Winner Chosen.


Parajunkee's View would like to introduce Kelly Link, author of PRETTY MONSTERS: STORIES. Ms. Link is here to tell us a little something about herself, her paranormal fascinations, and the characters of her books.

I was never the girl the vampire fell in love with. Or the girl who discovered her destiny was to kick vampire ass. For that matter, for a long time I was sure that I would never find love. I was fairly sure I would end up an old maid, living in a house full of cats. Except even cats were never as smitten with me as I with them. I would have been the old maid living in a house full of iguanas. I’ve had a pet iguana: it doesn’t break your heart that your iguana doesn’t love you. You don’t expect love from an iguana. But I digress. What I’m trying to say is that many of my characters are faint of heart, like me. They aren’t especially heroic. If they get involved in dramatic situations, let’s say, with werewolves, it tends to be a terrible mistake: maybe they did something stupid. Or maybe someone else dragged them in. Me, I’ve always been concerned about the fact that I can’t drive stick shift. Come the zombie apocalypse, or the werewolf attack, I’ll be the one sitting in the driver’s seat of the getaway car, crying hysterically while I flood the clutch.
   
Like me, my characters are often bookish, or fans of other kinds of media. I grew up reading fantasy, science fiction, ghost stories, mysteries, and everything else, including Reader’s Digest Condensed Books. But I didn’t read romance novels until I was in high school and my advisor, Mrs. Wyndham, said to me, “There’s a series I really think you should read. It’s out of print, so you’ll have to go looking in used bookstores. And whatever you do, make sure to read them in order.” The writer was Dorothy Dunnett, and the series was The Chronicles of Lymond. Eventually I found all six books, and was smitten. Even better, while I was hanging out in the romance section of these used bookstores, I found other writers I loved. By the time I got to college, I’d worked my way backwards to Georgette Heyer. I love romance novels. I’d like to write one, one day. But even when I’m utterly lost in one, I can’t help thinking about how restrictive a genre it can be, how militantly unlike life. People have to fall in love with the right person eventually. There has to be a happy ending. The sex has to be spectacular. Nobody ever farts on the second date, or discovers that their happy-ever-after soulmate likes to dress up in Nazi gear at parties. The vampire never backslides, after a while, and eats your annoying college friend.
   
So when I sat down to write the title story “Pretty Monsters,” I wanted to write a paranormal romance that was as much an exploration of the things that nag at me, when I read romances, as it was a celebration of the genre. In some ways, it’s a companion piece to two of my other favorite stories in the collection, “The Wrong Grave,” and “Magic For Beginners.” “The Wrong Grave” is about a boy who digs up his ex-girlfriend’s grave, in order to recover the poetry he put in her coffin. Writing “Magic for Beginners” was, in part, me wanting to recapture the feeling of being part of a group of friends, watching Buffy the Vampire Slayer. All of them are stories about being in love and about the experience of reading, or watching, or falling into something magical.






STALK MS. LINK:
Web







Deets:

  • 1 Copy of Pretty Monsters  from the publisher
  • Shipping restrictions have not been listed
  • Contest begins June 8th, 2010 and ends June 18th 2010
  • You must be a follower of Parajunkee's View to enter this contest
  • Comment on this post for your chance to win
  • Earn extra entries by tweeting, posting and spreading the word about this contest - leave an extra comment for each WORD SPREADING - you can tweet once a day

35 comments:

Smash Attack Ash said...

I like that the characters aren't the typical hero. They sound real! :)

Smash Attack Ash said...

Tweet Tweet!
http://twitter.com/ash_hoffenberg/statuses/15702286054

Charchelar said...

This book sounds interesting. I hope i win!
Tweet:
http://twitter.com/Charchelar/status/15708320463

Charchelar@aol.com

Melissa (Books and Things) said...

How interesting. Your other stories also sound like they would be a good read. Thanks for the post! :)

Victoria said...

I've read The Wrong Grave and thought it was great. Thanks for the contest.
I'm a follower.

re-tweet:
http://twitter.com/Jovial_1/status/15724038927

Missie, The Unread Reader said...

@Parajunkee, WOW! Thanks for this guest post, or I may have never known of this author. The books sound amazing, and I can't wait to get my hands on them. I'm a follower! :D

@Kelly, I'm an advisor, and I love talking books with students. Sometimes they look at me like I'm crazy when I get overly excited about a book, but sometimes they are just as excited and it's all I can do to contain my joy!

Great story, thanks for sharing!

Emily Harring said...

Wow, the stories sound really interesting! I'll definitely have to add the book to my to-read list!

I'm a follower, and I tweeted (: http://twitter.com/faithadeline

Liz @ Cleverly Inked said...

Wow, I really enjoyed her post. I have not heard of Dorothy Dunnett. I thank you for the recommendation. Will check her out. I am a big fan of series.

Cleverlyinked@yahoo.com

Liz @ Cleverly Inked said...

http://twitter.com/Cleverlyinked/status/15735462526

Spreading the word

Riv Re said...

Exciting contest!
rivkarno1(at)hotmail(dot)com

buddyt said...

I don't tweet so no extra entries for me.

But please enter me as a Follower.

Thanks.

Carol T

buddytho {at} gmail DOT com

jpetroroy said...

Great blog post! I'd love to enter.
I'm a follower

jpetroroy at gmail dot com

Beverly said...

Awesome contest - please enter me. bevsharp@desch.org

angie said...

I am a follower and would love to enter for this book!
I tweeted http://twitter.com/bangersis/status/15815010998
Thanks!
bangersis(at)msn(dot)com

Aik said...

I'm a follower and would love to win this book!

I tweeted:
http://twitter.com/aikchien/status/15821017300

aikychien at yahoo dot com

Rosie said...

Sorry, not a tweeter, but an old follower. Thanks!

Anonymous said...

Please enter me in the contest ! Thank you for the chance to win ! (And yes, I'm a follower (lostinbelieving))

Tweet: http://twitter.com/DreamBelieve3/status/15877417056

Thanks again!

~Alison
lostinbelieving(at)yahoo(dot)com

Missy said...

I think the idea for this book is wonderful and I cannot wait to read it!

I'm a follower.

missyreadsreviews@gmail.com

Missy said...

Tweeted:

http://twitter.com/missyreadreview/status/15924842786

Misha said...

I am a follower . Please enter me if the contest is international

mishamary@gmail.com

Anonymous said...

I am a follower and subscribe by email.

lexigurl_17 (at) hotmail (dot) com

Unknown said...

This book sounds great. I'm a big Heyer fan, too.
I'm a follower.
marlenebreakfield(at)yahoo(dot)com

Kulsuma said...

I'd love to enter this contest if it's international. I'm a follower. The book sounds fantastic.

k_anon(at)hotmail.co.uk

Okapi said...

I'm a follower. This book looks so good!
xicecreamsjx@aol.com

Okapi said...

Tweeted: http://twitter.com/faellie_lupe/status/16034504314

xicecreamsjx@aol.com

Okapi said...

Sidebar: http://booksthatchange.blogspot.com/
xicecreamsjx@aol.com

Jacinda (The Reading Housewives) said...

I follow you and I would love to win this!

jacindahinten @ sbcglobal . net

sRy_ said...

Old follower. Please enter me if the contest is international =)

http://twitter.com/sRy_/status/16239513327

KIKA said...

Oh my goodness! what a lovely give away :D Thankyou!
Please enter me

thebookbluff(at)gmail.com

Stacey Smith said...

That sound like me but i have not met enyone yet but it does sound just like me.I was the girl in school that was always reading a book enstead of making friends.

sasluvbooks(at)yahoo.com

Anonymous said...

Sounds like a cute book!

atomicxrawr[at]yahoo.com

wanda f said...

this book sounds awesome please enter me wanda f
flanagan@mebtel.net

Ladytink_534 said...

I loved her story The Faery Handbag! Please enter me, I'm an old follower!

Ladytink_534(at)yahoo(dot)com

Unknown said...

Sounds awesome count me in!

I am a follower!
Email: ashleycsy_09@yahoo.com

Check out my blog and giveaway:
http://ashleybook.blogspot.com/

Happy Reading!
-Ashley C.

Unknown said...

Posted here: http://ashleybook.blogspot.com/2010/06/giveaways-from-parajunkee.html

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