Giveaway winners & Kiki Hamilton interview

The two winners of my giveaway (signed bookmarks of The Faerie Ring by Kiki Hamilton) are :

Sabiineb & Lothfleur 

And now here is my interview with Kiki Hamilton the author of The Farie Ring :

1) How would you describe your story in a few words? 
London 1871, pickpockets, stolen rings, faeries, romance, danger, mystery.

2) What motivated and inspired you to write this book? You mention on your website the Harry Potter series (YAY :D)... 
I've always loved to write but I was so busy with work and my family and life that I didn't make the time to write. Then I read Harry Potter. (I didn't actually start Harry Potter until the Goblet of Fire came out... then I read books 1-4 in a week.) I'd forgotten the magic of a well-told story. The magic of becoming the characters in a book and experiencing their adventures. I loved Harry Potter so much that I decided I'd write a little story for my daughter and that's when the madness all started...

3) The Faerie Ring is set in London, 1871. Did you watch or read books from this period? 
To be honest - I didn't watch any movies or read any particular books. I actually wrote The Farie Ring in a very short period of time. Just sat at my laptop and typed - I could see it all unfolding in my head. And the interesting part - I'd never been to London. Really didn't know anything about it until I'd started writing the story and as Fate would have it - where Tiki lives is inn the heart of old London and the places she travels - Buckingham Palace, Charing Cross, St James Park ect. - are all positioned closely together.

After I'd sold the books, I did get a chance to go to London for the first time in my life - and I LOVED it. I walked in my character's footsteps and let me tell you - that was surreal !

4) I absolutely love your book cover ! How much input, if any, do you have in deciding the final look? 
Thank you so much ! I do too ! I was so happy when I saw it for the first time ! Usually authors do not have any input in the design  of their covers, but i'm ver fortunate that my editor did ask my opinion. I was pretty specific about the things I thought should be included and even did some mock-ups on my own and included others covers I liked. I was lucky enough that they listened and really came up with the perfect cover. As you read the book, you can flip back the cover and see things that maybe you didn't notice at first.

5) Was it difficult to get this book published?
It is hard to get a book publised. I have rejection letters just like everybody else. But you can never give up ! I kept working at my craft, taking classes, joining critique groups, reading other work, practicing, praticing, practicing and I was lucky enough to get an agent. It took her about nine months to seel The Faerie Ring.

6) A lot of books, especially YA ones, are beging turned into movies. How do you feel about book-to-movie adaptations? Would you want The Faerie Ring to be adapted? 
That's an interesting question. I didn't want the Harry Potter books to be made into moviees because I didn"t think they could do the world justice, but then the first one came out and I totally LOVED it. I read Twilight and loved the first book but I hated the movie. So you enever know. I guess if the movie was well-done and believable it would be kind of fun to see The Faerie Ring on film.

7) Are you currently working on a new book? The other books of the series I guess? 
I'm actually revising the second book in the series right now and I do have several other projects that are partially started. One is a sort-of steampunk story, set in London 1895 and another is a contemporary story that is really a different kind of writing for me, which makes it fun.

And the last question that I like to ask at then end of an author interview : 
8) So far, what has been your most gratifying moment as an author? 
You know, I used to think the most exciting/gratifying part of this path to publication would be when I saw my cover and it would all be real - but that's not been the best part at all. Honestly - it's the notes I get from readers and bloggers, who are so excited for this books - THAT is the very best part of being an author. I've "met" people from all over the world, aht I would otherwise never have had an opportunity to meet and they're fascinating - I count myself VERY lucky for this opportunity.