Catching Up With Shana Abe

The Reading Cafe is happy to welcome back Shana Abe.

Shana’s newest release, The Sweetest Dark was released last week. She is here to discuss her first book in her new series, as well as what else we may have to look forward to in 2013

Let’s talk to Shana.

Hi, Shana.  Thank you for taking the time to visit us at The Reading Cafe, to discuss your new release “The Sweetest Dark”, as well as to talk about what you have planned in 2013.

Shana: Thank you for asking me to visit! I’m honored. 🙂

TRC: You have just released the 1^st book in your new YA spinoff from your Drákon Series, The Sweetest Dark Series.  For those who may not have read this series, would you please give us a brief description of the premise of the series? If people have not read your Drákon Series, can they still start this new series?

Shana: Anyone at all can pick up The Sweetest Dark (the first book) and have no problems reading it alone. This new series is connected to the Drákon Series, but only loosely. It’s a whole new time period, and new characters and new setting: everything fresh and new!

The Sweetest Dark begins the story of Lora Jones, an impoverished, orphaned, self-described “slum girl” who’s way smarter and more interesting than anyone else around her. She’s always felt different, kind of an outsider, even in her orphanage; as WWI begins she’s selected as the new charity student to an extremely posh and snooty boarding school on England’s southern coast—where, of course, she sticks out even more.

But she’s resourceful and clever, and knows her way around the system. She’s doing all right, but inexplicably (at least to her) has captured the attention of two very different boys: Jesse, the school’s silent, beautiful groundskeeper; and Armand, the dark and elegant son of a duke who lives nearby.

All three of them, as it happens, are bound by magic (although of the three, only Jesse knew all along). And all three of them are going to have to come to terms with their different powers, while balancing the very tricky relationship issues that result from two boys liking the same girl.

Links to order The Sweetest Dark:
Amazon / Barnes & Noble / The Book Depository / Kobo

TRC: How did you come up with the idea of this new series, and what made you decide to write a Young Adult series?

Shana: Even before “Downton Abbey” (lol!), I was drawn to the Edwardian era. The Drákon Series was set in the Georgian era, a time of hoop skirts and corsets and powered wigs. I enjoyed that, because I was writing about secret dragons disguised as humans, and forcing them to wear all these restrictive, sophisticated garments and jewels seemed like a delicious paradox.

The Edwardian era (the turn of the century, more or less) was equally elegant and sexy, I think. The clothing was still silks and satins and long gowns, but the style was more lovely and loose, if that makes sense. It was a time of great intellectual and scientific innovation as well. In a sense, it was the end of an age, when horses and carriages were being replaced by automobiles, and candles and gaslights by electricity. I wanted Lora to be a part of that, a girl with one foot in each time, figuring out not only her place in society but also her secret and surprising magical gifts.

Lora always spoke to me as a sixteen-year-old. That’s why the book is technically YA, although I think it’s something that can appeal to adults, as well. We never really stop growing up, do we?

TRC: Do you plan to return to your adult Drákon series?

Shana: Never say never! Fans of the Drákon Series might be interested to know that Rue, from The Smoke Thief, has a voice in this new book. Lots of people wanted to know what happened to her and Kit in the series (at one point in the story arc, they ran away!). I do know what happened to them, I swear, and maybe someday they’ll get another book. 🙂

TRC: You have the second book in this series, The Deepest Night, being released in August.  Can you give us a brief description what to look forward to in this book?

Shana: Oh, the story continues! Once you create a character as fascinating as Lora, it’s hard to let go. She’s a few months older, is slightly more secure with her powers yet is still trying to work out who she really is and who she wants to be. She’s called upon to be a hero, and she isn’t quite certain that’s a role she wants to embrace. But if she doesn’t, someone important to her will suffer and die, and she doesn’t want that, either. Eventually, she agrees to a daring rescue of a prisoner of war far, far across enemy lines. It’s quite an adventure.

TRC: Besides The Sweetest Dark and The Deepest Night, do you have any other projects planned for 2013?

Shana: I’m currently working on the third book in the series. It doesn’t have a title yet, but I’m really happy with it so far!

TRC: Would you like to add anything else?

Shana: Only that I’m so grateful to all of you reading this. I write these stories for me, and I write them for you. But honestly, mostly you. 🙂

Love and thanks to you all!!!

TRC: Thank you, Shana, for giving us an update on The Sweetest Dark, as well as what we can look forward to in the future.  It was a pleasure talking with you again.  We hope to catch up again in the future.

Shana: Thank YOU. You’re awesome!

If you would like to learn more about Shana, you can visit her at the following links:
Website:
Twitter:
Facebook:
Goodreads: