Finn Finnegan by Darby Karchut - Character This or That & Giveaway

Welcome back to Author Darby Karchut

Darby Karchut is an award-winning author, teacher, and a compulsive dawn greeter. She lives in Colorado with her husband and owns more backpacks than purses. As she should.

Her YA books include GRIFFIN RISING (2012 Children's Literary Awards Gold Medal, 2011 Sharp Writ YA Book of the Year), GRIFFIN'S FIRE (2011 Readers Favorite Bronze Medal for YA Fantasy), and GRIFFIN'S STORM (November 2012). Her debut Middle Grade novel, FINN FINNEGAN (Spencer Hill Press) will be released March 2013. The next book in the Finnegan series, GIDEON'S SPEAR (Spencer Hill Press) will be released February 2014.

She has also co-authored a non-fiction book for teens entitled MONEY AND TEENS with her husband, author Wes Karchut.

Website * Facebook 

Finn Finnegan

Finnegan MacCullen: a thirteen-year-old apprentice with the famous Irish temperament.

Gideon Lir: a legendary Celtic warrior with a bit of a temper of his own.

Secretly, these blue-collar warriors battle the hobgoblins infesting their suburban neighborhood...when they are not battling each other.

Finn (not bleedin' Finnegan) MacCullen is eager to begin his apprenticeship. He soon discovers the ups and downs of hunting monsters in a suburban neighborhood under the demanding tutelage of the Knight, Gideon Lir. Both master and apprentice are descendents of the Tuatha De Danaan, a magical race of warriors from Ireland. Scattered long ago to the four corners of the world, the De Danaan wage a two thousand year old clandestine battle with their ancient enemy, the Amandán, a breed of goblin-like creatures.

Now with the beasts concentrating their attacks on Finn, he and his master must race to locate the lost Spear of the Tuatha De Danaan, the only weapon that can destroy the Amandán, all the while hiding his true identity from his new friends, Rafe and Savannah, twins whose South African roots may hold a key to Finn's survival.

Armed with a bronze dagger, some ancient Celtic magic, and a hair-trigger temper, Finn is about to show his enemies the true meaning of "fighting Irish."

Character This or That

From Gideon Lir, Knight of the Tuatha De Danaan, aided by his thirteen year old apprentice, Finn MacCullen.

Hot or Cold?

I hail from Ireland. Cold and wet.

Black or White?

Black as a crow’s wing.

Night owl, or early bird?

Both. We hunt the beasties at anytime.

Print or Ebook?

Beg pardon?

Horror or Romance?

Why, I believe romance. *And Finn, cease rolling yer eyes, boyo*

Action or Drama?

Action.

Pizza or Pasta?

Pizza. As me apprentice is fond of pointing out: it has all the four food groups

Summer or Winter?

I cannot decide. Both have its beauty.

City or Country?

Oh, country, to be sure.

Harry Potter or Twilight?

I’ve been given strict orders to request Harry Potter.

PC or Mac?

Mac as in Mac Roth? Why he’s me oldest and finest friend, as well as brother-in-arms. But only a short-lived Fey would call him “Mac” to his face.

Shoes or Sandals?

Work boots with steel toes

Cats or Dog?

Dog.  *No, Finn, we are not getting one, I’m just answering the bleedin’ question!*

Truth or Dare?

Truth. A man’s word is his honor. 






Giveaway Details
1 copy of Finn Finnegan
Open to US Only
Ends 3/25/13


a Rafflecopter giveaway

Book Review: Griffin Rising by Darby Karchut

Title: Griffin Rising
Author: Darby Karchut
Series: Book 1 of 3
Publisher: Paladin Times Books
Released: June 15, 2011
Website: http://darbykarchut.com/


Book Summary:

For centuries, rumors have abounded of a lowly caste of supernatural beings known as the Terrae Angeli. Armed with the power to control Earth, Fire, Wind and Water, these warriors secretly serve as guardians for mortals in danger.
But for one young angel-in-training, Griffin, life is hell as a cruel master makes his apprenticeship a nightmare. On the verge of failing, a new mentor, Basil, enters his life and changes it forever.
Taking on the identity of father and son, Griffin and Basil forge a special bond where honesty and trust go hand in hand to secure Griffin’s destiny as a Terrae Angeli. Griffin’s belief in himself and the love of a mortal girl are the perfect combination in overcoming the darkest days of his life. But will it be enough for him to succeed?

For Griffin, it’s time to angel up.

I was sent an ARC of Griffin Rising a year ago, right at the time my life was thrown a curve ball and I went from reading 5 or 6 books a week to just one. Unfortunately that meant Griffin Rising did not get reviewed as I had planned. I finally picked this book up yesterday and was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed it. It's a quick read so I easily made it through it in one afternoon.

Terrae Angeli or guardian angels are the main characters in Griffin Rising. I loved the original take on angel lore that the author came up with. The originality of the storyline and storytelling made it stand out so that I didn't feel like I was reading just another young adult cookie cutter paranormal book. The story was entertaining and engaging and I connected with the characters. I especially liked the relationship between Griffin and Basil.

This is a book that I can recommend without hesitation.  I consider it a clean read (although it does have some violence). I'm looking forward to reading the sequel Giffin's Fire.

Rating: 4.5 Stars - Highly Recommend

Content: Clean

Source: Author
If you would like to read this book I currently have a book giveaway running for Griffin Rising that ends on 2/28/12: http://iamareadernotawriter.blogspot.com/2012/02/guest-post-book-giveaway-griffin-rising.html

Guest Post & Book Giveaway: Griffin Rising by Darby Karchut

Welcome back to Author Darby Karchut!

All her life, the archetypal hero and his journey have enthralled Darby Karchut. A native of New Mexico, Darby grew up in a family that venerated books and she spent her childhood devouring one fantasy novel after another. Fascinated by mythologies from around the world, she attended the University of New Mexico, graduating with a degree in anthropology. After moving to Colorado, she then earned a Master’s in education and became a social studies teacher.
Drawing from her extensive knowledge of world cultures, she blends ancient myths with modern urban life to write stories that relate to young teens today.
Darby is a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators and the Pikes Peak Writers Guild. She lives in Colorado Springs, Colorado with her husband, where she still teaches at a local junior high school. She enjoys running, biking, and skiing the Rocky Mountains in all types of weather.
Griffin Rising is her first novel. She is currently working on the next books in the series, Griffin's Fire (April 2012) and Griffin's Storm (both from Twilight Times Books). Her middle grade novel, Finn Finnegan, will be released March 2013 from Spencer Hill Press.

Website: http://www.darbykarchut.com
Blog: http://darbykarchut.blogspot.com/

Guest Post: Griffin Rising's Book Cover
Thanks, Kathy, for hosting me today to talk about my book cover.

Book covers are a unique art form. Besides projecting the essence of the story, a cover must also be appealing.

I was fortunate to be involved right from the beginning with the cover for Griffin Rising. One of the stipulations I requested was an illustration; no photographs or people. I also wanted a cover that was more “old school” in keeping with the antiquity of the Terrae Angeli.

Ardy Scott, the cover artist, came up with the idea of a griffin perched on top of the symbols of earth and fire. The larger diamonded spiral is a modified earth symbol, while the smaller triangle is a modified fire symbol.

I loved it right from the start. And since each of the four books in the series corresponds with a particular element, the use of brown and gold for book one (Earth) was perfect.

With the next book in the series, Griffin’s Fire, Ardy took the griffin symbol and changed it to imply a sense of movement. She also changed the color palette to red and gold, which works for book two (Fire).

I’m eager to see what Ardy Scott comes up with for book three, Griffin’s Storm (Water). Any suggestions as to the color palette?

Griffin Rising by Darby Karchut

For centuries, rumors have abounded of a lowly caste of supernatural beings known as the Terrae Angeli. Armed with the power to control Earth, Fire, Wind and Water, these warriors secretly serve as guardians for mortals in danger.
But for one young angel-in-training, Griffin, life is hell as a cruel master makes his apprenticeship a nightmare. On the verge of failing, a new mentor, Basil, enters his life and changes it forever.
Taking on the identity of father and son, Griffin and Basil forge a special bond where honesty and trust go hand in hand to secure Griffin’s destiny as a Terrae Angeli. Griffin’s belief in himself and the love of a mortal girl are the perfect combination in overcoming the darkest days of his life. But will it be enough for him to succeed?

For Griffin, it’s time to angel up.

Giveaway Details
1 copy of Griffin Rising
Open to US only
Ends 2/28/12


a Rafflecopter giveaway

Book Giveaway & Author Interview: Griffin Rising by Darby Karchut

Welcome to Author Darby Karchut!


Bio:

Darby Karchut is a writer, a teacher, and a compulsive dawn greeter. She lives in Colorado with her husband and owns more running shoes than high heels. Visit Darby Karchut at: http://www.darbykarchut.com
 http://darbykarchut.blogspot.com

Interview:

If you were stranded on a desert island what 3 things would you want with you?

My Swiss army knife

Pepto-Bismol (all those coconuts!)

Bear Grylls

What is one book everyone should read?

The Origin of Consciousness in the Breakdown of the Bicameral Mind. Okay, just kidding. Actually, I would choose The Amy Vanderbilt Complete Book of Etiquette. Enough said.

What is your favorite thing to eat for breakfast?

Rolled oats, cranberry juice, and coffee

Night owl or early bird?

I make early birds look like slackers

Please tell us in one sentence only, why we should read your book.

Because even a hero-figure needs a father-figure. Once in awhile.

Any other books in the works? Goals for future projects?

Griffin Rising is the first in a four book series. The second book, Griffin’s Fire will be released next April.

What was your favorite book when you were a child/teen?

The Lord of the Rings (I have action figures!)

Is there a song you could list as the theme song for your book or any of your characters?

Ring of Fire by Johnny Cash. There is a running joke about it in all the books.

What's one piece of advice you would give aspiring authors?

Read loads of books in your genre as well as outside your genre. And turn off the TV!

If you could choose only one time period and place to live, when and where would you live and why?

I’m such an Anglophile, so England during the High Middle Ages would be lovely

What is your favorite quote?

“To whom much is given, much is expected.” (Saint Paul)

When you were little, what did you want to be when you "grew up"?

A bard.

How did you know you should become an author?

When I finished writing Griffin Rising. I’ve never written a thing until then. I never even want to be an author! The idea just slammed into my head one day. Kind of like an avalanche, except I could still breath.

What's the best advice anyone has ever given you?

“Try the haggis. It’s delicious!”

Hidden talent?

I can read classical Latin. Fluently

How do you react to a bad review?

Same as from a bad fall on the ski slope. Get up. Check for any broken bones, learn from it, and move on.

You have won one million dollars what is the first thing that you would buy?

More stock in Catepillar Equipment

What TV show/movie/book do you watch/read that you'd be embarrassed to admit?

TV show: “Supernatural”. I know, I know, but come on - Castiel is a dreamboat.

Finish the sentence- one book I wish I had written is.... The Ranger’s Apprentice series.

Griffin Rising by Darby Karchut:
For centuries, rumors have abounded of a lowly caste of supernatural beings known as the Terrae Angeli. Armed with the power to control Earth, Fire, Wind and Water, these warriors secretly serve as guardians for mortals in danger.

But for one young angel-in-training, Griffin, life is hell as a cruel master makes his apprenticeship a nightmare. On the verge of failing, a new mentor, Basil, enters his life and changes it forever.

Taking on the identity of father and son, Griffin and Basil forge a special bond where honesty and trust go hand in hand to secure Griffin’s destiny as a Terrae Angeli. Griffin’s belief in himself and the love of a mortal girl are the perfect combination in overcoming the darkest days of his life. But will it be enough for him to succeed?

For Griffin, it’s time to angel up.

Giveaway Details:
1 paperback copy open to US & Canada
1 ebook open Internationally
Ends 6/17