Eden’s Wish
(Eden of the Lamp #1)
By M. Tara Crowl
Sept. 1, 2015
Disney-Hyperion
All twelve years of Eden's life have been spent in an antique oil lamp. She lives like a princess inside her tiny, luxurious home; but to Eden, the lamp is nothing but a prison. She hates being a genie. All she wants, more than anything, is freedom.
When Eden finds a gateway to Earth within the lamp, she takes her chance and enters the world she loves. And this time, she won't be sent back after three wishes.
Posing as the new kid at a California middle school, Eden revels in all of Earth's pleasures--but quickly learns that this world isn't as perfect as she always thought it was. Eden soon finds herself in the middle of a centuries-old conflict between powerful immortals. A ruthless organization run by a former genie will stop at nothing to acquire the lamp and its power--even hurt Tyler and Sasha, the new mortal friends who have given Eden a home. To save her friends and protect the lamp's magic, Eden must decide once and for all where she belongs.
Eden’s Escape
(Eden of the Lamp #2)
by M. Tara Crowl
Sept.6, 2016
Disney-Hyperion
Eden's new life on earth begins in New York City under the guidance of her new guardian: Pepper, a petite, bubbly genie alum who's also a Broadway actress. Before she has a chance to settle in, though, Eden is whisked away for a granting--only to find herself trapped in a laboratory. David Brightly, owner of the world's leading tech company, cares more about tapping into the lamp's power than making a wish and starts performing tests on Eden. With Brightly's plasma shield around the lamp, Eden has no way home. Left without a choice, she escapes the lab and goes on the run.
After her daring exit, Eden finds herself on the streets of Paris--home to Electra's headquarters. Left in a strange city with a price on her head (courtesy of scheming Brightly), Eden has to keep her wits about her. She dons a chic disguise and flits around Paris incognito, investigating Brightly Tech. Assisted by Pepper and her old adversary Bola, as well as some new friends, Eden embarks on a quest to retrieve the lamp and protect the secrets of the genie legacy.
What three words best describe your Eden of the Lamp series?
Adventure, friendship, freedom
Can you give us your best one sentence pitch to convince readers, especially reluctant readers, to give Eden’s Wish a try?
Most of us have thought about what three wishes you’d make from a genie—but have you ever imagined what it would be like to actually be a genie?
Grab a copy of Eden’s Wish and answer the following:
favorite chapter?
Chapter 24, the last one. I love a good ending, and I loved writing this one. I think it leaves you wondering what’s going to happen in the next book, Eden’s Escape, which will be released this September!
favorite page?
Page 25
favorite setting?
The lamp’s interior. When Eden’s inside, it seems like a mansion. She sleeps in a canopy bed, with a chandelier glittering above and a massive closet filled with beautiful clothes. There’s a decked-out lesson room, a study with bookshelves that rise stories high, and a spiral staircase that Eden likes to slide down. I loved imagining all the luxurious details on the inside of what looks like a dingy oil lamp.
flip to a random page and give us a 1-2 sentences teaser?
On page 198, Eden’s new friend Tyler makes a wish that could give her the life she’s dreamed about. But will the lamp’s magic allow that wish to be granted?
What inspired Eden’s Wish and the series? How did the idea come to be?
One day I was thinking about genies, and I started to imagine what it would be like to be a genie. The idea of it is sort of glamorous, but in reality, I think I’d hate it. You’d have no windows, no fresh air, no friends, and no freedom. You’d have to grant wishes for anyone who rubbed the lamp, but you’d have no power within your own life. I wanted to write a character who’s in that position, but finds a way to change things.
Can you tell us a bit about your heroine, Eden? What makes her unique, what do you love about her?
Eden is the first one in a long line of genies who wants to be a regular girl. She lives in the lamp with her masters, Xavier and Goldie, who have raised every genie. They tell her that granting wishes is her destiny, and that she’s part of a legacy like no other. But Eden has fallen in love with Earth during her grantings. All she wants is to live there. Her desire to be free and explore the world sets her apart from the genies who have come before her, but so does the fact that she does something about it.
I love Eden’s curious, adventurous spirit. I love the way she loves the world: its sunshine, oceans, grass, mountains, trees, and billions of mortal humans. I love that she fights for who she is and what she wants. I love that she dares to take risks. And maybe most of all, I love the way she’s able to change. She’s stubborn, but when she learns a lesson, she takes it to heart and lets it change her for the better.
If you met a genie, what would you wish for?!
This is such a hard question! But naturally I’ve spent time thinking about it, and these are the three wishes I’ve come up with:
- The ability to time travel—but only to the past. Not to change anything, just to look around and experience that era.
- Perfect control over my memory, so I could remember what I want to remember, and forget what I want to forget.
- That everyone in the world would experience true, perfect love.
What is your all time favorite middle-grade book and/or character?
Harriet the Spy
What do you love about writing middle-grade novels? Why do you think middle-grade literature is so popular and important?
When I was in the middle-grade age range, I was first starting to form my personal perspective on the world and my place in it. Reading was a hugely important factor in that. I think that’s why writing for readers of that age feels natural and comfortable for me. Also, middle-grade readers are fun to write for because they’re imaginative, they crave adventure, and often, they’re just discovering the power of strong stories.
I think middle-grade literature can capture this special part of life when the world is becoming bigger and more complicated. New experiences and emotions are changing the simplicity of childhood. Often, you’re experiencing feelings like disappointment, exhilaration, and indignation for the first time. Great middle-grade novels present those experiences in a way everyone can relate to, no matter how old you are.
Fill in the blanks:
I’m really awesome at the board game Boggle.
I’m really embarrassed to admit I don't think I could go a day without chocolate!
The last great book I read was Station Eleven by Emily St. John.
If you were to create and bake a cupcake inspired by Eden’s Wish, what would it look and taste like, and what would you call it?
One of the lamp’s masters, Goldie, is an incredible baker, and one of her specialties is carrot cake. Actually, Goldie’s carrot cake has a special place in this book, and in Eden’s Escape too. So I think it would have to be a hearty, moist, delicious carrot cake cupcake with fluffy cream cheese frosting. It would be called a Wish Come True cupcake.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
M. Tara Crowl grew up in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. She studied Cinematic Arts at the University of Southern California, then received an MA in Creative Writing at Macquarie University in Sydney, Australia. She lives in New York City. website * twitter * facebook
Win a signed copy of Eden's Wish!
-open to everyone
-ends 4/3
-there will be 3 winners
Eden's Wish looks really cute and seems like a good lesson in "the grass isn't always greener." I look forward to reading it.
ReplyDeleteLove hooking my middle school daughter into a new series-thanks for the recommendation!
ReplyDeleteI don't think I'd like being a genie either. I like making my own choices.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great concept!
ReplyDelete