I'm so thrilled to be starting off this year's March MG Madness with one of my favorite middle-grade authors, Robert Gray! Robert's Nightmare Series is such spooktacular fun and all kinds of awesome. I got the chance to sit down with one of my fave characters from this series for an interview, plus there's a fab giveaway...
EVE HALLOWS AND THE BOOK OF SHRIEKS (BOOK 1) For fourteen-year-old Eve Hallows, life can be summed up in one word—horrible. She has the most horrible friends. She lives in a horrible old castle. Even her family is a bunch of horrible monsters. However, in the monster-inhabited world of Gravesville—a world where messages are sent through Ouija boards, jack-o’-lanterns get facials to suit their moods, and the worst thing Eve has to deal with are those annoying zombie tourists who overrun her favorite graveyard during the Halloween season—horrible means wonderful. And everything for Eve is perfectly horrible. But her life is about to go head over heels when a mysterious group known as The Source starts terrorizing Gravesville. Now she must move to the human world—where everything is opposite ... and for Eve, that's absolutely adorable!
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EVE HALLOWS AND THE BOOK OF SHADOWS (BOOK 2) Ever since encountering The Source and its minions on Halloween, Eve Hallows has found life surprisingly quiet … not to mention adorably boring! So when Dad receives a Ouija message that she must return to Gravesville, Eve couldn't be happier—at least until she discovers the Director of URNS, also known as the Grim Reaper, has a special job for Eve … one that will lead her to New York City and to the true identity of The Source.With The Book of Shrieks offering zero help and a new URNS agent driving the school boys—and Eve!—crazy, Eve's beginning to realize this whole saving-the-world nonsense isn't what it's cracked up to be.All this and she still has to find The Book of Shadows....
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EVE HALLOWS AND THE BOOK OF SHIVERS
(BOOK 3)
So far, Eve's summer vacation has been uneventful, but when her grandparents—traveling all the way from the monster world known as Gravesville—appear at her doorstep, she learns that the URNS Director has gone missing. Worse, a new director, bent on destroying humans, has taken over URNS. Eve and her family are no longer safe in the human world, and as they race to escape this new threat, Eve stumbles into a trap, which forces her back to Gravesville along with her family and friends. But once there, everything goes adorably wrong, and her best chance to get out of this mess is to seek out The Book of Shivers and the elusive author Sedrick Creach—the only creature who knows the secrets of the Nightmare Books. Unfortunately for Eve, searching for Sedrick and the next book in the series will reveal uncomfortable details about her own murky past. Once again, Eve and her friends find themselves on an incredible adventure—one that involves underground battles with bloodthirsty creatures, a lightning-fueled train, and some unexpected new allies. Hilarious and bone-chilling, this third book continues the story of an unlikely hero trying to save not one, but two worlds … This time around, though, Eve's not sure she can even save herself.
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Robert Gray is a writer. If that job description doesn’t impress you, how about fantasy writer? Too general? Well, he doesn’t get insulted if you call him a horror writer. If horror’s not your thing, then scratch out horror and replace it with suspense. And for the kiddies, you can slap on a YA or MG in front of that title. Gray lives in Bushkill, Pennsylvania with his wife and two children.
Hello, Steve, and welcome to Word Spelunking! Thanks so much for stopping by and chatting with us today.
So, as a human friend to someone who was raised by monsters, in a world filled with monsters, can you tell us what it’s like to know and love Eve Hallows?
Oh, Eve is totally cool. Ever since she moved here, my life has been all sorts of exciting—battling evil mutations and saving worlds and all that stuff. And she has a monster family, too. Seriously? That's just awesome with a side of epic.
What’s one special thing you’ve come to learn about Eve, that readers may be surprised to learn about this horribly awesome girl?
She'll probably get embarrassed that I'm mentioning this, because she thinks she's all kick-butt and junk, but she cries at horror movies, like all the time. Whenever the monster dies at the end, it's waterworks city with her. Everyone else is walking out of the movie theatre all pale and traumatized and she's got tears running down her face. It's too funny.
Since meeting Eve and her family, you’ve experienced and come face to face with some crazy, scary, thrilling things! What has been some of the most memorable things you’ve experienced or encountered so far, as Eve’s friend?
Jasmine. Jasmine. Jasmine.
You recently took a trip to Eve’s homeworld, Gravesville. Can you tell us what that was like?!
Best trip ever! Gravesville is like Disney World … except maybe for the fact that some of the characters want to kill you. And, yeah, don't even bother trying to get an autograph. Monsters aren't in to that stuff. Who would've thought? The rides in Gravesville are amazing, though, which more than makes up for the grumpy attitudes.
If YOU were able to turn into ANY monster and reside in Gravesville, what would you become? Why?
A werewolf, definitely. They like to party hard and put off their responsibilities, which is pretty much how I roll, too. Hmm, now that I think about it, I found this long hair on my chest the other day. Maybe I am turning into a werewolf. After everything I’ve seen over the last year, it wouldn’t surprise me.
As you may know, some kooky fellow named Robert Gray is sharing Eve’s (and your!) story with the world in his Nightmare Series! Can you tell readers, in ONE sentence, why they should give these books a try?
I would hold off on buying these books, at least until I start getting paid for all this world saving we’re doing. Seriously, we do all the work, and the guy sitting in his comfy chair gets all the cash. So not fair.
Ok, one last question: You stop by Eve’s family’s restaurant, Ghoulicious Pizza- what delectable pizza concoction do you order?!
Pssh. I'll eat anything there. It's all delicious. And since I work there, I eat for free. Bonus!
Thank you SO MUCH Steve (and Robert!) for stopping by and chatting with me today! If you haven't had the chance to read this series yet, GET ON THAT! I can't recommend these fantastic, fun books enough!
Win a $25 Amazon Gift Card!
The awesome Robert Gray has generously offered up a $25 GC to Amazon for one lucky winner. You could buy some cool middle-grade books with that gift card...I recommend The Nightmare Series! ;)
DETAILS
-open INT
-ends 3/31
-must be 13+, one main entry per person
-winner will be emailed and must claim prize within 48 hours
Fill out the Rafflecopter form:
Hmm monsters are hard, who wants to be "the bad guy?" :) I guess a Wraith, I imagine it would be cool to float around go through objects, appear, disappear. But I'd probably be more like Casper.
ReplyDeleteGreat question, Hmmm. I agree that monsters are hard!! I think Id be a werewolf that way Id get to be human most of the time ;)
ReplyDeleteThis series is awesome. I've read and loved 1 and 2. Thanks for the giveaway!
This is my kind of MG. I want to meet Eve!
ReplyDeleteUm, does a Phoenix count as a monster? If so, then that's what I would want to be. :)
ReplyDeleteAny monster, hmm. Werewolf is a good one. I think I'd choose to be a Shape-Shifter, able to change form as the situation dictates. That would be good for carrying out my nefarious plans and also for defense.
ReplyDeleteI would be a flying monster like a butterfly only more powerful.
ReplyDeleteI think I would like to be a Shape-shifter, that way I'm not limited to being a wolf. (I'm totally going to be a dragon...)
ReplyDeleteI love the character interview!
I don't know if I would want to be a monster at all! Oh nevermind, I know - I would want to be a monster and work at the Scare factory that was in Monsters Inc. That would be fun!
ReplyDeleteMonsters? How about Godzilla? Powerful, and yet has become a type of hero to millions. My husband is one of his biggest fans! Alana
ReplyDeleteI'd want to be Nessie. I'd be amused by keeping people guessing.
ReplyDeleteI've snagged this for my weekly round-up tomorrow of MG sci fi/fantasy-- and thanks for the giveaway!
ReplyDeleteI've snagged this for my weekly round-up tomorrow of MG sci fi/fantasy-- and thanks for the giveaway!
ReplyDeleteI would be a witch, without a doubt :) I LOVE magic and totally wish I could do that! I'd be a good witch though, you know, like The Charmed Ones ;)
ReplyDeleteI would be a good witch because I would come up with a magic potion to cure all diseases like cancer.
ReplyDeletetweety800265(at)yahoo(dot)com
I would want to be something that could fly... maybe a dragon or an ancient creature like a sphinx :) Thanks for the giveaway and great interview!
ReplyDeleteA wendigo! Because if I'm going to be a monster, I may as well be the most monstrous monster I can think of :D
ReplyDeleteIf I could be any monster, I'd choose to be a siren. I'd like to try a hand at seducing men into their own destruction.
ReplyDeleteI'll want to be Ditto from Pokemon! I can copy anyone and scare the hell out of them. ;D
ReplyDeleteI'd choose a dragon. Love the power & magic.
ReplyDeleteMonster...hhmm, Leviathan look cool.
ReplyDeleteI want to be a shapeshifter. They are supercool and have tons of strength, magic, and power. I want to be able to shift into anything, though. I don't want to be locked into a single shape. That's far too restricting.
ReplyDeleteIf I could be any monster, I would choose to be a Mothra type monster and I would twitter around and scare people and eat holes in their clothes, and hang out at night at all the light spots. LOL
ReplyDeleteGodzilla because he is awesome and eats random stuff
ReplyDeleteI'd want to be a vampire:) Gotta love me some fangs
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ReplyDeleteI would say a shifter of some kind but possibly zombie! I wouldn't last in a zombie apocalypse, if you can't beat them join them!
ReplyDeleteI guess I'd want to be a ghost. I could pass through walls, check in on my family and scare people! :)
ReplyDeletehmmm monster...i have no idea...
ReplyDeletei want to be a good guy not a bad guy ^^
I would be a werewolf...walk around as human by day and howl at the moon at night, possibly be a good bad guy.
ReplyDelete(This is Darith L)
ReplyDeleteMaybe a werewolf! :D
I would have to choose to be the Cookie Monster. Blue, non-threatening, and loves ~ COOKIES ~
ReplyDeleteI would be a killer tomato. When I was younger my parents had me watch Attack of the Killer Tomatoes with them I've always thought that would be hilarious. I guess I'm a little warped.
ReplyDeleteMonster? Mike Sulley :) because I mean...he's Awesome and he's got purple on him lol
ReplyDeleteHmm, must give this question some thought. I am probably going to have to go with either a dragon or a griffin. There's just something about both of those creatures that I love, could have to do with the fact that they pop up in some of my favorite books.
ReplyDeleteThey may not be monsters per say, but they can be frightening.
Excellent interview. I'm definitely going to have to see if my library has this series, and if they don't suggest it.
I would be a Cookie Monster because I love cookies ^^
ReplyDeleteDefinitely a Siren! They are beautiful on the outside, but evil on the inside...
ReplyDelete