Katie McGarry: Interview

Ahhhhh! Looooooooooook! 

I was lucky enough to have the opportunity to interview the wonderful Young Adult author Katie McGarry. Who I’ve been a fan of ever since my friend and co-owner of Drool Worthy Books blog, introduced me to her.

Katie has just recently published ‘Take Me On’, her fourth installment to the ‘Pushing the Limits’ Series and so I got around to asking her some questions about the book, to which you can find my review on our blog.

• Why did you decide to pair West with a girl fighter?

When I first met West as a secondary character in CRASH INTO YOU, I knew that he had a short temper and got into fights easily.

In TAKE ME ON, I wanted West to fall in love with a girl who could mentally challenge him. By being an actual fighter, Haley was in a position to tell West that his temper hurts him, not helps him, and that sometimes walking away is fighting.

• You did a lot of research for ‘Crash Into You’ and ‘Take Me On’ which lead you to learn and do interesting things. Was it stuff that you thought you'd ever get the chance to experience?

For CRASH INTO YOU, I spent a lot of time at a local dragway and I even got the opportunity to go down the dragway. It was an exhilarating experience!

For TAKE ME ON, I found a local Muay Thai gym and they were fabulous enough to let me watch some of their training sessions. I eventually became bold enough to join their morning kickboxing for fitness class. It’s a bag class, but I learned how tough and fun kickboxing is.

I don’t believe I would have ever experienced either of these things if it wasn’t for the research I needed for the books.

With ‘Breaking the Rules’ coming out in Decemeber, I didn’t forget to ask some important questions there.

• Did you always plan on continuing Echo and Noah’s story?

I have always known what happened to Echo and Noah after I finished writing PUSHING THE LIMITS. I wrote PUSHING THE LIMITS as a stand-alone so I didn’t think I would get an opportunity to continue their story. When I was asked if I would consider continuing their story, I jumped at the opportunity. BREAKING THE RULES will be released on December 30, 2013. 

• What has been the most emotional book for you to write so far in the Pushing the Limits Series?

It’s a tie between DARE YOU TO and TAKE ME ON. In DARE YOU TO, I understood a lot of Beth’s hurts and there are a lot of themes in TAKE ME ON that are personal to me. Both stories required me to dig deep into places that are difficult for me to visit. 

But don’t worry guys I asked Katie the one question that’s been on all our minds ever since we met the girl in Crash Into you.

• Will we ever get the chance to read Abby’s story?

I’m not sure yet what the future is for the PUSHING THE LIMITS series. I’m crossing fingers and toes I’ll be able to write Abby’s story. 

Oh and so are we Katie, so are we! A big thank you to Katie for taking her time to answer our questions. It meant the world.

Goodread's link

Katie's Site 

City of Heavenly Fire by Cassandra Clare

“Temper us in fire, and we grow stronger. When we suffer, we survive.”

 So here it is, the highly anticipated conclusion to the out-standing Mortal Instruments Series. City of Heavenly Fire was one hell of a roller coaster. When I finished it, it took me a while for everything to sink in. It's a big book with over seven hundred pages but after about a hundred pages I was becoming an emotional wreck!

This story takes place a couple of weeks after the events of City of Lost Souls and the Shadowhunters are anxiously waiting for Sebastian to make his next move. With nothing to do but wait the gang try to help Jace control the Heavenly Fire that is still coursing through his veins from Glorious. 

“And like lambs to a slaughter we shall follow...”

When Sebastian does make his move, he along with his army of Endarkened (Shadowhunters who drank from the Infernal Cup) start to attack Institutes around the world. This is where we are introduced to Emma Carstairs and Julian Blackthorn, the main characters of Cassie's upcoming trilogy 'The Dark Artifices' which is set in the Los Angeles Institute. They along with the rest of the Blackthorn family barely escape the attack on the Los Angeles Institute. 

Because of these attacks Shadowhunters everywhere are forced to abandon their homes and return to Idris. There Sebastian makes it known what he wants and states what will happen if those demands are not met. Because of this and more Jace, Clary and the rest of the gang head to a place where no one has ever returned in an attempt to stop Sebastian and to rescue certain people. Everyone is tested to their limits and it is sure to leave all its readers breathless and craving more.  Don't want to give too much away!

“Okayyyyy,” Isabelle said in a low voice, “When did Brother Zachariah get hot?”

We also get a little insight into what happened after the events of the Infernal Devices but I won't go into that right now!

The plot in this story was well written and compelling but will keep you guessing until the end. All the characters retained their main personality traits like someones sarcasm, someones nerdiness and of course someones glitteriness!

“Freely we serve

Because we freely love, as in our will

To love or not; in this we stand or fall."

Cassie has outdone herself in this final conclusion to the best selling series. With just the right amount of romance and action it will keep you up wanting more!

Goodread's link