Interview with Elizabeth Richards!

Welcome to Worlds of Wonderment Elizabeth, it’s great to have you here.

Thanks for having me!

Can you tell potential readers about your book?

Sure thing. Here’s the official blurb, which sums it up best:

A dark and tender post-apocalyptic love story set in the aftermath of a bloody war

In a city where humans and Darklings are now separated by a high wall and tensions between the two races still simmer after a terrible war, sixteen-year-olds Ash Fisher, a half-blood Darkling, and Natalie Buchanan, a human and the daughter of the Emissary, meet and do the unthinkable—they fall in love.

Bonded by a mysterious connection, that causes Ash’s long dormant heart to beat, Ash and Natalie first deny and then struggle to fight their forbidden feelings for each other, knowing if they’re caught they’ll be executed—but their feelings are too strong.

When Ash and Natalie then find themselves at the center of a deadly conspiracy that threatens to pull the humans and Darklings back into war, they must make hard choices that could result in both their deaths.

Where did the idea for Black City spring from?

The idea of Black City all started with Ash. I was watching this indie movie called Charlie Bartlett, and the character of Ash suddenly sprung into my mind. I don’t know why, but inspiration often strikes at the oddest times. I began thinking about this damaged, drug-dealing, supernatural boy whose dormant heart starts to beat when he meets his soul mate, Natalie. As soon as the film was over, I wrote a scene between Ash and his best friend Beetle. It never made it into the final book, but it all started with that kernel of an idea and grew from there.

What have you planned for the Black City Chronicles?

I can’t go into details as it is all top secret for now. All I can say is that the stakes will be raised, you’ll get to meet other supernaturals, and there’s plenty of kissing!

Describe Ash and Natalie in three words.

Ash - Damaged, brave, passionate

Natalie - Conflicted, rebellious, caring

How does your paranormal world differ from others?

Black City differs from a lot of paranormal YA novels, because it has a dystopian twist. It’s set in a war-torn, post-apocalyptic world where Darklings are treated like second-class citizens and forced to live inside walled ghettos. It’s a gritty, dark and dangerous world, and the threat of execution always lingers over Ash and Natalie’s heads.

Do Ash and Natalie grow much during Black City?

Very much so. Ash starts off the story as this broken, angry, selfish guy and grows into a very strong, brave young man, who is willing to stand up for what’s right to protect those he loves. Equally, Natalie starts off as a bit of a brat, who hates Darklings and does whatever her mom tells her to do, and grows into this confident, defiant girl who supports the Darkling cause despite the risks to herself. 

If you could date or marry any fictional character who would it be and why?

Oooh, that’s a good question! Mmm, well the boy I’d want to date wouldn’t necessarily be the boy I’d want to marry. So with that in mind, I would date Patch from Hush, Hush because he’s such a bad boy and would be a lot of fun, but I’d marry Edward from Twilight, because he’s a gentleman, eternally cute, and a good provider and protector.

What’s your guilty indulgence?

I’m currently addicted to these caramel chocolate bars called Curly Wurlys. They’re divine and a really naughty indulgence.

Can we get a sneak peek at Black City? Just a teeny, tiny one. Please?

Since you asked so nicely... ;-p There’s actually a sampler of Black City on Penguin’s Breathless Reads Facebook fan page, featuring excerpts from their Fall 2012 Breathless Reads, including Black City, Origin, Venom, The Innocents and Falling Kingdoms. Enjoy! https://www.facebook.com/breathlessreads/app_190322544333196

Elizabeth Richards is an award-winning journalist, who spent her early career reviewing videogames before making the bold (or crazy) move into travel writing, despite suffering from terrible travel sickness.

In her spare time, she ran a successful lifestyle website aimed at teenage girls, where she got to interview many of her favourite bands, go to gigs and basically blag loads of free swag all in the name of ‘research’.

Elizabeth lives in Buckinghamshire, England, with her husband. Black City is her debut novel.