[Giveaway]The Cahill Witch Chronicle + Author Interview

It's no mystery that I love the paranormal and I love history, so when a book combines two of those things, I am over the moon happy. That was basically my reaction Born Wicked. I am more than ecstatic to bring to you all an interview with the lovely Ms. Jessica Spotswood and an opportunity to win either Star Cursed (book #2) or Sisters Fate (book #3). 

DL: WITCHES! I absolutely love witches, good witches or bad. In the media, which good witch story would you say is your favorite (movie, TV series, book) and can you tell us what draws you to it? 

JS: My very favorite witchy book is Franny Billingsley's CHIME because the language is absolutely gorgeous, the setting functions as a character, the protagonist has a wonderful feminist voice, and the romance is swoony. Some other favorites are Libba Bray's Gemma Doyle trilogy, Stephanie Burgis's Kat Stephenson trilogy (which is middle grade), and Claudia Gray's Spellcaster trilogy. I'm also a huge fan of The Originals tv show on the CW, which has some fascinating witches (and hot vampires).

DL: What song best captures Cate's nature in your opinion? Why did you choose this song?

JS: For BORN WICKED, Cate's song was Florence + the Machine's "Rabbit Heart (Raise It Up)" - I love the lyrics "You made a deal, and now it seems you have to offer up / But will it ever be enough? (Raise it up, raise it up) / It's not enough (Raise it up, raise it up) / Here I am, a rabbit hearted girl / Frozen in the headlights / It seems I've made the final sacrifice." It reminds me of the end of the book and her bargains with the Brothers and then the Sisterhood, how she's always scrambling to protect her sisters. 

DL: The world in Born Wicked is fascinating in the fact that it's like some took our world and tilted it. So many similarities very subtle differences! What would you say is the biggest similarity between worlds?

Thank you! So...ugh, I would say that the biggest similarity is that powerful, clever, independent, educated women (even when they're not gifted with magical powers) are still too often feared and judged in our world. I'd be really curious to hear how readers would answer this question though. What do YOU think?

DL: Ooo I loved this about powerful female characters being feared. This is very true and I feel subtle but evident in your series. I would say likewise, the male dominant society that keeps women sheltered for "their own good." Throughout Born Wicked, Cate takes on the maternal figure for her family and often has to choose between her own happiness and protecting her family. What if the tables were turned and Maura was in Cate's position. What do you think Maura would choose if she were forced to decide between love and protecting her family. 

JS:  This is a crazy-good question! I think Maura would choose love. But I'm not sure that's a wrong choice, necessarily. She wouldn't throw them to the wolves out of lack of caring; she would just trust that they are clever and strong enough that they could figure things out for themselves.  If Cate had had that kind of trust in Maura and Tess, things might have gone very differently - but she was burdened by her promise to her mother to protect them. Also, Maura is much more open to adventure, to learning more about magic, to traveling - so she would see going to the Sisterhood as a much more appealing option than Cate ever did. If you asked me what she'd do if she had to choose between love and her own ambition, that would be a tough call!

DL: You wake up and you realize that you have witchy powers! What would be the first thing you do with your newfound powers? 

JS:  Honestly? I've been on deadline and my husband's been in play rehearsals and our house is wrecked, so I think I'd use illusion magic to make it look orderly and zen and lovely. Lame, I know! I should want to heal people -- but unlike Cate, I am terrified of hospitals!

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