INTERVIEW w/ LEIGH BARDUGO, AUTHOR OF SHADOW & BONE

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SHADOW AND BONE

Leigh Bardugo

Henry Holt & Co.

368 pp.

Ages 12 & up

Surrounded by enemies, the once-great nation of Ravka has been torn in two by the Shadow Fold, a swath of near impenetrable darkness crawling with monsters who feast on human flesh. Now its fate may rest on the shoulders of one lonely refugee.

Alina Starkov has never been good at anything. But when her regiment is attacked on the Fold and her best friend is brutally injured, Alina reveals a dormant power that saves his life—a power that could be the key to setting her war-ravaged country free. Wrenched from everything she knows, Alina is whisked away to the royal court to be trained as a member of the Grisha, the magical elite led by the mysterious Darkling.

Yet nothing in this lavish world is what it seems. With darkness looming and an entire kingdom depending on her untamed power, Alina will have to confront the secrets of the Grisha…and the secrets of her heart.

I had the pleasure of meeting Leigh recently at a book signing in Los Angeles and I have to say she is a fun and friendly person. Shadow and Bone debuted at #8 on the NYT Bestseller list. Leigh found a little spare time in her very busy schedule to visit with us today in an interview. Also, be sure to check out her awesome book trailer!

Alright, Leigh, take it away!

1.  Tell us about Shadow and Bone in one sentence.

How about a few fragments? Kingdom on the brink of collapse. Girl with powers. Saints. Samovars. Dreamy boys. 

2. What inspired you to write this story?

That moment when you stand at the end of a darkened hall, fumbling for the light switch, sure that something with too many teeth is waiting for you to step into the shadows. 

3. What books did you enjoy reading when you were younger?

Very early favorites were Many Moons, A Wrinkle in Time, The Phantom Tollbooth, and the now out-of-print Catwitch.   

4.  What do you enjoy reading now?

I'm very fickle-- nonfiction, fiction, just depends on my mood. The Lost City of Z was so wonderfully gross. 

5.  What can we expect from you in the future?

Flying cars, unitards, food that comes in pellets. Oh, in the immediate future? Shadow and Bone, the first book in the Grisha Trilogy, was released on June 5th, as was my short story "The Witch of Duva" which is available on Tor.com. Then I'll be touring with some wonderful fellow Macmillan authors. Please check my web site for dates and do come out to see us. Left to my own devices, I get positively maudlin.