An Interview with Y.S.Lee (YA Author) + Giveaway!!!

Y.S.Lee is the author of the much acclaimed series The Agency. The Agency is a young-adult series, who involves around the life of Mary Quinn an orphan turned detective, and all wrapped with small hints of romance. The first book in the series is called A Spy in the House, followed by The Body at the Tower, and after that one comes The Traitor and the Tunnel (2012).


Also, these books have amazing covers, so add that with the kick ass plot and you got yourself a treat ;)

• Describe your series with one word.
  

Fisticuffs. Lots of’em, physical and otherwise.

•  If you could throw any supernatural character into your series, which would be and why? How do you think it would go if suddenly a vampire appeared in front of Mary or James? Or maybe a werewolf...
  

You’re trying to edge me into the whole vampires vs werewolves debate, aren’t you? But I’m all for zombies. Did you know that the Victorians were somewhat obsessed with the idea of false death? That’s where the tradition of waiting a few days before burial comes from: it was supposed to reduce the chances of accidentally burying someone alive. A few people went so far as to have bells or other noisemakers included in the coffin so that someone who woke up underground could sound the alarm.

• Which YA novel are you expecting the most for next year? Or even this fall? Other than your next novel of course, which by the by when is your next novel planned to hit bookstores all over America?
  

I can’t wait for my friend Stephanie Burgis’s debut, KAT, INCORRIGIBLE, to go on sale in North America in May 2011. It’s already out in the UK and it’s an absolute delight: action-packed, charming, warm, funny. And my next novel, The Traitor and the Tunnel, will be published in spring 2012.

• What's your favorite part of writing your world? The characters? The plots? Rituals? How does the magic take place?
  

The truly magical part, for me, is reading or imagining something that sends me on a crazy research trail. An idea, a phrase, an anecdote – something that sends the whole plot or theme spinning in a new direction. I’m a sucker for the aha! moment.

•  I was just thinking, when I think of Mary I think that I might see Jessica Szohr from Gossip Girl playing her in a movie, what do you think? In a movie which actors would play your characters?
  

I always squirm at this question because I really, truly don’t know. I’d like whoever plays Mary to reflect her family background accurately. And Sara at the Hiding Spot likes James McAvoy for James Easton!

OMG yes!! He is perrrfect!! Now I want to watch Atonement again...

• And! Could you give us any glimpse into your next Agency novel? A summary, date, anything! Hehe

I’ll give you a sneak preview of the teaser I’ll soon be posting at my website! The book is The Traitor and the Tunnel and it’ll be published in spring 2012 by Candlewick Press.

Queen Victoria has a little problem: there’s a petty thief at work in Buckingham Palace. Mary Quinn takes the simple case, going undercover as a domestic servant. But before long, a scandal threatens to tear apart the Royal Family.

One of the Prince of Wales’s irresponsible young friends is killed in disgraceful circumstances. Should the Queen hush things up or allow justice to take its course? Mary’s interest in this private matter soon becomes deeply personal: the killer, a drug-addicted Chinese sailor, shares a name with her long-lost father.

Meanwhile, James Easton’s engineering firm is repairing the sewers beneath Buckingham Palace. Trouble is, there’s a tunnel that’s not on the plans. Its purpose is unclear. But it seems to be very much in use.

These overlapping puzzles offer a perfect opportunity for James and Mary to work together again… if they can still trust one another. This is Mary’s most personal case yet and she has everything to lose.

Eeeks! What!?? 2012?! They want us to cry don't they? Wait a whole year for the book... I hope they decide to publish it a bit earlier xD And I gotta say, I love the idea of James MCavoy for James! It's perfect! Him and Jessica Szohr for me would totally be perfect for the parts, hmm I feel a casting post coming soon...

Now, thanks for reading the interview, I hope you liked it and that it got you interested in the series, if you want to know more about Y.S.Lee and her novels click here and it will take you to her official website!

Now, if you reaally want to read the first book in the series, just comment in this post and you will be entered in my giveaway for A Spy in the House.

Rules for the giveaway:

• US only (Sorry Int guys!)
• Must be a Bloody follower
• Comment on this interview and let me know what you think!
• Love to read.
• Ends on Nov.24

Good Luck!!

...2012... too long a wait!