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Monday, February 12, 2018

Blood of a Thousand Stars Blog Tour: Q&A with Rhoda Belleza!



Today, Rhoda Belleza is on the blog to share my Q&A with her for the Blood of a Thousand Stars Blog Tour! 



Blood of a Thousand Stars by Rhoda Belleza
Publisher: Razorbill
Pub. Date: February 20, 2018
Buy Links: Amazon | Barnes and Noble | Book Depository
War tears the galaxy apart, power tests the limits of family, and violence gives way to freedom in this exhilarating sequel to Empress of a Thousand Skies.

Empress
With a revolution brewing, Rhee is faced with a choice: make a deal with her enemy, Nero, or denounce him and risk losing her crown.

Fugitive
Framed assassin Alyosha has one goal in mind: kill Nero. But to get his revenge, Aly may have to travel back to the very place he thought he'd left forever--home.

Princess
Kara knows that a single piece of technology located on the uninhabitable planet Wraeta may be the key to remembering—and erasing—the princess she once was.

Madman
Villainous media star Nero is out for blood, and he'll use means necessary to control the galaxy.

Vicious politics and high-stakes action culminate in an epic showdown that will determine the fate of the universe.


Rhoda Belleza was raised in Los Angeles, where she grew up writing X-Files fanfiction and stuffing her face with avocados. She's a children's editor at a publishing house and writes from a sunny Brooklyn apartment stuffed with far too many bikes and far too many shoes. When she's not writing, Rhoda obsesses over nail art tutorials, watches kung fu movies, and sews together crooked things that pass for clothes. Empress of a Thousand Skies is her debut novel.
Connect with Rhoda: Website | Twitter | Instagram


What was the biggest difference between writing Empress of a Thousand Skies and Blood of a Thousand Stars?

It was starting something (EMPRESS) versus ending something (BLOOD). So much of writing book one was fleshing out the characters and creating the world, whereas book two felt more intimate—like I was helping Rhee, Kara, and Aly fulfill their arcs. It was a lot like real life, in the way you commit to people and see them through.

Who is the hardest character for you to write, and why?

Kara. She has imposter syndrome to the extreme and I deal with that, too—it was really raw to explore those emotions, and sometimes I found her so blind to her intrinsic good that I’d get annoyed with her…and then I’d be like, “Oh yeah I do that too.”

What fictional character that is not your own do you personally identify with and, why?

I’d like to think I’m kind of like Katara from Avatar, because she’s smart and loyal and has a take-no-crap attitude…but is it cocky to say you identify with a self-taught master waterbender? Because I’m doing it!

What is the most dangerous thing you've ever done for fun? 

There’s an old sugar factory in Puerto Rico right on the water and high on a ledge. I once climbed up its rickety old structure and jumped into the ocean! Just climbing up on the thing was a tetanus shot waiting to happen, but the free fall that down was absolutely terrifying.

What is the strangest thing you've ever had to Google for research?

Pretty much anything related to biotech. Specifically I was looking up all kinds of ways plants and their chlorophyll could store data, like a living microchip. There’s precedent, though!

What are your favorite sci-fi YA novels?

Legend, Across the Universe, Lost Stars, Red Rising, Zodiac…I’m missing a few, orrrr a million.

Who was your first fictional OTP (favorite couple)?

Leia and Han is the answer I want to give. But the true answer is Christina Ricci and Devon Sawa in Casper.

What are some of your biggest pet peeves?

When people with a runny nose just keep doing the sniff sniff sniff thing. Just blow your nose already! (Obviously an excerpt of my missives from a New York winter.)


Week One
2/12 – Brittany’s Book Rambles – Q&A (You Are Here!)
2/13 – Pages Within Me – Review + Creative
2/14 – Celesha’s Love for Books – Review
2/15 – Ex Libris – Review
2/16 – A Court of Coffee and Books – Review + Quote Teasers

Week Two
2/19 – Hollywood News Source – Playlist
2/20 – The Fandom – Moodboard
2/21 – BookishStateofMind – Creative Imagery + Review

19 comments:

  1. This series sounds fantastic. With both books costing $10 each on TBD, I plan to buy them this week. Thanks for sharing this book series Britt.

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    1. I saw that you bought them on Twitter, I hope you love them!

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  2. OOOH KATARA. I would LOVE to say I'm like her, too, but I honestly feel like I'm more of Sokka! XD And gah, I can't imagine jumping into the ocean. For one thing, I can't swim, so the fear of drowning will DEFINITELY throw me off!

    - Aimee @ Aimee, Always

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  3. I have yet to read the first book even though I own it! Also I had no idea Rhoda was such a daredevil!

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  4. Fantastic interview! You just convinced me to buy both books (: Thx for sharing

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  5. I totally just laughed out loud reading the answer of the What are some of your biggest pet peeves? question. It's just true. xD

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  6. Yayyy for this interview and the release of this book! :D I really enjoyed Empress of a Thousand Skies and I CAN'T WAIT for this sequel *dances* I love the sci-fi's that Rhoda listed, and the fact that she sees herself in Katara - that's so awesome! Omg I feel like Blood of a Thousand Stars will gut me. Wonderful interview!

    - Aila @ One Way Or An Author

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    1. I really believe Blood of a Thousand Stars will gut us both, and we'll probably thank Rhoda for it haha.

      Thanks for stopping by~

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  7. Okay, totally curious about chlorophyll now. I may have to google that. :)

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  8. Great interview and I'm definitely planning on reading these two soon! My daughter was studying about this very subject (chlorophyll) and brought to our attention this strange fact. Thanks for sharing :)

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  9. I'm SO EXCITED for this book! I absolutely LOVED Empress!!

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    1. Empress was amazing! Can't wait to read this one myself ^_^

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  10. Lovely blog tour post sweetie :D Loved the interview. <3 I haven't read these books, but those covers are so awesome :D And I'm curious about them. Thank you for sharing. <3

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