FREEBIE FRIDAY - With KC Dyer

Happy Friday!

I can't even tell you how happy I am that it's the weekend! This has been a loooooong week.

Before we welcome today's FREEBIE FRIDAY guest, let me give a shout out to Liviania at In Bed With Books. We're celebrating both her birthday and her blog's birthday this month! Yay, Livi! Today, I'm the guest blogger, and giving away an ARC of DEATH BY DENIM and some other fun swag. Head on over to play... but don't forget to play by the rules if you want to win!

And now I am very pleased to bring you my dear friend and CP, KC Dyer. If you haven't already dropped in, you can check out her release party for her latest book, A WALK THROUGH A WINDOW on her blog or on Darby Speaks, the blog of her main character. Today is the official launch day! Woot!

Here is the blurb for A WALK THROUGH A WINDOW:
If you had a chance to step through a window to the past, would you take it? A Walk Through a Window is the story of Darby, a young girl forced to spend the summer with grandparents she doesn’t know in a place she feels she can never belong. But when a boy down the street extends a hand, it is more than friendship he offers. Together they discover a magical stone window frame that transports them to the very centre of the dramas of our past: the Underground Railroad; the coffin ships of the Irish Potato Famine; and even the Inuit as they crossed the Bering Land Bridge into North America.
Over the course of the long, very strange summer, Darby is forced to question part of own her life. And as tragedy threatens her family, that magical walk through a window offers Darby new insight into the people she has always taken for granted – and changes forever her perception of Canada.

CM Magazine praises its "Vivid descriptions of the past, complete with authentic language..."

Yay, KC! Now, without further ado, the interview:

What inspired you to write A WALK THROUGH A WINDOW?

I was walking up Arthur's Seat in Edinburgh, Scotland. I happened to look through the window of an old ruined chapel down at the new part of the city -- and the story was born in my head. I love the idea that I might be able to walk through a window into the past -- but the whole time travel element isn't enough to sustain a story, so I needed to find out more about Darby. She's the main character in this story, and her search to find more about herself gave the story it's focus.

Are any of your characters based on real people that you know?

As I mentioned, this story is about Darby Christopher, a Canadian kid from Toronto. She gets stuck living with her grandparents in a small town for the summer. While Darby struggles with getting to know these members of her family, she meets a boy who lives on the street, and their adventures together show her a lot about who she is and where she comes from. One of the adventures she goes on is based on the story of how my own family came to Canada, nearly 200 years ago, but that's the closest this story gets to any 'real' character inspirations.

What excites you?

Seeing new places, meeting new people and learning about the amazing planet we call home. I also get really excited when a new story idea comes my way, and when I hear that people have enjoyed the stories I have written.

What turns you off?

Phoniness.

What's the biggest lie you ever told, and what happened as a result of the telling?

Well, as I lie for a living, that's really hard to pin down. I guess the biggest lie I ever told took me three books to tell, and the result was the first series I ever wrote -- The Eagle Glen Trilogy.

If you could walk through a window and visit the past, where would you want to go?

The very idea gives me shivers. I think I'd go through once and just not stop -- hop from era to era, learning, exploring! In fact -- this idea excites me so much, it's the basis for a new series I am working on. I'd start with the Middle Ages, though. That seems to be the era where my heart lies.

What's one thing most people don't know about you?

Hmmm. That I am double-jointed?

What are you working on now?

I'm working on a book I started nearly 3 years ago -- it's the first in a kind of steam-punk, time travel, spec fiction series I'm putting together. Not sure exactly what shelf it will end up on when I finish!

What's your favorite quote?

Oh, this one is too hard. I could fill a book -- ten books! -- with my favourite quotes. I think that epitomizes my problem quite nicely, actually. kc dyer -- book addict. Reading and Writing are my life.

Milk Chocolate or Dark?

Dark -- with cashews. Ahhhh....heaven.

If you would like a chance to win a signed copy of A WALK THROUGH A WINDOW, leave a message below telling us where and when you would like to visit if you could walk through a window to anywhere or time in the world. This contest will end on Tuesday, March 17 - St, Patrick's Day! Be sure to stop by then to check on the winner and to enter the Wearin' o' the Green contest.*

(*Send me a picture of you - or your friend, kid, dog, Barbie Doll - anything, dressed in green. I'll post them here on Tuesday and we'll vote for the winner and give away more books!) You can start sending in pictures any time between now and Tuesday to gerb(at)lindagerber(dot)com. I reserve the right to not post inappropriate photos. Thanks!