Notice for Review Requests

I receive review requests weekly. However, my personal schedule is hectic and I no longer review actively. (I also manage another blog called The Toronto Cafe and Food Blog). I do read every request sent but I apologize in advance that I do not reply to them all.

If I do take on a request, I will forewarn that it may take some time before I can review it. I am now looking to review adult fiction and self-help books instead of young adult fiction because I have grown out of it. If you are to request a review for either adult fiction or self-help, I will more likely to give it a shot.

In the meantime, Stop, Drop, and Read! serves as an archive book review blog. When I have the time, I may post a review. Thank you for understanding.

Saturday, January 30, 2010

Author Interview: Cindy Pon + CONTEST

Cindy Pon debuted with her amazing novel, Silver Phoenix, in 2009. I got the chance to interview her, excited for the sequel. At the end of the interview, you can enter to win a signed copy of Silver Phoenix for yourself!

If you want to learn more about Cindy or Silver Phoenix, please check out at www.cindypon.com. Enjoy!

Firstly, what inspired you to write Silver Phoenix?

although i've been writing since before i was a teen,
i stopped all through my 20's. it was only after i had my
bubs back to back that i rediscovered my love for writing.
i began taking some creative writing classes through the
local universities and thought, why don't i write a novel!
at the time, i had just begun taking classes in chinese brush
painting and reading more about chinese culture and history.
fantasy was and always will be my favorite reading genre, so
i thought i'd combine the two interests. Silver Phoenix was the result!

Can you please give us a little more information on the era in which the novel takes place for those who are unfamiliar with the Chinese culture and history?

i'd like to say that Silver Phoenix is inspired by ancient china
because it actually doesn't take place in china or any time period
within it. i drew inspiration from mainly the qing dynasty but also took
elements from others, researching in architecture, clothing as well
as other social and cultural elements. when i started to write Silver Phoenix,
i realized i wasn't writing a true historical, it was too limiting to my story.
ai ling, as a daughter within the scholarly class, would have had her
feet bound.

Are the magical beings in Silver Phoenix mythical creatures within the Chinese culture or did you create them yourself?

the creatures are a combination of actual chinese myths
and folklore and my own imagination!

What should readers expect of the sequel for Silver Phoenix?

the sequel is planned to be released in fall 2010! i think
that while Silver Phoenix was a very fantastic journey, this
one will be much more personal on many levels.

Are you working on any other writing projects aside the sequel to Silver Phoenix? If so, can you please give us a brief description of them?

i am! i believe ai ling's story is finished with the sequel.
but i have another fantasy YA novel planned in xia. it is only at the very
beginning stages so i won't say more about it, as i don't know
much myself yet right now! i also have a children's picture book
featuring my chinese brush art slated to release in 2011!

What do you find is the easiest part in writing? And the hardest?

the easiest part is definitely revising and polishing a novel.
the hardest part is writing the rough draft (the initial draft) of
any novel for me. the unknown can be very scary to me. i
liken to starting a new novel like jumping of a cliff. ha!

Lastly, please give us an interesting fact about yourself that not many know of!

i wrote a letter "to my future husband" when i was 16.
when i married, i never gave him the letter, because it's
so embarrassing. ha!

~~~

Now that you got to learn more about Cindy, here is a chance for you to win her novel!

To enter: (Make sure to have everything in one comment in the post or it will not be counted)
+1 comment
+2 follower through Google Friend Connect (MANDATORY or no entry, new or old)
+2 comment on the review here
+2 add Stop, Drop, and Read! to your blog list (link)
+2 for every time you link the contest (link)

This contest is open to Canadian and U.S. addresses only. (Sorry international friends!) Contest will end on February 28/10.

post signature

50 comments:

Erica said...

I would love to be entered!

+1 comment
+2 follower

:) Erica
thebookcellar@wi.rr.com

Cryssloves said...

Sounds like an interesting read

+1 Comment
+2 follow

crystalmarieporter at gmail dot com

Katie said...

I would love a chance to win this. It sounds great!

+1 comment
+2 follower

Katie said...

Oops, I forgot my email.

katieb206@gmail.com

throuthehaze said...

+1 I would love to read this book!

+2 follower

+2 commented on review

+2 added to blogroll:
http://throuthehaze-reads.blogspot.com/

Raelena
throuthehaze at gmail dot com

MissA said...

No need to enter me, I really liked this book though! I'll link to it anyway.
That's so cute, how Cindy wrote her future husband I letter. I think she should show it to him :)

Thanks for this interview and I'm really excited for the sequel to Silver Phoenix

renee said...

Please enter me
+1 comment
+2 follower
reneetaylor at sympatico dot ca

Natalie said...

I'm so excited to read this book! It looks awesome!

+1 Comment
+2 Old Follower
+2 Tweeted it!

Natalie
n_monzyk_27@yahoo.com

pepsivanilla said...

Thanks for the contest :)

+1 Comment
+2 Follower
+2 Commented on the review

pepsivanilla14(at)hotmail(dot)com

Test said...

I would love to enter!

+1 comment
+2 follower

Lauren
laurenscrammedbookshelf@gmail.com

deltay said...

+1 Comment:
omg, is that picture up there Crystal Liu/Liu Yi Fei?! Also, the letter to future husband thing sounds adorably cute, aww :)
+2 follower
+2 comment review
+2 add Stop, Drop, and Read! to your blogroll @ http://lucidconspiracy.blogspot.com
+2 siderbar linked at same address as above

lucidconspiracy[at]gmail[dot]com

Unknown said...

DO NOT ENTER ME IN CONTEST!
(Already have Silver Phoenix)
:)
Thank you for the great interview with Cindy Pon & thank you to Cindy for taking the time to share here. I enjoyed learning more about her and her writing.
All the best,
RKCharron

Hot Off the Shelves said...

I'd love a chance to win.

+1 Comment
+2 Follower

jasmyn9[at]hotmail[dot]com

FredTownWard said...

I'd love to get the opportunity to read and review this book without paying for it!

+1 comment
+2 follower through Google Friend Connect (MANDATORY or no entry, new or old)
+2 comment on the review here

By the way, given your interests, are you familiar with the books of Cynthea Liu? She's written a YA novel "The Great Call of China" and a middle grader "Paris Pan Takes the Dare" that I reviewed on Amazon and recommend very highly!

Liviania said...

Great interview! I really want to read this one due to my own love of Chinese culture.

+1 comment
+2 follower
+2 comment on review
+2 blogroll

Lexie said...

+1 comment
I spent a lot of time trying to see if I could name the mythological monster before Ai Ling said the name while reading. I can't wait for the sequel either!

+2 new follower!

+2 commented on review

Thanks so much!!

Lexie
Lexie.Cenni@gmail.com

E.J. Stevens said...

I would love a chance to win!

+1 comment
+2 follower

e.j.stevens.author[at]gmail[dot]com

ninefly said...

would love to finally get a chance to read this!

+1 comment
+2 new follower
+2 on blogroll http://angeltyuan.blogspot.com
+2 sidebar (giveaways) http://angeltyuan.blogspot.com
+2 tweet http://twitter.com/angeltyuan/status/8522025457

total +9

ninefly(at)gmail(dot)com

Jenny N. said...

Nice interview. I havent read this book yet so would like to enter.

+1 Commented
+2 Follower
+2 Commented on review

jen4777[at]hotmail.com

April (BooksandWine) said...

Enter me!

+1 comment
+2 follower
+2 tweet: http://twitter.com/booksandwine/statuses/8559204882
+2 sidebar link: http://readingisthespiceoflife.blogspot.com

cqueen2 said...

+1 thanks please count me in
+2 i follow

wadesherry@hotmail dot com

Sarah said...

+1 comment
+2 follower
+2 added to blog roll
+2 sidebar,
http://limericksbookspot.blogspot.com/

Thanks for the contest! I really want to win this book!

Sarah
two_of_hearts_101 atyahoodotcom

Anonymous said...

Wonderful interview! I would love to read this book, please count me in! :D

+1 Commented

+2 Google Friend Connect follower

+2 Tweeted: http://twitter.com/thegoodgonegirl/status/8707134017

+2 Sidebar: http://goodgonegirl.blogspot.com

Anna ♥
goodgonegirl@gmail.com

Kelly said...

I would love to be entered!
kghobbs@gmail.com
+1 comment
+2 follower
+2 comment on review
+2 tweet: http://twitter.com/kghobbs/statuses/8785230752

Anonymous said...

I would love to be entered in your draw for this wonderful book.

+1 comment
+2 follower through Google Friend Connect
+2 commented on the review

wandanamgreb(at)gmail(dot)com

Lindsay Frost said...

I would LOVE to win this!
Thankyou!! :D:D:D
2+ follower
1+ comment

-Lindsay

lindsay15photo@gmail.com

Alyssa F said...

Great interview! I loved it.
+1 comment
+2 Follow
+1 linked here: http://theshadyglade.blogspot.com/2010/02/contest-roundup-february-9.html

Thanks!

shadyglade(AT)mail(DOT)com

Unknown said...

I would love to be entered. This looks amazing.

+1 comment
+2 follower
+2 commented on the review
+2 added to blogroll
http://www.theneverendingshelf.com/2009/07/blog-roll.html
+2 sidebar
www.theneverendingshelf.com
+2 tweeted
http://twitter.com/neshelf/status/8965784027

neverendingshelf@gmail.com

evelyn.n.alfred said...

+ 1 comment
+ 2 (new) follower

I found out about your page from Ari, at reading in Color.

evelyn.n.alfred@gmail.com

Unknown said...

I'm so curious about what she wrote in the letter hahaha ;)
+1


+2 old follower
+2 added Stop, Drop, and Read! to blogroll.
+2 sidebar here

lcintocable[a]gmail[d]com

Jessica B said...

Enter me please!

+2 Follower
+1 Comment

shutupjessicasreading @ gmail.com

Victoria Zheng said...

Hmm...This sounds like an interesting book!

Victoria Zheng said...

This sounds like an awesome book

+1 comment
+2 comment on review of Silver pheonix
+2 follow
+2 linked to twitter- http://twitter.com/sk8ergirl7

victoria.z8@hotmail.com

Martha Lawson said...

I would love to be entered in this great contest.

I am a new follower on google friend connect.

mlawson17 at hotmail dot com

Mandy said...

Please enter me (: Thanks!

+1 Comment
+2 Follow

bratdownstairs@yahoo.com

tetewa said...

I'd like to be included! +1 comment +2 follower tWarner419@aol.com

Angiegirl said...

Thank you for the lovely interview. Please enter me!

+1 comment
+2 follower

angiegirl (at) gmail (dot) com

Persephone said...

I would love to read this book~

+1 comment
+2 follower


patronus89013 at yahoo dot com

Sheila (Bookjourney) said...

I love books on Chinese culture -please enter me.

+1 comment

+2 I am a follower of your blog

+2 Greta review of the book and that is why I want to read it :)

Anastasia @ Here There Be Books said...

I've been wanting to read this book for a while! Thanks for hosting this contest. :D

+1 comment
+2 follower

herebebooks@gmail.com

Anonymous said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
The Lovely Reader said...

+1 Commenting
+2 Follower

Thanks for the contest!
barbrafl737 (at) yahoo (dot) com

Cecelia said...

I loved this book, but was quite sad when I had to give it back to the library - I'd love my own copy!

+1 comment
+2 follower through Google Friend Connect (MANDATORY or no entry, new or old)
+2 comment on the review

Thanks for holding this contest!

celialarsen(at)gmail(dot)com

Margo said...

I want to read this book so bad but I can never find it!

+1 comment
+2 follow
+2 link - http://twitter.com/MargoWest

mwest07 at vt dot edu

skyla11377 said...

+1 Comment.
I Would Like To Read This Book. It Sounds Really Good. The Cover Is Very Beautiful. I Love Learning New Things About Chinese Culture And History.

+2 Follower Through Google Friend Connect.
I Am A New Follower.
http://skyla11377.blogspot.com/

+2 Comment On The Review Here.
I Commented On Your Review Comment 17.

+2 Add Stop, Drop, And Read! To Your Blog List.
I Added Stop, Drop, and Read!To My Blog List.
http://skyla11377.blogspot.com/

+2 For Every Time You Link The Contest (Link).
I Tweeted About This Contest (@skyla11377).
http://twitter.com/skyla11377/status/9642750206

skyla11377(At)AOL(Dot)Com

Heather Y said...

Thanks for hosting a great giveaway! I'd love to be entered into this one!

+1 comment
+2 follow

Thanks

heather y
click4cash4me(at)gmail(dot)com

sruble said...

Already have a copy of Silver Phoenix, so I won't enter.

Great interview. I can't wait to read the sequel this fall! :)

CherylS22 said...

+1 - I'd love to read this book. Please count me in!

+2 - I follow in GFC

+2 - I commented on the review

Thanks!

Jason said...

+1 comment
+2 new follower

Thanks!

Anonymous said...

Do you have copy writer for so good articles? If so please give me contacts, because this really rocks! :)