Jan 28, 2014

Blog Tour: Cress by Marissa Meyer


I am so, so excited to be turning over the blog to Marissa Meyer today. She's the author of the best-selling Lunar Chronicles series. She's here to talk a little bit about the newest installment, CRESS.


The Power of Imagination: Or, How I Relate to Cress
By Marissa Meyer

One question we authors get asked a lot is, “Which of your characters is most like you?”

In truth, I can see bits and pieces of myself in every character I write (from Cinder’s sarcasm to Scarlet’s single-minded determination to Iko’s love of playing dress-up). But it was apparent to me early on in the writing of this series that Cress is my girl.

Largely because I’m secretly a computer hacker who spent seven years of my childhood stuck on a satellite in space. But that’s beside the point.

Even more than that, Cress and I share a personality trait that in many ways defines us both: our overactive imaginations.

I loved writing Cress’s character, because when she’s nervous or afraid or overwhelmed, she has a tendency to cloak herself in fantasies, as a sort of psychological protection. This is exactly how I think I would react in the face of danger. As opposed to Cinder, who becomes daring and analytical, or Scarlet, who gets angry and defiant, I would just want to hide.

Cress is aware of her flaws. She knows that she is not courageous or strong. Quite the opposite—she is often painfully aware of just how weak and terrified she is. But instead of giving way to those emotions, she makes the decision to become someone else in those moments. She becomes an explorer, an actress, a spy. She becomes the person she needs to be in order to do what needs to be done.

I relate to that not only because I’ve always created elaborate daydreams in my head, ever since I was a child, but also because those daydreams have now lent themselves to this awesome job of writing books full of adventure and romance. I think most writers experience this tendency to escape into a fantasy world, to live a hundred different lives by putting ourselves into the shoes of a hundred different characters in a hundred different stories. Not unlike Cress and her imaginings.

In the end, while Cress may never get over her fears in certain life-threatening situations (I mean… who would?), she does discover an internal strength and courage that she didn’t realize she had. I like to think that my own daydreaming, over time, has also helped to shape me into a braver, kinder, more compassionate person.


Or, if nothing else, I’ve certainly experienced more adventures because of it.

About Cress:
Rapunzel’s tower is a satellite. She can’t let down her hair—or her guard. 

In this third book in the bestselling Lunar Chronicles series, Cinder and Captain Thorne are fugitives on the run, with Scarlet and Wolf in tow. Together, they’re plotting to overthrow Queen Levana and her army. 

Their best hope lies with Cress, who has been trapped on a satellite since childhood with only her netscreens as company. All that screen time has made Cress an excellent hacker—unfortunately, she’s just received orders from Levana to track down Cinder and her handsome accomplice. 

When a daring rescue goes awry, the group is separated. Cress finally has her freedom, but it comes at a high price. Meanwhile, Queen Levana will let nothing stop her marriage to Emperor Kai. Cress, Scarlet, and Cinder may not have signed up to save the world, but they may be the only ones who can.


Giveaway:

a Rafflecopter giveaway


Links:
-Join the Scarlet Readathon! (please be sure to use the link provided. Thank you!)

87 comments:

  1. My favorite retelling is Little Red Riding Hood or Scarlet :D

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  2. My favorite retelling is Cruel Beauty. :)

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  3. I love this interview!! A lot of writers use bits of themselves when creating their main characters so it's always interesting when an author really connects with a character. Overactive imaginations, FTW!

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  4. I don't actually read very many retellings. So, I'll say Scarlet. It was perfection!

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  5. Cress sounds a lot like me. Just saying. Yet another reason I'm certain I'll love this book!

    My favorite fairy-tale retelling is probably Entwined by Heather Dixon, though it changes depending on my mood.

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  6. Cinder or Kill Me Softly. :)
    Thank you!

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  7. Favorite re-telling would be...hmm I don't read many...well it's not really a fairy tale but A G Howard's Splintered a re-telling (sort of) of Alice in Wonderland

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  8. Favorite retelling...I'm not sure, I think the only fairytale retelling I've read are Cinderella & Little Red. Little red is definitely a favorite though!

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  9. Cinder or Scarlet :-) I LOVE TLC.

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  10. I'm a big fan of Pamela Dean's Tam Lin, a retelling of the Scottish ballad. (It's part of a Terri Windling curated series of fairy tale retellings.)

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  11. Fallon Vaughn - joefallon1@yahoo.com

    I love two story retellings Alice In Wonderland and I love Little Red Riding Hood. I loved Splintered and Unhinged by A. G. Howard and Scarlet was great by Marissa Meyer. That being said before tyese books even came out i was in love with the disney retelling action movie of Alice and Hoodwinked 1 and 2 which involved red and wolf in a twisted way.

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  12. My favorite retelling would be Cinder and Scarlet, and Cress when it comes out I hope!

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  13. I think my favorite retelling is the looking glass wars or cinder.

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  14. I love Alice in Wonderland retellings!

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  15. I haven't read too many retelling so I have no idea what to say. But Cinder and Scarlet were both really good!

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  16. I think I'm most similar to Cress as well

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    1. Rapunzel is one of my favorite stories, and I really liked Tangled as a retelling (even though it's not a book)

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  18. My fav fairy tale retellings are Cinder and Scarlet!

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  19. Thanks for the awesome giveaway. I don't think I have a favorite type of fairytale retelling. I love them all. I will try reading any fairytale retelling. I would have to say so far though that the Lunar Chronicles have been my favorite series. :)

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  20. I want to read this book so badly! I thought the previous two were awesome and can't wait for number three!

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  21. I loved Scarlet and also the Snow White and Rumpelstiltskin retelling done by the TV series Once Upon a Time

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  22. I loved Scarlet! she's by far my favourite, but I also love the Captain. He's such a random yet awesome character! I also love watching Once Upon A Time, but thank goodness for the Lunar Chronicles keeping me busy until Once comes back!

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  23. I really enjoyed Heather Dixon's Entwined. It's hard to give twelve characters distinct personalities, but somehow she managed to do it. It's not really a fairytale retelling per se, but Tom McNeal's Far Far Away is a lovely and frightening modern fairy tale. Robin McKinley, of course, is the master at fairytale retellings.

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  24. Thanks for the giveaway! I love lots of Fairy Tales like The Little Mermaid and Little Red Riding Hood. <3
    -Cali W.

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  25. As much as I've enjoyed the Lunar Chronicles so far, my favorite retelling of all time is Ella Enchanted. It's up there on my favorite books of all time list and I've read it more times than I can count!

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  26. I am really looking forward to reading Cress! Marissa Meyer is such a talented writer!!!

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    1. Forgot to mention, my favourite fairy tale retelling is Sweetly

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  27. I so enjoyed this book Hannah! It took me a little while to get on board with Cress since she was so different from Cinder and Scarlet, but in the end I loved her because of those differences and how they just rounded out the story as a whole. I need Winter in my hands asap!!!

    PS - Sorry I wasn't around yesterday, I had a veterinary issue and the whole day just got away from me!

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  28. Scarlet, since my childhood I'm obsessed with The Little Red Riding Hood

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  29. My favourite would probably be Cinder and Scarlet.

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  30. My favorite retelling would probably be any retelling of Cinderella. I love Cinder.

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  31. I cannot wait to read Winter!! Snow White is my favorite.

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  32. Little Red Riding Hood is definitely my favorite retelling, but if we get a very mature version of a character in Winter then I think I'd like that more.

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  33. I love any retelling of Rapunzel or Beauty and the Beast. :D

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  34. I love any retelling of Beauty and the Beast and Little Red Riding Hood. =)

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  35. My favorite retelling was Cinder!!!

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  36. The Lunar Chronicles are one of my favourite retellings. I also really liked the idea of Princess of Glass (another Cinderalla retelling) or East (East of the Sun and West of the Moon retelling).

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  37. My favourite fairytale retelling is most definitely the Lunar Chronicles, but I'm really excited to read Cruel Beauty by Rosamund Hodge. And of course, all Disney retellings are amazing.

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  38. My favorite fairytale to be retold is The Ugly Duckling.

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  39. My favorite fairy tale retelling is the Lunar Chronicles.

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  40. Hands down, Of Beast and Beauty!

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  41. I have to say that every retelling Marissa has done is my favorite but I'll read any retelling of Red Riding Hood!

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  42. Although it is not a book, Tangled is one of my favorite retellings. That is one reason I am so excited for Cress!

    Other than that, Cinder. I actually connect personally with Cinder, and it also helps that I am so in love with science fiction!

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  44. I actually haven’t read many fairytale retellings, but the Lunar Chronicles is probably one of the best. :D

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  45. Other than Cinder, I'd have to say Splintered.

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  46. Lunar chronicles is definitely my favorite, as far as books go. But I also LOVE Once Upon A Time & Once Upon A Time In Wonderland!!!

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  47. Splintered comes to mind along with the Lunar Chronicles, although I know Alice in Wonderland isn't really a fairy tale exactly.

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  48. (This is DARITH L)

    I really enjoyed Splinted by A. G. Howard! :D

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  49. My favorite retelling is Beauty and Spindle's End by Robin McKinley!

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  50. I'd have to say the Lunar Chronicles series. It's so good. I can't wait for Cress.

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  51. Oh how I love this series!!!! And what a wonderful post can't wait to meet Cress now :)

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  52. So many! But yes, The Lunar Chronicles is one of my most favorite retellings ever!

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  53. I have so many: Of Beast and Beauty, Kill Me Softly, The ScareCrow King...

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  54. My favorite retelling is probably cinder since I don't read a lot of fairy tale retellings. anyways I absolutely adored cinder and I can't wait for cress!

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  55. I love Goose Girl by Shannon Hale and East of the Sun, West of the Moon by Jessica Day George. Oh, and East. I really like re-tellings. Hence the mega appeal of this serie

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  56. My favorite fairytale retelling is definitely Of Beast and Beauty by Stacey Jay. I absolutely LOVED that book. <3

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  57. I think the only fairy tale retelling I've read is Beastly. And I enjoy that one. I've heard wonderful things about the White rabbit chronicles and the lunar chronicles! Wanna read both series!!

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  58. I love Scarlet, its pefect, I love too Ella enchanted its pretty awesome

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  59. Lived the retelling of Little Red Riding Hood. Scarlet and Wolf are my favorites so far. Their book was one of my favorite reads.

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  60. I don't have a favorite, there are so many I love!

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  61. Scarlet I loved the retelling of Little Red Riding Hood!!! That was truly amazing!

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  62. My favorite retelling is Spinners by Donna Jo Napoli, a retelling of Rumplestiltskin.

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  63. I love fairy tale retellings. It's hard for me to pick a favorite. I really like what Meyer has done with her retellings, they are fantastic! I also like Disney's Frozen's retelling of The Snow Queen.

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  64. I loved Cinder and since I haven't really read any other retellings its definitely my favorite

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  65. i like Cinderella remakes but beauty and the beast are my faves.

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  66. I'm not sure if this really counts as a fairy tale retelling, but Alice in Zombieland based off of Lewis Carroll's book is super awesome! XD

    **Rachelle**

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  67. I think Cinder is my favorite retelling of Cinderella. I never expected to love it so much!

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  68. I love the different aspects of all of them and the ways that you have retold the various fairytales. It's genius.

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  69. my favorite retelling of all time (I know this is cheating) but Once Upon a Time, even if it is a tv show. it's just got all the fairytales in one and how they all interconnect and make sense is incredible.

    In terms of books: this series. DEFINITELY

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  70. Probably Cinder, because it's such a creative spin on Cinderella. I tend to like retellings of Cinderella or Beauty and the Beast.

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  71. There is absolutely no question -- my favorite fairy tale retelling (book) is CINDER! I think Marissa Meyer is a genius. Honestly, I do.

    (I feel compelled to add that I have two favorites in film versions - Tangled and Frozen! Although I can recite The Little Mermaid near word-for-word and have watched it so many times there's no counting, the other two movies had such strong female characters that they are definitely my favorites as an older woman ;))

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  72. In all seriousness, my favorite fairy tale retelling is the Lunar Chronicles series. It's one of my favorite of all time.

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  73. My favorite fairy tale retelling is Scarlet by Marissa Meyer. I love the characters, I love the way it has been adapted, I love Marissa Meyer. :)

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  74. ELLA ENCHANTED is probably my favorite, though BEAUTY by Robin McKinley would be a close second.

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  75. The Lunar Chronicles and Book of a Thousand Days!

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  76. Th lunar chronicles is by far my favorite fairy tale retelling. There really is no competition, i just loved Cinder and Scarlet so much and im REALLY looking forward to cress.

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  77. Well, The Lunar Chronicles is definitely one, but Daughter of the Forest by Juliet Marillier is another!

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  78. I love Cinder. I also read the Little Android recently and it's such a tragically good retelling of the Little Mermaid

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  79. I don't think I have read too many retellings. But I do love the Lunar Chronicles a lot! I am really excited for Cress! And I really liked The Madman's Daughter by Megan Shepherd.

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  80. I haven't read any retellings of fairy tales except the Lunar Chronicles. So by default, the Lunar Chronicles are my favourite! =)

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  81. I haven't read a ton of retelling but I love The Lunar Chronicles!

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  82. The Lunar Chronicles are my favorite!

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