Fifty Shades Darker Blog Tour - Interview & Giveaway!

Hello my lovelies! I'm so excited to share my interview with E L James. She's the author of two of my favorite contemporary reads.

° [TWCS] [Goodreads] [Amazon] Fifty Shades of Grey (Fifty Shades #1)

Click the cover to read my review!

 ° [TWCS] [Goodreads] [Amazon] Fifty Shades Darker (Fifty Shades #2)

 Click the cover to read my review!

What does writing mean to you? E L James provided me with this quote for my author page.

• Writing for me is a voyage of discovery. Not only do I get to meet new people - my characters - and work out what makes them tick, but I also get to do the things they do – such as flying helicopters or sailing catamarans. It’s such a wonderful escape from the banality of real life… the laundry, the cleaning (What cleaning? says my husband) etc… I love it. And what's most exciting is, I get to find out about myself; my likes and dislikes. Sometimes they surprise me more than anything.

Hey there lovely lady! Thank you so much for stopping by Book that Thing to answer a couple of my questions. Congrats on the Fifty Shades Blog Tour and the release of Fifty Shades Darker!  How are you doing?

• Hello! And thank you for having me – I am very pleased to be here. I am doing very well, thank you though horribly busy at the moment.

Tell us a bit about Fifty Shades Darker. What’s the book about? Just pretend we all don’t know already. Yeah riiiiight! ;-)

• Well Fifty Shades Darker continues Ana’s and Christian’s relationship. Both of them have been suffering during their all too brief separation and Christian is determined to get back with Ana, and when an opportunity presents itself, he seizes the day – in good old Fifty style.

Us book addicts are always interested in the writing process. What’s your favorite place, time, … to write? Sticky notes on the computer screen? Pen or keyboard? So many possibilities. Maybe you want to share a picture of your desk/…?!

• From the state of my desk you can see I am a really untidy person. This gives you an insight into my rather chaotic mind. It’s more chaotic than usual at the moment because the company I work for in RL is making a television pilot for a broadcaster in the UK – so it’s all hands on deck to get that done. Most of the time I write here at my messy desk, which is in the back of my living room – but I can write anywhere.  I wrote a good deal of FSoG and FSD while commuting on trains to work, on my old Nokia E71 and then on my Blackberry using Documents to Go.  But I also carry a notebook at all times so I can scribble down ideas etc. I am a terrible daydreamer, who will drift off at any given moment, so it has been good to channel my daydreaming into plots etc. I get most of my ideas whilst driving, having a shower or smoking a fag in the back garden.  Writing ideas while driving is not advised - I keep meaning to buy myself a Dictaphone, but I keep forgetting… It’s interesting that you mention stickies –I get ideas while I am writing too. These I put on virtual stickies which litter my desktop.

Let’s talk about Christian Grey (or simply “Fifty” to us obsessed fans). What is it about him that’s so appealing? He is a tortured soul after all. Still, just thinking about him makes me shiver in anticipation.

• I think Fifty’s appeal is on many different levels. Firstly, we all like a man who knows what to do, and he really knows what to do! That, with his beauty, his wealth, and his domineering side, is a very seductive combination. But he’s also very broken, as we learn in FSD, and we all like to think that we could be the one to fix him up.

Fifty in Fifty Shades of Grey – Fifty in Fifty Shades Darker. Is there a difference? Does he take a step forward or backward? Progress or setbacks? You don’t need to reveal any Spoilers, but we sure would love a hint or two.

• I think he becomes a little more open minded in FSD, more willing to try something new, so yes – I think he does take a few steps forward, and for the first time in his life allows himself to let go some of his iron control. You can see how in the book.

What was harder for you to deal with? The release of the first book of the series or the one of Fifty Shades Darker? People love Fifty Shades of Grey! I should know. I’m #TeamFiftyShades all the way. Any completely unrealistic fears about the second book not doing so well? 

• Of course!!! Doing this and publishing the first one has been terrifying - there are so many expectations to live up to. 

How in the world did you come up with this storyline? Unbelievably great. Did you know from the beginning where to take the story, or did Ana and Christian take over at one point?

• Ana and Christian took over very early in the story and I followed them where they took me. I originally imagined an ending very different to where it all finishes at the moment.  I have had an extraordinary journey with them, and thoroughly enjoyed myself during the process. In terms of the storyline… it just comes out of the ideas I have when I am daydreaming in the car or in the shower as I said earlier.

What’s next? When is Fifty Shades Darker #3 coming out and do you have plans for your fourth book already (Life after Fifty so to speak)? There WILL be one, I hope. I’d hate to go all twitchy-palm on you.

• Please stow your twitchy palm! Fifty Shades #3 will be out in January, hopefully, and I am working on a contemporary romance at the moment – well, I’ve written a chapter and a half. One of the stickies (the pink one!) is a list of ideas for various novels – of which there are currently 12. I also have one completed novel as yet unreleased and a young adult novel that is nearly complete. They both need further work, though, as they are the first books I ever wrote – and when I have some time I will rewrite them. So hopefully, if the publisher will have them, there will be more from me.

Thank you so much! I'm thrilled to have you here today.

* The author declined to answer one of the questions.

I asked my fellow #TeamFiftyShades members if I could post screen captures of one of our Twitter "Fifty" sessions [_yay_ / Laurielu / Salastam_S2 / Luniesr]. They said yes. Just for shits and giggles, here's some Fifty madness: Click "Secret Convo" to reveal our secret conversation!

>>SECRET CONVO<<

Don't you forget to visit the other blogs! Tour Schedule:

Yay! Double trouble on Oct. 3rd! Review, interview and giveaway x 2. Make sure to stop by

• Oct. 3rd:   http://bookthatthing.blogspot.com - Review, interview, giveaway
• Oct. 3rd:   http://samsawesomness.blogspot.com - Review, interview, giveaway
• Oct. 4th:   http://mylife-in-stories.blogspot.com - Guest post, giveaway
• Oct. 5th:   http://journeywithbooks.blogspot.com - Review, guest post, giveaway
• Oct. 6th:   http://endlesslybookish.blogspot.com - Review, interview, giveaway
• Oct. 7th:   http://thebookhookup.com - Review, interview, giveaway
• Oct. 8th:   http://readinglark.blogspot.com - Review, guest post, giveaway
• Oct. 9th:   http://badassbookreviews.com - Review, giveaway
• Oct. 10th: http://fictionvixen.com - Review, interview, giveaway
• Oct. 11th: http://bona-fide-reflections.com - Review, giveaway
• Oct. 11th: http://underthecoversbookblog.blogspot.com - Interview, giveaway
• Oct. 12th: http://www.robpattinsonscene.com - Review, guest post, giveaway
• Oct. 12th:  http://www.pattinsonpost.com - Interview, giveaway
• Oct. 13th: http://www.thewritetomakealiving.com - Review, guest post, giveaway
• Oct. 14th: http://bibliophagista.blogspot.com - Review, giveaway

Win an ebook copy of both Fifty Shades of Grey 

and Fifty Shades Darker!

° The giveaway is international (ebooks)

° Open for entries: Sunday/Monday, October 2nd/3rd - Friday, October 7th
° The winner will be picked via Random.org

° Winner will be announced on Friday, October 7th

° I'll email the winner (check your spam folder)

° Winner will have 48 hours to respond to my email (or another one will be chosen)
° You read one of the books? Enter anyway! I'll pick a second winner who gets
  whichever book you already have.

How to enter? 

° Follow my blog via GFC! 

° Leave a meaningful comment or question for E L James! Don't forget your email address and GFC name.
° Are you entering for both books or just one (which one)?

Extra Entries:

° Follow me on Twitter (@_yay_) +1 (leave your Twitter handle)

° Follow E L James on Twitter (@E_L_James) +1 (leave your Twitter handle)

° Like Book that Thing on Facebook +1 (leave your Facebook name)

° Tweet about the giveaway +1 (leave the link to your tweet)

° Comment on my review of Fifty Shades of Grey +3  (already left one? it counts!)

° Comment on my review of Fifty Shades Darker +3 (already left one? it counts!)

Add all info to your mandatory comment on this post. No separate comments necessary (but allowed)!

Any problems? 

Email me at sk_86(at)gmx(dot)de

Good luck my lovelies!