0 Amy Ewing, author of THE WHITE ROSE, on crying when she writes a scene

THE WHITE ROSE is the next book in the Jewel series, and we are fortunate to have Amy Ewing with us to share more about it.

Amy, what scene was really hard for you to write and why, and is that the one of which you are most proud? Or is there another scene you particularly love?

There is this one scene between Violet and her best friend Raven, the one who is being tortured and impregnated by the evil Countess of the Stone in The Jewel. I can’t say too much about it without giving stuff away, but it’s intensely emotional and really brings out the depth of their friendship. Female friendships are so important to me in books and I wanted to make sure Violet’s and Raven’s was really special. I cried when I wrote that scene and I cry almost every time I read it.



How long did you work on THE WHITE ROSE?

The first draft took me about 4-5 months and then there were two big revisions before my editor and I agreed we had an actual book.

What's your writing ritual like? Do you listen to music? Work at home or at a coffee shop or the library, etc?

I definitely work mostly at home, in the corner of my L shaped couch by the window! Always a cup of coffee in the mornings—I cannot function unless I’ve had my caffeine ☺ And never music. With the Jewel, I used to listen to cello suites before I would start, but once I’m writing, I don’t like distractions, especially if I’m revising.

What are you working on now?

I have a bunch of things on my plate at the moment! Just sent off a big revision of the third book to my editor, along with a draft of a second Jewel novella (squee!). I’ve written a collaboration with my best friend and fellow author Jessica Verdi, and I’ve got a whole new fantasy project in the works. And gearing up for The White Rose launch. All in all, it’s a very busy fall for me!

ABOUT THE BOOK

The White Rose by Amy Ewing
Hardcover
HarperTeen
Released 10/6/2015

Violet is on the run. After the Duchess of the Lake catches Violet with Ash, the hired companion at the Palace of the Lake, Violet has no choice but to escape the Jewel or face certain death. So along with Ash and her best friend, Raven, Violet runs away from her unbearable life of servitude.

But no one said leaving the Jewel would be easy. As they make their way through the circles of the Lone City, Regimentals track their every move, and the trio barely manages to make it out unscathed and into the safe haven they were promised—a mysterious house in the Farm. But there’s a rebellion brewing, and Violet has found herself in the middle of it. Alongside a new ally, Violet discovers her Auguries are much more powerful than she ever imagined.

But is she strong enough to rise up against the Jewel and everything she has ever known? The White Rose is a raw, captivating sequel to The Jewel that fans won’t be able to put down until the final shocking moments.

Purchase The White Rose at Amazon
Purchase The White Rose at IndieBound
View The White Rose on Goodreads

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Amy Ewing is the young adult author of The Jewel, the first in a trilogy from HarperTeen, coming out September 2014.

She grew up in a small town outside Boston, where her librarian mother instilled a deep love of reading at a young age. Amy moved to New York City in 2000 to study theater at New York University. Unfortunately, her acting career didn’t quite pan out. She worked in restaurants, as an administrative assistant, a nanny, and a sales representative for a wine distributor before the lack of creativity in her life drove her to begin writing.

Amy received her MFA in Creative Writing for Children from The New School, where she was lucky enough to meet a fabulous community of YA writers who keep her sane on a daily basis. She lives in Harlem, where she spends her days writing, eating cheese, and occasionally binge watching The Vampire Diaries.

Have you had a chance to read THE WHITE ROSE yet? Do you make yourself cry when you write certain scenes? Are you able to write with distractions?

Happy reading,

Jocelyn, Shelly, Martina, Erin, Lisa, Susan, Sam, Lindsey, Sandra, Kristin, and Anisaa