Q&A with Lila DiPasqua and giveaway

We are very excited to have Lila here with us today. Her debut novel is out tomorrow, you don’t want to miss this one it is fabulous! She was also kind enough to have a little contest with us and giveaway a couple signed copies of her book – good luck to everyone.
Here is a little q&a so we can get to know Lila a bit better. You can also check out her website http://liladipasqua.com/
1. As an avid reader and language and literature teacher I have my literary gods and goddesses, so I have to ask who are your literary hero’s or gods and goddesses?
To me a literary god or goddess is someone who inspired my love of reading and writing. For me those people were romance writers. I was fourteen when I discovered romance novels. I used to read before, but once my best friend sneaked out an old yellowed copy of SWEET SAVAGE LOVE by Rosemary Rogers, I was hooked. I couldn’t read romance novels fast enough. Kathleen E. Woodwiss, Johanna Lindsay were among the first to feed my addiction. They inspired my desire to write historical romance.

2. When you are relaxing with a good book, who are some of your favorite authors and books to read?
There are too many books to list, but I love Lisa Kleypas, Loretta Chase, Kathryn Smith, Cheryl Holt, Elizabeth Hoyt, Emma Holly….I could go on. The list is rather long!

3. What is one thing that your fans would be shocked to learn?
English is my second language. Even though I was born in Canada, my parents were Italian immigrants and at home, among my grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins Italian was the only language spoken. I didn’t learn to speak English until age 6. Being in the Canadian school system, French is mandatory. The next year, while I was still trying to master English, French was introduced into the curriculum. So at age 7, I spoke two different Italian dialects (my grandmothers were from different parts of Italy) as I worked to learn the two official languages of Canada. But I’m not complaining! I think I’m better for it.

4. In our families emergency packs we each have between 5-10 books, what books would you put in your emergency pack?
Any books from the list of authors above. 🙂

5. If you could travel to any time period where would you go?
In all honesty, in the very time and place AWAKENED BY A KISS is set. I’d love to be in the very time and place when the genre of fairy tales was born! It was such an opulent and elegant time! I’d loved to see King Louis XIV and his glittering court, to see the first school of Ballet he opened. To see the magnificent plays performed by members of court. To see the building of one of the most beautiful palaces in the world – Versailles! I’d love to attend the salons that were hosted by women of the upper class where Aristos and the literati came together to discuss and debate history, literature, religion and politics. Oh, I’d definitely want to go to one of the elaborate masquerade balls that were so popular at the time.

6. What is your secret indulgence?
It’s not much of a secret, actually, but my indulgence is travel. I love it! I’ve been to 4 continents so far. My favorite cities thus far have got to be Paris, France and Venice, Italy. I could stay forever in either city. Unfortunately, I don’t think I could get my husband and kids to come with me—on a permanent basis, that is. I’m going to be traveling to England at the end of Aug. It’s my first time and I can’t wait!

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My debut novel AWAKENED BY A KISS, Berkley Sensation, hits the shelves on August 3, 2010. In celebration, I’m giving away 2 signed copies of my book.

Charles Perrault was the man who created The Tales of Mother Goose. Since AWAKENED BY A KISS was inspired by three of Charles Perrault’s classic fairy tales, (Sleeping Beauty, Little Red Riding Hood, and Puss in Boots) my question is this – Can you name one of Perrault’s fairy tales that are *not* found in my sizzling summer release, AWAKENED BY A KISS? You can easily Google the answer!

Two lucky commenters with the right answers will win a signed copy of AWAKENED BY A KISS.
Contest will stay open till midnight on Aug 3rd.

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26 Comments

  1. Susan Anne Mason

    Lila,

    Congrats on the release of your new book! It looks wonderful.

    As to your question, I was surprised to find that "Cinderella" (a Disney classic) is actually attributed to Charles Perrault!

    Wishing you many sales and great reviews!

    Sue Mason

    Reply
  2. Susan Anne Mason

    OOPS! Didn't leave my email address.

    sbmason (at) sympatico (dot) ca

    Reply
  3. Heather

    Susan,

    Wow I had no clue on that one as well.

    Reply
  4. krazymama_98

    Have pre ordered it with Amazon. I have never done that before. So I hope they are quick about it. Cant wait to see it.

    Reply
  5. elaing8

    Great Q&A. I've been seeing this book around.It sounds really good.
    After googling…Other than Cinderella another one is Blue Beard (I've never heard of that one)

    elaing8(at)netscape(dot)net

    Reply
  6. Heather

    elaing8 I have never heard of Blue Beard either, will have to google it.

    Reply
  7. Johanna Jochum

    Great interveiw! Congrats on the release of your book it looks so good!

    Cinderella is another book by Charles Perrault. I did not know who originally wrote them. Very interesting. BTW I have read Blue Beard it is a unusuall story. I have a giant book of classic fairy tales. Very different from the Disney versions and alot scarier! Thanks for sharing with us today and for the great contest! would love to win!!!!

    eric250r@coosnet.com

    Reply
  8. Lila DiPasqua

    Hi Sue! Yes! Charles Perrault was the first to write down Cinderella and add a moral to the story. He took folklore that had been passed down verbally for generations and I'm so glad he did!

    Thanks to him, the genre of Fairy Tales was born!

    Thanks for stopping by! 🙂

    Reply
  9. Lila DiPasqua

    krazymama_98 — Thanks so much! I hope you enjoy the book! 🙂

    Reply
  10. Lila DiPasqua

    elaing8 — Yup! That's right! Bluebeard is a dark tale. Some say it was the first serial killer story ever written.

    He's a horrible man who is rumored to have murdered his wives. Poor heroine is newly married to Bluebeard and clearly uneasy—for good reason!

    Reply
  11. Lila DiPasqua

    Johanna Jochum — Your answers are correct, Johanna! You are so right — some of the original fairy tales are pretty scary.

    Reply
  12. Scorpio M.

    Hi Lila,

    Cinderella!

    Truth be told I never stopped to think who actually penned these beloved fairy tales. Isn't the written word so amazing? that so many generations later, these lovely stories are still so vivid & alive.

    Have fun in England, definitely do the Tower of London & the city of Bath if you could. You will feel as if you've stepped into a historical novel. 🙂

    jenma76 at hotmail dot com

    Reply
  13. Chloe

    Cinderella is another one… I hope it is ok to repeat! 🙂 I am looking forward to this book!!

    Reply
  14. Danielle Gorman

    Lila,
    I am so excited to read this book! It was great semi-meeting you at the RWA. Hopefully in the future I get to actually "meet" you and talk about your awesome books. Congrats on everything. 🙂

    Reply
  15. A Simple Love of Reading

    Congrats on your new release! I can't wait to read this book! I love the story of Little Red Riding Hood, and I can't wait to read your spin on the tale! *wink, wink*

    astewart305(at)rogers.com

    Reply
  16. Lila DiPasqua

    jenma — Thanks so much for the suggestions! The Tower of London & the city of Bath are definitely on my list!

    You're so right about how timeless these fairy tales are! 🙂

    Reply
  17. Lila DiPasqua

    Chloe — Yes, you can repeat! Cinderella is so wonderful, it's worth repeating. 🙂 Thanks so much!

    Reply
  18. Lila DiPasqua

    Hi Danielle! I sooo hope our paths cross again. I'd love to chat with you! Thank you for the good wishes! 🙂

    Reply
  19. Lila DiPasqua

    A Simple Love of Reading — Thank you for your lovely comment! 🙂

    Reply
  20. Julie

    Happy release day! 😀

    I love fairy tales, but I've never given real thought to their origins. I suppose I thought they were passed down by word of mouth, so no one really knew who started them? And I do so love fairy tale retellings, so I'm looking forward to Awakened By A Kiss!

    Blue Beard is one of Charles Perrault's fairy tales, and one I enjoy hearing about less than the others. =/

    Reply
  21. Kim and Tony Miller

    I don't know if you mention ricky with the tuft or the fairies, but they are also by charles perrault and are listed as one of his eight most popular fairy takes according to one website. I have never heard of them though so who knows.

    One thing I love about this blog is that I am constantly learning about new authors and finding new books to lose myself in!

    Reply
  22. strange_candy_reviews

    Another one is Hop o' my thumb. Your book sounds fantastic. I don't remember seeing it anywhere, but is this international as I'm Australian?

    strangecandyreviews at gmail dot com

    Reply
  23. Heather

    Kim you are one person that I thought for sure would know all the fairy tales and their origins.

    Reply
  24. Lila DiPasqua

    LOL…Thanks for the comment, Julie. Hope you enjoy the book! 🙂

    Reply
  25. Lila DiPasqua

    Thank you for stopping by, Kim! Great answer! 🙂

    Reply
  26. Lila DiPasqua

    strangecandyreviews – Yes, that's correct! 🙂 Normally I don't do international giveaways, but Heather and her sister-in-law are so awesome, I'm leaving it open to international.

    Hugs, everyone!

    Reply

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