by Amanda Sun
Genre: Paranormal
Paperback: 384 Pages
Publication: June 25, 2013 by HarlequinTEEN
On the heels of a family tragedy, the last thing Katie Greene wants to do is move halfway across the world. Stuck with her aunt in Shizuoka, Japan, Katie feels lost. Alone. She doesn’t know the language, she can barely hold a pair of chopsticks, and she can’t seem to get the hang of taking her shoes off whenever she enters a building.
Then there’s gorgeous but aloof Tomohiro, star of the school’s kendo team. How did he really get the scar on his arm? Katie isn’t prepared for the answer. But when she sees the things he draws start moving, there’s no denying the truth: Tomo has a connection to the ancient gods of Japan, and being near Katie is causing his abilities to spiral out of control. If the wrong people notice, they’ll both be targets.
Katie never wanted to move to Japan—now she may not make it out of the country alive.
Tell us a little about yourself and how you got into writing.
In my spare time, I enjoy cosplaying at various cons. I also knit nerdy things (think Triforce mitts and Companion Cubes) and spend time gaming.
Wow, it sounds like you got a well-rounded education! I’m glad that the writing thing worked out too, for other reasons–like being able to read your book! (I’m also terrified of spiders, so I understand not wanting to get close to them.) I love Japanese culture and was thrilled to see that Ink is set in Japan. What inspired you to set the story in Japan and with Katie as someone new to the culture?
I also think Japanese mythology is so rich and different from what we might be used to reading. One thing I really like about the old myths is that the sense of judgement and morality from those stories is so different than our social opinions now. It was exciting to draw on some very different rules, and at the same time, I think that a lot of fans of anime and manga will find the setting a comfortable and recognizable kind of place. 🙂
It’s really cool how Katie through your own experiences. All I’ve read about Japanese in fiction comes from manga, so I’m excited to see that as well. What kind of research did you do for Ink?
After I wrote INK, I checked with my friend from Shizuoka to make sure that both the slang used in INK and the school life were as accurate as possible. So I hope you’ll find INK to be a realistic Japanese experience! ^_^
I can see that you put a lot of time and thought into the writing process. I’m sure readers will appreciate the chance to delve into Japanese culture with Katie! Katie is a teenage girl in a foreign country who suddenly finds herself drawn into a conflict that could mean life or death. How did you balance her vulnerabilities with the pressing need to adapt on multiple fronts?
It’s admirable how you would only speak Japanese back to people. Having visited relatives in foreign countries before, I know how difficult it can be to try to converse in a language you’re not familiar with. I agree that this kind of determination is important when going through all the challenges that Katie encounters. The ability to bring ink to life is awesome. How did you come up with the idea?
It’s interesting how the idea of bringing ink to life draws from different cultures. Nevertheless, I’m glad that you chose Japan for the setting! There are many gods in Japan. Is there one in particular that interests you? If you could ask the god a question, what would it be?
I love the story of Tanabata, the Japanese Star Festival. Altair and Vega are in love, but aren’t allowed to be together except a single day every year. In order to reach her husband, Vega walks on a bridge made of magpies who were moved by her tears at the separation. So that’s another story that I love, and one that appears in INK.
I guess if I could ask a Japanese god a question, I’d probably ask Amaterasu, the sun goddess, to give me some kind of special powers. 😀 She seems like the one of the most gentle of the old gods and goddesses, so I’d probably stand the best chance with her!
I agree that there are many interesting figures in Japanese mythology. Let me know when you get special powers. I’d love to see a demonstration! (Or would you be sworn to secrecy?) What are you currently working on?
I’m excited to hear about the prequel. It’s a rare opportunity for readers excited about the series to get to know the world a little before reading Ink. Thanks for interviewing!
Amanda Sun is a YA author and proud Nerdfighter. In university, she studied Archaeology, because she loved learning about the cultures and stories of ancient people. She currently lives in Toronto with her husband and daughter. When she’s not writing, she is devouring YA books, knitting nerdy things like Companion Cubes and Triforce mitts, and making elaborate cosplays for anime cons.
Author: Crystal
A story girl at heart, Crystal is a bibliophile who can easily spend the day immersed in a good read. She writes under the name Kristy Wang. You can follow her writing adventures on X and Instagram @_kristywang.
Tadi Hano says
Lovely blog! Please follow mine; it's new: readandlovebooks.blogspot.com
Thanks♥