Rick Yancey & The Monstrumologist

Wednesday, August 24, 2011 9:41 AM Posted by Enna Isilee , 46 Comments
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While my main love is YA fantasy, it isn't my only love. I also have a soft spot in my heart for horror (is it weird to have a soft spot for horror? Should it be a hard spot?). Today I am pleased to feature Rick Yancey, author of The Monstrumologist series. Check out the interview and giveaway!

**EDIT: I just discovered some disturbing news. Rick Yancey has been told by Simon & Schuster that they will not be renewing his contract and the final Monstrumologist book will not be published (at least, not by them). This is so sad! If you want the full story, check it out by clicking here. There's currently a fan-driven write-in campaign going on to give the series the ending it deserves. I hope it works.

**EDIT #2: I'm really behind on news, aparently. S&S announced that they WILL be publishing the last Monstrumologist book! So this story has a happy ending! Hurrah!

If you could spend your birthday in any place (real or fictional) where would it be?

Either a tropical island or a spaceship. I am enamored of both.

How do you celebrate a book “birthday”? Do you have release parties? Any traditions?

The celebrations have shrunk over the years. First few books: big dinners, a night out. At this point it's like, "Hey, didn't my book come out last week?"

If you were to describe your writing process in three words, what would they be?

Sweat. Bleed. Repeat.

If you could have any one super-power for a day, which would you choose?

The ability to answer questions like: "How can we be so stupid?"

What’s the craziest/funniest/strangest thing someone has said to you after reading The Monstrumologist?

"I want to be a monstrumologist."


Does horror come naturally to you? Have you ever been scared/disturbed by something you wrote?

No, it does not come naturally and, yes, it does. It isn't like I go around in my day-to-day life thinking gross, scary things. Then I sit down to write and they come - in droves. I never really get scared writing. Sometimes afterwards, if I've ignored my better instincts and written too late into the night.

One of my favorite things about The Monstrumologist is the way you subtly weave actual history into the novel. What prompted this? And do you continue to do it through the whole series?

A writer's chief job is to create a world that feels real to the reader. So if my story is set in the past, I want that past to be accurate - or as accurate as I can make it.

Mad lib time! Rick's answers were charmingly creepy. It's actually kind of hard to tell which words he changed...
As he strangled, the doctor tapped thin strips of corpse from the forceps into the metal tray, wicked and oozing, like half-cured jerky, a piece of white child clinging to one or two of the strands, and I realized he wasn’t peeling off pieces of the monster’s worm: the worm belonged to the boil and fiend of the girl.
*mad-lib idea was inspired by Alysa at Everead!

Thanks, Rick!

GIVEAWAY TIME!

This giveaway is hosted by Inspired Kathy of I am a Reader not a Writer! Kathy one of last year's hosts and I'm so glad she's back again! You can win a copy of The Monstrumologist if you head on over to her blog.




All review content © Enna Isilee, Squeaky Books 2007-2011

46 comments:

  1. JenAugust 24, 2011 at 9:46 AM

    I've heard so much about this series lately! Can't wait to read it! :)

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  2. MeredithAugust 24, 2011 at 9:59 AM

    I love that he sometimes gets scared if he writes too late at night. That would totally be me if I tried to write horror. I've been meaning to read this series. I must get on it!

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  3. UnknownAugust 24, 2011 at 11:17 AM

    interesting interview. a birthday on a spaceship theres a thought! lol. the book sounds great

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  4. Carol MAugust 24, 2011 at 11:21 AM

    I enjoyed the interview! I would love to read this! It sounds like a book I would enjoy!

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  5. vvb32 readsAugust 24, 2011 at 11:26 AM

    With the writing process, totally agree with the "repeat" ;-D

    Love the that history is incorporated in this story.

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  6. QAugust 24, 2011 at 11:42 AM

    "Sweat. Bleed. Repeat."

    I feel like I need to market a shampoo line for writers with that slogan...

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  7. UnknownAugust 24, 2011 at 11:42 AM

    I'm not usually into horror, but this book does sound interesting as does the interview, so I'd like to give this book a try.

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  8. AnonymousAugust 24, 2011 at 11:42 AM

    I really like your super power. I would be using it everyday for sure!

    I also have a love for horror, so I don't think that is weird at all!

    Tammy
    http://nrheartdragonsden.blogspot.com/

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  9. Our CornerAugust 24, 2011 at 11:58 AM

    I agree with Meredith. That fact that he gets scared if he writes to late at night is great. That sounds like something I would do. :)

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  10. mamabunny13August 24, 2011 at 12:15 PM

    It does sound interesting. I would love to read it.

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  11. JudyAugust 24, 2011 at 12:16 PM

    I enjoyed the interview. This series does look good, I will definitely check into the books and author.

    Judy
    magnolias_1[at]msn[dot]com

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  12. BrendaAugust 24, 2011 at 12:20 PM

    Horror with a side of History, sounds intriguing. Sounds like it would be a great read.

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  13. Rain MisoaAugust 24, 2011 at 12:22 PM

    Great interview! I've heard nothing but good things about this book and I am really looking forward to reading it! Thanks again for the interview!

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  14. Laurisa ReyesAugust 24, 2011 at 12:45 PM

    I'd never heard of this book, but now it's on my MUST READ list.

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  15. VivienAugust 24, 2011 at 1:27 PM

    Loved the interview! I'm so glad we got his series back :)

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  16. LitzaAugust 24, 2011 at 2:48 PM

    Oh my goodness, I'm so happy they're publishing the final book. Great interview!

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  17. Lisa_GibsonAugust 24, 2011 at 2:57 PM

    Great interview! Wicked mad lib too. :)
    Lisa ~ YA Literature Lover

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  18. TressaAugust 24, 2011 at 3:28 PM

    I don't really read horrors, but I like your reviews and I might try this one out. I'll just have to read it when my husband will be home. ;)

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  19. Alysa StewartAugust 24, 2011 at 3:43 PM

    I heard about the shenanigans on Bookshelves of Doom. Glad to hear the publishers are seeing it through!

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  20. ErinAugust 24, 2011 at 4:24 PM

    I've been meaning to read this for awhile and keep forgetting--thanks for the reminder!

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  21. annAugust 24, 2011 at 7:35 PM

    "Sweat. Bleed. Repeat."
    has to be a good book after all this

    amhengst at verizon dot net

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  22. Anne RAugust 24, 2011 at 8:22 PM

    I have heard so much about this series, I am very curious to read the books.
    Great interview.

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  23. UnknownAugust 25, 2011 at 1:21 AM

    This series looks wonderful, I was so excited to hear tht they aren't canceling it after all! Great interview!

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  24. Drowning In BooksAugust 25, 2011 at 6:26 AM

    I really want to read this series it sounds really good!

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  25. UnknownAugust 25, 2011 at 9:40 AM

    This sounds like a great series! Hope I win :]

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  26. JennaAugust 25, 2011 at 10:19 AM

    This series sounds so interesting. I find I too have a soft/hard spot for horror. I will have to keep an eye out for this book!

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  27. Kathryn CooperAugust 25, 2011 at 2:57 PM

    I'm so happy to have found another clean teen book blog. Yea! Check out my blog full of clean YA book reviews.
    Clean Teen Fiction

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  28. Kathryn CooperAugust 25, 2011 at 2:58 PM

    hmmm I'm not sure if my link worked. sorry. http://cleanteenfiction.blogspot.com

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  29. Laura HAugust 25, 2011 at 7:21 PM

    Sounds creepy! Like the Goosebumps series I read when I was younger ;)

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  30. Susan @ The Book BagAugust 28, 2011 at 4:37 PM

    Sounds like my kind of books - can't wait to read them!

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  31. Anna FSeptember 1, 2011 at 10:30 AM

    He sounds like a very down to earth kind of guy! Like an author who is normal

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  32. PabkinsSeptember 5, 2011 at 1:08 PM

    I love when the interviews the personality of the author comes through. Thanks for the giveaway chance.

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  33. MeganSeptember 6, 2011 at 6:08 PM

    These books sound great! I can't wait to read them. Thanks for the great interview!

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  34. TammySeptember 7, 2011 at 8:20 AM

    The more stuff I read about Rick Yancey the more I'm excited to get my hands on his series. I loved the mad libs part of his interview!

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  35. ebakerSeptember 7, 2011 at 9:04 PM

    Wow this sounds good!
    e(dot)baker219(at)gmail(dot)com

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  36. poisnivyredSeptember 8, 2011 at 9:25 AM

    wow this book looks amazing! and YAY for edit #2! you had me worried there for a sec!

    kelsey d

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  37. Gwendolyn B.September 13, 2011 at 7:18 PM

    What a fun interview! And I've got a "soft spot" for horror, too. It must be soft because I keep caving in! Looking forward to reading Rick's books.

    geebee.reads AT gmail DOT com

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  38. AmandaSeptember 14, 2011 at 8:21 AM

    I've never thought about a horror writer getting scared about what he wrote! But now that I think about it, I'd be terrified, since it'd be my fears, coming out of my own mind. :o Great interview!

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  39. roroSeptember 14, 2011 at 3:59 PM

    I really want to read this series it sounds really good!

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  40. AnonymousSeptember 16, 2011 at 5:34 PM

    What a cute interview! Rick must be so much fun to talk to. He has such interesting and fun answers.

    I haven't read The Monstrumologist yet, but I have read Curse of the Wendigo, and loved it. I can't wait to get the first book so I can see where this adventure started. :)

    Great interview!

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  41. AmySeptember 17, 2011 at 8:03 PM

    I have been meaning to read this series! I'm sad though that the publisher dropped them. It seems like a really good series.

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  42. iLuvReadingTooMuchSeptember 18, 2011 at 1:00 AM

    Heard a lot about this series :) Sounds great and nice interview!

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  43. Denise ZSeptember 18, 2011 at 1:09 AM

    Thank you for sharing with us today and for the wonderful giveaway opportunity. I have finely found a unique answer to what superpower would you want and think I will steal it LOL

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  44. EvieSeptember 18, 2011 at 10:00 AM

    I'm glad they didn't scrap the series. *High fives* all the fans. What an inspiring story. Writing is solitary, but it's rewards are great, especially shown by the fans of the series.

    I'd love to win, but I'll buy it if I don't to show support. I can't believe they were going to scrap a series reviewed as genius.

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  45. MirandaSeptember 18, 2011 at 6:26 PM

    I enjoyed this interview! Thank you! I would love to read this series!

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  46. HelenSeptember 20, 2011 at 8:22 PM

    great book giveaway just in time for Halloween

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Thank you so much for commenting! I read each and every one.

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