1) Did you have to do any research for Given to the Sea? 

A little. Khosa's "blessing" of being the Given is very much like chorea, or the dancing sickness of the 14th and 17th centuries. I also drew upon the symptoms of Hutchison's Disease when working with her character and ailment. But in the end it is a fantasy, and her issues are not strictly of a scientific nature.

2) What is your favorite read so far in 2016?

I just finished IRON CAST by Destiny Soria and loved it!

3) What was your favorite scene to write in Given to the Sea and why?

It's a multiple POV book with four different characters. At the end there's a nexus of all four being in the same place, at the same time, with something extraordinary occurring. It's the first time they are all together, and it's a culmination of many things, plot, character, story arc. So that was fun to execute.

4) What is your next project going to be? 

I have a contemporary coming from Harper in Fall 2017, THIS DARKNESS MINE, and the sequel to GIVEN TO THE SEA will be out from Putnam in Spring of 2018.

5) In Given to the Sea who was your favorite character to write?

Dara! The Indiri is so sure of herself, at all times. She always knew what she had to say, and she said it

6) What do you hope readers will take away from this book?

That there are no "good' and "bad" characters. Everyone in this book just has a different goal.

7) Who's writing most inspires you?

Unsure. I can't really pick out a specific author but I know I'm reading something amazing when I'm uplifted as a reader and despairing as an author because I know I'll never be that good.

8) What inspired you to write Given to the Sea?

A kernel for the idea of GIVEN TO THE SEA was planted a very long time ago when I was a child. I loved the TV movie of IVANHOE with Anthony Andrews. There's an amazing scene with Sam Neill and Olivia Hussey where she's locked in a tower and he comes to see her. She thinks he's there to force himself upon her and she gets up in the window and says she'll jump if he comes a step closer. He's a decent guy who means her no harm, so he manages to talk her down but it's a very powerful scene. It stuck with me (even though I didn't understand all the implications until I was older). Elements from that scene have found their way into SEA at various levels - the girl who doesn't want to be touched, a boy in a power position who *could* take advantage if he wanted, a girl who's pride is so strong she'll die before she submits.

9) What TV show is a must for you to watch? 

Right now it's VICE PRINCIPALS on HBO. Obviously anyone who actually talked to the students the way the characters do would immediately be fired, but it's fun to watch because sometimes that's *exactly* what we're thinking in our heads, even if we can't say it.

10) What was the hardest character to write in Given to the Sea?

Witt. He's a closed off person, naturally, so writing him was difficult because he won't even admit his feelings to himself. Getting him to be okay with me writing them out was a struggle.