Just to show you it’s not all hot girls in tank tops and lacy underthings (not that there is anything wrong with that, nothing at all), let’s talk books. And, to put a finer point on it, let’s talk one book. Let’s talk “Ash,” the first book by Malinda Lo. Many of you will remember Malinda as the former AfterEllen.com managing editor. She still writes the column Notes & Queeries and her vlog The Lo-Down will return next month. Malinda left the site last year to complete “Ash,” a lesbian retelling of Cinderella. Now it is set to come out in September. I’m about a third of the way through and can happily report that Malinda has created a lush, lavishly-descriptive universe that will immerse readers young and old.
Malinda has graciously agreed to giveaway two autographed advanced copies. But before you start clamoring for a copy, let’s find out a little more about the story.
A quick Q&A with Malinda about “Ash”
DS: Describe the story of “Ash.”
ML: In the most blatant of terms, it's a lesbian retelling of Cinderella.
Stepping back from that concept a bit, Ash is about a girl who is grieving the loss of her parents, who both die in quick succession when she's only 12 years old. That loss sends her into a deep, almost suicidal depression. The novel tells the story of Ash coming out of that depression and choosing to live. The fact that she falls in love with a woman, as opposed to a man, is almost secondary.
DS: Where did the idea come from?
ML: I chose to retell the story of Cinderella because as a kid, I loved reading Robin McKinley's retellings of fairy tales, and she never retold Cinderella. I wrote Ash because I wanted to read it.
DS: What was it about the Cinderella story that you thought was ripe for the retelling?
ML: I actually had no idea if it was ripe for retelling — I didn't choose it, so much as it chose me. It's always been my favorite fairy tale.
DS: Did you always want to bring gay storylines into your work?
ML: Funny you ask that, because the answer is no. The first draft of Ash was not gay at all — Ash initially fell in love with the prince. After I gave it to a friend to read, she pointed out that the prince was pretty boring. I looked at the story more closely and realized that Ash was actually falling in love with someone else, and that someone else was a woman — Kaisa, the King's Huntress.
DS: Was it hard, getting mainstream publishers to accept a lesbian storyline in young adult fiction? Was there any resistance?
ML: I haven't had any resistance at all. My agent was behind it 100% from the get-go, and we received offers from several publishers who were all very enthusiastic about the lesbian story line. My editor, honestly, encouraged me to intensify the romance between Ash and Kaisa.
What I find interesting is that my publisher, Little, Brown, isn't positioning the book as a lesbian book, really. If you read the cover copy, it's not even entirely clear that Ash falls in love with a woman. It's being positioned as a mainstream YA fantasy — even more so in the U.K. I just got the cover copy from my U.K. publisher, Hodder, and there's basically no hint that there's a same-sex romance in there.
I don't think they're trying to hide it, because they're very supportive of reaching out to LGBT readers. I just think they believe the gay part is mostly irrelevant.
DS: What do you hope readers, both young and old, take away from the book?
ML: I just hope they'll find an enjoyable story — that sounds really basic, but it's true. And since I didn't write Ash as a young adult novel (I just wrote it — the categorization came after it was finished), I do hope adults as well as teens pick it up.
Other than that, I must admit that I really hope lesbian/bi readers like Kaisa. Not that straight readers can't like her too! But I think she deserves to be crushed on. :)
DS: Are you working on your next one? What’s it about?
ML: Yes, I'm currently in the middle of revising my next novel, which is sort of a prequel to Ash. It takes place several hundreds of years before, but it's set in the same world, and it's about the first woman to become a King's Huntress. It's my version of a quest story, so there's a dangerous journey, powerful magic, ancient fairies, and romance — plus, of course, lesbians. Barring unforeseen circumstances, it should come out in fall 2010.
If you are interested in receiving a free copy of “Ash,” leave your email address in the comments section (spelled out if you’re worried about spammers) by noon Thursday PST. I will pick the two winners via my friend the random number generator and post them on Friday Monday. Find out more about “Ash” and Malinda at her website, www.malindalo.com. Happy reading.
NOTE: Unfortunately, this giveaway is limited to US and Canada residents. I believe it's for legal release reasons. But Malinda said she hopes to have another giveaway for all non-North Americans once the UK edition comes out. So please stay tuned and my apologies.
NOTE II: Entries are now closed. The winner will be announced on Monday. Thanks so much for your interest!
294 comments:
1 – 200 of 294 Newer› Newest»Is this generous for non-Americans, too? :-/
... forgot the "offer" ...
*t*h*e*
"dot"
*m*i*s*s
"dot"
*l*e*i*g*h
at gmail "dot" com
minus the asterisks
ms. snarker, you do seriously fantastic work (that's not bribery, i just usually lurk instead of comment)
Woooo!! Looks awesome!
jetgrrl at ihug dot co dot nz
(willing to pay if the offer doesn't include postage to non-US addresses..)
mandy @ pixels-bandwidth.com
(I'm from Australia, I hope you can send it there.)
looks wonderful!
heykate at gmail dot com
Can't hurt to try. It sounds totally awesome.
whymzecal at att dot net
Thanks so much!
Totally give it a shot: inthemainstream at gmail dot com
I already pre-ordered it - can't wait!
;)) babs
Freaky...
Considering the fact that I've been gay-ifying different classic story tales in my head for the past 2 weeks.
tiggy claws at hot mail dot com
(No spaces 'course.)
Can't wait!
robynhood75 at hotmail dot com
Sounds interesting. I love Lesbian retellings.
ladypythia@hotmail.com
BarbRyan
Thank you for letting us know about this book, this opportunity!
kattellofilms
at
gmail
dot
com
Sounds fantastic! I'd love a chance to win a copy.
kroche74 at gmail dot com
Thanks!
YA fantasy doesn't really appeal to me as an adult (I almost never read YA books and even less fantasy, I tried but it's just not my genre), but this does sound like the kind of book that I would have loved when I was a teenager. So no contest for me, but good luck with it! I hope this finds a very big audience.
the story sounds great. cant wait to read it.
the.red.hot.paprika@gmail.com
quantumquarter at yahoo dot com
meg dot bolger at gmail dot com
...sounds great!
blue_iris at charter dot net
guruthwen at yahoo dot de
I've no problems to pay the overseas shipping if I'm one of the lucky two ;-)
Oooh, count me in!
starfizz_jones at hotmail dot com
:)
delikanli_banu {at} hotmail.com
laura-oconnor AT hotmail dot com
:) xxx
Wow sounds cool
nemo dot no dot man at gmail dot com
ljplayspoker at gmail dot com -- can't wait to read it!!!
I would love to read this! Can't wait! ck at eastlink dot ca
Thanks!
shadowed.echo@gmail.com
Sounds awesome. Can't wait to read it, even if I buy it myself.
motozulli at gmail dot com
I love fairy tales!
i love a good fairytale...
appleblossom82 at hotmail dot co dot uk
Sounds like a good read. :-) freakinordinary at yahoo dot com
amkonet at gmail dot com
So happy with the idea of YA fiction with lesbian story lines.
gotkaylee at hotmail dot com
Ok that's my e-mail:
surfix67 at hotmail dot it
and I'm obviously from Italy.
Ok here it is:
surfix67 at hotmail dot it
Obvioulsy in my case you have to send the book to Italy hope it's not a problem!
this sounds awesome!! also, your blog is great! I love reading it every day!
v.pwalker@gmail.com
nzlesbian at gmail dawt comb
(if it can be sent to NZ)
mizarchivist AT gmail DOT com
Interesting. Would use it for my classroom library, too!
jinkyb at aol dot com
I can't wait for this book!
buckne23 at gmail dot com
I can't wait to read "Ash". Thank you for an interesting interview with Ms. Lo and thank you for running this contest.
littleblackdress at siniful dot com
Great post. I always love a good book!
lindbrownsay@gmail.com
louisa-.- at hotmail dot com
norabombay at gmail.com
dana at sheridanschool.org
i've been waiting for "ash" to hit the shelves since i heard malinda was leaving AE to continue working on it. thanks for covering the long awaited release of "ash" and for giving us a quick Q&A with malinda. i can't wait to get my hands on this book.
crystaleecollins at gmail dot com
I've been waiting for her book to come out! If I don't win, I'll be headed to the bookstore :-)
jslade83 (at) comcast (dot) net
This looks great. I loved retold-for-the-times fairy tales.
samfeasor [at] gmail [dot] com
This looks wonderful! I'm looking forward to reading it, free or not.
tex and blondie at gmail dot com
sounds great!
allison dot knupp at gmail dot com
kesimon 0918 at gmail dot com
Where, oh, where were these stories when I was a 'young adult'? *laments*
Love it!
forget dot everything dot you dot know at gmail dot com
starsfadeintoday at yahoo dot com
Awesome! I've been anxiously waiting for september!
ybme91 at yahoo dot come
Fabulous!
keepon325 at msn dot com
Very cool! lee.chip at yahoo dot com.
Love reading you Dorothy!
I've wanted to read Malinda's book ever since I first heard about it!
maryannechka at gmail dot com
aveshad(at)
hotmail
(dot)
com
this is so exciting!
thank you for posting about this book .
ms.esther.greenwood@gmail.com
telliott79 at hotmail dot com
thanks, Snarker and best wishes ML!
yes please
vailadventures at gmail dot com
rachel maddow is the bees knees at gmail dot com (without the spaces!)
yay for books! :)
sounds delightful!
ashleylsimpson at gmail dot com
indubitably dot kate at gmail dot com
ok..spelling out the letters of my email addy,
u ess em cee mama at gmail dot com
I would LOVE a copy of this!!!
oooh fun!
amyborgergilligan at G.M.A.I.L dot com
will that keep the spammers away?
dianna "dot" blaylock "at" gmail "dot" com
ohhh looks good!! I want one!
a t c k e r r i (at) y a h o o .com
lottie dot mallard at gmail dot com
and it's also named after me ;)
Ash x
shipman dot alice at gmail dot com
You had me at 'retelling of Cinderella', but the fact that Malinda is a fan of Robin McKinley makes me even more eager to read this. Yay for great books!
And I'm also v. intrigued by the marketers' decision not to hype up the lesbian line. Really emphasizes how this next generation is seen as being gay-friendly. How awesome will it be if most books morph into something that can have straight, queer or (gasp) both kinds of relationships as main plot points!
kschrepfer at gmail
Can't wait! Congrats on the book ML!
avalon1476 at gmail
I am so stoked about this book, I've always loved her writing and now I'll get to cuddle up with a novel of hers. Wicked! Thanks for the overview D
oh my mercy that sounds fabulous,
meganbelen at gmail dot com
so exciting! can't wait to read this one.
srender
at
gmail
dot
com
idgiexwp at gmail dot com
Let's hope it's made into a movie too :)
Sounds Fantastic!
blodgett34 at aol dot com.
oooh, pick me, pick me! LOL
br.nidgrl@hotmail.com
Yay! I hope I can wait until you choose the winners before I run out to find it!!!
dreenme @ sbcglobal -dot- net
Ooh, MalindaLo! I've always loved everything she wrote on AfterEllen (Asians! butch/femme!) and there's no doubt her book is going to be brilliant. I'm quite happy to pay for outside-US shipping too (for me, to Southeast Asia) for a signed Malinda Lo book.
my email address is:
pam underscore the underscore great at hotmail dot com
yimm dot ncssm at gmail dot com
Thanks for bringing Malinda to my attention! I'd love to read it.
pstepler625 at aol dot com
Normall;y I would leap at the opportunity to receive a work by a new author. However after spending what seemed like "years" watching Melinda Lo act as editor Sarah Warn's lackey, I'll pass.
rocketdyke at gmail.com
I've always loved the Cinderella story. This sounds amazing. My email address is sarahdee86 [at] gmail dot com!
hubbaduh [at] gmail.com
:)
lpdarren5 at hotmail dot com
Looks amazing! anne (dot) paschke (at) gmail (dot) com
can you send to singapore?
y2jshereen at gmail dot com
I yeah, I forgot to say, "Pick me, Pick me!" thejadedrogue(at)gmail(dot)com
chocostoner at aol dot com
If I don't win it, I'll be first in line to buy.
niki.brakefield @ gmail . com
agoodshinkickin at gmail dot com
I can't wait for it.
sageweb@gmail.com
lesbian fairy tales... how could I possibly resist. (queer characters, fantasy setting, familiarity with a twist... the hopeless romantic I keep locked up is breathless in anticipation)
so here we go...
Nox Ferocia (at) gmail
[Remove spaces, obvious replacements]
oooh, I've been wanting to read this forever!
gracerae at hellokitty dot com
*crosses fingers*
aglaias_smile @ yahoo . com
yay!
melefez (at) gmail dot com
yes please, thank you
a dot bustoswright at gmail dot com
soooo excited about this book! (I'm going to get it regardless) yay!
This looks awesome. I can't wait to read it!
nisemono.12.15.1791 at gmail dot com
I love Malinda's previous writings so I'm sure it will be great!
cfinlm at aol dot com
loganemilyjones at mac dot com
Thanks! Love your blog and Melinda's writing!
jessicachesnutt at gmail.com
I am so excited to read this book! Please enter me btmommy@gmail.com
mbpagano90 at gmail dot com
Yes, please! :)
biracialmenace at yahoo dot com
sounds like a great read
dlmercier at gmail dot com
thanks,
denise
Ooh can't wait to read it
EliseRD at gmail dot com
Sounds like a fantastic book! janet dot castillo@nike dot com :)
genius underscore girl 28 at hotmail dot com
This looks amazing - and just the thing to buy for my high school students as well.
aelyden at gmail dot com
am north of the border - just in case you can send it up to Canada
p.s. love your blog!!!
sounds excellent!
eabwritesdesigns at gmail dot com
lcshaw@comcast.net
A day without Dorothy is like a day without dessert.
ok, apparently I should have said "A day without Dorothy is like a day without caffeine"
here's my ACTUAL email address:
lcshaw60atcomcastdotcom
Yeah - I'm looking forward to reading this, and I don't anticipate winning, as I've won a giveaway from you before. j9tigger at gmail dot com
vikki@uppoppedafox.com
if it is also for non-US readers, then my email address:
c l o n c h i @ g m a i l . c o m
I read every bit of lesbian literature that I can get my hands on! Can't wait for this one! Thanks DS for sharing and ML for writing!
ksrich343 at yahoo dot com
ooo I want one! I want one! :)
calliope_calling [at] yahoo [dot] com
Yahooo! great to see more stories out there!
sherri contact [at] yahoo . com
Thanks! for the give away, Ms. S!
Giveaways: A great way to start off the week!
Nice post, DS
pleaseletitbeme at hotmail dot com
erindeel at gmail dot com
This looks lovely.
simone dot colas at gmail dot com
sara dot lotz at gmail dot com
bjshell422 at yahoo dot com
I'd love to read this. And I agree, the Prince (usually) is boring.
blueshadow333 at yahoo dot com
i_am_alwayz at yahoo dot com
alizaaaay at yahoo dot com
This book sounds awesome, and I can't wait for it to come out!
redatdawn @ gmail.com
Very nice of the author!
renee.etienne at gmail dot com
Very cool. Just wanted to make sure that you and your readers have also seen "Kissing the Witch", which does a retelling of a lot of fairy tales, and many of them have a lesbian spin. "Ash" as a full-length novel seems wonderful, but this book of short stories is also well worth keeping in your library. That being said, I keep giving away my copy!
Anyway, check it out: http://www.amazon.com/Kissing-Witch-Old-Tales-Skins/dp/0064407721 (Not trying to promote Amazon, just trying to help y'all see the book!)
Very cool! ripley1130 at yahoo dot com. Oooo, hope I win :)
jix1125 at gmail dot com
sampstein{at}gmail{dot}com
Can't wait for it to come out!
abarclay110 at gmail dot com
That sounds awesome!
danikaellis@gmail.com
albrace at gmail dot com
j*h*n*y*o*l*i*v at gmail "dot" com
minus the asterisks
I can't wait to read this.
Cgquack@hotmail.com
dycarter @ gmail dot com
maya dot genis at gmail dot com
soul of a citizen at gmail dot com
no spaces
and THANK YOU!
*jgc*well* at live dot com
(no asterisks)
Wow that sounds awesome! I'm just finishing Gregory Maguire's books, which are basically retellings of fairy tales. (ex: Wicked). Would love a copy.
A_L_I_E_N89 at hotmail dot com.
Thanks for bringing this book to my attention.
triggerhippie91 at gmail "dot" com
b*l*a*m*e*i*t*o*n*b*e*t*t*e@gmail.com
Without the asterisks
sounds like a good read!
elorenz(dot)lorenz(at)gmail(dot)com
d-o-m
underscore
b-e-r-n-a-r-d-o-8-8
@yahoo.com
OoooO new books! yaaay
sheeples at hotmail dot com
=D ~Gaby
sounds awesome!!
hohman dot emily at gmail dot com
jac dot wabbit at gmail dot com... Not that gmail has a spam problems :D
sounds amazing! reddvenus at gmail dot com
i'll throw my hat into the mix!
stephanie.h90@gmail dot com
love the website!
thanks!
hvancetx at gmail dot com
I'm very excited! I'm 32, and I love young adult books. Not that I don't love old adult books, too. :)
Sounds fantastic!
kwhite2 at wi dot rr dot com
Would love the free copy.
lasternberger (at) gmail (dot) com
literaryambitions(at)yahoo(dot)com
Thanks!
This sounds wonderful. Thank you so much!
garbosgirl@gmail.com
sabrinamhc90 AT verizon DOT net
I get so very excited by romance that is not of the boy meets girl, girl initially hates boy, boy and girl fall in lurve and live happily ever after variety.
I'm so excited about this book!
cascata13 at hotmail dot com
Looks like a great book!
thinkdamnit *at* hotmail *dot* com
Love the blog by the way!
candidate_kav at yahoo dot com
Wow, this sounds great! I've always loved it when people play around with fairy-tales. I used to read a webcomic called No Rest for the Wicked that had a great open interpretation of many of them.
Can't wait to read this!! I'm sure I'll be buying it, but just in case I'll leave my e-mail:
shortstack51@gmail.com
juliag2001 at gmail dot com
I'm totally up for some summer reading material!
TheWeyrd1 at gmail dot com
I'm totally up for some summer reading material!
TheWeyrd1 at gmail dot com
jsmithborne at gmail dot com
I'm very excited already- I love young adult books.
lschwanr@yahoo.com
scienceplusmusic [at] gmail [dot] com
I loved Robin McKinley's retellings too!! I can't wait to read this book.
i'm studying queer children's literature--pick me! pick me!
erica(dot)gillingham(at)gmail
Sounds wonderful!
jmaynard@tiger.brenau.edu
soapvivor @ gmail.com
Hoping I won't have to wait until September! Fingers crossed!
Exciting! My email is: angerballx3@hotmail.com
crystalmboyce at gmail dot com
I was curious when I heard Melinda was writing a book. Now I'm plain excited. emashre at gmail dot com
Ooh, exciting! Looking forward to reading it one way or another.
jtigger at mail dot com
Thanks for the giveaway!
darkolivegreen@gmail.com
llmf81@yahoo.com
monique
d
gray
at
gmail
dot
com
lauryn dot kronick at gmaill dot com
----this sounds fabulous----
nichole 4 fsu at hotmail dot com.
cheers. :-)
thedivinebovine at gmail dot com
Sounds intriguing. Count me in!
lapear5 at gmail (dot) com
Wooo, go Malinda!
chantgirl at gmail dot com
And Dorothy Snarker, I just adore your blog and your witty, witty sense of humor!
4:34 PM
Hi there,
this sounds fantastic!
superswimgirl at sbcglobal dot net
B*-*a*-*i*-*z*-*0*-*7*-*
@*-*a*-*o*-*l*-*.com
thanks for the chance to win a copy of the book. i've been waiting for it to come out.
Who do I have to sleep with around here to get a copy? Obviously, Snarker and Malinda weren't enough. :o
e . levesquegottlieb @ gmail . com
I will leave my obnoxiously long address for a chance at this book. I've been reading about its progress for so long, it feels so weird it's coming out soon. (Weird, but awesome.)
I definitely want to read this, getting a free copy would just be a bonus! ncbizzarro at gmail dot com.
read about this a few months back, so excited! either way if i loose (which i slightly expect since i never win anything) i'll be buying it [;
bek.faye [!at] gmail.com
Chemx89 at yahoo dot com
Woot! :)
Cool!
tristan at
wickedbear
dot
com
Free copy?! That's very generous, and awesome!
Here's my e-mail:
toanythingtaboo (at) gmail (dot) com
i cant wait for the book to come out!
jadedlittlegirlx (at) gmail (dot) com
Congrats Malinda! This sounds great!
klbower at yahoo dot com
kline dot ashleyee at gmail dot com
hello,
one interested reader..... jklnjo24@yahoo.com
moonfire30 at live dot com
Sounds interesting. I love YA fiction!
bedofclover at icqmail dot com
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