Today’s newest member is a debut YA author…
Erin Bowman!
Erin has spent most of her life telling stories. It is rumored that her first words were not “Mama” or “Dada,” but “Once upon a time.” In middle school, when kids were going off to sleep-away camp for the summer, Erin was attending writing camp and penning short stories. When not writing, Erin can often be found far away from the computer (hiking or camping), or geeking out over letterpressed stationery, good typography, and everything Harry Potter. She drinks a lot of coffee, buys far too many books, and is not terribly skilled at writing about herself in the third person.
Erin lives in New Hampshire with her husband, better known as The Engineer. You can stalk her online via twitter and her blog, and her debut YA novel, Taken, will be published by HarperTeen (Winter 2013).
TAKEN
Gray Weathersby has spent the last seventeen years fearing his eighteenth birthday. In his isolated hometown, where dust outnumbers grass and crows rival clouds, all eighteen-year-old boys are lost to a phenomenon the villagers have come to call the Heist. After his older brother, Blaine, meets this mysterious fate, Gray’s fascination with the Heist becomes an obsession. He craves answers. About the Wall that surrounds his town, a towering structure that no one can cross without dying. About the Council leaders and their obvious secrets. About the nature of the Heist itself.
During his search for answers, Gray enlists the help of Emma, a healer’s daughter and a girl he has admired since the day he first stole a wooden toy from her hands as a child. What they find leaves Gray with ideas. Dangerous ideas. Maybe Blaine hasn’t been lost forever. Maybe Gray can find him. Maybe it’s as simple as climbing the Wall and maybe, just maybe, Gray’s fate won’t be the same as everyone that has climbed before him.
1. So we all want to know: when you started writing Taken, which came first for you–the characters or the plot?
It was definitely the characters. Well, at least the main character. Gray came to me nearly fully-formed. I could see him before I wrote him, hear his voice before I transcribed even a snippet of dialog. I knew how instinctive he was, and how he valued his brother far more than himself because his brother could reflect on things before reacting. I also knew that Gray had a streak of curiosity in him, and while he wouldn’t even know it himself at the beginning of the story, that curiosity was a dangerous trait that when fed, would cause him to hunt down answers and truths no matter the cost.
It was a blessing really, knowing all these big picture things before I started writing. With his personality so clear in my head, everything else fell into place as I wrote. I absolutely had ideas of where the plot would go, and how Gray would fit into them. But I kept those ideas loosely outlined and when the situation arose on the page, I let Gray tell me if my initial thoughts were correct.
2. Wow, Gray sounds kinda amazing. And how cool that you just “knew” him! So taking a step back, what was your journey to publication like?
I’ve been writing stories since I could scribble with a crayon, but after college, my writing sort of slowed down. I think it had to do with moving to a new city, and working my first “career” job, and getting engaged, and all sorts of wonderful life milestones. I was super busy, and the only writing I seemed to find the time for was short stories. Then, I got laid off a job…a month before my wedding.
I was really devastated and chose to spend that month just prepping for the wedding, spending time with family, and not job-searching. But something amazing happened in the quiet moments when everyone was at work: I started writing again. And not just tiny bursts of prose. I had ideas. Big ideas. I started writing a novel, got married, and when I came back from our honeymoon, I kept writing. I didn’t let up even when I got a new job. I carved out the time, and soon I had a novel. I revised it, and in the middle of revising, this massive idea fell into my lap. That idea was Taken. I wrote, and revised, and revised some more, and after reading everything I could find online about queries and agents and publication, my CP convinced me it was time to send the MS out.
I began querying at the start of 2011. I signed with my agent at the end of January. Taken was bought by HarperTeen in April. It’s been incredibly surreal. But the entire process always amazes me because I honestly don’t think I’d have a book deal, or even written this book to begin with, had I not lost that job before my wedding. Everything happens for a reason. Some doors close so new ones can open. I truly believe that.
3. We’re firm believers of the “Everything happens for a reason too”–all of us have followed journeys that are exactly what they needed to be. 🙂 What’s your next writing project?
I’ll be starting on the sequel to Taken very soon, and I am so excited to dive back into Gray’s world. Oh, how I’ve missed him!
I also have two WIPs that I play with during downtime. One is fully drafted and in need of a revision, but I’m really excited about where it could go. The other is just five rough chapters at the moment, but it is so new and shiny that I smile every time I work on it. (You know how it’s always hugs and sunshine at the beginning.)
4. Oh, we know, we know. Darn story-lust. 😉 When you’re working, what’s a typical writing day look like for you?
I work a day job three days a week. The other four days go something like this:
7 — Wake up and read in bed
7:30 — Debate if taking a shower is necessary. (Showering is terribly inconvenient.) Grumble. Take shower, get dressed, wander downstairs.
8:00 — Breakfast. Coffee. Words with Friends.
8:30 — Emails. Read blogs. Check Twitter. Email some more. Tweet some more.
11:00 — Write!! (drafting, revising, etc. It can really be anything depending on what stage I’m at in a given MS)
2:00 — Realize I haven’t eaten. Decide eating is nearly as inconvenient as showering. Prepare whatever is easiest and quickest.
2:15 — Write some more while shoveling down food.
5:30 — The Engineer gets home! (((hugs)))
6:00 — Make and eat dinner. (How inconvenient!)
7:30 until bed — Return to writing or draft a blog post or read a book (or ms for CP) or watch TV/movies. It really just comes down to what I feel like at this point.
Some days I have to run errands and those always through my schedule off. I am one of those writers that does best when she locks herself in a room and types for hours on end without distraction. People that can churn out successful drafts over 1hr increments amaze me.
5. It looks like it all boils down to the self-motivation, huh? Go you. And do you have any final words of advice or inspiration?
There are a million and a half different ways to write. None of them are wrong. Be inspired by everything you read online, but don’t feel like you have to follow every piece of advice. And always take time to recharge your creative batteries. Sometimes the words are a challenge because the well has run dry. Go do something else: read, run, hike, travel, laugh with friends, eat new foods, stare at the stars. The words will come eventually.
6. Too true. Recharging is critical. Now, mix us a literary cocktail! What elements would you include in your ideal book?
I’ll take a Read-Through-The-Nightini please:
1/2 action/adventure
1/4 romance
1/4 mystery
garnished with plot twists
7. Oooh, a round of Nightinis for the whole pub, please! Final question: got any good literary pick up lines?
Pretty much anything from “Ryan Gosling Reads Young Adult” is gold. But I think this one is especially effective:
Oh dear, Erin, hotcha, hotcha, HOTCHA…Anything with Ryan Gosling is okay by us. 😉
Even better than Ryan Gosling reading YA is Erin is giving away an ARC of The Selection by Kiera Cass.
That’s right–Erin has an advanced copy of this dystopian YA, and she’s gonna pass it along to one of YOU. All you have to do is fill out the little raffle form below, and we’ll announce the winner NEXT WEEK (on Tuesday)!
And, be sure to tune in tomorrow, when we introduce our next new member (and offer more fun swag!).
WELCOME, Erin!! 😀 😀 So glad you’re a part of Pub Crawl!!
Hooray! So glad to be here, Kat 🙂
My favorite book with a male protagonist…
Well, I really love Nick Burd’s THE VAST FIELDS OF ORDINARY. But favorite? THE GREAT GATSBY.
Ooh, GG is a fabulous book. When it comes to favorite male protags in classics, mine might be Gene in A SEPARATE PEACE, but I’m not positive. Too many options! Thanks for stopping by, Brent 🙂
Ooh, your upcoming novel sounds really exciting!
A Read-through-the-nightini sounds very tempting indeed…
*Forgot to include this, fail*
Favourite book with a male protagonist would definitely have to be The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon. In fact, it’s one of my favourite books ever. Heh.
Thank you so much!! (I’m craving a read-through-the-nightini right now, myself 😉 )
Favourite book with male protagonist? I would pick the Harry Potter, but I think a book that speaks more to me would be The Piper’s Son by Melina Marchetta. That or Stolen by Lucy Christopher, even if the male protagonist is essentially the antagonist in the story. 😀 😀
Oh, Harry is definitely my pick. Although I’m also rather fond of Chase from INVINCIBLE SUMMER. (I’ve heard a lot of great things about THE PIPER’S SON, and I lovedddd Jonah from JELLICOE ROAD, so perhaps I need to pick it up!) Thanks for stopping by 🙂
Oh, I love The Piper’s Son! You absolutely must check it out, Erin — I don’t think any other book has brought me to tears that often. Stolen is fantastic, too. Ty is such a complex character 🙂
I was going to pick The Piper’s Son too! Specifically because I think the book would have been significantly different with a female protagonist. I love Marchetta’s work and it was wonderful to see her write from that angle as well.
I would definitely say LOOKING FOR ALASKA by John Green. It was absolutely brilliant. I love how funny it was and yet how tragic. That book is GOLD. absolute GOLD. WELCOME, ERIN!
Yes! Pudge is a great male protagonist, and you are so right about John Green’s writing in that book — funny yet tragic. Thanks for the warm welcome! 🙂
Yay, Erin!
My favorite series with a main male character is THE QUEEN’S THIEF series by Megan Whalen Turner. Eugenides is basically my favorite character ever.
And reading in bed when waking up! That’s the awesomest thing. 🙂
Hi Emy!!! *waves* (Oh, reading in bed. I am so very grateful that my writing job allows for such marvelous luxurious. I’m a lucky girl!)
😀 I’ve decided that from now on all my dream jobs will include reading in bed mornings!
YES!! Gen! I LOVE him!!!
Yay, another Gen lover! Seriously — he’s the standards I measure all literary heroes with. He’s just so swoon-worthy.
Welcome Erin!!!!
Thanks, Sav! ((hugs))
Hi Erin! Welcome 🙂
I think my favourite book with a male protagonist is Holly Black’s ”White Cat”. Cassel is awesome!
Thanks, Laura! And you know, I haven’t read the WHITE CAT series yet, but I’ve heard nothing but good things! Nudging it up my TBR list right now 🙂
The site looks fantastic, ladies! I’m looking forward to all the new members posts. 🙂
Thank you!!! We’re looking forward to introducing all our amazing new members to you guys, too 😀
Yay! Can’t wait for you to meet the other new members!
Hehe, plot twists are the best garnish! Welcome Erin, so glad to have you with us 😀
Thank youuu! So happy to be here 🙂
This is so much fun! I love that Words With Friends is on your daily list. That makes me smile. 🙂
Your book sounds absolutely fantastic, Erin, and I can’t wait to read it! Welcome to Pub Crawl! It’s so exciting to hear new stories of the writing process. I’m kind of glad you lost your job, too. It means the world will get a fantastic story out of it. Gray sounds like he will be wonderful to read about!
And I’m dying for The Selection. It looks AMAZING. I can haz, plz?
Mer
<3
Thank you so very much, Meredith! And to be truthful, I’m really glad I lost that job, too. It opened an amazing door for me, and I’m so very happy with the path I’m now on. I can’t wait to share TAKEN with you and the world!! 🙂
And THE SELECTION was downright charming. I adored it.
GAH! I didn’t read the comment thingy on the entry thingy!!!!
Favorite male character in a book. Well, most of you are going to think I’m SO sucking up, but I’m sure Sarah knows this well. I’ve been in love with Chaol since the day I started reading Queen of Glass so many years ago. I know he must have changed through the many revisions, but I still hold out that he will be as amazing if not more so than I remember him. No one else has quite lived up to him in my eyes. *sigh*
Well, Finnikin came pretty close. 😉
OMG, CHAOL!!! (I read the finished version of QOG, so I’m not sure how that version compares to the original, but Chaol stole my heart from the opening pages. I adore him. Lovelovelove. I still haven’t read FINNIKIN (High on my list, though, and given what I’ve heard from other readers, I’m sure I’ll fall in love with him, too!).
lol, I <3 you so much, Erin.
I would take Chaol AND Finnikin ANY day! <3
Heeeeeee. (Sorry to jump into your comments, but this whole Chaol convo has me grinning like an IDIOT)
<3
Awwww, thank you so much, Mac. Seriously–I hope Chaol lives up to your memory!! I’d hate for your lovely other boyfriend to let you down. 🙂
<3 <3
Oh YAY YAY YAY!!! SO happy to have you in Pub Crawl (and thereby get access to TAKEN–mwuhahahahaha).
WELCOME ERIN! <3
YAY! So very happy to be here, Sooz! ((hugs)) (Although now I’m wondering if you only invited me so you could read TAKEN. I kid. I kid. Sorta) 😉
Hey Erin! Nice to meetcha! 🙂
My fave book with a male main character would have to be Rand al’Thor from the epic Wheel of Time series. Either that or Drizzt from the Legend of Drizzt series. (Incidentally, both have, like, a million books in the series, which may be why I love them so much. Also, epic fantasy. HECK YEAH).
Hi Jess! So nice to meet you as well! I’m not familiar with the male MCs you mentioned — adding the books to my TBR list right now to rectify this problem. 😉 Thanks for the warm welcome!
LOVE this interview! Ryan Gosling reading YA is pure gold. SWOON. And I totally agree, cooking/eating is so inconvenient, yet delicious. 😉
I think my favorite book with a male protag has to be Beautiful Creatures. What can I say, I love Ethan!
Can’t wait to read TAKEN!
Thanks, Lena!
I can easily burn an hour on Ryan Gosling reads YA. Maybe if I spent less time scrolling through those gems I’d actually have time to cook/eat. Le sigh. 😉
Welcome Erin! (That feels kind of weird to say, considering I’m pretty new myself.) Taken sounds incredible; can’t wait to read it.
I love all the Ryan Gosling ‘Hey girl’ memes. He can’t possibly get any more awesome. 🙂
Thanks, Kayla, for your welcome wishes and kind words about TAKEN! (And yes, the “hey girl” memes are hilarious!)
Artemis Fowl. Hands down. I love those books and the MC. Thanks for the interview, Erin, and the giveaway!
I haven’t read Artemis Fowl in AGES!!!
Thank you!! I’m embarrassed to admit that I still haven’t read ARTEMIS FOWL. Shame on me!
Congrats!!!
My fave character is Harry Potter
Thanks, Amanda. And I’m right there with you — Harry is amazing!
Welcome, Erin! So exciting to have lovely new authors to look forward to meeting/spending oodles more time reading. 🙂 Thanks for the interview – I actually recently discovered your book on goodreads, so it was great to get in your head about it!
Susan! Thank you so much — for the kind words of welcome and for adding TAKEN on goodreads! You rock 🙂
I’m so glad you said that about recharging, Erin. It’s so easy to accuse myself of being lazy, so it’s very nice to hear someone else feels the need to recharge every so often. 😀
Wow, can I use the word “so” more times?
Also, the book sounds excellent, I’m adding it to my TBR right now!
It is so hard for me to not be working. Like you, I can very easily tell myself I’m being lazy. I’m slowly getting better at learning when to write and when to step away and recharge. Downtime is key!
And thank you so, so much for adding TAKEN to your TBR list!
I love the concept of the Taken. And a boy’s pov. Cool! Welcome1
And I’d have to say I love the character in The Marbury Lens! Loved the story too.
Thank you so very much, Laura!!
Welcome to the group, Erin! SOOOOO happy you’re with us! I can’t wait for TAKEN!!!
Yay! Thank you, Jodi!!! So excited to be a PubCrawl newbie with you! <3
Wooo! WELCOME Erin!! 😀
Taken sounds SO GOOD! I love a good mysterious society and an overly curious character 😉
Thanks, Vanessa!! So happy to be here! ((hugs))
((HUGS BACK!!))
Hey Erin! My favorite book with a male main character is Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close! It’s my most favorite book in the whole world. The protagonist, Oskar Schell, is a 9-year-old boy, and that really gives the book a really cool perspective! 🙂
Ooh, I don’t know that book, but it sounds intriguing. Love the title, too! Looking it up now! 🙂
I just finished reading “Half-Blood Blues” by Esi Edugyan and one of the male, main characters, “Hieronymous Thomas Falk” would be my favourite. The book itself is well-worthy of its Giller Prize (2011), but the character Hiero Falk is a true hero.
Congratulations on your upcoming book. I especially enjoyed your “words of advice” about writing.
Zara
zgarcia(dot)alvarez(at)gmail(dot)com
On Twitter: @ZaraAlexis
Thanks so much for the congrats, Zara! And I’m glad the “advice” resonated!
Welcome Erin! And ugh, SHOWERS. They’re the last thing I want to do at night because I have so many other things I want/need to do, and yet the shower seems to be the birthplace of so many story ideas. All I need is a waterproof laptop and I’m GOLDEN.
My favorite male main character in a book would have to be Kvothe from The Name of the Wind. It’s not YA, but it’s beautifully written and my favorite book. I’ve read it so many times. Anyway, Kvothe is snarky and has a temper and is brilliant and he always saves the day (you’d think a little too often, but he gets all kinds of crap thrown at him and I think he’s just too stubborn to fail).
Gina
@ginarinelli
Come to think of it, I’ve had story ideas and plot twists and the like come to me in the shower, too! Maybe I shouldn’t be so hard on them 😉
And Kvothe sounds ah-mazing! Don’t know the book, but I’m looking it up now because of how kick-ass he sounds!
Absolutely love The Name of the Wind and Wise Man’s Fear. Kvothe is totally kick-ass, and those books go by so quick, in spite of the page counts. 🙂
I followed you here from your blog and I’ve added this fantastic site to my RSS reader. 🙂
1. Words with Friends. YES.
2. Ryan Gosling. SWOON.
3. I’ll have a Nightini, please!
As always, I’m super excited for Taken! Gray sounds like an awesome character. I love that he has a dangerous curious streak. That’s a perfect trait for an action/adventure book with a mystery at its core.
As for my favorite book with a male main character, I have to be cliched and say the Harry Potter series. Harry is the ultimate hero as well as the unlikeliest hero, which just makes him more awesome.
Hi Alyssa!! *waves* Thank you for jumping over from my blog and getting PC in your rss feed. (You will not regret it! 😉 )
And thank you soooo much for the kind words about TAKEN! I’m so excited for you (and the world) to meet him! And I’m with you on Harry. The Boy Who Lived is one of my all-time favorites 🙂
Congrats, and welcome to the crew!
Cheers~
Dot
Thanks so much, Dot! 🙂
Erin, I am SO EXCITED you’re here! I know we’ve said it before, but seriously — YAY!
And I know I’ve said it before, but SO HAPPY TO BE HERE!!! 🙂
Welcome, Erin! 😀
Hmmm, favorite book with a male character as lead? I almost wanted to say Harry Potter, but I don’t think I will, because as much as I love HP (and OMGHASJFHGVAS DO I!), I don’t love it *because* of Harry. He’s awesome and he’s the main character, but I didn’t just go, “Oh yeah, Harry is a guy”… That sounds strange, it made more sense in my head. Most things do.
ANYWAY, I will have to say the Percy Jackson series. All of them. Including the Heroes of Olympus series. Specially SON OF NEPTUNE. Percy is just so memorable and so, I don’t know, HERE. The things he does and says, it’s like I can see a friend of mine doing and saying them, too. I couldn’t read one paragraph or any Percy Jackson book and not tell it’s from a guys perspective. And those books are just awesome <3
I adore Harry, too, but I know what you mean. I’m a big fan of Ron because his personality seems a bit stronger to me. I still haven’t read PERCY. Shame on me! Must jump on that. Thanks for the welcome wishes 🙂
Welcome Erin! I’m very excited to read Taken! I’ve already kicked off the new year with a TBR of male-lead books. In 2011 nearly every book I read had a female protagonist so I figure it’s about time to switch things up and see what I’m missing out on! I’m starting off with The Hobbit, then Chronicles of Prydain, Witchlanders, Finnikin of the Rock, and lastly the Percy Jackson series.
My favorite male-lead book is The Name of the Wind. That book (and the one that comes after it!) is so compelling and hard to put down. Kvothe is one of the coolest characters I’ve ever read and I feel as if I know him so well that he could be my friend. The Name of the Wind is definitely what I would call a Nightini! 😉
Kate, you are the second person to mention THE NAME OF THE WIND and gush about Kvothe! I really must read this book now.
And thank you so very much for the kind words of welcome. And being excited for TAKEN!! I can’t wait for you (and the world) to meet Gray 🙂
I second Vanessa. FINNIKIN IS SO AMAZING SERIOUSLY OMG!!!
AHHH! READ FINNIKIN OF THE ROCK FIRST! Seriously! One of my fave books of ALL TIME! It’s brilliant!!!
AND then read WITCHLANDERS second! (I may be a bit biased though, cause I got to read and critique an early MS of it, so it’s near and dear to me :p)
Dimitri from the Vampire Academy series….some series hotness 😀
Hotness is a nice plus when it comes to male protags. 😉
Hey, Erin! TAKEN sounds absolutely amazing. How am i supposed to wait until winter 2013?!?
My favorite male lead is probably Tammo from THE LONG PATROL by Brian Jacques. I was obsessed with that book as a kid and read it dozens of times, and I still love Tammo. This question has made me realize that I don’t read nearly enough books with male leads. I’m going to have to fix that 😉
Katelyn!! Thank you so much for the kind words about TAKEN! The fact that you are excited for it makes me so incredibly happy. (Although, I am sorry you have to wait so long! Hopefully the ARCs will be making their rounds before we know it 😉 )
And the Redwall books! Yay! I read and loved them as a child as well! 🙂
Helloooooooooo Ryan Gosling…it is never too early in the morning to see your pretty face. Hmm fav male lead? I haven’t read too many lead male protagonists, but Todd from The Knife of Never Letting Go is a recent character I really enjoyed. Taken sounds fantastic Erin, I can’t wait to shake up my usual selection of female POV books. Can’t wait to meet the rest of the incredible authors you guys have lined up for us!
Haha. So glad Ryan was a lovely start to your day! THE KNIFE OF NEVER LETTING GO has been on my TBR list for ages and I still haven’t managed to pick it up. GAH! I need to jump on that.
And thank you so much for your interest in TAKEN! I’m excited for Gray to shake up your normal stack of female POV books too 😉
Erin, you HAVE to read THE KNIFE OF NEVER LETTING GO! It was one of my fave reads this year, and has made it to my list of fave books! He has SUCH an incredible voice, and Patrick Ness is a BRILLIANT author.
…yeah, I just spent the last hour sidetracked by Ryan Gosling ;P
YAY HAI THERE, Erin! TAKEN sounds epic and so does the name Gray, and d’aww I love your ‘journey to publication’ story <3 As for my fav male lead, definitely Harry! Can't help but just adore that reluctant-hero charm, even when he's being emo and tantrum prone, ahaha ;D
So easy to kill time on Ryan Gosling Reads YA, right?! And thank you for all your comments about TAKEN! They made me smile to no end. I adore Harry, as well! Thanks for stopping by!
Yay for Erin! Your book sounds fab. Love the setting – dust for grass and crows for clouds? Awesome! 🙂
I think like a lot of people here before me, I wanted to default to Harry Potter! Who can blame us? He’s awesome! But I think my favorite YA/MG male voice recently is Percy Jackson (he’s so endearing) and Cas from Anna Dressed in Blood.
Oooh! ANNA DRESSED IN BLOOD is in my to-read pile! *moves it to the top of the pile*
It’s a fun book, and Cas’ voice is one of the best parts of it. He really sounds like a teenage boy, and he’s tough and funny. I hope you like it! 😀
I just love how it’s a “boy meets girl, girl kills people” story – that right there totally sealed the deal for me 🙂
I am reading ANNA DRESSED IN BLOOD as we speak and I am loving it. Cas has such a fantastic voice, humorous and tough and real. I may have a mini-crush on him!
YAYYYYY, ERIN!!!! So, so ecstatic to have you join PC!!!!
Taran from Lloyd Alexander’s The Chronicles of Prydain is probably my allt-time favorite male protagonist, THOUGH Finnikin from FINNIKIN OF THE ROCK is now a close second….And so is Gray from YOUR book, for that matter!!!! <3
Oh, Sarah!!!! <333 I know you've told me you love Gray and all, but this...this is something else. THANK YOU SO MUCH!!! (FINNIKIN is next on my list of fantasy reads, btw. I've heard nothing but good things and I can't wait to read!)
I’m going w/the obvious, Harry Potter.
Thank you!
Taken sound badass. Secrets, action, romance and mystery!:O Oh and a wall.! Huzzah!
I actually like the fact that the reason he likes the healer is the fact that he stole a horse from her. Wow…that sentence I just worte was awful.
Hmmm favourite male lead. Well, I’m picking someone I actually really didn’t like, but I kind of did, but didn’t, but did…GAH.
My favourite male Protaganist (I don’t think he’s an antagonist) would be Kennit from Robbin Hobb’s Liveship Trader series. He’s so close to being a hero, but (i’m trying not to spoil anything) he can’t get over things that happened in the past.
And I like the fact that Robbin Hobb is playing with the whole steorytipical action hero thing. Kind of like Georgee RR Martin’s Dunken and Egg Novellas.
Thank you so much, Tim! I haven’t read the LIVESHIP TRADER series, but Kennit sounds awesome! Love that he has a past that haunts him. 🙂
Oh btw he’s not a good guy…AT Alll. Just thought i’d mention thatXD
I kind of have to say Percy Jackson – and of course, Harry Potter…
I’m really excited now for Taken! I’d never heard of it before now.
I don’t have a male main character favorite, just the romantic leads. But I am going to start up Julie Cross’s Tempest in which Jackson Meyer is the MC, so I’m looking forward to that. Perhaps I’ll be able to say that HE is my fave. 🙂
– Asher (from Paranormal Indulgence)
Asher! Yay! So glad TAKEN sounds interesting to you! I’ve heard some great things about TEMPEST’s Jackson. It’s on my TBR list as well 🙂
My favourite book with a male main character must be Across the Universe by Beth Revis. Elder is a brilliantly written character.
Elder was great! I especially loved the settling of that novel — Godspeed was so claustrophobic!
Welcome Erin! Your book sounds phenomenal, can’t wait to read it! Great little interview as well! 🙂
Thank you so very much, Katy!!
Oh gosh. This sounds amazing.
Forget what I said about wanting it to be 2012. 2013, please? *squeezes eyes shut and prays for time machine*
Usually, I don’t go much for guys. Mainly because I’m not one, and also because most times I can’t really get into their life crises. But three books that really got my attention that center around a guy (or guys) are The Replacement by Brenna Yovanoff, The Amulet of Samarkand by Jonathan Stroud, and Witchlanders by Lena Coakley.
Yes. I know it was supposed to be one, but I couldn’t decide! 🙁
Ohmygoodness, Kaye!! Ah! Your excitement is making me excited all over again. Sometimes this journey to publication gets so bogged down with deadlines that I forget TAKEN will actually be on a shelf some day, and enthusiastic responses like yours remind me otherwise. Thank you so very much!!!
I enjoyed THE REPLACEMENT too! Mackie was a great MC!
Thanks for this giveaway! I think my favourite male lead character would have to be Percy Jackson, I just love him 🙂
Yet another mention for Percy Jackson! I really need to make time to read these books, don’t I? 🙂
Welcome to Pub Crawl, Erin! I cannot wait to read Everneath. A lot of great buzz that I’ve been hearing. Also, love, love, LOVE the cover. It’s so pretty.
My favorite male protag will have to be Finnikin of Finnikin of the Rock by Melina Marchetta. He was written so well, and his journey…gah! But Marchetta is awesome, so there’s that. 😛
Thanks, Michelle! Several people have mentioned Finnikin. I need to bump that book to the top of my TBR pile!
My favorite book with a male main character would have to be Surrender by Sonya Hartnett. It’s amazing! Welcome, Erin!
Thank you , Lauren!
Ok, admittedly I haven’t read many books with a male main character, but Megan Bostic’s debut Never Eighteen has a fantastic male MC who you can’t just help but love. However, I also love Percy Jackson, Harry Potter, and the Perfect Chemistry trilogy!
I’ve heard good things about NEVER EIGHTEEN! (And hooray for Harry Potter! *high fives*)
Erin – I’m so jealous of your writing schedule. That’s so great you get such big chunks of time to write. 🙂
One of my favorite books with a male character is The Perks of Being a Wallflower. Charlie is such an awesome kid and I loved his voice in that book. And of course they’re Harry Potter!
I am so, sooo fortunate to now be writing part time. I love it! So much time to focus. I actually wrote the draft of TAKEN that got me my agent, and my book deal, while working full time. It was written in those 1hr increments I mentioned hating. Looking back, I have no clue how I did it! And hooray for THE PERKS OF BEING A WALLFLOWER!
Yay Erin! Great interview. Loved the Ryan Gosling pick up line. 🙂
You can’t go wrong with Ryan Gosling 😉
Welcome Erin! Can I just say that taking the time to ponder the uselessness of showers in the morning is why I now have to shower at night? Thanks for sharing with us, I’m excited about what you’ll contribute to Pub(lishing) Crawl!
From reading many of the comments above it’s clear that there are simply too many amazing books with male protagonists, so I’m going to cop out and say I have too many to count. Very excited to read Taken through, another reason for the world not to end this December ;-).
Very excited to read Taken through, another reason for the world not to end this December
^ YES! Down with the Apocalypse. (I’m so excited to share TAKEN with everyone. And there are so many other books I want to read that don’t come out ’til 2013 as well. I really hope the Mayans are wrong!)
Firstly I am LOVING the blog 😀 Secondly Awesome giveaway!!
Thirdly favourite main male character? That is a tricky one, as I am typically girly and seem to read lots of books with lead females. I really could do to learn more about the male species to be honest!! In this case I would have to go for the rather obvious Harry Potter – I don’t think you can find many better characters anywhere to be honest.
Yay! So glad you are loving the blog. (And even though Harry is an obvious choice, he is a darn good one!)
‘Sup, Erin?
Favorite book with a male MC is probably LOOKING FOR ALASKA. I loved that book something fierce.
Oh, I love LOOKING FOR ALASKA something fierce as well. Pudge is fantastic. So is Alaska. The whole thing is just… <3
Okay, well, Harry Potter is an obvious one, and I that’s definitely my favorite series with a male main character, but I also really liked Tempest by Julie Cross.
TEMPEST is on my TBR list. I’ve heard great things about the book, and Jackson as a MC!
Thanks for the giveaway I cannot wait for The Selection. Welcome Erin ! 🙂
Thanks, Hayley! And I think you will love THE SELECTION — I thought it was completely enchanting!
Great new blog you have here! I will definitely come back.
Male main character? I guess I have to go for Harry Potter. He rocks!
And maybe Dimitri Belikov from the VA. He is just too sexy and gorgeous.
Thanks so much for the blog love! (I’m a big Harry fan too! 🙂 )
My favorite series with a male main character would have to be the Demon’s Lexicon books by Sara Rees Brennan. And Taken sounds great!
Stephanie
Thank you, Stephanie!! (I’ve heard nothing but good things about the LEXICON books. Adding them to my TBR list now!)
Awesome to see Erin Bowman on Pub(lishing) Crawl! TAKEN sounds incredible and I’d like a Read-through-the-night-tini please!
Hi Leigh!! *waves, passes read-through-the-nightini, toasts*
Wonderful to see you here, Erin! I suspected as much yesterday when I was having a good stalk about the new website, as you do. Hee. And you and Sooz have certainly done a marvellous job design it all. Love it!
Wow, TAKEN sounds right up my alley. Why is it not 2013 already? Mmmm… Grat… Another paper heart-throb to swoon over. That’s fine with me. 😀
Forgive my typos, sorry.
*designing
*Gray
hehe. no worries. I pieced it all together 🙂
Thanks so much, Laura — for the kind words about the blog design and for your interest in TAKEN! (I’m sorry you have to wait so long to read it though. But “Paper heart-throb”… I do like that term. I’ve got a few of those, myself!) 🙂
My favorite book with a Male main character would have to be Exiled by M. Merrick! Loved that book!!
Taken sounds great. I love things like this because I hear about authors I never would have under normal circumstances:) and Erin sounds awesome!!!!
Thanks, Tiffany. So happy the blog could bring a new read onto your radar! 🙂
Favorite book with a male main character? Easy. Freefall by Mindi Scott! Love, love, LOVE Seth!! Taken sounds GREAT! Just by the description, I can see it being a page-turner.
FREEFALL is novel I’ve heard good things about and still haven’t gotten around to reading. Eek — my TBR list is multiplying due to this comments thread!
My favourite book(s) with a male character is of course Harry Potter! In the YA realm though, I think it would have to be Someday This Pain Will Be Useful to You or maybe Looking for Alaska.
Hear, hear! Harry Potter and Miles Halter! 🙂
Can Ryan Gosling BE any more awesome? I love all the random memes out there for him. The YA and literary are hilarious – and the Hunger Games nod is one of my favorites. There is also the Handmade meme where he gets all crafty 🙂
Hmmm, which male narrator do I love? It is so hard when most of the time lots of stories are from the female persuasion. I suppose one who tends to stand out is Ender from the Ender-verse. Or when Marcus Flutie finally got his say for a little while in Perfect Fifths? YES.
The Ryan Gosling memes are hilarious AND dangerous. So easy to waste so much time! Thanks for stopping by and sharing your fav male MCs!
Hi Erin, and welcome!
My favorite book with a male protagonist/awesome male character is Phantom (whose protagonist is Erik, the Phantom of the Opera.) I also love The Scorpio Races, if only because I need a Sean Kendrick in my life. 🙂
Thanks for the welcome, Ellen. And ohmygosh, SEAN KENDRICK! How had I forgotten him?! I swooned over that book. It was my favorite read in 2011 and Sean was the main reason why!
I cannot wait to read THE SELECTION. It sounds amazing!
hmm there are so many books with good male leads. right now i am loving the vlad tod series and will grayson will grayson. tiny cooper is fabulous!
Loved Tiny Cooper. Loved all of WG,WG, to be honest 🙂
The new site is shiny! 😀
Nice to meet you Erin! TAKEN sounds like it’s going to be AMAZING & thanks for writing a book with male MC. They are so rare but so refreshing when you do get a chance to read one.
Hmm…my favorite book with a male main character would have to be Paper Towns by John Green.
P.S. If the rumor is true – those were some EPIC first words 😀
Thank YOU, Raven, for being a reader. Without you guys, none of us authors would have a chance to write books to begin with. And yes — epic first words 😉
My favourite male character in a book is probably Charlie from The Perks of Being a Wallflower. When I read it I could really relate to the way he felt about things.
Agreed. His voice is so real.
I’m gonna go ahead and dork out by saying my favorite it still Tobias from the Animorphs. <3
OMG Animorphs!! Oh, childhood memories 🙂
Welcome, Erin! I loved the sound of Taken! Definitely one of the most intriguing summaries I’ve read, and it’s only 2012. Wow, a full year of waiting… And I think everyone’s been waiting for The Selection, so thanks for the fab giveaway!
Thanks for the words of welcome! (And it’s no wonder everyone’s dying to get their hands on THE SELECTION — it is just lovely, and quite the page-turner!)
Taken sounds like an awesome book! 2013 seems so far away! I also love Kiera & can’t wait for her book.
I’m going to find you on twitter now, Erin!
Tia, THE SELECTION was adorable. I’m sure you’ll love it. And thanks for the kind words about TAKEN 🙂 (See you ’round Twitter!)
Hm…I’m gonna say the Harry Potter series and The Giver. It’s been years since I’ve read them, but both have stuck with me. May have to do a re-read one of these days! Anyway, Taken sounds amazing and it is on my “to-read” list. Honestly, I love to hear about or talk with YA authors early on in the process (from a reader’s perspective) and watch as they end up with a shiny and awesome published book. Best wishes to you! 🙂
Oh, I’d forgotten about Jonas! THE GIVER is a great male MC book! And Kristi — thank you so, so much! I’m excited to be on this journey with all you readers. 🙂
The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky
Currently I’m gonna have to say R from Warm Bodies. Now there is a protagonist with some real heart. . . just not his own all the time 🙂
I think it would have to be White Cat and Red Glove by Holly Black!
Taken looks amazing!!! My favourite book with a male lead has to be The Outsiders by S.E Hinton! Oh gosh I laughed and friend during this book!! It’s beautiful and touching. Stay gold Ponyboy…AWW!
Thank you!! (And how did I forget about THE OUTSIDERS?! Such a great book and male MC!)
Oops meant to be laughed and cried!
Hi
thanks for this giveaway!
Chase from Exiled is one of my fav male main character! Thanks
proserpine
I guess saying Harry Potter would totally be cheating right? ;d
One of my more recent favorite books with a male main character was Skyship Academy: The Pearl Wars! Jesse is an amazing main character and Cassius isn’t a bad foil, either.
Looking forward to your book!
Thanks, Eden. And Harry Potter isn’t cheating. (I love him, too!)
Nice to meet you Erin, Thank you for the great givaway
Nice to meet you as well, Lucy! Happy to be here 🙂
Favorite book with Male protag hast to be Intertwined by Gena Showalter
For what its worth I think your rather good at talking about yourself in the 3rd person.
haha. It is always such a struggle for me to write bios, but at least I know it’s reading fine 🙂
My favourite book with a man character would be Harry Potter. But I also love Will Grayson, Will Grayson. 😀
You know, to be completely honest, I haven’t read a lot of books with male main characters. Of the ones I have read, I think my favorite is Pudge from Looking for Alaska, although I also love Harry Potter and the Pendragon books.
The fact that you schedule in time for Words With Friends makes me so, so happy. That game is such an addiction.
I can’t wait to read your book!
I am a Words With Friends addict too! I schedule it so that I check/update my games only once per day, otherwise I’d never get off it!
The most memorable male MC for me was Jace from SPLIT. The author did such a fantastic job with him as a character and his overall story…I love that book to pieces. 🙂 But anyways, this interview was awesome! TAKEN sounds amazing, and I can’t wait to meet Gray.
Yay Erin! 😀
Oh, and my favorite book with a male main character actually has TWO male main characters…Will Grayson, Will Grayson!
Hi Jessica!! *waves* I love WG, WG too! Such a great book 🙂
There are very few books where I like a male protagonist but yours sounds really interesting. The story sort of reminds me of The Giver which I read it in middle school. That is one of my favorite books.
I also buy waaayyy too many books that I end up not having any room for them. Good to know I’m not the only one 🙂
I’m really excited to read Incarnate! My favourite male character is probably Taran from The chronicles of Pyrdain and I adore John Green’s Will Grayson.
Oooh… Taken sounds amazing! 😀 Definitely gonna read it when it comes out!
I LOVE the Gone series by Michael Grant, and the MC’s a guy named Sam with hands that shoot out killer light. 😛
And oh my gosh, an ARC of The Selection! Thank you so much, I’ve been wanting to read that so badly!
Thanks so much, Jenelle! And THE SELECTION is lovely! Maybe you’ll win and knock it off your TBR list 😉
Hey,
I think the best book I ever read with a male main character was Thirteen Reasons why by Jay Asher. Clay Hensen was an amazing protagonist.
Loved the premise of that book… and how it unfolded over a series of cassettes!
Hey Erin! If saying Harry Potter isn’t cheating, than he is definitely my favorite male lead character!
And Taken sounds really interesting, so I am a little bumped because 2013 winter is so far away:(
Thanks so much!! And yes, 2013 seems a while away still, but hopefully it will fly. I don’t have an official release date yet, but hey, it could be in under a year! 🙂
Hi, Erin! Nice to meet you and your book 🙂
I agree with lots of the characters mentioned in the comments. Just wanted to add one of my ultimate favorites: Gilbert Blythe from the Anne of Green Gables series. I had a gigantic crush on him as a kid — and still do!
Nice to meet you too, Sarah! Happy to be here 🙂
Taken definitely sounds like an interesting read, will keep it mind.
Favorite book with male main character: That would have to be Eragon from the Inheritance Cycle by Christopher Paolini.
My favorite male MC…ohh…tough one, but I think I’d go with Kyle Chase from You by Charles Benoit or Todd from Patrick Ness’ The Chaos Walking Trilogy.
Looking forward to reading new dystopian novels, so The Selection is on my TBR list.
I loved “YOU”! I’m planning to present it in a session at OLA this year on BOOKS FOR BOYS!
Welcome Erin! And oh gosh I have too many books to pick one xD
my favrite r dylan from the marked son by shea berkley and samael from rapture by phillip w simpson
OMG. I totally should’ve guessed. All my favourite writers in one place! *squeals*
Favourite male lead… hmm. Artemis Fowl. He’s seventeen now. That’s prime territory. 😉
Yahong, you are not the first person to mention Artemis Fowl. (I still haven’t read these. Shame on me, I know!) And thank you for the kind words and your excitement! It makes me super happy 🙂
Ooh. that’s a toughie.
I’d say all John Green male characters.
Oooh, tough question. I’d probably lean towards Percy Jackson. I love Rick Riordan’s writing style, he really makes the MG/teen voice come to life for me.
Welcome! I’m so glad that all of the writers are coming together – this site just gets better and better. 🙂
😀 Thanks Sydney! <3
My favorite book with a male protagonist would have to be MISS PEREGRINE’S HOME FOR PECULIAR CHILDREN.
My favorite book with a male MC is definitely Markus Zusaks’s I Am the Messenger. Not necessarily because of Ed, though he’s a fantastic characters.
I would have to say Going Bovine by Libba Bray.
Hello and congrats!
My favourite book is Kieran Scott’s She’s so Dead to Us, I adore Jake! 🙂 Thanks for the giveaway!
Great author picture! It was one of the ones I voted for on Erin’s blog 🙂
Favourite male character? If you mean a book old from a male POV, I haven’t read much of those, which I’ll be changing this year with books like Anne Greenwood Brown’s Lies Beneath and Kenneth Oppel’s This Dark Endeavor, Trish Doller’s Something Like Normal. One that I have read and liked was Leaving Paradise by Simone Elkeles where one of the POVs is male.
favorite book with male main character. Creepy but true…The Shining. Eek! So well written and terrifying, it’s practically a genre of it’s own if you ask me. Stephen King at his finest, and Jack is written like he’s a real guy. Love it!
Percy Jackson, for sure.
‘Nuff said.
Fawbulous interview. I loved it! 🙂
I know it’s old school… but I liked the book Eragorn. The movie stunk but the book was good!
Your Read-Through-The-Nightini sounds delicious! Exactly my kind of mix! And I couldn’t agree with you more about the inconvenience of showering and eating hahaha – not to mention sleeping! Imagine how many more books you could read & write if sleeping wasn’t a must! ;D
My favorite book with a lead male character that hasn’t been mentioned is Fitz in The Farseer Trilogy (Assassins Apprentice, etc.) (It’s a Nightini, you know ;D)
Welcome!! 😀
Andrea, we must be the same person. There have been so many times that I’ve grumbled about needing to sleep. My TBR list wouldn’t be the massive tower it is if I could go non-stop! I haven’t heard of THE FARSEER TRILOGY, but if it’s a Read-Through-the-Nightini, I will definitely add it to my list 😉
I’d have to say Harry Potter, hands down! 😀
I am dying for The Selection! I love the premise of the story and the cover is to die for!
Fingers crossed 🙂
MaryAnn
Chapter by Chapter
I would Four of Divergent. Mysterious in anyways.
I’m a big believer that all things happen for a reason — sometimes you have to look REALLY hard to find the reason, but they’re always there!
There are so many great male protags out there — Artemis Fowl, Percy Jackson, but I just adore both Will Graysons (from the book of the same name).
I loved both WGs too! And so nice to meet another things-happen-for-a-reason believer! I agree: it’s sometimes hard to see the good in a something, especially at the moment tragedy strikes, but there’s always a little in there 🙂
First: Yay Erin!!! 🙂
Love the interview, it´s always great to glimpse into a writer´s world…
It´s been awhile I have not read a book with male MC, looking forward to getting my fingers on Taken!
Thank you so much Elodie! I’m so excited for you (and the world!) to meet Gray!
omg, I feel like I’ve been following you foreverrrr on twitter, and didn’t know till now about Taken?! I fail bigtime. I shall definitely add it onto my 2013 TBR list! 😀
I have so many, but I can’t think of them at the moment O.O I love Tod in The Knife of Never Letting Go 🙂
hehe. April, that is too funny! Thank you so very much for adding TAKEN on goodreads! I really appreciate it. I still haven’t read THE KNIFE OF NEVER LETTING GO — it’s been on my TBR list forever — but so many people have mentioned it in this post, I’m going to have to move it up the pile 🙂
Im embarrassed to say, i haven’t read many male POV books (ok, maybe just.. one? ). For some reason that one just didn’t impress me much. HOWEVER I have read books with multiple POVs and one of them is a male. does that count?
I do want to expand my reading list, so i will definitely be picking up Taken 😀
Multi POV books definitely count in my book! And thank you for your interest in TAKEN!! 🙂
Welcome!
Favorite book with a male main character…hmm. If we’re talking in the realm of YA, the best I’ve read recently is Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children.
Thanks for the awesome giveaway!!! :)) My favorite book with a male main character is Ashfall by Mike Mullin!
Everyone says, ‘Harry Potter’, but for myself the character I choose is kind of main, but also sub-character Calvin O’Keefe from, ‘A Wrinkle in Time’. He was a misfit, but found a way to fit in with Meg and her little brother Charles.
Definitely White Cat – and I love Jesse Eisenberg’s narration of it. PERFECT.
Wow. TAKEN sounds just so different and original from the current crop of YA – why isn’t it out already?!
Also, favourite book with a male main character? The Adrian Mole series (especially The Growing Pains of Adrian Mole) by Sue Townsend. One of the best things I’ve read. Ever.
Taken sounds so amazing! Definitely on my list of books to read now.
I have to say Ashfall by Mike Mullin, it was soooo good! Thank you for the fantastic giveaway, I’m dying to read this 🙂
Great interview, Erin! 🙂 “Taken” sounds like a great read.
Favorite book with a male man character: Oh, that’s a hard one! I loved the Twilight series because of Jacob Black (sue me, if you’re a Twilight hater!) I also loved The Hunger Games series because of Peeta Mellark. I think, in the end, The Hunger Games/Peeta wins out.
Thank you SO much for the opportunity to win The Selection. This is at the top of my Wishlist! 🙂 Also, great blog! Will be following.
Thanks, Kathryn! And I adore Peeta as well. He is a great male character — loyal, compassionate, brave; a fabulous counter-weight for Katniss!
TAKEN sounds interesting! Can’t believe we have to wait till Winter 2013 🙁 Is it already done and just waiting or do revisions still undergo?
Welcome, Erin!!
The cover of THE SELECTION is lovely!
Hi Joan! TAKEN is done when it comes to large scale edits. It’s mostly all the details now (copy edits, page passes, cover copy, etc, etc). I still don’t have an official release date yet, but it should be out between Jan and April of next year.
And I totally agree — THE SELECTION just gorgeous!
My favorite book with a male main character is The Maze Runner by James Dashner This book really surprised me in it’s awesomeness. :]
But the Harry Potter books are pretty amazing too.
i really want to read THE MAZE RUNNE – it’d on my TBR pile 🙂
My favorite book with a male main character is The Picture of Dorian Gray. I love a good classic!
Gone by Michael Grant… Sam Temple is an amazing character. He’s expected to be a great leader, and yet he is just an average 16 year old kid, trying to live a normal life… even if he can shoot light beams out of the palm of his hands. He also just wants his mom, and his girl-friend Astrid. He doesn’t want to be a leader, he’s just sort of thrown into the job.
Hi, Erin!
When I’m wrting the characters always seem to come first to me as well. Can’t wait to be introduced to Gray!
Erin is awesome! 😀 My favorite male protagonist book is probably LOOKING FOR ALASKA or AN ABUNDANCE OF KATHERINES, both by John Green. 🙂
Thanks for the giveaway!
My favorite male main character is definitely Percy Jackson from Rick Riordans Percy Jackson and the Olympian series. He just as such a great personality and he’s really funny too! I wish I knew him in real life! I truly adore reading about Percy!
I’m really excited about Taken. It sounds amazing! 😀
Thanks so much Em!!
Welcome Erin! I love meeting new authors and am excited to get to know you more! Taken still has a bit of a wait, but I’ll be looking forward to it! All my best to you!
Thank you! I’m excited to get to know all the PC readers as well 🙂