An unrequited love
and a disturbing family secret
bring a World to the brink of War.

In this coming-of-age story set in a medieval  kingdom, Andrea is a headstrong princess longing to be a knight who  finds her way to modern-day California. But her accidental return to her  family's kingdom and a disastrous romance brings war, along with her  discovery of some dark family secrets. Readers will love this mix of  traditional fantasy elements with unique twists and will identify with  Andrea and her difficult choices between duty and desire.

Welcome to Poisoned Rationality Andrea! 


Thank you, Lexie for having me today at Poisoned Rationality which, by the way, is the coolest name ever. 

Thank you so much!  I'll admit this is the first time I've had actual royalty on my blog, so I'm a little bit...flustered shall we say?


That makes the two of us. I'm nervous too for I have never been  interviewed before. I like to keep a low profile, for obvious reasons.

Just don't trust anyone claiming to be a Nigerian Prince with desperate need for money, I think you'll be okay otherwise!  Without giving away the ending to your story, how are things working out for you?  Have you come to terms with who you are?

I don't think we ever get to know ourselves totally because we are always evolving.  That  said, I am happy to be on Earth today and, yes I've accepted who I am.  But the road to get here was not always a straight one.

Coming from your world to ours, what do you feel both worlds could learn from each other?

That we are all similar inside.  Yet, I do agree with my uncle that our two worlds must not know about each other.

Is there anything about our world that continually shocks or amazes you?

Everything.  From running water to being able to fly. Computers, refrigerators,  cars, malls, I could go on all day. Living on Earth is so exciting!   In another level, I love the freedom I have in this world, especially the freedom to decide my own future.

If  you were to stay in our world permanently, what would you miss the most about your  own world?  The least?  I admit the rigidity and formality of your life  as a Princess is quite daunting!

My family. Especially my sister Margarida and my mother. Also my old nurse, Ama Bernarda.  And Flecha. When I was ridding Flecha was the only time I felt free in my world. I'd miss that.


Throughout  the course of your book, you're constantly at odds  with who you are,  who others want you to be and who you think you  should be, something all  teens have to face at some point.  Do you have  any advice for the  readers who face the unknown future?

I  guess you're right. I did have a problem with my self-image since  I  was a child because I wanted so much to please my father. But Father wanted a boy and I was a girl. So no chance to succeed there.

Then  I promised my mother I would be a lady if she helped me with Julian.  And she did, and I tried very hard to fit the idea I had of what being a  lady meant. Which now I realized was a losing proposition too. But my  mother is right, I did become a lady, only I was still very much myself.  If that makes any sense.

So my advice is to be yourself, the best kind of yourself you can be.  As the British writer Oscar Wilde put it with his usual wit, "Be yourself; everyone else is already taken."

I always loved that quote...plus my family says the world would implode if there was two of me running around.

And  for a random question: if you were to one day take a position of power  would you rather be known for your actions or for your diplomacy?

Both are fine, as long as either by my actions or my diplomacy  I'd get a positive result, that is, I'd change something in the world  for the better.

Thank you so much for visiting with us Andrea!

You're welcome. And again thank you for having me.

+++


Want to know more?  Check out Carmen's webpage (with discussion questions, a Quiz, history of Andrea's homeworld and even an excerpt from the forthcoming sequel The King in Stone!) and make sure to check out Carmen's other tour stops through Teen Book Scene!

Meanwhile its CONTEST TIMES.  One lucky commenter, through the grace of Random.org, will win a copy of Two Moon Princess of their very own!  Entering is simple, just answer the question below in comments along with your name and a way to contact you.  Failure to do any of the three leads to disqualification.

QUESTION: Have you ever being in a situation in which you feel that you didn't fit in? What did you do about it? (from Discussion Questions)

Rules:

• One entry per person
• US Only
• You do NOT have to be a follower to enter
• Contest ends 4/12/11 11:59pm EST