RELIC Blog Tour – Guest Post With Renee Collins + Giveaway!

I’m so thrilled to be part of the Relic Blog Tour, which is hosted by Rockstar Book Tours! For my stop today, Renee is visiting and discussing the inspiration for her Old West setting.  So keep reading to learn more about this awesome book, and don’t forget to enter the giveaway at the end for a signed copy of Relic and a set of Relic almanac pages! (U.S. only)

Title: Relic
Author: Renee Collins
Pub. Date: August 27 2013
Publisher: Entangled Teen
Pages: 400

Find Relic: * Amazon * Barnes & Noble * The Book Depository * Goodreads *

After a raging fire consumes her town and kills her parents, Maggie Davis is on her own to protect her younger sister and survive best she can in the Colorado town of Burning Mesa. In Maggie’s world, the bones of long-extinct magical creatures such as dragons and sirens are mined and traded for their residual magical elements, and harnessing these relics’ powers allows the user to wield fire, turn invisible, or heal even the worst of injuries.

Working in a local saloon, Maggie befriends the spirited showgirl Adelaide and falls for the roguish cowboy Landon. But when she proves to have a particular skill at harnessing the relics’ powers, Maggie is whisked away to the glamorous hacienda of Álvar Castilla, the wealthy young relic baron who runs Burning Mesa. Though his intentions aren’t always clear, Álvar trains Maggie in the world of relic magic. But when the mysterious fires reappear in their neighboring towns, Maggie must discover who is channeling relic magic for evil before it’s too late.

Relic is a thrilling adventure set in a wholly unique world, and a spell-binding story of love, trust, and the power of good.

Please welcome Renee Collins to the blog! I asked Renee to talk about her inspiration for the “Old West” setting in Relic and why it’s important to the story, how she decided to use Colorado as a setting, and what made her decide to add magic in such a unique and unusual way. Here’s what she has to say:

The world of Relic came together in two distinct, but important moments. The idea of the magic system, of the powerful remains of long extinct fantasy creatures, was actually one of the first concepts that came to me several years ago, when I decided I was going to get serious about writing. I knew I had something with the concept, but I didn’t love the world I set it in. Or my characters. So I shelved “relics” away, and forgot about them.

Jump ahead a few years and a couple of finished novels. I’d moved to the beautiful red rock desert of Colorado, in the heart of the West. The gorgeous scenery inspired me, in a way I didn’t even realize yet. Then, one month, my book club chose the novel These is My Words. I read it and fell in love with the harsh, fascinating setting of the Old West.

And then, I had a very rapid train of thought/inspiration. It went something like this: “I’d love to write a story set in the Old West. You know what would make it even cooler? MAGIC. Hmmm, if only I could think of a really unique, awesome magic system. Wait . . . . YES. RELICS! This is the setting for my relics idea!”

 I’ve always loved genre blending stories, and in this case, the blend felt perfect. Relics are ancient and need to be mined, and mining is very iconically Western. Also, magic has always seemed very raw, wild and dangerous to me. Just like the Wild West. Overall, the setting is important, because it is the perfect backdrop to the story I wanted to tell. It’s certainly not one you see a lot of in YA, but that’s something I hope will change!

About the Author:

Renee Collins graduated from Brigham Young University with a degree in History, and currently lives with her family in the shadow of the Colorado red-rock cliffs, though she hasn’t unearthed a relic. Yet. Relic is her first novel.

Find Renee: * Website * Blog * Twitter * Facebook * Goodreads * Relic series on Facebook *

And now for the giveaway! One U.S. winner will receive a signed copy of Relic and a signed set of Relic almanac pages! Simply click the Rafflecopter button below to enter:

Follow the rest of the Relic Blog Tour:

Tour Schedule:

8/19/2013- Jessabella Reads– Review

8/20/2013- Books, Bones & Buffy– Guest Post

8/21/2013- The Quiet Concert– Review  

8/22/2013- Fantasy Book Addict– Interview

8/23/2013- Heather Hearts Books– Review

8/26/2013- Hobbitsies– Guest Post

8/27/2013- The Demon Librarian– Review

8/28/2013- Fade into Fantasy– Interview

8/29/2013- The Eater of Books!– Review               

8/30/2013- Notebook Sisters– Guest Post