Character Interview and A Giveaway: Sin & Dice from Swoon by Nina Malkin

It's only a slightly hostile takeover today on my blog as I celebrate all things Swoon-worthy. So it seems fitting to have Sinclair "Sin" Youngblood Powers and Candice Reagan "Dice" Moskow for an interview. If you missed it, check out my review of Swoon which posted earlier and get ready to hear all the steamy details of a This or That round.

I want to thank Nina Malkin and of course, Sin and Dice for participating in this interview. Some questions are mine, some are Nina's own special blend and all are awesome!

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Candice Reagan Moskow, AKA Dice, and Sinclair Youngblood Powers, AKA Sin—heroine and hero (or is that villain?) of SWOON and spanking brand new sequel SWEAR—riff on each other’s picks for this, that…or sometimes the other thing.

Good kisser or good listener? 

SIN: It's fairly simple to teach someone how to kiss, but not how to listen. Yet listening is the keystone to understanding, and so crucial if romance is to develop and endure. This is something I learned—slowly, but finally—from Dice, so I’m sure she’d choose good listener. Of course, for she and I, kissing came quite naturally.

DICE: I’m tempted to say that Sin would pick kisser. But he’s changed so much lately…I’m going to go with listener!

Lights on or off?

SIN: On! My lady is not shy. She wouldn’t choose to deny her sense of sight. Plus, Dice is…what’s the expression? A morning person…

DICE: Hmmm…Does firelight count? See, our first time was in front of the fire, and I know that holds a very special place in Sin’s heart.

Mountains, beach or a tour of European cities? 

DICE: Sin is incredibly inquisitive. So for him to have his life cut short at18 was especially tragic. He’d been all set to brave the frontier, apply his pioneer spirit—but he only got as far as Swoon, and we all know how that worked out for him! So I’d say his dream vacation would be to ramble around Europe, see some amazing sights, have some real experiences. Only he’d ditch the tour guide straight off.

SIN: The beach, surely. Considering that my lady recently—and mysteriously, might I add—learned to swim.

Bath or shower?

DICE: Bath for Sin. He’s the ultimate sensualist; he likes to luxuriate. Life was hard for him growing up, so now he’s all about indulgence.

SIN: In this hurry-up modern world Dice is as apt as the next person to grab a quick shower and be done with it. But I know her. She enjoys bubbles, and scent, and candles. And she likes the water very hot.

Silly or satirical?

SIN: My lady is intelligent, analytical and at times quite serious. So it may come as some surprise to hear that she is all about this silly. She enjoys bawdy jokes. And slapstick? Zounds, don’t get her started on those Three Stooges.

DICE: Satire is defined as the use of wit to attack the vices and follies of humankind. And Sin’s whole reason for being in SWOON was to attack the vices and follies of humankind. Of course, his attack was a lot more literal, but I’d still say he goes for satire.

Car, plane or foot?

DICE: Plane! Seeing as how he was born in 1751, Sin’s never flown before. And he’s definitely the type to do what he’s never done before—whatever it is.

SIN: Foot. Dice still doesn’t drive, which suits her fine. She does all she can to reduce her carbon footprint, and from what I understand about New Yorkers, they’re all big pedestrians.

Being alone or being stuck with someone you hate?

SIN: Alone. My lady does not suffer fools.

DICE: Alone. Sin’s spent a lot of time alone, so he’s used to it. And I can’t imagine a worse hell for anyone than being stuck with an asshole.

Coffee or hot chocolate?

DICE: Coffee. He’s a fiend.

SIN: Any other time that morning, Dice would choose hot chocolate. My lady has a sweet tooth. You do know of her Cocoa-Puffs obsession?

Pen or pencil? 

SIN: Pencil. A year ago, I would have said pen, since Dice believes in loyalty and would want it in ink. The things she struggles with in SWEAR, however, may lead her reassess her perspective on promises.

DICE: Pencil. Sin is…let’s just say he’s prone to mistakes. He’d want the erase option.

Black, white or gray?

DICE: Sin is prone to extremes, and he definitely has a dark side, so: Black.

SIN: Gray. Dice is adept at recognizing and navigating the gray areas of existence.

Now or then?

DICE: Sin is not nostalgic. He’d say now.

SIN: Now. For the first time, Dice and I have an opportunity to be together without an agenda. She is enjoying it—and so am I.

What one quality do you admire about the other? 

DICE: Sin appreciates what he calls my nobility. Though to me, it’s just honesty. I say what I mean; I mean what I say. My game is no game.

SIN: Dice enjoys my innocence. Don’t laugh! I’ll not deny that I’m a man of some experience, and there have been times I’ve felt compelled to…scheme, I suppose. But my approach to life, especially its pleasures, is most natural, ingenuous.

What is the other’s biggest fear?

DICE: Sin fears injustice. He’s been on the receiving end, and it’s awful.

SIN: Lies. Dice would prefer a brutal truth to a tender lie.

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Nina Malkin is the author of five YA novels, one novella, and an adult memoir.  Before turning to books, Nina was a journalist specializing in entertainment, pop culture, and lifestyles.  She has held executive positions as an editor and writer at Cosmopolitan, Elle, and Teen People, and her work has appeared in Entertainment Weekly, The New York Times, Seventeen, Real Simple, In Style, and numerous other publications.  A New York native, Nina lives in Brooklyn with her musician husband and assorted felines.  Find out more at ninamalkin.com and follow her on Twitter at @SwoonAuthor.

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Giveaway Time!

I'm offering up a SIGNED Swoon and SIGNED Swear to two lucky people (1 person will get Swoon, the other Swear) I want to thank Nina Malkin for the interview and Simon and Schuster for providing the novels!

Rules:

• US giveaway only (sorry, international folks! Next contest will be international though)
• Must fill out form
• Must be 13 years or older
• May only enter once

Good luck and swoon on!