Blog Tour: Finn Finnegan by Darby Karchut [Blitz + Book Trailer + Characters Description + Giveaway]

Title: Finn Finnegan

Author: Darby Karchut
Series: The Adventures of Finn MacCullen #1
Published by: Spencer Hill Press

Date of Publication: March 12th, 2013

Genres:Fantasy, Middle Grade

Finnegan MacCullen: a thirteen-year-old apprentice with the famous Irish temperament. Gideon Lir: a legendary Celtic warrior with a bit of a temper of his own. Secretly, these blue-collar warriors battle the hobgoblins infesting their suburban neighborhood…when they are not battling each other. Finn (not bleedin’ Finnegan) MacCullen is eager to begin his apprenticeship. He soon discovers the ups and downs of hunting monsters in a suburban neighborhood under the demanding tutelage of the Knight, Gideon Lir. Both master and apprentice are descendents of the Tuatha De Danaan, a magical race of warriors from Ireland. Scattered long ago to the four corners of the world, the De Danaan wage a two thousand year old clandestine battle with their ancient enemy, the Amandán, a breed of goblin-like creatures. Now with the beasts concentrating their attacks on Finn, he and his master must race to locate the lost Spear of the Tuatha De Danaan, the only weapon that can destroy the Amandán, all the while hiding his true identity from his new friends, Rafe and Savannah, twins whose South African roots may hold a key to Finn’s survival. Armed with a bronze dagger, some ancient Celtic magic, and a hair-trigger temper, Finn is about to show his enemies the true meaning of “fighting Irish.”

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | iTunes | Kobo 

All her life, the archetypal hero and his journey have enthralled Darby Karchut. A native of New Mexico, Darby grew up in a family that venerated books and she spent her childhood devouring one fantasy novel after another. Fascinated by mythologies from around the world, she attended the University of New Mexico, graduating with a degree in anthropology. After moving to Colorado, she then earned a Master’s in education and became a social studies teacher.
Drawing from her extensive knowledge of world cultures, she blends ancient myths with modern urban life to write stories that relate to young teens today.
Darby is a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators and the Pikes Peak Writers Guild. She lives in Colorado Springs, Colorado with her husband, where she still teaches social studies at a local junior high school. She enjoys running, biking, and skiing the Rocky Mountains in all types of weather.
Her debut middle grade book, Finn Finnegan, released March 2013 (Spencer Hill Press). The next book in the series, Gideon's Spear (Spencer Hill Press), will be released February 2014. Her YA books include Griffin Rising (2011 Sharp Writ YA Book of the Year), Griffin's Fire, and Griffin's Storm. 

Website | Blog | Facebook   

Finn and Gideon make quite the pairing as master and apprentice. I decided early on that these two were going to have a rough-and-tumble relationship, with lots of head butting and arguing (Finn is a thirteen year old boy, after all). And with both of them being blessed with a generous share of the Irish temper, sparks fly, often with humorous results.

But underlying everything is a growing bond of affection and respect and mutual dependence. Sometimes, they are as much father and son as they are master and apprentice. That said, my favorite scenes to write are when Finn and Gideon are butting heads about something. They both have that famous Irish temper – it makes for some humorous exchanges between them.

I’m often asked who is my favorite character: Finn or his master, Gideon. While I adore my wild Irish boy, I have to say Gideon is probably my favorite to write. He is a delightful blend of warrior and bard; strict teacher and father figure. 

Thank you so much for letting me chat about my “boys” today. Readers, feel free to ask me any questions. I’ll be stopping by throughout the day.

a Rafflecopter giveaway