The Alchemists of Loom by Elise Kova ~ Blog Tour + Interview

A brilliant book is always a treat.

As I've mentioned recently, author Elise Kova's The Alchemists of Loom is a fantastic read which provides its readers with beautifully constructed characters and a brilliant steampunk world to explore.

I didn't think I could possibly fall further in love with this book and The Loom Saga but after I sat down to chat with Elise Kova (thanks to the people over at Xpresso Book Tours) I gained a whole new appreciation for The Alchemists of Loom and Elise's writing.

As well as the interview, I also have a wonderful giveaway to share with you guys...so read on for more!

And if you like what you see here be sure to check out the rest of the stops on the tour (see here for the complete tour schedule).

Title: The Alchemists of Loom (Loom Saga #1)
Author: Elise Kova 
Publisher: Keymaster Press
Release date: January 10th 2017

Genre(s): Adult (YA Crossover), High-Fantasy, Steampunk
Page(s): 380 pages

Synopsis: Her vengeance. His vision.

Ari lost everything she once loved when the Five Guilds’ resistance fell to the Dragon King. Now, she uses her unparalleled gift for clockwork machinery in tandem with notoriously unscrupulous morals to contribute to a thriving underground organ market. There isn’t a place on Loom that is secure from the engineer turned thief, and her magical talents are sold to the highest bidder as long as the job defies their Dragon oppressors.

Cvareh would do anything to see his sister usurp the Dragon King and sit on the throne. His family’s house has endured the shame of being the lowest rung in the Dragons’ society for far too long. The Alchemist Guild, down on Loom, may just hold the key to putting his kin in power, if Cvareh can get to them before the Dragon King’s assassins.

When Ari stumbles upon a wounded Cvareh, she sees an opportunity to slaughter an enemy and make a profit off his corpse. But the Dragon sees an opportunity to navigate Loom with the best person to get him where he wants to go.

He offers her the one thing Ari can’t refuse: A wish of her greatest desire, if she brings him to the Alchemists of Loom. 

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Booknut: Your books always have such stunning titles. How did you go about naming The Alchemists of Loom?

Elise: I’m really flattered you think my titles are strong! It’s completely a skill I worked on learning—the original draft titles for Air Awakens were awful! For The Alchemists of Loom, I actually had the title idea back before I even had firmed up the plot. I’d built this world and knew I wanted to call it “Loom” and I knew the Alchemists were going to play an integral part in it. I think the words themselves sound quite strong, so when I put them together I never looked back.

Booknut: I just love the concept of the Guilds. What was your inspiration for each of them?

Elise: When I first began publishing Air Awakens, and before, I worked for a large manufacturing company. I learned a lot about factories, tooling, materials science, and supply chains. That really helped me cultivate the world of Loom, because I wanted to create organizations—guilds—that all supported a global supply chain/industry. As for each of the individual guilds’ inspiration, that was merely logically filling in the world and grouping necessary elements together.

Booknut: If you could be in any Guild which one would you like to be a part of?

Elise: I’d love to be a Rivet. I’m already very logically-minded and I’ve always found engineering and design very interesting. Plus, I wish I was better at math!

Booknut: I’m an unashamed Air Awakens series fangirl so I was so excited when you announced the Loom Saga! And my excitement only grew when I realised that it was so different from Air Awakens - complex and entertaining in its own right. How was writing the Loom saga similar or different to writing the Air Awakens series?

Elise: The biggest difference is how much I planned Loom with the mindset of publication. I began writing Air Awakens for fun on Fictionpress and never thought it’d be published. So my original drafts are extensive, wandering, and required a lot of editing. Knowing I would be publishing Loom, and having experience in publishing, I kept a lot in mind from the very beginning, such as: Who would be reading this book? How long will the book be? What important world elements do I need to build first and what can be left to chance? And, many more questions I only learned through the experience of publishing my first series.

Booknut: What do you love most about the steampunk genre?

Elise: The clothes. I’ve always wanted to do a steampunk cosplay, so I think that greatly affected my decision to include it as an element in my story out the gate.

Booknut: Do you have a favourite Loom Saga character to write about?

Elise: I thought it was going to be Arianna (Ari), but it ended up being Florence (Flor). Her story arc became much grander as the story went on and she grew as a character. So I’ve particularly enjoyed crafting her journey.

Booknut: Vhalla and Ari are two formidable and incredible heroines, and you’ve done such a great job creating them and allowing them to develop and evolve. What for you makes a good heroine?

Elise: I think what makes a good heroine is the same thing makes a good character in general: They have to feel real as a person.

I don’t think readers want to read about glossy perfect people who never make a mistake, never do something nasty, and are utterly flawless (at least, I don’t). By focusing on making the character/heroine real, it makes them relatable to the reader. A reader may have never embarked on a quest through a steampunk world to thwart a Dragon King… But most readers have said something they haven’t meant. Have befriended someone they never expected. Have faced their fears. Have gotten knocked down and forced themselves back on their feet. It’s those qualities that I think make a worthwhile character to read.

Booknut: What is the quote you connect with the most from The Alchemists of Loom and why?

Elise: “… a mind imprisoned was not a mind that could think great thoughts.”

I honestly forget sometimes quotes I wrote. So, when a reader pulled this out as one of their favourite quotes in an Instagram image I literally did a CTRL+F on my document to see if I really wrote it.

This quote resonates with me because it’s something I fundamentally believe. Everyone on this earth is capable of great things if they free their minds to see the fact and dare to conceive that greatness. The things that chain our thoughts are varying and many we don’t realize. Society dictates a lot of what we “should” think, alongside other forms of censorship. Even thinking, “I can’t do that”, is a way we imprison our own mind. So I do like the idea of freeing your mind to think big thoughts.

Thank you to Elise for taking the time to answer my questions and congratulations on the Loom Saga and The Alchemists of Loom!

Giveaway: Tour-wide giveaway (US/CAN)

1 Signed Hardcover of The Alchemists of Loom

3 Hardcover Preorders of The Alchemists of Loom (Available through TBD)

5 Swag Packs

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Interested in learning more about author Elise Kova and her books?

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