Interview Nikki Z. Richard Author of Demon in the Whitelands
Give a warm welcome to Nikki Z Richard, author of Demon in the Whitelands.
Pull up a chair, grab a drink of your choice from the cooler, a Chocolate Chip or Peanut Butter cookie from the plate, and let’s find out a little about Nikki and Demon in the Whitelands! Pssst… Don’t forget to enter the Rafflecopter at the end of this post!
How long have you been writing?
I’ve been writing creatively (in some form) since I was in middle school. I started out mostly writing sappy emo poetry and vampire stories, none of which will ever see the light out day. It wasn’t until my sophomore year of college that I decided I wanted to be a novelist. I love books. I love stories. There’s nothing else I enjoy more than writing.
Do you see yourself in your characters?
It’s an old writer’s cliché, but I always see aspects of myself in every character I create. I’ve felt, thought, witnessed, and experienced a lot of great and awful things in my life. I also probably spend way too much time imagining what I would do in hypothetical situations, like living in a post-apocalyptic world. When I write, in some egotistical form or another, I am writing about myself.
Why do you write what you write? Contemporary, paranormal, suspense, etc
I am a dystopian literature fiend. From Octavia Butler’s Parable of the Sower to Suzanne Collins’ The Hunger Game, I fell in love with any story set in a post-apocalyptic world. There are so many interesting things that can happen in an advanced society that has somehow regressed to primal acts of violence. I also love writing about teens and young people, maybe because I still think I am one. For Demon in the Whitelands, I wanted to write a dystopian series about a young person who struggles to find his identity (religious, sexual, moral) in a world where his father’s religion is used by the ruling class as a tool of oppression.
If writing is your first passion, what is your second?
Music! I’ve been in punk, metal, church, and emo bands since I was thirteen. At the moment, I play bass and sing in a pizza-punk band, Infinite Pizza. Music is one of my favorite things. I usually can’t write unless I have my headphones in blasting tunes. (Tunes…I’m so old.)
Excerpt:
the buck quieted its struggle. It panted wildly, its dark tongue hanging out
the crack of its mouth. Samuel got to his knees, drawing closer. The deer
twisted its neck in horror, its dark eyes watching him. They were wide and
black. The eyes of prey.
inside his jacket and got the knife.
said softly as he straddled the deer’s torso, making sure to fully secure him
underneath his legs. The buck’s muscles twitched, but the creature could do
nothing. How had the girl felt when she’d been caught in the bear trap, iron
teeth snapping into her leg? Like the buck? Did she think she’d be free?
Somehow, he couldn’t picture her as a deer. She was more like a scrappy wolf
cub.
Or a demon.
It was wonderful having you with us today. Please feel free to stop by anytime. Good Luck with Demon in the Whitelands!
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Posted in Authors' Secrets Blog and tagged Demon in the WHitelands, Nikki Richard, YA Fantasy by Tena Stetler with 3 comments.
Interview Clare Di Liscia Author of Neliem
Give a warm welcome to Clare Di. Liscia, author of Neliem soon to be released May 21, 2019. Happy almost book birthday!
Pull up a chair, grab a drink of your choice from the cooler, a Chocolate Chip or Peanut Butter cookie from the plate, and let’s find out a little about Clare and Neliem!
What inspired Neliem?
From my earliest recollection, I heard stories of how my father had been tormented at school as a child. Every day without fail, he was the first one out of his classroom, racing with all his might to get home. He had to be. Being slow meant a severe beating, or maybe worse. So he ran. Outdistancing his tormentors, he dared to find safety racing along the dangerous cliffs that outlined his small island as the other children threw stones at him.
This image haunted me for years. And it was the first image I had of my character Oriana. She too was bullied, and needed to outdistance her adversaries. Abuse and discrimination played important roles in my father’s life, which translated into Oriana’s. A beautiful girl who transforms herself from victim to warrior.
Do you see yourself in your characters?
Yes. I could relate easily to what Oriana goes through. She lives in a small minded village, nobody dares break the unwritten laws how girls should behave. She stands out by defending herself, using her dagger when the occasion arises.
Unfortunately, it scares off any potential suitors.
In pursuing a writing career, I too went against the grain. Lots of people told me ‘it won’t happen.’ That I was wasting money going to conferences and writers retreats. I chose not to listen. I followed my passion and continued writing. Now my debut NELIEM is set to release 5/21/2019.
What do you do when you’re not writing?
Easy, I’m swimming. I usually swim every single day for an hour. It’s a way to decompress as well as work out problems I might be facing with a particular book I’m working on. All the noise mutes underwater. It’s refreshing and I highly recommend anyone who wants a writing career to find a means of exercise that they find exhilarating.
Tell us about Neliem, a YA Fantasy.
A sneek peek between the pages of Neliem!
Before I clear the field, I realize too late that it’s a trap. I have been herded like a sheep, far from the few scattered homes, toward the deserted cliffside where no one will hear my screams for help. Another boy with flaming red hair stands behind a tree waiting for me; I recognize him from the market. I can smell him, sweaty with a tangy sweetness that can only mean one thing. He’s been eating apples and waiting for some starving girl foolish enough to think she could steal some fruit.
I reach for my dagger, strength pulsating so deeply that I nearly drop it from my sweaty palm. Then, the voice of the boy of my dreams, whispers, “Hold it steady, Oriana. You can do this.”
I tuck all fear down deep within me. Later, I tell myself; later I will worry.
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Posted in Authors' Secrets Blog and tagged Clare Di Liscia, Neliem, YA Fantasy by Tena Stetler with comments disabled.
Interview with Sara E. Tall Author of Misfit’s Rise
I had a theater teacher in high school that always talked about the power art has to change people’s lives. I modified something he said into my mantra, “To serve Art, and not be served by Art.” The arts—in all of their forms— have saved my life in a lot ways, even if it was just enjoying a fantasy world or a compelling romance. I want to give back to the arts, or use them to serve and help others the way the arts helped me. The same could be said about me as a person. Though my life has not be easy, and there have been difficult and dark moments, it has been full and rewarding as well. I want to help others experience that same fullness, even if it’s as simple as making them laugh or cry or cheer at something I wrote.
Where do your story ideas come from? If they come to you in the middle of the night, do you get up and write them all down?
A good 90% of my stories come from dreams I’ve had. So much so that I actually look forward to sleeping because I’m so excited to dream. As soon as I wake up I grab a notebook and write down everything I can remember. Then I spend the whole day figuring out how my weird and nonsensical dream can actually be a story. Usually there’s a scene or feeling that’s so compelling I can’t get it out of my head, and I build the rest of the story around that. The problem is now I have a like a million story ideas, and only so many years before I’m too old to write.
My current novel, Misfit’s Rise, didn’t come from a dream originally, though I have had dreams about it. I created Misfit’s Rise when I was nanny and the kids were sleeping. Those kids are some of the most creative people I’ve ever met, so I’m sure they inspired the story with more than just their sleeping habits.
What do you like to do when you are not writing?
DANCE!!!! No seriously, anyone who knows me will tell you I like to dance at the most inappropriate times: at work, in the grocery store, in the street, etc…. Dancing is my go-to when I’m procrastinating writing. I also love being outdoors. Hiking, canoeing, swimming, skiing. All these experiences are as close to magic as I am going to get. One of these days I’m going to make volunteer work a big part of my life, but I’m not that organized yet.
You’ve got a time machine, a cloak of invisibility, and one hour. Where would you go, and what eavesdropping would you do?
As soon as I saw this question I knew I had to answer it, even though I had no idea what I should say. I debated overhearing supposed conversations my male friends had about me, since I’m super curious about what went down, but I decided I was better living in ignorance. Then I thought about overhearing some super infamous person in history, trying to get insights into why they did the awful things they did. But once again, I decided it was best to just live in ignorance. Eventually I decided on Ancient Greece during the Greco-Persian war, to witness the battle between the Spartans and the Persian “Immortals.” Essentially, the battle that inspired the move 300. It’s always been fascinated with that battle. I’ve actually got an idea for a re-telling of the Greco-Persian war in space, but that is way down the line. I’m not sure how much eavesdropping I would do, but the invisibility cloak would help make sure I didn’t skewered in the process.
“There’s the little fire freak.” My eyes shot open. Standing before me was Tanya with her usual wannabes. She was dressed in her predictable mixture of bad-girl-meets-prep, wearing the pigtails only she could pull off as chic and not goody two-shoes.
“What’s the matter? Nothing to say to me?” She stepped forward. “Not even an apology for blowing up my house?”
“Not really.” People always said if you didn’t let bullies get to you, they’d get bored and move on. It was time to put that to the test.
“When did you become an arsonist, anyway?” she took another step. “Was it to deal with your dad leaving you in that ghetto with all the other freaks?”
“My father didn’t leave,” I snapped before I could stop myself. “He’s dead.”
“Oh, I’m sure that’s what your mom told you.” She was right in front of my face now. “But we all know if your daddy was dead, you would have gotten a nice life insurance check and you wouldn’t be so dirt poor.”
At different time I might have laughed at that. I guess it didn’t occur to Tanya not everyone could afford a life insurance policy.
“You don’t know what you’re talking about,” I said as I leapt off the bench and shoved my way past her.
“I’m trying to help you, Billie,” she said from behind me. “You and your friends. I know it can be hard coming from nothing.”
Even though I knew I should just keep walking, I whirled around. “You don’t know a thing about us.”
“You know what the number one profession is for girls from low-income neighborhoods?”
The people around us gasped, though the ones trying to look cool laughed. I was almost impressed with Tanya for being that subtle.
I glanced at her Prada bag, my hand twitching. It would be so easy to just rip that thing open. And it would be a lot better than she deserved. But the Officials had told me not to use magic, and I had a feeling my ability to follow their order would affect whether they sent me to the Academy, or to a containment facility.
Slowly, I turned around again. “I’m not listening to you.”
“You and tall-chick might be able to make it, but the chubby one? What guy would pay for a night with that?”
There was more laughter, but I barely heard it as I whirled around and screamed, “Shut up!”
Everything happened too fast. All I knew was that one moment I was glaring at Tanya, breathing hard while she folded her arms and smirked; and the next second the tall, marble centerpiece from the fountain was hurtling toward Tanya’s head.
She screamed and ducked, and the marble spiral crashed down just behind her shoulder. Even though it missed her, it still drenched her and her bag with a splash of murky, icy water.
For a second nobody moved, as everyone’s eyes moved from Tanya, to the wrecked fountain, to me.
It was wonderful having you with us today. Please feel free to stop by anytime. Good Luck with Misfit’s Rise!
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Posted in Authors' Secrets Blog and tagged Alpha book 1, Fae, magic, Misfits Rise, Sara E. Tall, YA Fantasy by Tena Stetler with 4 comments.
Interview with C.E. Clayton About The Monster Of Selkirk
Have a seat and grab an insulated mug. I’ve got hot chocolate, hot cider and coffee. Choose your pot, they’re labeled. Pick your choice of a Snicker-doodle, Chocolate Chip or Peanut butter cookie from the plate. Yep, I baked them myself. Lets find out a little about C.E. Clayton and The Monster of Selkirk. Thanks for joining us!
C.E., did you tell friends and family that you were writing a book? Or did it take a while to come out and tell friends and family you were a writer?
It actually took me awhile to tell people that I had written a book, I didn’t even tell them I was writing it until it was pretty much done. I felt embarrassed, believe it or not, that I was an adult writing young adult fantasy. I thought those in my professional life would laugh at me, and judge me harshly for it. I realize now that was just all in my head, because when I did tell my friends and family, their reactions varied from “It’s about time!” to “Oh my God! That’s so cool! How did you write A WHOLE BOOK?! I could barely write my college term papers!” Now, I don’t hesitate when I tell people I write books.
Do you see yourself in your characters?
I absolutely do! I put so much of myself into these characters, things I wish I was like, or handled differently… I put most of that into my main character, Tallis. Emotionally, she’s like me, but her strength, how she appears, that’s how I wish I was. Tallis’s best friend, Rosslyn, shares a lot of my snarkiness though, making her a treasure to write!
What do you want your readers to take away from your books?
Even though my stories are fantasy, I make sure each of my characters have their own emotional demons to handle. They suffer from anxiety, depression, feelings of inadequacy, trouble fitting in, and have their blind spots for certain people who only end up hurting them with their toxic relationships. We all know people who fit into these categories, even if you don’t yourself. I want people to know that it’s okay to not feel good enough, but that it shouldn’t stop you from being yourself, and doing the things you love. Tallis is a strong woman, but she needs help, like we all do, and I want readers to see that and find a kindred spirit. Even though my stories are fantasy, they are populated with very real feelings and grounded characters that I hope inspire readers.
Okay lets have a little fun. You’ve got a time machine, a cloak of invisibility, and one hour. Where would you go, and what eavesdropping would you do?
I would go as far into the future as I could, and not to use a Sports Almanac to make myself rich, either. But I want to see how it all ends, if the things we did mattered. So I’d listen in on whoever was in charge when all that’s going down. It’s kind of like a Doctor Who episode, but honestly, I’ve always been the kind of person who likes looking at the last page of a book to see if it’s worth it, so of course I’d do something similar if given an opportunity!
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Posted in Authors' Secrets Blog and tagged E.E. CLayton, The Duality of Nature, THe Monster of Selkirk, YA Fantasy by Tena Stetler with 2 comments.
