An addition to my September Authors of the Month is Maria V. Snyder, young adult fantasy author of the Study series (POISON STUDY, MAGIC STUDY, FIRE STUDY) and more recently, theGlass series (STORM GLASS, SEA GLASS). Both series take place in the same, fantastical world where magic, politics and romance mix well.
Q: First, I’m compelled to ask: you went from being a meteorologist (Ok, how cool is that?) to writing your debut novel, POISON STUDY, what sent you that direction?
A: Boredom! (shhh... don't tell ;) My first job after college was as a Meteorologist for an environmental consulting firm. The amount of work came in waves, and we were either extremely busy or bored. During the slow times, I started writing a short story. Ideas were always floating around in my mind, but that was when I began using them. I submitted my first short story for critique at a writing conference inPhiladelphia, and when the workshop leader gave me 7 out of 10, I thought that was pretty good for a first effort and decided to stick with writing for a while. After my son was born and I only had about one hour a day to myself, I had to decide what was important enough to spend that precious time on. Most days writing won.
Q: You do a lot of research for your books, tell us what that’s like (and I’ve got to ask….does it really count as a tax credit? Because I need to do some research in Greece….)
A: I love doing hands on research. And, yes - it is a tax credit for writers! There are some things I can use books for, and I prefer to use children's books. Non-fiction books for kids tend to have large color pictures and simpler descriptions and helps me immensely. I'll also go to the Internet, but if I can find a class or a teacher, then I'd rather go that route.
Some of the hands on research I've done is tasting chocolate with an expert to learn tasting methods, learning how to ride a horse (scary for this city girl!), glass blowing classes (working with hot glass was interesting), karate, and fencing.
Q: Yelena, the main character from your first series, is resilient, resourceful, and a character I really admire. How did she come to be, and how much of you, if any, is part of her?
A: Yelena came to be because she was the best person for the job :) I had a situation. I needed a poison taster who needed to meet a certain criteria. After brainstorming a bunch of "what if" questions, I had a basic personality type for Yelena. As I wrote the story, Yelena's character deepened and grew and surprised me at times.
As for how much of me is in Yelena, that's hard to tell. Writing in the first person viewpoint, I feel like I'm acting. I was involved in the theater in High School, and in order for me to accurately portray a character, I had to know as much about them as possible. Learning the character’s history, family situation, and moral views, I would then translate their thoughts and feelings onto the stage. It is the same for writing. The character’s reaction to certain problems will be decided by their personality not by how I think the situation should be handled. For example,Yelena is braver than I am and a lot quicker with the come back. While I would normally shy away from a tense situation, she dives right in. But I think our basic outlook on life is similar.
Q: That's very interesting, I never thought of writing first person being like that, but now that you say it, I see it completely! I wonder if you're a bad actor would result in a bad first person story...hmmm...
Your world is full of detail, and I love that your two series are set in the same place. Was your love for Opal in the Study series what encouraged you to start the Glass series, or was it another reason? (And thanks for having cameos in the new series!)
A: Actually, it was my editor's idea! After FIRE STUDY, I wanted to write a different book - one not in the Study world. My editor wanted another Study book to keep up the momentum. She mentioned Opal as a potential character. I liked Opal and she surprised me by how valuable she became in FIRE STUDY, but I couldn't think of a story idea with her. I was explaining this to my editor and was literally in mid-sentence when the idea for STORM GLASS popped into my mind. At first we were going to title the book Glass Study or Crystal Study, but I wanted a new title since I had a new main protagonist.
Many of my readers are happy to see the cameos. Although I didn't think of them that way when I was writing. When I wrote Opal's story, she is in Sitia and those characters also live there, so it felt natural to me that they would interact at some point. I also didn't try to force a cameo - like Valek to arrive just because he's a favorite of mine and many, many readers! That wouldn't have been true to Opal's story.
Q: What’s your organization like with your world-building?
A: I wish it was better that it is! I have a notebook for each of my books. In the book, I keep track of characters, events, research info, and names. I'd like to
make a bible of all the books some day. It would save me a ton of time - right now I have to track down the info from each notebook, or, in some cases, I have to flip through the published book to find something.
Q: Your newest release, SEA GLASS (which released this month, so readers, go and buy it at the Book Store nearest you!) continues Opal’s adventures in Sitia with magic, politics, and a really cool element to me, Opal being a glassmaker. I mean, how many characters are glassmakers? Too cool. Maria, can you tell us a bit more about SEA GLASS and what to expect in the second of the series?
A: In SEA GLASS Opal is learning more about her powers. She's also dealing with the consequences of these new powers. The Sitian Council doesn't know if they can trust her, and her future agenda doesn't match with what they want her to do. Besides the conflict with the Council, she's determined to prove to everyone that blood magic is still being used. When everyone doubts her, she has to find the inner strength to continue even when she begins to doubt herself.
Readers can read a chapter from SEA GLASS (and from ALL my books) on my website at http://www.mariavsnyder.com/books if interested.
Q: How is it being part of the new Harlequin imprint, Harlequin Teen?
A: I'm very excited about the new imprint! The two titles that launched the line were wonderful and I believe they have a number of fantastic authors in the line up :) I hope INSIDE OUT does well in April! I already have the first chapter of INSIDE OUT up on my website.
Q: When can we expect the third of the Glass series?
A: It's really hard to talk about SPY GLASS without giving anything away in SEA GLASS :) I can tell you Valek is back, there is a wedding, and Opal needs to find her place in society and decide on her love life. She really wants to be useful and content.
Just FYI - SPY GLASS is coming out in September 2010 - not 2011 as it's written at the end of SEA GLASS. That was a typo.
Mary Malcolm is the author of the debut contemporary romance novel DINER GIRL, released August 2009.
Q: Thanks, Mary, for letting me pick your brain!
A: No problem! I love to have my brain picked. Not my nose, though, I don't know you well enough yet for that. Give me a few years, I might change my mind. *grin*
Q: First up, how long have you been in the writing biz?
A: When I was twelve my family moved me from beautiful, cool, so urban Kent Washington to a farm in the middle no where Arkansas . Actually, the town was named Leslie and I miss it now, but at twelve, I was not a fan. No close neighbors, no one close to my age up on the mountain (yes, we lived eleven miles up a mountain. Talk about making it harder to sneak out of a bedroom window). So, I decided to write a book. It was about a girl who moved to a farm because her family did not love her. *grin* She lived with her Aunt Jenny, met a boy over the fence when the family bull broke out, and learned to love the place just in time for her family to move her again. *lol* I have No idea where that book is now, but I'm So tempted to try to recreate it.
Q: Was DINER GIRL your first completed novel? Tell us about the story!
A: DINER GIRL was my first completed adult, romance novel. I actually wrote the first chapter while dating a doctor a year and a half before I wrote the rest of the book. I didn't know I had an entire book in me and I took a creative writing class with Von Jocks at Tarrant County Community College South East Campus (plug out to the very amazing Ms. Jocks). Finished that first semester, then DINER GIRL popped out within three weeks that summer.
It's about a young woman, Jennifer, who finds herself having to depend on a stranger, Mark, when she's used to being completely self sufficient. They spend one very sexy and very wonderful night together and then doubt kicks in. She finds out she's pregnant, thinks he's in a relationship and decides not to tell him about the baby.
Mark, of course, does everything in his power to win Jennifer's love, make a family and keep the three of them together. Her independence and his desire for a deep love and a family of his own are what keep them together and ultimately push them apart.
This book is so meaningful to me. The characters are ultimately really great people, something important to me in a romance novel, and Mark is just one of those guys who you really want to wrap your arms around and smother in kisses. Totally my kind of guy. Jennifer, on the other hand, is just so freakin' independent. She is completely bent on doing things her way, on finding her own path. That's what makes her awesome.
Q: What is your outlook on Contemporary Romance as a genre, and where do you think its market is headed to?
A: Questions like that are so tough. I love Contemporary Romance. I think there will always be a place for it in the market, but I can see that its popularity fizzles from time to time. It's been fizzled for the past year or so, not as many being bought, and the authors being bought not making as much as they should.
I'm not sure if that's from the writing, or the stories being bought, or perhaps just people being pulled into different things. Personally, I think it's up for a big comeback Very soon.. With life being so hard on so many people, I can't imagine much better than being able to read some funny, Contemporary Romance and step away from the bills and crying babies, and possible eviction notices...even if just for a few hours.
I had an agent tell me that people aren't buying it because it's too close to real life. Right now they want the fantasy. They want the vampires, representative of things they have no control over, they want to read things that don't remind them of the stuff they're dealing with at home.
I disagree. I think people like to read about individuals being faced with their same challenges, and coming out ahead. I can totally see a place for someone who is struggling in their life to pick up a book that's close to what they're struggling with, feel attached to the characters and feel they too can make it out in the end.
*phew* That was a very long answer! In short, Contemporary Romance, good. Market's going to pick up. People Will read Mary Malcolm. Read Mary Malcolm. Read Mary Malcolm. Just kidding. But do. Read me. *grin*
Q: What was the experience like working with Cindy Davis, your editor at The Wild Rose Press?
A: Oh! Cindy Davis is the bomb. She's so great at asking the questions that I think readers would ask. As a writer, it's nice to have someone point out, "Hey, I don't think a woman would do that here" and you having to come up with a reasonable answer as to why she would. The other amazing thing, she didn't try to change my story.
I had another house look at it, another editor. She wanted me to change so many things that I felt were essential to the story. I'm so glad I didn't do it. DINER GIRL is personal to me, and I think the right audience will find it is personal to them, as well. And Thank You, Thank You Cindy Davis for seeing the story inside and helping tell it in ways that make it more accessible. Such a great experience.
Q: As someone who is eagerly pushing me to join the RWA (which I'm so planning to when I get the moola!) tell us the benefits of being in a group like this?
A: As a national organization, Romance Writers of America has the largest membership of pre-published to well-published industry members of Any writing organization in the US , and most certainly the world. We have writers from across all Genres’ join because of the amazing benefits offered (seriously, James Patterson and Barry Eislerare both members. So totally not romance writers). It's not just about Romance. It's about building one's career as an author. From knowledge building workshops, to marketing tools, insider information on publishers and agents, contests, conferences, and possibly the largest networking mega-frame out there, RWA offers writers from every level a chance to build their careers and grow in this sometimes impossible industry.
On a more personal note, if you step outside of RWA as a national organization, one of the biggest perks are the local organizations. I'm a member of North Texas Romance Writers of America. We meet on the Third Saturday of every month at La Hacienda Ranch in ColleyvilleTexas (another shout out). What makes this organization so terrific, and specifically, NTRWA, is that you Meet people just like you. At any given level in your career, you will find your writing soul mates in these chapters. These are people struggling, succeeding, growing, changing the face of writing...and you have a chance to hug their necks and pick their brains any time you want.
I believe the only reason I am published today is the support, the love, the push and ego boosting these people give me. I wish Everyone had a group like this. I would Highly recommend RWA for writers of every genre and at every level in their careers. It is an investment, but it is worth it when you realize what you get out of it in return.
Q: What is your writing work-day like? How do you plot and organize?
A: *snicker* P-plot?? *snicker* O-o-organize?? *lol*
My writing day consists of me going to my daily (night shift) job and making it my priority to do Something writerly every stinkin’ night. So, some nights it’s editing, some nights it’s writing, some nights its reading up on industry, or coming up with lists of agents and publishers I think would be interested in my current work. I’m trying like heck to finish my current work-in-progress before November, so right now my writing day is me working like crazy to get out the word count that will get me there.
Okay, as for plotting and organizing, actually, I am a pantser through and through. Not everyone is. I do organize my writing; I just do it in a way that does not plot out the story ahead of time. Um...how to explain...I write from a three-act structure. I know where everything is supposed to hit. Knowing this, I can create parts of the stories and weave them together following the three act structure, rather than an actual plotting grid.
This is best for me. I know a lot Lot of people who say the characters do not actually tell the story, the author does...and while I agree with them, it is only so I don't have rocks thrown at me. *grin* I enjoy thinking through situations as they fall on paper. Do you remember those Adventure novels from when you were a kid? Pick Your Own Adventure, or something like that?? That's what my writing is like. To make heroine kiss hero, turn to page 23, to make her fall into a pit of mud and break her pinky, meeting the cute doctor at the hospital, turn to page 16.
Okay, maybe not exactly like that, but I like having that freedom. Part of the fun for me is knowing the story can go in So many different directions. Ultimately, because I follow a general structure, it gets where it needs to go.
I just don't always know where that is at the beginning.
Q: Are you currently working on anything else? If so, can you tell us about it?
A: Oh So Fabulous! I'm working on a novel named FIRST DATE KATE. Totally awesome name, right?? FIRST DATE KATE is a romance columnist who dates guys from the personals section of her paper and then rates them on a scale of Dud to Stud. Everything is going along great until one of the duds fights back and her matchmaking editor talks her into a series of five dates. Definitely not something someone named First Date Kate would be excited about. *grin* You all will Love it. Think, "How To Lose a Guy in Ten Days" meets "Fifty First Dates." So Much Fun. This is my new favorite book and I can't wait to share it with the world.
Q: How can people find you? Do you have a website?
A: Yes! www.marymalcolm.com You can find links to buy Diner Girl, as well as excerpts from the first chapter. I love to hear from people, so please feel free to drop me a line.
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Alyson Noël's 9th book, BLUE MOON, released July 2009. The second in The Immortal's series, it continues the story from the first novel, EVERMORE. She is also the author of ART GEEKS AND PROM QUEENS, FLY ME TO THE MOON, CUREL SUMMER, KISS & BLOG, LAGUNA COVE, and SAVING ZOE.
Q: Before I begin the initial interview, I have to ask so I know I’m pronouncing it properly. Is it Noel like the Christmas song? Or more like Nole? (in my head I always think the Christmas song).
A: It’s Noël like Christmas. I was born in December so my mom thought it would be a good fit!
Q: Could you share with us how you came about realizing you wanted to write a book, and how that book turned out to be your debut, FAKING 19?
A: Well, I wanted to be a writer ever since I finished reading Judy Blume’s ARE YOU THERE GOD? IT’S ME, MARGARET back in sixth grade. But other than some truly dreadful poetry written in junior high, and some short stories penned in high school, I mostly just talked about it until the tragic events of 9/11 hit and I was working as a New York City based flight attendant, and figured I’d wasted enough time already and decided to go after my dream. I didn’t purposely set out to write YA per se, it was more that I had a burning story to tell which just so happened to be about a teen. What started as a short story eventually grew into a book, which then became my debut novel, FAKING 19.
Q: A lot of author’s tend to put a little, if not a lot, of them into a character. Do you see a lot of you in Alex (the main character in FAKING 19 for those who are wondering)?
A: Although her experiences are fiction, Alex is definitely me back then. I was completely lost, wandering way off the trail, and had no idea what my future might bring, and no real safety net to catch me if I fell. Those were tough times indeed, but, like Alex, we both made it through!
Q: Out of all your characters, which ones do you relate to the most?
A: I put a little bit of myself into most of my characters, but the ones I relate to the most are probably Alex in FAKING 19 for the reasons mentioned above, as well as Echo in SAVING ZOË and Ever in THE IMMORTALS series—they’ve experienced a fair share of pain, loss, and abandonment, and writing their stories helped me come to terms with my own.
Q: One of my favorite questions, and one that most of my readers love to read about: what was your experience like when querying for an agent? And then when you went on sub?
A: Well, my route to publishing wasn’t the usual one, and the truth is, I didn’t query any agents. I was so green and naïve I went straight to the publishers and received a slew of rejection letters for my efforts, though most of them said they’d love to see it again if I was willing to revise. So I set out to do just that, enrolling in an online writing class to try to figure out what I was doing wrong, and it was a fellow student in that class who lead me to my first agent. When it went out on sub, it was an extremely, hand wringing, nervous making, emotional time, and after months of rejections, I finally pushed it out of my mind and got to work on a new story, and, as luck would have it, the very next day I received an offer of a two-book deal from St. Martin’s Press, and I’ve been writing for them ever since!
Q: EVERMORE was Alyson’s first break into Paranormal Fantasy. It’s all about 16 ½ year old Ever who, after being the only one to survive her family’s car wreck, is left to live a strange life of abilities that go beyond telepathy and being clairvoyant. She tries to hide and avoid her weirdness, but when the mysterious boy, Damen, enters her life, it seems to get ten times stranger.
Alyson, how was it to delve into YA fantasy?
A: It’s been so incredibly fun to write Ever’s story and create the mystical dimension of Summerland I can hardly believe I waited so long to do this!
Q: I have to admit, I read Evermore in 1 ½ days and enjoyed the twist you gave to Damen’s character versus the trend that’s making rounds in teen books today. Without giving too much away (for those who haven’t read the book yet –gasp!-) what made you come up with these different ideas?
A: After going through a tremendous period of grief a few years ago where I lost three people I loved in five months and then nearly lost my husband to leukemia (he’s in full remission now!), I found my way through it by delving into my work, and reading loads of metaphysical books on ghosts, psychics, mediums, reincarnation, near death experiences, angels, chakras, crystals, etc—all subjects I’ve always been interested in—all of which I used to build Ever and Damen’s story.
Q: BLUE MOON, which released July 7th, 2009 (and the book trailer is at the end of the interview), continues Ever’s adventure with Damen and the world of Immortal’s. Give us a few lines about Ever’s new struggles in the second of the series.
A: In BLUE MOON Ever really starts to come into her own, testing the limits of her new immortals gifts and finally getting comfortable in her skin. She’s also getting to know Damen a little better who was kept purposely mysterious in EVERMORE. But just as her powers are increasing, Damen’s are decreasing. And when she travels to Summerland to search for a cure to save him, she discovers the workings of time and is forced to make a heart wrenching choice between going back to the past to save her family from the accident that claimed them—or staying in the future and saving Damen . . .
Q: And finally, what do you feed your muse? For example, mine loves dark chocolate (which is why I probably have yet to shed these last few pounds of baby weight). It’s always around the desk when I write. What about you?
A: My muse responds to loads of green tea, a great playlist, and vanilla scented candles!
Rose Pressey is the author of ME AND MY GHOULFRIENDS as well as HOW TO DATE A WHEREWOLF scheduled to release February 2011.
Q: How did it all start?
A: It was a beautiful summer day in 19--Oh, you mean the writing? Right. I have four older brothers and no sisters. We grew up in an area with not a lot of other kids. I played by myself, a lot. So, I was constantly making up stories and playing make believe. I had an active imagination and still do. Anyhoo, fast forward. For years, I wanted to write books, but I put the idea on the back burner. About four years ago, I read a great book that inspired me. After finishing it, I thought I could write a book. It took almost another two years to get up enough nerve to try it.
Q: What are your favorite kinds of books to read and how many do you read?
A: I enjoy cozy mysteries, and paranormal romance. I definitely like books that aren’t very dark. Humorous and fun. I read a least one book a week. If I'm not writing, I read a lot more.
Q: Is there a particular writer out there who you draw inspiration from or look up to, living or deceased?
A: Janet Evanovich and Mary Kay Andrews.
Q: What has the Road to Becoming Agented been like for you? Spare no detail!
A: I sat down and wrote a book. It was horrible. Beyond horrible. I was temporarily insane and thought it was fantastic. I sent out queries, and even sent it to publishers. Now, I pray they don’t remember reading it, but I’m sure they’ll never forget something that awful.
Anyway, surprisingly, I had no takers. I know, big shock. I wrote my second book. I improved 100 percent. I queried agents, but didn’t find one. I sent my manuscript to a small publisher and they liked it. So, that’s how Me and My Ghoulfriends found a home.
I moved on to my third novel and my writing improved even more. I sent out queries and also sent the manuscript to a larger publisher. About three weeks ago, I received an offer from the publisher. In the meantime, I’d finished my fourth manuscript. The first agent I queried offered representation for my fourth and third manuscripts.
I can say getting the call was beyond wonderful. I think I was in shock when she offered representation. It was a Monday morning and when I saw the number, I knew it was her. I thought maybe she was calling to tell me how much I suck.
Q: What is your typical writing day like? Do you give yourself goals or just fly by the seat of your pants?
A: I like deadlines and set them for myself because it forces me to be productive. So far, it’s worked well. I’ve written four books in a year and a half. I write everyday.
Q: Any advice you feel is the best to give to us aspiring writers, especially to those in the query process?
A: Don’t give up. If you want it enough, it will happen. Read a lot. Write. Write. Write.
Q: Back when you started this process, what did you think getting an agent would be like? And how was it actually?
A: Like I said, in the beginning, I was insane. Ha ha. Seriously, I thought it would be easy, because, hey, I’d written a great book. But when I woke up from my daze, I realized it wasn’t easy and there was a lot of hard work involved.
Thank you for inviting me. I hope HOW TO DATE A WHEREWOLF will be on bookshelves soon.
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