Category Archives: Author Interview
Fantasy Five Friday: Interview with Anna Banks
I am super excited to have Anna Banks by the blog today for another Fantasy Five Friday! Welcome Anna!
Anna Banks is the author of Of Poseidon. She lives with her husband and daughter in the Florida Panhandle. You can find her on the web at her website, Goodreads, and Twitter.
Could you give us the one sentence pitch of your book?
A merman prince has to convince a human girl that her gift will save his kingdom—oh, and he’s got to do it without falling for her, since she’s supposed to marry his brother and all…
Since you have a fantasy novel coming out, the next question I obviously have to ask is: If you were a fantastical creature, which would you be?
I bet you expect me to say mermaid, huh? Nope. I’d rather be a sasquatch. Tall, dark, handsome, smelly, hairy, and mysterious. Yep. That’s the life. :)
Do you have a favorite fantasy read?
Why yes, yes I do: FIRE by Kristen Cashore.
Generally speaking, which comes first: the world, the characters, or the plot?
The characters. Who they are, what they know, how they feel, what their habits, their secrets, their hopes are. Then how they’ll react to the plot twists you throw at them. From there, you build your world around them and house them firmly in the center.
They are always coming out with new editions of board games. If your book could be a special edition of any board game, which would you choose?
Oh Em Gee these are fabulous questions! I would say Operation, because it scares the shizzle out of you when it buzzes, and it’d be fun to act like Dr. Milligan and learn about Syrena “parts”.
Thanks for stopping by Anna!
Make sure to like the Fierce Reads facebook page. Anna Banks is going on tour with several other authors, and all the details can be found there! I will be at the stop at Anderson’s in Chicago (so if you are going LET ME KNOW!)
About Of Poseidon:
Emma and her friend Chloe are spending vacation in Florida. When Emma (literally) runs into a hot guy named Galen on the beach, little does she know he’s a prince of the Syrena. Galen and Emma both feel something strange – is it attraction? – and Galen suspects that Emma might well be the girl he’s heard of – a human who can communicate with fish.
What follows is a deadly scene with a shark in which Galen witnesses Emma’s gifts. He must know more about her, and follows her back to New Jersey, and high school, to find out for sure if she’s the key to saving his kingdom. Soon, Emma can’t deny her feelings for him, but can’t explain them, either – and both she and Galen must learn more about where she comes from and what her powers are before they can trust one another and their feelings.
Buy Of Poseidon: Amazon | B&N | Book Depository
Fantasy Five Friday: Author Interview with Laurisa White Reyes
I am very excited to have Laurisa White Reyes here by The Book Cellar for another Fantasy Five Friday :)
Laurisa White Reyes has been writing since the age of 5 when she wrote her first poem on scrap of poster board. After earning a degree in English at· California State University at Northridge, she spent thirteen years writing for various magazines and newspapers, working as a book editor, and teaching creative writing. She gave up all that six years ago to follow her lifelong dream of writing novels. Her first book, The Rock of Ivanore, will be released in May 2012. You can find her on the web at her website and blog.
Here’s a bit about the book:
The annual Great Quest is about to be announced in Quendel, a task that will determine the future of Marcus and the other boys from the village who are coming of age. The wizard Zyll commands them to find the Rock of Ivanore, but he doesn’t tell them what the Rock is exactly or where it can be found. Marcus must reach deep within himself to develop new powers of magic and find the strength to survive the wild lands and fierce enemies he encounters as he searches for the illusive Rock. If he succeeds, he will live a life of honor; if he fails, he will live a life of menial labor in shame. With more twists and turns than a labyrinth, and a story in which nothing is as it seems, this tale of deception and discovery keeps readers in suspense until the end.
Could you give us the one sentence pitch of your book?
When Marcus is sent on a quest to find the illusive Rock of Ivanore, he must reach deep within himself to develop new powers of magic and find the strength to survive the dangers and secrets he encounters.
Since you have a fantasy novel coming out, the next question I obviously have to ask is: If you were a fantastical creature, which would you be?
I would be a Hobbit, which is ironic since I mention The Hobbit in the next question. I am a peaceful creature who enjoys quiet activities such as reading, digital scrapbooking and sleeping. Unlike Bilbo Baggins, however, I’m not much of an adventurer. I prefer to stay home where it’s safe and warm.
Do you have a favorite fantasy read?
I read The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkein when I was twelve and the story has stuck with me ever since. But I am also a HUGE Harry Potter 
fan. HP is simply brilliant.
Generally speaking, which comes first: the world, the characters, or the plot?
The Rock of Ivanore began with a character—Marcus, an enchanter’s apprentice who bungles his magic spells. What started off as a series of bedtime stories for my son eventually grew into a book. But with most of my other writing projects, the plot has always come first. I prefer to work out the plot from beginning to end before adding in the other elements.
They are always coming out with new editions of board games. If your book could be a special edition of any board game, which would you choose?
My favorite board game hands down is RISK. And I happen to have a Lord of the Rings version, which I treasure (but I can’t get anyone to play it with me.) I would love to see a Rock of Ivanore version of RISK where the goal is to conquer all of Hestoria.
Thanks so much for stopping by Laurisa!
Buy The Rock of Ivanore: Amazon | B&N | Book Depository
Fantasy Five Friday: Interview with Dan Haring
I am super excited to have Dan Haring by the blog today for another Fantasy Five Friday! Welcome Dan!
Dan Haring is the author of Oldsoul, which debuts April 24th. He has a degree in animation and has worked on movies like Tangled (Ummm coolest thing ever!) You can find him on the web at his website, blog, Goodreads, and Twitter.
Could you give us the one sentence pitch of your book?
Jason must harness the skills of the souls within him in order to combat the immortals bent on destroying humanity.
Since you have a fantasy novel coming out, the next question I obviously have to ask is: If you were a fantastical creature, which would you be?
I’ve honestly never thought about that. I’d love to be something that could fly. Dragons are cool, but usually they’re jerks. Maybe a
griffin.
Do you have a favorite fantasy read?
That’s a tough one. I’d have to say it’s a tie between The Hobbit/Lord of the Rings and Harry Potter. Both worlds are incredible.
Generally speaking, which comes first: the world, the characters, or the plot?
With OLDSOUL it was the character, with my current WIP it was the plot. It just depends on the project I guess.
They are always coming out with new editions of board games. If your
book could be a special edition of any board game, which would you
choose?
I love the Lord of the Rings edition of Risk I have, so that would be awesome. I don’t know that my book is epic enough for that though.
Here’s a bit about Oldsoul:
Jason Gouvas doesn’t want to believe he has special abilities or that he’s an Oldsoul– a vessel for the souls of people who have passed away, but the dead girl in his mind can be very persuasive.
Her name is Erin, and through her Jason is able to access the knowledge and skills of the souls within him. And with a group of power-hungry immortals bent on destroying the Oldsouls and overthrowing humanity, he’s going to need them all.
Interview with Zoraida Cordova
I am super excited to have Zoraida Cordova by the blog today for a part of her Book Bloggers of the Deep Blog tour!
Zoraida Cordova is the author of The Vicious Deep and The Savage Blue. You can find her on the web at her website, Twitter, Goodreads, and Facebook.
Could you give us the one sentence pitch of your book?
Tristan Hart discovers his true identity as the Sea Court returns to Coney Island in search for their next king.
Since you have a fantasy novel coming out, the next question I obviously have to ask is: If you were a fantastical creature, which would you be?
This is incredibly tough. I’ve always been a fan of creatures that are a hybrid. How cool would a phoenix woman be? I’d definitely be that.
Do you have a favorite fantasy read?
I love fantasy movies, but when it comes to books, my favorite is the Kiesh’ra shifter series by Amelia Atwater Rhodes, specifically the first two installments, HAWKSONG and SNAKECHARM.
After that I’m a huge urban fantasy girl. The mix of fantasy in an urban setting? YES PLEASE. This is why I love Holly Black, Charles De Lint, and Martin Millar.
Generally speaking, which comes first: the world, the characters, or the plot?
The world came first time me. Not just Coney Island, but the creatures that live in the shadows of New York. Then came Tristan. And when I figured out what kind of guy Tristan was, the plot fell around him.
They are always coming out with new editions of board games. If your book could be a special edition of any board game, which would you choose?
I’m a fan of Monopoly. Seriously, I was one of the only kids I knew who had fun playing Monopoly. I even have a Disney Villains edition!
Who was your favorite character to write in The Vicious Deep?
About The Vicious Deep:When an unnatural riptide sweeps lifeguard Tristan Hart out to sea for three days and then dumps him back on the shore of Coney Island, it’s the start of the Sea Court claiming its own. Suddenly, Tristan’s girlfriend dramas and swimming championship seem like distant worries as he discovers the truth: he’s a Merman. Now Tristan must fight for his life, the lives of his friends, and his humanity (if he still wants it), while competing in a race for a throne as ancient as the gods.
Seductive, duplicitous, and with an agenda of their own, these are not the mermaids you know.
Fantasy Five Friday: Interview with Linda Ulleseit
I am excited to have Linda Ulleseit by the blog for another Fantasy Five Friday interview.
Linda Ulleseit is the author of On a Wing and a Dare. Linda Ulleseit was born and raised in San Jose, California, and has taught elementary school there since 1996. She enjoys cooking, cross-stitching, reading, and spending time with her family. Find her on the web at her website and Twitter.
Could you give us the one sentence pitch of your book?
Since you have a fantasy novel coming out, the next question I obviously have to ask is: If you were a fantastical creature, which would you be?
Do you have a favorite fantasy read?
The Marked Tour: Interview with Inara Scott
I am excited to have Inara Scott by the blog today as part of her blog tour for The Marked!
Inara Scott is the author of Delcroix Academy (The Talents) and The Marked, as well as two adult novels, Rules of Negotiation and Radiant Desire. You can find her on the web at her website, blog, Goodreads, and Twitter.
If the characters from The Marked got stuck on a deserted island, who would fare the best? The worst? And who would be the one to get them off the island?
I assume we are putting aside any special, ahem, talents these individuals might have. Because that would make solving this problem too easy. ;-)
So…even though she’s just starting to figure this out, the truth is that Dancia is a problem solver and a leader. She might not know the most of all the people in the group, but she’d be the one to pull together all the information they do have. Jack is tough, but he doesn’t trust anyone and would have a hard time working with the group. Cam would help keep everyone motivated and together, but I don’t think he’d come up with the most creative ideas.
So I think Jack would probably fare the worst (poor Jack!), Cam and Dancia would make sure the rest of the group worked together, and Dancia would end up getting them off the island. :-)
Given the opportunity, where would you love to travel to?
Oh, I’d love love love to go to New Zealand and Australia. The scenery is so beautiful (I’d have LOTR fantasies the whole time I was in NZ!), and the people seem incredibly nice. And I’d really like to snorkle around the Great Barrier Reef, although I’d be terrified the whole time that I was going to be eaten by Jaws.
What two characters from two of your books would be friends?
Hmm…Well, this will make more sense after you’ve read The Marked, but I think Barrett and Jack could be great friends. Barrett would make Jack laugh, which would be good for him. Jack can be a little too serious sometimes. LOL.
Did The Marked have a theme song at all?
Not really–would you pick one for me? :-) I can’t write with music playing, so I don’t have playlists for my books. I wish I did!
What has been one of your favorite moments since being published?
A few months after the first Delcroix book came out, I got a incredible letter from a girl who is dyslexic who said she normally hates to read (because it’s hard and takes her a long time) but she loved The Talents and was now considering reading more books because of it. That was amazing. Probably the other would have been traveling on tour for the first Delcroix book release. I felt like such a rock star.
That is so awesome! Thanks so much for stopping by Inara! Make sure to check out my review of The Marked and a giveaway as well, which both went up today!
Make sure to follow the rest of the blog tour!
3/6/2012 Murphy’s Library
3/7/2012 Verb Vixen
3/9/2012 Chick Loves Lit
3/16/2012 The Book Life
3/18/2012 Up! Brasil
3/22/2012 Chapter by Chapter
3/29/2012 Two Chicks On Books
4/2/2012 Michelle & Leslie’s Book Picks
4/4/2012 The Hardcover Obsession
4/6/2012 The Princess of Storyland
4/9/2012 A Reader’s Adventure
4/13/2012 Steamed
4/16/2012 Fangs, Felines, Fins & Fun Fiction
4/20/2012 IceyBooks
4/24/2012 Buried in Books
4/27/2012 Good Choice Reading
About the Book:
All of her life, Dancia Lewis has wanted to use her powers for good. And now that she’s learned the truth about Delcroix Academy—and herself—she may just get the chance. But being part of Delcroix’s top secret Program isn’t anything like Dancia expected. She has to ask herself: what happens to the Talented kids who refuse to pledge their loyalty to the Program? And why did her friend Jack run away rather than join? Dancia’s adorable boyfriend Cam insists they need the help of every Talented student to defend Delcroix from dangerous enemies outside their gates. But Dancia has to wonder: what if Delcroix’s most frightening enemies come from within?
Buy The Marked: Amazon | B&N | Book Depository
Fantasy Five Friday: Interview with Aimee Carter
I am super excited to have Aimee Carter by the blog for another Fantasy Five Friday (on a Saturday).
Aimee Carter is the author of The Goddess Test trilogy, as well as the upcoming book, Masked. She lives in Michigan and received a received a degree in Screen Arts and Cultures from the University of Michigan.
Could you give us the one sentence pitch of your book?
When the King of the Titans is released by a vengeful goddess, the newly-immortal Kate Winters must track down Persephone and find a way to save not only her family, but the entire world.
Since you have a fantasy novel coming out, the next question I obviously have to ask is: If you were a fantastical creature, which would you be?
A phoenix, no doubt about it. Fire? Awesome. Long lifespan? Even better. General awesomeness? Bring it on.
Do you have a favorite fantasy read?
Harry Potter. Is that cliché? Probably, but it’s the truth. Harry Potter changed my life in more ways than one, and it helped me get through my mother’s death. I’m also a huge fan of David and Leigh Eddings’ Belgariad and Mallorean series.
Generally speaking, which comes first: the world, the characters, or the plot?
The plot. For me, it’s always, always, always a conflict or an interesting situation, and everything sort of snowballs from there. And if it doesn’t, then I set it aside and work on something else until the pieces fall into place. Characters are incredibly important, but I tend to build them around the plot during the outline stage. However, once I’m writing the manuscript, the characters I’m writing dictate how the plot unfolds.
They are always coming out with new editions of board games. If your book could be a special edition of any board game, which would you choose?
Ooh, this is an awesome question. I’m going to have to go with Clue, especially considering the plot of the second book – the Titans are the only ones who can kill a god, so it’s pretty perfect.
Aimee’s second book, Goddess Interrupted came out on March 27. Here’s a bit about the book:
Kate Winters has won immortality. But if she wants a life with Henry in the Underworld, she’ll have to fight for it.Becoming immortal wasn’t supposed to be the easy part. Though Kate is about to be crowned Queen of the Underworld, she’s as isolated as ever. And despite her growing love for Henry, ruler of the Underworld, he’s becoming ever more distant and secretive. Then, in the midst of Kate’s coronation, Henry is abducted by the only being powerful enough to kill him: the King of the Titans. As the other gods prepare for a war that could end them all, it is up to Kate to save Henry from the depths of Tartarus. But in order to navigate the endless caverns of the Underworld, Kate must enlist the help of the one person whom she would really rather not meet. Henry’s first wife, Persephone.
Fantasy Five Friday: Interview with Marissa Burt
I am very excited to have Marissa Burt with us here for another Fantasy Five Friday! Welcome Marissa.
Marissa is the author of Storybound. She now lives in the Seattle area. You can find her on the web at her website, Goodreads, and Twitter. And like Storybound on Facebook!
Could you give us the one sentence pitch of your book?
Sure! Shy, twelve-year-old Una Fairchild is suddenly transported by a mysterious book into the Land of Story, where characters from books train to be cast into a Tale of their own, and Una attends the Perrault Academy while trying to discover who has Written her In and why.
Since you have a fantasy novel coming out, the next question I obviously have to ask is: If you were a fantastical creature, which would you be?
Hmmm. The middle-grade me would say without hesitation…a talking cat. Nowadays, I think I would choose to be a human in a fantasy world, but I’d want to have some sort of magical powers. I’d love to be a sword master or a brave warrior – courageous characters are my favorite! And flying capacities that don’t involve getting on an airplane wouldn’t hurt either – haha! Fantasy me would definitely have a pet dragon.
Do you have a favorite fantasy read?
Lots of them! The first fantasy I read might have been TAILCHASER’S SONG, by: Tad Williams (hence, the aforementioned desire to be a cat). I still read THE LORD OF THE RINGS trilogy annually, so I should probably mention that, and I’m a sucker for George R. R. Martin and Robert Jordan’s epic tales.
Generally speaking, which comes first: the world, the characters, or the plot?
For STORYBOUND, the world came first. Whenever I read a beloved book, I’m always so sad when the story ends, and I imagine the characters going on about their lives – without being spied on by nosy readers. So I wrote a story about a girl falling into that world. Plot follows hard on the heels of an interesting character being thrown into an enchanting world.
They are always coming out with new editions of board games. If your book could be a special edition of any board game, which would you choose?
What a question! If Alison Klapthor and Brandon Dorman (the two artists who worked on STORYBOUND’S cover) were involved, I’d love to see something graphically rich like a fabulous Monopoly edition (a game I despise) or an epic puzzle (I love puzzles!). But for a playable game, I’d want a special edition Settlers of Catan, and we could have fairy tale villains and heroes fighting over Story’s resources. How fun!
Thanks so much for stopping by Marissa! Marissa’s book Storybound came out April 3. Here’s a bit about the book:
In the land of Story, children go to school to learn to be characters: a perfect Hero, a trusty Sidekick, even the most dastardly Villain. They take classes on Outdoor Experiential Questing and Backstory, while adults search for full-time character work in stories written just for them.
In our world, twelve-year-old Una Fairchild has always felt invisible. But all that changes when she stumbles upon a mysterious book buried deep in the basement of her school library, opens the cover, and suddenly finds herself transported to the magical land of Story.
But Story is not a perfect fairy tale. Una’s new friend Peter warns her about the grave danger she could face if anyone discovers her true identity. The devious Tale Keeper watches her every move. And there are whispers of a deadly secret that seems to revolve around Una herself….
With the timeless appeal of books like A Wrinkle in Time and the breathtaking action of Inkheart, Storybound has all the makings of a new classic. Brimming with fantastical creatures, magical adventure, and heart-stopping twists, Storybound will leave readers wishing they too could jump through the pages into this enchanting fairy-tale world.
Tour: Author Interview with Marni Bates
Marni Bates is the author of Louder Than Words: Marni and Awkward. You can find her on the web at her website, Goodreads, and twitter.If the characters from Awkward got stuck on a deserted island, who would fare the
best? The worst? And who would be the one to get them off the island?
Logan would probably fare the best because he’s so athletic and resourceful. Jane
would fare the worst because she’d be freaking out over all the schoolwork they were
undoubtedly missing. I mean, getting rescued from a deserted island can take weeks!
That can seriously mess with a GPA.
But I think Mackenzie would be the one to save them. She probably taught herself
Morse code a few years ago and used it to send a smoke signal cry for help. I have a
feeling her love of documentaries would definitely come in handy.
If you could have lunch with one of your characters, who would you choose?
I’m working on the fourth book right now and it’s from Chelsea’s point of view, which
is weird since I hated her in Awkward. But now the two of us have this weird bond. So I
think I would have lunch with Chelsea and then give her this enormous hug.
Trust me, she needs it.
Was your writing process different writing Awkward than it was for your Louder Than
Words book, Marni?
The process was entirely different because writing Marni meant I had to stay true to my
real life experiences. In same ways, that made it easier. I couldn’t write about rockstars
skyrocketing me to fame (sigh) and instead had to focus on the most pivotal moments
of my development. But it was also really hard to put into words the sensation of
ripping out your hair. I had to relive the darkest parts of my life with brutal honesty. Not
something I think I would voluntarily undergo again.
That said: writing Awkward wasn’t all that different. I still spent hours staring at a
computer screen trying to find the right words. And I still had to push myself into some
dark emotional places so I could accurately convey the right emotions. It might sound
weird, but it’s definitely possible to become so immersed in a fictional character’s
drama that it feels absolutely real. I still have to be careful not to let myself get too
sucked into their emotional baggage!
If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go?
Right now, I would love to go back to Cambodia! Chelsea’s novel takes place there and I
would love to spend more time admiring the temples and enjoying the cheap massages.
You know, for research.
If you could go back in time for one day, where would you choose?
Depends if I am there in a strictly observatory role or if I could make a difference. I’m
not sure I would want to mess too much with history but . . . it would be really cool to
have lunch with Eleanor Roosevelt. Such an amazing activist!
Could you tell us 5 random facts about you?
~I briefly wanted to be a professional juggler on a cruise ship.
~If I’m on a boat for more than thirty minutes I will probably puke. I’ll be nice and polite
about it but I will secretly consider jumping overboard.
~I made a cheesecake for my future sister-in-law and had a panic attack when I thought
I had destroyed it. I tripled part of the recipe. The butter, I believe…but it all worked out
okay!
~I named my first computer Logan (although I sometimes pronounced it “log on!”) but I
decided my MacBook Air is a lady! Ms. Amelia AirHeart goes everywhere with me now.
~I hate snakes. More than almost anything. And as soon as people hear that they always
want to tell me their stupid snake stories!
I don’t want to hear them!
Fantasy Five Friday: Interview with Katherine Roberts
I am super excited to have Katherine Roberts by the blog for another Fantasy Five Friday.
Katherine Roberts is the author of Sword of Light, Spellfall, The Echorium Sequence, and several other novels. You can find her on the web at her website and blog.
Could you give us the one sentence pitch of your book?
“King Arthur’s daughter, Rhianna Pendragon, sets out on a quest for the four magical Lights to restore her father’s soul to his body.”
Though that’s actually cheating a bit, because it describes the whole four-book series! In “Sword of Light”, Rhianna is just looking for the first Light, Excalibur.
Since you have a fantasy novel coming out, the next question I obviously have to ask is: If you were a fantastical creature, which would you be?
Ah, that’s easy! I love horses and espeially magical ones, so I’d be a unicorn. I already have a unicorn muse – he blogs at www.reclusivemuse.co.uk and tweets at www.twitter.com/reclusivemuse and is currently searching for his name. (There will be a competition soon to name him, so keep your eyes open…)
Do you have a favorite fantasy read?
I’ve enjoyed a lot of fantasy books, but my all-time favourite (because I’ve read it 11 times) has got to be JRR Tolkien’s “The Lord of the Rings”. I think it was the first epic fantasy I read, and I loved the whole world of elves and dwarves, hobbits and dragons, magicians and heroes, and of course the sinister dark lord. There’s an echo of Lord of the Rings in my Pendragon Legacy books, with Mordred replacing the dark lord.
Generally speaking, which comes first: the world, the characters, or the plot?
For me, it’s usually the world. I sometimes base this on a real place or historical period, adding my own ideas with a bit of magic included. Then I invent some characters and bring them to life, and finally I let the characters tell me the plot…
They are always coming out with new editions of board games. If your book could be a special edition of any board game, which would you choose?
Mmm, interesting question! Perhaps Cleudo. (e.g. Who killed King Arthur? Mordred in the dungeon with the axe…)
Thank you so much for stopping by Katherine!
About Sword of Light:
It is the darkest hour of the darkest Age. King Arthur is dead, killed by his wicked nephew, Mordred. Saxon invaders rampage across the land and forces of evil are gathering. The path to the throne lies open to Arthur’s only remaining flesh and blood – Mordred. But there is one with a better claim than Mordred – Arthur’s secret child. Brought by Merlin to enchanted Avalon as a baby and raised there for protection, the king’s heir must take up a vital quest: to search for the four magical Lights with the power to restore Arthur’s soul to his body. Introducing Rhianna Pendragon: unlikely princess and Camelot’s last hope.
