Interview With Stephanie Dray (w/ Giveaway!)

Today I would like to welcome back Stephanie Dray, the FIRST author I EVER interviewed on this blog! Her new book Song of the Nile is out, and she's back to talk about it ^.^ I'm super excited. BTW, you can read my review of the first book in the series Lily of the Nile, as well as my previous interview with her ^.^ Also, the if you noticed the title I said GIVEAWAY that's right! ^.^ Keep reading for the details


The BIO
Stephanie graduated with a degree in Government from Smith, a small women’s college in Massachusetts where–to the consternation of her devoted professors–she was unable to master Latin. However, her focus on Middle Eastern Studies gave her a deeper understanding of the consequences of Egypt’s ancient clash with Rome, both in terms of the still-extant tensions between East and West as well as the worldwide decline of female-oriented religion.

Before she wrote novels, Stephanie was a lawyer, a game designer, and a teacher. Now she uses the transformative power of magic realism to illuminate the stories of women in history and inspire the young women of today. She remains fascinated by all things Roman or Egyptian and has–to the consternation of her devoted husband–collected a house full of cats and ancient artifacts.

The INTERVIEW
1) I was completely sucked in by Song of the Nile, and I wonder how hard of a book this was to write? And/or in what ways was it the same or different from the other books you have written?

I have to tell you, this book almost killed me to write. I didn’t think it would be hard because I had almost fifty thousand words already written when it sold. But I soon realized that most of that had to be tossed away--that the real story was still about Selene’s twisted relationship with the emperor. I was also suffering from a serious crisis of confidence because I knew that this book was going to be darker and more controversial. In the end though, it made me cry, and I think that’s always a good thing.

2) In your afterword of Song of the Nile, you talk about the historical facts versus what changes and spaces you filled in. How did you balance the real versus storyteller's freedom?

My first duty is as a storyteller. I’m not a biographer. And frankly, historians would have a difficult time writing a biography about Cleopatra Selene because the evidence of her life is so fragmentary. However, the implications of those little historical snippets were too delicious to deny Selene her day in the sun. She spent most of her life without being able to voice her true feelings. I hoped to honor her by giving her a voice with which to speak to women today. I do a lot of research to make sure that if I am deviating from history, I’m doing so with a very clear purpose. For example, we don’t know what happened to Selene’s twin brother Helios, but he’s a very important character in my novels because of what he represents to her.

3) What happened to Helios after his disappearance in Lily of the Nile? I'm curious because while there are mentions of Helios in Song of the Nile, his story isn't anywhere near as fleshed out as Selene's. Basically, can there be a story of his journeys?

Assuming that Helios is actually alive, and not a spiritual manifestation of Selene’s darkest needs, I would love to do a story on his journeys during this time period. Can you imagine the exotic travels through Arabia and Kush? I can! Not to mention the fact that the Mediterranean was a wild and wooly place of piracy in those days and Helios would have been in the thick of all of that. I think you should talk to my agent; she would like to hear this idea you have for some side projects for me!

Sniffly Kitty: I would totally tell her that I want to see this story written. HEY STEPHANIE'S AGENT HELIOS' STORY = AWESOME SIDE PROJECT!!!

4) What was it like to do some tough things to your characters? The last book definitely saw some of that, but I feel there are definitely rougher moments in this book?

Some very bad things happen to my characters in this book and they hurt me to write them. What made it harder is that Selene is so overwhelmed with loss at some point that she can’t even cry anymore. And I thought about that--what it might feel like to lose someone you love and not even be able to cry at their funeral. For those periods of depression, I had to draw from a very dark place. The saving grace is that Cleopatra Selene triumphed over these tragedies in her life and I think we can all take inspiration from that.

5) Will there be more books in this vein from you? And any details you are allowed to share would be appreciated.

I have just accepted an offer for the third and final book in the trilogy, so I’d better get to work on writing it! This last one will cover Selene’s life as a mother, and the legacy she will leave behind in her children and in her kingdom. And of course, throughout the empire...

Sniffly Kitty: OOh, I didn't realize there would be a third book! I'm super excited ^.^

The BOOK
Sorceress. Seductress. Schemer. Cleopatra’s daughter has become the emperor’s most unlikely apprentice and the one woman who can destroy his empire…

Having survived her perilous childhood as a royal captive of Rome, Selene pledged her loyalty to Augustus and swore she would become his very own Cleopatra. Now the young queen faces an uncertain destiny in a foreign land.

Forced to marry a man of the emperor’s choosing, Selene will not allow her new husband to rule in her name. She quickly establishes herself as a capable leader in her own right and as a religious icon. Beginning the hard work of building a new nation, she wins the love of her new subjects and makes herself vital to Rome by bringing forth bountiful harvests.

But it’s the magic of Isis flowing through her veins that makes her indispensable to the emperor. Against a backdrop of imperial politics and religious persecution, Cleopatra’s daughter beguiles her way to the very precipice of power. She has never forgotten her birthright, but will the price of her mother’s throne be more than she’s willing to pay?

The GIVEAWAY!
Deets:
1. Giveaway of 1 Brand Spanking New Copy of Song of the Nile, direct from the publishers to you!
2. You refers to 1 person who is chosen at random!
3. Also refers to US & Canada residents only (sorry other folks)
4. Fill out the giveaway form below!
5. Do 1 of the following (bonus points for doing multiple):
- Subscribe to her newsletter
- Follow her on Twitter
- Like/Fan her Facebook Page
6. Giveaway is open until Nov 2, 2011 (that's next Wednesday)
7. Must be over 13 to enter.

Interview & Giveaway with Lindsey Leavitt (11 Books!)

~~The BIO~~
Lindsey Leavitt is a former elementary school teacher and present-day writer/mom to three (mostly) adorable little girls. She is married to her high-school lab partner and lives in Las Vegas, Nevada. She is the author of the PRINCESS FOR HIRE series and SEAN GRISWOLD’S HEAD.

She also feels weird writing about herself in third person.

You can find her at lindseyleavitt.com



~~The INTERVIEW~~
1) Did you come up with the whole magic system for Princess for Hire while you wrote the first book, and how did you come up with the rules (is there more you need to think about)?

I hammered out most of the rules for the Facade agency while revising the first book, and it's been very helpful as I write the next books to have that in place. That said, there are still things that happen that surprise me, and I have to make sure those plot twists still fit into the rules I set. I have notebooks filled with the world building, and I also had a very meticulous editor who helped me with the details. I wanted the rules to be believable, yet a little silly and tongue-in-cheek. The beauty of magic is it's easy to mix in both.


2) What happens when subs (Princess Substitutes) that are permanently attached to a royal become agents?

Okay, I shall try to answer without saying too much (and this might be a little spoilery/confusing if you aren't familiar with either P4H book) There are multiple divisions at Facade, and although many employees start off as subs, they often change fields as adults. Other subs stay subs always. If there is a career change for a long-term sub (or Match), then another Match can be found.

3) A lot of people go to Las Vegas for vacation, but since you live there where do you go and what do you do?

I'm your average suburban mom, so I my day to day life is parks and carpools and ballet and Target. I'm a homebody (helpful for a writer), but I also love to be outside so I swim with my girls all summer and much of spring. There's great shopping, but mostly and I love going to all the awesome places to eat here. Last week we went to a sixty-year-old steakhouse and sat in John Wayne's favorite booth. Love the unique history.

4) Can you tell me more about this prom at a casino thing cause that's a really neat place for prom?

Ha! Yes, in Vegas, we often did much more than the actual dance for Prom. Many couples go to a show on the strip, dinner, quick trip to the dance. Also might take an obligatory limo ride down the strip, or a party in the hotel suites (which sounds like debauchery, and sometimes it is, but our Prom hotel involved ice cream sundaes and a Mel Gibson movie. Wildness!) I went to junior Prom with my now hubby, wore a white dress, and when we walked through some of the casinos, people clapped. One lady in an elevator even told us we were "too young to get married".

~~The BOOK~~
Desi Bascomb's job as a princess substitute has gotten a whole lot more glamorous now that she's advanced to Level 2 within the Facade Agency. Magical make-up, roller-skating celebrities, and the chance to see Prince Karl again are just some of the major perks. Not to mention, she's landed the role of Fairy Queen in her school's production of Midsummer's Night Dream (opposite her best friend's crush. Which is a little weird, but at least he wears a donkey head during their kissing scene). Life should be perfect, but Desi can't seem to shake the feeling that there is more going on with the agency's magic than she's told. Like why is this mind-bending power exclusive to royals? Is it possible that there could be a bigger way to make an impact in both parts of her life?

I really liked this book so check out my review ^.^ I also reviewed the first one: Princess for Hire.

~~The GIVEAWAY~~
The PRIZE? 1 of 10 finished copies of Princess for Hire



OR if you've read Princess for Hire, You can win 1 of 1 copies of The Royal Treatment ARC (Advanced Reader's Copy).



The RULES:
1) You must be over 13 to enter.
2) Fill out the form to win
3) Open to US residents only
4) Giveaway is open until May 10, 2011 (11:59 PM PST)
4) Bonus entries for posting about The Royal Treatment or Princess for Hire (can be a Waiting on Wednesday, Cover Crazy kind of post) or commenting on this interview.
5) I am not responsible for shipping the books (publisher shall be doing the shipping) or for loss or damage during shipment of the books. (I really hope this doesn't happen)

FILL OUT THIS FORM

Interview & Giveaway with Bettina Restrepo (5 Copies!)

I'm very excited to have Bettina Restrepo here today ON THE DAY OF ILLEGAL'S RELEASE (feels extremely privileged) for an interview AND giveaway! You should all go out and buy her book because it was really good as I noted in my review (which you should check out after you read the interview ^.^)

The BIO
Bettina received her Bachelor of Science in speech communication from the University of Texas at Austin in 1993.

She flunked economics her freshman year and decided a business degree wasn’t a good idea. She spent too many years in the corporate world, and finally got brave enough to become a writer.

She loves getting dressed up at Halloween!

Bettina is a mommy, a wife, a daughter, a little sister, aunt and a friend. She spends her free time cleaning, cooking (not very well) , playing Legos, and keeping the Star Wars toys from being eaten by the dog.


The INTERVIEW


1) What was the inspiration for Illegal?

I worked for a Hispanic Supermarket Chain called Fiesta, actually portrayed in the book. I’m a 2nd generation here in the States, the first in my family born on US soil. I’m have always been interested in the “how I got here” story.

But, during my first draft, a horrible incident happened in South Texas. A truck driver, who had over 80 immigrants illegally packed in his truck, abandoned the trailer in the middle of a field. It was July – and he left those people to cook inside the trailer. It was horrific. 19 people died. The Houston Chronicle (I was living in Houston at the time) did excellent coverage – the pictures were so compelling and heart breaking.

My own personal story starts with my Dad. While visiting Miami in the early 60’s, he didn’t want to go home, so he enlisted with the US Army to earn his citizenship (immigrants can still do that). I imagine they promised him world travel and beautiful tropical places…like Vietnam. He stayed in the Army 26 years. He met my German mother at a swimming pool. That’s how a Colombian marries a German and has American kids.

2) What is your view on immigration reform?

Great question. Our system needs some major work.

First, I would like to see the system streamlined by offering an amnesty program so that people who are already here can reveal themselves and pay a fine that would be equivalent to the taxes they would have paid had they been legally employed. Their employers would also have to contribute to the fine.

Second, I would like to see massive fines for employers who knowingly employ illegal immigrants. Many, many corporations (like Fiesta) worked really hard to fairly employ qualified and legal workers.

For instance, the DREAM bill would have extended amnesty to children born in the US to illegal immigrants but had graduated from high school, were attending college and had no criminal record. The bill was never passed – because no one wanted to be the politician allowing ‘illegals’ into the system.

I’m sure there are more angles to consider. People should not immigrate illegally – it’s against the law. But, America can’t beckon with one hand and play halt with the other.

3) Immigration in general is a pretty touchy subject, has there been much backlash (I know your book hadn't been officially published until today, but it's been circulating through reviewers and such)?

Actually, no backlash.

Those who have read the book understand this is one story and one family, not a gilded ‘coming to America’ fairytale.

I’ve had so many teachers say they are going to use the book in their classrooms. ILLEGAL is not just an immigration or Mexican story. It explores family, friendship, gangs, and the impact of those who are ‘unseen’ – and those themes are universal. Actually, I think I could have choosen any nationality and made this story work, I was just most familiar with what I saw.

4) Illegal is a very different book from Moose and Magpie (at least I would assume so having not read Moose and Magpie). Are your plans for writing going forward going to be lots of different genres? Give us a peek if you can!


The only thing Moose and Illegal have in common is their creator.

My next book is called Telenovela – and it’s a comedy. My main character’s name is Mercedes - a foreign exchange student with a bit of a translation problem. I’ve really had a ton of fun writing it.

I would like to do more picture books. I like irreverent humor that makes a child and the parent reading laugh the 1st and the 100th time the read the book.

5) I think it's super awesome that you play with Legos, can I come play with you? What sets do you have, and just tell me about your Legos.


Bettina's very small collection of Spongebob. She loves that crazy cartoon!
I must admit, the Lego sets belong to Hubbie and my son. I have a few sets – like SpongeBob. Over Christmas break, I spent over 100 hours sorting, rearranging and rebuilding (with super glue) a few of our sets while I worked out rewrites in my head. Not all writing is done at the computer.


Just a few of the Lego and Star Wars memorabilia Bettina and her family have.
Now, as to playing. We have play sets, and sets that stay behind glass in our ‘museum’. (also known as the man cave).

But, our next acquisition will be the Lego Death Star for little’ man’s birthday.


Just a few of the mini figures. Sometimes they form and army and march through the house looking to impale toes at midnight.

Sniffly Kitty: Thank you, Bettina, so much for taking the time to answer my questions! (My boyfriend says that he really wants to be your friend and play with your Legos heh~~) I hope Illegal does really well!


The BOOK


Summary from Goodreads
A promise.
Quinceañera.
A promise that we would be together on my fifteenth birthday . . .

Instead, Nora is on a desperate journey far away from home. When her father leaves their beloved Mexico in search of work, Nora stays behind. She fights to make sense of her loss while living in poverty—waiting for her father's return and a better day. When the letters and money stop coming, Nora decides that she and her mother must look for him in Texas. After a frightening experience crossing the border, the two are all alone in a strange place. Now, Nora must find the strength to survive while aching for small comforts: friends, a new school, and her precious quinceañera.

Bettina Restrepo's gripping, deeply hopeful debut novel captures the challenges of one girl's unique yet universal immigrant experience.


~~The GIVEAWAY (CONTEST IS CLOSED)~~
Now, the part you've all been waiting for I'm sure.

The PRIZE: 1 of 5 FINISHED copies of Illegal by Bettina Restrepo

How to Enter:
- Just leave a comment with your answer to this question: Would you break the law to find your family across a foreign border?
- That's it, no need to follow (although that is always appreciated) and no extra entries.

THE FINE PRINT
Contest is open INTERNATIONALLY (yay!)
Winners must be over 13

The winners of the contest will be announced on Bettina's Facebook and Twitter on April 1, 2011. I will post the information here as well. You will have to get in touch with Bettina to contact your prize so make sure to check back!

Check out prices for Illegal at Amazon

Interview with Heather Tomlinson

Welcome! Today, we have the author of The Swan Maiden, Aurelie: A Fairy Tale and Toads and Diamonds - Heather Tomlinson to answer a few questions ^.^

The BIO


Heather Tomlinson grew up in California and New Hampshire, graduating from Wellesley College with a degree in French literature. After teaching English in Paris, and French in the U.S., she worked at a book wholesaler. Now she writes the kinds of novels she likes to read.

In November 2006, Heather moved onto the 48-foot sailboat Adventure, with her engineer husband and cats X, Y, and Z.

When not writing, she can be spotted reading on deck, catching up on the (endless) list of boat chores, or exploring foreign ports.

The INTERVIEW


Isn't the cover gorgeous?

1. What is it about fairy tales that makes you like to write retellings?

For me, coming up with a decent plot is the hardest part of writing a novel. I love developing characters and imagining settings. But what exactly are those characters going to do in those settings? Um….(doodles on empty page) Fairy tales offer a time-tested structure that I’m confident will hold up no matter how hard it’s twisted. Then I get to have fun figuring out who these characters are, and how to account for the very, very strange things that happen in fairy tales.

2. Did you take a trip out to India when you wrote Toads and Diamonds? If so, how was it? If not, what did you do to learn about the Indian culture?

I didn’t go specifically to research Toads and Diamonds, but I had visited northern India as a teenager, so I drew on memories of that trip. Otherwise, books, movies, web sites and many cups of chai were my research aids. I also grew up on an American ashram (religious retreat center), so was familiar with one “flavor” of Eastern thought. India is way too big and diverse to fit into any one novel, so I took the parts that inspired me as a starting point for my imaginary world.

3. Why was Toads and Diamonds so dark? (I found it to be dark anyway)

I think the darkness reflects the roots of the tale. In the French original, the girl who speaks snakes and toads dies a lonely death in the wilderness. While my characters go in different directions, any story that deals with actions and consequences has to address the bad as well as the good. Hopefully there’s enough balance between the two to satisfy readers.

4. What do you love the most about being an author and why?

I love the variety of the work itself. Part the first—researching the historical period; initial setting, character, and plot development; early drafts—is a solitary, inward-looking stage. Revising based on my smart critique partners’ and editor’s suggestions is more of a team effort, along with watching the physical book come together with cover and layout. Finally, reaching out to readers calls on my extrovert side. Every phase brings something different to do!

5. In 2006, you packed up with your husband for a year-long journey on a sailboat what was it like and were there moments of panic where you weren't sure it was a good idea?

Our shakedown cruise, approximately 1500 miles from the town in Mexico where we bought the boat, around the Baja peninsula and up to San Diego, definitely offered some “what were we thinking?” moments. One night off Cabo San Lucas we hit the remnants of a south-bound storm, and were having trouble getting the sails down fast enough to keep the boat from heeling way over (rails in the water time!). Clouds covered the moon, so it was intensely dark, and we were plowing into 15-plus-foot waves. I remember crying as I hauled on snapping lines with wet, cold hands. Yikes!

But when we sold our house and bought the boat, my husband and I made a deal: we’d try it for a year, and after that, as soon as one of us wasn’t having fun, we’d move back to dry land. So far, the benefits have outweighed the drawbacks. Even docked at a marina, I love being so close to the water, and having birds and sea lions for neighbors. We’ve had the good fortune to spend quite a bit of time cruising around Catalina Island, and I’m sure those experiences will make their way into a book, too.

Thanks for inviting me to your blog!

Sniffly Kitty: Wow! So the cruise is still going, that's a pretty awesome and different lifestyle ^.^ hope you don't have to weather too many storms~~

The BOOK


In the quiet hour before dawn, anything can happen. A third daughter can dream of being a creature of flight and magic, of wearing a swan-skin like her sisters. But Doucette must run the castle household while her older sisters learn to weave spells. Her dream of flying is exactly that—until the day she discovers her own hidden birthright.

Sudden, soaring freedom—it is a wish come true. Yet it comes with a price. As Doucette struggles to find her own way in the world, she risks losing the one she loves most of all.

An age-old fairy tale told in a refreshingly original voice, Heather Tomlinson's stunning debut is fantasy at its most eloquent and richly imagined.

~~~~~
A Big Thank You to Heather for taking the time to answer my questions! You can visit her website where you can learn more about her books, get news and updates, and contact her directly.

You should also take a gander at my reviews of Toads and Diamonds.

Remember: if you review one of her books, you get 2 extra entries per review ^.^

Interview with Maria V. Snyder (LRC)

Welcome! Today, we have the author of the Inside Out series, Poison Study series, and Storm Glass series - Maria V. Snyder. She has graciously agreed to do an interview so read on to learn a little more about her~~

The BIO


Maria V. Snyder changed careers in 1995 from being a Meteorologist to a Novelist when she began working on her first novel, Poison Study. Published in October 2005, Poison Study won the 2006 Compton Crook Award for Best First Novel, won the Salt Lake Co. Library's Reader's Choice award, was a 2005 Booksense pick, was nominated for four other awards, and received a Starred Review from Publisher’s Weekly. She has also published numerous freelance articles in regional magazines and in local newspapers. Teaching fiction writing classes at the local college gives her the enjoyable opportunity to encourage novice writers and to keep improving her craft.

Born and raised in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Maria attended 12 years of catholic school before going to Penn State University to study Meteorology. Earning a Bachelors of Science degree in Meteorology, Maria discovered, much to her chagrin, that forecasting the weather wasn't one of her skills. She found employment in the environmental field as an air quality scientist, and it was during those years that she began writing. After writing many science fiction short stories, Maria started Poison Study, her first novel about a food taster.

Her research on food tasting methods with an expert chocolate taster, her husband, turned out to be a delicious bonus while writing Poison Study. Maria has a brown belt in Issinryu Karate, and has enjoyed "acting out" the complex fight scenes in her books. Playing volleyball, scrapbooking, and reading are her other hobbies.

Traveling with her family is another wonderful distraction from writing. Maria loves cruising in general and the Caribbean in particular

The INTERVIEW


1) Who was your favorite character to write and why?

This question is always so hard to answer since I have more than one favorite. Valek is one of them as he constantly surprised me by breaking out of the stereotypical assassin role, and Janco is sheer fun to write and is probably why he has a bigger part in the Glass books than the Study books.

2) The piping systems for the Inside Out Series were really complex as was the overall ship design, how did you come up with the imagery for all of that and are there any plans for some sort of release for the blueprint of the ship

I dreamt the idea for the story and the dream induced some of the images. I also think helping my father added to my imagination. He was in charge of all the maintenance/repairs for a major hospital and I spent one summer working with the maintenance crew. As for blueprints, I do have some basic maps of all the levels on my website at: http://www.mariavsnyder.com/maps.php

3) Now that the Glass Series and the Inside Out Series are over, what's next?!

I'm working on a new fantasy series. The first book is titled, Touch of Power and it's about a healer and is set in a world that is recovering from a deadly plague. Her world has blamed the plague on the healers and has hunted them down. She is finally caught only to be rescued by a group who wants her to heal their Prince. The group's leader, Kerrick, knows the healers aren't to blame for the plague and that she could do some good for a change instead of hiding. Unfortunately, she believes this Prince is the one who started the plague as an attempt at biological warfare so she isn't risking her life for some pampered Prince. As they travel to the Prince's hidden location, they're pursued by others who have realized having a healer around might just be a good thing for them, but not necessarily for her. This book is tentatively set for a January 2012 release in the United States.

4) Have your kids read your books? and what do they think of them?

ABoth my children have read my books and they say they enjoy them. They named our black cat Valek. I'm happy they want to keep reading my books. My son is 15 and he is a reluctant reader – the only other books he has voluntarily read were the Lightning Thief series by Rick Riordan. Right now he's reading Spy Glass, and he'll come home from school and mention something he has read. The other day he mentioned “poor dead Opal” and asked if I based Opal's mother's character on my own mother – she does have some of my mom's characteristics, but not all. My mom can't cook (shhh...don't tell her!)

5) In your bio, you've mentioned that you love cruises. What makes you love them so much?

LOL – I'm on a cruise right now as I answer your questions!! I love them because it's like window shopping. Each day when we wake up, we're in a new port. We spend the day there and then at night we can eat and drink and watch great entertainment while traveling to the next port. This gives us a taste of each place and allows us to decide where we'd like to come back and spend more time. For example, I use to think all the Caribbean Islands were the same, but since we've been cruising, we have a few that we plan to return to. Plus on a cruise, there's so much to do on board that we're never bored.

Thanks again!

The BOOKS


Keep Your Head Down.

Don't Get Noticed.

Or Else.

I'm Trella. I'm a scrub. A nobody. One of thousands who work the lower levels, keeping Inside clean for the Uppers. I've got one friend, do my job and try to avoid the Pop Cops. So what if I occasionally use the pipes to sneak around the Upper levels? The only neck at risk is my own…until I accidentally start a rebellion and become the go-to girl to lead a revolution.

~~~~~
A Big Thank You to Maria for taking the time to answer my questions! You can visit her website where you can read the first chapter of all her books as well as a number of free short stories. She also has a page full of writing advice for any aspiring writers out there. Be sure to also check out her blog.

You should also take a gander at my reviews of Inside Out and Outside In ^.^

Remember: if you review one of her books, you get 2 extra entries per review ^.^

Interview with Shelley Workinger (LRC)

Welcome! Today, we have the author of Solid, Shelley Workinger. She's agreed to do an interview so read on for the good stuff~~

The BIO


I grew up in a small town in Maine, graduating in a class of only forty-six kids! I moved to New Orleans at seventeen; I can't explain why I knew I had to go there, but Loyola was the only college I applied to. (I'm not sure how things would've played out if I hadn't gotten in :0) After taking two years off in the middle, I eventually graduated mcm with a BS in Sociology and a BA in English - majors I initially chose to avoid math courses. I also worked full time during college and ironically took an administrative accounting position that I loved - who knew? I think the lesson learned is that we're constantly evolving and, no matter how much we think we know who we are and what we want, we often ending up surprising ourselves with where we end up.

The INTERVIEW


1. As your book, "Solid," is self-published, what would you say is the hardest part of self-publishing?
Self-marketing, definitely. I went into the process not knowing a soul in the business and having never even read a blog. I found that it's an extremely difficult process and if you don't have a strong sense of self, it can be brutal. I had to read a zillion blogs to find readers who might like my book, then contact each one and buy copies for the takers. (There were also quite a few who said they were not interested in "Solid" because it's not a "real" book, which stung - I won't lie.) Two years of ten- to twelve-hour days later, I've met some fantastic people and learned a ton, but still am nowhere near where I want to be.

2. One thing I thought was really clever for advertising your book was that you put books up on Goodreads' Bookswap. How did you come up with that idea, and what other tips do you have for self-published authors?
I just wanted to get "Solid" into readers' hands; I hoped that if I posted a few copies, interested people would find me, and they have :) I think the key is finding your target audience, so I've tried to help other writers really nail down whom that is for them. I recently helped another author find websites and organizations that I knew would benefit from his coaching manual, and I think his book is finally going to start falling into the right hands.

3. One of the gene expression types in "Solid" is a kind of glowing aura; what is the purpose of having this kind of trait?
I call it "blinding brilliance"; if someone can't see you, they can't stop you or hurt you, so it can be used both offensively and defensively. When Clio first sees Bliss "star it up" as she puts it, she's not only blinded, but also unable to breathe. So if I had to compare it something concrete, I'd say that maybe it's like mace without the burning.

4. The characters in your book all have a military family background; were these written from your personal experiences?
More like the experiences I always wished I had. My dad was a career Army man, but we never moved - not once in my entire life! I fantasized about a worldly life of constant travel, probably in the same way the relocating military kids wished they could stay put!

5. You've lived in a quite a few places - Maine, New Orleans, New Jersey. Do you have a favorite, and what do you love about each place?
I'm going to take some hits for saying this, but my least favorite of the three is Maine. Everyone who hears me say that immediately bemoans, "But it's so beautiful there!" Yes it is. And cold. For many, many months! I'm a warm-weather girl and I need me some sunshine, as you can see by how far South I headed at the first chance I got!
New Orleans is truly the love of my life; there is no place like it in the world, and if you've spent any time there, you know that it hurts to leave, as if you're leaving part of yourself behind. When I followed my husband north for graduate school, it was with the full intention of moving back after graduation. But we all know who laughs when we make plans....
And I have nothing but love for Jersey ♥ My first reaction was the same as Clio's: surprise at how GREEN it is. I meant it when I said I think the locals have a pact to keep Jersey a national secret to keep outsiders from moving in and disturb their peace! The friends I've made here I will have for a lifetime - without my "stars," there wouldn't even be a "Solid" series.

The BOOK


Eighteen years ago, a rogue Army doctor secretly experimented with a chromosomal drug on unknowing pregnant women. When he was killed not long after the children were born, any knowledge and evidence seemed to die with him - except the living, breathing, human products of his work.

Almost two decades later, the newly self-proclaimed “open-book” military unearths the truth about the experiment, bringing Clio Kaid and the other affected teens to a state-of-the-art, isolated campus where they soon discover that C9x did indeed alter their chromosomes, its mutations presenting as super-human abilities. The military kids, who come from across the nation and all walks of life, come into their own as lighter-than-air ‘athletes’; ‘indies’ as solid as stone walls; teens who can make themselves invisible and others who can blind with their brilliance.

As Clio comes into her remarkable ability, embraces new friendships and embarks on first love, she also can’t shake the suspicion that the government has not been as forthcoming with their attentions as they claimed…

~~~~~
A Big Thank You to Shelley for taking the time to answer my questions! You can visit her website and her Facebook fan page.

You should also check out my review of Solid ^.^

Remember: if you review one of her books, you get 2 extra entries per review ^.^

Interview with Angie Smibert

The BIO
I was born in Blacksburg, a once sleepy college town in the mountains of Southwest Virginia. I grew up thinking I wanted to be a veterinarian; organic chemistry had other ideas. But I always had stories in my head. Eventually, after a few degrees and few cool jobs—including a 10-year stint at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center—I wrote some of those stories down.

I’ve published many short stories, for both adults and teens. (You can read some of them here on my site.)

The INTERVIEW

1) I love that your book has some scientific basis to it! How did the idea for this book come about?

The idea came from reading a few articles on recent research in treating Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Researchers are looking into certain drugs that can loosen the grip that traumatic memories have on PTSD sufferers. I took it a step farther. What if the pill could totally erase particular memories? I had a vision of a Starbucks / frozen yogurt type place on every corner that dispensed the pill. Then I started asking myself what kind of world would have these places--and who would be the least likely hero to enter one of them.

If you're interested in reading more about the science behind the pill, check out http://www.mementonora.com/teachers-lounge/the-science-of-tfc.

2) Do you have any plans to continue writing in the wonderful universe you have created for Memento Nora?

Yes, I'm working on a sequel to Memento Nora, which is tentatively called the Forgetting Curve. (The title may change.) You'll see more of Winter and a few new characters.


3) One of your characters, Winter, does some pretty crazy art stuff. Where did you get the inspiration for her character and her creations?

Her character is tiny bit inspired by some manic programmers I've worked with in the past. (All male, btw.) The rest of her character evolved with her story and her art. The overall idea of her garden was probably sprung from a childhood memory. One of my great-uncles was an artist. I probably only saw him a few times in my life. One time when we visited him, I remember he'd built a Rube Goldberg machine in his studio. A Rube Goldberg machine is this overly complicated contraption that does one simple thing, usually by chain reaction. (Like 15 crazy steps to make toast.) So I wanted Winter's Garden to be a beautiful, eerie Rube Goldberg-type thing--that ultimately did more than make toast. I've put some of the things that inspired her sculptures on the book website (http://www.mementonora.com/winters-garden).


4) You happen to have a few characters that are lesbian in your story, and this is still not something that comes up in many books. Why did you include this idea, and is this an issue you plan on exploring further in your work?

It's unfortunate that there aren't more gay characters in young adult books because there are certainly gay young adults (and adults) in real life. But I didn't make the characters lesbian to make a point or explore an issue. It's just who they are. And by that, I don't mean to diminish any thoughtful exploration of being a LGBT teen. My particular characters (and their friends and family) accept that part of themselves.


5) Wow, you worked in the Kennedy Space Center? What did you do, and what was it like? Inquiring minds (err.. mine at least) want to know ^.^

Yep. I worked at NASA's Kennedy Space Center for a little over 10 years. I wrote (and produced) videos and developed online training for engineers and other staff. We also did some promotional stuff for the public. KSC was a very cool place to work. I got to see a shuttle launch my very first day on the job. I've been to the top of the launch pads, crawled around in the Mobile Launch Platform, and learned more about nondestructive evaluation (testing shuttle parts without damaging them) than I ever wanted to know. However, the Shuttle program ends this year--and the program that was supposed to replace it got canceled or at least cut down to the bone.

Thank you, Angie, so much for taking the time to do an interview here at Sniffly Kitty's Mostly Books!

The SUMMARY


Nora, the popular girl and happy consumer, witnesses a horrific bombing on a shopping trip with her mother. In Nora’s near-future world, terrorism is so commonplace that she can pop one little white pill to forget and go on like nothing ever happened. However, when Nora makes her first trip to a Therapeutic Forgetting Clinic, she learns what her mother, a frequent forgetter, has been frequently forgetting.

Nora secretly spits out the pill and holds on to her memories. The memory of the bombing as well as her mother’s secret and her budding awareness of the world outside her little clique make it increasingly difficult for Nora to cope. She turns to two new friends, each with their own reasons to remember, and together they share their experiences with their classmates through an underground comic. They soon learn, though, they can’t get away with remembering.

In case you missed it, I have a review up for Memento Nora!

Interview with Krista D. Ball

The BIO
Krista D. Ball was born and raised in Deer Lake, Newfoundland, where she learned how to use a chainsaw, chop wood, and make raspberry jam. After obtaining a B.A. in British History from Mount Allison University, Krista moved to Edmonton, AB where she currently lives with her partner, two crazy but likable step-boys, seven cats, and a very understanding corgi.

Like any good writer, Krista has had an eclectic array of jobs throughout her life, including strawberry picker, pub bathroom cleaner, oil spill cleaner-upper and soup kitchen coordinator. These days, when Krista isn’t software testing, she writes in her messy office.

The INTERVIEW

1) What's the inspiration for Harvest Moon?

I was working at an Edmonton, Canada inner-city agency when I first conceived of the idea. The agency's clients were about 40% aboriginal, so I was exposed to traditional stories on a daily basis. One of the regulars was Jim Thunder, who later passed away. He'd tell these amazing stories from his family's oral tradition, as well as from the elders he'd gotten to know over the years. He encouraged me to expand my own world and settings. So, I decided to write my own Canadian aboriginal tale, with a gender bending twist.

2) One of your characters would probably be classified as someone who has alternative relationship styles (aka queer) was that merely a plot device or is this an issue you might continue exploring in your future work?

The notion of having a queer character came pretty much at the same time as the plot. Harvest Moon is the first of (hopefully) a series of stories that address identity, in a Canadian setting. Harvest Moon addresses gender. I find that many folks still judge a person's gender based on their sexual orientation (i.e. a real man isn't gay, proper women don't like both men and women, etc). So, I wanted to challenge that notion while I explored gender.

My work will continue to feature different cultures, races, and sexual preferences. I find too many books are stuck in the same areas and people. I want people to always pick up my work and never assume American-white-straight-middle class. I want people to come into my work with a clean slate.

3) Some parts of your short Biography are really interesting, and I wanted to know if they're actually true such as do you really make raspberry jam or go strawberry picking as a job?

I don't make raspberry jam now, because raspberries aren't in the wild much here in Edmonton. However, when I lived back in Newfoundland, we'd go out in the woods, pick wild berries, and make jam. I also had a summer job picking strawberries. I was chopping wood before my age hit double digits. I knew how to skin a rabbit in the first grade (which, btw, I'll probably never do again. Talk about messy - yuck!). I enjoy learning lots of different skills and getting new experiences, and with such a rustic upbringing (though, amongst my peers back home, it wasn't rustic...it was normal), I've had a lot of great experiences in life.

4) You mentioned you were working on a Sci-Fi military thriller, could you give us a sneak peek?

I'm always scared about giving peeks of my unpublished work. I feel like I'll jinx it. However, I can give you the blurb that I sent with the query letter. Hopefully, it sounds exciting :)

"Captain Katherine Francis is about to disobey every Ethics Law the Union of Planets throws at her. After the Union’s enemy destroys her home planet and murders her family, she makes the decision to bring an end to the war—whatever it takes. When an opportunity arises to ally with the neutral Alliance and turn the tide of war, Katherine throws aside her moral code, partners with a known spy, and risks sacrificing the very core of who she is. And when faced with choosing between her conscience and stopping the bloodshed, she realizes that, either way, she’ll lose."

The blurb sounds intriguing! A big thank you to Krista for doing an interview here at Sniffly Kitty's Mostly Books!

The NOVELLA


Cursed, abused, and desperate to know her future, Dancing Cat sneaks a glimpse inside her tribe’s Sacred Bundle, a powerful source of spirit magic. Instead of the future, she sees her most powerful ancestor, Small Tree and incurs her wrath. Small Tree strips Dancing Cat of everything —her home, her identity, even her gender – and drops her in the middle of enemy lands.

Injured, and in a strange, new body, she is befriended by Bearclaw who is on a spirit quest. He offers her assistance and asks for nothing in return; a kindness Dancing Cat had forgotten existed. She struggles to weave a path around the obstacles of friendship, identity, and longing in order to survive her eventual return home to face even further punishment.

And she does it while wearing someone else's skin.

You should check out my review of Harvest Moon!

Interview with Stephanie Dray!

The BIO
Stephanie Dray is the author of a forthcoming trilogy of historical fiction novels set in the Augustan Age, starting with Lily of the Nile: A Novel of Cleopatra's Daughter. Before she wrote novels, Stephanie was a lawyer, a game designer, and a teacher. Now she uses the transformative power of magic realism to illuminate the stories of women in history and inspire the young women of today. She remains fascinated by all things Roman or Egyptian and has–to the consternation of her devoted husband–collected a house full of cats and ancient artifacts.

She is currently sponsoring the Cleopatra Literary Contest for Young Women, the deadline for which is March 1, 2011, but join her newsletter now for updates and a chance to win a free copy of Lily of the Nile and additional prizes.

The INTERVIEW

1) Most of the time, synopses of books are written by someone other than the author. What is your synopsis of Lily of the Nile?

I have to admit that my editor--Cindy Hwang of Berkley Books--has always included me as a collaborator on the back cover copy for my novels. Because of that, I end up combining my work with the copywriter’s and coming up with a bunch of different blurbs. Then Cindy picks the one that she likes best, and truthfully, I think she’s got a great eye for that kind of thing. I thoroughly approve of the official blurb for my debut novel. However, I can show you one of the rejected alternatives. You can probably guess why it was axed!

Forty years before the birth of Christ, a different child is heralded the savior. Her name is Selene, daughter of the famous lovers, Cleopatra and Antony…

To the Isiac faith sweeping the ancient world, Princess Selene and her twin brother Helios embody the divine celestial pair who will bring about a Golden Age. But when Selene’s parents are vanquished by Rome, her auspicious birth becomes a curse. Heir to one empire and prisoner of another, the young princess struggles for survival in a Roman court of intrigue. She cannot hide the hieroglyphic messages that carve themselves into her hands nor can she stop the emperor from using her powers for his own ends. But faced with a new and ruthless Caesar who is obsessed with having a Cleopatra of his very own, Selene sets out to reclaim what's rightfully hers, even if it means playing a political game in which the only rule is win or die.


2) You've written some Harlequin imprints previously. Do you feel that writing those books influenced the writing of Lily of the Nile and in what way?

Lily of the Nile was actually written years before I took on a pen name for HQN, it’s just that in the crazy world of publishing, my romances were published first. However, what I learned writing romance probably has changed me as a writer overall. I’m far more efficient, much more methodical about structure. Writing romance also taught me to figure out what the reader’s literary fetish is and to exploit it. In romance, it’s the happy ending. In a book like Lily of the Nile or its sequel, Song of the Nile, the reader wants to see the journey of a woman. She wants to catch glimpses of her own struggles all while being inspired by a woman who is also extraordinary. The reader wants to be transported to another place, another time, and to learn something while being immersed in an emotional story. Before I wrote romance, I would have been coy about giving the reader what she wants. Now, I know better.



3) Why did you decide to write under a slightly different pen name for this series?

Actually, Stephanie Dray is my real name. It’s the romances that I write under a pen name! The expectations that historical fiction readers have vary greatly from those of romance readers and I wanted to make sure that there wasn’t any confusion.



4) From the extensive bibliography for Lily of the Nile, you must have spent a lot of time researching. How did you feel about doing that much research and what tips would you offer others trying to write historical fiction?

I loved doing the research. It felt like I was uncovering a mystery and I wanted to completely immerse myself. That kind of thing was deliciously indulgent and I loved it. Unfortunately, when it came time for the sequel, Song of the Nile, I was under deadline which meant that there were only so many days I could devote to research and if I missed something, well, too bad. That was enormously stressful and will probably cause my editor to want to kill me when I start changing things at the copy-editing stage.

As for tips, I would say don’t depend on your own smarts. My own training was in the law, not in antiquities, so while my bull-dog like quality for getting at the truth or coming up with “a theory of the case” was useful, I knew I needed help. My advice is to forge a good relationship with experts in the field. I worked with a few, but I cannot thank Professor Duane Roller enough for answering my questions--some of which must have made him choke.



5) In your bio, you mention that you were previously a game designer, which intrigues me because I enjoy playing PC games. What games did you design for? Do you enjoy writing more and why do you enjoy writing more/less?

Along with my husband, I designed and ran the text-based internet game FiranMUX. It’s set in an original Greco-Roman fantasy world and simulates a society in which players can create interactive stories. Over the years we’ve had thousands and thousands of players and it’s still going strong. I no longer run it because I spend all my waking hours writing books, but I really miss it! I really enjoyed the instant feedback from players when I would present them with fun twists and turns. Writing books is a much more solitary kind of storytelling which is probably why I’m always so thrilled to hear from readers and why I’m working hard to contribute to the writing community. To celebrate the launch of Lily of the Nile, I’m hosting a giveaway on my site and I’m also sponsoring the Cleopatra Literary Contest for Young Women, which has some fantastic prizes for aspiring young writers.
Thanks for having me!

The BOOK



With her parents dead, the daughter of Cleopatra and Mark Antony is left at the mercy of her Roman captors. Heir to one empire and prisoner of another, it falls to Princess Selene to save her brothers and reclaim what is rightfully hers…
In the aftermath of Alexandria’s tragic fall, Princess Selene is taken from Egypt, the only home she’s ever known. Along with her two surviving brothers, she’s put on display as a war trophy in Rome. Selene’s captors mock her royalty and drag her through the streets in chains, but on the brink of death, the children are spared as a favor to the emperor’s sister, who takes them to live as hostages in the so-called lamentable embassy of royal orphans…

Now trapped in a Roman court of intrigue that reviles her heritage and suspects her faith, Selene can’t hide the hieroglyphics that carve themselves into her flesh. Nor can she stop the emperor from using her for his own political ends. But faced with a new and ruthless Caesar who is obsessed with having a Cleopatra of his very own, Selene is determined honor her mother’s lost legacy. The magic of Egypt and Isis remain within her. But can she succeed where her mother failed? And what will it cost her in a political game where the only rule is win or die?

A BIG Thank You to Stephanie for stopping by here for her blog tour!

Upcoming Author Interview - Stephanie Dray

The lovely Stephanie Dray's first historical fiction novel - Lily of the Nile - is being published in Jan 2011, and she was nice enough to give me a slot on her blog tour for an author interview. This will be my first author interview so I hope you all enjoy it!

The interview is happening on Saturday, Nov 27th, which should be well after the Thanksgiving tryptophan has worn off~~

Also, today's Teaser Tuesday came from an excerpt of Lily of the Nile. If you enjoyed it, go here to read the rest of the excerpt!

If you want to get in on some of the Lily of the Nile action now, she is currently sponsoring the Cleopatra Literary Contest for Young Women, the deadline is March 1, 2011. There is also a giveaway going on to win a free copy of Lily of the Nile and additional prizes.