Maria V. Snyder's Blog

Today is the release date for THE ABSINTHE EARL, by Sharon Lynn Fisher. I was lucky to get an early review copy to provide a potential blurb for Sharon and I just fell in love with this story!

Sharon kindly agreed to answer my Take 10 questions and to offer a copy of her new book to one lucky winner! Yes, it's international!! The Rafflecopter form is at the bottom - the give away ends October 22, 2019

Here's my blurb: ''Charming and filled with intriguing characters, dangerous enemies, and hidden desires, The Absinthe Earl hooked me from the start.''

Here's the cover copy: They crossed centuries to find each other. Their love will shatter worlds. 

Miss Ada Quicksilver, a student of London's Lovelace Academy for Promising Young Women, is spending her holiday in Ireland to pursue her anthropological study of fairies. She visits Dublin's absinthe bars to investigate a supposed association between the bittersweet spirit and fairy sightings.

One night a handsome Irishman approaches her, introducing himself as Edward Donoghue. Edward takes absinthe to relieve his sleepwalking, and she is eager to hear whether he has experience with fairies. Instead, she discovers that he's the earl of Meath, and that he will soon visit a mysterious ruin at Newgrange on the orders of his cousin, the beautiful, half-mad Queen Isolde. On learning about Ada's area of study, he invites her to accompany him.

Ada is torn between a sensible fear of becoming entangled with the clearly troubled gentleman and her compelling desire to ease his suffering. Finally she accepts his invitation, and they arrive in time for the winter solstice. That night, the secret of Edward's affliction is revealed: he is, in fact, a lord in two worlds and can no longer suppress his shadow self.

Little does either of them realize that their blossoming friendship and slowly kindling passion will lead to discoveries that wrench open a door sealed for centuries, throwing them into a war that will change Ireland forever.

TAKE 10 with Sharon Lynn Fischer:


1.) First the obvious question (but my favorite) – How did you get the idea for THE ABSINTHE EARL?

I’ve always loved Ireland, and I’ve always wanted to write a book about fairies. Ever since my mom gave me the art book Faeries, by Brian Froud, when I was a kid. Over the years I’ve collected and read MANY fairy reference books. It took me several decades to come up with my own unique spin. I think it all kind of came together when I was doing some research and saw that absinthe was also referred to as “the green fairy.” And the idea of combining fairy lore with a Victorian setting really appealed to me.

2.) Both Ada and Edward are complex, well-developed, and likable characters. Did they develop on the page or come to you fully formed?

I’m so happy to hear that! I think it was a combination of the two, though I did have a strong sense of them right from the beginning. I knew that Ada would be a scholar and an orphan, and I knew Edward would be a brooding lord who looked like Aidan Turner! I knew that he would have some alpha impulses, and that Ada was not a woman who was going to tolerate much of that. Most importantly, I knew that they would develop an equal partnership.

3.) In your world, drinking absinthe thins the line between the real world and the Faery world, allowing people to see the fae. It’s an unique idea, how did you develop it? Have you tasted absinthe? 

I got into this a little bit above, though at this point it’s kind of hard to remember exactly how it all came together. I think I was researching absinthe due to its other-worldly associations, and its associations with madness. And when I saw the “green fairy” reference, I thought, that’s it! As a child I was always looking for a gateway into Faery, and I finally found it as an author. Once the plot started to come together, I did buy some absinthe. And I made it the traditional way, drizzling water over sugar. I did think it was nice, but it didn’t become a habit. :)

4.) The plot weaves the real world, Ireland in 1882, with the mystical world of the Faery. Did you have to do any special research into Celtic mythology and the Tuatha De Danaan? 

Yes, I did quite a bit of research on Celtic mythology. My primary references for that aspect were W.B. Yeats, who collected Irish folk tales into a couple of books, and Lady Augusta Gregory, an author friend of his who wrote about Ireland’s mythological warriors. I also worked with a linguist who had a lot of Celtic mythology knowledge. Oxford’s Dictionary of Celtic Mythology was also a terrific reference. 

5.) What about historical research – how accurate is the story to the time period?

I took a lot of liberties. The Ireland in this series has never been conquered by the English, and that really changed pretty much everything. But I did try to stick to period-appropriate technologies and social norms, though my Ireland has a very strong queen and is a bit more open-minded about women’s roles. There are a few steampunk elements as well, and there will be even more of those in book two.

6.) What else do you enjoy doing besides writing? Interests? Hobbies?

My family and I live on a small farm in the Cascade foothills, near Seattle, so that is kind of an all-consuming hobby of ours—chickens, ducks, turkeys, goats, dogs, cats. A couple of gardens. We also have a horse, and my girls and I take English riding lessons. I enjoy taking photos of everything and posting them on Instagram with an #authorfarmer tag. I also enjoy getting outside as much as I can—hiking, mountain biking, swimming in the Skykomish River in the summer.

7.)  How did you become a writer? Is this what you saw yourself  growing up to be? Or did it take you by surprise?

Like a lot of writers, I knew it was what I wanted to do from an early age. Maybe around 6. My parents very pragmatically advised me to study something that would be more likely to pay the bills, and I dutifully did so (journalism). I’ve always worked as a writer and editor, in various industries. I did write a lot of fiction in my early 20s and even submitted some things—I remember how excited I was when a proposal I sent to Ace made it to a second reader, and when Marion Zimmer Bradley scribbled a note on one of my rejected short stories. But as life got more complicated I let it go, and for years I had this idea I’d start writing again when I knew what I was “supposed to write.” I had a notion I should be growing out of speculative fiction. Who puts such things in our heads? Anyhow, the urge to write never went completely away, and around the time I got pregnant with my daughter, in my late 30s, I started reading genre fiction again, and pretty soon I was writing it, and I haven’t really stopped since.

8.) Do you have a writing routine? Talk process for a moment, how do the words get on the page?

I am mainly a pantser and create only very short descriptions of my stories before I start working. Once I know a little something about my characters, I start writing to get a feel for the story and world it will take place in. Then I start doing research—reading reference books, looking things up on Wikipedia, watching videos, and looking at Pinterest photos—and that’s where most of my inspiration comes from. I continue to write in short bursts, and I go back over what I’ve written. A lot of writer advice recommends against this, because revision comes later and you might be wasting your time on something that will end up getting cut or altered, plus you might never get past chapter 1. This all makes sense, so I used to feel like a naughty child for doing it anyway. But after taking a personality-based creativity class, I learned that this is part of my process. Re-reading, perfecting descriptions, etc. helps me to immerse myself in the world and figure out who my characters are and what they want, and this in turn drives the plot. Then as I get further along in the book, I can move a little quicker.

9.) Office? Closet? Corner of the living room? Do you have a set place to write?  A favorite?

I do have an office that I share with my husband. It looks out over the front half of our 5 acres—so trees, goats, garden, etc. It’s especially nice in the warmer months. In the fall and winter, I like working downstairs, because we keep it warmer. My favorite place to work is on the loveseat next to our woodstove in the dining room. It is cozy in the extreme, and I can pretend I’m in an Irish pub sitting next to a peat fire.

10.) What are you writing now?  What's coming out next?

Right now I’m mostly prepping for the release of The Absinthe Earl, but I’m also working on book three in the trilogy, The Warrior Poet. Book two, The Raven Lady, goes into edits in just a few weeks! The planned release date for that one is October 2020. I’ve recently put up a free short story for folks who sign up for my newsletter. It’s a sweet steampunk romance set in the English countryside (a “clockwork fairy tale”). https://dl.bookfunnel.com/3nszlumfa5

Thank you so much for having me on your blog, Maria!

LINKS to Sharon:
Twitter
Instagram
Facebook
Pinterest
Goodreads
Amazon US

Rafflecopter (yes, it's open to ALL):
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Exciting news that I've been holding on to since the beginning of this year! POISON STUDY has been picked up by Chapters Interactive Stories. Which means you can download the app and "play" the story - it's a choose your own adventure. Here's the cover!

To download the app, go to your App Store and search for Chapters Interactive Stories. It's free and playing the book is also free - although you need diamonds to do certain premium choices. Currently there are 5 chapters to play and every Monday they will add 5 more.

I've been working on the script with the editors at Crazy Maple Studio so the story line is almost the same as the book. But there are a few changes to streamline a few things.

It's fun - I was surprised by just how fun it is and I wrote the book! Bonus, Chapters bought the rights to all the Study Books so there will be more coming!

I'm running a give away right now for free diamonds for my Soulfinders! I've a new-ish Facebook reading group called Snyder's Soulfinders (name picked by a core group of super fans), and you're welcome to join. Just answer at least 2 of the questions so we know you're not a troll. Here's a link: Snyder's Soulfinders

I always enjoy doing my Take 10 Q&As with various authors. This time, I'm really excited for you to get to know Aileen Erin! She was one of the students I mentored when she was attending Seton Hill University for her MFA. And I'm proud to say she has done well with her writing career since graduation (so satisfying for a mentor). 

Her latest book is a YA Science Fiction that I had the pleasure of providing feedback for the first 50 pages. Once she finished writing it, she asked me to provide a blurb for her book and I enjoyed it so much I gave her a blurb and invited her to my blog.

My blurb: "In this bleak world, one spark of hope soon turns into an inferno. And just like a fireball, once this story is ignited, it just doesn't stop."

Cover copy: Maité Martinez has always yearned for more than waitressing in a greasy diner, especially when most people have left the polluted ruins of Earth behind for a better life on other planets. It’s not just working at the diner that’s making life hard for her. Being a half-human, half-alien girl has never been trickier. With the corporate government hunting down the last of her father’s alien Auanare race living on Earth, hiding her growing special abilities has become a full-time job on its own.

Every minute Maité stays on Earth is one minute closer to getting caught. The stress is almost more than she can bear, and when a fancy Space Tech officer gets handsy with her at the diner, she reacts without thinking. Breaking the officer’s nose wasn’t her smartest move. Now she’s faced with three years forced labor on the volcano planet, Abbadon. With the job she’s slotted for, it may as well have been a death sentence.

It doesn’t take Maité long before she realizes there’s more to the mining on Abbadon than Space Tech has let on. As she makes unlikely allies, Maité uncovers Space Tech’s plot to nuke the Aunare homeworld. The firepower stored in Abbadon’s warehouses is more than enough to do the job ten times over.

As the clock ticks, Maité knows that if she can’t find a way to stop Space Tech, there will be an interstellar war big enough to end all life in the universe. There’s only one question: Can she stop the total annihilation of humanity without getting herself killed in the process?

Take 10 with Aileen Erin:


1.) First the obvious question (but one of my favorites) – How did you get the idea for OFF-PLANET?

I was living in Albuquerque, New Mexico while my husband was working on Avengers, when I learned about Richard Branson’s Spaceport America. I couldn’t believe that someone had already built a commercial spaceport. I was immediately fascinated. From there, I started dreaming about a world where we’d need a spaceport. Although have a nightmare might be more accurate than dream, because I thought of what would happen with pollution, the poverty line, governments getting officially taken over my corporations… And what would an alien race think about all of this? From all that brainstorming, the world of OFF PLANET sprung, as well as the heroine—Maité.


2.) Maité, your main protagonist is strong and independent—almost too independent for her own good. She knows how to fight and doesn’t quit. Why did you pick these characteristics for your main character?

The real world is tough for everyone. The choices we make aren’t all black and white. Things are often complicated. I like to explore all of that on an extreme with my protagonists, and through them, hopefully inspire people to keep going despite it all. I put Maité through hell in a fantastical world to give readers an escape. To inspire. To encourage. To show that life can be hard, but you can keep going. And then I like to end with something happy, and leave them with hope.


3.) Your other series, Alpha Girl are urban fantasy novels with werewolves. Why did you decide to write science fiction?

I used to hear the cliché of “write what you know” a lot, but then it turned into “write what you love.” Which I like so much better. Especially since I could never possibly know what it’s like to be a werewolf and I’ll probably never know what it feels like to leave Earth’s atmosphere and travel across the galaxy. And I guess it’s safe to say that I don’t have just one love when it comes to genre. I enjoy speculative fiction in all its many forms—urban fantasy to epic fantasy to horror to science fiction. I can’t pick just one and only write that. It would destroy my creative well. And it’s not just going to be urban fantasy and science fiction for me. I have an epic fantasy waiting to be written, and I’m writing a darker horror spin off from Alpha Girl series I’m currently working on. I want to explore all the worlds of speculative fiction, and I don’t ever want to be boxed in by one genre or subgenre. So, making the jump from urban fantasy to science fiction never seemed like a big leap for me, just a natural one.


4.) You wrote the first fifty pages of OFF-PLANET as a student in Seton Hill University’s MFA program. And your thesis novel was BECOMING ALPHA. What do you think of the MFA experience? Would you recommend it to other authors?

I absolutely loved my MFA experience. Before attending Seton Hill, I’d never really taken a creative writing class. I was always a reader and loved to write, but I’d never studied the craft. After graduating college and working for a few years, I found that writing was my true love. It was what I spent almost all my spare time doing. And yet, after I had a full, finished book, I knew there was something lacking. I couldn’t figure out what I’d done wrong, so I knew I needed to study the craft. I needed that MFA to teach me how to do what I was most passionate about.

So, I came to Seton Hill for my first writer’s residency with my mind wide open, ready to learn. Seton Hill is pretty unique in that it’s such an open, welcoming community. Everyone is there to help each other learn and become better at the craft. The first day there, they teach you how to properly give a critique in a way that won’t tear a writer down, but help them see what’s on the page and give them ways to make it better. Like everything else in life, you get out of your MFA what you put into it. I worked hard, and I found it to be transformative for my craft, but also for life in general. I gained this whole second writing family that I cherish and am thankful to be a part of, and a level of confidence in my writing that I wouldn’t have gotten without getting my MFA.

I think that anyone who wants to grow as writer they should definitely consider getting their MFA. Having that time to really focus on honing your craft is essential to go from a decent writer to an excellent one. It can help turn writers from a hobbyist to a professional.


5.) You also founded Ink Monster that’s a “…boutique publisher of romance-focused series for and about fierce female heroines.” Why did you start your own independent publishing company?

As I was attending Seton Hill, I was also studying the publishing industry. Reading trades, learning the trends, and trying to figure out what made or broke an indie author. There were so many changes happening so fast, and I wasn’t sure that going the traditional route was the best route for me. I’d written a young adult urban fantasy with werewolves post Twilight, and everything I heard from agents and acquiring editors alike was that if they had to read another YA UF submission with a vampire or a werewolf, they’d barf. (Not in those words, but that was the sentiment.) So, I figured if I wanted to give indie a try, BECOMING ALPHA was it. If it or I failed, then no harm. I could write under another name, write something else, submit it to agents and editors. I probably wasn’t going to sell BECOMING ALPHA traditionally anyhow. But I couldn’t ignore the fact that there was a hole left in the book world after Twilight that I could maybe fill.


I knew that if I was going to go indie, I had to treat it like a business—with a business model, marketing plan, distributor, and all the things that went along with it. I couldn’t just throw my ebook up at retailers and expect anything great to happen. I had to do all the things a traditional publisher would do. Starting my own publishing company was a ton of work, but 5.5 years later, I have to say it was the best decision for me. Turns out, I love having all the freedom that comes with being indie.


6.) Your husband Jeremy is involved with the Marvel movies (cough…executive producer…cough). Can you dish? Anything at all?

Ha! Yes, Jeremy has a pretty awesome job. We’ve moved around a ton as he’s made movies, and it’s been pretty crazy and fun and interesting. Also exhausting. I moved five times in the first two years of my daughter’s life (oy!), but I wouldn’t change anything for it. I’ve met and shared a meal with many of the Avengers, and yes, Hemsworth is that handsome in person. ;) Making those movies mostly involves a lot of long hours, hard work, and a whole crew of talented people. I’m lucky to have made a lot of friends out of his coworkers from all stages of production, and I’m super proud of the work he’s done. He’s now at Fox, and I can’t wait to see what he’s going to make next.

Although I’m not sure any of that’s a “dish” exactly… ;)


7.) How did you become a writer? Is this what you saw yourself  growing up to be? Or did it take you by surprise?

I’ve always written, but I never believed I could become an author. It seemed like such a big, impossible dream. I was writing after college when I got home from work, and my husband gave me the push I needed to pursue really it. I quit my day job to do something less stressful so that I could focus on writing. Then, when I finished writing my first novel, he read my work and saw something in it, but he knew he didn’t know enough about writing a novel to help me revise it. So, he found Seton Hill and told me to apply. Then he gave me another nudge to take control of my career and go indie.

But I never thought I’d sell more than maybe a few books to my friends and family. Selling hundreds of thousands of books? That took me by surprise in a huge way. I still can’t believe that so many people have read and enjoyed my stories.


8.) Do you have a writing routine? Talk process for a moment, how do the words get on the page?

So many people have so many different things that work for them. I’ve probably tried them all. After so many books written/published, I know I need a couple hours in the morning to get all my publishing work done. I need at least some of that to-do list gone or else it’ll hang over my head, making it impossible to focus on writing.

Once that’s done, the rest of my work day is spent writing. I love Freedom—it’s an app that will either kill your WiFi entirely or kill selected websites during a set period of time. Nothing but a hard reboot of your computer will turn it off before the timer ends. Getting rid of distractions is key for me.

I also don’t break until I absolutely have to. The more I get into a scene, the faster I write, and I don’t want to stop until something makes me—usually hunger. I try to keep those breaks as short as possible, so that I can get right back into the groove easily.

I also never stop writing at the end of a scene or chapter. I’ll always write at least a paragraph into the next one so that I have a starting place for when I sit down to write again. That gets rid of staring at a blank page, which can be intimidating.


9.) Office? Closet? Corner of the living room? Do you have a set place to write?  A favorite?

We converted our garage into a beautiful office. I have amazing bookshelves with a sliding ladder. I also have a recliner, a couch, and a desk. I alternate writing at each. And when I’m really on a deadline, I can sometimes be found writing in bed. I find being comfortable essential to losing myself in another world. So, the comfier I am, the better.


10.) What are you writing now?  What's coming out next?

I’m working on finishing up LUNAR COURT, book eight in the Alpha Girls series, which comes out on June 11th.

I’m also working on OFF BALANCE, the sequel to OFF PLANET, which releases March 2020, and INVOCATION, the horror spin-off from the Alpha Girls series, which should come out sometime late fall, early winter this year.


Links to Aileen Erin:
Website
Facebook
Goodreads
Amazon


Rafflecopter Give Away!

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Snyder's Soulfinders is A NEW Facebook Reading Group for my readers! I started it a week ago and it already has almost 800 members! We're discussing all things BOOKS! Mostly my books, but others as well, and the best part is finding other MVS readers to talk to.

Some popular posts so far:

Introduce Yourself & Name your favorite MVS book: Readers from all over the world have chimed in.

Show off your books: So many lovely collections and amazing bookcases! Jealous!

How did you discover MVS's books: Lots of crazy recommendations and odd circumstances.

Who else writes: Many readers are aspiring novelists.

A discussion on Ari & Janco's relationship: Are they more than friends?

Upcoming Posts:

Ask Maria: A place to ask me questions!

Also I'll be posting news about my schedule and books to the group - FIRST! And hosting special contests to win prizes.

Link to Join:
Snyder's Soulfinders

Please answer 2 of the 3 questions as best that you can! We don't want any trolls in our group! Thanks!!

Doesn't that title sound like a fantasy book? In fact, it's my NEXT book and the start of a new series titled Archives of the Invisible Sword.  Book 1, The Eyes of Tamburah is coming out on June 17, 2019 in Australia/New Zealand! Isn't the cover fantastic? It's perfect - really perfect.

I've no idea when it'll be out in the US/UK/Canada/etc... Still waiting on news. See here's the thing...my publisher for all my other novels (except NTS), Harlequin decided not to publish anymore of my new books. Except the Australian office - they believed in me and bought both my new series - a fantasy one and the SF one! Which was wonderful and is why I have publication dates for Australia and New Zealand, but not for the other countries. I'm shopping the series around to other publishers and hope to get some interest. I tried to find a home for Navigating the Stars without luck so that's why I did it myself! If I can't find a home for The Eyes of Tamburah, I'll do that myself as well.

Here's a cover blurb for the story:

Treasure hunting has never been more dangerous... Tomb Raider meets Poison Study! [gotta love this line ;)]

"He thinks you are the thief..."

Shyla is a researcher who resides in the underground desert city of Zirdai, which is ruled by the wealthy Water Prince and brutal Heliacal Priestess. Even though Shyla is sun-kissed - an outcast, considered cursed by the Sun Goddess - she is still renowned for uncovering innumerable archaic facts, lost artefacts, ancient maps, and obscure historical documents. Her quiet life is about to change when Banqui, an archaeologist, enlists her services to find The Eyes of Tamburah: legendary gemstones that bestows great magic to its wielder. These ancient objects can tip the balance of power and give whoever possesses them complete control of the city.

But chaos erupts when The Eyes are stolen soon after they're found - and Shyla is blamed for the theft. Forced to flee, with the Prince's soldiers and the Priestess' deacons on her trail, Shyla must recover the jewels and clear her name. A quest that will unearth secrets even more valuable than The Eyes of Tamburah themselves...

For those of you in Australia/New Zealand, here's a link to pre-order links for a bunch of venues!
The Eyes of Tamburah

The audio book for Navigating the Stars is available! Woo Hoo!! To celebrate yet another fantastic job by narrator Gabra Zackman, who has just been nominated for an Audie Award (congratulations, love!), we're giving away 20 free copies!

Unfortunately, I only have codes for the US and the UK so it's limited to my readers who can access Audible in the US and in the UK.

See below for the Rafflecopter!

To listen to a free sample, go here:  NTS Audio Book US/UK





The Australian audio book was narrated by Alice Barrington and is available to readers who live in Australia and New Zealand. You can listen to a free sample here: NTS Audio Book ANZ

Rafflecopter!

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Last April, Charlie's publisher asked me to read her book, Smoke & Summons for a potential cover quote. Reading books well before they're out is one of the perks of being an author. However, waiting to talk about it and tell all my friends and readers about it has been killing me! Finally, I'm able to share how much I loved this book and loved both Sandis and Rone!

Charlie was also kind enough to answer my Take 10 questions. And she is offering a hardcover book and an audio book to two lucky winners in the US only. And I'm offering one paperback book to an international winner. See the Rafflecopter form below!

Here's my cover quote: Once this story gets going, the action—Just. Doesn’t. Stop. By the time you reach the end, you’re breathless.

The cover blurb: As a human vessel for an ancient spirit, Sandis lives no ordinary life. At the command of her master, she can be transformed against her will into his weapon—a raging monster summoned to do his bidding. Unlike other vessels, Sandis can host extremely powerful spirits, but hosting such creatures can be fatal. To stay alive, she must run. And in a city fueled by smoke and corruption, she finds a surprising ally.

A cunning thief for hire, Rone owns a rare device that grants him immortality for one minute every day—a unique advantage that will come in handy in Sandis’s fight for freedom. But Sandis’s master knows how powerful she is. He’s determined to get her back, and he has the manpower to find her, wherever she runs.

Now, to outwit her pursuers, Sandis must put all her trust in Rone and his immortal device. For her master has summoned more than mere men to hunt her down…

Take 10 with Charlie N. Holmberg:
1.) I know this is a standard question, but I’m always so curious. How did you come up with such an unique idea for SMOKE & SUMMONS?
My editor and agent were pressuring me two summers ago to write another trilogy—I’ve always considered myself a standalone writer. The Paper Magician series was a fluke. So I sat down while on vacation in California and tried to come up with a BIG story. I stole bits and pieces from past novels/other ideas and eventually came up with the Numina trilogy. Ultimately I’m glad for the pressure, because I don’t think this story would have happened without it!
2.) The world has a fascinating magic system with magicians being able to summon powerful spirits. Can you explain how it works?
Thank you! That half of the magic system was inspired by the summons in Final Fantasy, which I used to play with my sisters. I loved the summons in those games, and I thought, “What if when you brought down, say, Ifrit, it took over your body instead of just showing up?”
So the gist is this. From what we know in book one, an eligible person (virginal, “open spirit”, etc.) must be branded with a strip of Noscon letters, in gold, down her back. After that, she (or he) can host numina, which are spiritual demons that live in the Ethereal Plane. Different vessels have different strengths, and stronger vessels can hold stronger numina.
Hosting is incredibly painful, and the vessel has no memory of being possessed. They’re unconscious for 12-18 hours afterward.
This magic system is unraveled further in books two and three. I’m excited for readers to learn its secrets!
3.) Why fantasy? Is there something special about fantasy that draws you to write in the field?
I like writing about things that I can’t experience in real life. I’m fascinated by the possibility of creation. In fantasy, you can break rules and be utterly creative in so many ways. I like exploring the depths of the imagination!
4.) What do you find most interesting about Sandis and Rone?
That’s a hard question to answer! They both have interesting histories and magic. I created them as a sort of Venn diagram—they view themselves, their surroundings, and their circumstances in different ways, and yet they have a few fundamental similarities that make their relationship work. I enjoyed being able to show the same thing through their different lenses, and show how their influences help each other change and grow. Fundamentally, beneath it all, they’re both motivated by a strong sense of family.
5.) Did you have to do any special research for this book? What did you learn that you didn't know before?
Every book requires some sort of special research. Another reason I like writing fantasy is because I can make up a lot. I had to research guns for this one (and had a reader check a few scenes for me). At one point I had to look up sewer systems to make sure I had plausible landscaping. ;)
6.)  How did you become a writer? Is this what you saw yourself growing up to be? Or did it take you by surprise?
I did plan to be a writer, actually. For a while I thought it would be cool to be a voice actor, but when I learned I couldn’t go to college for it (this is when I believed a 4-year university was the only plausible career path), I focused on writing. I got interested in it when I was 13, and I think I decided in high school I wanted it to be my career. I’d been writing a lot of fan fiction by this time, as well as a smattering of originals I never finished.
7.) Do you have a writing routine? Talk process for a moment, how do the words get on the page?
I do. I write every morning (when I’m smart) while my husband takes care of the kids. Sometimes, every now and then, I get a second wind in the evenings. I can’t write in the afternoons. My brain shuts off!
I have no special secrets. I sit down at my computer, I type words in a linear and chronological order, then I have lunch and be a mom for the rest of the day.
8.) Office? Closet? Corner of the living room? Do you have a set place to write?  A favorite?
I have a hot mess office. It’s in the basement and stuffed full of junk and furniture while we remodel the basement. It’s a little sad. But it works!
9.) What else do you enjoy doing besides writing? Interests? Hobbies?
Ha… ha…
So I always tell people the reason I publish so many books is because I don’t do much else. And that’s pretty honest. My brain is always in a book of some sort. Writing is my joy. When I’m not writing, I’m being mom to my two kids. I do enjoy baking (namely eating the baking) and I’m somewhat musical (in that I don’t practice as much as I should). I used to compose a lot, but that died off quite a bit after I got married 8.5 years ago. I did, however, compose a simple song that’s going into the back of my next standalone, The Will and the Wilds.

10.) What are you writing now?  What's coming out next?

I’m working on edits for the first book in a duology I hope to sell called Spellbreaker, which is in the same vein as The Paper Magician. I’m also working on edits for The Will and the Wilds, my above-mentioned standalone. It’s a romantic fantasy heavy on the romance, more a la Followed by Frost. All of the Numinanovels have their major edits done and are lined up for release this year!
Links:
Charlie's Website
Facebook Page
Goodreads
Amazon.com

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I'm excited to announce that Navigating the Stars is available now worldwide!

Navigating the Stars is the first book of my Sentinels of the Galaxy series. It's a fast-paced, action adventure science fiction story, starring Lyra Tian Daniels. It's set 400 years in the future and, in this world humans have discovered Chinese Terracotta Warriors on exoplanets throughout the Milky Way Galaxy. Lyra's parents are the archaeological experts with a capital E and are assigned to travel to Planet Yulin to assess the newest Warrior discovery.

Lyra's not as enthused about the adventure to say the least, but, since she's not yet eighteen Actual years old, she has no choice but to leave her friends behind--50 years behind that is. Traveling through space very fast has a big price--the time dilation. However, once she arrives at Planet Yulin fifty years in the future, she has more to worry about than missing her friends. Looters attack and strange things are afoot!

One of the reasons I really loved writing about Lyra is her voice. She takes snark to a entirely new level and just--as another character remarks on--refuses to be ignored. I think in today's increasingly dangerous world, speaking up for yourself and others is extremely important. And I hope Lyra inspires my readers to Refuse to be Ignored!

Another aspect that was super fun to write was Lyra's relationship with her parents. In so many YA books, the main character's parents are absent, dead, or abusive. But Lyra's are alive and well and involved in her life--too involved if you ask Lyra. And I received one of the biggest compliments about Lyra's mother from my daughter (who has high standards). She said, "I like the mom character because she's so...momish." Boo-yah!

I hope you enjoy reading Navigating the Stars as much as I enjoyed writing it. Chasing the Shadows, book 2 is coming out December 2019.

Check out below for links, appearance info, blog tour schedule:

LINKS:

You can order NAVIGATING THE STARS online at these US and Canadian retailers:

Amazon Print EditionAmazon KindleAudible Audio Book (Coming mid-December)Amazon Canada PrintAmazon Kindle CanadaApple/iTunesB&N NookKobo (Coming December 1st)
You can order NAVIGATING THE STARS online at these UK retailers:

Amazon UK Print EditionAmazon UK Kindle Edition
You can order NAVIGATING THE STARS online at these Australian retailers:                           

Amazon AU Print EditionAmazon AU Kindle EditionAmazon AU Audio BookAngus & Robertson PrintAngus & Robertson eBookBooktopia PrintBooktopia eBookDymocks Print They ship internationalReadings Print They ship international
NTS APPEARANCES:
December 8, 2018: Release Party for Navigating the Stars! at Cupboard Maker Books at (157 N Enola Rd (Routes 11/15), Enola, Pennsylvania, 17025, 717-732-7288). 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. There will be books, cats (as you can see in the photo, Annika is just so excited to host the party ;), and prizes for those who can attend. For those who can't attend and are in the US, contact the store to order a signed and personalized copy! 
Dinner with the Author...er... Me :) Come join me for dinner after the party. We'll be going to Jigsy's that's just a block up the road. The cost is $20 plus the purchase of one of my books at Cupboard Maker. The meal is a crowd pleaser, which includes the following: red and white varieties of pizza, meat and cheese stromboli, everything stromboli, wings, celery, blue cheese, antipasto salad, soda, tea, and water. You can register for this event HERE!
December 9, 2018: Fantasy Author Panel and Book Signing at Barnes & Noble (The Court @ Oxford Valley, 210 Commerce Blvd, Fairless Hills, Pennsylvania, 19030, 215-269-0442). I'll be doing a panel with fellow fantasy authors, Sarah Beth Durst (Fire & Heist), Fran Wilde (Horizon), and Carolyn Turgeon (Faerie Handbook). 2:00 p.m. The panel will be followed by an author signing. Free and open to the public! 
Virtual signing! If you are unable to attend the event, you can order signed and personalized copies of NTS through Good Choice Reading! They ship international! I will sign the book for you on December 9th and it will be shipped soon after. It's a great gift idea for your fellow MVS readers ;) Here's the LINK
December 15, 2018: Book Signing at Barnes and Noble (Red Rose Commons, 1700 H Fruitville Pike, Lancaster, Pennsylvania, 17601, 717-290-8171). 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. 
BLOG TOUR!


Rockstar Book Tours is hosting another blog tour for Navigating the Stars. There will be 10 stops and a special giveaway of 5 copies of the book. It's open to my international readers as well. There will be reviews, a Q&A, and a guest post all starting on December 3rd.
Week One:Dec 3 - Moonlight RendezvousDec 4 - My Bookish EscapadesDec 5 - Debbie's World of BooksDec 6 - a GREAT read - Guest Post Dec 7 - Two Chicks on Books
Week Two:Dec 10 - Lisa Loves LiteratureDec 11 - Wishful EndingsDec 12 - Good Choice Reading - Q&A Dec 13 - Dani Reviews ThingsDec 14 - Feed Your Fiction Addiction

The countdown has begun and there's about a month and a half until my latest book, Navigating the Stars is published! To celebrate, I'm giving away 2 advance reading copies (ARCs) and 12 custom book labels that I will sign and personalize for you to place in your copy.

The give away is open to ALL! It ends on Halloween - October 31. Check out the Rafflecopter form below to enter.

The book will be published in Australia and New Zealand on November 19, 2018. Isn't the cover gorgeous? There will be an audio book available in AU/NZ as well, narrated by the lovely Eloise Oxer.

I'm also independently publishing the book in the US, Canada, and the UK on December 1, 2018. I don't have cover art yet (or links -but they're coming soon), but Josh Durham is working on it - he also did the cover art for the Australian edition. And the fabulous Gabra Zackman is narrating the audio book.

Here are some pre-order links for the AU/NZ edition:

Amazon Australia
Angus & Robertson
Booktopia
Book Depository Free Worldwide Shipping
Dymocks Ships International
Readings Ships International

If you don't live in AU/NZ, but wish a copy of this edition, I highly suggest you pre-order it from Book Depository. Free shipping is a no brainer, but once it's published, my AU books tend to sell out on Book Depository very fast and they don't restock.

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Sign up for my Free Email Newsletter (and don't miss big news, exclusive excerpts, deleted scenes, and special short stories for subscribers only) on my website. Go to the bottom of the page: Maria's Website

Wow - it's dusty in here! And look at all the spam comments I need to delete. Sorry, I have to admit, I'm not a blogger. So why keep my blog? Because this works when I wish to do an interview and giveaway with a fabulous author. I thought I'd be doing more of these, but this year has been BUSY. I use Facebook to post updates and fun things so that's the best bet. Maria's Author Page

Speaking of fabulous authors, Lynette Noni's US debut YA book, WHISPER was published this summer and it's wonderful! I have an extra hardback copy and an ARC to giveaway - see the Rafflecopter below. I met Lynette in Australia when I was there for SupaNova Con. She is the sweetest person, beautiful both inside and out! Her The Medoran Chronicles are chewing up the Australian Bestseller charts and now she has a book published in the USA! She took some time out of her super busy schedule to answer my Take 10 questions about her US debut, WHISPER.

Here's the cover copy: 
Lengard is a secret government facility for extraordinary people,” they told me. 

I believed them. That was my mistake.

There isn’t anyone else in the world like me.

I’m different. I’m an anomaly. I’m a monster. 

For two years, six months, fourteen days, eleven hours and sixteen minutes, Subject Six-Eight-Four — ‘Jane Doe’ — has been locked away and experimented on, without uttering a single word.

As Jane’s resolve begins to crack under the influence of her new — and unexpectedly kind — evaluator, she uncovers the truth about Lengard’s mysterious ‘program’, discovering that her own secret is at the heart of a sinister plot … and one wrong move, one wrong word, could change the world.

Take 10 with Lynette Noni:

1.) So this is a standard question, but one I always enjoy reading the answer. How did you get the idea for Whisper? 
A few things came together all at once to inspire the creation of Whisper. Mostly, it was that I was awaiting the edits for the second book in my other YA fantasy series, and so I felt like I shouldn’t start drafting the third book until I learned how much needed to be changed. But I also desperately wanted to be writing something, so I considered what kind of message I wanted to be sending at the time. It came down to me being in a bit of a dark place where I felt like I was trapped in my own mind, and almost like I was screaming but no one could hear me. So the concept of Whisper came from that, in a way; the desire to have a voice — and to be heard, while also bringing across the importance of words and just how powerful they can be.
2) Jane Doe is an interesting character. Did she pop into your head fully formed or did she develop as you wrote the book?
A bit of both. I like to trust my characters to write themselves onto the page, so to speak. The opening line — “They call me Jane Doe” — came to me really loud and clear, and from that, Jane’s character started to develop and grow as the mysteries surrounding her began to unravel.
3.) Why fantasy? Is there something special about fantasy that draws you to write in the field?
I just love the fantasy genre — I love writing it and I love reading it, much of which is because of the escapism it affords. There’s nothing more wonderful than stepping into another world and going on adventures with characters you adore!
4.) The magic in the book is rather unique. Can you explain how it works?
I want to be careful with spoilers here, so I’ll only use the tagline of the book: One word could change the world. (Literally in this case!)
5.)  How did you become a writer? Is this what you saw yourself growing up to be? Or did it take you by surprise?
Actually, I never wanted to be a writer. (I didn’t even particularly enjoy English class in school — shhhh!) [Maria: me, too! I hated writing in school! Your secret is safe with me ;)] But I was always an avid reader, and after I finished university I was in a terrible reading slump, so I decided to try and write the book I wanted to read. My debut YA fantasy novel, Akarnae, was a result of that decision, which led me to where I am today.
6.) Do you have a writing routine? Talk process for a moment, are you a pantser or plotter or plotser (a hybrid of the two!). How do the words get on the page?
For the most part, I’m a pantser. I like to be surprised as things happen, almost like I’m reading it rather than writing it, though I do like to have a few points that I try to work towards. However, in saying that, I had to very carefully plot out the entire sequel to Whisper because there are just so many twists and turns, and I had to make sure everything was going to come together (and make sense), so in that case, I was 100% a plotter. My preference is definitely to be a pantser, though, or some combination of them both.
7.) Office? Closet? Corner of the living room? Do you have a set place to write?  A favorite?
I like to write in my room, where I’m most comfortable. Preference is to have dead silence and no distractions, but I’ve had to learn how to write anywhere, be it in airports or on airplanes, in cars, or really any place that can help me meet my deadlines!
8.) Whisper is your American debut. Have you experienced a difference between publishing in Australia compared to the US?
Australian CoverProbably the biggest thing is that I already had an established fan base in Australia, which made things easier sales- and hype-wise upon its release, whereas in the US, it was like starting from scratch all over again. So that was a bit of a challenge, but also exciting. It’s also weird (in a good way) when people send me photos of Whisper in like Barnes and Noble, etc. because it just makes it feel all the more real (and surreal), knowing it’s available on “the other side of the world”.
9.) What else do you enjoy doing besides writing? Interests? Hobbies?
I live near the beach on the Sunshine Coast, so it’s always nice to go and spend time by the water. I also enjoy the typical things — spending time with my friends and family, baking, watching movies, and (of course) reading!
10.) What are you writing now?  What's coming out next?

I’ve just finished writing two books back-to-back within the space of about four months (eeek!) — one was the sequel to Whisper (hopefully more news soon on the title and release date), and the other was something I can’t talk about yet but it’s super exciting. I’ve now just jumped straight into the edits for the final book in my six-book YA fantasy series that started all this, so things are definitely busy, busy, busy. This is a three-book-release year for me, with my next book, We Three Heroes, releasing on August 29th, and next year is shaping up to be another three books again, so to be honest, I’m very much looking forward to having a bit of a holiday soon! That said, I’m so looking forward to everything that’s coming next, and starting on a completely new series soon!
Links to all things Lynette:WebsiteFacebookTwitterInstagram
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