Maria V. Snyder
Hi Maria! Nice name ;) As for your question, I was reading Orson Scott Card’s book, How to Write Science Fiction and Fantasy. In chapter 3, Card tells the writer to consider some questions before choosing the main character. He wrote, “Too often—particularly in medieval fantasy—writers think their story must be about rulers. Kings and queens, dukes and duchesses—they can be extravagantly powerful, yes, but too often they aren’t free at all. If you understand the workings of power in human societies, you’ll know that the greatest freedom to act in unpredictable ways is usually found away from the centers of power.”
This comment led me to think about a person who was close enough to the center of power to witness important events, yet not be the Prince or Princess. I thought about a food taster and a scene jumped into my mind. I saw a woman tasting food that was most likely poisoned through the eyes of the King. He watched her with heartbreaking horror because he had fallen in love with her. That led me to wonder about this woman. Who was she? Why was she there? Why would a King fall in love with her? And Poison Study was born.
This comment led me to think about a person who was close enough to the center of power to witness important events, yet not be the Prince or Princess. I thought about a food taster and a scene jumped into my mind. I saw a woman tasting food that was most likely poisoned through the eyes of the King. He watched her with heartbreaking horror because he had fallen in love with her. That led me to wonder about this woman. Who was she? Why was she there? Why would a King fall in love with her? And Poison Study was born.
More Answered Questions
Fatima
asked
Maria V. Snyder:
Hi Maria, I love your books and I am binge reading them right now. I only discovered them recently and only am on book 3. I found your page with the links to the books and I saw Valek's POV in Chapter One of Poison Study. I really enjoyed reading it and I wanted to ask whether there are any more chapters or books in Valek's Point of View?
Netta
asked
Maria V. Snyder:
First of all I loved Dawn Study after all this time. Second I noticed that Reema would be great character to focus on a new adventure. Is that something to consider because the reader is introduced to her new friends in Dawn Study but the reader never gets to see that side of her. Is it possible she could align herself and her new friends with say Fisk's helpers? Would make a great adventure.
Jami Iacabone
asked
Maria V. Snyder:
I loved Poison Study and read multiple times. I went to the library to look up other books you wrote. I found out it's series and the other books are in stock. I WANT THE WHOLE SERIES!!Im on fixed income to buy them all at once. I found it once they were hard copies couldn't buy them. Really want to find out what happens Yelena and Valek?? Yelena being a soulfinder?
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