This is Google's cache of http://themisadventuresofatwentysomething.blogspot.com/2014/04/book-promo-and-author-interview.html. It is a snapshot of the page as it appeared on Jun 6, 2014 10:06:25 GMT. The current page could have changed in the meantime. Learn more
Tip: To quickly find your search term on this page, press Ctrl+F or ⌘-F (Mac) and use the find bar.
Tip: To quickly find your search term on this page, press Ctrl+F or ⌘-F (Mac) and use the find bar.
Sunday, April 6, 2014
Book Promo and Author Interview: Birthright (Talmassa Chronicles #1) by Vivian Eve
Its king murdered in cold blood by friend and foe alike, the once magnificent kingdom of Arenhed has fallen to its knees. Without a proper heir to assume the throne, the nation concedes to the rule of a cruel and villainous tyrant.
When her village is attacked by the duke and his men, 16-year-old Hedy Odell's simple life is turned upside down. She loses all that is important to her: her best friend, her mother—everything. Unbeknownst to her, she is thrust in the midst of dangerous politics and into a world where everyone—and everything—is not what they seem.
Tormented by nightmares, Hedy must navigate both the treacherous landscape of the noble courts and the conflicted waters of her heart if she is to get her revenge. One misstep, and she may suffer a fate far worse than death...
Purchase Birthright (Talmassa Chronicles #1) by Vivian Right:
***
About the Author:
VIVIAN EVE has been coming up with her own original stories ever since she was a child. Born and raised in small-town northwest Pennsylvania, she had naught to do but absorb herself in tons of books and worlds far more interesting than her own. Later, despite obtaining a degree in graphic design, her love for the craft of fiction writing remained as strong as ever. Now residing in the Steel City, she has finally come to terms with herself and her calling. BIRTHRIGHT is her first novel.
Exclusive Author Interview:
When did and/or what made you decide to be an author?
I've been coming up with stories ever since I was really young. I used
to bring notebooks with me everywhere and write down whatever crazy
scenarios came to mind. I also was a bit of an artist back then, so my
writing would occasionally be accompanied by drawings. Later on, I used a
typewriter until I was able to get my hands on computers and their word
processors.
At one point in my life, I pretty much gave up and almost stopped writing altogether. Depression, anxiety, big life changes—and the #1 culprit: fear. Fear is scary, paralyzing, terrible. After much soul-searching, I eventually came to terms with myself and began to pursue my dream of becoming an author.
Hopefully, this is only the beginning of my journey.
Do you have an interesting writing quirk? If so, what is it?At one point in my life, I pretty much gave up and almost stopped writing altogether. Depression, anxiety, big life changes—and the #1 culprit: fear. Fear is scary, paralyzing, terrible. After much soul-searching, I eventually came to terms with myself and began to pursue my dream of becoming an author.
Hopefully, this is only the beginning of my journey.
I can't write without listening to music. I also tap my fingers on the keyboard (softly so I don't muss up my document) and on my desk when I'm thinking of what to write next.
What inspired you to write Birthright?
I think a lot of people assumed my influence was George R. R. Martin's “A Song of Ice and Fire”.
But honestly, I was pretty late getting into the series/TV show. I'd
already outlined the entirety of my series and was well past my first
draft of BIRTHRIGHT by that point. My inspiration for the Talmassa Chronicles
laid more with my love of history and Arthurian legends—and of course,
the vivid images/voices of the then nameless characters who wouldn't
shut up about wanting their stories to be told.
What was your favorite chapter to write and why?
That's a tough one, but I'd have to say 24. I don't want to spoil
anything for those who've yet to read the book, but I loved writing the
dialogue between two of the featured characters. It came to me quickly
and naturally—and I absolutely love the result.
Who was your favorite character to write and why?
Hard to say; each character brings something new and interesting to the table, and it's a totally unique experience with each of them. With BIRTHRIGHT, I'm limited to only Hedy's POV. But I have written chapters and stories in other characters' POVs to help get a better feel for their voices. Seeing things through their eyes creates many new perspectives on the series' events, as well as their fellow dramatis personae.
Maybe someday, I'll tweak/expand these and release them to the world!
Which of your characters do you think is most like you?
I think I share a little bit in common with many of them, but in the end, I'd have to say Lukas. He's mysterious, a tad cold, and is quite a bit secretive. Often, I'm guilty of these things (what can I say? I'm a Scorpio through and through) but I usually don't mean to come off as such. I promise we're not as frosty as we initially appear to be. :)
What do you think makes a great story?
Fantastic characters: the ones you root for, the ones you love to hate;
high stakes and danger; an intriguing setting. A great story is
something you can absorb yourself into and become emotionally invested
in, something that feels real to you and continues to touch you on a
deep level long after the final page is turned and the cover is closed.
What do you like to do when you're not writing?
Read, listen to music, and play video games. I also like to do research,
even in my free time; I'm fond of history, particularly those of
ancient cultures.
What author or authors have inspired you the most?
I grew up reading books by Anne Rice and a plethora of other adult
novels, specifically of the urban fantasy variety. To be honest, I
wasn't as much into YA until late high school and after—which is a shame
because there are so many amazing stories to be found in this category.
I do think the former has greatly influenced my writing; my style/tone
seems to be a bit darker than even I originally anticipated it to be.
Are you currently working on anything else?
Besides writing the rest of the Talmassa Chronicles, I have
another series that has been in the planning stages for a while now.
It's quite different than my current books genre-wise, but it's still
YA. I've also been tooling around with a novella in a genre that,
admittedly, I've had minimal experience writing in. We shall see if this
project ever sees the light of day.
What advice would you give to someone who wants to become a writer but is a bit scared of criticism?
The first thing you have to break yourself of is fear; it will do
nothing but hold you back. Second, the reality is that you have to
accept the fact that not everyone is going to like your book. However,
less than stellar reviews can be a learning experience—particularly if
the criticism is constructive. There may be things you could improve on
and, in my opinion, improvement is something all authors should
constantly strive to achieve with every new release.
Finally, what are your top five books that you'd like to recommend to people to read?
This will be hard to narrow down, but here it goes:
“The Art of War” by Sun Tzu
“Interview with the Vampire” by Anne Rice (and the rest of the series!)
“Fight Club” by Chuck Palahniuk
“Battle Royale” by Koushun Takami
“Carrie” by Stephen King
I also really enjoyed Melissa Marr's “Wicked Lovely”, “The Infernal Devices” by Cassandra Clare, Leigh Bardugo's Grisha trilogy, and Mark Lawrence's “The Broken Empire” series.
“The Art of War” by Sun Tzu
“Interview with the Vampire” by Anne Rice (and the rest of the series!)
“Fight Club” by Chuck Palahniuk
“Battle Royale” by Koushun Takami
“Carrie” by Stephen King
I also really enjoyed Melissa Marr's “Wicked Lovely”, “The Infernal Devices” by Cassandra Clare, Leigh Bardugo's Grisha trilogy, and Mark Lawrence's “The Broken Empire” series.
Thanks so much for your time, Vivian!
Connect with Vivian Eve:
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Original text
Contribute a better translation
Sounds really good and I love the cover!
ReplyDeleteMissie @ A Flurry of Ponderings
Added it on GoodReads! Thank you so much for sharing!
ReplyDelete