It's Not All Grinding Herbs....

Alfreda would use maggots as a healing tool, as well. Here's an article talking about not only historical use, but recent investigation into maggot therapy.

Some maggots ARE injured in the course of this examination - but their secretions are still healing. They don't appear to be munching on anyone, but if you don't like crawlies at all, skip this link!

A Bit of Blog Hopping

So, have you discovered Blog Hopping yet? Patricia "Pooks" Burroughs invited me to join one, so here goes!

I thought you might enjoy learning a bit about the Work in Progress -- and hearing about some other writers, as well. So read on for my current work, and for links to many fellow writers. I'll try to remember to give you some more links next week, because 'tis the season to find new authors!'

Some Author Answers:

What is the working title of your current book? Spirit Tracks

Where did the idea come from for the book? It's the third Alfreda novel, about how her family ships her off to fabled Cousin Esme's school for young wizards to get that pesky need for ritual magic under control.

What genre does your book fall under? It's dark fantasy for ages 8-108.

Which actors would you choose to play your characters in a movie rendition? Oh, that's hard. The actress who could have been Allie has grown up. Now? Who do you think? My friend Mike Moe could be Allie's father, and Claudia Christian could be her mother. Diane Lane could be Esme -- beautiful, professional, enigmatic, everything a wizard should be. Jodie Foster could play Marta, I think! And the Asian wizard in Spirit Tracks could have been George Takei in an earlier incarnation.

What is the one-sentence synopsis of your book? A young wizard discovers that you can survive fantastic change.

Will your book be self-published or represented by an agency? Excellent question. Haven't decided if I will offer it to NYC or not. Will discuss with my agent after it's complete.

How long did it take you to write the first draft of this manuscript? It's not quite finished, and too long, ARGH!

What other books would you compare this story to within your genre? Allie was unique when she came out -- if anything, Night Calls and Kindred Rites were "Little House on the Prairie with werewolves and vampires." Check out those two books -- if you like strong, grounded, very brave heroes, whose stories take place in an alternative early North America, Alfreda might be the teen for you.

Who or What inspired you to write this book? Jane Yolen talking about an anthology for young adults that she was opening for submissions. My subconscious sent me the image of Allie hanging a woven braid of garlic over an interior door. It was such a strong picture I thought I'd swiped it from somewhere.

What else about your book might pique the reader’s interest? It has magic, humor, sentient magical creatures, spirit guides, and a touch of romance. Oh -- and a cat decides that Allie belongs to HIM. We also get great food!

No matter how this book is going, I plan to get Night Calls and Kindred Rites into ebook next year. So progress is happening.

In the meantime? Fires of Nuala, the first of my SF series The Chronicles of Nuala is on sale at Book View Cafe, Amazon and Barnes & Noble. The queen of thieves meets the mutant king, and the planet Nuala will never be the same again. Far future science fiction driven by character and culture.

You can reach all formats through Backlist eBooks.

Thank you, Pooks, for inviting me to Hop!

Would you like to meet some other great authors? Check out these fine people!

Patricia Burroughs http://planetpooks.com/the-blog/
Jeffrey A. Carver http://starrigger.blogspot.com
Pati Nagle http://patinagle.livejournal.com/
Steven Harper Piziks http://spiziks.livejournal.com
Deborah J. Ross http://www.deborahjross.blogspot.com/
Sherwood Smith http://sartorias.livejournal.com/
Laura Underwood http://laurajunderwood.livejournal.com/
Madeleine Robins http://madrobins.livejournal.com/