alfreda89: (anime)
Over at Mary Robinette Kowal's web site, she runs a (usually) weekly feature called My Favorite Bit. Authors drop by and talk about their new books. The point is, what do you absolutely adore about the book? What's the part that makes you all "look at this awesome thing here!" It may be a scene, or something that had to be cut, or even world building, the scaffolding behind the curtain.

So I told her about the part of Spiral Path where I thought everything changed.

What happens when your life changes in the course of a single night? When the world splits open and reveals something so dangerous, that the people who love you immediately take action to protect you from it?

This is where Spiral Path, the third book in the Night Calls saga, begins. Thirteen year old Alfreda Sorensson lives in an alternative pioneer America right on the cusp of the War of 1812. There are strong practitioners—magic users who are also gifted with knowledge of herbs and healing—who protect the communities out in the territories. An old soul, Allie has bloomed into a potential power, and that is attracting people—and entities—who would like to use her. Although she has learned the first notes of her family’s dark legacy, Wild Magic, she knows no ritual magic.

Ritual magic may be the key to her survival.
alfreda89: 3 foot concrete Medieval style gargoyle with author's hand resting on its head. (Mascot)
There's a problem with success too soon. Or success at any time, actually, when you are talking about creative pursuits. Because most creatives occasionally wrestle with The Critics.

Not the critics out on the Internet, or in magazines or even your local artistic circle. The critics in your head. They're the worst, and often the hardest to compartmentalize. They have their uses, when you channel them properly. But if you let them take over the studio? You're in trouble.

Over on John Scalzi's blog Whatever, Paolo Bacigalupi talks about zagging when everyone else expects you to zig--and in so doing recentering yourself as an artist.

(He also mentions his new zombie book for kids. Hey, you silence your critics your way...he let his save the world from zombies.)
alfreda89: (Peppermint Peach Tree)
I've been trying to find copies used to see the first one, but no dice on Volume 1, so deciding whether to risk buying one or all.

Research is so interesting!
alfreda89: (Cat Magic)
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/

June 2025

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