12 Days of Christmas (Author Style)
I've seen this tag show up in a few places, but Kate over at Seek Him First was the first I saw put an authorial twist on it and answer based on her own stories. I liked the idea so much I had to try it myself.
The partridge stood alone in the pear tree. What is your favorite standalone novel?
Definitely There's No Place Like Home? because I think it's probably the strongest of the few standalone books I've written. I can't wait to dive into editing it later next year.
Love is in the air! Who is your one true pairing?
ON THE FIRST DAY OF CHRISTMAS, MY TRUE LOVE SENT TO ME: A PARTRIDGE IN A PEAR TREE.
Definitely There's No Place Like Home? because I think it's probably the strongest of the few standalone books I've written. I can't wait to dive into editing it later next year.
ON THE SECOND DAY OF CHRISTMAS, MY TRUE LOVE SENT TO ME: TWO TURTLE DOVES.
So, this is a tricky question because the Albion series has its fair share of pairings, but with only the first book released, none of them are exactly "canonical" yet. But the one pairing that's fairly set up (or at least implied to be in the early stages) in Albion Academy is Merlin and Morgana, and they are the one couple in the series who didn't surprise me by becoming a couple.
In the spirit of threes, what is the best trilogy you have written?
Okay, so I have not yet written a trilogy. I have series, and standalones, and some books which aren't quite either. But no neat little 3-and-done sets. Unless you count the three short stories that featured the same character at different points in his life that served as part of my thesis collection. We'll call that a trilogy of sorts.
Since series usually consist of four or more books, what is your favorite series?
ON THE THIRD DAY OF CHRISTMAS, MY TRUE LOVE SENT TO ME: THREE FRENCH HENS.
Okay, so I have not yet written a trilogy. I have series, and standalones, and some books which aren't quite either. But no neat little 3-and-done sets. Unless you count the three short stories that featured the same character at different points in his life that served as part of my thesis collection. We'll call that a trilogy of sorts.
ON THE FOURTH DAY OF CHRISTMAS, MY TRUE LOVE SENT TO ME: FOUR CALLING BIRDS.
Picking favorites is tough, because so many of my books are part of a series, and I love them all. For the moment, though, I'll have to go with the Albion series, if for no other reason than it's one of my main focuses at the moment. I have other series that I expect will grow to be just as favored (at least in my heart) but for now Albion is the standout sibling.
One ring to rule them all! Who is your favorite villain/antagonist?
ON THE FIFTH DAY OF CHRISTMAS, MY TRUE LOVE SENT TO ME: FIVE GOLDEN RINGS.
I really liked writing Tik-Tok in There's No Place Like Home? because he was such a change for me as a character. I hadn't really written any characters who recognized that they were evil and relished it before. It gave him a strong dynamic no matter who else shared the scene with him.
Creation is a beautiful thing. What is your favorite world/worldbuilding?
Because so much of my writing lately has been contemporary fantasy, I'm not really sure which to go with. Even the series that I have up my sleeves are all contemporary/urban fantasy, so the worldbuilding feels less like construction and more like remodeling. I think my favorite at the moment is the mythos that informs the phoenix/vampire detective story. (Ashes to ashes and dust to dust. It's going to be such fun!)
Who needs seven swans when all it takes is one good animal sidekick? Who’s your favorite animal sidekick?
ON THE SIXTH DAY OF CHRISTMAS, MY TRUE LOVE SENT TO ME: SIX GEESE A-LAYING.
Because so much of my writing lately has been contemporary fantasy, I'm not really sure which to go with. Even the series that I have up my sleeves are all contemporary/urban fantasy, so the worldbuilding feels less like construction and more like remodeling. I think my favorite at the moment is the mythos that informs the phoenix/vampire detective story. (Ashes to ashes and dust to dust. It's going to be such fun!)
ON THE SEVENTH DAY OF CHRISTMAS, MY TRUE LOVE SENT TO ME: SEVEN SWANS A-SWIMMING.
Huginn in the Albion series. No question. She's one of Odin's ravens and a good friend to Bryn. Having her along for the ride has made the series just that much more fun to write.
Milk is so 18th century. Which book or series takes beverages/food to a whole new level?
ON THE EIGHTH DAY OF CHRISTMAS, MY TRUE LOVE SENT TO ME: EIGHT MAIDS A-MILKING.
Since I grew up reading the Redwall books, you would think I'd have gone to some similar lengths in describing food and drink in my books. However, I rarely mention it beyond what is necessary to the story, and I honestly can't think of a single story or book that features food to a major extent (certainly none that compare with Redwall's standards).
Dancing is just one skill of a Lady! Who is your favorite female lead?
Bryn from the Albion books. Ava from the phoenix/vampire story. Elizabeth from my Non de Velai books. They're all very different as far as strengths, flaws, and character arcs, but I love them all equally. They also all take different paths in regard to their heritage. Bryn loves her family but feels pulled away from her traditional vocation. Ava is a staunch believer in her people and their cause, but her tendency to push the envelope of tradition's boundaries in pursuit of the spirit of that cause puts her in the path of some less than benevolent folks. And Elizabeth is one of those whose heart truly believes with little effort, and her spirit is tried by the heartbreaks of life she and her friends must endure before the end.
How about your favorite leading lad?
ON THE NINTH DAY OF CHRISTMAS MY TRUE LOVE SENT TO ME: NINE LADIES DANCING.
Bryn from the Albion books. Ava from the phoenix/vampire story. Elizabeth from my Non de Velai books. They're all very different as far as strengths, flaws, and character arcs, but I love them all equally. They also all take different paths in regard to their heritage. Bryn loves her family but feels pulled away from her traditional vocation. Ava is a staunch believer in her people and their cause, but her tendency to push the envelope of tradition's boundaries in pursuit of the spirit of that cause puts her in the path of some less than benevolent folks. And Elizabeth is one of those whose heart truly believes with little effort, and her spirit is tried by the heartbreaks of life she and her friends must endure before the end.
ON THE TENTH DAY OF CHRISTMAS MY TRUE LOVE SENT TO ME: TEN LORDS A-LEAPING.
Merlin and Mortimer from Albion, because they are both such fun to write. Josiah from the Non de Velai books because he's such a good balance to his sister, Elizabeth. Radley from the Shadow series because one of these days his story is going to be written and it will be one of my favorite things ever.
What is your favorite book or bookish thing with musical influence? (It can be about music, reference music a lot, etc.)
ON THE ELEVENTH DAY OF CHRISTMAS MY TRUE LOVE SENT TO ME: ELEVEN PIPERS PIPING.
Like I said with the food question, I don't have a lot of music going on in my books. However, there's a side story/folktale for one of the Non de Velai books about the origins of that world's take on the guitar that is (I hope) beautifully tragic and that's probably the strongest magical influence in my writing.
Drum roll please . . . what is your favorite writing moment of this year?
ON THE TWELFTH DAY OF CHRISTMAS MY TRUE LOVE SENT TO ME: TWELVE DRUMMERS DRUMMING.
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| Cover design by Meredith Hodges-Boos |
Probably writing my short story "Grandmother Moon" (which can be read in the second Crazy Buffet anthology here on Amazon). This story helped exorcise some thoughts and emotions surrounding a very difficult situation in my family's life this fall. It also served as one of the first times I set out to write something in the vein of Ray Bradbury, who is one of my authorial heroes. I like to think I succeeded in imitating the emotion of a Bradbury story; if you read it, let me know what you think.
(By the way, this anthology also includes a short story related to my Saint Nicholas story "Winter Warrior" which can be read here. This time around, we're getting Jack Frost's story.)
(By the way, this anthology also includes a short story related to my Saint Nicholas story "Winter Warrior" which can be read here. This time around, we're getting Jack Frost's story.)
5. Evil Tik-Tok? Sounds intriguing!
ReplyDelete7. Not the goat?
Tik-Tok is so much fun! I'll have to get you in on the next round of edits.
DeleteYes, the goat is fun, but still second to Huginn. ;)