What made you decide
to be an author? I wasn’t fit for anything else? Kidding ;). I always loved to tell stories,
then when I was about 14 or 15, started a short story. I remember just being thrilled at reading the
words coming from the characters—my words—and thinking how awesome that
was. I kept starting and stopping for
all of my adult life, but have gotten serious about it in the last nine years.
I seriously doubt I could stop now if I wanted to ;).
What do you like best about being a writer?
What do you like the least? I love creating the books I want to read. The
characters, their worlds, their friends, lovers, and sidekicks. I love that creation process. Liking the
least? The industry. Let’s face it,
we’re in a very tough field whether you’re Indie, Trad, or Hybrid. Just writing
to write is the joy, the rest is a nuisance at best. But if we want to share
our worlds with others we have to go through it.
How do you think your life experiences have prepared you for writing? I
can’t say that any one specific thing did—except for my love of books. I did a
lot of academic writing, but that is worlds away from fiction.
Have you ever felt as if you were being dictated to while you wrote a
book--as if the words came of their own accord? If yes, which book did that
happen with? Yes! Those flashes are
few and far between but they are amazing. I think I’ve had them with each one
of my books, some more than others.
You’ve written 6 novels and are working on a 7th novel. What’s your
favorite time management tip? Finding and using hidden time to write. I have a fulltime day job, so I have to
really pay attention to my writing time or it will just vanish. Always be on the look-out for little bits of
time that you can write, edit, and brainstorm- those little moments can be
gold!
Are you a plotter or a pantser, i.e., do you outline your books ahead
of time or are you an “organic” writer? Completely
a pantser. I make this stuff up on the fly;
I tried outlining a book once- the half-finished carcass lurks around my files
at night ;)). For me I just need a few
characters and a snippet of what their world is and what is about to mess it
all up. I love being a pantser, as it does make everything far more organic,
but I also know I have to edit more than the plotters I know.
If you had one take away
piece of advice for authors, what would it be? Never, ever, EVER, give up.
Did music help you find your muse with this book? If yes, which song
did you find yourself going back to over and over again as you wrote? No
specific song, I usually use movie trailer music if I listen to anything. It keeps me moving quickly on those first
drafts and is excellent for fight scenes. Trailerhead, Posthumous, Two Steps
From Hell, those are some of the “groups” who produce trailer music.
Archeologist Taryn St. Giles has spent her life mining the ruins of the elves who vanished from the Four Kingdoms a thousand years ago. But when her patrons begin disappearing too--and then turning up dead--she finds herself unemployed, restless, and desperate. So she goes looking for other missing things: as a bounty hunter.
Tracking her first fugitive--the distractingly handsome and strangely charming Alric--she unearths a dangerous underworld of warring crime lords, demonic squirrels, and a long-lost elven artifact capable of unleashing a hell on earth.
Chased, robbed, kidnapped, and distressingly low on rent money, Taryn just wants one quiet beer and to catch her fugitive. But there's more to Alric than his wicked grin--is he a wanted man or the city's only hope? With menacing mages in pursuit and her three alcoholic faery sidekicks always in her hair, Taryn's curiosity might finally solve the mystery of the elves... or be the death of her and destroy her world.
How about an excerpt from The Glass Gargoyle
“Come on, Alric, I said I was sorry,” I said as I pounded one more time on the metal door.
“Just let me out.”
I’d passed out moments after he’d left the night before. And while it was fuzzy, I did unfortunately remember what I’d done. I had no idea why I’d done it. Not even an inkling. Contrary to some of my friends’ beliefs, I wasn’t that desperate.
But there had been something else as well. Like something else had taken me over. I saw what I was doing, and at some level was shocked. But at another far deeper and untouchable level—it felt right. And whatever it was scared the hell out of both Alric and me. I, however, was just going to pretend it didn’t happen and move on.
And I really wanted to get out of this room. Bad enough that I was apologizing to him for an action he’d provoked.
I told him I couldn’t drink whisky.
“Damn you, let me out.” So much for apologizing. I’d tried that. Now maybe some belligerence was in order. I leaned forward to pound some more on the door when it swung open, and I found myself tumbling into some very nice, well-muscled arms.
That didn’t belong to Alric.
“Taryn, this is Marcos, he’s from Lernia,” Alric said from behind his tall, dark, and handsome friend. Who was still holding me.
“He’s a new archeologist, but he knows the area. He can get you out.”
I looked up into my rescuer’s face and drew in a deep unintended breath. He was stunning. Alric was a looker, don’t get me wrong, but Marcos looked like one of those kept men the high-end ladies wore on their arms like the newest handbags. His deep brown eyes were warm and inviting and were highlighted with a ring of gold. Thick black hair pushed back from his brow and gathered at his neck in a tail. And unlike Alric’s dyed black hair, his was full of life, clearly nothing artificial involved in making that deep color. Sun-kissed brown skin accented the high cheekbones and kissable lips.
Alric’s cough made me realize I still hadn’t moved.
Alric’s cough made me realize I still hadn’t moved.
“Sorry, he’s kept me locked up all night.” I shook my head and wondered if the whisky was still affecting me, or I just really had libido problems. I reluctantly pulled myself free of the vision’s arms and steadied myself with what was probably an idiotic grin.
Where can readers find more about your stories, books and you on the
Internet?
Website Links:
Website: http://marieandreas.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/@MarieAndreas1
Marie, thank you so much for being with us here today. I know my
readers will enjoy your work and your interview.
