Author To Author: Peggy M. McAloon

If you've kept up on the blog, you'll know that I'm going though a transition. One that, when I emerge, I hope to have come to a "Right Livelihood." A term coined by the Buddhists as one of the ultimate goals of the Buddha's Noble Eightfold Path. 

Hold on, don't jump to the conclusion I'm converting to Buddhism. What I am doing during this transitional phase is striving once again to find the path that is best for me, the one that makes the most sense according to who I am, my true self. 

As I was reading through Peggy's answers I remember that my life isn't all that unique, in that we all go through transitions, changes in our lives that have a beginning, middle and end. Just like the stories we tell, our lives are stories that repeat that pattern over and over again. 

I want to thank Peggy for sharing her story with us today. This will be my last Author to Author post for awhile. Hope you're all having a great and wonderful summer. 

Peggy and Anneka 

Can you tell us three interesting things about you that people usually wouldn’t guess about you?

1. I am terrified of heights. When I was a child, we took wonderful vacations. I was probably five or six when we went to the Grand Canyon. Mother insisted we take a cable car across the canyon. It was a terribly windy day and the cable car broke in the middle of the river; dangling high above the water for nearly an hour before they got it fixed. I remember the cable car swinging back and forth and making creaking noises as it swung in the high winds. I was convinced we were going to die. On another vacation we went to Niagara Falls. We stood on a rock outcrop between two areas of the falls. The next morning on television they showed that same spot where we had been standing. It had fallen off into the raging waters below over night. I’m guessing those two experiences are why my stomach drops every time I’m up somewhere high.

2. My grandmother was a Kennedy. Two cousins came to the U.S. One stayed in the New England area and became quite wealthy … the other moved to Virginia and became a farmer. My grandmother received a personal note with a picture of JFK from Rose Kennedy after the assassination. She slept with it under her pillow every night for the rest of her life.

3. I was a contestant in the Miss Iowa Pageant in the 60’s.

How did you get into writing?

The last 25 years of my working career, I was the national sales manager for the Minneapolis division of the National Association of Credit Management. I did a tremendous amount of training, prepared and delivered seminars, and wrote articles for the newsletter. During that time I wrote my first published book, “The Art of Business Credit Investigation” which was featured in Inc. Magazine. I have loved writing and fabricating stories since I was a child. I used to make up complete movies in my head, but I didn’t write them down. After retirement I started writing guest posts for the local newspaper and was editor of “Lake Talk” the newsletter for the Tainter/Menomin Lake Improvement Association where I spent ten years working for the conservation of our water resources. That involved communication with other groups and politicians. I was awarded the National DAR Conservation Award in 2013.

What are some of your favorite MG/YA books?

Books were my method of mental escape during the abuse of my childhood so I do have to say that the ones nearest my heart are those that gave me hours of blissful entertainment: The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien – The Chronicles of Narnia set by C.S. Lewis – To Kill a Mockingbird by Lee Harper – Tom Sawyer and The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain – Little Women by Louisa May Alcott - and of course the Hardy Boys, Nancy Drew, and 007 series of books. I’m also a pushover for Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling and the Prince of Malorn (Annals of Alasia Books) by Annie Douglass Lima.

Who are your role models?

First and foremost is my grandfather. He had the kindest and most compassionate heart of any human being I have ever met.  I love Maya Angelo for her courage and inspiration. Dr. Eichler, my humanities instructor in college for teaching me that dates mean little in history, it is only through learning how one event leads to the next that we will be able to improve our lives and avoid making the same mistakes. I also adored Mother Teresa, “Not all of us can do great things. But we can do small things with great love.” And, “I alone cannot change the world. But I can cast a stone across the waters to create many ripples.”

What are you working on right now?

I am working on the 2^nd book in the Elle Burton Series. This book will further explore the other dimension of Fiori and the Sacred Scrolls to determine if Elle is the one who it has been predicted will change the direction of the world.  One of the projects associated with the first book in the series is to find funding to provide the book free of charge for women’s shelters for the high-risk children there.

Tell us a bit about how the character of Elle Burton evolved?

Year after year we hear the stories about kids who have been abused and the numbers continue to astound me. The most recent figures indicate there are three million cases of child abuse reported each year in the U.S., involving nearly six million children. This is one of the worst records in all industrialized nations. I was one of those abused children and I have struggled with how we could possibly convince kids like me to share the secret of their abuse. My abuser made threats against my mother if I told anyone. I was terrified for her. Threats are the weapons most readily used by the abusers and I wanted to create a character who could empower kids in trouble to seek help and inspire the rest to recognize and offer help to the kids in trouble.

To be perfectly honest, Elle is the kid I wish I had been courageous enough to be. She’s flawed like me, she makes some bad decision, but she is still willing to stand up against some extraordinary threats to her well-being and the safety of others. I knew she would have to have my grandfather’s heart. I never heard him say an unkind word. I gave her his last name as a constant reminder of her gift of compassion as I wrote the story. She is only ten when the first book begins, but I expect to follow her to adulthood.

Reflective portals are pretty original. Where did the inspiration for those come from?

Everything I have written in this book has been done to inspire kids. What better way to entice them into the story than to allow them to be part of the magic? Elle and the other Earth Guides have two ways to move from Earth to Fiori. One is through a wish and the other is through the reflection of a child. Conversely, the Fiorins can only travel into Earth’s dimension through the reflection of a child. This creates some conflict in the book because it appears the devilish Zorins have found a way to interfere with the reflections in the ponds of Fiori. (Fiorins can travel through a wish with a Guide, but they do not have the gift of wish travel themselves.) Perhaps it is because I love to sit by the water and imagine myself in other places that I chose reflections as the inspiration.

Currently giving away pendants and books! Go to Peggy's website.

Tell us a little bit about Elle Burton and the Reflective Portals.

Elle Burton is an ordinary kid…or so she thinks. On her tenth birthday she encounters Eunie Mae, a tiny, fairylike being who comes from a world called Fiori. She begins a journey that leads her from this world into another dimension through reflective portals where creatures called Fiorins are linked to all human life.  Other than some children under the age of eight, the only human beings who can see Fiorins are guides—people who have been chosen to help protect the children of Earth.

Being a guide seems like the opportunity of a lifetime. Elle has always loved helping others, and now she’ll have magical assistance. But not everybody wants her to succeed. There are evil forces that do everything in their power to keep the guides from offering support to those in need.

Join her as she enlists the Fiorin warrior Amadeus and others to help her protect the human children against bullying and physical abuse. The children at risk Elle encounters are dependent on her decisions and quick responses.  Travel with her to Fiori and discover magical foot lockers, spider elevators, and the beloved Pegasus. Join her journey on the crusade to protect the world’s children.  Her journey to adulthood begins as she completes the three challenges, predicted centuries ago.  She is a modern-day role model who embodies everything that is good in this world. Will she be strong enough to combat the problems children face in the 21^st Century?

Can you tell us about your publishing journey, any surprises along the way?

I was extremely lucky to meet Mayo Clinic’s Dick Edwards (Mom, Dad ... Can We Talk?: Insight and Perspectives to Help Us Do What's Best for Our Aging Parents) who was gracious enough to help me on more than one occasion in my quest for a publisher. Anyone who believes they have a book that needs to be written should seek out and find other authors who can help them along the way. Some of the people who have been the most supportive are other authors who are committed to the industry and in helping new authors. Those who have been truly inspiring are Elmarie Porthouse, Connie Dunn, Annie Douglass Lima, D’vorah Lansky, Sandra Beckwith, Jenny Orelle, Jeannie Frazier, PeggyLee Hanson, Moreen Tropy, and Vickie Newman. Without them, I would never have come as far as I have.

Surprises: 

I had no idea that my blog would be transferred to LinkedIn. This was done by the publisher. All of my old customers are on that platform and I was both surprised and terrified to learn that my posts on the tougher elements of parenting were showing up on LinkedIn.

I fought Twitter. I didn’t want to do it, although at one point I thought it might be fun to do as Elle. I’m glad I forced myself to get involved because I have met some wonderful and inspiring people through that platform. I have now done roughly 3,000 tweets…pretty amazing for a Grandma. 

The hours: This is the killer. I had no concept how many hours it would take to build and maintain a platform on all the various social media sites. As a manager in the business world I had one golden rule. If I couldn’t learn to do it, and do it well, I would not ask an employee to do it for me. This has been a difficult learning curve because we did not grow up with the technology folks a few decades younger find so easy. Hopefully I will be able to outsource some of this in the future.

Do you listen to songs while you write? If so, what are they? Do certain songs get you into a certain character’s head?

I love to listen to music. I started playing the organ for church services when I was only nine. I have used music my entire life to maintain my mood. If I’m sad or tired, I play soft and soothing music until my mood begins to lift. At that point I switch to a livelier tune. After a trip to BarHarbor, and the Bluenose Inn, I frequently have one of pianist Bill Trowell’s CD’s playing in the background.

What character is most like you?

That one’s simple: Ginny Burton, Elle’s mom.

If you had a power, what would it be?

Again, that is also simple: I would love to be able to enjoy ‘wish travel’ like the Earth Guides.

What is your favorite quote or saying?

   

I truly believe if we all did one additional thing each day to improve the life of another that everyone’s life would improve.

What would you tell people who want to become authors?

I would ask them why they haven’t started the journey. I wrote two other books before the Elle book. They are still sitting in a file but I do intend to get back to them one day. They are the works that helped me find my true self and my voice. Elle is the story that I pray will change lives. We all have stories inside us that will inspire others. I have been so blessed by the women who have contacted me after reading the book and who shared they were also abused as children. I wrote the book to empower and inspire children; I had no idea it would provide healing to other adults.

Any last thing you want to tell us?

The statistics tell me that one in three women reading this suffered abuse by their 18^th birthday. When I was little I constantly tried to be perfect in everything. I always thought if I could be just a little bit better the abuse would stop.

It took decades for me to realize that a child is incapable of doing anything to warrant abuse by an adult. I watched my own children grow, unable to fathom how anyone could ever hurt a child. If you were the victim of abuse as a child and still have unresolved issues, please find someone you can confide in. The healing begins when you stop being afraid. The power of the abuser ends when you reject the fear they instilled in you.

Thanks for joining us, Peggy and sharing such wonderful words of support and wisdom.

On her website Peggy offers a free drawing each month. Currently, there is also a drawing for the pendants and books. Check it out here!

Rockin' With Grams Pick of the Month

For today's Marvelous Middle Grade Monday post I'm sharing my Rockin' With Grams pick of the Month.


This book is for older middle graders.
I chose it for several reasons. The emphasis on science and math. I also appreciated the themes of race and bullying. This book could provide many opportunities for generational connections.

Throughout the book are opportunities to explain how things work and why. It also encourages discussions on science and math application. The narrative also shows a girl in a nontraditional role. I believe it's important for children to understand that all the technology we now enjoy came about because someone imagined it, built it and tried it. Because they were willing to take a risk.

This months pick is the Fever Crumb series by Phillip Reeves. A wonderful introduction to the science fiction and steampunk genre.

About The Book: Fever Crumb is a girl who has been adopted and raised by Dr. Crumb, a member of the order of Engineers, where she serves as apprentice. In a time and place where women are not seen as reasonable creatures, Fever is an anomaly, the only female to serve in the order.
Soon though, she must say goodbye to Dr. Crumb - nearly the only person she's ever known - to assist archeologist Kit Solent on a top-secret project. As her work begins, Fever is plagued by memories that are not her own and Kit seems to have a particular interest in finding out what they are. Fever has also been singled out by city-dwellers who declare her part Scriven.

The Scriveners, not human, ruled the city some years ago but were hunted down and killed in a victorious uprising by the people. If there are any remaining Scriven, they are to be eliminated.

All Fever knows is what she's been told: that she is an orphan. Is Fever a Scriven? Whose memories does she hold? Is the mystery of Fever, adopted daughter of Dr. Crumb, the key to the secret that lies at the heart of London?

Haunting, arresting, and astonishingly original, Fever Crumb will delight and surprise readers at every fast-paced, breathless turn. —Goodreads

What Others Have Said: "Fever Crumb is a terrific read, a sci-fi Dickens, full of orphans, villains, chases and mysteries. There's even a balloon-chase climax. I worry that if you read it before reading the others, you'll miss out on the electric shock I had when I was plunged straight into that jungle of predator cities. Like The Magician's Nephew, or the story of how your parents met, it's a beginning better told at the end." —The Guardian

"Reeve has crafted a swiftly paced story worthy of standing alone, both in terms of where Fever’s adventure may lead her next as well as the connections to the Hungry City Chronicles." —Booklist

Bloggers Weigh In: 

Death, Books and Tea

Girls In The Stacks

Dodging Commas

Enrichment Fun: 

• Create an invention together using things from around the house.
• Draw a map of an imaginary land.
• What creature could live in the world, draw or paint them. 
• Explore electrical circuits and other science things.

About The Author: 

Philip Reeve

Website

Facebook

Twitter

Blog

Tumbler

Who: Philip has been writing stories since he was five, but Mortal Engines was the first to be published. Mortal Engines defies easy categorisation. It is a gripping adventure story set in an inspired fantasy world, where moving cities trawl the globe. A magical and unique read, it immediately caught the attention of reviewers and book buyers. It was shortlisted for several awards and was the Gold Award winner at the Nestle Smarties Book Prize 2002 and the winner of the Blue Peter Book of the Year at the 2003 Awards.

Since Mortal Engines's release in 2001, followers and fans of the series have been growing exponentially. Philip Reeve is now known as one of the leading writers for young adults, with his every book achieving huge sales, glowing review coverage and award nominations. —Scholastic

Other books in the series:

Celebrating Teen Read Week: Out of the Easy by Ruta Sepetys

In support of ALA's Teen Read Week I'll be highlighting a new TEEN read each day. 

Challenge yourself!

Published: February 12, 2013
ISBN: 039925692X
Genre: YA, historical fiction
Publisher: Philomel Books
Themes: adversity, achieving goals, character, race, class
Add it on: Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes And Noble/ *Indie Bound*

About The Book: It’s 1950, and as the French Quarter of New Orleans simmers with secrets, seventeen-year-old Josie Moraine is silently stirring a pot of her own. Known among locals as the daughter of a brothel prostitute, Josie wants more out of life than the Big Easy has to offer.
She devises a plan get out, but a mysterious death in the Quarter leaves Josie tangled in an investigation that will challenge her allegiance to her mother, her conscience, and Willie Woodley, the brusque madam on Conti Street. Josie is caught between the dream of an elite college and a clandestine underworld. New Orleans lures her in her quest for truth, dangling temptation at every turn, and escalating to the ultimate test.

With characters as captivating as those in her internationally bestselling novel Between Shades of Gray, Ruta Sepetys skillfully creates a rich story of secrets, lies, and the haunting reminder that decisions can shape our destiny.

What Others Are Saying: "Josie's narrative features a Dickensian array of characters; the mystique, ambience, and language of the French Quarter; a suspenseful, action-packed story; and a coming-of-age realization that personal decisions ultimately shape one's future. With dramatic and contextual flair, Sepetys introduces teens to another memorable heroine." —School Library Journal

"Josie wants more for herself. She is smart, but her intelligence does not automatically free her from social confines. Like every young woman, Josie must negotiate a world where her body is valued over her mind. Her awareness of this difficult position may be what helps her get out of the Easy and into life." —New York Times

What I Thought: Sepetys has a rich lyrical style that carefully weaves a plot full of deeply complicated characters. Set in New Orleans the southern flavor comes through and made this tale enjoyable. Josie is a strong heroine. Her journey to rise above shows how how strength combined with the help of others can help you accomplish anything.

About The Author: Ruta Sepetys

Website

Facebook

Twitter

Who: "In addition to music and writing, I enjoy serving on the Board at the University, collecting eccentric art, and pondering life's mysteries over long meals with my friends and family. I have a passionate love for paper and vintage ephemera. I'm quite good at crying, dancing like a strumpet, laughing too loud, and traveling. In my travels, I have visited 42 countries on six continents. My adventures have inspired dozens of stories and seeing that I am fond of both sitting and being melodramatic, my husband suggested I write a novel.
So I did." — Ruta Sepetys

MMGM NW Author and a Giveaway: The Ring of Leilani by Annie Crawford

About The Book: The last thing fifteen-year-old Julia Dickinson expects while vacationing with her parents in Cancun is to find an ancient crown in an underwater cave, try it on...and be transformed into a mermaid. And not just any mermaid, but a direct descendant of the long-lost Princess Leilani and the heir to Leilani’s throne. The idea of being a queen is exciting, and the members of the merclan are overjoyed to have a leader once more...but Julia’s not at all sure she’s ready to give up her life as a human.
  
Julia’s fate hinges on a missing magic ring. Before she can become queen, she must find the ring, lost for a hundred fifty years, since the crown is useless without it. And when she learns that the combined power of crown and ring can make her human again, she’s even more motivated to search for it.
  
Accompanied by one of the merclan elders, Julia embarks on a perilous quest to find the ring. Along the way she blunders into a fishing net and meets Chac, a seventeen-year-old Mayan boy enamored of merfolk who promises to help her in her search. But if and when Julia does find the ring, can she also find happiness as a mermaid queen? —Goodreads

The Cover: Illustrated by Linda Ingraham
Website
Art Studio
Facebook
Quote:  “I am drawn to beautiful things...but beauty that reaches beyond the eyes and into the soul, the poignant beauty of spirituality, loss, fragility, and hope. These are the themes that weave a common thread through my work using nature as metaphor to explore the human psyche.” —Ingraham on Website
  
First Line: "Mom....please! Just five more minutes!"
  
Great Character Line: "...Think about what you're living right now! That's all any of us have, the moment."—Chac (85)

What Others Are Saying: “I found it refreshing that it seemed to break the current YA trend of love-triangles, sappy, weak-willed heroines, and girls who turn into mush at the first sight of a handsome boy. . . Julia is intelligent and strong, and while there is a cute boy involved, they work more as a team. . . love to read more!” —Sophia Flynt

"I read this book in one sitting. I LOVED it!! The writing was clear and crisp, with short chapters and a fast pace. I was never bored or lost interest for a moment. The plotline kept me guessing until the end...)  —Stacy on Goodreads

What I Thought: It's hard to choose what I liked best about this book. I loved Julia's character, she's strong and brave, yet impulsive. Crawford does an incredible job of world building and her descriptions of culture reminded me of Lewis Carrol, Frank Baum and J.M. Barrie and the way their writing whisked me off to distant lands. The pacing was perfect and the plot provided some unexpected twists. While this is young adult—Julia is fifteen— I think this would appeal to Tweens because it's full of adventure, self-discovery and a touch of magic.

About The Author: 
Annie Crawford
Website
Twitter
Interview
Facebook

Who: "I’ve been an avid reader ever since I learned what those funny squiggles on the page were all about. I’m also a writer, with two completed novels under my belt, The Ring of Leilani and The Curse of the Jade Amulet (find them on Amazon or Smashwords.com), two that have been put on the shelf for the time being, and another where I’m currently finishing up the first draft. What age levels are my books for? That’s hard to say. Personally, I don’t think the dividing line’s always that clear. I love good books, whether they’re for adults or children. Great kids’ books aren’t just for kids, they’re for everyone who loves magic, fantasy and discovering new worlds. As for adult books being for kids—well, my parents didn’t police the bookshelves and I readTropic of Capricorn at eleven. But that’s another story, and I don’t necessarily recommend Henry Miller for tweens!"
 —Magic And The Muse


I'm giving away my copy all you have to do is answer the question in a comment.
  
Who said, "beauty that reaches beyond the eyes and into the soul"?
  
Don't miss the other MMGM reviewers! Great books this week... you can find them in my sidebar!

MMGM: Okay For Now by Gary D. Schmidt

About The Book: Midwesterner Gary D. Schmidt won Newbery Honor awards for Lizzie Bright and the Buckminster Boys and The Wednesday Wars, two coming-of-age novels about unlikely friends finding a bond. Okay For Now, his latest novel, explores another seemingly improbable alliance, this one between new outsider in town Doug Swieteck and Lil Spicer, the savvy spitfire daughter of his deli owner boss. With her challenging assistance, Doug discovers new sides of himself. Along the way, he also readjusts his relationship with his abusive father, his school peers, and his older brother, a newly returned war victim of Vietnam.
                                                                                                  -Goodreads
First Two Lines: Joe Pepitone once gave me his New York yankees baseball cap. I'm not lying.

Another Great Line: "Or maybe something starts out whole and then it turns into junk, like Joe Pepitone's cap getting rained on in a gutter somewhere." (176)

What Others Are Saying: "Readers will miss Doug and his world when they're done, and will feel richer for having experienced his engaging, tough, and endearing story."— School Library Journal, starred review


What I Thought: Okay For Now is labeled a YA, but since Doug is going into seventh grade I took a chance and was glad I did. Doug is like a Sour Patch candy, when you first start to eat it your tongue quivers, your cheeks pucker and your mouth is flooded with saliva but after the initial shock you get to the sweeter part and then you want it to last forever. Voice oozes from every page and as a writer you come away saying, yes, that's why I write, I want to give that to my readers. I especially appreciate when an author weaves deeper meaning through something concrete like Schmidt does with the Audubon paintings. The connections are subtle enough that they don't hit you over the head but resonate strongly long after the book ends. The sense of place is rooted in tangible things like the library, The Dump and the school. Places that anchor Doug in the 1960 time period. This is a real story, one that needs to be told because it's honest and gives voice to the real pain and struggle that loss can have on an already fragile family. Another great thing is while I suggest you read Wednesday Wars it isn't necessary because this is a companion book not a sequel.

About The Author: Gary D. Schmidt
Website
Facebook
Article in The Calvin Spark

Quote: "Write what you know. That’s too limiting. You write what you are desperate to know." —Gary Schmidt (More here.)

Hope you enjoy this video of Gary as much as I did. There is a wealth of interviews and information about him so be sure to check out the links.

Be sure to check out all the MMGM reviews today. You can find links to all of them in my sidebar!


On Wednesday I'll be interviewing debut author Annie Crawford. Her new book The Curse of the Jade Amulet is now available on Amazon and Smashwords!

Marvelous Middle Grade Monday: Plain Kate by Erin Bow Review and Give-Away

About the book: Plain Kate lives in a world of superstitions and curses, where a song can heal a wound and a shadow can work deep magic. As the wood-carver's daughter, Kate held a carving knife before a spoon, and her wooden talismans are so fine that some even call her “witch-blade”: a dangerous nickname in a country where witches are hunted and burned in the square.

For Kate and her village have fallen on hard times. Kate’s father has died, leaving her alone in the world. And a mysterious fog now covers the countryside, ruining crops and spreading fear of hunger and sickness. The townspeople are looking for someone to blame, and their eyes have fallen on Kate.

Enter Linay, a stranger with a proposition: In exchange for her shadow, he’ll give Kate the means to escape the angry town, and what’s more, he’ll grant her heart’s wish. It’s a chance for her to start over, to find a home, a family, a place to belong. But Kate soon realizes she can't live shadowless forever -- and that Linay's designs are darker than she ever dreamed. -Goodreads
 
First Line: "A long time ago, in a market town by a looping river, there lived an orphan girl called Plain Kate."

One great line: "He had a voice like a fine rasp: rough but polishing." (This is one of several places that Bow uses images of woodworking in her descriptions, 79)

What others have said: 

Booklist:   "In her debut novel, poet Bow writes with an absorbing cadence, creating evocative images that trigger the senses and pierce the heart. With familiar folktale elements, she examines the dark corners of human fear and creates intriguing, well-drawn characters, including Taggle, Kate’s talking cat, who adds a welcome lightness. The taut, bleak tale builds to a climax that unfortunately falters, solving a central dilemma with magical convenience. Still, with this debut, Bow establishes herself as a novelist to watch. Grades 7-12. --Lynn Rutan 

New York Times Book Review: “Plain Kate,” her first young adult novel, demonstrates a mature, haunting artistry. Resonantly threaded into the story are elements of fantasy, Russian fairy tales and historical fact, creating, to use Barbara Tuchman’s phrase, a distant mirror, in which Kate’s adolescent struggles for acceptance, companionship, love and vocation are achingly, believably familiar and real." Sherie Posesorski

What I Thought: 
I really enjoyed the dark, fairy tale tone of Bow's writing. The characters were far from flat and I found myself attached to them, in spite of the fact that some of them were so dark. I've always enjoyed tales of someone being mistreated because of being different and how they triumph in the end. The lyrical writing of Bow carefully crafts her tale in a way that is reminiscent of Avi's, Crispin and Seer of Shadows. This is a story of loss, regret, and revenge and watching Kate navigate in this mystical and cold world is what kept me reading. The connections between the characters were complicated and sometimes confusing. I think older middle school readers and younger young adult would enjoy this story. Seriously, who wouldn't love a talking cat! 

About The Author:

Online Journal

Author Website

Inspiration for Plain Kate: 

"I read a lot of fairy tales. I find that with the German, Nordic, and French ones, even if I haven’t heard of them, they seem familiar, as if they were all set in the same Fairy Tale Kingdom...
 

"Russian tales hit that sweet spot between familar and strange. They come from just over the edge of the map, smelling of new spices and long roads. Maybe because they are less familiar, they seem wilder and darker than the Grimm tales.

"Anyway, I read this huge set of Russian tales, and fell under their spell, and while under that spell wrote Plain Kate. The setting turned out more Eastern European than Russian, but I hope the wild strangeness of the Russian tales does come through." See the rest of this interview here.

On research and creating Kate's world: "So when researching the townsfolk of Kate’s world, I pretended it was the Polish/Lithuanian frontier in the 16th century, and there I got architecture and food and the flavor of the language, but invented a witch craze that’s very different from the real one." See rest of this interview here.

Anyone who comments before June 20th will be entered to win a copy of Plain Kate. 

Don't forget to check out the other MMGM bloggers:
-Michael Gettel-Gilmartin is featuring THE INCORRIGIBLE CHILDREN OF ASHTON PLACE. Click HERE to read more about it.

-Barbara Watson continues her special MMGMM summer series by spotlighting THE MOSTLY TRUE STORY OF JACK. Click HERE to see what she thinks.

-Joanne Fritz is highlighting SECOND FIDDLE. Click HERE to read her thoughts.

-The lovely Shannon O'Donnell (aka #2) always has fabulous MG love going on at her blog on Mondays. Click HERE to see what she has going on today. 

And then, there's always the Ringleader of MMGM, Shannon Messenger. She's reviewing book one of the Pendragon series on her blog today. Plus she has a GIVEAWAY HERE.