Hey Everyone! Welcome to my blog! It’s Tuesday and time for another awesome interview and giveaway… Hope you enjoy it!
I have here with me today, Canadian Urban Fantasy Author Sean Cummings…
Giveaway details at the end of the post! Have fun!
When did you first start writing?
I first started writing in grade school and was fortunate enough to have a grade five teacher who encouraged me to keep at it. Over the years I’ve dabbled with different styles of writing, from newspaper opinion columns to poetry and I’ve always come back to writing about the things that go bump in the night.
Have you always enjoyed Fantasy?
Absolutely. I think that most people on some level, enjoy fantasy because so much of it is wrapped up in folklore. Every culture has its own stories that everyone was brought up with and certainly there are themes in fantasy that are consistent with the fundamentals of the human experience. Good versus evil, love, loss, sacrifice. They evoke powerful imagery that I think most people connect with on some level.
Why writing Urban Fantasy?
My first exposure to urban fantasy was through comic books. In the 1970’s, Marvel comics published “Werewolf by Night”, a series about Jack Russell, a modern guy with a terrible curse who lived in a modern world. From the very first issue, I was hooked.
I’m a huge Universal Studios fan. Karloff’s monster and Bela Lugosi’s Dracula are the universal benchmark for classic monsters. I own all those movies on DVD and I still watch them every year – usually around Halloween. I’m a fan of Jim Butcher (obviously) Simon R. Greene, Wayne Simmons (whose zombie novel FLU is just mind blowing). I love Nancy Holzner’s Deadtown. Of course I love Stephen King, Robert R. McCammon and host of others.
What is your favorite subject in the Urban Fantasy Realm?
Good versus evil and how evil manifests underneath the noses of a sleeping public. Classic elements that make for a great story.
Favorites:
Favorite Paranormal themed Movie? Paranormal Activity scared the crap out of me.
Favorite Paranormal themed TV Show? Dark Shadows
Favorite Paranormal themed Book? Changes by Jim Butcher
Favorite Author? Pierre Berton
Favorite Urban Fantasy Author? Tossup between Jim Butcher and Simon R. Green.
Favorite Genre that is NOT your own? Murder mystery.
Favorite one of your Books? Funeral Pallor
Who is your favorite of your own characters?
Marshall Conrad. He’s the main character in my forthcoming superhero/urban fantasy, Unseen World. He’s cranky, curmudgeonly, heroic, self-deprecating and noble even though he’s a bit of a jerk.
Which was the hardest to write?
The hardest thing to write so far was Shade Fright because I was doing a ton of world building. I wanted to inject a lot of Canadiana in the novel and I had to do a ton of research to get it right.
What would you be if not a writer?
Well I have a day job. If I wasn’t a writer, I’d have loved to be an editorial cartoonist.
If you Could be a Paranormal Being, Who would you be?
I’d love to be John Taylor from Simon R Green’s Nightside series. He’s dark, a little bit doomed, I think, and immensely powerful.
If you could meet any Urban Fantasy Character out there, Who would you like to meet?
I’d want to hang with Harry Dresden and pick his brain about the nature of magic. Jim Butcher writes magic like nobody else and Harry is a hero for all time.
Quickies:
Coffee or Tea? Tim Horton’s double-single
Up or Down? Mushy middle
Virtual or Real? Virtual. We get too much real every time we turn on the news.
Right or Left? Straight ahead, no holds barred.
Day or Night? Early morning, like 4 am.
Here or There? There is nice but here is where I am so I make the best of it.
Sooner or Later? Soon please. I’m not getting any younger.
Light or Dark? Dusk.
Fast or Slow? Slow and steady.
Vampires or Werewolves? Werewolves along the lines of Thomas Emson’s Laura Greenacre in his fantastic novel, Maneater.
Angels or Demons? Angels with an agenda.
Reading or Writing? Writing. I read every day, mind you, but writing is what I love to do more than anything.
Collaborating with my agent and her team on how to make a good story a great one.
What is your least favorite part?
Proof reading. There’s only so much one person can catch in the way of missing words or typos.
The Valerie Stevens Series in your own words?
A uniquely Canadian urban fantasy series with great characters and a lot of unanswered questions.
Any plans for more Books in the series?
Yes. I’ve outlined a third novel, but I’m currently working on a spinoff book from Funeral Pallor – Tim Reaper.
What is coming up next for you?
Unseen World hits bookstores on January 1, 2011. Marshall Conrad is a great character and it’s jam packed with action.
What are you working on right now?
I’m doing revisions on Poltergeeks with my agent Jenny Savill.
Do you have any advice or tip to those like me that want to become a published Author someday?
Don’t be afraid to take risks and for heaven’s sake, don’t take rejection personally. Don’t over think your query, I see too many unpublished authors driving themselves nuts about a good query letter.
Anything you would like to say to your fans out there?
I hope you like what I’ve come up with so far. Tim Reaper is going to be a blast once it’s done and you get a nice introduction to him in Funeral Pallor. Thanks for all the emails and smiles you’ve sent me. I hope you continue to get a kick out of what I’m writing.
Find Sean Cummings Online:
Buy Sean’s Books:
Win a Copy of “Shade Fright” by Sean Cummings!
To Enter:
- Leave a comment about anything on this post.
- Leave an EMAIL for contact! (if you don’t feel comfortable leaving it here, email me at larissa@larissaslife.com)
Extra Entries:
+5 Google Friend Connect Follower
+5 Networked Blogs Follower
+3 Follow me on Twitter (@larissa_sarah)
+3 Follow Sean on Twitter (@saskatoonauthor)
+2 “Like” Larissa's Life on Facebook
+2 Be my friend on Goodreads
+1 Add all your entries! (including this one!)
International!
Ends November 1st!
Good Luck!
Don’t Forget to Vote for Next Week’s {Oct 31st – Halloween Special} Theme for
The TOP 5 Sundays Post on the Poll at the left sidebar!
Don’t Forget to check out My Giveaways:
You can Win 3 SIGNED Bks {2 ARCs}!
Click HERE to Enter!
International!
Ends November 11th!
~~~~~~~~~~~
Click on the image above or HERE to enter!
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Win 2 SIGNED Books Of YOUR Choice on My NYCC Challenge!
Click HERE to Enter!
International!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Click HERE or on the image above to enter!
Thanks so much for tuning in and I’ll see you soon!
xoxo,
Hi Sean,
I enjoyed the interview and learning more about your books and what's coming up next. I love the covers and titles of your books.
Barbed1951(at)aol(dot)com
+5 Google Friend Connect Follower
+2 Friend on Goodreads
+1 Add all your entries!
Total = 8
I'd love to read this series, especially if it's got a Canadian flavor to it, plus I love the idea that the heroine's boyfriend is just a normal blue-collar kind of guy. The only problem is that it isn't available for Kindle yet!
+1 comment
+5 follower
+1 Add up
+7 total
jen at delux dot com
would love to read this!
+ 5 GFC follower [ FairyWhispers]
+ 2 "Like" Larissa's Life on Fb
[ Ping]
+ 1 For tallying up
= 8 entries!
:D
regards,
maidenhealer@hotmail.com
I Haven't read any of his books as yet and also haven't read any reviews on him as yet but I like to try new authors.
It sounds as if he writes with abit of humour so please enter me in the giveaway.
Thanks.
Carol T
+1 comment
+5 Follower via GFC
+1 Add entries
Total= +7
I love the answers to the Quickies!!
+5 Google Friend Connect Follower
+5 Networked Blogs Follower
+3 Follow me on Twitter (@Misha_1989)
+3 Follow Sean on Twitter (@Misha_1989)
+2 “Like” Larissa's Life on Facebook
+2 Be my friend on Goodreads
+1 Add all your entries! 21
mishamary@gmail.com
Since you're a fan of the Dark Shadows TV show, here's a fun fact: Jonathan Frid is my third cousin. Well, it's fun to me anyway. +1
+5 Google Friend Connect Follower
+5 Networked Blogs Follower Bethany Cardone
+3 Follow on Twitter (@bcardoo79)
+3 Follow Sean on Twitter (@bcardoo79)
+2 “Like” Larissa's Life on Facebook Bethany Cardone
+2 friend on Goodreads
+1 Add all your entries! =22
b(dot)cardone(at)hotmail(dot)com
Please enter me in contest. I loved your interview and would love to read your books. Tore923@aol.com
WOW! What a fun author. Sounds like he has been involved in all things PN/UF for a long time. That is great.
And I'd love to meet Harry Dresden, too. :D
Thanks for the interview.
Woohoo! I love giveaways with great books in them! Count me in!
+5 GFC follower
+3 Twitter follower (@mizzlizzbeck)
+2 Goodreads friend (Liz Beckwith)
+1 to add it up
= 11 entries! Also, I linked to your giveaway on my Contests page. Thanks!
beckwithliz[at]rocketmail[dot]com
I just watched dracula with bela lugosy in it with my son, it was his first time. He was shocked at how good it was. I can see where those classics could be inspirational. I would love to have this book.
I am a gfc follower. +5
debbie
twoofakind12@yahoo.com
Thanks, all - great comments and good luck to everyone. :)
10 points for me!
I love drawn covers as opposed to photo type ones (of course I do give a second look to all those man parts highlighted on the PNRs). The drawn ones tend to have so much personality and humor . Look forward to checking out your work ;)
Your books sound great, so I'm adding them on my wishlist :)
sandric.sk(at)gmail(dot)com
extra entries:
+5 - GFC follower
+3 - twitter follower(@Sandra_s_Page)
+2 - goodreads friend
+1 - total: 12
Great interview & thanks for the giveaway!
Who knew anyone would think of all of... them could go together. Sounds interesting! So did the interview, before I even read the part on which writers have inspired him I figured it be Jim Butcher :)
Awesome giveaway! Thank you for the chance, Larissa!
+5 Google Friend Connect Follower
+5 Networked Blogs Follower (Jade Teo)
+3 Follow me on Twitter (as @VamPoet)
+2 “Like” Larissa's Life on Facebook (Jade Teo)
+2 Be my friend on Goodreads (Jade Teo)
+1 Add all your entries! (including this one!)
...18!!!
legally_write[at]hotmail[dot]com
Hi, this is the first time I see books from this author.
I really would like to read the book.
Thanks for the interview and the giveaway!
lucybeugelingramos@gmail.com
Extra Entries:
+5 Google Friend Connect Follower
+5 Networked Blogs Follower
+3 Follow me on Twitter (@larissa_sarah)
+2 “Like” Larissa's Life on Facebook
+2 Be my friend on Goodreads
+1 Add all your entries! (including this one!)
18 entries
I am interested in how a Canadian urban book differs from a US one.
My email is go.megan.go aT gMaIL. com.
yay canada! please sign me up!
ninefly(at)gmail(dot)com
+5 Google Friend Connect Follower
+3 Follow on Twitter (@angeltyuan)
+2 friend on Goodreads (ninefly)
+1 total = 12
Count me in please! I'd love to read this:)
k_anon[at]hotmail[dot]co[dot]uk
+5 GFC follower
+2 Friend on Goodreads
+1 Add
Total= 8
that's a funny cover!
MargoTheWriter@hotmail.com
Sounds like a great read:) Love the answer to the fave subject in the Urban Fantasy Realm classic elements are always good.
+5 GFC Follower, Becky B.
+5 Networked Blogs Follower, Becky
+3 follow on Twitter, GeckyBoz
+2 friend on Goodreads, Gecky Boz
+1 add up entries
= 16
geckyboz[at]gmail[dot]com
I would love to win this. Count me in, please!
+5 GFC Follower
+5 Networked Follower
+3 Twitter follower: (@Sparima)
+2 Like on FB
+2 Goodreads friend
+1 Total: 19
spav05(at)gmail(dot)com