Author Interview & SIGNED “Outside In” Giveaway w/ Maria V. Snyder!

 

Hey everyone! I am so happy to welcome to the blog today Author Maria V. Snyder!

Maria has been so awesome to answer my questions and offer a signed copy of Outside In for a giveaway! Details at the bottom of the post =)

Enjoy…

When did you first start writing?

A: I started after I graduated from university and was working full time.  Some days at work just dragged so in order to look busy, I started writing!

Have you always enjoyed Fantasy and Science Fiction?

A: I use to read mysteries, but I started reading fantasy and science fiction when I was at the university.  For a while, all I read was fantasy, but now I’ll read any fiction that has a good story and characters.

Why writing Fantasy and Science Fiction?

A: I enjoy the challenge of fantasy, plus I like using horses and swords.  Creating an entire new world is a ton of fun and I like how there isn’t a limit to what I can do, but I do need to set limits in my world and stick to them.  Otherwise there is no structure or rules and therefore no conflict.  Science Fiction is also a challenge to write as the science has to be accurate and logical even if you’ve created the science J Inside Out is considered a dystopian tale as the society is segregated into Uppers and Lowers and not based on our world, but the world they’re living in, Inside could exist today.

Were there any Books, Movies or Writers that have inspired you?

A: The mystery writer, Dick Francis inspired my use of first person point of view and ending chapters with cliff-hangers.  I’m also a big fan of Buffy the Vampire Slayer TV show by Joss Whedon and I think he inspired my use of strong female characters for my fiction.  Also the movie Alien and Aliens features a very strong lady and I really enjoyed seeing her fight the aliens.

What is your favorite subject in the Fantasy/Science Fiction Realm?

A: I don’t have any favorite subjects, what I have are favorite characters.  For example, I really like Meghan Chase from the Iron Fey series by Julie Kagawa.  Meghan really learns how to take care of herself and grows so much over the three books.  I also enjoyed the brothers in Jonathan Maberry’sRot & Ruin.  It’s a zombie novel, which I normally don’t read, but it’s well written and the two brothers are the focus of the story, not the zombies.

I just love the chemistry between Trella and Riley.  Was that planned out?

A: I wish I could say yes, but like all my novels, the characters in Inside Out developed as I wrote the story.  I had dreamt the whole plot, world, the Pop Cops and the twists one night (hasn’t happened before or since!), but I didn’t know the characters other than where they were living and what was going to happen in the end.  So they showed themselves as I wrote the story and put them through the paces.

Favorites:

Favorite Movie?  The Princess Bride

Favorite TV Show? Buffy the Vampire Slayer

Favorite Book? Jaran by Kate Elliott

Favorite Author? Rachel Caine

Favorite Genre that is NOT your own?  Mystery

Favorite one of your Books? Poison Study – my first one will always have a special place in my heart.

Who is your favorite of your own characters? 

Valek – a skilled swordsman, assassin, and all around cool dude!

Which was the hardest to write?

Spy Glass – Opal had to make a difficult choice and I couldn’t decide.

What would you be if not a writer?

A criminal psychologist.  I find the criminal mind to be utterly fascinating.

If you Could be a Paranormal Being, Who would you be?

A vampire – I’m already a night owl and the idea of being immortal is very appealing.

If you could meet any Fantasy Character out there, Who would you like to meet? 

Prince Ash of the Iron Fey books.

Quickies:

Coffee or Tea?  Tea

Reading or Writing?  Reading (although I love the feeling after I had a good writing session!)

Print or eBook?  Print

Hardback or Paperback?  Trade-sized paperbacks

YA novels or Adult novels? YA novels

Library or Bookstore? Bookstore – I like to own my books

Summer or Winter?  Winter

The Movie or The Book?  Book – (best T-shirt saying I ever saw: “Don’t judge a book by its movie”)

PNR or UF?  PNR

What is your favorite part of the writing process?

A: I like it when my characters surprise me.

What is your least favorite part?

A: Writing descriptions.  If it was up to me, my books would be all action and dialogue!

The Inside Out Series in your own words?

A: The story is about Trella.  She’s a scrub responsible for cleaning the air and water pipes that criss-cross their world and keep everyone alive.  She’s one of thousands of scrubs who live in overcrowded barracks in the lower levels and she hates everyone.  Trella has a reputation for being the “queen of the pipes” and so she is recruited to help find the location of the legendary Gateway to Outside.  A Gateway the Uppers, who run the world don’t want her or anyone to find. The world has forgotten what is beyond their metal walls.  At first, she considers it a challenge, but then she realizes it’s the key to a revolution.  During the story, Trella learns she had underestimated her fellow scrubs and not everything is as it seems.

Any plans for more Books in the series?

A: Outside In is the second book and that’s all that is planned for now.

What is coming up next for you?

A:  A fantasy about a healer called, Touch of Power.  It’s due out in the US in January 2012.  Here’s the cover copy:

Laying hands upon the injured and dying, Avry of Kazan assumes their wounds and diseases into herself. But rather than being honored for her skills, she is hunted. Healers like Avry are accused of spreading the plague that has decimated the Territories, leaving the survivors in a state of chaos.

Stressed and tired from hiding, Avry is abducted by a band of rogues who, shockingly, value her gift above the golden bounty offered for her capture. Their leader, an enigmatic captor-protector with powers of his own, is unequivocal in his demands: Avry must heal a plague-stricken prince—leader of a campaign against her people. As they traverse the daunting Nine Mountains, beset by mercenaries and magical dangers, Avry must decide who is worth healing and what is worth dying for. Because the price of peace may well be her life....

What are you working on right now?

A: Right now I’m between projects so I’m trying to get caught up on my email, update my website, and clean my office.  But soon I’ll be working on Book 2 of the healer story, Taste of Death.

Do you have any advice or tip to those that want to become a published Author someday?

A: Persistence! Keep writing, keep submitting, and don’t give up!  I also agree with Stephen King in his book, On Writing in order to improve as a writer you must do two things above all others: read a lot and write a lot.  I do have a whole page of writing advice on my website – aspiring authors are welcome to go to the page at: http://www.mariavsnyder.com/advice.php.

Anything you would like to say to your fans out there?

A: Thank you for continuing to read my books. If any of your blog readers would like more info about me and my books, I have the first chapter of all my books on my website as well as a number of free short stories they can read.  Here’s the link: http://www.mariavsnyder.com   And my blog is:http://officialmariavsnyder.blogspot.com

Thank you so much for being here!

A: Thank you for inviting me!

Find Maria V. Snyder Online:

Website | Goodreads

Buy Maria’s Books:

Amazon.com | Barnes & Noble

Book Depository

My Reviews of Maria’s Books:

Inside Out

Outside In

 

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