Tale Twisters

Guest post by JESSICA ASPEN

I first met Lyndi Alexander in 2010, when she was working on the manuscript that would become WINDMILLS and I was re-writing THE DARK HUNTSMAN for the third time. That was when I realized how much we had in common, number one being our great love of fantasy and number two our great love of books and writing. Or maybe those things are out of order. Maybe it’s writing, then books, then fantasy. I’m not sure it matters, what’s important is that we hit it off.

Oh, and we both wrote about elves.

Yes, elves.

Lyndi caught my attention with her glass slipper that spilled out a cache of elves at the feet of her heroine and onto a city street. What a terrific twist on a classic fairy tale. I was hooked. I bought her book out of the back of her car that weekend and I’ve been very glad that I did. You wouldn’t think there could be so many interpretations of elves, but the truth is that there are as many different ways one can write about elves as there are writers. And that’s saying a lot.

And that brings me to something else we have in common, a love of twisting the classic fairy tale elements. THE DARK HUNTSMAN is a modern fantasy twist of Snow White, but there are only hints and glimpses of the traditional story that lies beneath. I like to layer in tiny elements like apples, witches, and evil queens. And then twist the tale by making the huntsman the hero instead of the prince. Lyndi strays even farther from the standard fairy tale path, but if you look deep you can find those elements in the Clan Elves of the Bitterroot. A hidden princess, an unlikely prince, the glass slipper.

Twisted fairy tales are hot right now, we see them on the big screen and on the TV screen. I’ve loved them since I first discovered a book of short fairy tale twists including one dark tale by CJ Cherryh that I wish I still owned. Darn those constant moves of my youth. I fell in love with the idea of taking a classic story that has all the right elements: romance, magic, girl in trouble, handsome guy, and something ugly, and making it my own. I got to change the things I didn’t like about the story and keep the things I loved.

Snow White has always seemed a little passive to me. I get to re-write the whole story and make her kick-ass. The prince was this dude who came in at the ending, insisted on disturbing the dwarves’ mourning, and kissed the dead girl. How weird is that? Let’s just get rid of him, because the real hero is the working man who takes the risk of his own beheading and doesn’t kill Snow White in the first place. The huntsman. That’s a man I want to kiss.

What fairy tale elements to you love to see in stores? What pieces are intrinsic to the tales? Does Cinderella have to have two step-sisters, or can they be step-brothers, or uncles, or maybe several step-mothers? Does Rapunzel have to have long hair? What if the big bad wolf wasn’t the bad guy?

Do authors have to stay on the beaten path or can they lure you deeper into the tale and encourage you to get lost in the brambles on the side paths?

Are you willing to be lost in the woods?

The Dark Huntsman, A Fantasy Romance of the Black Court

An evil queen, a dangerous man, and a witch, tangled together in a tale of Snow White…

Desperate to save the last of her family from the murderous Faery Queen, Trina Mac Elvy weaves a spell of entrapment. But instead of a common soldier, the queen has released the Dark Huntsman, a full blooded fae with lethal powers.

Caged for treason, Logan Ni Brennan, is ready to do anything to win free of the manipulative queen, even if it includes running a last errand for her…murdering a witch. The sight of Trina, ready to fight despite the odds, gives him another option: use the witch as a chess piece, put the queen’s son on the throne, and bring down the queen forever.

As the queen slides into insanity and her closest advisor makes plans to succeed to the throne, Logan secrets Trina away in the enchanted forest and makes a decisive move in his dangerous game of manipulation. But the gaming tables of fate turn on him, and when Trina’s life is threatened he discovers he risks more than his freedom…he risks his heart.

Dare to enter Jessica Aspen’s world of steamy, fantasy romance in her new twisted fairy tale trilogy: Tales of the Black Court…

Buy now on Amazon:http://amzn.com/B00FN2P7A8

Add to Goodreads Shelf: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18481503-the-dark-huntsman

Author Bio:

Jessica Aspen always wanted to be spirited away to a world inhabited by elves, were-wolves and sexy men who walk on the dark side of the knife. Luckily, she’s able to explore her fantasy side and delve into new worlds by writing paranormal romance. She loves indulging in dark chocolate, reading eclectic novels, and dreaming of ocean vacations, but instead spends most of her time, writing, walking the dog, and hiking in the Colorado Rockies.  To sign up for Jessica Aspen’s new release email please go to: http://eepurl.com/zs4Sj

Author web links: (web, blog, twitter, facebook, goodreads, etc)

Website: http://jessicaaspen.com

http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5759763.Jessica_Aspen

https://twitter.com/JessicaAspen

https://www.facebook.com/JessicaAspenAuthor

http://pinterest.com/jessicaaspen/

Jessica Aspen’s non-spammy, new release email please go to: http://eepurl.com/zs4Sj

Please tell us a bit about yourself.

I’m Catherine E. McLean, author of Karma and Mayhem, a paranormal-fantasy-romance e-novel that was just released by Soul Mate Publishing (www.soulmatepublishing.com). I live on a farm in rural Western Pennsylvania with my husband. Our only child, a daughter, is grown and lives out of state. She and my husband are my first readers, and they also happen to be avid readers.

What’s your education, and is it relevant to your writing?

I wrote my first short story in third grade, but writing was never more than something I did as a hobby. Yet, writing played a role in the jobs I held, first as a secretary, then as a freelance journalist. All of those on-the-job skills made it easy to transition to becoming an author who sells articles and short stories.
When I first began writing novels, I was told that “writers are self-taught,” and if I truly wanted to became a “selling” storyteller and not just a writer who wrote, I needed to learn the devices and techniques of fiction and storytelling. After studying (not just reading) a few hundred how-to books, I developed a knack for spotting and explaining how the various aspects of fiction worked, the choices available in usage, and the pros and cons. After a discussion at one of my Pennwriters’ meetings (my local writer’s group), I was asked to give a series of mini-workshops on various techniques. The next thing I knew, I was giving in-person workshops, college enrichment program writing workshops, and then conference workshops. In 2009, I gave my first online workshop and have done one or two every year since.
Do I have a degree? No. Do I want one? No. What I quest for is the knowledge because I truly believe craft enhances talent. What I’ve learned, and continue to learn, means I have far more choices in writing and storytelling.

Tell us a little about your novel Karma and Mayhem. Is it your first?

Karma and Mayhem is not my first novel, but it is my first published novel. I’m a producing writer who can do, from start to finish, two 100,000 word novels a year.
Okay, so I seem to have a revolving door to the basement of my mind where my muse plays. That “kid” constantly gives me story sparkers or dumps of the text for short story and novel openings. In other words, I’m always working on something.
For the curious, the story sparker for Karma and Mayhem came in May of 2005 and was a line of a poem about what happened in the Valley of Rathe, which Janay, an ex-peacekeeper and the story’s heroine, survived. (She quotes the poem in Karma and Mayhem.) I didn’t actually begin working on the story until that winter.
I will also confess that the hero, Tienan, had me baffled when I first got the story dump because his name didn’t feel right to me. On a very simplistic level, it’s the conscious mind that must translate what the storytelling subconscious sends up. Unfortunately, the two don’t actually talk to each other in the same way, so its understandable that messages get garbled now and then.
Anyway, the first name came out as Aydin, and my instinct revolted at that and the next five names. None felt or sounded right, nor did the name meanings fit the character I knew this man, this hero, to be. Then one morning a few weeks later, I woke and the very first thought that popped into my mind was Tienan. My second thought was: What kind of name is Tienan? I looked it up in my baby name books and found Tienan was a real name and it meant “crowned.” In that instant, I knew–and felt deep down–that Tienan was the correct name, the one my subconscious had been trying to get my conscious mind to divulge.

What is your favorite genre to write? To read?

I lean toward two genres. The first is romance (fantasy, contemporary, historical, regency, futuristic, time-travel, etc.–not necessarily in that order). The second is good, old-fashioned science fiction known as Space Opera (which has, sadly, fallen out of vogue).
I’m also an eclectic reader. If a story interests me, I’ll read it. Some of my favorite authors are: Jane Ann Krentz/Amanda Quick, Justine Davis, Catherine Asaro, Isaac Asimov, Margaret Moore, David Webber, John Ringo, Laura Kinsale, Louis L’Amour, Arthur C. Clarke, Elizabeth Moon, Larry Niven, Heinlein, J. K. Rowling, and Ann Bishop.

Is there any special music you like to listen to while writing? Does it inspire you?

I actually need peace and quite to write so I can hear the vocal inflections and voices of the characters as their story plays out like a movie in my mind. Perhaps this way of drafting a story evolved from my many years of taking dictation as a secretary. However, it does require concentration. So, no music, no distractions.
Unfortunately, I can’t convince the house cat to let herself out or to fill her feed dish.

What’s your favorite thing about Karma and Mayhem? Any special memories you have in the creation of it?

The stand-out element was with the initial idea and figuring out how a man could have two souls and, in particular, how a soul could have a soul.
The second stand-out moment came after the book was contracted. I knew I needed some “raffle” item related to the story to give when doing workshops and for the book launch party. I couldn’t give away a katana (too expensive, not to mention lethal) nor could I give away a replica of a twice blessed dirk because they didn’t exist.
A few weeks ago, on the way home from grocery shopping, it occurred to me that I could give away the Choke-berry Shalamiz, the “blood of ages,” Tienan used to “baptize” Janay (in chapter ten). Trouble was, shalamiz wasn’t a real drink, and just how did one concoct something like it?
I called a chef I know. On October 1, I had a recipe for the Choke-berry Shalamiz thick enough to coat a spoon or glass (like it did in the book). As a bonus, a little change to the amount of ingredients and leaving out the thickening agent resulted in a tart-sweet, fizzy, and very bloody looking beverage. Both are non-alcoholic.
I gave away the dual recipe as the grand prize at my October 10, online book launch party for Karma and Mayhem. Thus only three people have that recipe—the chef and I (who created it) and one lucky winner.

What are you writing now or what’s next for you? Will you be making personal appearances where our readers can find you?

Right now I’m polishing Jewels of the Sky, a science-fiction adventure with a female protagonist, that ties in with the December, 2012, Mayan “End of Days.” This novel is contracted as a print-on-demand book due out soon. I’ve also got a project bible half done for a sequel to Karma and Mayhem (featuring Rowen, Tienan’s brother).
I’m also now scheduling workshops, as well as doing guest blog appearances and interviews. Currently I have an in-person workshop at my local library, Oct.24, on “Characters, Clues, and Creativity.” This is for readers and writers. I’ll be doing a repeat session, again at the library, on November 3.
On October 30, I’ll be blogging at my regular spot at Soul Mate Publishing’s author’s blog (my blog there is “Catherine’s Cup of Tea”). I’ll also be taking part in SMP’s November 14 Blog-a-Thon.
And on November 17, I’ll be at the Grove City library, doing “Questing for a Story.”
A schedule of my appearances, blogging, interviews, and workshops can be found at either www.CatherineEmclean.com (for readers) or www.WritersCheatSheets.com (for writers).

ABOUT KARMA AND MAYHEM:

While investigating a series of murders, warlock Tienan De’Argossi encounters Janay–a lovely, dirk-wielding, down-on-her-luck ex-peacekeeper who talks to archangels.  When she rescues his brother from demons, Tienan figures he owes her.  So, other than she’s plainspoken and gutsy, what’s the harm in having her as a house guest? 

Links for Catherine are:

www.CatherineEmclean.com (for readers)
www.WritersCheatSheets.com (for writers)
http://www.karmaandmayhem.blogspot.com
Linked-In: http://www.linkedin.com/pub/catherine-e-mclean/7/70b/372
Facebook  http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100002397950738
Twitter:  https://twitter.com/#!/CatherineMcLea7

Thank you so much for the interview, Lyndi. I’m honored to be featured on your website!

To tell you a little bit about myself, I live in Tacoma, Washington with my partner and our three children. So far as writing addictions go, my sole vice is coffee as one might expect from a Northwesterner. The coffeepot rarely shuts off at the Perkins house! I’m also fond of music while I write and frequently switch musical genres, depending on the scene that I’m writing.

I work in a local museum which is wonderful for ideas—I spend a lot of time listening to people tell stories and unearthing lost tales myself to share them with others. (What a day job for a writer!)

What’s your education, if it’s relevant to your writing, and how does that education help you/or do you find that you can write well even without the diploma others might think they must have?

My educational background is in military history. I hadn’t intended my education to complement my writing, however, I’ve found that it definitely enriches it. This has been particularly true as I work on my second novel which focuses on more martial characters than the first.

Tell us about your most recent publication!

My most recent publication is The Universal Mirror which came out in February of this year. Mirror is a fantasy novel with more than a bit of romance at its heart.

The Universal Mirror is about two friends, Quentin and Asahel, who decide to defy the laws of their country so that they can practice magic on the human body. This quest starts with Quentin and his wife, Catharine. Catharine was stricken with plague as a child and horribly disfigured,to the point where she refuses to believe that anyone can love her. Quentin, who is in love with his wife, wants to heal her because he believes that if he can make her physically beautiful, she will finally accept his feelings for her. This motivation leads to a number of different realizations—and problems—throughout the course of the novel. (I won’t say too much here to avoid spoiling you!)

What inspired you to write this story? What interesting thing did you learn or research to write it that you didn’t know before?

There are a few different things that inspired this story, some based in research, others in personal experience. One of the strongest influences on it has been raising teenage girls (and a younger son). After hearing my middle daughter complain that there were no positive overweight characters in fiction, I realized how much physical beauty plays apart in fantasy novels. I wanted to present characters who were lovable and believable even if they weren’t physically attractive.

I also wanted to create a story in which someone’s negative self-perception didn’t, in fact, mirror the perception of others around them. (This was something that I myself struggled with in my youth.) Quentin genuinely does love Catharine and would if she had no face at all—however,she’s so conditioned to think that attractive men only love a pretty face that she can’t believe it. And, you know,based on the comments made by both my daughters after reading it, I think that my point was made.

So far as other research goes, I spent a lot of time reading about medieval medicine and looking at the small details of medieval life. I wanted the world of Cercia to be real and yet relatable. Grounding it in our own history made that work for me and also enabled me to come up with tiny details to enhance the reader’s immersion in my story.

How would you best describe your books?

They’re fantasy novels with strong romantic overtones and a dash of adventure. I love books that don’t stick to the formula of their genre and I’ve tried to do that with mine. You won’t find all of the traditional fantasy elements in my novels but you will see love and relationships tested, swordfights, and a bit of humor sprinkled throughout.

I also try to keep them at a shorter length like the fantasy novels I was fond of when I was younger. While I love longer epics, there is something to be said for having a short novel that you can relax with for a few hours. Not all of us always have time to spend months on a book!

What is your favorite genre to write? To read?

My favorite genres to write are fantasy, horror, and science fiction (in that order) though I love a strong romantic subplot. As far as reading goes, I’ll read anything if it’s got compelling characters and a good plot. I’m a very character-driven reader and writer and that’s often what pulls me into a series.

What would you write if you could do write anything you wanted to write?

The stories that I’m writing now, to be honest. I love the world and characters that I’ve created. There is so much story that I’ve yet to tell.

What do you love most about writing and what do you not like?

I love being able just to lose myself in my own imagination for awhile, writing about people and places that don’t exist in our world. I also love seeing the effect that my writing has on people and engaging in conversations with readers.

Do you belong to any writing groups? Are there any writing websites you find particularly useful?

There is a writing group on Facebook for fantasy writers that I’m very fond of. I’ve gotten so much feedback and inspiration from the folks on there! I also have a number of close friends who write and while there isn’t a structured group that I work with, per se, I’ve learned a lot from those individuals.

As far as writing websites that I find useful, I often enjoy reading Ralan’s, io9,and blogs by individual writers/reviewers (John Scalzi and Andrew Liptak, for instance).

Is there any special music you like to listen to while writing? How does it inspire you?

It depends on the scene that I’m writing and sometimes, on thecharacters. I find myself varying the music depending on the emotions involved. If I’m going to write a romance scene, I’m more likely to play soft music or a song with heartfelt lyrics that sums up the relationship. For fight scenes, I like heavy drums (Bear McCreary (of Battlestar Galactica fame) compositions are a big inspiration of mine in that regard).

Tell us a little about your path to publication. How many books have you published? How many books did you write before selling one?

The Universal Mirror is both the first book that I’ve written and the first book that I’ve published. I’v ewritten for a number of encyclopedias and academic publications, as well as published the occasional short story, but Mirror was something of an adventure.

How did you find a publisher? How did you receive the Call?

I looked at a number of different publishers. Ultimately, I decided to submit to small presses and focus on those as I wanted a little more freedom in writing my books than I thought that a larger press would allow.

Hydra won out because I felt really confident after exchanging emails with the publisher that they would respect my wishes and be a true partner in the publication of my novel. I’m very glad to report that I was right. I’ve been consulted on every aspect of the book and my wishes and ideas are always respected. While I could be wrong, I don’t feel that a first-time author often has that experience with some of the bigger presses. Also, the group of authors at Hydra is one ofthe warmest, most supportive teams that I’ve ever been a part of. I’ve learned and am still learning so much from them.

What’s your favorite thing about the book featured here today? Any special memories you have in the creation of it?

My favorite thing about my book is the characters. They evoke strong emotions in me even now. I’ll freely admit that there were times when I disliked my main characters even while I loved them but I think that’s a sign that they became very real to me.

One of the most special memories I have of the creation of the book is when I saw the cover art for the first time. Enggar [Adirasa] really captured a moment of Mirror perfectly in his painting. It was awe-inspiring to see that an artist would take the story that I’d written and create something so beautiful from it in return.

What are you writing now? What’s next for you—will you be making personal appearances anywhere our readers can find you?

I’m currently writing the last part of the sequel to The Universal Mirror. This book, entitled The Jealousy Glass, takes place a year later and follows two of the characters to a new land. I’m working on lining up some appearances at conventions over the summer—the best place to find out where I’ll be appearing is to follow me on your social media outlet ofchoice. They’re all listed at the book’s website, http://theuniversalmirror.com.

What would you like to tell readers?

I love to make connections so please don’t be shy about looking me up! I can be reached pretty easily and I do love to “friend” people, so don’t hesitate to drop me a request. If you read the book, feel free to shoot me an email about it. I may take a little bit of time to respond as I work full-time and have a family but I’ll definitely make every effort!

Thanks for being with us today, Gwen, and best wishes!