An Interview with
Maria V Snyder
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It is our pleasure to interview Maria V Snyder this month at CK2S Kwips and Kritiques! I’ve been a fan ever since Poison Study was released and when I got to meet Maria at RWA Nationals last year in Dallas, I was fortunate enough to have the opportunity to tell her in person how much I love her books. I also discovered Maria is as delightful in person as she comes across on the internet and through her books. 1. Congratulations on your latest release, Fire Study this past month (March), New York Times Bestseller! I’m so excited for you. Please tell us a little something about this book. 1A: Thanks so much for the congrats and for inviting me to your site! Fire Study continues Yelena Zaltana’s adventures. When word that Yelena is a Soulfinder—able to capture and release souls—spreads like wildfire, people grow uneasy. As the Council debates Yelena’s fate, she receives a disturbing message: a plot is rising, led by a murderous sorcerer she has defeated in Magic Study. In Fire Study, I wanted to show the extent some magicians will go to gain power over others. Using magic to solve problems can be addicting, and, in Fire Study Yelena realizes how much she depends on her magical abilities. She must learn how to balance the use of her power with more mundane methods and to discover that completely turning your back on magic isn’t the right answer. 2. Do you have any great “behind the scenes” stories to share about Fire Study or your other books? 2A: In order to write the scenes with Opal, a glass artist in Fire Study, I needed to enroll in glass blowing classes. The teacher made it look easy to gather a slug of glass. But when it was my turn – yikes! It was HOT! The big vat of molten glass was kept in a rip roaring furnace at a toasty 2100 degrees Fahrenheit. I held a metal rod, and, while squinting through an eye-melting orange light, I dipped the end into the thick goo and spun it, gathering a glob of glass onto the end. The incandescent glob glowed as if alive. Once acquired, the slug then needed to be quickly shaped. Glass cooled at a rapid pace, and, even though heat waves pulsed from the slug, it didn’t stay pliable for long. My first paperweight was a misshapened blob. After hours of practice, my ability improved, and I created a paperweight worthy to hold down my next novel’s manuscript pages. I learned that working with glass required deft coordination, arm strength, tons of patience, and a good partner—it’s a good thing I have a day job! 3. How long have you been writing? Were you always writing in the fantasy genre? Do you see yourself branching out into new genres? 3A: I’ve been writing for the last 18 years. I started writing short stories in the early 90s and they were mostly science fiction stories. I began Poison Study in 1997 when my son was two years old and I was pregnant with my daughter. I wrote about a chapter a month for three years! I enjoy reading and have read many science fiction, fantasy and mystery novels. The idea for the story decides which genre I’ll write in. I hope to some day write a mystery novel, and I have a science fiction novel titled Inside Out coming out in 2009. 4. Yelena captured my attention the very first moment I met her in her cell awaiting execution. I knew immediately she had to be an amazing woman to live through the things forced on her and I’m sorry Fire Study is her final book. Where did the idea for such a compelling character come from? Can we look forward to seeing glimpses of her in future books? 4A: I was reading Orson Scott Card’s book, How to Write Science Fiction and Fantasy. In chapter 3, Card tells the writer to consider some questions before choosing the main character. He wrote, “Too often - particularly in medieval fantasy - writers think their story must be about rulers. Kings and queens, dukes and duchesses - they can be extravagantly powerful, yes, but too often they aren’t free at all. If you understand the workings of power in human societies, you’ll know that the greatest freedom to act in unpredictable ways is usually found away from the centers of power.” This comment led me to think about a person who was close enough to the centre of power to witness important events, yet not be the Prince or Princess. I thought about a food taster because my husband tastes chocolate as part of his job with a major candy company. A scene then jumped into my mind. I saw a woman tasting food that was most likely poisoned through the eyes of the King. He watched her with heartbreaking horror because he had fallen in love with her. That led me to wonder about this woman. Who was she? Why was she there? Why would a King fall in love with her? And Poison Study was born. Then the Commander came along and assassinated the monarchy – he was tired of reading all those fantasy novels with monarchs. J Although she isn’t the main protagonist, Yelena is in my next book, Storm Glass. And I wouldn’t rule out any future books with her and Valek. I needed a break, and she needed a vacation so I switched to Opal as my main girl. 5. Yelena's role as a food or poison taster in Poison Study is such an unusual one. What sparked the idea to make Yelena a food taster, specifically her learning about how various poisons tasted? 5A: My husband’s job helped in sparking the idea about a food taster. He’s a research and development scientist for M&M/Mars, which makes Snickers, Dove and M&Ms along with a ton of others. Through him, I learned tasting food is a combination of science and art. He also provided information so Yelena’s lessons with Valek were accurate! 6. This is my favorite “signature” question to ask. If you had the opportunity to convince people to try your books with just a couple sentences, what would you tell them? 6A: I would tell them my books are about a strong-willed woman who starts the story in the dungeon and fights her way to freedom and discovers a place where she belongs. I’d also say while they are fantasy novels, they have mystery and romance elements and can be read by anyone. My books focus on characters, and I love putting them into hot water and watching them figure out a way to survive. 7. Do you have any special routines or rituals you go through upon starting a new novel? How do you celebrate finishing writing a book? 7A: Before starting a novel, I pick out a notebook to write my notes for the story. The color of the notebook is important and I’ve been thrilled that my notebook color has matched the final cover art of the book! Then I go through my baby book of names and write down a bunch of names for both males and females to use in the novel. For example in Magic Study, I wanted earthy and jewel names so I combed the book for names that matched the theme. I celebrate finishing a book by telling my family, who are usually thrilled to have Mom back and not this person they hardly see who is stressed because of a deadline. Then I take about a week or two off to rest and recharge before starting the next book. 8. Have you ever suffered from "writer’s block"? If so, what did you do to get out if it? 8A: Every so often I get “stuck” with what happens next. In that case, I take the dog for a walk or take a break from the novel, letting my subconscious mull it over. A few times I had to call my critique partner Kim and brainstorm ideas with her. She has helped me through a few plot problems. 9. This one may be tough to answer if you want to avoid spoilers for folks who haven’t read your first book yet, but I’m going to ask anyhow. Commander Ambrose of Ixia is a fascinating person. Where did you come up with such an idea as what is revealed about him in the end of Poison Study? Never in a million years did I see that one coming but it explained so much! 9A: The Commander surprised me as well. I’m a seat of the pants writer. I don’t do a ton of outlining or research ahead of time. I have an idea, a beginning and I know where I’m going, but how I get there is anyone’s guess. My subconscious must have been working on the Commander, and when the time came, it popped out. I actually gasped when I wrote that scene. J 10. Our visits to this world are not yet ended since I know young Opal has a series of her own to come soon. Can you tell us any teasers about what may be in store for her? 10A: Here's the cover copy for Storm Glass: “As a glassmaker and a magician-in-training, Opal Cowen understands trial by fire. Now it’s time to test her mettle. Someone has sabotaged the Stormdancer clan’s glass orbs, killing their most powerful magicians. The Stormdancers—particularly the mysterious and mercurial Kade—require Opal’s unique talents to prevent it happening again. But when the mission goes awry, Opal must tap into a new kind of magic as stunningly potent as it is frightening. And the further she delves into the intrigue behind the glass and magic, the more distorted things appear. With lives hanging in the balance—including her own—Opal must control powers she never knew she possessed...powers that might lead to disaster beyond anything she’s ever known.” Storm Glass supposed to be released in April 2009, but the publisher MAY change the date. And the first chapter is up at www.mariavsnyder.com/books if anyone would like a sneak peek. 11. I love Ari and Janco, and even Maren, from the Commander’s army. The three of them are so much fun and have quite an interesting dynamic. Will we get to visit any of them again in later books? Will we ever get to see a story that’s all about one or all of them? 11A: I did write a story about Ari and Janco titled, Power Study. I sent a chapter a month to my monthly e-Newsletter subscribers. But now that I’ve finished the story, everyone can read it here: www.mariavsnyder.com/powerstudy.php. Maren has a part in the story as well. Ari and Janco also show up in Storm Glass and Janco has managed to infiltrate quite a bit of Sea Glass, which I’m working on now. I think there are so many fascinating characters in my Study world. And I hope to be able to write more stories about all of them. 12. I love to hear about authors’ lives and find out what they are like behind the pen. What is a typical “day in the life of Maria” like? 12A: Rather boring! I sit down at my computer after my children leave for school. After answering email and procrastinating for an hour, I start writing and only stop briefly for lunch and continue until my son comes home around 3:30 p.m. During the school year, I’m very productive, but once summer comes along I can only do revisions. Evenings I’m running my kids to karate and soccer practice between playing volleyball twice a week and kickboxing. 13. I have to comment on your career change, especially since I’m in the environmental field myself. You started out in meteorology, moved on to air quality and then on to published novelist. Do you feel this variety of careers has helped you become a better writer? If so, how? 13A: Everything a person does is all fodder for their writing! Everything! All my experiences, all the people I’ve met, all the classes I took – it all is fuel for the fire of my imagination. I advise aspiring writers to go out and experience life, take classes on anything that interests them and talk to people. I have a notebook full of notes and ideas from my various experiences. I don’t lack for ideas, but for time. J 14. Most authors are also avid readers. Is this the case with you? If so, and were we to peek at your shelves, what authors would we see? Have any influenced your writing? 14A: Currently my favorite authors all have humor in their books. Since my life is so stress-filled and complicated, I’ve been enjoying light and fluffy reading with Mary Janice Davidson’s vampire series and her new mermaid series, Connie Willis is another favorite of mine, and I’ve recently discover the mystery/suspense thrillers of Harlan Coben – he has a great sense of humor! I read a ton of mystery novels growing up because that is what my mother enjoyed. Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boys were my favorites before I graduated to Agatha Cristie, Dick Francis, Robert B. Parker, Barbara Vine, and Ed McBain. My all time favorite mystery author is Dick Francis and his books have influenced my writing style. I also use first person point of view and try to keep the story’s pace moving. My cliff hanger endings are a direct result from his books; I can never stop reading one of his books at a chapter break. My favorite fantasy writers all have strong female protagonists and interesting characters in common. Barbara Hambly’s books have a nice mix of action, character and humor - all essential elements to what I consider good fiction. 15. You've created such a strong fantasy world with characters we all love that even readers who normally don't read fantasy love your stories. Where did the idea behind the Study series come from? Did you start first with the world itself or the characters? 15A: The idea for a poison taster came first and then Yelena grew from there. I wrote Poison Study thinking it would be a stand alone novel, but when I finished, I thought I could do another. After Magic Study, I knew I had to write Fire Study. As I said before – I’m a seat of the pants writer and there may be more stories for Yelena just waiting for me to discover J 16. You’ve won quite a few awards with your trilogy and you’ve seen them go international in several different countries. Did you ever dream when you first put pen to paper that your books would be so popular? How does the near instantaneous success feel? Does it make you feel more pressured as you write now, or less stress during writing? 16A: My goal as a writer was to see my book in print and on the shelves of a book store. I never thought pass that goal. The great reviews, the awards, the international editions and even the New York Times Best Sellers list have all been unexpected and wonderful! I think the pressure has increased. With so many people enjoying my books, I want them to keep enjoying the books and I worried that I will disappoint my readers. Thank you so much for taking time out of your busy schedule to talk to us this month Maria! Debbie and I both are eagerly anticipating many future novels from you. Do you have anything you’d like to say to your fans in closing? Please share your website info, etc as well. à I always enjoy getting emails from readers, my email address is maria@mariavsnyder.com. I have a number of contests up on my website to win signed books and book labels. I also have free short stories and writing advice. My website is www.mariavsnyder.com. I’m also on MySpace at www.myspace.com/mariavsnyder And I’m blabbing…er…blogging at http://blog.myspace.com/mariavsnyder Thanks again for inviting me to your wonderful site! Read reviews of Maria's books: Poison Study Magic Study Fire Study
Interviewed by Kelley and Debbie |