Please help me welcome the most excellent author Jamie Marchant to my blog today. She is the author of The Goddess's Choice.
Tell me a bit about
yourself:
From early
childhood, I’ve been immersed in books. My mother was an avid reader and read
to us, and my older sister filled my head with fairy tales. When I was about
six, I started writing stories about the Man from Mars for my older sister. I
devoured every book I could get my hands on, and I wrote my first fantasy novel while in high school—not that it was
publishable. Taking into consideration my love for literature and the
challenges of supporting myself as a writer, I pursued a Ph.D. in American
literature, which I received in 1998. I started teaching writing and literature
at Auburn University and discovered the excitement of teaching. But in doing
so, I put my true passion on the backburner and neglected my muse. Instead, for
a few years, I wrote literary criticism. Then one day, in the midst of writing
a critical piece, I realized I had no interest in doing so. What I wanted to do
was write novels. My muse thus revived, I began the book that was to become The Goddess’s Choice. I now have an entire series planned.
Now, I live in
Auburn, Alabama, with my husband, son, and four cats, which, I’m told,
officially makes me a cat lady. I still teach writing and literature at Auburn
University.
What type of genre do
you write?
I write fantasy, primarily. Mostly novels, although I’ve had
short stories published in World of Myth,
Bards & Sages, and Short-Story.me.
They are all available for free on my website. I have an idea for a
historical novel about my great-great grandmother after whom I was named, but I
haven’t started it yet.
What genre do you
personally read?
I mostly read fantasy, Mercedes Lackey and Jim Butcher being
two of my favorite authors. Occasionally, I’ll pick up a crime drama.
Tell me about your
latest book:
The novel is set in the kingdom of
Korthlundia and focuses on the despised youngest son of a farmer—whom I’ve
named Robbie—and Samantha, the crown princess of the realm. Half of the novel
revolves Robbie’s quest to rise above his mistreatment and learn what it means
to be the most powerful healer Korthlundia has seen in centuries. The other
half involves Samantha, who has the ability to see auras—colors which surround
everyone and reveal their character. She
struggles with her own problems—by magical means, a vile duke has enslaved the
mind of her beloved father, the king, to either force her into marriage or
usurp her throne. The two tales become increasingly intertwined. To save their own lives and stop the
realm from sinking into civil war, Robbie and Samantha must join forces and
unite the people behind them.
Where is your book
available?
It is available of Amazon.com and Barnesandnoble.com and
directly from the publisher at Reliquarypress.com. It is also available in a
couple of local bookstores in Auburn, Alabama.
Where you live and
one thing you love about it
I live in Auburn, Alabama, although I come from the West. One
thing I truly love about the South is the riot of the flowers in the spring.
Nothing is more beautiful.
Website:
jamie-marchant.com
What sparked your
passion for books and the art of a good story?
My mother read to me as a child, and as soon as I was old
enough to read to myself, took us to the library every couple of weeks. She
encouraged my reading and saw to it that I was always supplied with books.
Is there a particular
book that changed or affected your life in a big way?
No single book, but as a teenager, the novels of Piers
Anthony, Roger Zelazny, and Stephen R. Donaldson introduced me to the realms of
fantasy; that has affected the direction of my reading and writing since.
What was the seed of
inspiration for your latest book?
The Goddess's Choice
originates deep within my childhood. My sister Jalane--she is ten years older
than me--would tell me stories, fairy tales mostly: "Midas and His
Golden Touch," "Little Red Riding Hood," "Hanzel and
Gretel." But my favorite was always "The Princess and the Glass
Hill" or "The Glass Mountain" as my sister titled it. I had her
tell that story over and over again. I was captivated by the bold hero on his
magical horses of bronze, silver, and gold.
When I had a child of my own, I wanted to pass that fairy tale on. My son, Jesse, loved it every bit as much as I had. One day after telling it to him, it came to me that the story could be so much more than five pages and sparse details. However, I didn’t want to write a children’s story but the type of epic fantasy I enjoy as an adult. I upped the dramatic tension, villainy, and sexuality of the piece to create something far different than the original fairy tale. The Goddess’s Choice is intended for an adult audience.
When I had a child of my own, I wanted to pass that fairy tale on. My son, Jesse, loved it every bit as much as I had. One day after telling it to him, it came to me that the story could be so much more than five pages and sparse details. However, I didn’t want to write a children’s story but the type of epic fantasy I enjoy as an adult. I upped the dramatic tension, villainy, and sexuality of the piece to create something far different than the original fairy tale. The Goddess’s Choice is intended for an adult audience.
Is there a message in
your book that you want readers to grasp?
Yes, that anger and harboring the desire for revenge hurts
you more than those you are angry at. They will suffer for their bad actions
without any effort on your part, and your bitterness only warps your own soul.
It is a lesson Robbie has to learn.
What challenges have
you faced in your writing career?
The biggest challenge was to get away from literary
criticism and back to writing fiction. Then, of course, I have faced the usual
challenges of finding a publisher for my work and the much bigger challenge of
promoting it.
What has been your
best moment as a writer?
Putting the finishing touches on The Goddess’s Choice and being able to say that it truly was done.
Either that or the email from Reliquary Press saying they wanted to publish it!
Who is your author
idol?
Mercedes Lackey. I’ve always said that I wanted to be her
when I grow up.
Do you see yourself
in any of your characters?
I want to see myself in Samantha. She is a strong woman who
knows what she wants and how to go about getting it, but I’m probably more like
Blaine, Samantha’s personal secretary. He embarrasses easily and is socially
awkward.
Do you feel like your
dream has come true or is there much more to do?
There is more. The novel is out there, but I need to get
into the hands of more readers. I also need to finish the trilogy.
What is your personal
cure for procrastination?
Procrastination has never been too much of a problem for me.
It produces far too much anxiety.
What does your
workspace look like?
I lie back on the sofa with my laptop propped up on my
knees. I hate sitting at a desk. Unfortunately, the floor around my sofa is usually
littered with dishes, books, and pervious drafts of whatever I’m working on.
Have you ever had a
day when you just wanted to quit?
Not really. Every since I came back to writing fiction, I’ve
been so happy to be doing so that I can’t imagine not writing.
What do you do when
you’re not writing?
I teach writing and literature, and I read voraciously both
to myself and to my son, who as a teenager still likes to listen to me read.
What are the most
important attributes to remaining sane as a writer?
I don’t know. My login name on many internet sites is maddwoman,
and I fear it may not be a misnomer.
What was the greatest
thing you learned at school?
The importance of reading.
Did you have a moment
when you realized you were meant to be a writer?
Yes, when I was struggling with a literary criticism piece
on Willa Cather. I turned from it and started writing The Goddess’s Choice. It flowed so much more easily, and I knew
that was the type of writing I was meant to do.
What advice would you
give to aspiring authors?
First, read a lot. You can’t be a writer without being an
avid reader first. Second, don’t give up. If you’ve truly written something of
worth, you will find a place for it.
After this book, what
is next? More series and others.
The sequel, tentatively titled The Soul Stone, is nearly finished. Then there is the third volume
of the trilogy and another book set in the same world but outside the trilogy
that focuses on the character of Darhour, the captain of Samantha’s personal
guard. I also have an urban fantasy novel in the works, titled The Bull Riding Witch.
The Goddess’s Choice, by Jamie Marchant was a delightful
book of magic, romance, action, sorcery and corruption. Ms. Marchant weaves a
story that takes twists and turns and leaves you rooting for the good side
against the evil invaders. Her story of two star-crossed lovers and their
journey towards each other can only be paralleled by the infamous Romeo and
Juliet. She writes in a way so that the reader can actually picture each and
every scene and place themselves within it. She evokes emotions from the
reader, making you cheer on the ruling crowd at the end. Her wonderfully
crafted story is a page turner. Leave yourself time to read it as you won’t
want to put it down when you start.
When Robbie, the black haired, green eyed ‘demon’ child
finds out he’s an amihealer, he pushes aside his fear of his father and brother
and demand to be treated equal to a farm hand. After meeting a beautiful Lady
Samantha, he dreams of one day being with her again. She is the only person
that’s ever been nice to him. He learns of his true heritage and is kidnapped
for his potential of healing and magic. While on the run, mystic horses appear
to him and train him in the ways of his ‘destiny’. Lady Samantha, or should I
say, Princess Samantha, heir to the throne sees auras of people and thinks she
is going mad. She too yearns for Robbie. After Robbie and Samantha meet again,
he learns who she is and he knows he will never have her. There is corruption
within the palace in an attempt to marry Samantha to a man who can take over
the throne with her though it is a Matriarchal society. Goddess Sulis dictates
Samantha is the ruler and her betrothed is the consort but every man in the
kingdom wants to be that consort. A game is arranged to help provide the
consort as Samantha refuses to pick a man to marry. Will Robbie partake in that
game? Will he win? Will Samantha find happiness and forced to marry someone she
doesn’t love? If they find each other, how will the road to happiness be paved?
With flowers or bodies? Will the corruption within the walls of the kingdom
keep the Princess from her own throne? What atrocities will she have to face in
the end?
Please thank her for joining us today and check out her book! You can reach her at:
Email: jamie-marchant@jamie-marchant.com
Website: http://jamie-marchant.com/
Blog: http://jamie-marchant.blogspot.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Jamie-Marchant-Author/164706710298768?ref=hl
Twitter: https://twitter.com/RobrekSamantha
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5258855.Jamie_Marchant
Keep Reading!
Jodie Pierce
No comments:
Post a Comment