I’d like to thank Stephanie Ford and the Children’s Literature Book Club for hosting me today! The blog tour has been a fun adventure. I hope you enjoy this installment, and new questions, as well as the picture of me as a kid! As you may know, there are pictures of me on each post growing slowly older…!
What books or authors have inspired you or influenced you the most?
I have to say, the Wizard of Oz series, by L Frank Baum. I loved these books (fourteen in the series) so much when I was a young kid. I was a really slow reader then, too. I used to picture every sentence, vividly, and it took me a month of constant reading to finish a book!
The illustrations have been fantastic. Some of them, like the trolls guarding a cave in Otherness in Book Two, floor me.
People have pointed out that the illustrations remind them of Mary Grandpre’s (The Harry Potter series.) This I find to be a double-edged sword. If you hold the books together, you can see the artists have entirely different styles. But there is a feel there, and I’m not sure if it is a good thing or not. If it helps people know what kind of book it is, what general genre, I guess that’s good. If it makes people think “Harry Potter,” that’s not so good. I’d be curious to know what you and your readers think!
Is there anything you would change about either of your books now that they are out?
Yes … and no! In one sense, having edited them so many times before I sent them to the “real” editors, it’s hard to turn the editor in me off. When I pick up my work I’m always scanning it for word choice, sentence structure. I’ll always find wording I’d change.
In Book One, where did you come up with the Lia Fail idea – a stone that screams?
Actually the Lia Fail is a real peace of ancient Celtic mythology. They believed there was a stone that screamed to confirm that the king being crowned was a rightful ruler. I loved the concept, and the Lia Fail is going to be an important concept later in the series!
Is Erec going to be tempted by the scepters or influenced by them in future books?
Yes! He’s been infected with the feeling of power the scepters gave him, and that’s really hard to shake. Erec has quests to do, and evil to conquer, but will the scepters help him or get in the way? Something to think about!
What books or authors have inspired you or influenced you the most?
I have to say, the Wizard of Oz series, by L Frank Baum. I loved these books (fourteen in the series) so much when I was a young kid. I was a really slow reader then, too. I used to picture every sentence, vividly, and it took me a month of constant reading to finish a book!
Beyond the Oz books, I think I’ve been inspired at some level by most books I’ve read. I just finished “Blink,” by Malcolm Gladwell (read it in a day!) and I know it inspired me in some way, too.
How well do the illustrations in your books capture the imagery you visualized as you wrote?
The illustrations have been fantastic. Some of them, like the trolls guarding a cave in Otherness in Book Two, floor me.
People have pointed out that the illustrations remind them of Mary Grandpre’s (The Harry Potter series.) This I find to be a double-edged sword. If you hold the books together, you can see the artists have entirely different styles. But there is a feel there, and I’m not sure if it is a good thing or not. If it helps people know what kind of book it is, what general genre, I guess that’s good. If it makes people think “Harry Potter,” that’s not so good. I’d be curious to know what you and your readers think!
Is there anything you would change about either of your books now that they are out?
Yes … and no! In one sense, having edited them so many times before I sent them to the “real” editors, it’s hard to turn the editor in me off. When I pick up my work I’m always scanning it for word choice, sentence structure. I’ll always find wording I’d change.
As far as big changes – not specifically. I plotted enough of the series out that I was able to drop the hints I needed into Book One. That was one advantage of advance planning – I knew enough going into Book One that I could do that. But I suppose as I go, and more details get worked out, it would be cool to “step back in time” and drop in even more tidbits. But, at the same time, I’m happy with what is there. The story is on track, where it’s supposed to be. Now I just have to worry about editing Book Three like crazy before I hand it over!
In Book One, where did you come up with the Lia Fail idea – a stone that screams?
Actually the Lia Fail is a real peace of ancient Celtic mythology. They believed there was a stone that screamed to confirm that the king being crowned was a rightful ruler. I loved the concept, and the Lia Fail is going to be an important concept later in the series!
Is Erec going to be tempted by the scepters or influenced by them in future books?
Yes! He’s been infected with the feeling of power the scepters gave him, and that’s really hard to shake. Erec has quests to do, and evil to conquer, but will the scepters help him or get in the way? Something to think about!
Let me know what mythological references you’ve spotted in the Erec Rex books. I look forward to hearing from you!
Love,
Kaza
5 comments:
Kaza you are really killing me with your beautiful kiddie pictures! :o)
I know exactly what you mean by savoring every sentence in a literary work!
Hi to Stephanie!!! Nice to meet you. :o)
Kaza I love how you base your books on the idea's of mythology. I really like the illustrations on the covers of your books, I make the book stand out from all other books.
Tarie - Some books I tend to savor more than others, some I can whiz through fast. I love the ones that make me stop and picture things though, don't you?
Rissa, thanks for your comments! I'm glad you like the covers. I do too!
Luv,
Kazaa
Hey Kaza,
Good interveiw sorry I haven't posted in a few days I will try to catch up tomorrow....I read some of this interveiw and it's great I love your picture at the top you look like an angel...
Love
Mia
Very thoughtful blog
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