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Fire Study with Maria Snyder
by Anonymous on February 25th, 2008, 6:00am
SURROUNDED BY FIRE WITH NO WAY TO ESCAPE THE BURN.
Yelena's new role as Soulfinder has made the Sitian Council uneasy. Worried that her new powers will corrupt her, the Council debates her fate. Yelena, though is trying to keep Sitia and Ixia from going to war. In the middle of political wrangling, Yelena receives a disturbing message: a plot is rising against her homeland, led by Ferde, the Soulstealer who murdered eleven girls and has escaped from prison with Cahil Ixia’s help. Cahil believes if he joins with the new Daviian Clan, he will have enough support to regain the Ixian throne. Testing the limit of her skills, Yelena becomes embroiled in the desperate fight to stop Ferde and the Daviian Clan from siphoning enough power to unleash a Fire Warper on the world. That would be worst than war between the northern and southern lands. Especially since, of all the powers Yelena possesses, she couldn't set fire to a candle wick if her life depended on it. And there is more at stake than just her life.
Join Maria V. Snyder in conversation as we discuss her much anticipated sequel to Poison Study and Magic Study.
About the author:
Maria V. Snyder changed careers in 1995 from being a Meteorologist to a Novelist when she began working on her first novel, Poison Study. Published in October 2005, Poison Study won the 2006 Compton Crook Award for Best First Novel, won the Salt Lake Co. Library's Reader's Choice award, was a 2005 Booksense pick, was nominated for four other awards, and received a Starred Review from Publisher’s Weekly. She has also published numerous freelance in regional magazines and in local newspapers. Teaching fiction writing classes at the local college gives her the enjoyable opportunity to encourage novice writers and to keep improving her craft.
1st one here!
Wow! I can't wait until the book is out. Is it out yet?
Six
FIRE STUDY!
Hi Six! YAY!! The release date is tomorrow, BUT I've been getting reports from my book commandos that a few stores have them on the shelves and Amazon has shipped the books.
I'm going to be stopping in all week and answering any questions. Hopefully we'll have a HOT discussion once everyone reads the book ;>
So everyone - getting reading and enjoy the burn....er....book ;>
Maria V. Snyder
“Genius is one percent inspiration and ninety-nine percent perspiration.”
Thomas Edison
Maria, did you get my email?
Maria, did you get my email? The one about the review?
"Perhaps what the average member of a group is capable of doesn't limit what a given individual can accomplish." -- Boston Globe, letter to the editor
March's Member of the Month!
Welcome Maria!!
Sorry to be late in joining the party, but hopefully, Jayne kept everyone comfortable. The kiddos gave me a little present in the form of a nasty virus, so I'm just getting back in the swing of things.
Maria, I am so glad book #3 is finally out!! I've been eagerly awaiting it since, oh, forever, and I can't wait to read it.
So tell us... what can we expect from this one? The blurb doesn't say much about a certain handsome hero. Will we be seeing any of him?
Dream
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Hello again! FF - Yes,
Hello again!
FF - Yes, I did get your email - thank you so much for sending it and for the great review! I'm just behind in replying to my emails right now - been busy with kids and book releases ;>
Dream - Glad you're feeling better - my kids brought home stomach viruses around x-mas every year for about 6 years - fun stuff....not!
Speaking of kids...I'm needed for homework help. I'll answer the rest of your quesitons in a few...
Although - I will tell you Valek makes an appearance and is in a good half of the novel ;>
Maria V. Snyder
“Genius is one percent inspiration and ninety-nine percent perspiration.”
Thomas Edison
More Details
I'm back :)
As for Fire Study - I'll give you a few more details...
Yelena joins with Leif and Moon Man in search of Cahil and Ferde. The chase takes them to the Daviian Plateau and then into the Illiais jungle, where they encounter a Fire Warper and some Necklace Snakes ;>
The Daviians - aka the Daviian Vermin - have been using the illegal and horrible blood magic to boost their powers and their intent is to return Sitia to a powerful nation.
Meanwhile...the Commander doesn't like how things are going in Sitia and sends Valek on a mission.
In Fire Study, Yelena is trying to come to terms with her magical powers and when she witnesses the horrofic abuses by the Vermin she starts to believe that maybe the Commander is right to outlaw magic.
In fact, things become so HOT in Sitia for Yelena that she must flee to Ixia to avoid being arrested and she's not sure she wants to go back.
In the book you'll get to see more of Moon Man, Marrok, Leif and a new Sandseed scout named Tauno. Opal also has a bigger role and while I was writing FS, she became very interesting to me - the whole working with molten glass and the potential that she is going to have her own adventures, starting with Storm Glass (tentatively scheduled for Dec. 08 release!)
FS also deals with fears. You'll find out what scares each of the main characters *cue evil laughter*
Everyone is afraid of something...... What are you afraid of??
Maria V. Snyder
“Genius is one percent inspiration and ninety-nine percent perspiration.”
Thomas Edison
Where?
Where is the book for sale? I can't find it on the eharlequin site. BTW, congrats, they have been excellent books (as well as an excellent short story), and I've enjoyed them a lot.
Shelli
I finished Fire Study
I'm afraid that I won't have the patience to wait for Opal's story, I found her a compelling character and would love to know how she "came to be".
Jayne
Community Manager
"We cannot really love anybody with whom we never laugh"—Agnes Repplier
Hi Maria !!
Hi Maria !! *waves*
I Absolutely LOVED FS
Jayne, I completely agree. Opal needs her story told.
Hi Maria, I sent you an email but I saw your response to FF so I understand you're behind. I just wanted to mention it in case you don't recieve it. Good luck with the homework help. Sometimes it is quick, hope this is one of those times.
Kim Swiderski - Curator for Harlequin Historicals MySpace http://www.myspace.com/historicals
http://www.shelfari.com/harlequinhistoricals
Checking in
Hi everyone--
I ordered Fire Study from Amazon today! Can't wait till it gets here!
Maria--Hi! I'm happy to hear we will see a lot of Valek!
Mary
Waving Hello to
Waving Hello to everyone!
Jayne - LOL - You just got FS - give me a breather :) I feel ...what's the word?.....amused....frustrated.....glad/proud.....hmmmmm..... probably a combo of all four - that readers will devour a book in one day - the same book that took me 9 months to write! I was happy to see FS out but already I'm getting the "when's the next book" emails :) Which is a very good sign - not complaining just commenting :)
As for where to find the book - I don't think eHarlequin has it up yet - They should have it listed on Saturday March 1. Amazon is shipping them and some bookstores have them on the shelves - but you'll want to check your bookstore first - otherwise they should have them out on Saturday.
Hi Kim! When did you email me? I don't think I saw one from you recently - perhaps my overzealous spam blocker zapped it.
Here's a tidbit about FS - I had wanted to titled it Soul Study, but that title was axed as it sounded like a 70s Soul Train episode :) Also sounded too spiritual. Same with Spirit Study and Storm Study. Do you see a pattern (besides the Study ;)? I wanted a word that began with the letter S - why??
Poison Magic Soul or PMS for short
Maria V. Snyder
“Genius is one percent inspiration and ninety-nine percent perspiration.”
Thomas Edison
email sent
Maria, I sent out a couple of days ago. I'll try sending another one to you.
Kim Swiderski - Curator for Harlequin Historicals MySpace http://www.myspace.com/historicals
http://www.shelfari.com/harlequinhistoricals
PMS!
Maria, that's hysterical!! I love your sense of humor. It translates so well into your stories as well.
So glad I'll get to see my favorite hero *sigh*.
I love how you've plotted so many intricate twists and turns. It always makes for an exciting read.
Fears? Me? I'm not afraid of nothing. Double negative intended.
I think I'm afraid of just about everything, but particularly if it involves my kiddos.
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I got it!
I finished FS yesterday and LOVED IT! I liked meeting Chestnut and remeeting everyone else. If I hadn't cheated and read the last page first I would have been balling after the barn scene, as it is I still welled-up. I wish that there was more of the Jal, Gede and Fire Warper story. I hope that there will be more Ixia & Sitia stories because I already miss the people living there.
Thank You
Maria, thanks so much for spending the week with us. I can't wait to read Fire Study and am hoping there will be many more to come.
Dream
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I'm so so so excited Fire
I'm so so so excited Fire Study is finally here! I just ordered mine tonight so should have it in a week's time. Can't wait.
Spreading the Word :)
Hello - Busy weekend - two events on Saturday and sold lots of books - YAY!
Royal - last page first - tsk tsk (wagging finger) - I can't do that. I'm such a stickler - I start at page one (even with magazines) and go to the end - no cheating!
Kim - I did get your second email - thanks for the great review!
Dream - I hear you about kids - that's a parent's worse nightmare. My kids sometimes call me Mrs. Safety Pants because of my caution. My mother is worse than me - she's Grandma Paranoid.
I'm hoping to hang around longer than one week - I have many events planned so a few days of silence may occur - like this upcoming week - I'm leaving Monday to go to DC to the Library of Congress on Tuesday. Yes the Library of Congress (I've been working that into my conversations all week - I can't make volleyball next week, I've been invited to the Library of Congress - ego? Who me??)
But I've spread the word this disscussion is here and I hope once everyone reads the book - we can discuss things like the barn scene in detail.
Yeah - PMF doesn't have the same cachet as PMS - but talking to a group yesterday - a lady came up with a good subsitute: Post Menstral Female
Maria V. Snyder
“Genius is one percent inspiration and ninety-nine percent perspiration.”
Thomas Edison
Forgot!
Just wanted everyone to know - Fire Study is up on the MIRA page in eHarlequin (all the way at the bottom). It's a special offer - so the price is pretty good!
Have a great day!
Maria V. Snyder
“Genius is one percent inspiration and ninety-nine percent perspiration.”
Thomas Edison
Book ordered!
Maria, I'm so glad you'll be sticking around for a while.
How awesome to be invited by the Library of Congress!
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Audio
I downloaded the audio on Saturday but since I have kids and it was the weekend I couldn't really listen. I have 40 minutes left on part one (they divide it into two parts so that it downloads faster). No sign of Valek yet but if they split the book pretty close to half/half, well, then, I expect to see him soon.
Oh, I'll love seeing Opal's story. I hope they do it in audio as well. They'll need a new reader, though. Gabra's voice is Yelena.
Penn
PS - Dream or Jayne, can you add the cover for FS to the graphics above? Right now it's just the first 2 showing.
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Done!
Excellent read Maria! I'm so glad I'll be too busy to complain about waiting for Opal's story! Will hers be just one or more than one?
Now that I'm through, I actually think that Soul Study would have been a great name for the book. Jokes about PMS aside . . . it fits the story really well.
Penn
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I'm Back
Hello! Wow - the Library of Congress was a blast - the behind the scenes tour was my favorite part. I did a presentation for a group of science fiction/fantasy readers - it's called the "What If" forum. I juggled for the group
My presentation was titled, "Juggling the Writer's life" and I brough koosh balls and juggled. I should have had someone tape it - it would have made a great You Tube video!
Penn - Glad you enjoyed the audiobook - you reminded me to nudge my contact at Audible and get a copy for myself. Nothing like hearing your words spoken by someone else - all the clunky phrases and stiff dialogue makes me want to write better :) - and sometimes I'm surprised - I'm like - "Did I write that? Damn I'm good!"
As for Storm Glass - here's the cover copy on the book: "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."
I'm working on Sea Glass now and I hope to have 3 books for the Glass series, but I don't plan them out that far (so I might have 2 or 4 or more). Poison Study was going to be just one book.
Maria V. Snyder
“Genius is one percent inspiration and ninety-nine percent perspiration.”
Thomas Edison
Study MAP!
This just in..... I received permission to post the Study World Map on my website - I drew it up for the UK edition of Poison Study and thought it would be in Fire Study, but it wasn't. So I posted at this link: http://www.mariavsnyder.com/map.php
What do you think? I drew it in pencil and scanned it. Then the art department basically copied it as is - I don't consider myself a cartographer....but it's neat to see
Maria V. Snyder
“Genius is one percent inspiration and ninety-nine percent perspiration.”
Thomas Edison
Maria,
I LOVE the map!
I think it might be weird for you to hear your book read by someone else. But if your books weren't available in audio, I'd probably still be saying, "Oh, yeah, I heard those books were FANTASTIC but I haven't made time to read them." That's the case with Jeri Smith-Ready's "Crow" books. I hear amazing things about them but they're not available on audio so I still haven't read them.
Obviously, I'm very glad that yours are available on audio (ditto C.E. Murphy's books). I might still buy the print versions b/c they were so good, I'd like to revisit some parts of the story with my own eyes.
I'm glad that POISON STUDY turned into a trilogy. And as long as you don't drag out the Glass stories, I'll love them, too. I've made blog entries on my preference for series that aren't real long. I tend to like trilogies and quartets, I think in part b/c I like stories with some adventure in them but after a while, I want my heroine to settle down to a semi-boring semi-safe life. I get TIRED for the heroine when it's one thing after another in book after book after book. Plus, I do like some romance in my books and I want the heroine to have time to have a relationship that's not filled with bad guys and getting rid of them. So without having read the upcoming books (which haven't all been written LOL), I can bet that I'll enjoy them b/c I DO like being in the same "world" and I do like your writing. No pressure there.
Penn
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MAP!!!
Maria, I think this is absolutely the very best present you could have given us. I am going to have to go back and re-read the books with the map in hand now. Love it!
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Hi Maria! I have read the
Hi Maria! I have read the first two books and eager to get my hands on Fire Study! Have to wait until Paycheck on Friday *Gggrrrr*
As for the people asking you "when is the next book?" My only advice ... if you didn't intend for their to be one, then leave it be. So many of my fav writers out there have started out with a trilogy and expanded to meet the demand of the public but I have found that it shows in the quality of the following novels. They start to mess with characters and all of a sudden rock solid characters do things "out of character" and "happy endings" are torn up.
You must tire of "advice" from random people.
But it's just a trend I have noticed, especially in Fantasy Writers.
*Waves*
Sophie - DreamsOnFire
"Dreams, like fire in a hearth …
Stifled, will die slowly
Neglected, will burn ruthlessly
Tended, will bring warmth
And take you down the path of rebirth."
Finished Fire Study!
Hi everyone--
I finished reading Fire Study over the weekend and really enjoyed it. It was a good ending to the trilogy. I'm sorry to see it end but I have all three books now and will read them again some day. I really love Yelena and Valek together and the interaction between Yelena and Leif.
Maria--Thanks for another great read!
Mary