My Recent Comments

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

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.

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! 

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

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

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??

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 ;> 

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 ;>