Katherine Longshore's Blog, page 12

Friday Five -- Robin Bridges

Robin Bridges is another 2k12 Classmate (such a fantastic group of people!) and author of THE GATHERING STORM, an historical novel set in Tsarist Russia.  I'm delighted to have her here today to answer...


THE FIVE:

1.  What is the most surprising thing you’ve learned since becoming a writer?  

You can read every author/ agent/ editor blog, attend conferences, lurk on message boards and just when you think you have the publishing industry figured out, something changes.  You can’t chase the best-seller list hoping to get in on the “next big thing”.  Just write the best book that only you can write.

2.  Who are your writing heroes?  

Laura Ingalls Wilder was my earliest writing hero.  The fact that she wrote books about her life and sold them was the coolest thing to my nine-year-old mind.

3.  What other profession would you like to learn?

I’d love to be an archeologist or an astronomer.  Or a dolphin trainer!

4.  What profession would you never, ever want to have? 

Accounting.  I hate balancing my own checkbook.

5.  What is your favorite writing motto/mantra?

“Just keep swimming-  I mean… Just keep writing, writing, writing- what do we do? We write, write…”

ABOUT THE GATHERING STORM:

From Goodreads:
St. Petersburg, Russia, 1888. As she attends a whirl of glittering balls, royal debutante Katerina Alexandrovna, Duchess of Oldenburg, tries to hide a dark secret: she can raise the dead. No one knows. Not her family. Not the girls at her finishing school. Not the tsar or anyone in her aristocratic circle. Katerina considers her talent a curse, not a gift. But when she uses her special skill to protect a member of the Imperial Family, she finds herself caught in a web of intrigue.

An evil presence is growing within Europe's royal bloodlines—and those aligned with the darkness threaten to topple the tsar. Suddenly Katerina's strength as a necromancer attracts attention from unwelcome sources . . . including two young men—George Alexandrovich, the tsar's standoffish middle son, who needs Katerina's help to safeguard Russia, even if he's repelled by her secret, and the dashing Prince Danilo, heir to the throne of Montenegro, to whom Katerina feels inexplicably drawn.

The time has come for Katerina to embrace her power, but which side will she choose—and to whom will she give her heart?

Order THE GATHERING STORM here.

ABOUT ROBIN BRIDGES:

You can find Robin at her website.
On Facebook.
On Twitter.

GILT Playlist -- William's song

I listened to a lot of different kinds of music when I was writing GILT, most of it modern.  I usually get inspiration in the car or while out for a long walk (or run), and I usually listen to music while I do those things, so often music from the radio will get churned  up in my mind with plotlines and character flaws and even full scenes.  But during the year it took me to write and revise GILT, through the several incarnations of the character (who was originally called Thomas), this song was always William's.

It's hard to explain why.  Some of it could be that Chris Martin reminds me of William (crossed with James McAvoy).  But I think more of it has to do with intention.  The idea that love is a bright, shiny yellow.  The idea that the expression of love can be something as simple as pointing out the color of the stars.  The idea that no matter what, William thought Kitty was beautiful.  We can all hope for that kind of love, can't we?

Friday Five -- J. Anderson Coats

Today's Friday Five are being asked of author J. Anderson Coats whose THE WICKED AND THE JUST will debut on Tuesday from Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.  Jillian is an essential member of the Class of 2k12, an excellent resource and sports a whip-quick wit.  Plus she loves history.  Win.


THE FIVE:

1.  What would your super power be?

I would be able to manipulate time, either adding hours to the day or stopping time completely.  That way words could get written, the kitchen cleaned, the day job done and chess played with the kid without anything falling by the wayside.

2.  What is your guiltiest pleasure?

Real Simple magazine.  I’m in awe of living-room makeovers and subtle eyeshadow and one-skillet dinners that involve fennel.  My “décor” involves big piles of books and a relentless, futile attempt to keep the dinner table clear enough to eat on.

3.  If you could edit your past, what would you change?

I would be born with the ability to know what to say in any situation and make people feel at ease.  Being able to walk into any roomful of strangers and not feel awkward would make me a happier person.

4.  What other profession would you like to learn?

Cake-decorating.  First you make something breathtaking, then you eat it because it’s also delicious.

5.  What profession would you never, ever want to have?

Commission sales.  It does not align with my personality and worldview in any way, shape, or form.

ABOUT THE WICKED AND THE JUST:

From Coats's website: 

1293.  North Wales.  Ten years into English rule.

Cecily would give anything to leave Caernarvon and go home.  Gwenhwyfar would give anything to see all the English leave.

Neither one is going to get her wish.

Behind the city walls, English burgesses govern with impunity.  Outside the walls, the Welsh are confined by custom and bear the burden of taxation, and the burgesses plan to keep it that way.
Cecily can’t be bothered with boring things like the steep new tax or the military draft that requires Welshmen to serve in the king’s army overseas.  She has her hands full trying to fit in with the town’s privileged elite, and they don’t want company.

Gwenhwyfar can’t avoid these things.  She counts herself lucky to get through one more day, and service in Cecily’s house is just salt in the wound.

But the Welsh are not as conquered as they seem, and the suffering in the countryside is rapidly turning to discontent.  The murmurs of revolt may be Gwenhwyfar’s only hope for survival – and the last thing Cecily ever hears.

You can buy THE WICKED AND THE JUST here.

ABOUT JILLIAN:

You can find her on her website.
On Twitter.
On Facebook.
And on Goodreads.

Why I Love Britain and the British - Part 3

History.

You knew it was coming, didn't you?  I love English history.  The Saxons and the Romans.  William the Conquerer and Harold. (side note, my first love of English history came from French class, learning about the Bayeux Tapestry (la tapisserie de Bayeux).  Old Harold with the arrow through his eye at the battle of Hastings.  Great stuff.)  The Anarchy of Matilda (or Maud) and Stephen.  King John. Richard II. 

Recently, I've been out touring centuries of English history.  My writing at the moment is all about the Tudors, but I love to get out and explore the rest of the history, too.  I visited a Roman villa, its mosaic floor almost entirely intact in some rooms.  I wandered the air museum at Tangmere and learned about the Battle of Britain.  In the same day.

I went for a two-hour walk through fields and along a canal and ended up at an ancient, crumbling octagonal tower in the middle of almost nowhere.  Odiham Castle, from which King John rode in a snit to set his stamp to the Magna Carta.

But the best part of my journey this trip was to visit Bosworth battlefield.  This is where Richard III lost his crown - the last English king to die in battle - and Henry Tudor picked it up.  The beginning of the Tudor dynasty.  And the end of one of the most maligned figures in history.  The history here is palpable.  The striations on the canon shot discovered in the field.  The belt buckles and clips found after centuries.  And a white boar badge, silver and gilded, worn by one of Richard's loyal followers and lost to the earth that August day in 1485.  I'm not ashamed to say that tears came to my eyes seeing that little piece of ancient metal. 

I love being able to visualize the history.  To strain to hear the sounds of canon fire or smell the smoke in a close castle room.  To look out a window and sweep away the tarmacked streets and cars and see only the rolling hills beyond.  This is why I love to write history, because I can indulge my imagination.

Please join me tomorrow on another little historical trip -- Nicole About Town is kicking off the Tudor Tuesdays blog tour with a post about Catherine of Aragon and an excerpt from GILT.  Please drop by!

Friday Five -- Talia Vance

Today's Friday Five author is Talia Vance, author of SILVER (Flux, September 8, 2012) and SPIES AND PREJUDICE (Egmont, Spring 2013).  I met Talia at the Big Sur Writer's Workshop in 2009, and immediately fell in love with her tight writing and snappy dialogue.  It is my great pleasure to interview her, and to call her a friend.

THE FIVE:


1.  What is your earliest memory?

I was probably 3 or 4 years old.  I was crawling under the kitchen table.  I remember clearly my grandmother telling me that I would not remember this when I was older.  And I decided then and there that I would.  I committed that little incident to memory and never let go.  I have no idea what prompted her to say that, but it sparked a little bit of defiance in me.  It's part of what made me believe I could do anything I set out to do.

2.  What single thing would improve the quality of your life?


Work less.  Play more.

3.  Who would play you in the film of your life?


Drew Barrymore.

4.  If you knew you would be stranded on a desert island, which book, piece of music, and snack food would you take with you?


The Time Travelers Wife, Counting Crows' August and Everything After, and Starbucks' Skinny Vanilla Latte

5.  What is your favorite writing motto/mantra?


Finish the book.


Talia's Books: 

SILVER:


Brianna Paxton has been invisible to guys since the eighth grade. She's pretty enough, it's just that no one bothers to look. There's almost nothing that can't be explained with science, and Brianna has a theory: she's missing the pheromone that attracts people to one another. Brianna's theory is shot to hell in one frozen, silver moment, when time stops and Blake Williams not only sees her, he recognizes something inside her that she's been hiding from even herself.

Before Brianna fully understands who and what she is, she accidentally binds her soul to Blake. Forced to find a way to reconcile forbidden love and her bloody heritage, Brianna discovers that there's nothing pointless about her, and Blake may be in the most danger of all.

Preorder SILVER.

SPIES AND PREJUDICE:


At sixteen, Berry Fields knows everything she needs to know about love. It sucks. As an employee for her dad's private investigation company, she's seen it firsthand. Men lie, cheat, leave. Even Berry's dad is love's victim, having never fully recovered from the death of his wife eight years earlier.

When Tanner Halston and his brother Ryan transfer to McHenry High, Berry is not impressed. She knows the type—good looking and full of himself. And it doesn't help that Tanner always seems to catch her at her worst moments. But when Berry's best friend hits it off with Ryan, it becomes impossible to avoid Tanner.

Berry embarks on her own investigation into her mother's death, determined to discover the truth. As she gets drawn deeper into a web of lies, she finds herself fighting against everything she thought she knew, about her mother, herself, and her growing attraction to Tanner Halston.

SPIES AND PREJUDICE will be published by Egmont in the spring of 2013.


Find Talia on Twitter
And Goodreads

Why I Love Great Britain and the British -- Part 2

On Wednesday, I blogged an overview of why I'm an unrepenting Anglophile.  Today, I'm sitting in a British version of a worldwide coffee establishment, where not only can I get a mocha that tastes radically different (but equally delicious) to my neighborhood cafe, but I could also choose from a selection of scones and "toasted multi-fruit bread" to sandwiches like cheese and Branston pickle or egg mayonnaise.

As I said before, I love British food.  It used to be said that hell would be a place run by the French, entertained by the Germans and catered by the British.  (and heaven a place catered by the French, run by the Germans and entertained by the British).  The Brits are famous for overboiled cabbage, gamey roasts and flavorless cakes.  But aside from my first years here when I couldn't find a decent cup of coffee (even the fine establishments served instant.  Instant!) I've not been disappointed by the food.

Of course, fish and chips are the best.  So.  Much.  Grease.  And there is absolutely nothing like a plain scone served with homemade strawberry jam and clotted Cornish cream.  But I've also learned to love pasties (though I lean towards the cheese and onion ones, being a mostly vegetarian - fish is my downfall).

The British sometimes think of odd combinations of flavors.  Especially pizza.  Imagine a pizza with corn kernels on it.  Or a fried egg.  Or tuna.  And Branston pickle is definitely an acquired taste - a cross between what Americans know as pickle relish and a chutney.  I'm still not down with vinegar on my potato chips, and only tasted the roast beef flavor crisps once.  Ahem.

I also love British sweets.  Cadbury's is the epitome of great milk chocolate.  And Green and Black's makes a gorgeous organic and free trade dark chocolate that is to die for.  I love fruit pastilles - a chewy fruit-flavored, sugar-encrusted sweet a little like gumdrops, but much better.  And wine gums.  Yes, sweets for kids named after wine.  Desserts like banoffee pie and treacle tart and spotted dick are listed on restaurant menus along with hot apple pie with cream (or custard).  And you have not lived until you have fresh strawberries and double cream.  I always come home with ginger nuts and plain (dark) chocolate digestive biscuits in my suitcase (these are both packaged cookie-type goods.)  And I adore attending British weddings where the cake is almost always a fruit cake covered in marzipan and fondant.  Really, you can't knock it until you try it.

I could go on.  But I won't.  I think that scone over there is calling my name...

Friday Five -- Caroline Starr Rose

 It is my pleasure this week to bring you Caroline Starr Rose, author of MAY B., an historical middle grade novel in verse.  I consider myself very fortunate to be part of the Class of 2k12, which Caroline co-chairs with author Megan Bostic.  She is a fearless leader and an amazing author.


THE FIVE:

1.  What is your favorite word?
Alpargatas -- Spanish for espadrille shoes. Way too fun to say.

2.  What word do you like the least?
weevil

3.  What other profession would you like to learn?
I've always thought being an ethnologist would be really interesting. Studying another culture and knowing its people intimately fascinates me.

4.  What profession would you never, ever want to have?
Surgeon. The world is fortunate I was not required to work on the human body.

5.  What is your favorite writing motto/mantra?
E.L. Doctorow's quote on drafting has gotten me through many a story:  It's like driving a car at night. You never see further than your headlights, but you can make the whole trip that way.

ABOUT MAY B.:

From Goodreads:

I've known it since last night:
It's been too long to expect them to return. 
Something's happened.

May is helping out on a neighbor's Kansas prairie homestead—just until Christmas, says Pa. She wants to contribute, but it's hard to be separated from her family by 15 long, unfamiliar miles. Then the unthinkable happens: May is abandoned. Trapped in a tiny snow-covered sod house, isolated from family and neighbors, May must prepare for the oncoming winter. While fighting to survive, May's memories of her struggles with reading at school come back to haunt her. But she's determined to find her way home again. Caroline Starr Rose's fast-paced novel, written in beautiful and riveting verse, gives readers a strong new heroine to love.

Order MAY B. here.

ABOUT CAROLINE:

You can find Caroline at her website.
On Goodreads.
And on Facebook.

Why I Love Great Britain and the British - Part 1

The reasons I'm an Anglophile make a list a mile long.  But because I'm currently on a research trip in England, I feel I need to write a series of posts on the subject.  Just to say how happy I am to be here.

History:  from Ethelred the Unready to Queen Elizabeth.  The Tower of London to the London Eye.  Occupation by hostile forces (the Romans) to occupying foreign lands (half the globe).  Monarchy, civil war, plague, fire, famine, the Blitz - the British have survived it all. 

Culture: Performance art from Shakespeare to Monty Python.  Music - composers like Henry VIII himself to Vaughan Williams, John Lennon through John Lydon and Adele.  Architecture - Warwick Castle and St. Paul's Cathedral and the Battersea Power Station.  Poetry from Chaucer to Ted Hughes.  Actors - Shakespeare and Maggie Smith and Alan Rickman and Kate Winslet and Clive Owen and...too many to list.  The written word - Swift and Austen and JK Rowling.

Food:  No one comes to Britain for the food, right?  What about fish and chips?  A real English curry?  Cadbury's chocolate?  High tea?

Beauty:  Cornwall.  The Peak District.  The Scottish highlands.  The Kentish hop fields.  Edinburgh and Bath and iconic English villages.

I love Britain.  Of course, I love America, too.  I would have a list a mile long describing that, too (The Grand Canyon, Tennessee Williams, the Golden Gate Bridge...)  At the moment, I'm just happy to be here.  I've already had fish and chips.  Now I need culture.  And chocolate.

Tudor Tuesdays!

I'm thrilled to announce a blog tour for GILT, created and managed by the lovely Kathy Coe at A Glass of Wine.  Every Tuesday, beginning April 10, a different blog will feature one of Henry's queens, with a little teaser from GILT thrown in for good measure.  There will be prizes (including finished copies) and I will finish up the tour on May 22 with a post about Henry himself.

To learn more - dates, names and locations - please jump to A Glass of Wine!

Librarians Rock

Just sayin'.