E.L. Tettensor's Blog, page 8

Darkwalker Giveaway

Afraid you might not win that copy of Darkwalker over on Goodreads? Good news! A whole new giveaway has started through Penguin’s Facebook page! Good luck!

2013 Debut Author Challenge

I’m delighted to have been asked to participate in the Debut Author Challenge 2013 over at the Qwillery. You can read the announcement here. The idea behind the DAC is for participants to read at least 12 debut novels published in 2013. The reading is its own reward, but as an added sweetener, those who tackle at least 12 books will have their names thrown in the hat for a $100 gift certificate at an online bookstore. More books!

You can learn more about the DAC here. If you haven’t entered and 12 books by mid-Jan sounds too daunting, there’s always next year!

Darkwalker Release

It’s almost here: the long-awaited launch of DARKWALKER! Well, long-awaited by me, at any rate. After nearly four years of writing (on and off) and more than a year of polishing and re-polishing, Lenoir is finally ready to don his coat, turn up his collar, and hit the pavement.

It’s an exciting time, seeing all that work come to fruition. I only wish I could spend December 3 at my favourite Barnes & Noble in Union Square, NYC (a beautifully-restored building even Lenoir would appreciate). Something tells me I’ll have a tough time finding a copy of the book out here in Bujumbura. But if anyone is just passing through Burundi, be sure to bring me one. Oh, and chocolate too, if it’s not too much trouble.

In the meanwhile, I’m passing the time by running a giveaway over at Goodreads. The winner will receive one autographed, very well-travelled book. Interested? Well then – better get on it! Less than a month left to enter!

The Next Big Thing arrives!

A while back, New York Times-bestselling author Elaine Cunningham tagged me in the Next Big Thing, a chain promo in which authors discuss their latest works. So here it is, my contribution to the chain…

What is the working title of your book?

Darkwalker is the first installment of the Nicolas Lenoir series, featuring a cynical detective who’s probably past his prime, but still manages to be at the centre of a series of supernatural crimes.

Where did the idea for the book come from?

The story actually comes from two completely unrelated ideas. On the one hand, I’ve always been a fan of detective stories, especially of the historical, hardboiled, or noir varieties. If Dashiell Hammett had decided to put his own spin on Sherlock Holmes, he might well have come up with an anti-hero a lot like Lenoir. The other main character in the story, a vengeful spirit called Vincent, has been haunting my brain for a long time. Initially, I thought of using him in an Indiana Jones-style adventure, where I’d have him relentlessly pursuing the protagonist in revenge for disturbing a grave site. Somehow, Vincent ended up invading Lenoir’s territory instead. Now I can’t imagine him anywhere else. Kennian is a bleak, corrupt city of rain-slick stone, stinking slums, and skeletal trees – just the sort of place you’d find a bloodthirsty spirit wielding a cursed whip.

What genre does your book fall under?

I think you’d call it fantasy mystery, since it takes place in a fictional world.

Which actors would you choose to play your characters in a movie version?

I don’t usually think of specific actors when I write, but in this case, I think French actor would be perfect as Lenoir. Physically, he’s a good match, and he’s got just the right amount of grit – hard, but not tough-guy, kick-your-ass hard. Plus, he has an understated, intense acting style that would work very well for Lenoir. He can look bored, sour, and thoughtful all at once, and that’s pretty much Lenoir’s default expression.

What is the one-sentence synopsis of the book?

“It’s been a long time since Inspector Nicolas Lenoir took much interest in his work, but when his young protégé goes missing, Lenoir will have to do more than just solve the case – he’ll have to walk willingly into the arms of his own doom.”

Is the dash cheating?

Will your book be self-published or represented by an agency?

It will be published by Roc, released on December 3, 2013. My literary agency, JABberwocky, gets all the credit for the sale. Props!

How long did it take you to write the first draft of your manuscript?

Now that’s a complicated question. I started to write it in 2008, but then I ended up in the Congo (as one does), and I put the project on hold. It gathered dust for a while, but I fired it up again in late 2010. All told, I reckon it took about four months, spread out over four years. If that makes sense.

What other books would you compare this story to within your genre?

As a reader, I’ve taken my fantasy and mystery in separate doses until now, so I haven’t actually explored this sub-genre much. I think the closest thing I’m familiar with is the Crispin Guest series, from fellow JABberwockian Jeri Westerson.

Who or what inspired you to write this book?

I guess I just decided to write the sort of book I’d like to read, and I hadn’t yet found anything that fit the niche. I wanted a 1920s-style hardboiled detective in an industrial fantasy setting, and I just haven’t seen it. If you have, point me there immediately!

What else about your book might pique the interest of readers?

The book has quite a bit of African flavour, which I don’t think we get a lot of in fantasy fiction. Braeland, the country in which the story is set, is a crossroads between two worlds: a European-style, industrial revolution-era society to the south, and a pastoral, clan-based system to the north. Without giving too much away, a lot of the conflict in the story is actually driven by the awkward overlap between these two cultures.

And now, some recommendations:

Erik Scott de Bie has been writing for Wizards of the Coast since 2004. His latest novel, Shadowsbane, chronicles the continuing adventures of Kalen Dren.

Ed Gentry is the author of Neversfall, from the Forgotten Realms Citadels series. His short story, “Freedom’s Promise”, was one of my favourite contributions to the Realms of the Dragons II anthology. I can’t wait to hear what Ed’s got in the pipeline.

Kameron M. Franklin has published several works of short fiction. His debut novel, Maiden of Pain, was released by Wizards of the Coast in 2005. Looking forward to hearing what Kameron’s working on these days!