Spring QN: Cover Reveal & Interview with Susan Kaye Quinn
It’s springtime, and new things are coming up everywhere you look–both in the virtual world and the great outdoors! My new serial novella (or book?) project is starting to come together with a cover reveal for the first installment (and a chance to win ARCs) today, April 2. I’ve also got a great interview for you with author Susan Kaye Quinn, who is debuting her serial short story project titled “The Debt Collector.” So, without further ado…
~ Sunbolt Cover Reveal ~
I am so excited to share the new cover for Book One of the Sunbolt Chronicles, titled, simply, “Sunbolt.” While I’m calling it a book, it does run the line between a novella and a full-length book, coming in at about 40,000 words. So, you know, book-ish. I’m planning the release for early June, so stay tuned!
The Blurb
The winding streets and narrow alleys of Karolene hide many secrets, and Hitomi is one of them. Orphaned at a young age, Hitomi has learned to hide her magical aptitude and who her parents really were. Most of all, she conceals her role in the Shadow League, an underground movement working to bring down the powerful and corrupt Archmage Wilhelm Blackflame.
When the League gets word that Blackflame intends to detain—and execute—a leading political family, Hitomi volunteers to help the family escape. But there are more secrets at play than Hitomi’s, and much worse fates than execution. When Hitomi finds herself captured along with her charges, it will take everything she has to escape with her life.
The Cover
This cover was designed by Jenny Z. of Supernatural Snark. Jenny is a graphic designer by trade and a veteran book blogger; when I saw some of her design work on her blog, I asked her to consider designing the cover for Sunbolt. I love what she’s done!
The Giveaway
This is an international giveaway; the ARCs should be ready by mid-May, so you’ll have something fun to kick off your summer with!
A Quick Note on what a serial is…
A serial is a story that is told over a series of episodes, where each episode not only has its own story but continues to add to an overarching, longer story arc. Serials are pretty old; this is the form Charles Dickens published Great Expectations in (to my everlasting regret. I had to read that three times in high school and college…). It’s a bit like some of your favorite TV series (X-files anyone?), only each book represents a complete season. And, just like a season, while there’s a grand finale, there is definitely not a cliffhanger ending, just a good resting spot for the story to take off from for the next “season.”
~ Interview with Susan Kaye Quinn ~
I’m excited to share an interview with fellow indie author Susan Kaye Quinn. Sue is a young adult author who has just branched out into adult fiction as well. She tends to write science fiction, with a focus on people — what some might term social science fiction. I’ve had the opportunity to read the first installment in her new “Debt Collector” series–it’s a great read, very dark and pretty adult. Next up on my list is finishing her YA “Mindjack” series…
Hi, Sue! Thanks for accepting this interview. Can you tell us all a little about yourself and why you became a writer?
I’m a former rocket scientist/engineer turned writer. I’ve always loved writing, but never thought of it as a “serious” career. When I stayed home with my kids for a few years, I assumed I would go back to engineering once they were in school. But the writing bug bit, and now I’m making a full-time career out of it. No one is more surprised than me. But I fully intend to die at my keyboard (hopefully later rather than sooner)
2. You recently completed a YA trilogy called “Mindjack.” What is it about, and what inspired you to write it?
A single image came to me – a girl, sitting in a classroom full of mindreaders, painfully ostracized because she couldn’t read minds. That image is actually captured in the trailer we eventually made for the series. But that image – and that character – caught hold of me. I couldn’t not write her story. It wasn’t until 20,000 words into the first draft that I realized she was a mindjacker. The series follows the unfolding of her ability, the secret underground mindjacker society hidden within the mindreaders, and what it’s like to be caught in a world that doesn’t understand what you are.
3. What are you working on next, and can you tell us something fun about it?
I had a similar brain spark for my current serial – Debt Collector – the first episode of which released 3/20. It’s a dark and gritty future-noir, where the character is what I call a “good man with a bad power.” He’s the titular “Debt Collector” – someone who sucks the life energy out of people when their debts exceed their future potential contributions to society, then delivers it to someone else who will put that life energy to better use. It’s a chilling premise, and it’s not young adult, like my Mindjack series. It’s much more grown-up, but I’m having a great time writing it. There will be nine episodes in the first season.
4. Where do you write? (If you have a picture, we’d love to see it!)
My boring writing cave:
5. What is one book you wish you could get everyone to read, and why?
Everyone should read Wool by Hugh Howey. Not only is it amazing science fiction that’s beautifully written, Hugh is my hero for all he’s done for indie published authors in paving the way and showing how it’s done.
6. If you could have one superpower, what would you choose?
Invisibility. Because I’m sneaky that way.
7. What’s your typical writing day?
Pack the kids off to school, try desperately to ignore my inbox and FB, and write like mad. Sometimes I escape to a hotel for the weekend to avoid distractions.
8. Hobbies?
Pretending I do more than writing, reading, and momming.
9. Favorite childhood book?
I can barely remember last week. 
I read a lot of “adult” SF as a kid – classics like Heinlein, Bradbury, Asimov.
Cats or Dogs? Cats. Two. They annoy me endlessly.
Skittles or M&Ms? Real candy has chocolate.
Truth or Dare? Truth. I have no shame.
Text or Talk? Text. Do people actually talk anymore?
Night Owl or Early Bird? Grouchy all the time, doesn’t matter when.
Thanks so much for taking the time to answer these questions, Sue!
You can connect with Sue at her website, on Facebook, as well as on twitter. You can also check out all of her books and become a fan via her author page on GoodReads.
Wishing you all a wonderful spring, full of great times and enthralling reads,
Intisar
