Interview Feature: Dina Sleiman
Dear Imps, I have a fun feature for all of you today! I have the opportunity to introduce an exciting new author of an upcoming medieval YA trilogy, beginning with
Dauntless
. She is here today to answer some questions about her work and she is offering an awesome giveaway for bloggers/reviewers! But more on that to come. In the meanwhile, please meet:
DINA SLEIMAN writes stories of passion and grace. Most of the time you will find this Virginia Beach resident reading, biking, dancing, or hanging out with her husband and three children, preferably at the oceanfront. Since finishing her Professional Writing MA in 1994, she has enjoyed many opportunities to teach literature, writing, and the arts. Her debut novel, Dance of the Dandelion with Whitefire Publishing, won an Honorable Mention in the 2012 Selah Awards. Also look for her novels, Love in Three-Quarter Time, Dance from Deep Within, and her Valiant Hearts series coming with Bethany House Publishers in 2015. Dina serves as an acquisitions editor for WhiteFire Publishing as well, and she loves to teach at writers conferences throughout the US.
INTERVIEW
Welcome to the Tales of Goldstone Wood blog! First of all, would you mind telling us a little about yourself? Hobbies, personality . . . tea or coffee?
Dina: Hi, Anne Elisabeth! I’m so happy to be here. Above all things, I love the arts, and my hobbies include dance, drama, music, and occasionally painting. I also love nature and spending time at the beach or in the mountains: walking, hiking, swimming, and riding bikes. I’m married with three children, ages 20, 17, and 12. My family keeps me active. Personality, wow, I guess I’m introverted but still fun-loving and humorous. I enjoy the company of good friends, but I’m also very content with my own company or spending quiet contemplative time with God. To your last question—both! Coffee in the morning and tea in the afternoon.
What led you into the writing life? Were you always a storyteller?
Dina: I first felt drawn to writing in late elementary school when I got to write a short story about a Venetian alien who came to earth. In high school I loved creative writing, but then I had a very discouraging teacher who scared me away from it for a time. Thank goodness, though, the writing bug never left me. Although it took me a few years to get up the courage to write again, I ended up going to graduate school for writing. As someone who writes in a number of genres, I’ve tended to think of myself more as a word smith than a storyteller. But I’ve really grown as a storyteller in the last few years, and that’s my primary focus now.
Tell us a little about your work! Dauntless is your debut YA novel, am I right? Is this your first venture into publishing?
Dina:Dauntless is my first YA novel, but my fourth published novel. I don’t want to bore you with my long sob story about my journey from writing hard to market books to one that finally caught the eye of a large company. Suffice to say, I’ve been all over the genre gamut looking for my breakout opportunity. Finally, I had the idea to shift my original interest, medieval, to a more action packed, YA type historical romance. That caught the eye of Bethany House Publishing right away. And since you asked about publishing, I should also mention that I am a part-time acquisitions and content editor for a small company, WhiteFire Publishing.
Tell us a little about how this story came about! It’s a medieval adventure novel with a hint of Robin Hood, is that right?
Dina: Yes! Years ago a YA editor suggested that I try writing a medieval romance series along the lines of Melanie Dickerson’s successful novels. But I didn’t have any strong ideas. Finally, after watching the new BBC Robin Hood, I was walking and praying about a YA idea, and the inspiration for my Valiant Hearts series popped into my head. BBC’s version of the story has lots of feisty women. Maid Marian is a thief and crusader for justice in her own right, their Djaq character is a female, and many of the villains are tough women as well. So that is how I came up with my idea to put strong young women in legendary medieval roles. And of course, I started with the Robin Hood story.
Can you pick a favorite character from this novel?
Dina: The fun thing about working with the Robin Hood motif was having a broad cast of colorful “merry men” to work with. Since my Robin Hood type heroine is a teenage girl, I thought it most natural to put her in charge of a group of younger men, women, and children. My favorite is a little two-year-old girl named Wren, who they rescued when the evil King John burnt their village to the ground and killed all the adults. Wren is adorable and funny. She brings out my heroine’s softer side, and she alone sees the “sunshine men,” who add a fanciful twist to the story. As a mother, I’m very fond of this character. She brings back some wonderful memories from when my own children were small.
What inspires your work? Where do you turn when you need a renewal of inspiration?
Dina: I often find inspiration in television and movies, as I did with this series, as well as in other books. Basking in story feeds my creativity. But I also rely heavily on the Holy Spirit for that creative spark. When I need renewal and inspiration, I often spend time in prayer and in worship. I also exercise and spend time in nature. But when I just need to veg and let me mind refresh, Netflix is my best friend. So there you go, my own weird mix of spirituality and pop culture.
What are your favorite and least favorite parts of the writing process?
Dina: My favorite part is that initial creative burst. I can completely get lost in a creative haze, to the point that I warn my family to remind me to do stuff like make dinner, shower, and pick up the kids from activities. I love that state. It’s pure bliss. My least favorite part is when I first receive critiques or edits on my writing. I really have to brace myself for those moments. They always make my writing better in the long run, but because I’m such an intuitive writer, it can be really painful to have to face those areas in my story that need to change. I want to say ridiculous things like, “but that’s not what happened,” or, “the people in my head didn’t do it that way.”
If you were forced to pick a single favorite author, who would it be?
Dina: Just one!?!?! I guess in order to pick just one author, that person would have to capture all the things I love best about literature. And to find that, I’m going to go with the little known Roseanna White. She is a close friend, a critique partner, and also my senior editor at WhiteFire Publishing. Roseanna has it all. Her writing is smart, insightful, funny, romantic, beautiful, exciting, and spiritual. I love everything about her books, although I love her Biblical novels the most. And her books always have happy endings. Other favorite authors who capture many—but not always all—of these elements include James Rubart, Suzanne Collins, Veronica Roth, Steven James, Lisa Samson, Tosca Lee, and Karen Hancock. Those are the writers I read for inspiration.
What are you actively writing right now?
Dina: Right now I’m doing some re-writes on book two in the series, Chivalrous, which is the story of a young lady who longs to be a knight, but her father views her as little more than a marriage pawn. The story pulls from King Arthur legends and turns the Lancelot/Guinevere story upside down. I’m also
Would you share a short snippet from Dauntless?
Dina: Here is the opening of the book.
Excerpt fromDAUNTLESS
I am air.I am wind.I am stealthy like a cat. A wild lynx of the forest.I whisper my chant as I await my prey, crouched in the branches of a tree, one with it, as I must be. My green tunic and hood, my brown leggings, even my stray wisps of hair blend into the forest about me. The rough flaxen sack, the quiver and bow upon my back, add texture and disguise my feminine shape. Only my trembling hands give me away as human, as other. But I must be dauntless to accomplish this task.Again I steel my heart. Steady its beating. Will it to turn hard and sharp like the dagger in my belt. Though I have never thrust it into human flesh, if needed, I think I would. I fancy myself a fearless leader, but my hands—I glance down and rub them together—my trembling hands always give me away. Taking deep, calming breaths of maple scented air, I study the forest across the dirt trail from me, picking out the eyes from leaves, bushes, and branches. My “men” remain well-camouflaged as usual, but if I peer closely enough, I can always find their eyes. Tough eyes, strong eyes, yet with echoes of little boys hidden in their depths, begging me to care for them. To somehow, someway, be the mothers and fathers they have lost, though I am naught but seventeen myself. My men wait as I do, silent and still, ready to pounce. They will back me up, protect me with their lives if needed. But I cannot call upon them to do so. I will do this thing alone. Stealthy like a cat. In and out before they realize. ’Tis always best this way.At a distance, I hear the first creaks and jangles against the rustling of the leaves. I sigh. Soon it will be over. One way or another, until next week, or perhaps tomorrow. I must not think about that now.I have heard tales of a fellow in Sherwood Forest, not so terribly far away. Robyn of the Hode, they call him, with his own band of men, although I imagine his are actual grown men. Oh, a few of mine are large enough. And I’ve trained them like the guards who once protected me…in a stone castle that used to be mine…until it was all taken away. Robyn and I, we have this in common if legend holds true.Yes, I tell myself, I am ready for this.
______________
Thank you for sharing with us today, Dina! Sounds like you've written something exciting which many readers are going to enjoy.
And on that note, dear readers, Dina is offering her giveaway. She is looking for bloggers and reviewers to help launch her new series, so this giveaway is specifically for those among you who have BLOGS and are ready and willing to write REVIEWS! If you can agree to both of those counts, please enter your name below.
And be certain to congratulate Dina on her upcoming release!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
DINA SLEIMAN writes stories of passion and grace. Most of the time you will find this Virginia Beach resident reading, biking, dancing, or hanging out with her husband and three children, preferably at the oceanfront. Since finishing her Professional Writing MA in 1994, she has enjoyed many opportunities to teach literature, writing, and the arts. Her debut novel, Dance of the Dandelion with Whitefire Publishing, won an Honorable Mention in the 2012 Selah Awards. Also look for her novels, Love in Three-Quarter Time, Dance from Deep Within, and her Valiant Hearts series coming with Bethany House Publishers in 2015. Dina serves as an acquisitions editor for WhiteFire Publishing as well, and she loves to teach at writers conferences throughout the US.INTERVIEW
Welcome to the Tales of Goldstone Wood blog! First of all, would you mind telling us a little about yourself? Hobbies, personality . . . tea or coffee?
Dina: Hi, Anne Elisabeth! I’m so happy to be here. Above all things, I love the arts, and my hobbies include dance, drama, music, and occasionally painting. I also love nature and spending time at the beach or in the mountains: walking, hiking, swimming, and riding bikes. I’m married with three children, ages 20, 17, and 12. My family keeps me active. Personality, wow, I guess I’m introverted but still fun-loving and humorous. I enjoy the company of good friends, but I’m also very content with my own company or spending quiet contemplative time with God. To your last question—both! Coffee in the morning and tea in the afternoon.
What led you into the writing life? Were you always a storyteller?
Dina: I first felt drawn to writing in late elementary school when I got to write a short story about a Venetian alien who came to earth. In high school I loved creative writing, but then I had a very discouraging teacher who scared me away from it for a time. Thank goodness, though, the writing bug never left me. Although it took me a few years to get up the courage to write again, I ended up going to graduate school for writing. As someone who writes in a number of genres, I’ve tended to think of myself more as a word smith than a storyteller. But I’ve really grown as a storyteller in the last few years, and that’s my primary focus now.
Tell us a little about your work! Dauntless is your debut YA novel, am I right? Is this your first venture into publishing?
Dina:Dauntless is my first YA novel, but my fourth published novel. I don’t want to bore you with my long sob story about my journey from writing hard to market books to one that finally caught the eye of a large company. Suffice to say, I’ve been all over the genre gamut looking for my breakout opportunity. Finally, I had the idea to shift my original interest, medieval, to a more action packed, YA type historical romance. That caught the eye of Bethany House Publishing right away. And since you asked about publishing, I should also mention that I am a part-time acquisitions and content editor for a small company, WhiteFire Publishing.
Tell us a little about how this story came about! It’s a medieval adventure novel with a hint of Robin Hood, is that right?
Dina: Yes! Years ago a YA editor suggested that I try writing a medieval romance series along the lines of Melanie Dickerson’s successful novels. But I didn’t have any strong ideas. Finally, after watching the new BBC Robin Hood, I was walking and praying about a YA idea, and the inspiration for my Valiant Hearts series popped into my head. BBC’s version of the story has lots of feisty women. Maid Marian is a thief and crusader for justice in her own right, their Djaq character is a female, and many of the villains are tough women as well. So that is how I came up with my idea to put strong young women in legendary medieval roles. And of course, I started with the Robin Hood story.Can you pick a favorite character from this novel?
Dina: The fun thing about working with the Robin Hood motif was having a broad cast of colorful “merry men” to work with. Since my Robin Hood type heroine is a teenage girl, I thought it most natural to put her in charge of a group of younger men, women, and children. My favorite is a little two-year-old girl named Wren, who they rescued when the evil King John burnt their village to the ground and killed all the adults. Wren is adorable and funny. She brings out my heroine’s softer side, and she alone sees the “sunshine men,” who add a fanciful twist to the story. As a mother, I’m very fond of this character. She brings back some wonderful memories from when my own children were small.
What inspires your work? Where do you turn when you need a renewal of inspiration?
Dina: I often find inspiration in television and movies, as I did with this series, as well as in other books. Basking in story feeds my creativity. But I also rely heavily on the Holy Spirit for that creative spark. When I need renewal and inspiration, I often spend time in prayer and in worship. I also exercise and spend time in nature. But when I just need to veg and let me mind refresh, Netflix is my best friend. So there you go, my own weird mix of spirituality and pop culture.
What are your favorite and least favorite parts of the writing process?
Dina: My favorite part is that initial creative burst. I can completely get lost in a creative haze, to the point that I warn my family to remind me to do stuff like make dinner, shower, and pick up the kids from activities. I love that state. It’s pure bliss. My least favorite part is when I first receive critiques or edits on my writing. I really have to brace myself for those moments. They always make my writing better in the long run, but because I’m such an intuitive writer, it can be really painful to have to face those areas in my story that need to change. I want to say ridiculous things like, “but that’s not what happened,” or, “the people in my head didn’t do it that way.”
If you were forced to pick a single favorite author, who would it be?
Dina: Just one!?!?! I guess in order to pick just one author, that person would have to capture all the things I love best about literature. And to find that, I’m going to go with the little known Roseanna White. She is a close friend, a critique partner, and also my senior editor at WhiteFire Publishing. Roseanna has it all. Her writing is smart, insightful, funny, romantic, beautiful, exciting, and spiritual. I love everything about her books, although I love her Biblical novels the most. And her books always have happy endings. Other favorite authors who capture many—but not always all—of these elements include James Rubart, Suzanne Collins, Veronica Roth, Steven James, Lisa Samson, Tosca Lee, and Karen Hancock. Those are the writers I read for inspiration.
What are you actively writing right now?
Dina: Right now I’m doing some re-writes on book two in the series, Chivalrous, which is the story of a young lady who longs to be a knight, but her father views her as little more than a marriage pawn. The story pulls from King Arthur legends and turns the Lancelot/Guinevere story upside down. I’m also
Would you share a short snippet from Dauntless?
Dina: Here is the opening of the book.
Excerpt fromDAUNTLESS
I am air.I am wind.I am stealthy like a cat. A wild lynx of the forest.I whisper my chant as I await my prey, crouched in the branches of a tree, one with it, as I must be. My green tunic and hood, my brown leggings, even my stray wisps of hair blend into the forest about me. The rough flaxen sack, the quiver and bow upon my back, add texture and disguise my feminine shape. Only my trembling hands give me away as human, as other. But I must be dauntless to accomplish this task.Again I steel my heart. Steady its beating. Will it to turn hard and sharp like the dagger in my belt. Though I have never thrust it into human flesh, if needed, I think I would. I fancy myself a fearless leader, but my hands—I glance down and rub them together—my trembling hands always give me away. Taking deep, calming breaths of maple scented air, I study the forest across the dirt trail from me, picking out the eyes from leaves, bushes, and branches. My “men” remain well-camouflaged as usual, but if I peer closely enough, I can always find their eyes. Tough eyes, strong eyes, yet with echoes of little boys hidden in their depths, begging me to care for them. To somehow, someway, be the mothers and fathers they have lost, though I am naught but seventeen myself. My men wait as I do, silent and still, ready to pounce. They will back me up, protect me with their lives if needed. But I cannot call upon them to do so. I will do this thing alone. Stealthy like a cat. In and out before they realize. ’Tis always best this way.At a distance, I hear the first creaks and jangles against the rustling of the leaves. I sigh. Soon it will be over. One way or another, until next week, or perhaps tomorrow. I must not think about that now.I have heard tales of a fellow in Sherwood Forest, not so terribly far away. Robyn of the Hode, they call him, with his own band of men, although I imagine his are actual grown men. Oh, a few of mine are large enough. And I’ve trained them like the guards who once protected me…in a stone castle that used to be mine…until it was all taken away. Robyn and I, we have this in common if legend holds true.Yes, I tell myself, I am ready for this.
______________
Thank you for sharing with us today, Dina! Sounds like you've written something exciting which many readers are going to enjoy.
And on that note, dear readers, Dina is offering her giveaway. She is looking for bloggers and reviewers to help launch her new series, so this giveaway is specifically for those among you who have BLOGS and are ready and willing to write REVIEWS! If you can agree to both of those counts, please enter your name below.
And be certain to congratulate Dina on her upcoming release!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
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