Fiction Friday
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Today Suzanne Lazear stopping in to celebrate the upcoming release of her first novel, Innocent Darkness.
Hello, Suzanne!!! Thanks for coming in. Around here we celebrate most things in life with cake and ice cream. My virtual bakery is open so tell me what you'll have.
S: Yum, thanks for the cake. Well, I think everyone knows how much I like cupcakes. ~launches cupcake cannon~ However, I’m partial to chocolate cake and ice cream. Everything is better with chocolate...or bacon. But I’m not certain bacon and chocolate go together.
Tell me a little about your book that comes out in August.
S: Innocent Darkness, which is book 1 of the Aether Chronicles, is what I call “Fairytale Steampunk.” It’s a blend of classic fairytale elements (evil queens, huntsman, bad bargains, wishes), faeries, and of course, Steampunk. My main character, Noli Braddock lives in an alternate version of Los Angeles, one populated by flying cars, hoverboards, and Airpirates. I adore Steampunk and it was fun coming up with things like Noli’s flying car and the alternate history explaining why her version of 1901 is steampunk. I also enjoyed mashing it up with the faery world and creating that mythos as well. My faeries are a little different than you might be used to – my courts are elements not seasons, and the realm subsists on the blood of mortal girls. The book comes out from Flux on 8-8-12.
When you made that first sale, how did you celebrate?
S: When I sold, I was unemployed—like my unemployment was about to run out unemployed. So, when I got “the email” from Flux, offering me a two book deal, I took my daughter to McDonalds after school to celebrate. She had a happy meal and ice cream. I ate her fries. While at McDonalds, I got “the call” from my agent. INNOCENT DARKNESS is my first novel.
Wow! Way to go. On a first novel! So, tell me, are you a plotter or a panster?
S: I’m a puzzler. I often know certain points in the story, but have no idea how I’ll get from point A to point B. Usually, I come up with that as I write, though once in awhile I’ll actually have an outline. I had an outline with INNOCENT DARKNESS, but not with book 2. When I had to turn in my first 3 chapters and a synopsis to my editor, I actually had to sit down write the whole story so I knew how it ended.
I know how that can be a lot of work. When you're ready to take a break from work, what would be your dream vacation spot? Have you been there?
S: I think a nice tropical beach with a hammock, the ocean, and my family sounds really good. But I’d have to have electrical outlets because I’m co-dependent with my laptop.
What’s your favorite thing about being a writer?
S: I love learning new things about my characters. I actually was majorly surprised by a character recently. I was doing a final re-through of the draft of book 2 before I sent it off to my editor and all the sudden I figured something out about a character, one I’d been writing since 2009. Since I, being a writer, think my characters are real, I was actually a little wounded that the character had never told me before. It was such a big thing. But I’ve since forgiven said character. I’m not going to say what or whom, because even though I figured it out, said character doesn’t actually reveal said thing in book 2. (Yes, I’m giving my fictional character privacy, lol).
Can you give me and my readers a hint about what you’re working on for your next book?
S: Well, right now I’m editing book 2, and all I’ll say is “beyond here be airpirates. Argh!” (After all, Noli’s brother is an airpirate, you know we’ll have to meet them eventually).
I love a series, Suzanne and I can't wait to read this one. :D I'll be watching for it! Thanks for being here.
Thank you so much for having me on. Remember, never talk to strange faeries.
Blurb: In a Steampunk version of Los Angeles, Sixteen-year-old Noli Braddock's hoyden ways land her in an abusive reform school far from home. On mid-summer's eve she wishes to be anyplace but that dreadful school. A mysterious man from the Realm of Faerie rescues her and brings her to the Otherworld, only to reveal that she must be sacrificed. If Noli doesn't die, an entire civilization will.
Buy links!
Amazon,
Indie Bound,
The Book Depository,
and Barnes and Noble.
Aether Chronicles series website: http://www.aetherchronicles.com/ author website: www.suzannelazear.com
Hello, Suzanne!!! Thanks for coming in. Around here we celebrate most things in life with cake and ice cream. My virtual bakery is open so tell me what you'll have.
S: Yum, thanks for the cake. Well, I think everyone knows how much I like cupcakes. ~launches cupcake cannon~ However, I’m partial to chocolate cake and ice cream. Everything is better with chocolate...or bacon. But I’m not certain bacon and chocolate go together.
Tell me a little about your book that comes out in August.
S: Innocent Darkness, which is book 1 of the Aether Chronicles, is what I call “Fairytale Steampunk.” It’s a blend of classic fairytale elements (evil queens, huntsman, bad bargains, wishes), faeries, and of course, Steampunk. My main character, Noli Braddock lives in an alternate version of Los Angeles, one populated by flying cars, hoverboards, and Airpirates. I adore Steampunk and it was fun coming up with things like Noli’s flying car and the alternate history explaining why her version of 1901 is steampunk. I also enjoyed mashing it up with the faery world and creating that mythos as well. My faeries are a little different than you might be used to – my courts are elements not seasons, and the realm subsists on the blood of mortal girls. The book comes out from Flux on 8-8-12.
When you made that first sale, how did you celebrate?
S: When I sold, I was unemployed—like my unemployment was about to run out unemployed. So, when I got “the email” from Flux, offering me a two book deal, I took my daughter to McDonalds after school to celebrate. She had a happy meal and ice cream. I ate her fries. While at McDonalds, I got “the call” from my agent. INNOCENT DARKNESS is my first novel.
Wow! Way to go. On a first novel! So, tell me, are you a plotter or a panster?
S: I’m a puzzler. I often know certain points in the story, but have no idea how I’ll get from point A to point B. Usually, I come up with that as I write, though once in awhile I’ll actually have an outline. I had an outline with INNOCENT DARKNESS, but not with book 2. When I had to turn in my first 3 chapters and a synopsis to my editor, I actually had to sit down write the whole story so I knew how it ended.
I know how that can be a lot of work. When you're ready to take a break from work, what would be your dream vacation spot? Have you been there?
S: I think a nice tropical beach with a hammock, the ocean, and my family sounds really good. But I’d have to have electrical outlets because I’m co-dependent with my laptop.
What’s your favorite thing about being a writer?
S: I love learning new things about my characters. I actually was majorly surprised by a character recently. I was doing a final re-through of the draft of book 2 before I sent it off to my editor and all the sudden I figured something out about a character, one I’d been writing since 2009. Since I, being a writer, think my characters are real, I was actually a little wounded that the character had never told me before. It was such a big thing. But I’ve since forgiven said character. I’m not going to say what or whom, because even though I figured it out, said character doesn’t actually reveal said thing in book 2. (Yes, I’m giving my fictional character privacy, lol).
Can you give me and my readers a hint about what you’re working on for your next book?
S: Well, right now I’m editing book 2, and all I’ll say is “beyond here be airpirates. Argh!” (After all, Noli’s brother is an airpirate, you know we’ll have to meet them eventually).
I love a series, Suzanne and I can't wait to read this one. :D I'll be watching for it! Thanks for being here.
Thank you so much for having me on. Remember, never talk to strange faeries.
Buy links!
Amazon,
Indie Bound,
The Book Depository,
and Barnes and Noble.
Aether Chronicles series website: http://www.aetherchronicles.com/ author website: www.suzannelazear.com
