{Interview} Kaitlyn Deann author of The Witches’ Sleep

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fantasy, indie author, interview, kaitlyn deann, The witches sleep, world of the beasts, ya, young author

So today I’m interviewing the lovely Kaitlyn Deann, author of The Witches’ Sleep (Available at Amazon) and World of the Beasts (Coming 2013!)

First off, can you sum up The Witches’ Sleep in a tweet, 140 characters or less? (I’m mean, I know! =)
I CAN’T!!! D:
Haha, okay, here I go. *Inhale, exhale*
Ella’s killed and wakes up on a different planet as a new person. She learns that this place encourages slavery. Can she change this world?

Where did you get the idea for The Witches’ Sleep? What story/experience/event do you think inspired you the most?
The idea for The Witches’ Sleep was inspired by the movie Inception, when the main character said, “When we die, we’ll wake up.” That is how it all started. The thing that inspired me the most for writing The Witches’ Sleep would have to be the “events” I’ve read about that happened to slaves.

What is your favorite thing about Ella (your heroine)? Least favorite? How about Sea-Anna, the heroine of your second book?
My favorite thing about Ella/Sunlight (yeah, she has two names in the book) is her chutzpah. I guess my least favorite thing about her would be that she can be a bit dramatic in her head. With Sea-Anna, the main character of my second book, my favorite thing is her personality. My least favorite thing about her is her personality. Yeah, I don’t get it either.

In the event Ella escaped from her book, do you think that you and she would be BFFs, mortal enemies, or frenemies?
We’d be friends. Maybe best friends. Maybe.

If you could trade places with Ella, would you? Why?
Uh, that’s okay. I like my life, and I’m sure Ella likes hers. Thanks anyway.

Can you give us a hint of what to expect in the upcoming sequel to The Witches’ Sleep—World of the Beasts?
I can give you the summary of it!
Sea-Anna and Tuck have been weretiger slaves to the witches for over twenty years. But now, because their master happens to be the leader’s worst enemy, they have been sold to the beasts behind their master’s back. Sea-Anna and Tuck are separated, bought by two different beasts. Sea-Anna, who dreads the beasts more than anything, promises herself to stay strong, but not for herself, not to save her own life. She has to protect her secrets. But will she buckle under the pressure Aphalie, the world of the beasts, shoves at her? Or will she overcome the trials and become the weretiger she was always meant to be?

So far, what is your favorite part of being a published writer?
I love when people email me, tweet me, write me telling me how much they enjoyed my book, and telling me their favorite parts. I love interacting with people, encourage them in their dreams too, you know?

And now a few questions just for fun…

Your weapon of choice in the zombie apocalypse?
22. Yep.

You have three wishes and five seconds to choose. Go!
1) No more poverty
2) No one feeling insecure about their image or personality
3) Less bullying–of all kinds

King Arthur or Sir Lancelot?
King Arthur

What’s a question you’ve always wanted to be asked in an interview? What’s your answer?
I’ve always wanted to be asked, “Kaitlyn, is writing your only dream?”
My answer would be, “No. In fact, I have a few dreams that top being a writer, and will always come before it. 1) I want to be a wife and spoil my husband one day. 2) I want to be a stay-at-home mom. 3) I want to homeschool my kids.”

Where can we find you online?
Website
Blog
Facebook
Twitter
Tumblr
YouTube

Blog Hop: The Next Big Thing

Tags

blog hop, fantasy, indies, myrmidon, the next big thing, writer, writing, ya

Much thanks to Kaitlyn Deann for tagging me to be a part of this blog hop! How it works: An author answers a set of questions about their current work-in-progress and posts it on their blog along with the names and links to the blogs of 4-5 authors they’re tagging. Then, the following Wednesday, those authors post their answers to the questions along with the 4-5 authors they are tagging and so on.

So without further ado, here’s a few tidbits about my current WIP!

What is the working title of your next book?

The title of my current work-in-progress is “Myrmidon.” (mur-MIH-don) And I am inordinately proud of that one.

Where did the idea come from for the book?

I had this image of a brother and sister—both outlaws and warriors—secretly following a bad guy through shady streets and realizing that their little sister is involved with him. This raised questions such as: Who were the brother and sister? Why were they outlaws? Who was this “bad guy”?

Things kind of got out of hand from there.

What genre does your book fall under?

Young Adult Fantasy! And that’s the best genre ever, in my not-so-humble opinion. Just saying…

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

Well, the main character, Saire, is a redhead and I can’t think of any redheads in Hollywood right now who would fit the part. Then again, make up can fix just about anything and I haven’t seen Abigail Breslin lately. I know she’s got the ability to act the part. Hmm…

There is one character who will be appearing later in the series who was inspired by Brad Pitt’s portrayal of Achilles, but I don’t think he would be right to play this character so…I’d leave casting to the producers (or my mother).

Unless they tried casting Justin Bieber as the love interest or something like that. Then I would go ballistic. (Sorry, Justin.)

What is the one-sentence-synopsis of your book?

A girl supernaturally gifted as a warrior must choose between the twin brother with whom her mind is linked and the Empire she has sworn to serve.

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

No idea—aren’t mysteries exciting…?

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

Well, I technically still haven’t written the first draft, but I’m hoping to finally complete it by the end of January/mid-February. Nonetheless, I’ve been working on Myrmidon on and off for…I don’t know how long…quite possibly years.

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

I would say there are definitely some Throne of Glass influences. (I love that series to bits, in case you didn’t know.) But unlike most fantasy books, which take place in a medieval setting, this one is based on the Ancient World. And I haven’t read many books like that, so I don’t know which ones to compare it to.

Who or what inspired you to write this book?

I’m working on the series now because I’ve had Saire’s story bouncing around in my skull for awhile and decided it was finally time to do something about it. But one source of inspiration for me was the movie Troy that I saw a year or two ago. It is very weird that I like Troy because it’s not fantasy, not young adult, and completely lacks a fairytale ending. But in spite of the several scenes which I fast-forward (prudish little Christian girl here), it has a lot about family loyalty, awesome fight scenes, and the romances aren’t too nauseating (okay, so I don’t mind the occasional romance). The movie also got me to research the “real” stories in mythology and that provided a plethora of imagination-fuel.

What else about your book might pique the reader’s interest?

In this series, I mix historical facts about the Roman Empire and juicy bits from Greek mythology into a story of friendship, family, betrayal, loyalty, and greed for a thrilling fantasy story!

~~~

Check out these awesome folks next week to see their answers to these questions about their current WIP!

Priya Kanaparti Cameron Jace Kay Rogal Elizabeth A. Reeves

Blog Hop: The Next Big Thing

Tags

blog hop, fantasy, indies, myrmidon, the next big thing, writer, writing, ya

Much thanks to Kaitlyn Deann for tagging me to be a part of this blog hop! How it works: An author answers a set of questions about their current work-in-progress and posts it on their blog along with the names and links to the blogs of 4-5 authors they’re tagging. Then, the following Wednesday, those authors post their answers to the questions along with the 4-5 authors they are tagging and so on.

So without further ado, here’s a few tidbits about my current WIP!

What is the working title of your next book?

The title of my current work-in-progress is “Myrmidon.” (mur-MIH-don) And I am inordinately proud of that one.

Where did the idea come from for the book?

I had this image of a brother and sister—both outlaws and warriors—secretly following a bad guy through shady streets and realizing that their little sister is involved with him. This raised questions such as: Who were the brother and sister? Why were they outlaws? Who was this “bad guy”?

Things kind of got out of hand from there.

What genre does your book fall under?

Young Adult Fantasy! And that’s the best genre ever, in my not-so-humble opinion. Just saying…

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

Well, the main character, Saire, is a redhead and I can’t think of any redheads in Hollywood right now who would fit the part. Then again, make up can fix just about anything and I haven’t seen Abigail Breslin lately. I know she’s got the ability to act the part. Hmm…

There is one character who will be appearing later in the series who was inspired by Brad Pitt’s portrayal of Achilles, but I don’t think he would be right to play this character so…I’d leave casting to the producers (or my mother).

Unless they tried casting Justin Bieber as the love interest or something like that. Then I would go ballistic. (Sorry, Justin.)

What is the one-sentence-synopsis of your book?

A girl supernaturally gifted as a warrior must choose between the twin brother with whom her mind is linked and the Empire she has sworn to serve.

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

No idea—aren’t mysteries exciting…?

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

Well, I technically still haven’t written the first draft, but I’m hoping to finally complete it by the end of January/mid-February. Nonetheless, I’ve been working on Myrmidon on and off for…I don’t know how long…quite possibly years.

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

I would say there are definitely some Throne of Glass influences. (I love that series to bits, in case you didn’t know.) But unlike most fantasy books, which take place in a medieval setting, this one is based on the Ancient World. And I haven’t read many books like that, so I don’t know which ones to compare it to.

Who or what inspired you to write this book?

I’m working on the series now because I’ve had Saire’s story bouncing around in my skull for awhile and decided it was finally time to do something about it. But one source of inspiration for me was the movie Troy that I saw a year or two ago. It is very weird that I like Troy because it’s not fantasy, not young adult, and completely lacks a fairytale ending. But in spite of the several scenes which I fast-forward (prudish little Christian girl here), it has a lot about family loyalty, awesome fight scenes, and the romances aren’t too nauseating (okay, so I don’t mind the occasional romance). The movie also got me to research the “real” stories in mythology and that provided a plethora of imagination-fuel.

What else about your book might pique the reader’s interest?

In this series, I mix historical facts about the Roman Empire and juicy bits from Greek mythology into a story of friendship, family, betrayal, loyalty, and greed for a thrilling fantasy story!

~~~

Check out these awesome folks next week to see their answers to these questions about their current WIP!

Priya Kanaparti Cameron Jace Kay Rogal Elizabeth A. Reeves