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S.M. Boyce Interview 12/15/2012 10:28:31 PM
Paranormal & urban fantasy author S.M. Boyce discusses The Grimoire Trilogy and the writing life! LTS: For today’s feature, I’d like to introduce you to the lovely and talented fantasy author, S.M. Boyce! I’d like to begin by having you share a little information about yourself with our readers, Ms. Boyce. What do you enjoy doing when you are not writing?
SMB: Thank you for having me! What an amazing introduction. You’ve made me blush.
As for my extracurriculars…I’ve actually become addicted to wire wrapping jewelry. I know! It came out of nowhere, but now I wrap pendants whenever I watch TV. If you want to see some of the ones I’ve made, you can check them out here. So far, they’re all inspired by my debut series—the Grimoire Trilogy. I really live and breathe my books. [laughs]
LTS: Very nice! As for your stories, has writing always been a part of your life and becoming a published author a lifelong dream?
SMB: Yes, I’m one of those authors who has always held a pen. I just love to daydream, and writing about the stories in my head seems natural. My first story was about a sad little pickle…it was odd. My novels have since improved.
LTS: Your first two novels of The Grimoire Trilogy have been receiving great reviews. What was the inspiration behind these stories and can you tell us a little bit about your protagonist, Kara?
SMB: The Grimoire Trilogy is one of those sparks of inspiration that snowballed into something epic. For those who haven’t read the trilogy yet, the protagonist Kara lives in our world but falls into Ourea—a beautiful world full of terrifying things. Ourea is so complex that I borrow much of the politics, culture, and even landscapes from our own world. The underwater city, floating castle, and soul-stealing creatures called isen were, admittedly, fabrications.
Kara is a stubborn, feisty thing who really grows up through the course of the book. She’s a vessel for me to learn about growth, grief, understanding others, and love. Through everything, she manages to laugh or find a silver lining—and I admire that.
LTS: Without giving away too much, can you reveal what’s in store for the readers when they crack open Lichgates, Book One of The Grimoire Trilogy?
SMB: You’re in for a whirlwind of incredible new creatures, magic, betrayal, death, friendship, and love. The Grimoire Trilogy is a paranormal romance with a bit of romance and a lot of adventure—and it gets bigger with every book. Read Lichgates through to the end—you’ll be hooked.
LTS: Becoming a published author is truly a difficult road to travel, so I’m always pleased when a fellow writer lands a book deal. Can you share that moment when you sold your story to Immortal Ink Publishing?
SMB: It was much easier than I thought it would be. They came to me and asked me to join the team. I know that’s not really what happens, normally, so I’m outside the lines of normalcy.
LTS: What is the most important lesson you’ve learned on the road to publication?
SMB: Really, there are two: Have thick skin and hire an editor.
We must have thick skin, which means we’re able to take criticism on our work (whether given kindly or otherwise). Criticism is hard to take, but it’s a necessary part of our lives as authors. Even when you think your book is perfect, someone else will think it’s crap. That’s okay. You don’t have to agree with them.
It’s also important to get an editor because we are too close to our work to understand its weak points. An editor can point out your weaknesses as a writer and find gaps in the storyline/character motivation/etc. Then, they can help you fix it.
LTS: Now, on the subject of writing styles, are you a plotter or pantser? The readers would like to know if you tend to plot out your story line in great detail or if your writing is more organic with the characters and events unfolding as you write.
SMB: I am such a plotter. I plot out every chapter, sometimes down to dialogue. It helps me paint the picture and add foreshadowing—I dropped tidbits in Lichgates (#1) that don’t come to fruition until Heritage (#3).
In an effort to paint Ourea fully, I’m also going to write a few novels about key side characters. That means I also added details into the primary trilogy that reference these side stories.
LTS: Some authors meditate, others need to fuel up on coffee or listen to music. Do you have any rituals, ones that can be shared with the readers, that you must do before you hunker down for a writing session?
SMB: Haha—yes. Every series I write has a “theme song.” It gets me into that particular series’ voice and lets me zone. It sets the mood, and I can take over from there.
For The Grimoire Trilogy, the theme song is Unstoppable by E.S. Posthumus. Just take a listen—isn’t it amazing?
LTS: At one time or another, most writers hit the wall and their work stalls because of the dreaded writer’s block. What do you do to get around or over this mental wall to resume writing?
SMB: I like to get up and go for a walk. I let my mind wander and relax, and the light exercise is good for your brain, too. Eventually, my mind wanders back to the problem at hand—and usually finds a solution.
LTS: I find that some of my best ideas come when I go for a walk, too. So, who is your favourite author and how has he/she inspired you to write or influenced your writing style or choice of genre?
SMB: It’s a tie, actually, between Neil Gaiman and Tolkien. Tolkien shaped my love of epic fantasy, and Gaiman helped me better understand horror and urban fantasy. The blend of genres comes to a head in my work, which has a little bit of everything.
LTS: What do you foresee in your future over the next five years and do you hope to branch out into other genres? And your fans want to know, will Heritage, Book Three of The Grimoire Trilogy be released in the near future?
SMB: The next 5 years are going to be busy—my goal is to release at least ten books. I certainly have enough ideas and a strong network to help me do that.
To start, Heritage (#3) is due in the fall of 2013. I’m hard at work on it, promise, and I’m making great progress. I think you’ll be pleased with this finale. You can add Heritage to your Goodreads TBR list or sign up for the ARC if you like to review books.
I’m also going to release the first book in a secret new series—to give you a hint, it will be an urban fantasy fairy tale. In short, it’ll be awesome. I am SO excited. If you want to get the details on when this releases, you can follow my blog or sign up to get notifications for ARCs when they become available.
As I mentioned before, I’ll also be releasing novels with the full stories of major side characters in the Grimoire Trilogy. So far, the biggest votes have been for Stone, the First Vagabond (Cedric), and Deidre. If you want to know about someone else, be sure to let me know either through Twitter or my blog.
And lastly (I’m a busy girl), I actually will be expanding genres even beyond paranormal fantasy and urban fantasy! I’m developing two paranormal horror series that will be available not long after I finish the Grimoire Trilogy. Stay tuned to updates by following my blog.
LTS: Thank you so much for taking the time to share in your novels and your writing experiences! I’ll catch you on Twitter!
Thanks for having me! You all are amazing. Stay awesome!
Check below for more information about S.M. Boyce and her novels.
Connect with Boyce
Website | Blog | Advice for Writers
Facebook | Twitter | Google + | Pinterest | Youtube
Goodreads Page | Amazon Page
Where to Buy Boyce’s Books:
Lichgates (Grimoire Trilogy #1)
Treason (Grimoire Trilogy #2)
