My thanks to Leslie Soule for stopping by The Character Connection for an author interview during the blog tour for her book, Fallenwood. 
Author Interview1. Who is your favorite character?
About the Book
Fallenwood
Book Details:
Publisher: Decadent Publishing
Published: March 2011
Genre: Fantasy
Format: ebook
Price: $5.99
***
The dragon’s eyes glowed, for a flickering moment, with white light.
“Ash,” the dragon continued, “Welcome to Terra Illumina…or as it is more commonly known, Fallenwood.” Then a fierce roaring laugh erupted from the stone, as though the dragon thought the new name a joke. “A dark, difficult, dangerous path lies before you, Ash Kensington.”
Ash’s heart grew heavy. In truth, she knew that she was destined to some terrible, dark fate. For so long, her life was filled with sadness and doubt, and one horrible thing after another. What else can I hope for?
“But Ash, you must not lose hope. Our world needs you..."
About the Author
Leslie Soule
From my own stories, my favorite character is Greymalkin – he’s a talking cat.
2. Why is he/she your favorite?
Ever since I read Brian Jacques books as a child, I’ve been fascinated with the idea of talking animals who act like humans.
3. How did you come to create him/her?
Well, I went with a friend to a local PetSmart on adoption day for cats, and I was thinking about writing Greymalkin’s character, but didn’t know what I wanted him to look like – then I saw this cat who fit the bill perfectly – a very cute grey cat with white paws and big, expressive yellow eyes. He was playful and intelligent, and made me wonder what he was thinking.
4. When did he/she first enter your mind?
Well, I borrowed the name “Greymalkin” from Old English – it’s an old word for “grey cat." However, Greymalkin shows up in a single line of Macbeth – the witches say, “Come, Greymalkin,” and I thought Greymalkin deserved more of a story than that.
5. Where was he/she given life in the creative process?
That is a great, but difficult question. Greymalkin was given “life” when I gave him a history, I believe. I have noticed that many people nowadays seem to have an antipathy for their own histories or for history in general, or the things of the past. Also, in America, there is the tragic notion that once someone is dead, we forget about them. I don’t know how these ideas came about, or why, because denying one’s individual past is to dishonor the journey that they have taken in life.
6. What do like the most about him/her and what do you dislike the most about him/her?
I like that Greymalkin represents a kind of playful mischievousness. What I dislike about him is that this same mischievousness makes it hard for me to write serious scenes for him. Also, it’s hard keeping in mind that a cat character is interacting with humans and physically interacts differently.
2. Why is he/she your favorite?
Ever since I read Brian Jacques books as a child, I’ve been fascinated with the idea of talking animals who act like humans.
3. How did you come to create him/her?
Well, I went with a friend to a local PetSmart on adoption day for cats, and I was thinking about writing Greymalkin’s character, but didn’t know what I wanted him to look like – then I saw this cat who fit the bill perfectly – a very cute grey cat with white paws and big, expressive yellow eyes. He was playful and intelligent, and made me wonder what he was thinking.
4. When did he/she first enter your mind?Well, I borrowed the name “Greymalkin” from Old English – it’s an old word for “grey cat." However, Greymalkin shows up in a single line of Macbeth – the witches say, “Come, Greymalkin,” and I thought Greymalkin deserved more of a story than that.
5. Where was he/she given life in the creative process?
That is a great, but difficult question. Greymalkin was given “life” when I gave him a history, I believe. I have noticed that many people nowadays seem to have an antipathy for their own histories or for history in general, or the things of the past. Also, in America, there is the tragic notion that once someone is dead, we forget about them. I don’t know how these ideas came about, or why, because denying one’s individual past is to dishonor the journey that they have taken in life.
6. What do like the most about him/her and what do you dislike the most about him/her?
I like that Greymalkin represents a kind of playful mischievousness. What I dislike about him is that this same mischievousness makes it hard for me to write serious scenes for him. Also, it’s hard keeping in mind that a cat character is interacting with humans and physically interacts differently.
About the BookFallenwood
Book Details:
Publisher: Decadent Publishing
Published: March 2011
Genre: Fantasy
Format: ebook
Price: $5.99
Buy Links: Kindle, Smashwords
Blurb:
Fallenwood—a land where magic is the life force, dragons are sages, and wizards good and evil battle for supremacy. When 16-year-old Ash is thrust into the middle of Fallenwood’s power struggles, she is also forced to face her own inner battles. Life on Earth was hard enough on Ash, who is locked in grief for her stepfather. Now, the fate of Fallenwood rests on her shoulders. She must destroy the Great Crystal—the catalyst for all the land’s magic. As the kingdoms prepare for war, Ash must look inside to find the power to save the world, and herself.
Excerpts:
Blurb:
Fallenwood—a land where magic is the life force, dragons are sages, and wizards good and evil battle for supremacy. When 16-year-old Ash is thrust into the middle of Fallenwood’s power struggles, she is also forced to face her own inner battles. Life on Earth was hard enough on Ash, who is locked in grief for her stepfather. Now, the fate of Fallenwood rests on her shoulders. She must destroy the Great Crystal—the catalyst for all the land’s magic. As the kingdoms prepare for war, Ash must look inside to find the power to save the world, and herself.
Excerpts:
Tears blinded her. She couldn’t stop and even the rough winds couldn’t scatter the wild thoughts that swirled in her mind—memories of her stepfather, words that people had said at his service, images of her mother and that stupid grin she wore—all she could do was run. Ashley was deeply wounded but was powerless to heal this kind of pain. She’d looked into the face of evil. Her feet hit the gravel, and the wind whipped at her face as she tried to outrun her anguish. She closed her eyes for a split second, and the wind stilled, and she stopped. Ashley looked around her. It had suddenly become night, and she was now in an unfamiliar part of the woods.
***
The dragon’s eyes glowed, for a flickering moment, with white light.
“Ash,” the dragon continued, “Welcome to Terra Illumina…or as it is more commonly known, Fallenwood.” Then a fierce roaring laugh erupted from the stone, as though the dragon thought the new name a joke. “A dark, difficult, dangerous path lies before you, Ash Kensington.”
Ash’s heart grew heavy. In truth, she knew that she was destined to some terrible, dark fate. For so long, her life was filled with sadness and doubt, and one horrible thing after another. What else can I hope for?
“But Ash, you must not lose hope. Our world needs you..."
About the AuthorLeslie Soule
eBook copies of her paranormal story, "The Devil's Bidding," one at every tour stop to randomly drawn commenters during the tour -- follow the tour dates below and comment; the more you comment, the better your chances of winning.
CHARITABLE DONATIONS:
Fallenwood is the October "Read for the Cure" book from Decadent Publishing. All publisher profits from the sale of Fallenwood in October will be donated to Relay For Life in the company’s efforts to help with the battle against cancer.
Tour Participants:
October 24:
Fallenwood is the October "Read for the Cure" book from Decadent Publishing. All publisher profits from the sale of Fallenwood in October will be donated to Relay For Life in the company’s efforts to help with the battle against cancer.
Tour Participants:
October 24:
Great interview!
ReplyDeleteMorganlafey86(at)aol(dot)com
Thanks, Krysykat! I'll make sure to forward your e-mail address to our review coordinator, and she'll send you a copy of my short story, "The Devil's Bidding"!
ReplyDeleteThanks for commenting!