Virtual Tour
So, I am going to take a short departure from the usual entries of my journal to discuss a new book.
mindyklasky has a new book out, technically today. It is titled Sorcery and the Single Girl; I found this book in the store last week and already read it. It is awesome and was the first book in a long time that I have read without putting it down. It will certainly make you wish that you lived the fabulas magical life of the heroine, now on to the main part of the entry. Starting with her last book, Girl's Guide to Witchcraft, the author has hosted a virtual tour. Here is my minor contribution to this tour.
1. The levels of detail you put into both Girl's Guide and Sorcery. The part of me that painted my nails galactic grape wants to know if code red nail polish is a real color? If so, how much research do you put into these books and how does this compare to the research process for the Glasswright's Series and Season of Sacrifice?
Code Red is, in fact, a real color; I browsed online for quite some time to find a name that matched the warning signal that Jane seemed to be sending :-) I do a lot of spot research as I'm writing the Glasswright books, seeking out specific names of products, or recipes, or menus. For the Glasswrights series, on the other hand, I did a lot of up-front research, learning about medieval stained glass technique. I could have written the Glasswrights series on a stand-alone computer, but I need Internet connectivity to write the Witchcraft books (or else, I leave a lot of blanks along the way!)
2. (Alright, I had some issues wording this one to prevent spoilers for others, as I have no fear of them - Due to finals, I wikipediaed the plot to Deathly Hallows- Opps? I THINK THAT YOU AVOID SPOILAGE HERE - I'LL GO AHEAD AND ANSWER! :-) ) So, there is a reoccuring image of the male peafowl in the novel. While many may have overlooked some of the earlier occurances of this bird, I tend to key in on its presence as they have been my favorites for as long as I can remember. While some people buy wolves or dragons, I collect peafowl; this laptop I am typing on is peacock-blue (and I didn't know that when I bought it). Okay, long life story latter, why the male peafowl?
The peacock imagery grew as I wrote the novel - originally, I had a single reference to peacock blue ink (a color used by my fourth-grade piano teacher!) Later, I found myself folding in other references to the tone of the bird's cry, and then to a specific painting that actually hangs in the National Gallery of Art. I realized that there were thematic links to be drawn. When I started researching the meaning of peafowl in other cultures, I knew that my image was going to stay - and then I went back and strengthened a couple of the earlier references, eith more details.
3. Every time I have read either Girl's Guide or Sorcery it makes me want to pack up my bags and visit DC (or go to grad school there). If I were to make a visit there, what are things that I must do, and what is overrated?
I am a huge fan of the National Gallery of Art - especially the permanent collections in the West Wing. I also love the entire walk along the National Mall - all of those monumental buildings, cheek by jowl. The one museum, though, that I really don't appreciate (and I know I'm in the minority!) is the Air and Space Museum. It's the most visited museum in America, but I send my visitors on their own, these days....
4. I tried to avoid asking about caffienated beverages, but they play such an integral role in the novels. That is definiently not a bad thing. I have snuck a 10 cup coffee pot into the library, so I could have good coffee during the middle of the night. What I would like to see however, is more about Jane's tea habits.The term tea can stand for so many different yummy drinks. Last year, you told me that your mundane caffiene consumption came from tea. Did this characteristic of Jane's personality loosely come from your own habits? And what are you currently drinking (I am allways collecting teas to choose from)?
Jane drinks many flavors that I enjoy - her apricot oolong is a favorite that I once got to enjoy at the Four Seasons (as I was sampling their afternoon tea, to write a scene in GIRL'S GUIDE.) These days, I'm drinking a lot of Republic of Tea teas. I'm partial to their Blackberry Sage and Ginger Peach. (I also love a good lemon-flavored black tea, but they're surprisingly rare among the upscale teas out there.) The one tea that I dislike strongly is almond - either an herbal or a black tea blend. The flavor is just too strong for me!
5. (Because I always love these) What question that hasn't been asked do you feel like answering and what is the answer?
I like to round out interviews with "what's next?" I have already drafted the third Witchcraft book (MAGIC AND THE MODERN GIRL - in stores October 2008!) Next month, I'll start writing an entirely new series about a stage manager who discovers a magic lantern when she's cleaning out the prop closet. She has no way of predicting the strange show in her future, when a genie grants her wishes!
mindyklasky has a new book out, technically today. It is titled Sorcery and the Single Girl; I found this book in the store last week and already read it. It is awesome and was the first book in a long time that I have read without putting it down. It will certainly make you wish that you lived the fabulas magical life of the heroine, now on to the main part of the entry. Starting with her last book, Girl's Guide to Witchcraft, the author has hosted a virtual tour. Here is my minor contribution to this tour.
1. The levels of detail you put into both Girl's Guide and Sorcery. The part of me that painted my nails galactic grape wants to know if code red nail polish is a real color? If so, how much research do you put into these books and how does this compare to the research process for the Glasswright's Series and Season of Sacrifice?
Code Red is, in fact, a real color; I browsed online for quite some time to find a name that matched the warning signal that Jane seemed to be sending :-) I do a lot of spot research as I'm writing the Glasswright books, seeking out specific names of products, or recipes, or menus. For the Glasswrights series, on the other hand, I did a lot of up-front research, learning about medieval stained glass technique. I could have written the Glasswrights series on a stand-alone computer, but I need Internet connectivity to write the Witchcraft books (or else, I leave a lot of blanks along the way!)
2. (Alright, I had some issues wording this one to prevent spoilers for others, as I have no fear of them - Due to finals, I wikipediaed the plot to Deathly Hallows- Opps? I THINK THAT YOU AVOID SPOILAGE HERE - I'LL GO AHEAD AND ANSWER! :-) ) So, there is a reoccuring image of the male peafowl in the novel. While many may have overlooked some of the earlier occurances of this bird, I tend to key in on its presence as they have been my favorites for as long as I can remember. While some people buy wolves or dragons, I collect peafowl; this laptop I am typing on is peacock-blue (and I didn't know that when I bought it). Okay, long life story latter, why the male peafowl?
The peacock imagery grew as I wrote the novel - originally, I had a single reference to peacock blue ink (a color used by my fourth-grade piano teacher!) Later, I found myself folding in other references to the tone of the bird's cry, and then to a specific painting that actually hangs in the National Gallery of Art. I realized that there were thematic links to be drawn. When I started researching the meaning of peafowl in other cultures, I knew that my image was going to stay - and then I went back and strengthened a couple of the earlier references, eith more details.
3. Every time I have read either Girl's Guide or Sorcery it makes me want to pack up my bags and visit DC (or go to grad school there). If I were to make a visit there, what are things that I must do, and what is overrated?
I am a huge fan of the National Gallery of Art - especially the permanent collections in the West Wing. I also love the entire walk along the National Mall - all of those monumental buildings, cheek by jowl. The one museum, though, that I really don't appreciate (and I know I'm in the minority!) is the Air and Space Museum. It's the most visited museum in America, but I send my visitors on their own, these days....
4. I tried to avoid asking about caffienated beverages, but they play such an integral role in the novels. That is definiently not a bad thing. I have snuck a 10 cup coffee pot into the library, so I could have good coffee during the middle of the night. What I would like to see however, is more about Jane's tea habits.The term tea can stand for so many different yummy drinks. Last year, you told me that your mundane caffiene consumption came from tea. Did this characteristic of Jane's personality loosely come from your own habits? And what are you currently drinking (I am allways collecting teas to choose from)?
Jane drinks many flavors that I enjoy - her apricot oolong is a favorite that I once got to enjoy at the Four Seasons (as I was sampling their afternoon tea, to write a scene in GIRL'S GUIDE.) These days, I'm drinking a lot of Republic of Tea teas. I'm partial to their Blackberry Sage and Ginger Peach. (I also love a good lemon-flavored black tea, but they're surprisingly rare among the upscale teas out there.) The one tea that I dislike strongly is almond - either an herbal or a black tea blend. The flavor is just too strong for me!
5. (Because I always love these) What question that hasn't been asked do you feel like answering and what is the answer?
I like to round out interviews with "what's next?" I have already drafted the third Witchcraft book (MAGIC AND THE MODERN GIRL - in stores October 2008!) Next month, I'll start writing an entirely new series about a stage manager who discovers a magic lantern when she's cleaning out the prop closet. She has no way of predicting the strange show in her future, when a genie grants her wishes!