My special author guest today is Marie Powell and we’re chatting about her new young adult medieval fantasy, Water Sight, Book 2 of the Last of the Gifted series.
Bio:
Marie Powell’s adventures in castle-hopping across North Wales to explore her family roots has resulted in her award-winning historical fantasy series Last of the Gifted: Spirit Sight and Water Sight (participation made possible through Creative Saskatchewan’s Book Publishing Production Grant Program). Marie is the author of more than 40 children’s books with such publishers as Scholastic Education and Amicus, along with award-winning short stories and poetry appearing in such literary magazines as Room, subTerrain, and Sunlight Press. Among other degrees, she holds a Master of Fine Arts (MFA) in Creative Writing from UBC. Marie lives on Treaty 4 land in Regina, Saskatchewan.
Welcome, Marie. Please tell us about your current release.
It’s called Water Sight, Book 2 of the Last of the Gifted series. It’s a medieval fantasy set in 1282 Wales. Catrin is a 15-year-old Welsh noblewoman who can see the future in a drop of water. Her gift may be the only hope in finding three relics for the last Prince of Wales – if she can outwit the English nobleman who wants to use her gift to capture the prince. Her brother Hyw is on the run with the prince and the dwindling Welsh army. He can transform into any bird or animal. But betrayal dogs their heels, and Hyw takes refuge in his gift until it threatens his humanity. With her brother trapped in his magic and her betrothed in a English jail, Catrin faces an impossible choice: save her brother, or save the one she loves.
What inspired you to write this book?
Well, it’s my heritage. My grandfather was Welsh and a Welsh speaker. One year I wanted to get into travel writing, so I rented a sheep farm in north Wales. It was a few miles from Dolwyddelan, a castle built by the last true Welsh princes, so I went to visit it. There was an amazing little waterfall, and a bunch of scattered rocks and ruins, but almost no people around. And way up, way up at the top of a set of crumbling stone stairs, there was a door. So I climbed up and went inside. And there were placards showing the history, and how losing a war in 1282 caused them to lose their language and their way of life. I started thinking about what it would be like to actually live through something like that, and that lead to writing about it. It’s been my “heart” project ever since.
Excerpt from Water Sight:
Chapter 1 – Mist circled the mountain like a massive fist. Squinting upward, Cat could barely make out the legendary giant’s seat near the top of Cadair Idris. The fog surrounded her, obscuring Rhys who climbed behind her, but she drew it around her like a cloak. They needed stealth. Below them, the valley was full of English mercenaries, hunting for Welsh heads. It didn’t matter that only a handful of warriors remained. Women, children, any of them would satisfy the wretched king. …
What exciting story are you working on next?
I’m working on Book 3 in the Last of the Gifted series. Also, I’m working on some short stories about the secondary characters in the series. And I have a few other items on the go, like a more contemporary SF novel that’s totally unrelated. I could use a few extra hours a day!
When did you first consider yourself a writer?
Well, I was a journalist for several years, even before I started getting books published, so I guess I’ve been a writer most of my adult life. But for a long time I didn’t say I was a writer. When I introduced myself, I said my day-job, whether that was library programmer or teacher or whatever. Then one day I heard a much younger friend of mine introduce herself as a writer, and by the next year, she had a book published. Lesson learned! So, now, I say I’m a writer. And after 40-some published books, I’m starting to believe it.
Do you write full-time? If so, what’s your work day like? If not, what do you do other than write and how do you find time to write?
I was a single parent, so I’ve always had a day job, or two or three. But I try to write for at least 15-20 hours a week. Sometimes that’s split up into a few minutes in the morning, in the afternoon, in the evening, and, you know, when I wake up at 3 am and can’t sleep. My routine isn’t very regular, but I’m a bit of a compulsive writer. I find writing a little every day is better for me than leaving it and hoping that someday I’ll have time to concentrate. I love stat holidays and taking a week or so off to focus on writing, and I definitely binge-write then. But I find I have to write at least a little every day, or I get depressed and unhappy.
What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?
I write a lot by hand and I always carry a notebook and pen or pencil with me. When my kids were young I used to write a bit in the car while I was waiting to pick them up from school or other activities. I still do that sometimes, whenever I have to wait somewhere.
As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
A paleontologist or a scientist. But I started writing when I was quite young, so writer was always high on the list too.
Anything additional you want to share with the readers?
Stay well, enjoy reading, and be kind to each other. We’re all in this together.
Links:
Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Booklinks
Water Sight is available in print and ebook on:
Amazon CA | Amazon US | Amazon series | Kobo | Goodreads | Barnes and Noble | Chapters/Indigo
Thanks for being here today, Marie!
Thanks so much for featuring me and Water Sight on your blog today!