Author Interview & Contest with Maria V. Snyder

Well the title is a little deceiving. So if you want to see what Maria has to say then visit her interview from earlier on this year because this interview is actually with Opal. If you don't know who Opal is then you haven't yet come across the 'Glass' series written by Maria.

The Study series followed Yelena but the Glass series follows glass maker Opal. Her life isn't easy and she doesn't make things easy for herself sometimes. However she is up on my favourite characters list and I am really pleased that she let me ask her a few questions while Maria was busy somewhere else ;)

So enjoy getting to know Opal and make sure you enter the contest for the chance to win one of Maria's amazing books!

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Amber - I would like you all to give a warm welcome to Opal! Thank you for being a guest here on Amberkatze's Book Blog! I know who you are but I am sure alot of my readers have yet to meet you. Maybe you can start things off by introducing yourself?

Opal - Hello! Thank you for inviting me to your book blog! I'm Opal Cowan and I'm a glass magician. My adventures so far have been chronicled in two books, STORM GLASS and SEA GLASS. I'm sure you can tell from those titles that glass is my thing. In fact, I need glass in my hands to work my magic. I can trap magic into glass and those little glass messengers have become vital in Sitia. Magicians can now communicate long distances with my messengers. If you don't want to know what happens is STORM GLASS - don't read the next sentence! I'm currently dating a Stormdancer and he makes my heart feel like it's in a hot season heat wave! I'm also dealing with two other guys who are making my life difficult.

Amber - I would love to have your glass making abilities. You have a very special gift. Did you always want to work with glass? Can you ever see yourself giving up your work?

Opal - Working with glass was a matter of need, not want. I grew up in my family's glass factory and couldn't wait until I was tall enough to gather the molten glass onto a pontil iron. As for giving up my work, recent events have left me rather unsettled and I need some down time to figure out what to do next.

Amber - You recently spent alot of time traveling with Janco. What was that like?

Opal - Janco is a pain in the butt! Traveling with him is like being on a small boat in rough waters. Up and down and up and down and up and down until you're either ready to throw up or can't see straight! But he's also a lovable goof ball. And when we were in danger, his skills saved us many times. (Please don't tell him that or he'll be obnoxious and impossible to live with - of course, I could mention a man named Ox and his whip....).

Amber - Do you miss your family? I know you see your sister Mara but it must be hard to live away from your parents.

Opal - It is hard, but truthfully my mother can drive me crazy. And I need to be out on my own and see where I belong.

Amber - You are friends with Yelena from the Study books. What is she really like? She is the same as in her stories?

Opal - She is really rude and nasty and has to be the center of attention all the time...just kidding! She's exactly the same. Almost perfect, except the whole not being able to light a fire thing, and the run into a situation without thinking thing... and she tends to mother me on occasion. Also she's too nice and political - if I had her powers, I wouldn't listen to Councilor Cloud Mist's lecture on proper mining techniques. Oh no - I'd make that guy fall asleep during his own presentation!

Amber - Is there any juicy gossip you can tell us about the other characters you mention in your books?

Opal - Oh I have a ton of gossip. Leif in the kitchen... and that time Janco disguised himself as a woman and Ari actually... and when Kade met Councilor Krystal... and the story about Yelena and Kiki with her bat... I can't forget Nic and Eve's trip to the dump... Just too many to count! Unfortunately, if I told you more, I would get into trouble. These people know how to fight, and they are armed all the time. Would you risk it? I think not.

Amber - What is next? Do you have any plans for your future?

Opal - Well I don't want to give anything away - Maria says the publisher wouldn't be happy if I did. However, I've been hanging with Valek a lot and I have a pretty important item to acquire. Plus I need to decide on my love life in a major way! And the Council and I need to settle things.

Amber - You played the main role in Storm Glass and Sea Glass. Will you be sharing any more of your adventures with us?

Opal - Yes, I'm currently telling Maria about my latest adventures. She says the book titled, SPY GLASS will be out in September 2010.

Amber - What is it like working with Maria? Do you think she does a good job of writing about your adventures?

Opal - I love her and hate her at the same time! Do you know what I mean? Collaborating with Maria is kind of cathartic. I'll tell her a few details, but she starts asking me all these questions and wants me to describe everything. I mean, come on! When I'm fighting a bad guy, I don't really have time to notice what he's wearing or his eye color for sand's sake! But then I do remember and she digs deep until I'm spilling my guts to her, telling her the horrors I endured. I feel better afterward, but it's tough.

Amber - You have been really busy lately and you must be exhausted! What do you like to do to relax?

Opal - Riding Quartz is always relaxing. And I would love to spend some time on the beach and just lay in the sun without any worries or problems. Maybe dip my feet in the water, go for a stroll.

Amber - Thank you for being a guest on Amberkatze's Book Blog. I hope you will visit us again sometime!

Opal - You're very welcome! I'd love to come back :>



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Contest Time!

I am giving away one of Maria's Books - Your choice! That way you can discover the series from the beginning or get the book you are missing!

So to enter the contest all you have to do is let us know what you are reading at the moment! Feel free to give it a thumbs up or down!

No Book = No entry!

The usual rules apply!

Earn another entry for each place you link this contest on the net. Make sure you add links here for me to confirm your entries!

You can also earn extra entries by emailing your friends about the contest. Just make sure you send a copy of your email or receipt to me at Amberkatzes_book_blog at gmx dot net.

I can offer more prizes if my Amazon Associates account gets more money!! So please make sure you order at Amazon.com through the links around the site and help keep the contest coming!

The contest will stay open until Wednesday 30th of September 2009 4pm CET and the winner will be picked by a randomizer. Entrants should check back to see if they have won. I do not hunt down winners and will pick new winners for any prizes not claimed within 7 days.

If you are claiming a prize, have emailed me and have not heard back before the 7 day limit is up then post a comment here on the blog. Your email may get sucked into my spam filter.