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Sunday, March 13, 2011

Author Interview & Contest with Carrie Vaughn

This month my author guests all have a story in the anthology 'Those Who Fight Monsters'. From all of the stories in the book there was one that really stood out for me. Carrie Vaughn's "Defining Shadows" was my favourite story (shhh don't tell the other authors) in the collection and I couldn't resist asking the writer to be a guest here again on Amberkatze's Book Blog.

I love Carrie's books and her Kitty series is one of my favourite must buy and must reads. I hope you enjoy the interview about her short story in Those Who Fight Monsters, what Kitty is up to and what else Carrie is up to writing wise.

Oh and Carrie is giving away a book! Make sure you enter the contest for your chance to win!

-----------------------

Amber - Welcome to Amberkatze's Book Blog! It is great to have you here as a guest! You have a short story inside the new anthology Those Who Fight Monsters. Can you tell us a little about it?

Carrie - Thanks for inviting me! "Defining Shadows" is about one of the secondary characters from my Kitty series, Detective Jessi Hardin, investigating a very strange case. She's called in when half a body -- a set of legs, essentially -- is discovered standing upright. She guesses that this isn't an ordinary case, but the answers she eventually finds are even more bizarre than she anticipated.

Amber - So how did you pick what to write for the anthology? Was it hard coming up with something or was the story all ready filed away ready for something like this?

Carrie - I've been wanting to write a story about Detective Hardin working on a case for a long time, so this -- an anthology about detectives and the supernatural -- was the perfect opportunity. I've also been wanting to write about the manananggal, the Filipino creature at the center of the crime, ever since I heard about them from a Filipina friend of mine. So I put both ideas together.

Amber - When you write a short story does the publisher set you limits or do you just write and hope the piece is long/short enough?

Carrie - The anthology guidelines usually have limits. Some anthologies want shorter stories, some will let me write longer stories. I try to pick an idea that will fit within those limits before I even start writing.

Amber - How do anthologies really work? Do you the authors get together and have a chat and a few drinks? Discuss your story ideas? Or is it all emails and no contact with anyone else?

Carrie - In almost every case there's an editor (Justin Gustainis in this case) who comes up with the theme of the anthology, or has a group of writers that he or she wants to work with. The editor will bring the idea to a publisher and recruit writers. The writers rarely have contact with each other -- it's all done through the editor. Usually the editor is looking for a good variety of stories, that still fit within a theme (although a theme can be as loose as "Year's Best Science Fiction"), so the authors involved don't really need to work with each other. It's up to the editor to decide that the stories all fit and are the best they can be. (One exception is a shared-world anthology, like the work I do on Wild Cards. In those cases, the stories are interconnected, so the writers have to work with each other to get the facts and characters straight.)

Amber - Have you read all the stories in Those Who Fight Monsters? Did you have any favourites?

Carrie - I haven't read any of them yet! (except my own, of course) That's tough thing about being in an anthology like this -- I've seen the table of contents, I know the other authors involved, but I won't see the finished product until I get my own author copy. I'll be reading it for the first time along with everyone else!

Amber - I really like the story and it was quite possibly my favourite in the book. Will the story turn into a series?

Carrie - I don't know that it will turn into a series about Detective Hardin, but she's definitely an ongoing character in the series and I'll definitely be writing more about her. In fact, if you liked this story you'll want to check out my novella, "Long Time Waiting," in Kitty's Greatest Hits, coming out in August this year. There's some overlap between
the two stories.

Amber - You have a few books due out this year. Give us the low down tell us all about them!

Carrie - Steel is my young adult novel about time travel, swordfighting, and pirates, due out in March. After the Golden Age is my superhero novel -- about the daughter of the city's greatest heroes, who works as an accountant -- due out in April. The next Kitty novel, Kitty's Big Trouble, will be out in June. Kitty has adventures in San Francisco's Chinatown.
Kitty's Greatest Hits, a collection of many of the short stories I've written about Kitty and her world, will be out in August.

Amber - I am still hoping for a sequel to Voices of Dragons. Will there be one?

Carrie - I hope so! Unfortunately, it's not on the schedule just yet, so I may have to wait a little while before I get to it.

Amber - How is Kitty doing? Is she getting old and tired yet or will we be seeing a lot more of her in the future? Are you working on any other projects?

Carrie - Kitty's not done yet. The ninth novel will be out this summer, and I've just finished the tenth. I have at least a couple more planned after that. I'm always working on other projects -- I like writing adventure-oriented young adult books and I have more like that planned. I always have more ideas than I can possibly work on at once, so I'm keeping busy.

Amber - What made you want to be a writer? Were there any books or authors that had an influence on you?

Carrie - I always loved reading, and I always wrote down things -- I was a great daydreamer, and was always spinning stories in my mind. By the time I got to high school I realized I could really do this as a career, and since I wasn't any good at sports or music, writing was the one thing I could do. So I went for it. Ray Bradbury and Robin McKinley were great influences.
Bradbury for his use of language, for teaching me that words matter; and McKinley for her amazing characters who I wanted to be friends with. I wanted to be able to do that.

Amber - Is there any genre you have not tried writing that you would like to?

Carrie - Space opera/planetary science fiction. It's a genre I love reading, and I've written a few short stories in it, but I would love to write a novel in that genre.

Amber - Could you write a book together with another author? If yes, which author would you like to work with and why?

Carrie - I'm not sure I could. I know lots of other people who've collaborated, and I'd love to try it if it's an author I like, and we had a really good idea. But I'm also kind of a control freak, so it might be tough. On the other hand, I've written for the Wild Cards series, which are shared-world books so there I'm often working with several other writers to make sure our stories fit together. But my pieces for those are usually shorter than novel length.

Amber - What other paranormal creatures would you want to write about besides the ones you've already written about? Is there any you just don't like, and would never use in your books?

Carrie - There are so many…I haven't done much with the creatures of Greek mythology -- sphinxes, Cyclopes, sirens, hydras and the like, and I think I would like to. I'm really not fond of the shambling brain eating type zombies that seem to be all the craze right now.

Amber - What are you listening, reading and watching lately? Any recommendations?

Carrie - I've been reading a lot of non-fiction for research. Right now I'm reading a book on women pilots in World War II in Britain, called Spitfire Women. I've also been reading MLN Hanover's urban fantasy series -- it's good. The most recent book is Vicious Grace.

Amber - If you could visit any famous person, alive or dead, who would you visit? and why?

Carrie - Queen Elizabeth (the first) is who I usually list for these. She as amazing, centuries ahead of her time. The things she did -- rule on her own, turn England into a world power -- should have been impossible, but she did it.

Amber - Thank you so much for popping by! I hope you come visit again soon!








------------------

Contest Time

Carrie has a new YA novel out this week called Steel and she has a copy to give away! Thanks Carrie!

How To Enter

What are you reading and what do you want to be reading?


No answer = No Entry


Earn more entries for each link you place about this contest on the net. You can post on Facebook, Twitter & MySpace but make sure you add links here for me to confirm your entries! However please do not make individual postings for each entry. Please post all your entries in one post.

Advertise Amberkatze's Book Blog on your site and get an extra entry for this and every other contest!


Amberkatze's Book Blog


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.

Make sure you post your links here so I can confirm your entries.

Keep the contests going by using the Bookdepository.com and Amazon.com links/Banners below and around the site!


The Book Depository



The contest will stay open until Sunday 20th of March 2011 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.



*****



Who are Those Who Fight Monsters?

Danny Hendrickson - from Laura Anne Gilman's Cosa Nostradamus series.
Kate Connor - from Julie Kenner’s Demon Hunting Soccer Mom series.
John Taylor - from Simon R. Green’s Nightside series.
Jill Kismet - from Lilith Saintcrow’s Jill Kismet series.
Jessi Hardin - from Carrie Vaughn’s Kitty Norville series.
Quincey Morris - from Justin Gustainis’ Morris/Chastain Investigations series.
Marla Mason - from T. A. Pratt's Marla Mason series.
Tony Foster - from Tanya Huff’s Smoke and Shadows series.
Dawn Madison - from Chris Marie Green’s Vampire Babylon series.
Pete Caldecott - from Caitlin Kittredge’s Black London series.
Tony Giodone - from C. T. Adams and Cathy Clamp’s Tales of the Sazi series.
Jezebel - from Jackie Kessler’s Hell on Earth series.
Piers Knight - from C. J. Henderson’s Brooklyn Knight series.
Cassiel - from Rachel Caine’s Outcast Season series.


****

64 comments:

Unknown said...

the book I'm reading now is waking nightmare. But I would love to be reading Steel. Not just because Carrie wrote it, but I love time travel, and hey pirates are awesome. So I really can't wait.
posted on facebook.

Anonymous said...

I'm reading The Betrayal of Maggie Blair.

I would love to win this book. I am such a Carrie Vaughn fan!

I tweeted the contest.
http://twitter.com/#!/MartiniReading/status/47014563174035456

readingwithmartinis@gmail.com

Monica-Marie Vincent said...

The book I'm reading is Alice Loweecy's Force of Habit what I would like to be reading is either Steel or Paranormalcy. *SIGH*

Read Between the Lines said...

Right now i'm reading "Daemon's Mark" by Caitlin Kittredge and can't wait for for new Kitty Norville Novel to come out.

Joseph Morgan Ives said...

Soul Stealers by Andy Remic

angel_of_flesh[at]hotmail[dot]com

Stephanie said...

I'm reading Pale Demon by Kim Harrison.

Skk25@aol.com

Sniffly Kitty said...

I'm reading Fall of Hyperion by Dan Simmons right now, and I want to read Royal Treatment by Lindsey Levitt next ^.^

snifflykitty@gmail.com

StacyUFI said...

I am currently reading Sparks by Laura Bickle and I want an ARC so I can read magic Slays by Illona Andrews

emmad said...

Currently reading River Marked by Patricia Briggs.

Would like to be reading (not that I'm not enoying this as it is brillant), Tangled Threads by Jennifer Estep which isn't due out till May!

debbie said...

I am reading fallen rogue and I would like to read full dark, no stars by stephen king.
twoofakind12@yahoo.com

Ina said...

I don't read a book at the moment, but I can't wait to start Dangerous Highlander by Donna Grant...

thanks for a great post today - I would love to read your newest book!
greetings, Ina

inale87 at gmx dot at

Barbara E. said...

I'm reading The Lady Most Likely... by Julia Quinn, Eloisa James & Connie Brockway. I'd like to be reading Tangled Threads by Jennifer Estep, since I just finished reading Venom.

YzhaBella's BookShelf said...

I'm currently ready Silver Borne by Patricia Brigs and wan to read River Marked next!

I've not yet have to privilege of reading any of Carrie's works, but thank you for the chance to start!

Shared on facebook: http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/YzhaBellas.BookShelf/posts/184326974944122

Added giveaway to blog sidebar @ http://yzhabellasbookshelf.blogspot.com/

Thanks!
Kate

Magaly Guerrero said...

I'm reading Reaper by Rachel Vincent and I really, really wish to be reading "Retribution" by Sherrilyn Kenyon, which won't be out until August *sigh*

magalyguerrero AT live DOT com

donnas said...

I am currently reading Love You More by Lisa Gardner. And what I would love to read next is Those Who Fight Monsters.

Tweet - http://twitter.com/#!/DonnaS1/status/47131277027065856

bacchus76 at myself dot com

Ashley said...

I just barely finished reading Blue by Lou Aronica, and I want to be reading a fairy tale. Not sure which one, but that's what I'm wanting now. :)

basicallyamazingbooks [at] gmail.com

Beverly said...

I am currently reading Phantom Evil by Heather Graham. I guess I can't say I would rather be reading anything else. I am enjoying the story. I would however love the opportunity to read Steel!
Thanks for hosting. Please enter me.
Happy reading.
bevsharp@desch.org

Vivien said...

I'm currently reading Darkness Becomes Her.
I want to be reading The Dark and Hollow Places.

Vivien
deadtossedwaves at gmail dot com

Andra Lyn said...

Right now I am reading so many things...Uglies, Dracula,American Psycho, and Hard Times for school...

For my reading pleasure I've been re-reading the Bloody Jack Series.And I really want to be reading the new Kim Harrison/Rachel Morgan Book....Pale Demon :D

tweeted
http://twitter.com/#!/hense1kk/status/47230997045055488

hense1kk AT cmich DOT edu

TheGirlOnFire said...

I am currently reading The Demon Trappers Daughter.
I want to be reading Entwined.

Stephanie-thegirlonfire
thegirlonfire27 at gmail dot com

Mardel said...

I am currently reading The Iron Witch - since I'm going to be finished with this very soon...within hours...I would like to then be reading any Carrie Vaughn book. A Kitty Norville book, or Steel or Those Who Fight Monsters. :)

Unknown said...

I am reading Sinful. I would love to read Clarity. Please enter me in contest. I would love to read this book also. Tore923@aol.com

SandyG265 said...

I'm currently reading Casting Spells by barbara Bretton. I'd like to be reading The Floating Islands.

sgiden at verizon.net

Daelith said...

I'm reading Master of Dragons currently and that's what I want to be reading right now.

cheleooc at yahoo dot com

Julie S said...

Steel sounds like a really good book!
I'm currently reading Room for one book club, but I want to be reading the next book in my paranormal book club which is Replacements.

juliecookies(at)gmail.com

Audra said...

I am reading PACK OF LIES by Laura Anne Gilman- I would like to read PALE DEMON by Kim Harrison
audie@wickerness.com

Persephone said...

I am reading Darkfever by Moning. Which is okay.

I am planning on reading more of the Kitty series (coincidence) and the October Daye series over spring break.

patronus89013 at yahoo dot com

Linda said...

I'm reading a romance by Courtney Milan - Proof by Seduction & I'm planning to read Pati Nagle's The Betrayal next.

Dovile said...

I'm currently reading James Clavell's Gai-Jin. It's about 19th century Japan, and it's one of the longest books I've ever read. I wish there were more book about this era Japan.
After it, I'll be reading the next book in this series, King Rat.

spamscape [at] gmail [dot] com

Victoria said...

I'm currently reading Rachel Vincent's FEARLESS. I want to be reading Larissa Ione's ETERNAL HUNTER but it's not out yet :).

Tweeted: http://twitter.com/#!/Jovial_1/status/47334172397809664

vsloboda(at)gmail(dot)com

Alicia said...

I'm currently reading Nightshade, but want to be reading Would-Be-Witch. But I have to finish one before I start another or I get too confused.

aliciacald(at)gmail(dot)com

I tweeted about the contest here http://twitter.com/#!/aliciacald

Anonymous said...

I'm currently reading The Infinite Plan by Isabel Allende & The Werewolf Upstairs by Ashlyn Chase. I'd like to be reading later Pale Demon by Kim Harrison and Taken by Lilith Saintcrow

I'd love to win this book, I love Carrie Vaughn. Discord's Apple has been one of my favourite reads ever.

faefever25@hotmail.com

tweeted here: http://twitter.com/Parakiss25

Aurian said...

I am currently reading Jude Deveraux - The Mulberry Tree, an old book but I am liking it so far. Next one I hope will be Kim Harrison - Pale Demon.

I haven't read anything by Carry Vaughn yet, though some of her books are gathering dust on my shelves. I promise to remedy that soon!

I am a follower and a subscriber.

Taylor Z said...

I'm reading Leif's Surrender right now.

Taylor Z
Lovemusicgirlx94@aol.com

Pamk said...

I am reading Winter Wishes but I am going to start This side of the Grave or Angel's consort.
scrtsbpal at yahoo dot com

Bookyurt said...

I'm reading Midnight Riot by Ben Aaronovich - hilariously British UF. Next up, I'd like to find a good space opera...

katiealtman(at)hotmail(dot)com

elaing8 said...

I am reading Daemon's Mark by Caitlin Kittredge
and i want to read Pale Demon by Kim Harrison.

Amy said...

I'm currently reading Circus of the Damned by Laurell K. Hamilton. I want to be reading Eternal Rider by Larissa Ione, which comes out later this month.

angeldream3[at]gmail[dot]com

Lisa B. said...

I am currently reading Magic Study by Maria V. Snyder. So far it's great but I'd also love to be reading Steel. The premise sounds so amazing and different for YA.

heatwave16 said...

I'm reading Black Magic Snaction by Kim Harrison. AS for next, who knows, I have so many in the pile to read. I do love Carrie's Kitty series, and just picked up Discord's Apple.

tweeted - http://twitter.com/Heatwave316/status/47461455741730816

heatwave96(at)hotmail.com

Christa said...

Right now, I'm between books (barely! lol). I just finished the first three Iron Fey books & I'm ready to jump into the Soul Screamers series.
Thanks so much for the giveaway! I really enjoy the Kitty series (though I need to catch up again!)

ambience.of.rain {at} gmail.com
Tweeted: http://twitter.com/#!/wordsrollon/status/47647602468061184

Desmond said...

I'm reading Elvenborn by Andre Norton and Mercedes Lackey, and I'd lov to be reading Unseen Academicals by Terry Pratchett, but I don't have it yet.

dwarzel at hotmail.com

Nightly Cafe said...

I'm currently reading The Other Side of Life by Jess Scott. I can't wait to be reading Tiger's Curse by Colleen Houck. The cover for Steel just caught my eye the other day too. I love it :). Thanks for sharing and great interview!

BK

bkwalkerbooks at comcast dot net

The Sunshyn said...

I'm just finishing Kitty Goes to War. My husband turned me onto the series. Gotta love a werewolf named Kitty. :)
chainmail (at) iwon(dot) com

justpeachy36 said...

I usually have a print book, and audio book and an e-book going... So I'm reading, Legacy (historical romance) I Am Number Four (YA) and Hunted by Others (Paranormal)

Please enter me in the giveaway.

justpeachy36@yahoo.com

Lisa Richards/alterlisa said...

I'm reading Spells and want to be reading Wither. Also reading The Fairy Godmother on my ereader.
Love, love, love the Kitty books.


(\___/)
(='.'=)
(")_(")

alterlisa AT yahoo DOT com
http://lisaslovesbooksofcourse.blogspot.com/

Karen said...

Not reading anything right now - just finished the Steig Larson trilogy so I am looking to start something new, but haven't decided on anything yet !!

ktgonyea at gmail.com

Unknown said...

I am currently reading River Marked by Patricia Briggs and soon will start on Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen. I am also pending to finish I am Number Four by Pittcus Lore.

I really cant wait to start reading the new books of my favorite series.. one of them being Kitty's Greatest Hits and Kitty's Big Trouble by Carrie Vaughn. Also cant wait to be reading the newest of Charlaine Harris Sookie Stackhouse series.

Thanks for the contest.

wanda f said...

Currently reading Kater Perry's Tempted By Fate great book.Realy want toread The Werewolf Upstairs by Ashlyn Chase .
flanagan@mebtel.net

Nickolay said...

I am reading Abraham Lincoln Vampire Slayer, and I want to be reading Pride and Prejudice and Zombies

jason(at)allworldautomotive(dot)com

Nicole Zoltack said...

I'm reading From Dead to Worse. I want to be reading The Liar Society.

DANIELA said...

Hi
I'm just started reading "Tall, Dark & Hungry (Argeneau, #4)"
I'd like to read Carrie's books!

Thanks!
Daniela
dany7578 at hotmail dot com

Alicia said...

I'm reading Tempest Rising, but I want to be reading anything by Carrie Vaughn now after reading the interview.

I tweeted about the contest here http://twitter.com/#!/aliciacald

Unknown said...

I'm reading Reckless Bride and I want to be reading Kiss of Snow.
marlenebreakfield(at)yahoo(dot)com

Cindy McCune said...

I'm reading "Accidentally Catty' by dakota cassidy. I can't wait for Racheal Caine's "Bite Club"....

saturdaynightfever said...

I am reading "Olive Kitteridge" by Elizabeth Strout; next up is the latest Iam McEwan.

edgenemmers@gmail.com

Gail said...

I'm currently reading Patricia Briggs, River Marked. As for what to read after that, well I have a TBR pile that is about 100 books high, but honestly I can't wait for JR Ward's newest novel, Lover Unleashed:-} I pre-ordered.

Anonymous said...

Currently I am reading "River Marked" by Patricia Briggs and would like to read "Blood Noir" by Laurell K. Hamilton afterwards.

Breanne said...

I'm currently reading Shadowfae and wish I was reading Pandora Gets Angry

bmweida at yahoo dot com

susansmoaks said...

right now i am between books i want to be reading the hunger games
susansmoaks at gmail dot com

Unknown said...

I am reading Jaclyn's Ghost by Dorlana Vannand I am going to read Passage to Mesenthia by the same author. garrettsambo@aol.com

clynsg said...

I just finished Cryoburn by Bujold, and want to read Land of Painted Caves by Auel next.

cgclynsg0 at gmail dot com

Meredith said...

I am currently not reading anything, but can't wait until spring break to read Shadowfever!

meredithfl at gmail dot com

Rebecca said...

Re-reading Vicarious Language: Gender and Linguistic Modernity in Japan by Miyako Inoue.

Would love to be reading Steel. I really hope I win!

kaleidors at msn dot com.