Showing posts with label author interviews. Show all posts
Showing posts with label author interviews. Show all posts

Friday, January 19, 2018

Author Interview/Giveaway!! Boneseeker, by Brynn Chapman



Welcome to the Boneseeker Blog Tour,
sponsored by
Prism Book Tours!!

For my stop, I'm featuring an interview with the author, Brynn Chapman!
There's also a tour-wide giveaway!!




Boneseeker
(The Boneseeker Chronicles, Book 1)
Brynn Chapman
Digital Edition, 213 pages
The Wild Rose Press, Inc.
January 10, 2018
Trade Paperback, 286 pages
January 10, 2018
Fantasy, Historical Fiction, Romance, 
Suspense, Young Adult Fiction


https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/37904206-boneseeker





Aspiring scientist Arabella Holmes doesn't fit the role of a 1900s lady. Her father, Sherlock, landed her a position at the Mütter Museum to pursue her dream of becoming a purveyor of abnormal science, or what her father calls a "Boneseeker."

Henry Watson’s two-fold mission at the Mütter Museum is to join their team of forensic anthropologists in unearthing unusual antiquities and to watch over Arabella. If only he could get her to speak to him, instead of hurling knives in his general direction. Assigned to a most secret expedition to investigate a mysterious skeletal hand discovered in upstate New York, Arabella and Henry are soon caught in a scientific debate, and the search for the truth may have deadly consequences for those involved.

Are the bones from a Neanderthal? Or are they living proof of fallen angels known as Nephilim?

Watson and Holmes must put aside their differences, trust their instincts, and rely on one another to survive to uncover the truth.

*This is a new version of a previously published edition.




An Interview with Brynn Chapman


Welcome to A Night's Dream of Books, Brynn!

Maria: If you have a favorite Sherlock Holmes story, which one is it? 

Brynn: "The Adventure of the Creeping Man".

Maria: What type of research did you have to do for this novel?

I do a copious amount of research for every novel. For BONESEEKER, I expanded my library and study of Forensic Anthropology books ( I do have an anthropology minor), and also made a study of historical non-fiction resources on murders and relevant science beliefs, and societies of the time period. The science of phrenology, for instance, was very much alive and en vogue in 1910.
 
Here is the definition:

phre·nol·o·gy

(frĭ-nŏl′ə-jē)

n.

The study of the shape and protuberances of the skull, based on the now discredited belief that they reveal characterand mental capacity.



While on holiday last week, I visited one of my favorite vintage shops. The owners travel to Europe and obtain many of their artifacts. Here is a picture of a bust with Phrenology’s beliefs cast over the skull. The words are difficult to read, but each ridge and protuberance along a person’s skull was said to represent personality traits. The one along the longest ridge in the second picture reads, "destructiveness".





Maria: If you could meet Sherlock Holmes in person, what question(s) would you ask him?

Brynn: What was your greatest regret?

Maria: Do you think an AI computer could ever match Holmes's brilliant deductive and observational skills? 

Brynn: Um, yes. I have just begun studying the science of AI and am fascinated and terrified. Holmes was compared to “Babbage's adding machine” of course. LOL.

Maria: In your opinion, what's the difference between plotting a mystery novel, as opposed to other genres? 

Brynn: Well, BONESEEKER is not a mystery per se, because it doesn’t follow the mystery formula. I would say it falls closer to historical thriller with a large dollop of romance.

Maria: How did Holmes prepare Arabella for her future scientific work, and did he also train her in sleuthing skills?

Brynn: I want you to picture Sherlock Holmes, any Holmes from historical canon to Cumberbatch—and picture him with a child.

Fortunately, Arabella inherited the Holmesian propensity for science. So from the time she was small—Holmes made science part of her daily life and routine. It was Watson who constantly intervened, trying to provide Arabella with a more normal childhood.

When Holmes insisted she learn the periodic table of the elements, it was Watson who suggested she be permitted to skip rope, to the reciting of the elements. As she grew, so did the difficulty of the lessons. The bone obsession developed on its own, with no help from Sherlock Holmes.

Maria: Thanks for visiting, Brynn! I can't wait to read your book!

Brynn: My pleasure ! Thanks for having me, and I'm glad you want to read my book! 
 


Praise for Boneseeker

Winner of the New Jersey Romance Writers Golden Leaf Contest

"Creative, meticulously researched, and terrific fun!"  
Grace Burrowes, NY Times  
Best Selling Author

"The characters, the setting, the descriptions and 
the mysteries and relationships all work together seamlessly to create a truly wonderful 
story that I completely adored." 
Best Books Ever Blog

"The settings are intriguing and the way they are described make you feel as if you are immersed in the story. I could feel the gloom and damp. That is rare in so many books! Boneseeker is a book I highly recommend, and I give it 5 stars!" 
Christy's Cozy Corners Blog



Purchase Links

Print/Digital Editions
Amazon US/Amazon UK/Amazon CA
The Wild Rose Press

Digital Edition
Barnes & Noble






GIVEAWAY #1: To enter to win a Boneseeker audiobook and the pictured charm necklace ("And though she be but little, she is fierce." - Shakespeare), send a copy of your Kindle purchase of Boneseeker to publicity.brynnchapman@gmail.com. US only.

GIVEAWAY #2: To enter to win a Boneseeker ebook and a $10 Amazon Gift Card, enter via the Rafflecopter below. Open internationally. Ends January 24th.






Born and raised in western Pennsylvania, Brynn Chapman is the daughter of two teachers. Her writing reflects her passions: science, history and love—not necessarily in that order. In real life, the geek gene runs strong in her family, as does the Asperger’s syndrome. Her writing reflects her experience as a pediatric therapist and her interactions with society’s downtrodden. In fiction, she’s a strong believer in underdogs and happily-ever-afters. If her ancestry tree is true, she is a descendant of the House of Stuart.

She also writes under the pseudonym
R.R. Smythe.


Website/Goodreads/Facebook
Twitter/Pinterest



To access the complete tour schedule, just click on the button below!


http://prismbooktours.blogspot.com/2018/01/were-launching-book-tour-for-boneseeker.html






Friday, August 7, 2015

Interview: Sara L. Daigle, Author of Alawahea



Welcome to this stop in the 
Alawahea Blog Tour,
sponsored by
Reading Addiction Virtual 
Book Tours!


For my stop, I'm featuring an 
interview with
author Sara L. Daigle!



Alawahea
(The Azellian Affairs, Book 1)
Sara L. Daigle
Trade Paperback, 478 pages
Merry Dissonance Press
July 15, 2015
Romance, Science Fiction


https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/26052246-alawahea





Tamara Carrington always felt different. One event in high school left her wondering if maybe she really was a freak, although she'd managed to leave that experience in the past-buried deep within her psyche.

With the arrival of exchange students from the planet of Azelle to her college, Tamara's long-buried memories threaten to erupt. As Tamara's emotions build and her friendship with the Azellians grows, so does the knowledge of secrets within her own family.

With the deterioration of her mother's health, Tamara doesn't know where to turn for answers or solace. What has her family been hiding? Why does she feel inexplicably drawn to the Azellians? What will happen if she unleashes her long-suppressed passion? Will she survive or even recognize herself afterwards?





Author Interview

Maria: What is your background as a writer?

Sara: I have been writing for years, since I was eight. I have a few creative writing classes and tutoring sessions by English teachers to my name, but most of my experience has been in reading lots and writing for my own amusement and that of my friends.

Maria: Who are your favorite SF writers?

Sara: I tend toward urban fantasy/fantasy more than pure science fiction now. Recent authors I love: Robin McKinley, Karen Chance, Kim Harrison, Keri Arthur, Diana Gabaldon, and Patricia Briggs. I started out with the old classics (which I still love and will re-read over and over: Anne McCaffrey, Marion Zimmer Bradley, Julian May, Katherine Kurtz, Andre Norton, Alan Dean Foster, J.R.R. Tolkien, and David Eddings. Those classic authors really influenced my writing style and interests during my developmental phase, when I was in my teens.

Maria: Have any of your life experiences influenced the plot of Alawahea? If so, in what way?

Sara: Not directly, in that I've never met aliens in college (that I know of), but there are quite a few pieces of Tamara's internal journey that definitely resonate in my own life. My journey to increased confidence, my discovering my own inner strength, and my awakening awareness of a larger perspective within me has definitely been the same as what Tamara has gone through.

Maria: What qualities does Tamara possess that make it easy for readers to relate to her?

Sara: She is very much like all of us: a woman just learning about who she is, and what she can do. She's finding the connection to herself, and although she might not be all that far along yet (she's got a few more adventures in store for her), she's well on her way. It's a very powerful lesson we all learn as the years go on, particularly for women.

Maria: Do you think we will someday encounter beings from other planets?

Sara: Why not? It's difficult to believe that we are the only sentient beings in an infinite universe. It's just a matter of time before we find another species. After all, there are several good candidates for sentience here on Earth (dolphins, whales, elephants, even other great apes). Why wouldn't there be on other planets?

Maria: In your opinion, what's the bet thing (or what are the best things) a writer can do to ensure that readers will love his/her book?

Sara: Let its (and your) heart shine through. People may or may not like your book, but when you have birthed it in love, it will carry that resonance to those who are ready to read it. And if you love and support yourself, the opinion of others doesn't matter.

Maria: What attracted you to science fiction?

Sara: It's always felt natural to me. I love astronomy, and even as a child, worlds like Saturn's moon Titan fascinated m. I would imagine what kind of life we could find there, and write stories about it. That morphed into writing about other planets in other solar systems very easily. Now, I find the science fiction/fantasy environment is like home to me. I have a much harder time writing a story without a sci-fi premise than I do with one.

Maria: When and where do you find it most comfortable to write?

Sara: Any place that I'm comfortable and relaxed will do. Most frequently, it's my home office, and sometimes the couch in the living room. Anywhere there is music is a great place to write. Music helps me focus and block out distractions.

Maria: What attracts you most about a novel you're reading -- the prose style, plot, setting, characters, or all of these elements at the same time?

Sara: All of them are very important, but I am most attracted to characters and prose style. Inconsistent characters will turn me off immediately, as will a prose style that jerks me out of the story. Plot and setting are gravy if you have strong characters who carry the story, and an easily flowing prose style.

Maria: What are you currently working on?

Sara: Book number two of the Azellian Affairs. It's going to formal editing process in October, and I'm getting a jump start on my side of the editing process now. I have a couple more projects in the initial stages, but most of my concentration is going toward getting Book 2 out in the next year.



Interviewer's Note 
 I'd like to thank Ms. Deigle for a
    fascinating and very informative interview!       



Purchase Links



 Sara L. Daigle has been creating stories since she first forayed into the world of writing at the age of eight. As an avid reader, growing up in a small town without much access to a library, and before the birth of the Internet, Sara devoured her mother's extensive stack of science fiction and romance novels to keep her literary thirst quenched. Soon afterwards, she began writing her own stories and entertaining her friends by composing plays for them to act out. A passionate interest in astronomy, anthropology, and linguistics, coupled with this early background in science fiction and romance, led Sara to merge the two fields and create a series of interlinked stories built around a fictional planet's culture and its interaction with ours.

Sara currently lives in Denver, Colorado with her husband and three very loving but energetic dogs.

Website/Facebook/Goodreads
Novel Facebook
Twitter/Novel Twitter



To access the complete tour schedule, 
just click on the button below!


http://www.readingaddictionvbt.com/2015/07/tour-kick-off-alawahea-by-saraldaigle.html








Monday, September 15, 2014

BlogTour/Author Interview: Cade, by V.A. Dold





Welcome to this stop in the 
Cade Blog Tour,
sponsored by







V.A. Dold


Maria: You've been known as a book promoter and marketer for a long time. What prompted you to become a writer? Or did you always want to be one?

V.A.: My writing is a complete accident. I had a book in my head and no one else wanted to write it. After goofing around writing it I found, after 10,000 words, I could write it myself.

Maria: The title of this book series is "The Le Beau Brothers". "Le Beau" means "The Handsome", or "The Beautiful", in French. In what ways are Cade and Simon  uniquely beautiful?

V.A.: Wow, didn't know that! Lol. Both are extremely handsome, but they are also beautiful in their souls. Cade is very protective and supportive of his mate, while Simon is very sensitive and understanding.

Maria: Is the novel Cade set in New Orleans? If so, how did this setting contribute to the story?

V.A.: Both Cade, the first novel, and Simon, the second one, are set in New Orleans and the Bayou. If you visit the French Quarter, you can actually visit the locations, and order the exact food in the novels.

Maria: Are wolves your favorite shapeshifter animals? If so, why?

V.A.: YES!! No idea why; I just love them!

Maria: What unique challenges do you feel are part of writing for the paranormal romance genre?

V.A.: The most important challenge is keeping your world's rules standard across each book written. I love the freedom to create any rules I want in my paranormal world.

Maria: What advice would you give to aspiring writers who want to transition to writing full-time?

V.A.: Attend a few writing-heavy conventions in order to learn your craft.

Maria: Which writers inspire you?

V.A.: Oh, my gosh, there are so many! To name a few: J.R. Ward, Christine Feehan, Sherrilyn Kenyon,  Quinn Loftis, Donna Michaels, and on and on, lol.

Maria: What's your favorite way of plotting a book?

V.A.: Very loosely. I go in knowing the beginning and end; the rest writes itself as I go along.

Maria: Do you have a set writing routine, or do you prefer to write when inspiration strikes?

V.A.: I write as inspiration hits. I can't write on command.

Maria: What project(s) are you planning or currently working on? I hope more Le Beau Brothers books are coming!!

V.A.: There will be at least 12 Le Beau books, perhaps more (wink). I will also have a contemporary cowboy series spinoff of Lucas, Book 5 of the Le Beau Series, set in Texas.

Thank you for having me! Happy reading!

Maria: You're very welcome! Thanks for visiting A Night's Dream of Books to discuss your writing!    



Friday, June 27, 2014

Blog Tour: Interview/Giveaway!! Rough Trails and Shallow Graves, by Hays & McFall




Please join me in  welcoming 
Clark Hays and Kathleen McFall, authors of
Rough Trails and Shallow Graves,
to
A Night's Dream of Books!!

This tour is sponsored by
Bewitching Book Tours!!





Interview

Maria: I will be addressing most of my questions to both of you, and maybe a couple to each of you individually. Of course, feel free to jump in and add details to each other's answers, if you like.

Now, how did you two first meet? Did you both know each was a writer at the time?

C & K: We met in an eco-vegetarian, perfume-free restaurant in Portland, Oregon. Kathleen had just moved to Portland with her (then) 3-year-old daughter. Clark had also just moved to Portland from Montana. Clark was the sous-chef, Kathleen was a waitress. While the attraction was instant and electric, we were both married (to different people) at the time, so we bonded  over poetry and chocolate mousse, short stories, Hungarian mushroom soup, book reviews, and rosemary chicken. We ate together during breaks and became friends. Kathleen was just getting her writing legs at that point, and Clark helped her along by sharing his work. According to Kathleen, Clark inspired her to take writing more seriously. According to Clark, Kathleen was already a better writer, and she inspired him to become a better writer. Romantically, we "took the high road", but that spark smoldered for several years until our circumstances changed.

Maria: What prompted you to start writing novels together?

C & K: When we finally unraveled our lives enough to fall in love, it was intense, overwhelming, and shattering. So much so, we couldn't stand the fire, and after six months, we broke up in a way that traumatized us both. A year passed with not a word spoken between us, and then a single postcard Kathleen sent to Clark when she was traveling in France got it going again: "Stephanie and I wish you were here. The French love cowboys. You would fit in really well. Love, Kathleen." Clark was waiting on her porch when she got back to Portland. And so we decided to test our love by writing a book together.

Maria: Kathleen, in what ways is your writing style different from Clark's?

Kathleen: I am more serious, and have a literary, experimental bent. My writing gods are the Russian masters, and I need my words to have an undercurrent of philosophical significance. I'm not very funny; well, at least not intentionally.

Maria: Clark, in what ways is your own writing style different from Kathleen's?

Clark: I am definitely more into humor and action and entertainment value. I draw from graphic novels, everything Louis L'Amour wrote, and early occult and metaphysical fiction. I think it's safe to say I aspire to write with literary intent, like Kathleen.

Maria: Could you give us some idea as to what your characters are up to in Rough Trails and Shallow Graves?

C & K: Tucker and Lizzie are grappling with the realities of sustaining a romantic relationship after life starts getting....complicated. Plus there are vampire politics, mercenary armies, and twisted scientific experiments.

Maria: In what ways would you say Tucker and Lizzie complement and balance each other?

C & K: Tucker and Lizzie are from vastly different worlds -- New York City versus tiny LonePine, human versus vampire, cerebral versus physical -- and they have a complicated but complementary yin-yang relationship. We like to think that they reflect the best part about our own relationship: matching neuroses. His insecurities are smoothed out by her strengths, and vice versa. Their rough edges fit together, and they make each other better in the process.

Maria: Are you planning to write more novels in this series?

C & K: Yes! We are working on book four of The Cowboy and the Vampire Collection. We've promised our readers that we will quickly resolve the "issue" that occurs between Tucker and Lizzie at the end of book three. Right now, we are seeking out a name for a new evil female character. Any ideas from your blog readers would be much appreciated.

Maria: Some PNR/UF readers say that the vampire romance is pretty much washed up, that there's nothing new you can write in this genre. I happen to disagree -- especially since you guys have come up with this unique combination of a cowboy and a vampire! Why do you think these readers are saying this, and what would you tell them?

C & K: Vampires are never going to die because they are undead, of course, and also because, as an archetype, they are able to contain and amplify the themes, fears, and cultural currents we project onto them -- sex, mortality, decadence, evil, death. We (Kathleen and Clark) joke that they are "literary tofu", soaking up whatever flavors authors choose to marinate them in; in our series, we use vampires to focus on politics, animal rights, human consciousness, and more. The market may be saturated, but that's only with one spectrum of vampires. There's always new territory to explore.

Maria: Do each of you have different techniques you use in writing dynamic, fascinating plots? If so, what are they, and how do you combine them?

C & K: We are meticulous plotters. Before we start a book, we sketch out the big strokes -- the conflict, the themes, the resolution -- usually on loud, argumentative walks in Forest Park. Once we get all that ironed out and start speaking to each other again, we plot out the specific chapters, also on boisterous walks (other hikers must hate to see us coming), then we sit down, open up our computers, and promptly toss it all out the window and dive in. We know where we want each chapter to start and end, and we trust each other, and our characters, enough to know we're going to make something magical in the process. Then comes the long, arduous task of editing and making hard choices about the direction of various plot twists. At least that arguing is usually confined to indoors.

Maria: What books and writers do each of you most admire, and why?

C & K: For Kathleen, it's Anna Karenina, by Leo Tolstoy. For Clark, it's Guns, Germs, and Steel, by Jared Diamond. There's an unexpected connection there. Check out Jared Diamond to discover it.

Maria: What do you think makes readers who enjoy PNR/UF romances different from those who don't?

C & K: We are dreamers who are never satisfied with the constraints of reality. Readers in the PNR/UF genre want/demand/require a world that is richer, bigger, more complex and more mysterious than the world we live in. We're not satisfied with ordinary, and that makes us dreamers powered by imagination.

Maria: When and where do each of you find it most comfortable to write? Any differences?

C & K: We both work in communications, and we both have worked as freelancers, so we are able to turn it on just about anywhere, as long as there is a deadline involved (and we are very good about self-imposed deadlines). In a perfect world, the most comfortable place to write, for Kathleen, would be in a big bay window overlooking the ocean on the Oregon coast, in the fall, with a fire in the fireplace and a glass of wine. For Clark, it would be in a cabin overlooking a mountain lake with a winter storm sweeping in, and a fire in the fireplace. And a glass of whiskey.

Maria: What project(s) are you currently working on? Will you continue to collaborate, as well as perhaps start writing books individually?

C & K: We are starting book four in The Cowboy and the Vampire Collection, and we are excited to kick off a new mystery/thriller series set in Portland. As for individual projects, we always have stuff cooking, but we will always collaborate on  everything. At this point, we so completely rely on the other person to provide edits, feedback, and guidance, even a grocery list is practically a collaboration!                    



Interviewer's Note

 I'd like to thank Clark Hays
and Kathleen McFall
for a most informative and
entertaining interview!



Thursday, May 15, 2014

Blog Tour: Interview/Giveaway!! The Luthier's Apprentice, by Mayra Calvani




Welcome to this stop in the tour for
The Luthier's Apprentice,
sponsored by
Bewitching Book Tours!!




About the Book


 
The Luthier's Apprentice
Mayra Calvani
Kindle Edition, 190 pages
Twilight Times Books, May 15, 2014
Fantasy, Mystery, Paranormal Romance, 
Suspense, Young Adult Fiction


Book Synopsis


Niccolò Paganini (1782-1840), one of the greatest violinists who ever lived and rumored to have made a pact with the devil, has somehow transferred unique powers to another…

When violinists around the world mysteriously vanish, 16-year-old Emma Braun takes notice. But when her beloved violin teacher disappears… Emma takes charge. With Sherlock Holmes fanatic, not to mention gorgeous Corey Fletcher, Emma discovers a parallel world ruled by an ex-violinist turned evil sorceress who wants to rule the music world on her own terms.

But why are only men violinists captured and not women? What is the connection between Emma’s family, the sorceress, and the infamous Niccolò Paganini?

Emma must unravel the mystery in order to save her teacher from the fatal destiny that awaits him.

And undo the curse that torments her family—before evil wins and she becomes the next luthier’s apprentice…









An Interview with Mayra Calvani




Maria: Your novel has a very beautiful and very original plot. Do you have a background in classical music, especially for the violin?

Mayra: Thank you for your kind words, Maria! I studied/played the violin for 5 years, and my daughter has been playing it for 8 years, so violin music has been a big part of my life for a long time. There's something darkly mysterious about the violin, and I'm in awe of soloists who have the skill to master it. The making of the violin itself is fascinating to me as well. And, of course, I also love listening to violin music whenever I can. Naturally, violin music has been very influential in my writing. I just find it immensely inspiring. Besides The Luthier's Apprentice, I have also written several children's picture books related to the violin. Readers can learn about them here: MayrasSecretBookcase.

Maria: How did you first hear of the time-honored occupation of luthier? Did you have to do any research on their craft techniques?

Mayra: I first learned about this occupation when I became interested in violins and violin music. I was especially fascinated by the beauty of Stradivarius violins and by the fact that some can cost millions of dollars. Yes, I had to do lots of research. I ordered tons of books online, read novels, and watched films related to the violin and violin-making.

Maria: What attracts you most about a novel you're reading -- the prose style, plot, setting, characters, or all of these elements at the same time?

Mayra: Of course all these elements are important and complement each other. But I can forgive a weak plot if the book has beautiful writing and strong characterization.

Maria: What was your development as a writer?

Mayra: I've been writing and creating worlds for most of my life, since I was about 12. In secondary school I wrote stories, as well as plays which were "produced" for the annual Christmas shows. At 16, I wrote a romance novel which was secretly passed around in class. By 18, writing was already a passion, an obsession. I saw myself doing no other thing than becoming an author.

In college, I earned a BA degree in Creative Writing and History. Since then, I've never stopped studying the craft. I take workshops and classes whenever I can, read books on the craft, and attend writing retreats. I have been a member of SCBWI (Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators) and a local critique group for years. Writing is a never-ending learning process.

Maria: Could you tell us about your protagonists, Emma Braun and Corey Fletcher? For instance, how do they complement each other?

Mayra: Emma Braun is 16 years old. The daughter of American expatriates, she's been living in Brussels all of her life, and goes to the European School of Brussels. She lost her dad when she was very young, so she hardly remembers him, but she's pretty close to her mom.  Her life revolves around school, her violin lessons, her best friend Annika, as well as helping her grandfather, a luthier, at his workshop. When her violin teacher, Monsieur Dupriez, disappears, Emma is dreadfully upset, not only because there's a big violin competition coming up and he must train her, but mainly because Emma loves him and sees him as a father figure. She's been his student since she was a little girl. Emma is loyal an has a kind heart, but she's also stubborn and impulsive. Of cours, she loves mysteries, is a big fan of Sherlock Holmes, and is always ready for adventure.

Corey Fletcher, 17, of American and Russian descent, is not only another student of Monsieur Dupriez, but he happens to be Emma's toughest opponent at the upcoming violin competition. And whereas Emma is a big fan of Sherlock Holmes, Corey is a mad fanatic of the detective, often quoting him word for word. He joins Emma in her pursuit of finding Monsieur Dupriez and solving the mystery of the kidnapped violinists. Unbeknown to Emma, however, he has his own hidden agenda.

Emma and Corey have a lot in common. Both love the violin and are skillful players. Both have lost their fathers and are close to their mothers. Both love Sherlock Holmes. Both are keen on finding out what happened to their teacher. 

Also, they keep each other on their toes as far as violin playing goes. Both are ambitious and competitive.

Maria: Do you see the process of writing as analogous to playing a musical instrument? If so, in what way?

Mayra: I think so. In both cases, you need to put in the hours; the more you practice, the better you get at it, the longer you stay away from it, the harder it is to get back on.

There's one difference, though. A person doesn't necessarily have to study creative writing to be "trained" in it in order to be an author. But with violin playing, there's a certain learning process to follow that goes in stages of increasing difficulty. You need to study music theory, notes, techniques, etc.