Loading ...Interview and Contest with Author Virginia Kantra
A big welcome to our readers today! Be sure to read to the end of the interview to find out how to WIN the fabulous prizes being offered up. The contest is open to readers worldwide.
NOTE: This is not a fixed time event, the post just goes live at 10:00 am CDT. You can stop by any time during the day or evening and leave your questions and comments. However the CONTEST portion of this event runs through tomorrow and ends at 11:59 pm PDT 5/7/09.
PLEASE KEEP SPOILERS TO A MINIMUM. Not all of the visitors today have read the most recent book in Virginia’s series or even all of the books in the series. Thank you!!
Interview:
Hi Virginia!
Welcome to Bitten by Books, we are excited to have you here today!
I would like to thank you taking the time to join us for the question and answer session with our readers. It has been very interesting to get to know more about you and what makes you tick as a writer! Readers, if you haven’t done so already please stop by and get your copy of Virginia’s AWESOME release book 3 in the Children of the Sea series, Sea Lord.
BBB: What are the most challenging and the most rewarding aspects of writing?
VK: Balancing the character arcs, the romance arc, and the ongoing mythic struggle–especially across several books–is definitely challenging. As a writer, you need to make the story credible on every level. Working out the real life implications of some of the paranormal events is tricky. You never want to do a “so then magic happens and everything is better” resolution. That’s true for the suspense or police procedural aspects as well as the family dynamics.
But I get to play make believe every day. What could be better than that?
BBB: Did you ever think your books would be so popular?
VK: Every time I get a fan letter I am thrilled to bits.
BBB: How long have you been writing? And do you think you will continue with paranormal or move back into contemporary romance?
VK: I’ve been making up stories since before I could hold a pencil correctly. It wasn’t until I joined Romance Writers of America almost fifteen years ago, however, that I began to write seriously for publication.
When I got the idea for Sea Witch, the first book in the series, I originally thought it would be another straightforward contemporary romantic suspense: police chief on a remote island off the coast of Maine discovers a naked woman who’s been attacked on the beach.
Then I thought . . . What if she wasn’t human? And all the fairy tales I’d read as a kid, all the poetry and folklore I’d studied in college, exploded in my head.
I don’t think you can chase trends in this business. It’s like faking an orgasm; maybe you can do it well enough to fool your readers for a while, but is that really all you want out of the experience? I’m going to continue to tell the stories I have to tell. But I love the world of the Children of the Sea books, and I’d like to stay there a while.
BBB: What do you feel are the benefits of the new electronic readers such as Kindle 2
VK: I think disposal is still a problem. But certainly there’s a lot less paper waste.
BBB: What impact do electronic readers create on the bottom line for authors in the end? Do you feel they have a negative impact or positive, or no impact at all that you can see?
VK: I love that a book can be instantly accessible to readers through a download, and I am starting to see e-book royalties show up on my regular statements, which is great. Piracy, of course, is a real issue. It’s too soon to tell if the publishing industry will find ways to adjust to technology the way the music industry did.
BBB: How do you keep track of your world building?
VK: There’s a great quote from E.L. Doctorow that I keep by my computer: “Writing a novel is like driving a car at night. You can see only as far as your headlights, but you can make the whole trip that way.”
My world building is very, very organic, which means I’m constantly being surprised by developments in my own world. I do keep this giant three-ring “series notebook” on my desk for all the maps and place descriptions, character names and pertinent details as they occur. Only of course I forget to put things in there, so it’s pretty much useless except as a security blanket. Mostly when I need to keep track of something I have to hunt through the finished books and stick in colored post-it notes.
BBB: Who or what inspires you to write?
VK: I read a lot. I always have. And nothing inspires me more than hearing from a reader that one of my stories has touched her emotionally or helped her through a difficult time.
BBB: Can you tell us what your next release (s) will be? And do you have stand alone titles forthcoming? How many books do you plan to write in the Children of the Sea series?
VK: I just signed contracts for one more novella and two more books in the Children of the Sea series. (Yay!) The novella will be out next summer and the first of the books will be out next fall. IMMORTAL SEA (working title) is about Morgan of the finfolk, the warden of the northern deeps.
BBB: Will you go backwards and write more history like you did in the anthology?
VK: Yes. I’m working on one now, the novella I mentioned above; sort of a Lady of the Lake tale in 1813 Scotland, which will set things up for the next couple books.
BBB: If you could share one talent with any character from any of your books, what would it be? would it be magical or mundane?
VK: You know, if I could go “beneath the wave” for just one day…Wow.
BBB: Our reviewer Kate Jasmine wants to know: Virginia, what about the children! How COULD YOU?
VK: (chuckles evilly) I told you I wasn’t ready to leave the Children of the Sea world yet.
BBB: Kate Jasmine also wants to know: What were you drinking when you first thought up the idea for Children of the Sea?
VK: Vino Verde. I know. It should have been Scotch, because the selkie legend is Celtic. I honestly didn’t make up the sealskin stuff. There are ballads going way back about the selkie, mythical creatures who shed their seal skins and come ashore as beautiful men and women to have hot, anonymous sex with human partners. But even those old stories are characterized by the juxtaposition of the fantasy with very human longings: the lonely sailor, the woman who loses her love to the sea, the farmer searching for a wife beyond the local girls he knows, the unmarried village girl who can’t or won’t name the father of her baby. There’s a palpable, poignant conflict between their day-to-day experience and their yearning for something more.
That’s really the tension I wanted to capture in the series and the reason I set the books in contemporary Maine.
BBB: If you could shapeshift, what animal would you be? And why?
VK: Something aquatic. A whale, maybe?
BBB: What is your favorite book of all time?
VK: I have to name a series: The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis. The idea of those very ordinary protagonists–in this case, schoolchildren escaping the blitz–who stumble into something extraordinary and are challenged to become something more…Well, it’s always stuck with me.
BBB: What is your favorite quote of all time?
VK: “We are volcanoes. When we women offer our experience as our truth, as human truth, all the maps change. There are new mountains.” Ursula K. LeGuin said that to the Bryn Mawr class of 1986.
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Learn more about Virginia Kantra here:
Read reviews of the author’s work here.
To visit the author’s website go here.
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CONTEST: Readers, here’s how to enter the contest. You can do ONE or ALL of these things, and each one will give you additional entries at a chance to WIN. She is giving away FIVE copies of her brand new release Sea Lord!! The contest portion of the event will run until 5/7/09 and is open to readers worldwide!
Please note, the prize stated IS the prize you will receive, there will be absolutely no substitutions or changes the prize is non-transferable. If you don’t want the prize being offered, please don’t enter the contest. If you ever win an electronic copy of a book, please note that it is ILLEGAL to forward, give away or copy it in anyway once you receive it. Doing so violates copyright. If we find out that it has been done, you will no longer be eligible to win any of our contests.
1. The easiest way to enter is by purchasing copies of any of Virginia’s books in any format! Yep, it is true, if you purchase her books by using these links Below.
Books in the Children of the Sea series in the order they should be read:
Or Virginia Kantra’s Amazon Store
You will get SIXTY entries to the contest for EACH copy you purchase in ANY format from AMAZON using the links above or the BBB search box on the right hand side of the site..
It is NOT mandatory to purchase anything to enter the contests, there are plenty of other ways to enter and win. Just email me a copy of your purchase receipt to racoo.smith @ gmail.com (no spaces). Sorry no faxes or snail mail copies.
2. In order to be entered into this contest the ONE thing you ALL have to do is leave a comment telling us who your favorite Children of the Sea character is, OR share your own personal favorite mythical sea creature. No talking = no entries! You can come by through 5/7/09 and comment for more entries. Good for 10 entries.
3. Buy anything from our new BBB Bloody Cafe Swag Shop here:
http://www.cafepress.com/bittenbybooks through 5/7/09. When you purchase items from our store, we make small commission that helps pay for the site upkeep, shipping books to reviewers, prizes for contests and other associated costs. We are ALL volunteers working to bring the best paranormal fiction review site. Any contribution you make is greatly appreciated! Also, be SURE to sign up for the BBB Bloody Cafe Swag Shop email newsletter on the left hand side of the site, for specials and other announcements. That newsletter is NOT related to the one you receive directly from this site. Your information will never be shared or sold. Good for 30 entries PER item you purchase.
4. Buy ANYTHING from Amazon today THROUGH 5/7/09 by using the Amazon search box on the right hand side of our site. We will know if you used the box to search and buy, so please be sure to use it or your entries won’t count. Send me a copy of the receipt VIA email (sorry no faxes or snail mail) for your purchase to: racoo.smith @ gmail.com (no spaces). Good for 20 entries per item purchased.
5. SUBSCRIBE to the Bitten by Books newsletter here on the top right hand side of the site. This is for new subscribers only. Be sure you VERIFY your subscription, an email is sent with the verification link. Unverified subscribers will not be entered and will be deleted from the mailing list. Good for 10 entries.
6. Spread the word, the more places you post the event, the more entries you get. Post the link to the event / contest today (http://bittenbybooks.com/?p=6912) at another blog, website, Myspace, Ning Group, Facebook, Yahoo Group, Goodreads, Shelfari (any group where it is appropriate). You MUST come back here to this interview and post those links in one response here in this thread. Good for 25 entries per place you post the link to this event.
NOTE: if you post multiple links here, your post will not show up right away. If you don’t see it, don’t keep posting it, we WILL approve your entry later on in the day.
7. Add us as your friend on
Facebook Group: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=59929467915
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Twitter: http://twitter.com/BittenbyBooks be SURE to tweet us after you follow so we can count your entry! @BittenbyBooks
Be sure to mention that you are friending us for this contest so we know to enter you! Good for 10 entries per place you friend us.
8. Be friends with Virginia by joining her here:
Newsletter: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/virginiamonologues
Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/virginiakantra
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1420953329
Good Reads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/11858.Virginia_Kantra
Then send me all the confirmations you receive verify subscription and friendship to: racoo.smith @ gmail.com (no spaces). Worth 15 entries per place you friend her.
9. Read the reviews of Virginia’s books here:
http://bittenbybooks.com/?page_id=58&book_author_id=Virginia%20Kantra
Then leave a meaningful comment IN THE REVIEW post that shows you read the review, not just a post that says “sounds good” or “nice review”, a couple of sentences would be great! Simply share your thoughts, ideas or opinions and show the author some love. Good for 5 entries per review you comment on.
10. Use the SHARE This button at the bottom of this post to digg, stumble and share this on your social networks and new ones you have never tried before!
11. Twitter and ask your friends to re-tweet the URL for this event be SURE to include us in your tweet @BittenbyBooks http://bittenbybooks.com/?p=6912. Good for 10 entries each day you tweet it.
12. Add Virginia’s website to your blog roll or links page: http://virginiakantra.com/ Good for 10 entries for each place you post each link.
13. Add Bitten by Books to your blog roll or links page: http://bittenbybooks.com if you leave our link up permanently you will always be entered into our contests automatically. Just be sure to stop by each contest we hold and leave the link to where it is so we can give you your entry! Good for 10 entries.
14. Email ALL of your friends and invite them to come by this week! If your fiends come and post here and say you sent them, they get FOUR entries and you get EIGHT entries! They have to tell us who you are so we know who to give the entries to. You can invite as many people as you want and get all the extra entries!
15. Join the The Blood Bank the Bitten by Books Community! here: http://bittenbybooks.ning.com/ then come back here and tell us your user name. Be sure to post something about yourself on your blog there. Good for 10 entries
GENERAL CONTEST INFORMATION:
The contest ends on 5/7/09 at 11:59 pm PDT and the winners will be contacted the following week. You will receive your prize directly from the author. PLEASE LEAVE YOUR FIRST AND THE INITIAL OF YOUR LAST NAME as well as a valid email where we can contact you. REMEMBER the more things you do, the more entries, the greater the chances of winning.
IMPORTANT CONTEST RULES AND LEGAL DISCLAIMERS
1. If you aren’t interested in receiving the prize, offered please do not enter the contest.
2. You have THREE days from the day the we contact you to claim your prize by sending your name/mailing address to me. Failure to contact me will forfeit your prize. BBB can at that time, choose either to re-award the prize to another entrant or not.
3. The prize stated IS the prize you will receive, there will be no substitutions, trades or changes. No exceptions. Please do not ask. If for some reason you do not wish to claim your prize, please let me know as soon as possible. The author has the option to re-award it or not.
4. Contest is open to readers worldwide. The prize is shipped directly from the publisher.
5. Bitten by Books is in NO way responsible for the prizes being offered in any of the contests. If for some reason a contributor does not honor their prize, there is nothing we can or will do about it. We are not worried that this will happen, but we want to be very clear that WE are not offering these prizes, the contributor is and it is their responsibility to fulfill their prize obligations.
6. These rules are subject to change or be modified without prior written notice.
7. Contest is void where prohibited.
8. By entering this contest you are agreeing to our terms of entry
(4 votes, average: 5 out of 5)
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Hi there! I haven’t read this series yet, but I love selkies so I really want to. It’s actually a toss up between mermaids and selkies as to which is my favorite sea creature—I’ve just loved mermaids since I was a little kid!
[Reply]
Hi, Kimberly! There’s actually an epigraph from The Little Mermaid (the Andersen one, not the Disney one) in the first book, SEA WITCH.
And I’ll be developing the finfolk more in upcoming books.
[Reply]
Hi Virginia!
Thank you so much for being here today with us. You must be very busy with your release just being out, so we feel very special you would take time out of your busy schedule to chat today.
My question is, are you tossing around any other ideas for paranormal romance? Or are they secret. Or rather, if you could write about any other set of paranormal creatures what would they be and why.
My favorite sea creature which I actually think is real and doesn’t live in the sea (breaking my own rules already darn myself! lol). Is the Loch Ness Monster. Nessie is such an enigma amongst the “unknown” creatures of the world. I think it would awesome to have a story about Nessie and a magical world that it could potentially be living in.
What do you think?
[Reply]
Wow! What a great interview. I have enjoyed your interview and will definitely put your books on my list of books to pick up. Your concept of Selkies is quite an ingenious one!
Keep up the good work.
Eva
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Virginia!
What an amazing interview. I haven’t read your books but will now be looking for them!
I love the concept of selkies in modern day.
Eva
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Fascinating interview xxx
I loved the quote: “Writing a novel is like driving a car at night. You can see only as far as your headlights, but you can make the whole trip that way.” That’s one I’m jotting on the front cover of my own useless book of notes that I keep too, on the pretense of keeping myself organized, but never look through it. I think it’s just a tool - if you write the idea down, it stays in your memory far better than if you just allow the idea to come and go, without doing anything to acknowledge it :o)
Virginia, can I ask why did you chose Whale as your preferred animal to shape shift into?
I would have to say the Dolphin was my favorite sea creature - always have been fascinated by their eloquence and of course…freedom to roam around in the ocean…sounds like ideal, and the sounds, so relaxing. Perhaps I was a dolphin in a past life? Who knows!
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I’d have to say mermaids are my favorite mythical sea creatures. Selkies are up there quite a ways, but the idea of mermaids has fascinated me ever since Weeki Wachee Springs, lol.
Thanks for joining us today Virginia
Have you ever done hands on research for your books? and if you have, then what? scuba diving, perhaps?
[Reply]
Hi Virginia,
Just stopping by to say a big “HI”! It’s nice to see you making the rounds and your interview with Rachel is great. See yah tomorrow.
huggs,
Terra
[Reply]
Hi,
Great interview, I have been wanting to read this series since i saw the cover of Sea Lord, so very nice. And the selkie myth has always fascinated me.
My Q:
Any other myths out there that you would love to write more about?
(rachel twittered as blodeuedd83)
[Reply]
Rachel, thank you so much for having me! I really enjoyed Kate’s reviews. (Kate, you did see my comment about the children of the storm, right? You know I’m not just going leave them wrecked.) Oh, and I love Nessie! I even believe.
I’m planning on staying in the world of the Children of the Sea for a while, developing the finfolk over the next few books. The finfolk are another Orkney legend, kind of the darker side of the selkie myth–shapeshifters and sorcerers. There’s a twist to that I won’t give away yet.
There’s more on the mythology behind the series here:
Romance Novel TV interview
I’ve never been scuba diving but I did nearly drown once in a rip tide. Does that count as research?
Terra, yeah, I’m kind of the Blog Slut of the Cyber Universe this week. You all are wonderful for making me so welcome!
Linda, the covers are awesome, aren’t they? You can see the original artwork as well as the covers that DIDN’T get used here
Because my background is English Lit and I’m such a fairytale junkie, I find myself using unexpected bits of folklore in the books. SEA LORD, for example, uses the folk practice of the corn maiden.
Right now I’m using more of the “fin wife” tales in Morwenna’s story.
[Reply]
Hi Virginia!
It’s so nice of you to stop by! I haven’t read your series yet but I am looking forward to picking it up. It sounds great!
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Yet to read any of your books, but I once seen one of the covers to your book in Romance Times magazine. It was so gorgeous that it caught my eye immediately. I absolutely LOVE when covers do that.
Sea Lord’s cover is another breath taking. Is it the luck of the draw to get gorgeous covers? Or do they work with you? And who is the artist? They did an exceptional job.
- Posted on http://visionarydruid.blogspot.com/
- shared this on my facebook
- put it on the about me on my myspace (didn’t know it did that)
- shared this on my blog on myspace
- also shared on the blog’s bullentin
- shared on twitter
- signing up for her newsletter
- friended her on myspace
- friended her on facebook
- became a fan her on goodreads
- added her to my link page on my blogspot
- Gonna ask Debs, Keeshe, Lillie, and Bama to come.
[Reply]
My favorite mythical sea creature is the selkie (did I even spell that right???)
I was told about the contest by Raonaid Luckwell
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Hi Viginia,
The Chronicles of Narnia are one of my favourites too.
I’m not sure if they’re mythical or not but I like talking seahorses.
[Reply]
Hello and Thank You for being with us today, Virginia,
My question is do you have a favorite Sea Shanty? if which ones.
My favorite sea monster is Kraken.
6. 12. 13. all completed here http://beetsbooks.blogspot.com/
[Reply]
Hi Virginia,
Thanks for the great intreview, I will be a new reader to you. My favorite mythical sea creature would have to be mermaids. I fell in love with them after watching the movie Splash or maybe it’s due to my love of the deep blue. I’m off to go visit your site.
I have added Virginia to my blog roll and bitten is a permanet fixture on my blog.
http://annmariebro.blogspot.com
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My favorite mythical sea creature is the Leviathan. Big bad boy.
Raonaid sent me over again.
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If it doesn’t count as research I don’t know what would, lol. How did you get past what had to have been such a frightening experience?
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Seri (and everyone) you can read excerpts of each of the books on my website or just click the links below:
SEA WITCH
SEA FEVER
SEA LORD
Lillie, I’m glad you like selkies!
Raonaid, I do have a favorite shanty. The Children of the Sea series is based on the haunting Orkney ballads about the selkie, who can take the form of seals in the sea and come ashore as beautiful naked men and women. But I used another sea shanty from the 1700s to connect the stories:
My father was the keeper of the Eddystone Light
And he married a mermaid one fine night.
Of that union there came three . . .
The father in my series is a lobsterman in contemporary Maine. And the “three” are the grown up Hunter siblings, Caleb, Dylan, and Lucy.
I’d be very interested in using the Kraken or Leviathan in my books. The right moment just hasn’t come up yet.
Sarai, honestly, I got pulled out to sea before I even realized what was happening. The whole experience was much scarier for my family, watching from shore. Fortunately, a big, buff life guard came to get me and helped me “stroke” my way out of the current. I was exhausted, but I hardly had time to get frightened.
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Hi Virginia,
I haven’t read any of your books, but I LOVE what I’ve just read about them! I definitely want to read more.
Blessings,
Rhonda
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mm, big buff lifeguards… that reminds me, I need to go to the beach soon
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Tony Mauro is the artist. The covers were designed by Rita Frangie. In fact, the cover for SEA WITCH was nominated for an award in the
2008 Cover Cafe Contest
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Hello, Virginia. Many thanks for joining us here today.
I am very intrigued by your series, especially after having read your interview. My husband and I visited Maine for the first time a couple of years ago, and I must say I can envision mermaids, selkies, and many other things coming to shore there.
Are there any films that you feel as though have done a good job portraying any mythic sea creatures?
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Wow thanks for the links Virginia!
By the way, I just adore all of the covers. It was the first thing I noticed when I was skimming through pages and it made me stop.
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It’s out! It’s out! Yayyyyyyyy! No contest for me. I’d rather buy it so I can get my hands on it sooner.
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Above, Jo asked “Virginia, can I ask why did you chose Whale as your preferred animal to shape shift into?”
I think it’s their size. Or their otherness. Or their grace and sense of vast, peaceable joy.
There’s a scene in SEA FEVER where I tried to capture that:
[Reply]
Rhonda, thanks!
Carol, I agree with you about the coast of Maine. I keep all the pics we took on my computer for inspiration.
Films…Hmm, not really. Although I’ve got to say I love the opening credits of Disney’s Little Mermaid. Seriously.
Marcia, thank you!!!
[Reply]
Children of the sea looks like a good series.I will have to but your books on my list of books to get.I love mythical books.
I enterabout the contest in my myspace blog and alot of outher things at
My url:myspace.come/sasluvbooks
[Reply]
love the book covers for all your books!
[Reply]
Hi Virginia,
I just posted a link to your interview on my MySpace blog:
http://blogs.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendId=242987920&blogId=487624788
God Bless,
Rhonda
[Reply]
Selkies are a very underated creature and I am glad someone has brought them again to the forfront…..
added as FB friend,
added as Goodreads friend,
BBB friend and all that good stuff to
RT’d info on twitter and posted link on fb
Thanks Shell
[Reply]
First, Ms. Kantra, I’ve read a few of your books and have really liked them.
While I don’t think I’d be able to choose a favorite Child of the Sea, a favorite mythological sea creature for me is the selkie. As far as why? What’s not to like? Outside of that general comment, I could go on and on and on….well you get the idea.
(Has been RT’d)
[Reply]
[...] Virginia Kantra, author of Sea Lord, by Bitten by Books [...]
Hi Virginia!
Welcome to BBB! First thing I have to say is I LOVE the ocean, always have. It’s hard to be so far from it. And I’ve always had a deep fascination for sea creatures, mythical or not. So now I definitely have to get your books!
Ok, so I have a question: If you couldn’t be an author but could be anything else, what would it be and why? Though I’m certainly glad you are writing. I don’t think paranormal fiction has enough tales of creatures of the sea. *^_^*
[Reply]
Wow. Thank you all!
Lyda, for a while I thought I wanted to be an actress (obviously, I’m drawn to jobs that involve rejection and talking to imaginary friends). But then I figured out that as a writer I not only got to be different characters, I got to be the screenwriter, set designer, costume mistress, director, everything. What can I say? I’m a control freak.
[Reply]
Hello Virginia!
I must admit that I have not read your series, but I am definitely interested now…..not to mention, the cover for “Sea Lord” is HOT! Yummy. (^_^)
But, my question is: in your downtime, who do you like to read?
[Reply]
Hi Virginia…love your series. I became introduced to your work by the story Sea Crossing in the Shifter anthology. My favorite character is Griff. He is a wonderful character…warm, loving, strong…”sigh”..that Emma is a lucky girl.
[Reply]
What a great interview! Thanks for stopping by!
If you had to choose one person to spend eternity with (not necessarily as a vampire) who would it be and why?
[Reply]
Takara, my current “go to” authors are Robin McKinley, Nora Roberts, Eloisa James and Mary Balogh. Reading historical romance is so different from the genre I write in that it relaxes me.
Cybercliper, Griff makes an appearance in SEA LORD-I hope you enjoy seeing him again!
Virginia H., I know I sound hopelessly sentimental and goofy, but…I really love my husband. I’m going to quote Margred on this one: “I love you. I believe you love me. I do not believe the God of love would let such a thing happen if our love was meant to die with these bodies.”
[Reply]
Hello Virginia,
Thanks for stopping by. I enjoyed your interview.
I’m partial to mermaids ever since I saw Disney’s The Little Mermaid when I was young!
[Reply]
[...] Virginia Kantra’s Sea Lord at Bitten by Books Contest ends May 7th View my page on Book [...]
2.) My favorite sea creature is the mermaid. I remember reading about them in Piers Anthony books and thinking that they sounded lovely. I think women’s hair looks beautiful underwater, too, which is probably REALLY weird.
6.) Blogged: http://www.morbid-romantic.net/2009/05/04/book-giveaways-0504-0510/
7.) Friend on Facebook, Twitter, and GoodReads.
10.) Digged.
11.) Tweet: http://twitter.com/morbidromantic/status/1724041241
13.) On my Blogroll on the sidebar.
15.) Member of The Blood Bank.
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Love the coast of Maine (love the mountains too). It is a lovely state and we have good memories from the times we lived and visited there. My favorite character so far is Caleb from Sea Witch. He is reliable, considerate, sensitive, and not perfect. It would be hard to live with a perfect person - not very interesting. I look forward to reading the end of your trilogy and hope you return to their world for more stories later.
[Reply]
Me again. Enjoyed your interview. Interesting and humorous, a great combination. Visited your website. Nicely done. Was going to sign up for your newsletter, but didn’t find a place to do so. Are any of your books out in printed form other than paperbacks? Good luck with your future projects.
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Virginia, your books are magical for me. They each transport me to such lovely places. Can’t wait to read the third.
Kate’s question has me worried though. Children?
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Good to know I’m not the only mermaid fan!
Patricia, I adore Caleb. Dylan I occasionally wanted to smack upside the head, which is why I paired him with Regina–I figured she would do all the smacking necessary.
Thanks for the compliment on my website. I do it myself since I gave up every single craft thing I used to do.
My newsletter is the Yahoo group, The Virginia Monologues.
There’s a “Join” button in the lower right hand corner of my homepage.
My books are offered in hardcover through Doubleday and Rhapsody bookclub.
Aw, Arwen, thanks! And you know I would never hurt a kid in my books. I just can’t go there. But I did leave a loose thread at the end of SEA LORD so I’d have something to tug on later.
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Welcome Virginia!
I haven’t read your books yet, although I do have them on my TBR list, and I checked out Sea Fever before I knew that there was a book that preceded it. So hopefully I will be starting on them soon!!
My favorite mythical sea creature has to be a mermaid. They’re so majestic!
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Oh yeah, I really do love your covers! There’s a sort of great feeling for me when I look at them, much like looking at a particularly beautiful sunset.
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Rachel,
I am subscribed to the newsletter, we are friends on Myspace and Facebook, I have BBB permalinked at http://nightdweller20.wordpress.com and at http://nightdweller20.livejournal.com, and I’m a member at The Blood Bank.
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I actually just started reading my first book of in the series, love them. One of the first things that always draws me to a book is the cover, these books are one of the best. I really can’t wait to read the rest of the series.
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Caleb Hunter is my FAV character…
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Ashley, while it helps to read the books in order, each of the stories is stand alone.
Danni, so glad you’re enjoying!
Linda, yeah, Caleb is the one I’d marry. But he had to be someone special to win Margred from the sea.
I’m doing a hero now (historical set - a veteran of the Peninsular Ward) who reminds me of Caleb.
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Hi Virginia!
Sorry I came into this so late.
But I have two questions for you.
1. What advice would you give to other writers?
and
2. What’s your guilty pleasure?
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Belle, nice to chat with you anytime!
I think every writer’s process is unique and needs to be respected. The only advice I’d give is very simple: write what you love and try to tell the truth.
My guilty pleasure? Going to bed with a really good book and stay up until two or three in the morning to read it.
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Virginia, thank you so much for answer all of these great questions. I didn’t see it, but in case somebody didn’t ask, do you have any Sea Children coming out in an anthology anytime soon?
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I would have to say that my favorite mythological sea creature is a selkie. I love the thought of being able to swim freely and play as a seal, but also being able to shed your pelt and walk on the land too.
Bitten by Books is still on my blog roll over at http://otherwherereviews.blogspot.com
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Yes! Well, not very soon, but next summer I’ll have a story in an anthology with Angela Knight and Nalini Singh. (Yay!) And then a stand alone novel in the fall.
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[...] Here’s the link for that: http://bittenbybooks.com/?p=6912 [...]
Posted here: http://nightdweller20.wordpress.com/2009/05/07/two-chances-to-win/
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I just shared this contest on my space http://www.myspace.com/forever14n9
I have yet to read any of your books as a child i always loved learning about the lockness monster and the water horse were my fav myths and stories ty for the interview and a chance to maybe win one of your books
Besides sea creatures and such what else inspires you to write
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Bev, I love the legend of the water horse.
I can’t remember a time when I didn’t write. Nothing provides the same opportunities for escape as reading and writing. Yet at the same time, nothing makes you pay more attention to the world around you and to the lessons of your own life.
Thanks, everyone, for dropping by. Good luck in the drawing!
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[...] Virginia Kantra, author of Sea Lord, by Bitten by Books [...]