Thursday 6 February 2014

Interview and #Giveaway with Cathrina Constantine author of Tallas

I’m super excited to have Cathrina Constantine on my blog today. You may know her as the author of the novel, Wickedly They Come (see my review here) and my monthly review partner. She has a brand new book released and of course I had to have her on my blog. 



NP: Welcome Cathrina.

CC: Thank you, Nana, my long distance friend for sharing your blog with me today!

NP: Across the Atlantic is quite a long way. Tell us one thing about yourself.

CC: I’m five foot two with eyes of blue.

NP:That was two things, but I’ll forgive you because it rhymed. I know you as a YA author, what made you switch to post-apocalyptic? 

CC: When I sat down to the computer my intention was to write a middle-grade story about the adventures of a ten year old boy. Fabal started to take shape, however, like all characters in a book they want to share in the story. Tallas took an unexpected turn.

NP: Did you maintain the same writing style or is it totally different?

CC: I did maintain the same writing style.

NP: Tell us your favorite thing about being a published author.

CC: I’d like to say I feel more confident, but I’d be lying. Writing is hard for me, mentally draining, and I have tons to learn. I love when words weave together to create a perfect (well almost perfect) tapestry. (I tend to have loads of loose fibers in my tapestry that needs binding)

NP:I like the tapestry bit. I’m debating  if I should ask you about what your least favorite thing is about being published. I’ll venture to answer the question for you. Marketing, right?

CC: You hit the nail on the head, Nana! I despise self-promotion.

NP: Me too.This is your second novel, if you were to do one thing differently with your first one, what would it be?

The editing team at Black Opal has said numerous times I have a problem with adverbs and adjectives. I’d try to improve the manuscript.

A couple of quickies before I pull out my big question:
When shopping – paper, plastic or cloth bag?  All of them
Cake or candy bar?  Cake.
Christmas or Easter?  Both, but if I have to chose, then Easter.
Your husband or David Hassalhauf (in his Night Rider years)?  Oooo...have you seen my husband? My husband’s Night Rider Years over David any day!
Indoors or outdoors?  Outdoors (Unless it’s 7 degrees or below)

NP: Please give an analogy of what writing is like for you.

CC: Before planting a garden you turn over the soil and add fertilizer and nutrients to cultivate. The soil becomes fertile and you plant seeds. Some seeds take root and flourish while others wither and die. In the garden weeds spring up with the flowers, and if you’re not tending the garden the weeds will eventually take over... Haahaaa...I could go on, I’m having fun with this analogy and I hope you understand my nonsense.

NP: I understand. Thank you so much for spending some time with me. I look forward to reading Tallas.

Blurb:

In a decimated world, setting foot outside the protected village of Tallas is certain death—or so they say. Mutations caused by those in the wilderness have plagued Tallas’s citizens—or so they say…

For Doogan and Keeyla their belief in a Free Tallas has lost its glimmer. And when their young son, Fabal, is given a very dangerous assignment, they risk everything to protect him. Fleeing Tallas, they head for the wilderness. But when they are ambushed by cruel Mediators, Doogan is recaptured, and while Keeyla and Fabal escape, she is severely injured.

Can the two of them survive in the wilderness? Will Doogan getaway from the clutches of the Mediators? And are the terrible legends about the monsters beyond the walls of Tallas true?

Buy Links:

Bio:
Cathrina resides in Upstate New York with her husband, five children, two Labrador Retrievers and two cats. Constantine is represented by The Belcastro Literary Agency. When not with her family, baking, crafting, reading, or stationed at the computer writing, you will find her walking in the backwoods with her dogs, conjuring up a new tale.

Social Media Sites:

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18 comments:

  1. Looks Great Nana! Thank You So Much for Having Me on Your Blog Today!!

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    1. No thanks needed, Cathy. I would have forced you on if I had to.

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  2. Great interview! Awesome cover! Wow, gorgeous!

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    1. Thank You Marybeth, I can't take credit for the awesome cover. That's Melissa Steven's, she wonderful.

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  3. Sounds like a great read, Cathy. Another to add to my TBR list :)

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  4. I love the interview, ladies. I can totally feel your energy. And, Cat, the tapestry analogy was flaweless! Much luck on book sales!!!

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    1. Thank you, Aneta. And seeing lots of good things about your book!

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  5. Wonderful, as usual, ladies. I wish many, many sales to you, Cathrina!

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  6. Congrats on your new release, Cathrina. It looks absolutely fascinating. I'd say marketing is the pits and I love your analogy on writing.

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    1. Kathy, thank you. It was fun making up an analogy.

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  7. I enjoyed the interview. Congrats on the new release, Cathrina.

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  8. Very nice interview, Nana and Cathrina! It's always fun to learn more about authors. Happy weekend.

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    1. Deanie, thank you and you have a nice weekend too.

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  9. Congrats to Cathrina on her new book! It has such a fantastic cover. The interview was interesting, especially the part about switching genres. I've done the same but for a different reason than Cathrina. I'm wishing Tallas heaps of success! :)

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    1. Thank you, Lexa. I was having fun and just kept right on going...

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