Welcome, Booklovers!
It's time for another Coffee Chat!
This week’s guest is children’s author Kath Boyd Marsh (aka my fabulous critique partner!), featuring her upcoming release, Dragon Bonded.
Before we get started, what would you like to drink, Kath?
KBM: Coffee black is just fine. Or could we go to McDonald’s for a plain Iced Coffee? I’m a sucker for those. Wait, they have that frozen coffee, that’s practically ice cream! Ooh. Ooh. Can we go get one of those?
Ally: We don’t have to go anywhere! My magic pot can conjure anything. One frozen coffee McDonald’s-style coming right up. While I get those drinks, please tell readers something about yourself.
It's time for another Coffee Chat!
This week’s guest is children’s author Kath Boyd Marsh (aka my fabulous critique partner!), featuring her upcoming release, Dragon Bonded.
Before we get started, what would you like to drink, Kath?
KBM: Coffee black is just fine. Or could we go to McDonald’s for a plain Iced Coffee? I’m a sucker for those. Wait, they have that frozen coffee, that’s practically ice cream! Ooh. Ooh. Can we go get one of those?
Ally: We don’t have to go anywhere! My magic pot can conjure anything. One frozen coffee McDonald’s-style coming right up. While I get those drinks, please tell readers something about yourself.
Bio:
I’m a Marine Brat who has lived in 8 states, Panama, and one haunted house. I fell in love with writing as soon as I learned to read and write. My first book was stapled together by my grandfather, but is currently out of publication. I majored in English Education at Florida State University, where I took every literature course I could get into. But avoided writing courses.
After taking my daughter to look at potential colleges, I wrote about ten pages on how she had driven me completely crazy. I pared it down to 400 words and found the humor. I sold it to Child Times, a local Family newspaper- my first publication.
My husband’s career finally took us to live in the Bluegrass of Kentucky. A bit spooky that. My parents were big on genealogy and uncovered that an ancestor of mine had a land grant in Kentucky from General George Washington after the Revolutionary War. But my ancestors had itchy feet and went West. I’m a fourth generation native born Californian because of that. But I came back. (Now, in a very recent development, I’ll soon be off to Pennsylvania!)
Something unique/unusual that isn't in your regular bio. As a Marine Brat, I attended a new school my senior year of high school. I applied for the Literary club and was turned down. (Not that I have thought about writing the High School literary club and going - NAH NAH NAH!)
Contact the Author
Website: kathboydmarshauthor.com
Email: kathbmarsh@gmail.com
Blog: kath-lettersfromearth.blogspot.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/kmarshfen
I’m a Marine Brat who has lived in 8 states, Panama, and one haunted house. I fell in love with writing as soon as I learned to read and write. My first book was stapled together by my grandfather, but is currently out of publication. I majored in English Education at Florida State University, where I took every literature course I could get into. But avoided writing courses.
After taking my daughter to look at potential colleges, I wrote about ten pages on how she had driven me completely crazy. I pared it down to 400 words and found the humor. I sold it to Child Times, a local Family newspaper- my first publication.
My husband’s career finally took us to live in the Bluegrass of Kentucky. A bit spooky that. My parents were big on genealogy and uncovered that an ancestor of mine had a land grant in Kentucky from General George Washington after the Revolutionary War. But my ancestors had itchy feet and went West. I’m a fourth generation native born Californian because of that. But I came back. (Now, in a very recent development, I’ll soon be off to Pennsylvania!)
Something unique/unusual that isn't in your regular bio. As a Marine Brat, I attended a new school my senior year of high school. I applied for the Literary club and was turned down. (Not that I have thought about writing the High School literary club and going - NAH NAH NAH!)
Contact the Author
Website: kathboydmarshauthor.com
Email: kathbmarsh@gmail.com
Blog: kath-lettersfromearth.blogspot.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/kmarshfen
INTERVIEW:
Ally: I know you write short stories and novels for children, but what kind of book is Dragon Bonded?
KBM: It’s a fantasy written for 9-12 year olds. Maybe a little older if you like adventure and humor. (No love scenes of any level of anything. Characters are too busy saving Cl’rnce.) This is a sequel story to The Lazy Dragon and the Bumblespells Wizard.
Ally: Where do you get your story ideas?
KBM: Scary question. Sometimes a word or a phrase will catch my attention and spark a whole ‘What if?’ Sometimes the Voices tell me. :)
Ally: What characteristic or flaw makes a “good” villain?
KBM: I think the perfect villain is so self-absorbed that they really cannot see anyone else’s point of view or care about anyone else.
Ally: Even other authors love to hear how a writer got their first book published. What brought you success?
KBM: Interesting. I was about to give up on ever getting published. I threw caution to the wind and submitted a different ms. to each category of a small publisher’s contest. I was gobsmacked to make semi-finals in each category, then finals for the Middle Grade category. I did not win the publishing contract, BUT I did win the attention of the publisher. We started working on revising my contest ms. It was going well, and one day I felt so good about how much I was learning that I sent her a new ms--my first and most beloved character and ms. She loved the main character. We switched revisions to the new ms, and it was published two years later! My debut novel! The Lazy Dragon and the Bumblespells Wizard.
Ally: Do you use a professional editor? If not, what do you do to ensure a quality book?
KBM: My editor at CBAY Books is more than professional. She’s amazing! She’s written a book to help other writers. It comes with workbook pages that help me organize. Story Slices by Madeline Smoot.
Ally: Do your characters come to you fully formed with names and backgrounds?
KBM: No. They come with names that may change, and sparse details on their backgrounds. Since I write ‘by the seat of my pants’ with the story revealing itself as I write, I learn about their backgrounds as the words spill out. Sometimes I’m pretty surprised, but it all comes together and makes sense.
Ally: What is your next writing project? Anticipated release date?
KBM: A novel I’m working is based on the characters in my short story Pendragon Crystal that appeared in the anthology Dragons and Witches: Fairy Tale Villains Reimagined. I have my fingers crossed that when I submit it to my publisher she’ll be interested! Right now, I’m toying with the title Broken Crystal.
Ally: And now for a few quick answer questions:
Ally: I know you write short stories and novels for children, but what kind of book is Dragon Bonded?
KBM: It’s a fantasy written for 9-12 year olds. Maybe a little older if you like adventure and humor. (No love scenes of any level of anything. Characters are too busy saving Cl’rnce.) This is a sequel story to The Lazy Dragon and the Bumblespells Wizard.
Ally: Where do you get your story ideas?
KBM: Scary question. Sometimes a word or a phrase will catch my attention and spark a whole ‘What if?’ Sometimes the Voices tell me. :)
Ally: What characteristic or flaw makes a “good” villain?
KBM: I think the perfect villain is so self-absorbed that they really cannot see anyone else’s point of view or care about anyone else.
Ally: Even other authors love to hear how a writer got their first book published. What brought you success?
KBM: Interesting. I was about to give up on ever getting published. I threw caution to the wind and submitted a different ms. to each category of a small publisher’s contest. I was gobsmacked to make semi-finals in each category, then finals for the Middle Grade category. I did not win the publishing contract, BUT I did win the attention of the publisher. We started working on revising my contest ms. It was going well, and one day I felt so good about how much I was learning that I sent her a new ms--my first and most beloved character and ms. She loved the main character. We switched revisions to the new ms, and it was published two years later! My debut novel! The Lazy Dragon and the Bumblespells Wizard.
Ally: Do you use a professional editor? If not, what do you do to ensure a quality book?
KBM: My editor at CBAY Books is more than professional. She’s amazing! She’s written a book to help other writers. It comes with workbook pages that help me organize. Story Slices by Madeline Smoot.
Ally: Do your characters come to you fully formed with names and backgrounds?
KBM: No. They come with names that may change, and sparse details on their backgrounds. Since I write ‘by the seat of my pants’ with the story revealing itself as I write, I learn about their backgrounds as the words spill out. Sometimes I’m pretty surprised, but it all comes together and makes sense.
Ally: What is your next writing project? Anticipated release date?
KBM: A novel I’m working is based on the characters in my short story Pendragon Crystal that appeared in the anthology Dragons and Witches: Fairy Tale Villains Reimagined. I have my fingers crossed that when I submit it to my publisher she’ll be interested! Right now, I’m toying with the title Broken Crystal.
Ally: And now for a few quick answer questions:
- a. favorite book: Several: Podkayne of Mars by Robert Heinlein , Seventeen by Booth Tarkington, Clowns of God by Morris West.
- b. an author (living or dead) you'd love to take to lunch: Ally Shields. But if she’s booked, Samuel Clemens. (Ally note: You're on, girlfriend!)
- c. favorite accessory (jewelry, scarves, shoes, etc.) Hats, but I look awful in them, so mainly I just stare at them or tote them along without putting them on. Currently I am particularly taken with a ball cap that has a grape holding a glass of wine and the message “Just hand over the wine and nobody gets hurt.”
- d. Your pets - type and names: Are we talking about the domestic ones not the deer, turkey, possums, squirrels, raccoons, chipmunks and other random critters that wait for breakfast each morning? The domestic pets: Rufus,-Fox Hound who rescued us 5 years ago. Hank- mixed breed 70# lap dog who rescued us last summer. Nikki-black cat who rescued us 12 years ago. Ratchett and Tucker-black cats who rescued us with their mother Zoe two years ago.
- e. If you couldn't write anymore, what would you want to do? Take photographs. I’m not good, but I am enthusiastic.
Dragon Bonded
Genre: MG fantasy (pages 9-12)
Blurb:
In this quirky adventure through various fantasy realms, dragon Hazel and her (former) best friend Gaelyn struggle to foil a villainous unicorn.
Ever since her brother Cl'rnce and his wizard partner were crowned the Dr'gon Primus, Hazel has had her paws full dealing with all the work. Cl'rnce might wear the crown, but Hazel is the one cleaning up the messes her prankster brother leaves behind. To manage everything, Hazel relies on her own Wizard Partner, the unflappable Gaelyn.
When Cl’rnce is poisoned, it’s Gaelyn that Hazel turns to for help. However, Gaelyn has been keeping secrets of her own—secrets she never intended to share, not even with a friend like Hazel. Gaelyn struggles to hide her true self, but is unable to lie when her secret is revealed.
Now caught between their former friendship and their new distrust for one another, the two must work together if they are going to save Cl’rnce’s life from a foe neither of them had expected.
Buy Links (already active):
Amazon: https://amzn.to/2MMNhhF
Barens and Noble: http://bit.ly/2lorh03
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