Truthwitch Inspired Friend Interviews

I read Truthwitch and fell in love, not just with the story, but with Iseult and Safi's friendship (which deserves ALL the hype it gets). I reached out to some of my friends and they were super awesome and agreed to do these little interviews about reading, books, and bookish friendships. So, in no particular order, here they are:

Interview #1: Josh

He wanted me to put links to Quiver, so if you're interested in the Genre Magazine he and I work for, click here and here (it's an awesome magazine, tbh).

What is your favorite genre to read, and why?

My favorite genre to read is fantasy, largely because I like reading from the perspective or about the adventures of non-human characters. I also enjoy seeing what kind of worlds the authors have built, and it's fun to see what cultures and social norms writers can come up with.

What are your favorite books and authors? Any interesting stories about your favorite books?

I'm currently reading The Stormlight Archives by Brandon Sanderson, which has been a favorite of mine since highschool. However, my favorite completed series is the Bartimaeus Trilogy by Jonathon Stroud, which is a young-adult historical fantasy featuring rituals and djinn. A year after reading the series at the local library, I found out that my mother actually owned all the books but hadn't known I was reading them.

How do you organize your books?

I separate them into piles of 'big' and 'small.' Very complicated, I know. A lot of the comic books I would read when I was younger look odd when paired with paperbacks, though, so 'big' and 'small' it is.

What are your favorite bookish friendships? If a character became real who would you want as your best friend?

My favorite friendship, or perhaps 'working relationship,' within a book is that between Bartimaeus and his summoner Nathaniel. I like it because the relation is nearly always strained -- they don't actually become very close till the final moment of the final book, and even then Bartimaeus can't help but to think back to his original friendship with Ptolemy as a marker. If Bartimaeus existed in our universe, and I had the magical capacity to summon him, I imagine that we would hit it off very well. He's a sarcastic know-it-all who boxes above his weight class, and we share a similar narcissism. We would banter tirelessly.

Interview #2: Halle

What is your favorite genre to read, and why?

My favorite genre is historical fiction. A couple of years ago, I read a historical fiction book (I can't remember what it was called now) but I remember it being really good and interesting, and making me want to learn more about history. Honestly, creative renditions or writings about history is the only way that history is interesting to me.

What are your favorite books and authors? Any interesting stories about your favorite books?

I read a lot of books from a lot of different authors and different genres, so it's kind of hard to choose. If I had to choose, I would probably say that, as of recently (past few years), my favorite book I've read is All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr. I actually bought the book in a Jewish neighborhood bookstore in Rome when my family visited just because it looked interesting, without even realizing how many people were already talking about the book. I remember loving the writing, and thinking that it was just a beautifully written book.

How do you organize your books?

I'm a bit of a mess, so my bookshelf is honestly not organized in the slightest. After I read books, I tend to kind of just put them somewhere in the house or give them away to someone else to read, so I don't really have a lot of books on my bookshelf right now. I also tend to read a lot of books on my kindle, so most of the books I've read are on my kindle.

What are your favorite bookish friendships? If a character became real who would you want as your best friend?

In the book I mentioned earlier, All the Light We Cannot See (without giving too much away), the main character is moves in with her great uncle during WWII, and they bond and become close over the course of the story. I would probably be friends with the main character of that book, because I remember thinking that she is one of my favorite characters to read about in a book.

Interview #3: Saltyscribe aka Salty

Shy, bi, and ready to fucking cry. 

Check out Salty's tumblr here.

What is your favorite genre to read and why?

Fiction, specifically fantasy and sci-fi, I've loved books like that since I was a kid and they really influenced how I viewed the world. How there's the potential for good and evil in every person, you're stronger than you may think, sometimes just believing is magic enough... blah blah blah. All that corny stuff. Also, who doesn't love a story where a character has the potential to set shit on fire with a wave of their hand, fight in epic space battles, or just have a  talking dog. It's fun!

What are your favorite books and authors? Any interesting stories about your favorite books?

The Lunar Chronicles by Marissa Meyer definitely has a special place in my heart. Marissa is an absolute gem of a person, she's funny, witty, and we both have a great appreciation of fairytales. My goal is to become an author someday and honestly I'd want to be one like her. Also, anything written by Neil Gaiman. His writing style mixed with the kind of fantasy he writes is absolutely phenomenal.

How do you organize your books?

I try to keep books from similar series together. New Adult fiction or fantasy is like 95% of my bookshelf, so at this point I just shove them where I can fit them. Otherwise, the school books go at the tip top of the shelf. I've got white builtins in my room at home and God it's so comforting to have a wall just... dedicated to books.

(I can confirm that her bookshelves are absolutely beautiful wonderful things.)

What are your favorite bookish friendships? If a character became real who would you want to be your best friend?

I'm just gonna be basic and say the golden trio from Harry Potter. You're thinking it, I'm thinking it, that friendship profoundly influenced a generation of readers. Like I can't top that. Plus I may read a bit too many books that are heavy on romance as opposed to friendship. I should change that. And as for a book character as a friend: Sophie Hatter from Howl's Moving Castle; I want her to be my best friend. If you don't understand why then I'm plugging this book right now. Go buy it. Go read it. It's some nice easy fantasy that you could finish in a day. 10/10 great summer read. SERIOUSLY.

Interview #4: Vee

Hi Hello Hola my name is Vee, I'm a spunky California native who just wants to sin. I enjoy shiny things, the colors pink and hot pink, Her Majesty the Ocean, and strong female characters in fiction. Tumblr: http://broken-hearted-qpid.tumblr.com

What is your favorite genre to read and why?

My favorite genre to read would definitely be fantasy because magic and mythology are two of my favorite things especially when they are implemented into our world.

What are your favorite books and authors? Any interesting stories for your favorite books?

The Percy Jackson series will always be my favorite series, although the Kingdom Keepers series trails right behind it. In all honesty, even though it's middle grade, I also really enjoy the Monster High series because it discusses a lot of important topics that aren't even in a lot of more mature books (such as racism and body dysphoria). My favorite stand-alone book is The Siren. A somewhat interesting fact is that Kingdom Keepers was the first series I had actually read fully and it is what made me really enjoy reading (at the age of 14; before that I didn't enjoy reading at all).

How do you organize your books?

I don't really have "bookshelves" per se, my books at home are kind of all over the place. However, I know where everything is and why they are there. Those that are actually stacked on my desk are there because I've finished them, won't be reading them, or they are textbooks. The books under my desk are the ones that I've had for a while and want to read again or they are like guide books. The ones next to my bed are ones I own and am reading currently. The ones in my backpack are ones that I am also reading currently but are ones I checked put from the library.

What are your favorite bookish friendships? If a character became real who would you want to be your best friend?

My favorite friendship, more like a sisterhood really, is the one in The Siren by Kiera Cass. They are a group of girls who have been saved and given the chance to become sirens by the anthropomorphic ocean. None of them are related by blood but are all very close. They have varying personalities but bond over their hardships of being sirens, such as not being able to talk to humans or being away from their family, as they can't have any form of contact with them.

Thank you guys so much for doing these interviews!
(P.S. All book covers are linked to Goodreads)

Interview with Paul Cude

Hello everyone!  Today I've got a special treat: an interview with Paul Cude, author of the Bentwhistle the Dragon books.  I've read and reviewed book one, and you can click here to check out what I thought.  I'm currently reading book two right now, and I'm enjoying it so far!  This is a really fun series about dragons living in London and is good if you're looking for some Urban Fantasy to dig into.

So, without further ado, let's get into the Interview!

Q. When did you know you wanted to be an author?

A. I'm not sure I knew, and sometimes still don't feel like I am one, despite working many hours at it every single day. It kind of crept up on me all of a sudden. You go from having a dream about a story, to ignoring it for months, to suddenly trying to bring it to life, to completion. For me, the first book took ages, with life, two small children and everything in between, constantly trying to get in the way. But eventually I got there and the feeling was well worth the wait. Stupidly though, I spent far too much time (weeks, if not months) sitting back, patting myself on the back, waiting for the knock at the door from all the major book companies. I mean.....how stupid? How would they even know that I'd completed my work of art? I've learned a lot since then.

Q. What influences your writing?

A. My dreams and life experiences more than anything. Oddly it started with a dream. Sounds a bit crazy really, but one night, when my elder daughter was just a baby (she's not far off 11 now) I had the single most realistic dream I've ever had. I didn't remember it until the following day, but when I did, I swear it was just like watching a movie in my head.....so graphic, so intense, so.....mesmerising. Anyhow, I told my wife, who was gobsmacked to say the least. And so was what she said to me, "You have to write it, you just have to." At the time I just laughed off her idea, bearing in mind that at the time I could only type with two fingers. But over a period of I suppose months, I kept getting more dreams, flashbacks into the story.......sometimes little details, sometimes insights into the characters, sometimes twists and turns to do with the plot. In the end I suppose it was inevitable that I would write it. First I taught myself to type properly.....3 months, and then, well...........I began. At first I needed complete silence to be able to write, something there wasn't a lot of bearing in mind I was taking care of one young child, with another on the way. But over time I've learned to filter it all out and can now write with the kids playing around me if I need to, but I still think I do work more efficiently in total silence. It has taken a long time, and I was surprised how hard and crucial the editing process was. But in the end it was most definitely worth it. The life experiences part is more about the human sport mentioned in the book. I've played field hockey for well over three decades now, and it's changed my life beyond recognition. I have a great affection and admiration for the other sports mentioned as well, hence the reason they're included. 

Q. What was the most exciting thing about publishing your book?

A. The best thing without a doubt is when someone you don't know, and have never met, gets in touch with you to tell you just how much they like your book/books. On those occasions, nothing feels better. Not only can it turn a bad day good, but it brightens your whole week, no matter what's going on.

Q. What have you learned as you continue to write?

A. That it's really a process of evolution. It and you are never standing still, never stuck in one place. The process of putting the story into words from your head gets easier at times, but the actual writing, the words on the page, never stay still, not even for a moment, currents in the wind or sea, rearranging everything on a day to day basis. I don't doubt what, or how, I write changes every day. My mood, concentration, if I'm feeling unwell, worried, how busy I am, all change the way in which the words come out. Sometimes it's even possible to look back after the event and see a quite dramatic change.

Q. Where's your favorite place to write?

A. Normally at my computer at home. But once a week I play squash with a friend who, despite never actually being busy, always insists on making me wait about fifty minutes for him. In that time, I sit in the entrance to the local sports centre and, with a pen and notebook, lose myself in the world of Bentwhistle the Dragon without any other worries. It's about the only time I ever find to do this.

Q. Did anyone in particular inspire the character of Peter or his friends?

A. The main character, Peter Bentwhistle, is loosely based around me. The lacrosse playing dragon called Richie Rump is based on one of my best friends who was captain of the England lacrosse team and is also a fantastic hockey player. A dragon shopkeeper who sells the best mantras in the world shares the same name with one of my best friends. An important human businessman who is duped, is also named for one of my best friends. Other more minor references feature other friends and acquaintances. When looking for some of the character names I used references from everything around me at the time, while sitting working at my desk. There's a dragon called Axus....his name was gained from my Canon camera at the time, with just a tiny amendment. Also one of the bad characters is a combination of one of my favourite author's first names and surnames combined. I now have a long list of dragon names tucked away in my computer somewhere, that I can use whenever I need.

Q. In the book you spend a lot of time building up dragon culture.  How much time did this take you and what helped inspire it?  Also, what's your favorite part of this dragon world?

A. I suppose it's a coming together of everything in my mind. The books I read, the films I watch, the fact that I like playing RPG's on my computer...just everything. I go to bed at night and, as previously mentioned, my dreams seem to take over. Not all the time, but I would say one out of three nights, I dream about dragons. Sometimes I won't remember until much later on the next day, sometimes I wake up and remember instantly. The dreams can be about anything.....the overall plot of the books and the way forward, or just some tiny little detail that I've missed and that matters so much. And if I ever find myself stuck with something in the plot, all I have to do is think really hard about it just before nodding off, and more often than not, I'll have the answer the next day. Strange, but true. 

As for the favourite part, I would love to go and watch a Laminium Ball match and be part of the atmosphere at the game. Just thinking about it sends shivers down my back.

Q. If you have to sum up your book in six words, what would it be?

A. Twists Turns Hockey Lacrosse Rugby DRAGONS

Q. What's your favorite snack food?

Crisps. I find it very hard not to crave them. Especially during the evenings.

Q. If you could see any artist perform live (living or dead) who would it be?

A. I'd be very keen to take in my favourite band.....Genesis. But on reflection, to have such a chance and just do that, given that I've seen them a few times, would be wasteful. It would have to be a choice between the Beatles and Elvis. The Beatles probably win. It would be amazing to see them at the Cavern club in Liverpool during their heyday.

Q. You have to live in one fictional place, where is it?

A. Ankh-Morpork from Terry Pratchett's Disc World. I think I'd fit in just right and would probably just wander around gawping at all the amazing characters, when not working for Sybil at the dragon sanctuary. If not there, then probably anywhere in the Star Wars universe.

Paul Cude is a husband, father, field hockey player and aspiring photographer. Lost without his hockey stick, he can often be found in between writing and chauffeuring children, reading anything from comics to sci-fi, fantasy to thrillers. Too often found chained to his computer, it would be little surprise to find him, in his free time, somewhere on the Dorset coastline, chasing over rocks and sand in an effort to capture his wonderful wife and lovely kids with his camera. Paul Cude is also the author of the Bentwhistle the Dragon series of books.

description and picture taken from Paul Cude's website