Official author website

Interview with

the author...

Marion Sipe

Hi, Marion! Congratulations on the launch of your new book! - A Sign in Blood.
 

We are excited to hear about it. Can you give us a few teaser lines?

"Bastian Deom'Earin knew Vinisha better than anyone living. Tredalor's capital city was a tangle of narrow streets, slender alleys, and underground tunnels. The buildings of slate and stacked stone rose nine or ten stories on all sides, built upward because they lacked the room to build out. Made to withstand siege, the walls of each of the five great city-states spanned miles, containing farmers' fields and grazing lands for cattle. Built of solid stone and bound power, the walls would be visible on every horizon, if one could get above the buildings to see them. It had been said, in low voices by particular people, that Bastian could sneak an army through the city without anyone the wiser."

"The beginning of the plot was the mystery that's central to the book: Who killed Chadri's father, and why. Everything started with that one question and then it just grew and evolved. So, while A Sign in Blood is fantasy, it started as something of a fantasy mystery novel, although it changed a lot over the rewrites and edits!"

"A lot. I write articles as well as fiction, and then add in blogging. I generally spend most of my day writing most of the time. Of course, I think we all hit that wall eventually have to spend time not writing."

"Worldbuilding. I love being able to stretch my imagination to create a world, and I like challenging myself to not come up with the same answers over and over. It can be difficult to make a world unique and to draw in different elements every time, and I think that's why I enjoy it so much."

"That you don't know... Well, I can't drive. My second to last attempt to learn left an azalea bush mangled, although the last try didn't go so badly! I just haven't had the time to try again. We'll see how it goes because I'm also somewhat afraid of cars. Unless it's the fiancé driving I tend to press the floor as if I have my own brake and have, on occasion, screamed because I was sure the car was going to be hit. It wasn't, thankfully, but... I have a car phobia. Although, strangely, I adore road trips. Yup. It makes no sense."

"To keep writing. I have several more books planned, a couple of short story collections, and perhaps a sequel to A Sign in Blood, although there are several others I want to get finished first!"

"I love quotes! Which is my favorite really depends on the kind of day I'm having, but today it's: "A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty."— Winston S. Churchill"

"It certainly helps that I don't think I could stop. Although encouragement never hurts!"

"I was, like many writers I think, initially resistant. Although I don't think print books will die out, there are still too many collectors and print-readers for that. But I do think there'll be some changes. I read something recently about the idea of print on demand being used to print up books in stores, right in front of the costumer's eyes and that appealed to me. However, I do think that most books will be digital in the future, with print editions being reserved for special editions, collectors and such. I don't think anyone can reliable predict how quickly that will happen."

"I hope you enjoy the story and I'd love to know what you think."

Your book is fantasy... how did you come up with the plot idea?

How much time do you spend on writing?

What do you love the most about writing?

Can you tell us something about yourself that we don't know?
Likes, dislikes... quirks...

Thanks, Marion. What are your goals as a writer?

Do you have a favourite saying or quote?

What keeps you motivated?

What is your take on the digital book trend?

Is there anything you would like to say to your readers?

Thank you for answering my questions today, Marion.

I've enjoyed our dressing room chat, and I wish you all the success in the world with A sign in Blood.