When
did you start writing and what got you into fantasy?
I think I’ve been
writing novels in my head since as far back as I can remember. But it wasn’t
until about ten years ago, after my kids were old enough to fend for themselves
and I could carve out a little time that I decided to give writing a serious go.
I was torn between writing historical fiction and fantasy, so I tinkered with
both. In my mind, these two genres have a lot in common. I started reading
fantasy in college, when I was smitten by a boy who loved reading fantasy. I
fell in love with the genre and married the boy. Or wait; was it the other way
around?
Is The Curse Giver your first book?
The Curse Giver is
actually my fourth book. I’m known for the Stonewiser series, an award-winning
epic fantasy trilogy that includes Stonewiser:
The Heart of the Stone (2009), Stonewiser:
The Call of the Stone (2010) and Stonewiser:
The Lament of the Stone (2012). The
Curse Giver is my newest release and my first standalone novel. It’s a
fast, plot-twisting fantasy romance about an innocent woman condemned to die
for a crime she didn’t commit, who must ally with the cursed lord pledged to
kill her in order to defeat the curse giver who has already conjured their
ends. It’s a grand, epic story with brawn, brains and lots of heart, something
that I think your fantasy romance readers might enjoy.
How
did your interest in writing originate?
I recall being
interested in writing since as far back as I can remember. I also recall being
fascinated by books as a child and making up stories in my mind all the time.
It helped that I came from a family of avid readers who loved books and that my
grandfather was a poet.
What
do you consider the most challenging part about writing a novel, or about
writing in general?
For me, the biggest
challenge comes after the novel is written. I mean, I love to talk about my
books, and I absolutely relish the pleasure of getting to know my readers; but
self-promotion? Yikes. It doesn’t come naturally to me.
What
made you decide to write fantasy?
I’ve always been
intrigued by the fantasy genre. I love the genre’s creative freedom, the
opportunity to rethink, redesign and reinterpret the human experience, the
creative challenges that arise from world building, and the mysteries that
magic brings to the human equation. I grew up in the Dominican Republic and my
life always felt kind of magical in many ways. I’ve always straddled different
worlds. Fantasy is a perfect fit for me.
Describe your creative/writing
process.
I tend to fixate on an idea and
think on it subconsciously for a while, until it transforms into a specific
concept, scene, or character, which usually comes out pretty well formed. At
that point, I might make some notes, which might include a loose outline and
maybe a few scribbled paragraphs that wouldn’t make sense to anyone but me.
Typically I know the beginning and the end of a story before I start writing
and I have a general idea of where the story needs to go. Writing is always a
process of discovery for me, which might be one of the reasons why it’s so
enjoyable to me.
Your
book is set in an imaginary world. Can you tell us why you chose this setting
in particular?
At the heart of
every great fantasy, there is a rich and complex world. I like to create
fantasy worlds that feel “real,” interesting geographies with diverse and
unique populations that have their own cultures and beliefs, and worlds riddled
with conflict, discord and controversy. Sound familiar?
How
long does it usually take you to write a book, from the original idea to
finishing writing it?
It takes me about
four months, give or take. Keep in mind that the time invested is not always
consecutive when you are working on a novel. Sometimes I’ll advance one project
and then shift to another novel, before going back to complete the first one.
Can
you tell us a little about your publishing journey?
Sure! My publishing
journey began somewhere around 2008, when a very new, very small independent
press decided to publish the Stonewiser series as a test run. I love working
with independent publishers. I like working closely with the team putting
together the book and having frequent opportunities to influence the outcome. I
guess I like the personal connection too.
The
Curse Giver was published by Twilight Times Books,
http://twilighttimesbooks.com/, a
dynamic, top-of-the-line, quality-oriented independent publisher based out
Kingsport, Tennessee, that specializes in critically acclaimed mystery, science
fiction and fantasy novels.
How
about the social networks? Which ones do you believe help and which
ones do you wish you could avoid?
You know, I kind of
like having different choices to stay in touch with my readers, but I’ll admit
that keeping all of the social networks active and current takes a lot of time.
For that reason, I rely on my website, blog and newsletter to communicate directly
with my readers. I also like Facebook, Goodreads and Twitter, although I have
been known to neglect a post or two in favor of writing.
What do you like to do when you’re not writing?
I love to travel and
I do so whenever I can. I also love walking and hiking. I’m slow on the uphill,
but I enjoy it. I like stories and therefore I love movies, books and any other
medium that tells stories. I really like theater and in particular, I love
Broadway productions, the more lyrical and epic, the better.
What’s
the best writing advice you’ve ever received that you’d like to pass to other
authors?
Write like the wind,
write often, diligently and continuously, write for yourself and my favorite,
write all the way to The End.
Is
there anything else you would like to share?
If you haven’t given
fantasy romance a chance, go ahead, try it now. Whether you pick up The Curse Giver or another one of the epic
stories that the genre has to offer, you are bound to be surprised and
satisfied by the heart-warming combination of romance, adventure and passion.
What
are the best ways to connect with you, or find out more about your work?
Genre – Fantasy/Dark Fantasy
Rating – PG-18
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Haunted by Eileen Maksym
