Hey there everyone.

I’m still doing Author Interviews throughout this month (even though I’ve got a lot of poetry sheninagans on my plate to deal with, since it’s National Poetry Writing Month) but for me, it is a very much a case of having my cake, eating it, then eating yours for good measure and sweeping up the crumbs too!

First before we do anything, let’s take a look at the usual very important Public Service Announcement.

Just a quick note before we get started properly. I link to a lot of other articles in my posts, so WordPress users please check your Spam folders in your Setting Menus and approve any links/pingbacks that you find from me to improve the visibility of your own blog posts, as well as mine, it’s a win win for us both 😉

Tonight, we have the pleasure of spending time with author Megan O’Russell, who is currently embarking on a blog tour for the latest book in her Fantasy/Supernatural “Girl of Glass” series called “Boy of Blood” .

Before we go any further though, I would like to share with you all a link to a giveaway that she is currently doing for a Kindle Fire – you can enter by clicking here:-

Rafflecopter Competition – Win a Kindle Fire 7 with pre-loaded YA novels via Author Megan O’Russell

And here we have the main event, so buckle up and enjoy the ride folks, thanks for reading and have a fantastic evening:)

 

Hi there Megan, wonderful to have you over here with us today to talk about your books, along with your passions, inspirations and writing experiences.

Let’s start first with your latest novel release that you are currently participating in a Blog Tour for “Boy of Blood”. Please tell us all about the plot of this book and how it follows on from the first book in the series (“Girl of Glass”), along with its Fantasy elements/Supernatural leanings and what is ultimately at stake for your lead protagonists over the course of their adventures.

The Girl of Glass series takes place in a mid-apocalyptic world and is told from the point of view of a girl, Nola Kent, who has been chosen to survive.

In the first book of the series, Nola is forced into the darkness of the outside world, where people have become so desperate they’ve turned to drugs to survive. Those drugs alter the way their bodies work, turning them into chemically induced vampires. Coming from a protected world, Nola experiences for the first time the fear and deprivation of those who live on the outside and finds she can’t turn her back on those who are suffering.

Betrayal leads to her questioning everything she thought she knew, from who she can trust to what her own survival is worth.

Boy of Blood picks up at the moment when there is nothing left for her but destruction and fighting to find a way to rebuild her life.

You also have published a Young Adult Fantasy Series called “The Tethering” and have a Christmas novella called “Nuttycracker Sweet”. Please tell us more about their plots and themes, their unique protagonists/antagonists and if either of these books share any similarities with your “Girl of Glass” series.

The Tethering is a young adult fantasy complete with wizards, spells, and a plot to seize control from normal humans. All that aside, it’s really a story about a boy who loves a girl and would do anything to protect her. The protagonist in the story is really unique in his love for the girl. There is never any question that he’ll do whatever it takes to defend her. It’s the consequences of that defense that drive the story.

Nuttycracker Sweet is a ballet-themed Christmas story complete with taxidermy. The story follows two dance partners who find love in the most unlikely place.

I also have two other books. How I Magically Messed Up My Life in Four Freakin’ Days takes a look at magic in modern Manhattan. I love the protagonist in this story because he is destined to be the sidekick in his own story.

The Girl Without Magic is a young adult fantasy that combines the Chronicles of Narnia with Doctor Who. What I find most unique about this story is that the world they find themselves in is a character of its own and—from one point of view—can be considered the antagonist of the series.

If any of your novels were to be made into films (or even a TV series), who would you cast in the lead roles?

If I had to choose only one, it would be Natalia Dyer from Stranger Things to play Nola in Girl of Glass. Beyond that, it’s really hard to say. That’s the problem with writing YA: if you want someone now, by the time the movie is produced, they’ll be too old.

What would you choose as your own personal mascot or spirit animal when it comes to you and your style of writing?

A raven. Intelligent, sly, playful, capable of working cooperatively to take down major prey.

What do you think most characterizes or defines your writing? Do you have any writing quirks or themes that constantly crop up in your stories?

I think the word patterns are the most consistent things across my writing. Even in setting scenes, I want to make sure all the words flow conversationally. Everything should be able to be easily read aloud. As for themes and quirks, finding compassion for those who have less than you, women being on equal footing with men, and the conservation of personal and global resources.

What do you find the most difficult thing about writing? And what do you find the easiest?

I’m terrible at writing synopses. They take me so long, and I’m never really happy with the result. The easiest part for me is writing the first draft. I love sitting down at my laptop and exploring new places with new people.

Who are some of the authors, musicians, poets and/or historical figures that inspire you?

Madeline L’Engle for author, Head and the Heart for musicians, and Alexander Hamilton for historical figures.

What sort of research do you do to write your books?

It depends on the project. It drives me crazy when people get from one place to another in a wholly unrealistic span of time, so I spend a ton of time figuring out how long travel takes. From bus schedules to how fast a horse and cart can go. I always do the research on that.

For Girl of Glass, different planting techniques in green houses and atriums took up a lot of my research. I’ve also spent many hours on mythical creatures, mountain ranges, and Latin.

Why do you write? What inspired you to become a writer?

I’m actually a stage actor by trade, so storytelling is what I’ve always done. Writing just became another outlet for that art. And the best part about writing is rather than working from someone else’s script, I’m creating a world of my own.

What keeps you motivated during creative slumps? How do you deal with Writer’s Block?

I want to be an author. I want my novels to succeed, and I want to have this remain one of my careers. Pushing through is just something you have to do. I want to get contracts with publishers, so I have to create the work. You can’t be signed for something that doesn’t/won’t exist.

As for writer’s block, hiking usually cures it for me. When your legs hurt badly enough that you can’t stand to think about walking anymore, it’s easy to let your mind wander to imaginary worlds.

You have access to a time machine. What advice would you give to your younger self?

Don’t let the b*****ds get you down.

How do you spend your free time when you are not writing?

When I’m not on stage, I love hiking, playing my ukulele, traveling, and Disney World.

Tell us more about your upcoming projects. Are you working on anything specific or have plans in the pipeline?

The sequels to The Girl Without Magic and How I Magically Messed Up My Life in Four Freakin’ Days will be heading into edits with their publishers soon. I’m polishing up the third book in the Girl of Glass series to send to Fiery Seas Publishing. After that, I think I’ll hop into another book in The Girl Without Magic series.

Finally, are there any nuggets of wisdom that you can impart to other aspiring writers?

Write. Just write. When you’re done writing, look at what you have and make a choice.

Are you done, do you feel satisfied? Do you want your work to go out into the world?

If you’re happy where you are, great! That’s all you need to do.

If you want to be published, buckle in and edit until your fingers bleed.

Either way, it all starts with filling the blank pages.

And that’s a wrap! Thank you for joining us Megan, good luck with your tour and as for your book, we can’t want to get stuck in and find out so much more 🙂

Bio:-

Megan O’Russell is the author of the young adult fantasy series The Tethering, and Nuttycracker Sweet, a Christmas novella. Megan’s short stories can also be found in several anthologies, including Athena’s Daughters 2, featuring women in speculative fiction. Megan is a professional performer who has spent time on stages across the country and is the lyrist for Second Chances: The Thrift Shop Musical, which received its world premier in 2015. When not on stage or behind a computer, Megan can usually be found playing her ukulele or climbing a mountain with her fantastic husband.

You can contact her via the following Social Media channels:-

Blog:- The Blog of Author Megan O’Russell

Facebook:- Megan O’Russell – Author (FB)

Instagram:- @orussellmegan

Twitter:- @MeganORussell (Twitter)

Website:- Fantastic Worlds. Unlikely Heroes. The Website of Author Megan O’Russell

You can buy her books here:-

Buy Megan O’Russell’s books in the UK/Europe

Buy Megan O’Russell’s books in the US/Rest of the World

If you too would like to be interviewed on my blog at TooFullToWrite and you have a book or a series of books that you would like us to chat about then fill out the Contact Me form here with your details and we can arrange a future interview slot.