Stork is a very unique paranormal read and one I really enjoyed. What inspired you to write the story?
A long time ago, while watching the TV show Unsolved Mysteries, there was a segment about a young boy who claimed to have a pre-birth memory of flying above the earth and choosing his mother. The story stuck with me. Years later, when spinning what-ifs for a YA paranormal, I combined that story with symbolic image of childbirth: the bundle-bearing stork. The next step was to create an ancient society of human Storks, women charged with the pairing of the undecided among hovering souls with the right mother.
I was completely entranced by your beautifully detailed folklore, and history with the ancient Icelandic Society. What inspired you to incorporate the Icelandic history and lore?
Hoping to heighten conflict as well as a sense of mysticism for the area, I decided to make Kat the new girl in town. I set the story in northern Minnesota and gave her a California background to create a dramatic change in locale and climate. The pockets of Scandinavian settlers in Minnesota were a factor in this decision; Norse Lore and its potential for world building immediately came to mind. I chose an Icelandic—albeit entirely fictional—community for several reasons. For starters, its very name evokes a cold and foreboding place. Also, I’ve long had a fascination for the enigmatic island.
The Icelandic Stork Society has a hierarchy of empowering women. Are any of them based on women who have made an impression on your life?
For the elderly Stork Society, Hulda in particular, I had in mind historic and folk references to wise women or white witches, benevolent practitioners of magic and healing.
If you were a character in your story, who would you be friends with? Why?
I would definitely be in awe of Kat’s confidence and spunk. Because I’m more Penny than Kat, I’ve always been drawn to outgoing individuals. An observer by nature, I’m more than happy to play sidekick to another’s commanding presence.
What do you admire most about your main character, Katla?
I most admire Kat’s adaptability and open-mindedness. She’s young and sheltered and arrives with a bit of a better-than attitude. I attempted to show her growth as the story progressed. I also like her ability to see the humorous or lighter side to life’s obstacles.
I'm really looking forward to reading Frost. Are you able to tell us a little bit about what we can except in Frost?
Frost, book two in the trilogy, begins with a snowstorm the likes of which the area has never seen. The freak blizzard stirs international interest in their microclimate of cooling trends, and Jack scores a student internship with the researchers. Meanwhile, Kat is wrapped up in the complications of her latest soul placement and with rehearsals for the high school’s musical production of The Snow Queen, so is slow to recognize a dark force among them. It is scheduled for release with Candlewick Press in September of 2011.
Thanks for the awesome giveaway!
ReplyDeleteLove this interview and I bought the book!! I can hardly wait to read it!!
ReplyDeleteSounds really cool. Thanks for the interview!
ReplyDeleteYou guys are so welcome!
ReplyDeleteSophie- You'll enjoy it!!
Thanks for the giveaway.
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