Aurora Springer: Interview with Roz Marshal for Ninja Writers #Fantasy #Giveaway

Monday, November 21, 2016

Interview with Roz Marshal for Ninja Writers #Fantasy #Giveaway

Interview with Roz Marshall for Blog Hop at http://www.whatisaplot.com/science-fiction-fantasy-giveaway-blog-hop/

Question. Tell us about your book(s).

'Unicorn Magic' (http://amazon.com/dp/B01LZSO1DH ) is a clean Urban Fantasy set in USA-Today bestselling author Anthea Sharp's 'Feyland' universe and first published in Samuel Peralta's short story anthology 'Chronicle Worlds: Feyland'.

In it, Scots teenager Corinne MacArthur finds herself asking some improbable questions. What if unicorns were real? What if fairyland was right around the corner? And what would happen if magic started bleeding into everyday life...?

Question. What is the one thing you can’t write without?
Coffee!!

Question. What’s your favorite paranormal creature and why?
I kind of have to say unicorn, don't I...?

Question. What is the first book that made you cry?
Probably 'The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe'. But there have been a few!

Question. Do you want each book to stand on its own, or are you trying to build a body of work with connections between each book?

Both! Every story I write has a beginning, middle and end - even the shortest short story.

But several of my books are part of series (not serials) where a different character is the lead in each story, and there are threads of a larger overall plot that concludes in the final episode. 'Unicorn Magic' is a good example - it's part one of a 4-book series, but is a complete story in its own right.

Question. What’s your favorite under-appreciated novel?
'Talking to Luke' by Diane Ryan (http://amazon.com/dp/B01G0YYQUY)

Question. What kind of research do you do, and how long do you spend researching before beginning a book?

It depends on the book. For my skiing series (Secrets in the Snow) it was based on experiences I'd had and places I'd been, so the only real research I did was on some snowboarding tricks (since I'm more of a skier than boarder).

For the 'Celtic Fey' series I did some research into Scottish myths and legends, mythical creatures (such as unicorns) and also some bigger legends which I can't divulge as they'd be a major spoiler for #4!

I'm contemplating writing something historical next, and that obviously needs a *lot* more research, if you want it to be believable and set within the correct period. So it'll take longer to prepare and outline.

Question. What are the ethics of writing about historical figures?
Well, that's something I'm grappling with right now. The historical series will feature some very famous people from history. So I have to try and fit with what's known about them - without altering historical fact - whilst making my story sit in the gaps or shadowy areas of their lives. It's an interesting challenge, as you need to build a page-turning plot around all of that. Time will tell if I manage it!

Question. Do you hide any secrets in your books that only a few people will find?
Yes! I leave little clues or 'Easter Eggs' in the earlier books in a series that only come to fruition in later books. There's a clue right at the beginning of Unicorn Magic that won't make sense until book 4. And there's a big hint in 'Kelpie Curse' (the follow-on to 'Unicorn Magic' that I don't think anyone's picked up on yet!

Unicorn Magic: A Feyland Urban Fantasy Tale (The Celtic Fey Book 1)