What is your name, where were you born and where do
you live now?
I’m Marsha A. Moore and am originally a Hoosier,
born in Terre Haute, Indiana. Today, I live in the Tampa area with my husband.
We moved from the Toledo, Ohio area three years ago, so I’m still learning to
be a Floridian. We love it here! The change has been a wonderful adventure. I
like being outdoors any day I choose, whether I’m kayaking, hiking, or cycling.
I love the water and aspire to be a beach bum. I write chapters for my book on
our dock or at the beach. Inspiration from nature fuels my writing.
Did you always want to be a writer? If not what did
you want to be?
As early as I can remember I’ve always been driven
by creativity. In college, I wanted to pursue Literature and Fine Art, but my
parents encouraged me to study Biology, so I might eventually find a reliable
job. That was fine, since I liked that subject also. My compromise—a Biology
major and an English minor. I wrote essays as a fun break from my full load of
Science. Yes, weird that I thought writing essays was fun…still do!
When did you first consider yourself as a
"writer"?
I didn’t aim to be a fiction author. My path evolved
to this end. Years after graduating, I worked as a rock music reviewer just for
fun. During that time, I was inspired by some of those experiences and tinkered
with fiction. Initially, I wrote fiction based on the world of rock music.
Through a lucky happenstance, a man who worked for a major book publishing
house read my first attempts at fiction, which were posted on a music forum. He
repeatedly encouraged me to submit my creative writing. Over time, I came to
believe him and did. After that, a new world opened up and it’s been a
wonderful time.
Do you work another job as well as your writing
work?
I write full-time, but my hobbies often transform
into part-time jobs. I recently enrolled in a yoga teacher training program. I
want to take my practice to a deeper level. Beyond personal gain, I’m eager to
see what paths open to me that will allow me to share this wonderful way of
life with others. I’m keenly interested in working to help those in need of
rehabilitation from injury or illness. I’ve taught high school for seventeen
years and my parents were teachers, so teaching is a natural part of my life. I
gain from giving.
Who is your publisher? or do you self publish?
I have some books released by a publisher, MuseItUp
Publishing, and others self published.
How long does it usually take you to write a book,
from the original idea to finishing writing it?
I plan a new book or series for many months while
I’m writing another. Once I begin the actual writing process, it takes about
three to four months to have a draft ready to give to my editor.
What can we expect from you in the future? ie
More books of the same genre? Books of a different genre?
I love epic fantasy and will likely do more in that
subgenre. I especially enjoy reading magical realism, mythpunk, and
mythic fiction—all subgenres that sit on the border between fantasy and
literary fiction. I expect my writing will shift in that direction over time.
Do you have plans for a new book? Is this book part
of a series?
I’m currently finishing up writing the third Enchanted
Bookstore Legend, Lost Volumes. I’m expecting a September release for that
book.
What genre would you place your books into?
Fantasy romance.
What made you decide to write that genre of book?
I like the complexity of fantasy, the feeling of
being transported into another world. However, most fantasy books are written
for young adults. In my reading, I longed to find more fantasies written for
adults. The element of romance I include is far less about adding sex than
about adding deeper connections between the hero and heroine, allowing them to
be more three-dimensional and work with more complex issues.
Do you have a favourite out of the books you have
written? If so why is it your favourite?
I am in love with the series I’m presently
writing—the Enchanted Bookstore Legends. It’s a blast to write all
the interwoven subplots, clues, and red herrings that will be unwind slowly in
later books. The scope of an epic fantasy written over a series of five books
is something I’m really enjoying.
Do you have a favourite character from your books?
and why are they your favourite?
This is a truly epic tale with a large and wonderful
cast of otherworldly characters, including many talking animals. My main
characters, Lyra and Cullen, must attempt difficulties that stretch their
abilities over numerous quests. But, my secondary characters often bring
laughter and lighten their loads, or encourage their strengths to persevere.
I’m in the middle of writing the third book, so by now the personalities of my
secondary animal characters really shine and they feel very real to me. I’m
especially fond of my dragons, but one type stands out as a
favorite—pseudodragons.
Pseudodragons are not true dragons. They are much
smaller, being only three feet long, including their tails. In my legends, we
get to know the pseudodragon Cullen keeps as his wizard’s familiar—a typical
role for this species. His name is Noba, and he is a tiny burgundy-colored
pseudodragon who has a heart of gold that makes people melt.
If you had to choose to be one of your characters in
your book/books which would you be? and why?
Easily I would be Lyra. Reality always forms the
framework of my stories. Actually, since this is a five-part series and I’m
currently writing book #3, the more I look at this story, the more of myself I
see. My heroine, Lyra, is very much connected to me. Even in the first chapter
of the first book, the childhood memories brought to her mind by Cullen’s
magical tea are actually all mine. How Lyra interacts with her Aunt Jean has
been a way for me to work through my own issues with my mother’s failing health.
Some scenes intentionally connect to my own experiences, like those, and others
surprise me much later when I’m polishing my draft to send to my editor. I
shake my head and hope no one other than my crit partners can identify the
similarities.
How do you come up with the Title and Cover Designs
for your book/books?Who designed the Cover of your books?
I designed the covers for my Enchanted
Bookstore Legends. I combined techniques of watercolor and digital painting
to achieve the illustrated look I wanted for fantasy.
Do you basic plot/plan for your book, before you
actually begin writing it out? Or do you let the writing flow and see where it
takes the story?
My process begins with a setting I find interesting,
somewhere I’d like to spend some time. In writing fantasy, world-building is
everything. Then, I create the main characters, appearance and personality.
From there, how they will become involved goes hand-in-hand with developing the
plot. I do outline a lot, since there are many interwoven subplots in this
series. This series is epic in scope, and details would get lost if I didn’t
plan. Outside of the key features on the outline, I do allow the in-between
progress in each chapter to flow freely, which I enjoy a lot. Some of the most
imaginative bits arise that way.
What do you do to unwind and relax? Do you have a
hobby?
I relax by creating. I love to draw, paint, and
knit. I also enjoy gardening. My active hobbies include yoga,
cycling, and kayaking.
Are there any hidden messages or morals contained in
your books? (Morals as in like Aesops Fables type of "The moral of this
story is..")
Yes. The underlying theme is that compassion will
win over evil.
What is your favourite book and Why? Have
you read it more than once?
I loved Gulliver’s Travels by
Jonathan Swift. The symbolism is amazing; the more you read, the more layers
you find. Inspired by that, I like to hide things in my stories.
From the present, picking one book is too hard. The Harry
Potter series is one of my all-time favorites. Again, the layering of
hidden plots, which spin to completion later in the series, really captures my
imagination. The last few books that really pulled me in were Natasha Mostert’s Season
of the Witch and Erin Morgenstern’s Night Circus. In both
of those, magic caused mental effects for both the giver and receiver. I enjoy
the complexity of that theme and employ it myself in a very different way. My
heroine, Lyra, must learn to mentally control her vast inherited powers as the
new Scribe. That is something she struggles to master through the series.
What are you currently reading? Are you enjoying it?
What format is it?(ebook, hardback or paperback)
I am currently reading Dragon Keeper by
Robin Hobb in ebook format, One Song: A New Illustrated Rumi in
hardback, and Yoga and Meditation by Stephen Cope in hardback,
and Practicing Sigil Magic by Frater U.D. in paperback. I am
enjoying each one. Dragon Keeper is for fun, Practicing
Sigil Magic is for writing research, and the other two are to expand
my yoga practice.
What piece of advice would you give to a new writer?
Don’t work alone. Use a critique group. I love my
crit partners. They’re my best friends. They keep me motivated, cheer with me
for my successes, and support me when any hardships come along. My group is
local, though the Florida Writers Association. I think it’s extremely important
to find a local crit group rather than working only online. We benefit so much
from collectively brainstorming how to solve everyone’s writing problems.
Do you or would you ever use a pen name?
I do use a pen name. The last name I use, Moore, is
actually my mother’s maiden name, easier to spell and remember. I like it
because it still feels like me.
Where can readers follow you?
Your Blog details? http://MarshaAMoore.blogspot.com
Your Web site ? http://MarshaAMoore.com
Your Facebook page? http://www.facebook.com/marshaamooreauthorpage
Your Goodreads author page? http://www.goodreads.com/marshaamoore
Your Twitter details? http://twitter.com/MarshaAMoore
And any other information you wish to supply?
Fantasy Faction staff page: http://fantasy-faction.com/staff-members?uid=38
Jeanz, thanks lots for interviewing me today!
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