J. LLOYD MORGAN'S BLOG: Interview with author Anna del C. Dye

I’m delighted to share the following interview with author Anna del C. Dye, specifically about her new book Shahira & the Flying Elfs.

This blog is part of her Book Giveaway which runs from June 29 to July 16.

**She is giving away a free E-book for readers of this blog. Just leave a comment with your contact information below to enter!**

On with the interview!

What is your latest book about?

Shahira & the Flying Elfs is about giant eagles in the land of the elfs and her story. Shahira is a she-eagle and lives with her father, mother, and younger brother in the high cliffs of Eagle Mountain. Her dream is to find a stripling young eagle to mate. But mating is a ritual that happens in the sky and she can’t fly. She has told herself that one day she will be able to, but every time she tries she falls.

What inspired you to write fantasy instead of another genre?

Movies, I think. Star Wars, Star Trek, Willow, Arturian Tales, etc., and most of all The Lord of the Rings.

Do you have any special routines you follow when you sit down to write? If so, what are they?

I sit in my recliner, bed, or couch. Just whatever pleases me at the moment. I do a lot of promoting during the morning and try to write in the evening. I have my two girls in between and I love to give them my whole attention. That is pretty much how it goes.

How much of your books are planned out ahead of time, and how much of them are made up as you go?

They are all different. The Elf and the Princess was 90% planned. I sat to write the first page and tweaked it as I went. Shahira & the Flying Elfs was 90% made up as I went.

Many of your previous works have Elven characters. One of the biggest complaints people have against Stephenie Meyer’s Twilight series is that “vampires don’t sparkle!” When it comes to Elves in fantasy, what do you consider to be some of the common elements of their race? Can you share an experience when a movie or book has completely changed or ignored these common elements?

The common elements in elfs are that they live forever and know much. Also, that they are graceful, quiet, pretty, and overall much better that mankind.

I have always expected elfs to be beautiful and perfect in many ways. Yet, when I read one book in the Shanara series they were ugly, in another book they were cannibals, in a third one, they were dark and delighted in killing. That set very heavily in my heart. I never picked up those books again. I consider elfs better than man and those three examples made them human or less, not better. Still, as authors we have the right to create our characters as we please…those are just not my cup of tea.

In my Bariwon series, I had several people complain about the made up or difficult to pronounce names which I found perplexing because odd or new names don’t bother me. How do you pick the names for your characters and when you do, do you ever consider if your readers will struggle with them?

Usually the characters come with their names to me. Seldom do I have to invent one. I have, though, and usually pick a letter and then start saying words until one sticks with me. I usually sound the name of my characters in Spanish and I am picky about how they are pronounced. For this reason I have a table of pronunciation at the beginning of my books.

What advice would you give to people who have a desire to write, but haven’t for any number of reasons?

Do it and do it now. It is a journey that will change your life and keep you on the seat of your pants.

Where can people go to find out more about you and your other works?

My website: http://www.annadelc.com

Amazon: http://ning.it/19iThs3

Barns & Noble. http://ning.it/1744E2U

Jason it was a pleasure to visit your blog today. Thank you so much.