From the Shadows I Review: ***Blog Tour Interview & Giveaway*** Clare C. Marshall

First of all:

Can you tell us a bit about yourself?

Sure! I’m a 24-year-old author-publisher in Canada. I write and publish science fiction, fantasy, and horror/thriller books for young adults. I’m also a freelance editor, designer, and web manager. I enjoy challenging myself and I don’t believe in waiting for good things or opportunities to arise—one must create their own opportunities in this day and age.

General let’s get to know you:

1.Do you write under your own name or with a pseudonym? If yes why did you choose that name? If no what would be your pseudonym?

I write under my own name, Clare C. Marshall. If I were to write under a pseudonym… if you had’ve asked me this 10 years ago, I would’ve chosen the name of one of my characters. Today, I’d probably choose a) something completely ridiculous and intriguing b) something sexless and short with my initials.

2.What do you do when you’re not writing?

Working! I have client work that keeps me quite busy. When I’m not working on books or writing my own, I enjoy playing computer games and surfing the internet about topics that interest me.

3.Do you have any pets/children (they’re pretty much the same right? :P)? And do you find that they can be distracting?

No children, no pets. I would not mind having a little kitty but I really do not have time to look after someone else (or something else) when I am trying to build my career!

4.What’s your favourite snack food?

I discovered a few months ago I’m gluten intolerant so that really changed what I snack on. I now enjoy Larabar Bars, rice cakes, popcorn (when popped from kernels), and Sesame Seed Snacks.

5.A lot of writers drink a lot of caffeine, do you? If yes in what form?

I try not to drink a lot of caffeine because I already have a lot of natural energy. So I only resort to energy drinks or coffee when I’m on deadline—personal or professional. I enjoy Xenergy energy drinks and flavoured coffees.

About Your Book:

1.What inspired you to write your book?

I wanted to write a story about a group of very different people coming together to fight a common foe. I also wanted to write a science fiction story, and I wanted to incorporate an overall mystery that would come together at the end of the series.

2.Who was your favourite and least favourite characters to write?

I enjoyed putting in small drops of Joseph G. Campbell, the mysterious alien who seems to want to help Ingrid, the protagonist, in her quest to save Sunni and Sparkstone University. He will return in future books, as he pulls more strings than we know.

Least favourite? I don’t really have a least favourite character, I have to like all of my characters else I wouldn’t like writing them, and they wouldn’t make it into the story.

3.Did you have a playlist while you wrote your book? If so can we have a sneak peek of it?

I’ve enjoyed listening to independent instrumental composers as of late, including Adrian Von Ziegler and BrunuhVille.

http://www.youtube.com/user/AdrianvonZiegler

http://www.youtube.com/user/BrunuhVille

For this series, as it incorporates a lot of references to Eastern Canadian folk music & Celtic fiddle music, I also enjoyed listening to Stan Rogers, Rita McNeil, the Rankins, the Barra MacNeils, Natalie MacMaster, Ashley MacIssac and others.

4.How long did it take you to write your book and what distracts you the most?

Stars In Her Eyes took a couple of months to get to a place where I was satisfied with it. It was originally written as a screenplay so that was really the “first draft” of the story.

I get distracted at about the 80-90% point in most projects. I don’t know why—I just need an extra kick in the bum to get things done sometimes!

5.Would you ever consider writing more stories featuring your character?

Yes, the Sparkstone series is a saga, so there will be plenty of books to come featuring the protagonists—and maybe even a prequel or two.

About books in general:

1.What is your favourite book(s)?

I have many different favourites, for different reasons. Maggie Stiefvater’s books are among my favourites however.

2.Is there a book/series that you wish you’d written?

I could say that I wish I would’ve written the Harry Potter series, but then I might not enjoy it as much as I do now, and things might have turned out a little differently at the end. Obviously writing the Harry Potter series worked out quite well to Ms. Rowling, and I hope that someday one of my books/series will be just as successful.

3.How do you like to read?

On my kindle or with a physical book, it doesn’t matter, as long as I’m curled up somewhere warm 

4.Which authors inspired you to write?

No one author inspired me to start writing—I’ve always wanted to be a writer since I was very little. However I enjoy Maggie Stiefvater, George R.R. Martin, and Beth Revis.

5.How has your taste in books evolved over the years?

I’m more selective about what I read now because I don’t set as much time aside for reading as I used to. I’ve actually come to prefer audiobooks as a format in the past few months because I can listen to them while I work.

Quick fire:

1.Morning or night person?

Morning or late at night, but definitely not afternoon, that is when I am most sleepy!

2.Tv or books?

Both?

3.British or American accent?

Irish accents 

4.Cats or dogs?

Kitties!

5.Writing on paper or laptop?

I write on my desktop 

Purchasing and getting in touch:

1.In a sentence why should people buy your book?

If you have ever wanted to wield impossible power, if you have ever wanted to become immersed in a galactic mystery, if you have ever been stuck in a place and longed for home—you should read Stars In Her Eyes, and every other forthcoming book in the Sparkstone series.

2.What formats is your book available in?

Stars In Her Eyes is available in print, in ePub format, in mobi (Kindle) format and in PDF!

3.Where can we buy your book?

You can buy Stars In Her Eyes:

-Direct from Faery Ink Press: http://www.faeryinkpress.com/books/stars-in-her-eyes

-Amazon (print and Kindle)

-Smashwords

-in select bookstores in Canada, including McNally Robinson http://www.mcnallyrobinson.com/home

4.Where can we follow you on Facebook or Twitter?

Facebook: http://facebook.com/faeryinkpress

Twitter: http://twitter.com/ClareMarshall13

http://twitter.com/faeryinkpress