And the winner of The Fairy Tale Trap giveaway is:
Katey!
Congratulations Katey.
I know you’ll like this imaginative and fun retake of my favorite fairy tale as much as I did!
February 3, 2012
February 2, 2012
My Road to Publication: Sabrina Benulis
Interviewed by Carmen Ferreiro-Esteban
Today, the talented Sabrina Benulis, author of Archon (Harper Voyager, December 2011) has joined us at Dare to Read to talk about her book and her road to publication.
Please make Sabrina feel welcome by leaving your comments below.
Hi Sabrina, welcome to Dare to Read. First of all could you tell us where the story started. In other words:
Q. Why did you write Archon?
A. Initially, I wrote ARCHON and what would be the framework for its sequels for the sheer enjoyment of it. The novel had been simmering in the back of my mind, slowly building itself up on its own for quite a while during my latter college years. At that time, there were hardly any novels that had angels in them to be found–especially in fantasy–and I had a rich reading background in mythology and world religions. That, combined with my desire to create a very original story, something that hadn’t been done before, spurred me to write and revise, and revise and write, until the trilogy was (at that time anyway) finished.
Q. What genre is it?
A. THE BOOKS OF RAZIEL trilogy is gothic fantasy. However, the plot is written in the style of a thriller as there are many mysteries important to the story.
Q. Who is the expected audience?
A. Older teens and adults would be the appropriate readers, especially people who like paranormal thrillers and unique fiction. I’ve been told Anne Rice’s work is similar to mine in tone and atmosphere. Perhaps I could also compare it to dark fantasy like Holly Black’s. I’ve also heard mention of Anne Bishop’s The Black Jewels series. The marketing has thus far tried to wedge me in with other paranormal romance authors with novels about fallen angels, but that is ultimately a skewed comparison. There is romance in my story, but it develops slowly and does not put the novel solidly in that category. In essence, I’m what you want to read if you’re tired of the same old thing.
Q. Who designed your cover which, BTW, is outstanding?
A. A graphic artist who goes by the name of Nekro was contracted for the cover. He does great gothic-style illustrations and is apparently becoming quite popular lately.
Q. How does the cover reflect your story?
A. The two characters on the cover are the protagonist of ARCHON, a red-haired girl named Angela Mathers, and a great angel named Israfel who would be her love interest if not for the fact that he comes off as a villain. Whether or not this is true is revealed in later books. Overall, the colors of the cover are perfect for the book, as coincidentally black, white, and red are quite prominent in the story for different reasons. Also, the gothic sensibility with the cathedral and Angela’s tattered dress fit the atmosphere of the novel almost perfectly. As she stands in front of the church doors, you get the sense that both she and the reader are being invited to experience something special.
Q. In which formats is your book available?
A. ARCHON is available as a hardcover and most e-book formats. The paperback should be coming out around fall of 2012. From what I understand, the international version is also a paperback.
Q. Could you share with us how did you get your agent and publisher interested on Archon.
A. I got my agent the old-fashioned way, by query. After she read my query, she immediately wanted to read the entire novel (as it was back then), and after a preliminary revision, I was taken on as a client. I then had to go through another revision before the book could be sent out to publishers, and when Harper Collins took me on as an author, I had to do an entire rewrite of the book! (And in a month and a half!) They initially took a keen interest in my novel series mostly because of the unique way I protrayed angels and demons, which fascinated them. It was they who also emphasized that they wanted me to make the book more gothic, bringing out a very supernatural atmosphere.
ARCHON was not the easiest book to get published, mostly because it is so very different. It crosses a lot of genres, takes a lot of chances, and does things with the plot that just haven’t been attempted before, especially in its sub-genre. But at the same time, that uniqueness was what got it published in the end, and if anything, it should be a lesson for authors to write what they love.
Q. Any final advice you want to share with our readers who are considering self-publishing?
A. For any reader who wishes to be an author, remember that as long as you believe in your story, others will too. In this industry, it’s all about perseverance.
Thank you so much Sabrina for being with us today and answer our questions so honestly.
Let’s hope your audience embrace Archon for its uniqueness and loves it as much as I did.
For my review of Archon please go to http://www.myshelf.com/teen/fiction/12/archon.htm
Sabrina Benulis lives in Pennsylvania with her husband and a short-tempered cockatiel. When she isn’t hard at work revising and writing that next novel, she can be found watching anime, reading, or anxiously awaiting her next beach vacation. Sabrina has a Masters in Writing Popular Fiction from Seton Hill University, and ARCHON is her first novel. When asked how real her angels might be, she often shrugs and smiles mysteriously.
November 1, 2011
Two positive Reviews of Two Moon Princess
by Carmen Ferreiro-Esteban
Today, my YA novel Two Moon Princess received not one, but two positive reviews.
Hannah at http://hannahmariska.blogspot.com/2011/10/review-two-moon-princess.html, says:
“Seamlessly blending historical and contemporary fiction, Two Moon Princess creates a superb and fast paced tale of a young girl trying to find her place in one world, only that discover that she might be destined for another.”
Namine at http://clutterboxread.blogspot.com/2011/10/two-mood-princess-by-carmen-ferreiro.html, writes a very personal and disconnected review that ends as follows: “I love the travel and it seems the more I like a book the worse sort of review I do… so read it, enjoy it and write a better review for me to link up to! 
“
Thank you so much Hannah and Namine. You made my day.
October 10, 2011
Steampunk versus Gaslight Fantasy
Steampunk is the new “it” in the wish list of agents that represent YA and MG authors.
But there is another term for a similar genre. The term is “Gaslight Fantasy,” and I learned about it today while reading Lia Keyes’ s wonderful post “A Past That Never Was” at the Enchanted Inkpot.
If you are intrigued by these terms and you want to know more about these hot sub genres of SciFi/Fantasy please join us at:
http://enchantedinkpot.livejournal.com/104323.html?view=1610115#t1610115
September 21, 2011
Dawn Metcalf Heartfelt Discussion on Small Heroes
by Carmen Ferreiro-Esteban
What is it about the smallest heroes who capture our hearts? Dawn Metcalf asks in her blog at The Enchanted Inkpot. Join her at http://enchantedinkpot.livejournal.com/102651.html to understand why we do.
July 19, 2011
Little Known Fantasy Books We Love
by Carmen Ferreiro-Esteban
If you like Fantasy, and are looking for something new to read, you may want to check these less well-known fantasy stories the bloggers at The Enchanted Inkpot recommend.
http://enchantedinkpot.livejournal.com/96447.html
My recommendation is The Shamer’s Chronicles. You can read my review of the last volume on the series here: http://carmenferreiroesteban.wordpress.com/2008/04/06/book-reviews/
June 25, 2011
Wonderful Fantasies at Books of Wonder
This is tthe wonderful poster Books of Wonder at NYC has created announcing the book signing of Two Moon Princess and five other wonderful fantasies this Sunday.
May 16, 2011
Middle Grade/Young Adult? Does it matter?
by Carmen Ferreiro-Esteban
Today at The Enchanted Inkpot, Kate Coombs discuss the no man’s land of books for older MG or younger YA, AKA tweens.
Do you as a reader hesitate to pick a book because it is labelled MG or YA?
Follow the link below to join in the discussion:
http://enchantedinkpot.livejournal.com/9065http://enchantedinkpot.livejournal.com/90652.html2.html
May 9, 2011
Wanted: Loving, Caring Mother. Missing in Fairy Tales
by Carmen Ferreiro-Esteban
When the children are the protagonists of the story, the mothers must go.
If you want to explore how different writers approach this subject in fantasy, check my post at The Enchanged Inkpot.
May 2, 2011
Suspension of Disbelief
Go to http://enchantedinkpot.livejournal.com/89724.html to learn how different authors make you (and their characters) believe the unbelievable.
This is my approach:
Hard evidence works for me
I’m all for throwing undeniable proof at the protagonist.
In Two Moon Princess, Andrea enters an arch in her world and when she steps out, she is in a different place altogether. You can’t disbelieve that.
In my current novel, the “boyfriend” stops time the first time he meets the protagonist. She gets the hint.
