Hooray!! An author interview! And it’s with the lovely Kamilla Reid, author of the delightful The Questory of Root Karbunkulus (see my review here). She most graciously and expeditiously responded to the following interrogation:
TBS: There are some very creative things with very creative names in the DreAmm world (chorm, bulks, tree tears, beanbugs, etc.). What did you use for inspiration – both for the items and the names?
KR: I get my ideas from so many different things around me, sometimes a conversation will spark an idea or a picture or a song. Actually a lot of my inspiration comes from the natural world, whether that be the particular behavior of unique animals or trees or insects or sea creatures. There’s a wealth of ‘what if’ there :) As to naming them once they’ve been invented, most of the time I play around with sounds until I find something that, to me really captures the essence of the character. It’s one of my favorite things to do. I’ve got pages of names just waiting to be delegated!
TBS: I particularly loved the hovermutts!! Are they your dream pet? If not, what is?
KR: I love dogs! I’ve got two at home and you’ll get a kick out of this, their names are Stogie and Hana. :) So, I’d have to say a Hovermutt would be a pretty awesome dream pet! It’s funny, out of all DreAmm’s beasts and creatures (which are many!), the Hovermutts are the unanimous favorites among my readers! Then comes Betty, the snooping, spying Wisteria vine. She seems to be quite loved, too!
TBS: The questory is obviously far from over. How many installments can we expect? Do you know (and can you tell us) the general outline of the series?
KR: There are five more books to come in the series, one for each successional item and each ending with the elimination of a team. So, in this first book, out of all those hundreds of teams, only six remain to compete for the next item (book 2). And of those, only five will advance to the next item (book 3), then four teams will race for item three (book 4) and so on until only two teams remain to go after the last item. Of course there is another, deeper, darker agenda going on and Root will learn the terrifying truth behind the mysterious items. She will also discover, to her horror that she is not a player in an innocent kid’s race but a pawn in a vicious adult game.
TBS: Congratulations on publishing your first novel!! What is your favorite part of being a published author? Why did you decided to write a YA fantasy series versus, say, a book about lipstick?
KR: I love that I am living my dream. As much as I enjoyed theatre (and I do miss it often), I had grown tired of the restrictions of low budgets and I just couldn’t treadmill out another 6-person musical. Now, I can slip into my Imagination PJ’s and let it fly…It’s awesome! I didn’t really consciously decide to write teen fantasy, it just kinda came to me that way and I’ve never been very good with lipstick…it always comes off seconds after I apply. :)
TBS: Will you tell us a little bit about your writing habits? Are you a nocturnal writer? Do you have any superstitious writing protocols (do you have to wear a flannel shirt or twirl in a circle ten times before sitting down)?
KR: I write early in the morning…like really early…stupid early. Usually after a jog with my pooches. I don’t think I have any superstitious rituals to do first. However, Stogie is always sleeping at my feet and I feel kind of naked without him…well, my feet do. Does that count?
TBS: What book are you reading right now?
KR: I’m reading my first YA romance, Thirteen Blue Envelopes by Maureen Johnson. Then I’m on to Coraline by Neil Gaiman, The Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart and Making Money by Terry Pratchett. Woohoo!
TBS: Anything else you’re just dying to tell your potential readers?
KR: Hmmmm…I have one long black hair on my chest. Oops, did I write that out loud? No, seriously, thank you so much for taking the time to read this. I am more than happy and thrilled to share “The Questory” with you and would love to hear any comments or questions you might have :)
Thanks, Kamilla! Okay, everyone, go read The Questory of Root Karbunkulus!
*GIVEAWAY WINNER* And the grand-prize winner of a SIGNED copy of The Questory of Root Karbunkulus is . . . Suey at It’s All About Books! Congratulations, Suey. I’ll be emailing you for your address. Thanks to everyone else who participated.
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I want to read ‘The Questory!’
And I want a Hovermutt.
Wahoo! It’s amazing to win something, you know. I’m so excited. Thanks Jessica! :)
Great interview. I’m really looking forward to this book.
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