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Category: Interviews

Interview & Giveaway: Elizabeth Chadwick, author of For the King’s Favor

[ 159 ] September 2, 2010

Please welcome Elizabeth Chadwick, author of For the King’s Favor!

Interview

Probably the most obvious question to ask (given your research in into William Marshal, the early Plantagenets, and subsequently Roger Bigod) is why you do not touch upon the growing Robin Hood tales that arise from this time period? Do you feel that the Robin Hood of legend is based upon Marshal or Bigod or not based upon anyone in particular?

Elizabeth: I actually do touch upon the possibility of the Robin Hood legend in my novel Lords of the White Castle, which is about the Shropshire outlaw Fulke FitzWarin. Fulke is thought by many historians to be one of the originators of the Robin Hood legends that were later brought together from various sources. Robin Hood is very ephemeral in the late 12th century and there is no mention of him by name and deed in any primary source research material pertaining to the period covered by William Marshal and Roger Bigod – nor would I expect there to be. The Fulke FitzWarin story was actually written after William and Roger’s death, so is not of their period, which is why he isn’t in my books. If their timelines had worked out better, perhaps things would have been different!

You talk about the belief that “each person leaves behind an indelible record of themselves impressed upon sub-atomic material and that this record can be accessed if one has the ability to tune in at that particular vibrational level.” Do you have the ability to tune in or do you use solely the services of the Akashic consultant Alison King?

Elizabeth: I wish I did have the ability, but I don’t. Alison’s talent with energy work is a very precious and special one. I have no such ability. I am not gullible, but I do have an open mind and I am interested to see that quantum physics is gradually getting to grips with the science of what she does.

What is Akasha? Is this method used by many historical fiction writers? How did you come across this method?

Elizabeth: Unfortunately, I’m not an expert in Akasha; it’s something I turn to Alison (mentioned above) for. Alison does have other historical novelists who are clients, and I know several historians and archaeologists who use similar methods of their own accord. She also utilizes her skill for people interested in genealogy and learning about their ancestors. Readers can obtain a fuller explanation on my website: http://www.elizabethchadwick.com/akashic.html

Nonetheless, I have known Alison for almost 25 years and have always been aware that she is sensitive to energies. While working with clients in the field of NLP (Neuro Linguistic Programming), she discovered that she could tune in and go back to things that had happened in their past that were still affecting them now. She realized that if she could go back 20 years, then why not 200, or 800. We were having an ordinary chat one day and she asked how my novel was coming along. I said fine, but I was having a problem finding out about a particular person because the records were scanty. She asked if I wanted her to tune in and find her. I said okay, and what came through was so astonishing, that I knew I had to investigate further. That was about 6 years ago now, and I have been using Alison’s extraordinary ability to help out with my research ever since. I get the details checked out by someone I know with qualifications in medieval history; I don’t take the details in blind faith. I also use them judiciously with other more conventional forms of research to weave the story.

Are you still actively involved in Regia Anglorum? Does this organization have any affiliation with the Society for Creative Anachronism (very popular in the US and Canada)?

Elizabeth: Yes, I am still involved in Regia Anglorum. This is an early medieval living history society with a brief to recreate life as it was in the 10th, 11th and 12th centuries. The emphasis is on being as accurate as possible. There is an American wing of Regia – RANA (Regia Anglorum North America). Some of the members are SCA members, but there is no affiliation as such

What attracted you to researching this era of history?

Elizabeth: My interest stemmed from when I first began researching historical fiction— the late Anglo Saxon, Norman and Angevin period. Henry II, Richard I and John are known as the Angevin kings, and before them it was the house of Normandy. I had fallen for a handsome knight in a TV programme who happened to live in the mid twelfth century. I began writing a sort of fan fiction about him and because I wanted it to feel as real as possible, I went to the library and began researching the period. The more I researched the more interested I became and the more I wanted to write about that time in history. But the original catalyst was a tall, dark, handsome guy in flowing robes with a sword in his hand!

What are your three favorite books of all time?

Elizabeth: This is a tough one! I don’t think anyone can choose their three favorite books. How do you narrow it down? Plus tastes change over time. I have books on my keeper shelves that are there because I loved them when I was 15, but not all of them have stood the test of time. I can tell you three books that are favorites though, among many favorites.

1. Hanta Yo by Ruth Beebee Hill

2. Here Be Dragons by Sharon Kay Penman

3. Alinor by Roberta Gellis

What are you working on next?

Elizabeth: A novel titled Lady of the English. It’s about two linked but very different women in English history; one an empress and one a queen. Matilda is the daughter of King Henry I and an empress by marriage to her German royal husband. When her husband dies, she returns to England, is forced into marriage with a 14 year old boy, and then has to fight for her right to inherit the crown. Adeliza is queen of England and Matilda’s stepmother, although she is in fact younger than her. When King Henry I dies, Adeliza remarries a baron on the opposing side to Matilda in the conflict for the English throne. She loves her husband and she loves Matilda and wants to be loyal to both. But how can she be? That is her dilemma. It’s about women striving to make their voices heard in a world ruled by men.

For more information, please visit Elizabeth Chadwick’s website.

Giveaway

I have 2 copies of For the King’s Favor to give away!

Mandatory entry: Please comment on this post with your e-mail address.

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- Become a fan on Facebook (2 entries)

This giveaway is open to U.S. and Canada residents only. Deadline to enter is midnight on September 20th.

Giveaway copies were provided free of any obligation by Sourcebooks Landmark. No monetary or any other form of compensation was received.

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Interview: Claire Avery, author of Hidden Wives

[ 11 ] August 22, 2010

Please welcome sisters Mari Hilburn and Michelle Poche, pseudonym Claire Avery, as they answer a few questions about their new book, Hidden Wives!

Hidden Wives (check out my review) was my favorite book this summer, if not all year, and I jumped at the chance to learn more about Mari and Michelle! They will also be participating in our Blogmania event in September!

For more information please visit www.claireaveryauthor.com.

Interview

The back of Hidden Wives says that you grew up in a Fundamentalist Catholic community, and later became interested in other extreme religions. Was your upbringing the main influence behind the subject of the book? Why did you pick Fundamentalist Mormons in particular?

Claire Avery: The whole theme of religious extremism was derived from personal experience, and we certainly feel that our childhood background was the catalyst for the basic premise of Hidden Wives. One of the first things we thought of when we heard about polygamy going on in this country was that if our father had been Mormon instead of Catholic, we almost certainly would have been raised in polygamy as fundamentalist Mormons. Our father was drawn to extremism within his faith. We picked Fundamentalist Mormons after watching a documentary on the topic. We were stunned to find out that the forced marriage of underage girls to much older polygamist men could go on in 21st century America.

Do you watch the show Big Love?

Claire Avery: No, neither of us has ever seen it, although we’ve heard it’s a very compelling show. However, it depicts a polygamist lifestyle where there is more choice on the part of the women involved. We have done extensive research on the topic of polygamy, and we talked to several women who had lived it and escaped that lifestyle. These women had very negative experiences with it. We know that some people find it just an alternative lifestyle, but we approached the topic of polygamy from the point of view of two young girls who have never had a “real” choice in whom they were to marry.

Fundamentalist Mormon lifestyle is up and coming subject matter in recent literature. Do you think that fictional books are helping to bring more attention to the plight of actual people living in these communities?

Claire Avery: Absolutely. We hoped that a fiction venue would expand the audience of readers and increase awareness of the problem. Many people read fiction exclusively, often for entertainment purposes. We hoped to both entertain and educate readers on the topic. From the first moment we discovered that the forced marriages of underage girls were going on in the United States, we were outraged. As soon as we decided to write a novel about the topic, we agreed that first and foremost we wanted to honor all the victims of polygamy. Secondly, we hoped to keep the plight of these victims in the media spotlight. We are so grateful that the topic is getting more attention, and that the public is aware that there are several organizations out there set up to help all victims of polygamy.

Who do you identify with more, Sara or Rachel?

Claire Avery: When we were creating the characters of Sara and Rachel we wanted to include two vastly different perspectives. We were raised to always see the good in others, and to forgive, no matter what was done to you. In those ways, we could understand Rachel’s psyche. Both girls were indoctrinated into fundamentalism, but one girl could more readily see the hypocrisy, irrationality and harm from the fanaticism, and the other girl, because of her guilt and fear, couldn’t even consider the possibility that her religion was deeply flawed.

Rachel was ultimately harder to identify with because she accepted all of it, although again, we understood her behavior, having ourselves been raised in a strict religious environment where guilt and fear were prevalent emotions. Sara’s love of learning, insatiable intellectual curiosity, and ultimately, her ability to see the hypocrisy all around her, made her easier to relate to than Rachel. Like Sara, we were avid readers growing up and books ultimately became our salvation. Reading opened our minds to different viewpoints; some of those viewpoints were directly oppositional to our religious indoctrination. However, we were able to write Rachel, hopefully in a convincing way, because we understand how difficult it is to reject what you are taught your entire life.

What is the most difficult thing about having two people write one book?

Claire Avery: The most difficult thing we dealt with in the past was when we had two competing visions for either a pivotal character or a major plot point. We both write on all the characters, so it’s very important that the voice of each character remains consistent, and obviously the plot needs to be cohesive as well as compelling. We usually talk our differences out, and because we each make an argument for our respective positions, we often end up utilizing the best suggestions from both sides. Hopefully, a stronger story and deeper characters are the end result.

Which authors were you influenced by growing up?

Claire Avery: Our father read C.S. Lewis to us as very young children. We were captivated by Chronicles of Narnia. We also loved Laura Ingalls Wilder, Roald Dahl, Judy Blume, Madeline L’Engle and Tolkien.

What are your three favorite books of all time?

Claire Avery: How do you choose? Certainly these books are in the all time favorite category:

Mari: White Oleander, A Thousand Splendid Suns, Anna Karenina.

Michelle: The Red Tent, The Crimson Petal and the White, The Poisonwood Bible.

What are you working on next?

Claire Avery: The new book, currently in final revisions, has to do with a woman who raises a child for 12 years, assuming the girl is her biological daughter. When the child gets sick, she finds out the girl could not possibly be her biological child. The book is not about what it seems to be on the surface, and we hope readers will be surprised and really start thinking about some of the deeper issues that the story raises.

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Interview: John R. Coats, author of “Original Sinners”

[ 3 ] July 22, 2010

Please welcome John R. Coats as he answers a few questions about his new book, Original Sinners: A New Interpretation of Genesis!

John R. Coats holds his master’s degrees from Virginia Theological Seminary and Bennington College Writing Seminars. A former Episcopal priest, he was a principal speaker and seminar leader for the More To Life training program in the United States, Great Britain, and South Africa and an independent management consultant. He lives with his wife in Houston, Texas.

For more information please visit www.JohnRCoats.com and connect with him on Facebook.

Interview

What inspired you to write a book based on the book of Genesis?
John: I wanted to do something different, to write a commentary on Genesis that took the conversation above the tiresomeness of the “is too,” “is not” squabble over whether the Bible is history. And I wanted to speak to both sides of that debate. The method I chose, learned some forty years ago, is not the usual extraction of a religious cum doctrinal lesson from the text, but that of mining the text for the human issues at its center, asking questions such as, “How are they like me, like us?” “If I dig around in their stories, will I see my own, something I need to see, however painful or pleasant?” “Might I understand more about me, about us, about being human?” I have a hunch that the book had been writing itself for decades, waiting for me to notice. It was Phillip Lopate, my teacher during my last semester at The Bennington Writing Seminars, who suggested that I draw from my biblical-theological background. When I’d written two essays, parts of which are in the book, he encouraged me to write a book. Three and a half years later, Original Sinners was published.

After reading Original Sinners, people unfamiliar or new to the stories of Genesis might acquire an opinion far from a major consensus. Could you describe an argument that might arise from an encounter between these two perspectives?
John: Let’s say the reader in question is a single young woman raised in a “Bible-believing” family in a mid-sized American city. Taking a new job, she moves to a large city where she acquires a new, more cosmopolitan circle of friends. Their attitude toward religion and the Bible, while it is shocking to her, does lead her to question what she’d always assumed, to open up. She likes the freedom of it—a lot. But let it all go? Why the limited choices? One day she picks up a copy of my book and is surprised to discover that there is a tradition that offers a third choice. A few days later, she arrives at an event attended by her parents and several of her most vocal friends. She makes the introductions, and as she opens her briefcase to retrieve something, one of her friends spots the book, grabs it, and says, “You’re reading about Genesis?” Her parents, fearing their daughter had gone astray, say, “You’re reading about Genesis?”

She’s in a very tough position. The rise of religious fundamentalism with its denial of science and inherent threat to free thought and expression has spawned a pro-science, anti-Bible, and very expressive counter-movement in the “New Atheists.” The players on both sides of this game have little, if any, room for those who disagree with the “correct” position.

Are you ever surprised by the types of readers you find enjoying Original Sinners?
John: I think my primary audience is the curious reader who is interested neither in being saved by religion nor in being saved from it, who, on seeing the word “Genesis” in the book’s title, will not assume to “know”, without further inquiry, what he or she will find between its covers. I thought the book would find an audience among readers who considered themselves “searchers,” “thinkers,” people who, at most, would likely never be more than marginally involved in religion but, nevertheless, might be curious about finding a way into the biblical material that did not require them to believe this or that. And it has. Where I’ve been surprised is hearing from conservative Christians who’ve found it useful. And there’ve been a few biblical scholars who’ve liked it, and others with advanced degrees as well as readers, men and women I know from my consulting days, others, whose lack of formal education past, say, high school has not in the least hampered their curiosity.

What kind of research did you have to undergo for this book? What fascinated you the most?
John: Lots of research, more than I’d imagined, and it was all fascinating. But then, I’m one of those odd ducks who loves spending day after day digging through obscure tomes. Still it had been decades since I’d done any kind of serious biblical studies, so I had some catching up to do. I decided to focus primarily on the Jewish scholars and, one by one, discovered the likes of James Kugel, Tamara Cohn Eskanazi, Robert Alter, Richard Elliott Friedman, Ellen Frankl, Everett Fox, and others. Their scholarship is unparalleled, they are very good writers and never suggest that I believe this or that.

However, I’d have to say that what fascinated me the most was the relationship I formed with the text, itself. I once heard a young man tell of his experience with a T’ai Chi master in Beijing, how it had taken three years of showing up most every morning, whatever the weather, before the master would regard him as a serious student. The old rabbis spoke of their experience with the Torah in the same light—Prove yourself willing to return and, in time, it will begin to reveal its secrets. That may sound strange, as if the “it” I’m referring to is a living thing, yet my experience of returning day after day for more than three years revealed a Genesis I’d never known, one that is alive with subtle meanings.

Do you have any projects lined up for the near future?
John: I now have a blog in the Religion section of the Huffington Post. I’ve been asked to post at least once a week. And I’m laying the groundwork for a book, this one on Exodus. Also, I’ve been making notes for several essays I have in mind. And I have a couple of short stories and a completed novella that I’d like to go back and polish, but that’s for another time.

What would you like your readers to take with them after reading this book?
John: A new method of interpretation, not the usual non-scholar’s method of extracting a religious cum doctrinal lesson from the text, but a way of mining the text for the human issues at its core.

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Interview (& Giveaway) with Ashlyn Chase

[ 183 ] June 30, 2010

Please welcome Ashlyn Chase, author of Strange Neighbors!

A multi-published, award-winning author, Ashlyn Chase specializes in characters who reinvent themselves, having reinvented herself numerous times. Among her many day jobs, she has worked as a psychiatric nurse, run blood drives for the Red Cross, and now uses her degree in behavioral sciences to avoid writing exhaustive character sketches. She lives with her true-life hero husband in beautiful New Hampshire. For more information, please visit http://ashlynchase.com.

Check out our review of Strange Neighbors!

Interview

I noticed you have a degree in behavioral science and worked in the medical field as a psychiatric RN as well as for the American Red Cross. Where did you find the time to write and what inspired you to even try your hand at being an author?
Ashlyn: A true writer can’t not write. (Pardon the double negative.) A creative soul needs a creative outlet. I tried many creative outlets before writing. I even attended Massachusetts College of Art, but finally stumbled upon my forte. I took a 6 week screenwriting course at U. Mass and learned that version of story-telling first. It wasn’t too difficult to take what I already knew and adapt it for the page.

You make time to do what you really love.

Mythology and folklore tend to be a trend in your writing. What would you say is your favorite genre of mythology or folklore?
Ashlyn: I like the Greek Pantheon, probably because I’m more familiar with it. I find Norse and Celtic mythology fascinating too. Am I taking your question about mythology too literally? If you’re talking about the folklore of vampires, werewolves and the like, many writers come up with different interpretations. I adopt and create my own legends as they make sense to me.

Also, I only know a few authors that pick a wereanimal other than the common wolf variety. Why did you choose to go the path of various animals? Is there a particular reason you chose a peregrine falcon as well as why you chose a raven?
Ashlyn: Peregrine falcons are monogamous. I guess that’s always been a bonus in romance. You want to think of your hero and heroine happily committed to only each other. The raven shifter resulted because of my desire for a secondary character with a morbid sense of humor. That can be a lot of fun. The raven has traditionally been thought of as a harbinger of doom.

There are so many different venues and styles of writing due to the availability of the internet and the commonness of “the blog”. How would you say that affects people who want to become published authors in the future? What do you think about the aspect of items such as ebooks and gadgets like the kindle?

Ashlyn: It’s easier to get published than ever before. An e-publisher can take a chance on a new writer since their financial investment is much lower than a traditional print publisher’s. The kindle with its enormous hype brought ebooks out of obscurity—although e-books and e-readers have been around for a long time. I was e-published first and established myself as a prolific and reliable author with a brand and a fan base that loved my voice. That made me a more attractive risk than someone completely untested.

What advice would you give someone who wants to become an author?
Ashlyn: I always give them the same advice given to me. Don’t give up. When you finish polishing your manuscript, send it out and begin the next one. Rinse and repeat, honing your skills until you hit upon the right editor and timing for your work.

What are your three all-time favorite books?
Ashlyn: My taste is very eclectic. Diana Gabeldon’s Outlander series. Okay, that’s several books but Voyager would be my favorite. The first in MJ Davidson’s Betsy the Vampire Queen series, Undead and Unwed. And finally any John Grisham book, although he doesn’t know how to write a sex scene to save his life.

Yes, you can tell him I said that.

Giveaway

I have 2 copies of Strange Neighbors to give away!

Mandatory entry: Please comment on this post with your e-mail address.

Extra entries (please post each entry separately, i.e. 2 posts for subscribing):
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- Become a fan on Facebook (2 entries)

This giveaway is open to U.S. and Canada residents only. Deadline to enter is midnight on July 14th.

Giveaway copies were provided free of any obligation by Sourcebooks Casablanca. No monetary or any other form of compensation was received.

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Review & Interview: "Family Constellations: A Practical Guide to Uncovering the Origins of Family Conflict" by Joy Manne

[ 4 ] May 23, 2010

Reviewed by Erin N.

Dr. Manné, Buddhist Psychologist, has written a guide detailing the method of therapy created by Bert Hellinger: Family Constellation. This method operates on the premise that all behavior patterns are the result of the families we are born into.  The constellation method claims that each family has an “energy field” and that everyone within it holds a unique position. This position determines our ability to cope with stress, feel happiness, engage in healthy relationships, etc. This energy field that holds all the family members in place is created by the family’s history, thus the actions of previous generations (even if there had been no direct contact) influence an individual’s place in this energy field.  The constellation method helps clients discover their place in the energy field, why they are placed where they are, and how to heal from any damage brought about by it.

Family Constellations provides a great deal of case studies to illustrate how this method works.  Despite the disclaimer at the end of the book stating that “no method can resolve all problems,” Dr. Manné’s book provides details on how the constellation method can be used to help a client deal with death, divorce, war, incest, adoption, as well as other incidents. The Foreword, written by Bert Hellinger, claims that this book was “long-awaited” and that “it is such easy and beautiful reading.” Hellinger goes on to say that this book provides many “hints on how to make our lives and are relationships richer and more fulfilling.” It certainly is very detailed and easy to understand, even to those whose background is not in psychotherapy.

Family Constellations provides a unique view on the causes and solutions to many of life’s problems.

 Erin fell in love with the written word as a small child and subsequently spent most of her life happily devouring literature.  She works as a freelance news, marketing, and technical writer.  Erin lives just outside of Cleveland, Ohio with her husband, children, and grandchildren.

Interview with Joy Manne

As you state throughout the book, the “constellation method” was created by Bert Hellinger, a German psychoanalyst. Since Hellinger has written a great deal of literature about this method, what is the purpose of your book?
Manne: Hellinger says in his foreword to my book that it is a long-awaited introduction. Its purpose is to be accessible and it is succeeding. The book, which first came out in French, has become the introduction of choice for French constellators. Hellinger’s books are inspiring and irreplaceable, and they are written for professionals. Many of them are transcriptions and discussions of constellations and their integration done in seminars. My book presents the rules and patterns that govern the family system, allowing readers to understand their own personal position within that system, and thus avoid doing harm to themselves and others in their family and outside it.

Delving into the controversial subjects, you state that the constellation method has revealed that homosexuality is caused by an individual identifying with a family member of the opposite sex. Does this imply that homosexuality can be “cured?
Manne: Homosexuality may be caused by an individual identifying with and trying unconsciously to replace a family member (for example, for a man, his sister or a mother or grandmother who died young and who hasn’t been mourned). Illnesses too are caused through an individual identifying with a family member of the same or of a different sex. Homosexuality is respected. Illnesses are respected.

This is a method that avoids judgments and focuses on the healing that is revealed by truth, when before there has only been pain, and no love. Healing does not mean not being homosexual. Healing does not mean not being ill. Healing comes from seeing and experiencing the underlying dynamic, integrating it and coming to peace with it.

Judgments have no place in constellations. Family Constellations is absolutely not a means of controlling and changing other people.

Your PhD is in Buddhist psychology, what exactly is that?
Manne: My PhD is in the Theravada Buddhist texts in Pali, a language related to Sanskrit, and concerns textual issues (philology) and also the psychology (case histories in particular) in these texts. It was awarded by Utrecht University in Holland and has been published as a series of articles. It has no formal title bestowed by the university, so I call it “Buddhist Psychology” to give people an idea of what I studied, what my specialist field is, and what the most important influence in my life is.

You regularly conduct the family constellations in Switzerland and Poland. Do you plan to branch out to other countries? Are there other constellation practitioners available in other countries?
Manne: I love this work, so if I’m invited by reliable organizers I will be pleased to travel to work in other countries. Yes, there are organizations in many countries now. These can easily be found through Google.

This book was provided free of any obligation by North Atlantic Books. No monetary or any other form of compensation was received.

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