Q & A with author Minnette Meador

Minnette Meador is an author to start watching.  This year she'll have a boatload of books out.  I'm going to ask her about her first release for 2008.

Q: What is the first book you'll have out?  What is its blurb?

A: STARSIGHT.  Trenara never thought she would have to guide a student she loved to become a messiah, but it is the only way this second trial Starguider can salvage her world. Torn between her devotion to Joshan and the fate of her kind, Trenara struggles against accusations of murder, the onset of war, and the loss of her faith in gods who have turned their backs on her. The only people she can trust to help them are two war-ravaged heroes; the boy's life-long trainer and an old sea captain everyone thought was a ghost. Their only weapon, a ten-year-old boy who wakes one morning to find his childhood gone and his hands filled with a power he couldn't possibly understand--or control. Together they must destroy a psychotic enemy and a religious order that has been running the Imperium for a thousand years; a system they have all taken blood vows to protect.

Q: When is your book coming out, how do we pre-order?

A: Starsight will be out on March 10, 2008, but you can pre-order it by going to www.stonegarden.net. After that, it will be available through Stonegarden, Amazon, Barnes & Nobel, Borders and other book sites for ordering.
 
Q: What types of things inspire such fantasy out of you?

A:  I am a fantasy fanatic and read everything I can get my hands on, including high, low, dark, comedy, or any other fantasy genre out there. I love the idea of magic, but more, I love the idea of what humans do with it and how those around them cope with what they do. That's always where the story is for me. I very closely watch people who have power thrust upon them, politicians, celebrities and, even lottery winners. It's kind of interesting to see what people do when their wildest dreams come true. It's not all fairy tales and happily ever afters! It's the old adage: "Be careful what you wish for." Even with imaginary wizards (er, uh...Starguiders, in my case - ~LOL~)
 
Q: Have any genre authors inspired what you write?

A: Definitely.  I have many favorites, but Tolkien, Piers Anthony, Spider Robinson, Robert Heinlein, Mary Stewart, Anne McCaffrey, Terry Pratchett, and Douglass Adams are at the top of my list. Piers and Spider have always been my fantasy/sci-fi favorites; I love a book that makes me laugh! I'm a terrible punster, so have a deep respect for those who are not.
 
Q: How does your own spirituality affect your novels?

A: I am a firm believer that everyone has the ability to perform outrageous feats of magic...what they lack is the awareness. People are incredibly powerful, they just don't know it. It will be an interesting world one day when we all figure that out! I think my books demonstrate a truism I've lived by my whole life: You are ALWAYS responsible for your own condition, no matter what. It makes for interesting philosophical discussions over coffee, heated debates with other "spiritual types", and agonizing hours of writing at the computer. Human being just love a game, and will always stir things up when things are going "too well."

Q:  When you write do you outline the plot and characters first, or do you make it (and them) up as you go along?

A: With Starsight, I had a general outline and character sketches...at least the 2nd time around. This went through a complete overhaul two years ago and I haven't looked back. On other books I write, especially historical pieces, I try to outline everything before I start...it saves a ton of time when I'm putting it together and keeps me on the path of the story---and more importantly, I don't miss plot points (always difficult to go back to add plot points and foreshadowing, let me tell you!). That way I can concentrate on style, wording, timing, etc. while I write - a little less editing, too, if I do it right. HOWEVER, those pesky characters ALWAYS have something else in mind; I can't tell you how often I've been sabotaged by a character who simply will not behave himself and runs off to do his own thing. But, between you and me, he is usually right. I've only recently starting using character sheets and I really like them, especially for secondary characters. I didn't always flesh them out before I start, choosing instead to concentrate on the main characters. What I've discovered is the secondaries are people, too. Trust me; they get pretty ticked off when they don't have any skin on their backs!
 
Q: Is this novel part of a series?

A: Yes. There is a second part of this coming out from Stonegarden in November (Volume II). I am also planning a third in the series and a prequel. There may be others.