On Theme

Today I'm guesting over on Fantasy and Sci-Fi-Lovin' Girl's Blog here.

On Theme

From the inbox:

Hello, I’m doing a book report on your book. Can you tell me the theme of The Demon King? Also if you could give me a list of your major and minor characters, the major conflict and its resolution, it would help me out a lot. –Signed, Desperate in Des Moines

Ah, theme. Why not go straight to the author when you’re on deadline? Didn’t you ever want to raise your hand in English class during the discussion of The Lord of the Flies, and say, “Well, actually, I emailed William Golding last night, and Golding said he didn’t make Jack red-headed as a symbol of anarchy. Jack was modeled after this obnoxious red-headed kid he knew growing up.”

My usual answer to theme questions is that readers and writers are partners in story, and that every reader has a different take-away based on his personal history and beliefs. So, I say, decide for yourself what the theme is, but be ready to defend it.

Kids hate this. 

(see the rest here. )

Fear of Fantasy

Today I'm visiting the Sci Fi Guy on my Exiled Queen blogtour. Wander over there to see how to make fantasy accessible to non-fantasy readers.  

On Violence in Teen Books

Bestselling author and lit diva Cynthia Leitich Smith is hosting me over on her blog, Cynsations. Check out my guest post on Violence in Teen Books.

Come Visit Me On My Q&A Page on Goodreads!

I'm hosting a Featured Author discussion on Goodreads from October 11-17. The group is set up now, though, and you can join any time. There I'll answer questions, reveal secrets, and basically discuss both the Heir Chronicles and The Seven Realms. So if there's anything you've ever wanted to ask me, here's your chance!

I'll be "on duty" from October 11-17, but will be stopping in when I can before then.

   

       

                  Q&A with Cinda Williams Chima       

                8 members
        Join New York Times bestselling author Cinda Williams Chima as she discusses her new novel The Exile...

         

               

Books we've read

                                           

                                     
                The Warrior Heir

                by Cinda Williams Chima

                   
                 

                  

                                     

                                     
                The Wizard Heir

                by Cinda Williams Chima

                   
                 

                  

                   
               
               

View this group on Goodreads »
             
               

         

       

   

The Exiled Queen Author Tour (update)--New York City 10/7/10

Hello, everyone! I added an event to my book tour list!

I'll be at Books of Wonder on October 7th from 5 to 7 p.m. Hope to see some of you there!


View The Exiled Queen Book Tour Fall, 2010 in a larger map

To see the entire tour on a larger map, click here.

The Secret Lives of Fantasy Writers

Many people think of the lives of writers as glamorous and exciting, flitting from book launch to movie premiere, and traveling to exotic locales for research purposes. We work in our pajamas, while the afternoons away in coffee houses, and hang with A-list folks like bookstore owners, teachers, and librarians.
Maybe you think that’s the reason that your favorite author hasn’t finished the sequel you’ve been dying to read.
Real or not real?
I’m here to tell you that authors work very, very hard. Yes, they do. In the interest of setting the record straight, I thought I would share some of the ways we fantasy authors spend our time.


Keeping up to date on the literature in our chosen genre.

Conducting dangerous field research into the habits of magical creatures.

 Sometimes we interview magically-gifted individuals

Or consult experts in period weaponry

torture devices

and medieval prisons.

(Don’t let that brilliant smile fool you—it was terrifying.)

Sure, from time to time we may stay a few days in a castle,

 but do note that we’re hard at work interviewing the staff to gather real-life stories and authentic gossip, what we novelists call “color.”

We often seek mentorship from other authors, hoping their success might rub off on us.

And engage in secret writerly rituals

like obsessively checking our Amazon ratings and setting fire to books that are more popular than ours.

After all of that effort, sometimes an intervention is necessary. This usually involves festive beverages.

All in all, it's an arduous life!

The Exiled Queen Author Tour

Wow!! Can you believe it? The Demon King just released in paperback and The Exiled Queen release is only weeks away. Did you think this day would ever come? (I didn't.)

We are working on plans for my tour for the release of The Exiled Queen, and I've been working on a tour map to post on my website and blogs. The book will launch at The Learned Owl in Hudson, OH on September 28, 2010, and after that I'll be in Minneapolis, St. Louis, Cincinnati, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Illinois, Texas, and Orlando, what with one thing and another. I hope I'm coming somewhere near you!


View The Exiled Queen Book Tour Fall, 2010 in a larger map