Mythological Romance: The Shadow Reader by Sandy Williams (Interview/Giveaway)

Hi Sandy and welcome to Mythology month! When thinking of authors that take mythology and blend it into their writing I thought of you. The Shadow Reader which was released this past October is about the fae. Did you do a lot of research when you decided to start writing this book?

     I’m not sure if I should admit this, but I did zero research when I started writing The Shadow Reader. Unless you call reading books by Melissa Marr, Richelle Mead, Seanan McGuire, and Patricia Briggs research? Those books are where I gathered most of my knowledge about the fae. I loved their books, and how different the fae/faery were from one story to another (more on that below!).  

I blame a certain middle school teacher for my fascination with mythology, there are so many great ones from every culture. What got you interested in writing about the fae? Do you have a favorite myth or mythical creature?

     I kind of accidentally fell into writing about the fae. My previous manuscript (a vampire book that will forever be trunked) had a secondary character who was fae, but that girl was nothing like the fae in The Shadow Reader. She was mischievous and more than a little crazy. The thing I loved about her, though, was that I felt like I could make her whatever I wanted her to be. There are so many different versions of fae out there in the world, and since I was really intrigued by that character – and since fae aren’t quite as common as vampires – I thought it would be cool to see where a book about the fae would go. I’m a pantser when it comes to writing, so the fae’s history and abilities developed as I made my way through McKenzie’s story. All I knew when I started out was that the fae could fissure (teleport) from one location to the next, they were great with swords, and they could use different types of magic. Everything else fell into place while I was writing.

  

One thing about mythology that I love is how it brings an element of magic, something people don’t believe in anymore. Have you ever wondered what it would have been like to live in a time when everyone believed in magic and mythological creatures?

      LOL. Of course I’ve wondered what it would be like! That’s basically where McKenzie’s      story came from. I wanted to create a very normal character who was thrust into the fae’s world, and while McKenzie’s first encounters with the fae all take place before the events of The Shadow Reader, she reacts the way I and – I think – most other normal people would react if they were in her situation. Of course, in McKenzie’s world, not everyone believes in magic and mythological creatures. If everyone believed… Well, that would be interesting. It would certainly make McKenzie’s life a bit easier!

Would you ever want to have the curtain drop have hidden beings brought into the light like your heroine McKenzie experiences, or rather be kept happily in the dark?

     Hmm. Tough question. I was going to say “Yes! Definitely! I’d want to know!” but if I did                       know, then my stories would have to follow the “real” rules of those hidden beings. I think    I’d rather stay in the dark and keep making stuff up! On the other hand, if there were hot   fae guys who wanted to protect me, then sign me up!

(what a great answer, and I am so with you! Hot fae men, let those walls drop!)

Thanks for stopping by Sandy and talking mythology with us. Can’t wait for October and the release of your second book in the McKenzie Lewis series! 

Thank you for having me!  

Sandy Williams graduated from Texas A&M University with degrees in political science and history. She worked as a librarian until her husband whisked her off to London on an extended business trip. Now, she’s back in Texas, writing full time and moonlighting as a librarian. Visit her on the web at www.sandy-williams.com.

There can only be one allegiance.It’s her time to choose.
Some humans can see the fae. McKenzie Lewis can track them, reading the shadows they leave behind. But some shadows lead to danger. Others lead to lies.
A Houston college student trying to finish her degree, McKenzie has been working for the fae king for years, tracking vicious rebels who would claim the Realm. Her job isn’t her only secret. For just as long, she’s been in love with Kyol, the king’s sword-master—and relationships between humans and fae are forbidden.
But any hope for a normal life is shattered when she’s captured by Aren, the fierce and uncompromising rebel leader. He teaches her the forbidden fae language and tells her dark truths about the Court, all to persuade her to turn against the king. Time is running out, and as the fight starts to claim human lives, McKenzie has no choice but to decide once and for all whom to trust and where she ultimately stands in the face of a cataclysmic civil war.

Goodreads

~*Giveaway*~

Sandy is so awesome, she has offered up one signed copy for one of our fellow myth loving followers. (open to US readers only) To enter fill out the RaffleCopter and leave a comment for Sandy about her book, a favorite myth, or you appreciation for hot fae men! Additional entries available but not required.

a Rafflecopter giveaway