Today I would like to introduce you to Suzi Davis, the author of the Lost Magic series. I reviewed the first book in the series, Amber Frost, on the blog at the beginning of this month and you can read my review here. Suzi is a British-born, Canadian writer and artist. She has a Bachelors Degree in Fine Arts, a certificate in Special Education Assistance and I am working towards a Masters degree in Educational Psychology. She lives in a small town on Vancouver Island (in British Columbia) with her husband and their 2 year old son. Suzi has a passion for writing and is interested in learning about the supernatural. I had the wonderful opportunity to chat with Suzi about Amber Frost and writing.
Welcome and thank you stopping by my blog today, Suzi. Grace seems to have everything a girl could want. Are there times when you find yourself envious of Grace’s life? Is there something about her life that you would never want to have in yours?
I’ve never really felt envious of Grace’s life. It would be nice to be rich and drop-dead gorgeous but it means a lot more to me (and to most people, I hope) to have strong family support and close, dependable friends.
Most of the paranormal romances have what reader's call "insta-love" where the characters fall in love at first sight. Do you prefer this type of romance or a growing romance between the two protagonists? Which category does Grace and Sebastian fall under?
I definitely prefer a romance that develops naturally and over time, and this is also the category that Grace and Sebastian fall under. Grace is not really the love-at-first-sight type of girl though she definitely feels an immediate connection and attraction to Sebastian. She is too level-headed and rational to throw herself at someone she has just met and doesn’t know anything about. Not only do I feel it’s important to show readers how a real and meaningful relationship can develop, grow and change, I also love detailing that time between first meeting and first kiss when so much is still up in the air. It was fun to explore how a relationship can shift from friendship to romance, and to allow my readers to really appreciate the pre-relationship “stuff”. Even though Grace and Sebastian share a powerful and magical connection, it was very important for me to let their relationship progress at what I felt was a natural and believable pace.
Can you talk about the world building of "Amber Frost"? What makes it unique from the other paranormal romances that are being published right now?
This story started out quite simply with the idea of a boy whom strange things happen around. It sounds simple anyway, but the idea and the plot became increasingly complex as the story developed in my head. Sebastian can’t remember who or what he really is and he knows very little about himself. I needed to figure out exactly who he was and where he came from right from the start. For the plot to make sense, there was a lot of sub-plot and prehistory to the story that I had to develop – some of which is included in Book One and some which will not be revealed until later in The Lost Magic series. I needed to know where the story had come from and exactly where it was going. I had the ending of Amber Frost and a large part of the sequel (Silver Dew) planned out when I was writing the first chapter.
I think my book is different from other paranormal romances out there right now as it takes a new and fresh approach to the genre. There isn’t that “insta-love” that you had mentioned, nor are there any vampires, werewolves, fairies or other super-natural creatures (not that I object to these mythical creatures, you just won’t find any in Amber Frost). Amber Frost also has a unique paranormal twist that is slowly revealed and explored through out the story. I hope it will keep readers guessing, intrigued and engaged as they turn each page and delve further into the mystery of “the lost magic”.
What's your favorite scene in Amber Frost?
This is a hard one for me to answer because there are several that I love! There is one scene near the beginning of the book where there are falling leaves swirling all around Sebastian and Grace in a magical, autumnal spiral and it seems like he’s about to kiss her but... that one gives me goosebumps. I also love Chapter Thirteen, when Grace wakes up and it has snowed overnight. Not only was the romance and action in that chapter particularly enjoyable to write but it was also fun to describe the pristine, picture-perfect beauty of that icy and snow-covered, west coast morning.
What is the most important thing you learned as a writer from the beginning to now?
There are so many things I have learned from this journey so far – to believe in myself, trust my instincts, grow thicker skin, to find inspiration all around me… but I suppose the most important thing is probably how my style of writing has developed. I’ve always loved to write and as much as I enjoy just sitting down and writing whatever pops into my head, I’ve definitely learned to appreciate the importance of a well-developed outline and plot. Amber Frost is my first book and I’m really proud of how far I’ve come and where this series is going.
In your opinion, what makes an interesting paranormal romance? What are some of your favorite paranormal romances?
Here’s my dirty, little secret… I haven’t read many paranormal romances. In fact, I’ve barely read any – probably only two or three that would qualify. After I finished writing Amber Frost, I wasn’t even sure what subgenre (in the YA category) it fell into. I was leaning towards Fantasy as it involves magic, but once I did some research (and yes, I actually did have to research genre definitions, *blush*) I realized that I had written a YA paranormal-romance.
In my opinion, what makes Amber Frost interesting is that it is not your typical or obvious PNR. The romance feels real and builds slowly, and the paranormal aspect of the plot is part of the mystery and isn’t overly obvious or predictable. I think because I wasn’t trying to write a PNR it helped my novel be unique and to fall outside-of-the-box a bit.
Sebastian has an intriguing power of persuasion. If you could have his power for a day, what would you do?
Sebastian gets whatever he wants but with some limitations. His ability may sound like a blessing but it is also a hidden curse. He doesn’t always realize what he wants until it happens, which means that he has to be very careful of what he wishes for and must try to be excessively self-aware of his heart’s desires. He can’t always control his ability either as the heart want, what the heart wants.
If I did have his ability for the day, I would just go about my life as usual and enjoy a lucky day where everything would hopefully seem to go my way – no waiting in lines, no losing anything, no running late, lots of great opportunities springing up for me everywhere, etc. I’d be too scared to purposely try to influence events. How boring am I? Sorry! I promise that Amber Frost is a lot more interesting and imaginative than just “a lucky day”!
Suppose Grace and Sebastian had not met, which other character from a paranormal romance would meet their fancy?
Grace and Sebastian are definitely meant for each other and could perhaps best be described as “soul-mates”. It is very hard to imagine them not being together. If Grace hadn’t met Sebastian, she probably would have continued on with her perfect and boring life. I imagine she would have stayed with Clarke, her boyfriend at the beginning of the book which would have been sad - there was very little that was genuine or meaningful about their relationship. If Sebastian hadn’t met Grace or say he had forgotten about her somehow and then met someone else… well, you’ll have to read Silver Dew (the sequel to Amber Frost) and maybe you’ll find out more (how’s that for a teaser?).
How would you describe your writing process for Amber Frost?
Relaxed. I really enjoyed writing this book and took my time, enjoying each moment and word. I didn’t do any editing until I had finished writing the book which left me with A LOT of work to do. Since I also wrote at my own pace and didn’t pay attention to things like chapter lengths and word count, I also had a lot of “trimming” and down-sizing to do during the editing process. In some ways, I wish I could have included everything I originally wrote but I have to admit, some of it was self-indulgent and may have slowed down the pace of the plot too much if I’d included it all.
I noticed that the book is the first in a series. How many books in the series will there be?
Silver Dew, Book Two of The Lost Magic series is the sequel to Amber Frost and will be released by my publisher (ireadiwrite Publishing) this Winter (2011). There are no other books currently scheduled for the series but… that doesn’t mean there won’t be more! With a two year old, a new baby and a few other projects on the go, I’m trying not to over-commit myself at this time.
Thank you so much for stopping by, Suzi! Readers, you can find out more about Suzi and her Lost Magic series by visiting her website, Facebook page, and on Twitter.
I’ve never really felt envious of Grace’s life. It would be nice to be rich and drop-dead gorgeous but it means a lot more to me (and to most people, I hope) to have strong family support and close, dependable friends.
I definitely wouldn’t want a mother like Grace’s or a boyfriend who is as condescending and superficial as Clarke (no matter how handsome and rich!). I also wouldn’t want a group of friends like hers who I couldn’t trust or really be myself around. And I would never want the huge amount of pressure that she feels to fit into a certain “role” and live up to others’ ideals. Her life stresses me out just thinking about it!
Most of the paranormal romances have what reader's call "insta-love" where the characters fall in love at first sight. Do you prefer this type of romance or a growing romance between the two protagonists? Which category does Grace and Sebastian fall under?
I definitely prefer a romance that develops naturally and over time, and this is also the category that Grace and Sebastian fall under. Grace is not really the love-at-first-sight type of girl though she definitely feels an immediate connection and attraction to Sebastian. She is too level-headed and rational to throw herself at someone she has just met and doesn’t know anything about. Not only do I feel it’s important to show readers how a real and meaningful relationship can develop, grow and change, I also love detailing that time between first meeting and first kiss when so much is still up in the air. It was fun to explore how a relationship can shift from friendship to romance, and to allow my readers to really appreciate the pre-relationship “stuff”. Even though Grace and Sebastian share a powerful and magical connection, it was very important for me to let their relationship progress at what I felt was a natural and believable pace.
Can you talk about the world building of "Amber Frost"? What makes it unique from the other paranormal romances that are being published right now?
This story started out quite simply with the idea of a boy whom strange things happen around. It sounds simple anyway, but the idea and the plot became increasingly complex as the story developed in my head. Sebastian can’t remember who or what he really is and he knows very little about himself. I needed to figure out exactly who he was and where he came from right from the start. For the plot to make sense, there was a lot of sub-plot and prehistory to the story that I had to develop – some of which is included in Book One and some which will not be revealed until later in The Lost Magic series. I needed to know where the story had come from and exactly where it was going. I had the ending of Amber Frost and a large part of the sequel (Silver Dew) planned out when I was writing the first chapter.
I think my book is different from other paranormal romances out there right now as it takes a new and fresh approach to the genre. There isn’t that “insta-love” that you had mentioned, nor are there any vampires, werewolves, fairies or other super-natural creatures (not that I object to these mythical creatures, you just won’t find any in Amber Frost). Amber Frost also has a unique paranormal twist that is slowly revealed and explored through out the story. I hope it will keep readers guessing, intrigued and engaged as they turn each page and delve further into the mystery of “the lost magic”.
What's your favorite scene in Amber Frost?
This is a hard one for me to answer because there are several that I love! There is one scene near the beginning of the book where there are falling leaves swirling all around Sebastian and Grace in a magical, autumnal spiral and it seems like he’s about to kiss her but... that one gives me goosebumps. I also love Chapter Thirteen, when Grace wakes up and it has snowed overnight. Not only was the romance and action in that chapter particularly enjoyable to write but it was also fun to describe the pristine, picture-perfect beauty of that icy and snow-covered, west coast morning.
What is the most important thing you learned as a writer from the beginning to now?
There are so many things I have learned from this journey so far – to believe in myself, trust my instincts, grow thicker skin, to find inspiration all around me… but I suppose the most important thing is probably how my style of writing has developed. I’ve always loved to write and as much as I enjoy just sitting down and writing whatever pops into my head, I’ve definitely learned to appreciate the importance of a well-developed outline and plot. Amber Frost is my first book and I’m really proud of how far I’ve come and where this series is going.
In your opinion, what makes an interesting paranormal romance? What are some of your favorite paranormal romances?
Here’s my dirty, little secret… I haven’t read many paranormal romances. In fact, I’ve barely read any – probably only two or three that would qualify. After I finished writing Amber Frost, I wasn’t even sure what subgenre (in the YA category) it fell into. I was leaning towards Fantasy as it involves magic, but once I did some research (and yes, I actually did have to research genre definitions, *blush*) I realized that I had written a YA paranormal-romance.
In my opinion, what makes Amber Frost interesting is that it is not your typical or obvious PNR. The romance feels real and builds slowly, and the paranormal aspect of the plot is part of the mystery and isn’t overly obvious or predictable. I think because I wasn’t trying to write a PNR it helped my novel be unique and to fall outside-of-the-box a bit.
Sebastian has an intriguing power of persuasion. If you could have his power for a day, what would you do?
Sebastian gets whatever he wants but with some limitations. His ability may sound like a blessing but it is also a hidden curse. He doesn’t always realize what he wants until it happens, which means that he has to be very careful of what he wishes for and must try to be excessively self-aware of his heart’s desires. He can’t always control his ability either as the heart want, what the heart wants.
If I did have his ability for the day, I would just go about my life as usual and enjoy a lucky day where everything would hopefully seem to go my way – no waiting in lines, no losing anything, no running late, lots of great opportunities springing up for me everywhere, etc. I’d be too scared to purposely try to influence events. How boring am I? Sorry! I promise that Amber Frost is a lot more interesting and imaginative than just “a lucky day”!
Suppose Grace and Sebastian had not met, which other character from a paranormal romance would meet their fancy?
Grace and Sebastian are definitely meant for each other and could perhaps best be described as “soul-mates”. It is very hard to imagine them not being together. If Grace hadn’t met Sebastian, she probably would have continued on with her perfect and boring life. I imagine she would have stayed with Clarke, her boyfriend at the beginning of the book which would have been sad - there was very little that was genuine or meaningful about their relationship. If Sebastian hadn’t met Grace or say he had forgotten about her somehow and then met someone else… well, you’ll have to read Silver Dew (the sequel to Amber Frost) and maybe you’ll find out more (how’s that for a teaser?).
How would you describe your writing process for Amber Frost?
Relaxed. I really enjoyed writing this book and took my time, enjoying each moment and word. I didn’t do any editing until I had finished writing the book which left me with A LOT of work to do. Since I also wrote at my own pace and didn’t pay attention to things like chapter lengths and word count, I also had a lot of “trimming” and down-sizing to do during the editing process. In some ways, I wish I could have included everything I originally wrote but I have to admit, some of it was self-indulgent and may have slowed down the pace of the plot too much if I’d included it all.
I noticed that the book is the first in a series. How many books in the series will there be?
Silver Dew, Book Two of The Lost Magic series is the sequel to Amber Frost and will be released by my publisher (ireadiwrite Publishing) this Winter (2011). There are no other books currently scheduled for the series but… that doesn’t mean there won’t be more! With a two year old, a new baby and a few other projects on the go, I’m trying not to over-commit myself at this time.
Thank you so much for stopping by, Suzi! Readers, you can find out more about Suzi and her Lost Magic series by visiting her website, Facebook page, and on Twitter.
GIVEAWAY
Suzi and her publishers are very generous to giveaway 1 (one) electronic copy of Amber Frost and 1 (one) copy of Silver Dew to 1 (one) lucky reader! This giveaway is open to ALL email addresses. To enter, all you have to do is make a comment on this post with your name/alias with your email address. This giveaway is open until January 6th at 10 PM EST and the winner will be announced on my blog the following day. Good luck!
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Thanks for the spotlight and giveaway!
Vivien
deadtossedwaves at gmail dot com
Waking up to a snow covered world is one of my very favorite things! I'm a winter girl through and through, and I'm completely bent out of shape that it's 60 degrees out right now. I'm ready for snow! So glad Grace and Sebastian don't have the insta-love type of romance, I love a slowly progressing one that feels more natural:) Awesome interview ladies!
Glad their relationship isn't insta-love. I don't mind stories with instant connections because that happens. I like seeing a build up.
I like the sound of Grace being level-headed when it comes to love. I think it's easy for people who have never been in love before to confuse feelings of attraction and adoration with love.
And the author approach to PNR sounds interesting!
Oh those scenes really do speak of romance!
I have the first book on my tbr and really can't wait to read it. I'm so glad to hear that there is a second one I must have too! :) So, if I can enter for the second one, I'm game! :D
I like the sound of this one and love that there's no insta-love romance in this one. Plus, it's always great to hear about a new Canadian author. Thanks for the giveaway, Rummanah and Suzi!
ayareader@hotmail.com
Great interview...this series sounds really good...:D Im looking forward to reading it...and Jenny it is 40 where I am at, Im so cold my bones hurt.....lol
I'm so happy to see an author actively writing against the insta-love plot trope. Maybe it's just the cynic in me, but I don't really believe in love at first sight because you know absolutely nothing about that other person the first time you meet--for all you know, they could be a serial murder! So yay to see a character relationship develop naturally and at a more-realistic pace.
Thanks for the giveaway op!
Smiles!
Lori
serena423[@]yahoo.com
I enjoyed reading both books and look forward to more adventures!
I enjoyed reading both books and look forward to more adventures!