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| Join Us Every Friday #NovConv |
To be a little different from the usual
'meet the author'
'meet the author'
let's meet a
character...
Mira
from
character...
Mira
from
Q: Hello,
I’m Helen, host of Novel Conversations,
please do make yourself comfortable. Would you like a drink? Tea, coffee, wine
– something stronger? You’ll find a box of chocolates and a bowl of fruit on
the table next to you, please do help yourself. I believe you are a character
in Amy Maroney’s novel The Girl from Oto. Would you like to introduce yourself?
Are you a lead character or a supporting role?
A: Hello, Helen. My name is Mira. I am pleased to make your acquaintance. I am a
lead character. In fact, you could call me the heroine. Thank you so much for
the refreshments. I have never tasted tea or coffee, but I would be pleased to
sip some wine as we talk. What are chocolates? I shall have a taste. OH!!!!
This is quite possibly the best thing I have ever eaten. No, it absolutely is the best thing I have ever eaten. I
grew up eating mostly porridge, turnips, cabbage, coarse bread, cheese, and the
occasional bit of meat. Apples and cherries are the only sweets I eat, unless I’m
in a merchant’s home—where I have tasted cream tarts and sugared almonds.
Helen [laughs] I can assure you -- chocolate is a great improvement on cabbage!
Q: What genre is the novel and what is it about?
A: The genre is historical mystery/thriller with a dual historical /contemporary
narrative. It tells the story of a Renaissance-era female artist (me) and the
modern-day scholar on her trail. I wish I could travel five hundred years into
the future and meet Zari, the woman who follows me deep into history’s shadows.
She’s quite impressive—and more than a little obsessive.
 |
| The tower of Oto, inspiration for Mira's home photo courtesy La Torre de Oto |
Q: No
spoilers, but are you a ‘goodie’ or a ‘baddie’? (Or maybe you are both?)
A: Growing up in a convent, I was all
too aware of my shortcomings and failures. I did, however, try to be good. I
will admit there were many times I did not want
to be good. I have also done some things in my life that no sane person would
describe as good. Some would even declare I ought to go to Hell for what I’ve
done. On the other hand, if I had not done those things, I would be dead, so I
have no regrets.
Q: Tell me about another character in the novel –
maybe your best friend, lover or partner … or maybe your arch enemy!
A: As I said above, I am an artist.
There is another artist in the book, my friend Sebastian de Scolna. He is a
renowned painter from Flanders and he’s quite devout—he made the pilgrimage to
Compostela more than once. Unfortunately, during one of those journeys, a
terrible misfortune befell him on a mountain road in the Pyrenees. That was
when I met him. I don’t dare give away too much of the story, but Sebastian is
like an uncle or perhaps a grandfather to me now. He looks for the good in
people, he has a lovely sense of humor, and he is a gentle soul.
Q: Is
this the only novel you have appeared in, or are there others in a series?
A: This is the first of three novels
in the Miramonde Series, a trilogy which
I can honestly say is all about me.
Q:
What is one of your least favourite scenes you appear in?
A: I
was taught to use weapons at a young age (yes, I grew up in a convent—but
believe me, it was an unusual arrangement). I never had to wield them until one
horrible day when I unsheathed my dagger and fought for my life. I hoped never
to have to wield it again—but unfortunately defending myself is something I
have become accustomed to.
Q: And
your favourite scene?
A: A
reunion with a beloved family member whom I had believed was dead. It wasn’t an
easy reunion…it tore at my heart. But it was beautiful nonetheless.
Q: Tell me a little about your author. Has she written
any other books?
A: Amy
Maroney was so captivated by my story with The
Girl from Oto that she went on to write two more books about me: Mira’s Way and A Place in the World.
Q: Is
your author working on anything else at the moment?
A: Yes, she has found another artist heroine
to bring to life. My starring role in her work has come to an end. I am not
churlish about it, though, because I am ready for a bit of privacy. Quite
frankly, having an author inside one’s head all the time is quite fatiguing.
But I digress. Back to Amy’s new project: This historical thrillers series will
feature a woman born on the Greek island of Rhodes in the 1400s when it was
ruled by the Knights Hospitaller. I hope she has plenty of courage, for the
woman has loads of adventures ahead of her—some joyous, some terrifying—in
various maritime ports of Europe.
Q:
How do you think authors can be helped or supported by readers or groups? What
does your author think is the most useful for her personally?
A: Amy
is quite appreciative when readers tell other readers about her work, when they
write reviews of her books, and when they suggest her books to their books
clubs. She finds this “word-of-mouth” marketing incredibly helpful.
Q: If your author was to host a dinner party what guests would
she invite and why? Maximum nine guests – real, imaginary, alive
or dead.
A : Amy is intrigued with European women artists, and I know
she would love to host of gathering of these real women of history, along with
her own fabricated version of them (me). To that end:
Me
(Mira)
 |
| Portrait attributed to Catherina Van Hemessen, one of the real artists who inspired the character of Mira |
Guda,
12th c. artist nun
Thank
you, Mira, it was a pleasure talking to you. Would your author like to add a
short excerpt? Why yes, thank you…the excerpt is below.
H: Meanwhile,
chatting is thirsty work, would you like a refill? I’ll have another Gin and Tonic I think.
M: More wine would be lovely, thank you...On
second thought, perhaps I shall join you and try a Gin and Tonic. It sounds
most enjoyable!
H: Salute! Here’s to writing a best seller!
To get The Promise, a free prequel novella to the Miramonde Series, join
Amy Maroney’s readers’ group at www.amymaroney.com.
Find her on Twitter @wilaroney,
Instagram @amymaroneywrites, and Facebook.
Find her on Twitter @wilaroney,
Instagram @amymaroneywrites, and Facebook.
Excerpt from The Girl from Oto:
“My lady, the baby
can’t wait any longer.”
Silence.
Elena raised her voice.
“Lady Marguerite! There’s more yet to do. Rouse yourself.”
“Why do you shout at me
so? Will you not let me sleep?” Marguerite turned her head toward Elena, her
eyelids half open.
Elena felt uneasy,
looking into those eyes. They were silvery green, like the hide of a tree frog,
and the black lashes that framed them were spindly as spiders’ legs. Perhaps it
was this contrast of light and dark that made them so unsettling. Or the long,
slanting sweep of them. Or their size, for they seemed much too large for the
woman’s angular face. Whatever it was, there was something more feline than
human about them, and Elena had never been fond of cats. She looked away and
put a hand on the distended belly.
“If you wish your baby
to die, by all means sleep.” Something hard—a knee? A foot?—pressed against her
palm with urgent, fluttery movements. “If you wish your baby to live, then
push. Now make your choice.”
The glowing eyes found
hers. A pale slender hand slipped into her own strong brown one. The young
woman on the bed took a deep breath, set her jaw, and bore down.
__________
The night was half gone
when the baby was born. She squirmed and flailed her limbs, gulping air into
her lungs and pumping it out again with wild shrieks. Elena cleaned her,
swaddled her, and thrust her into her mother’s arms.
Marguerite bent her
head over the baby. “A girl. God help me.”
The newborn quieted and
stared unblinking at her mother. After a few moments of utter stillness, she
opened her tiny red mouth and began rooting for a breast.
“She will be called
Miramonde,” Marguerite said softly. “One who sees the world.”
“How much can a girl
see from behind a wall?” Elena asked.
Marguerite shook her
head. “She will not be caged. When she is old enough, she will learn the ways
of the mountain people.”
Elena stared. “Who will
teach her?”
“You.”
Great to catch up with Mira again - having read all three books in the trilogy I'm missing her now! The new project sounds exciting though - looking forward to that!
ReplyDeleteThanks Annie - and me too re the new project!
DeleteBlogger being its usual unhelpfulness, Amy couldn't post a comment she says: "This looks lovely, Helen -- not only did I enjoy reliving the conversation again, but the photos look terrific, too. Thanks for having me (and Mira) on your blog! It's been a delight."
ReplyDeleteMy pleasure Amy!