Interview with Allison Pang and Giveaway - February 11, 2011

Please welcome Allison Pang to The Qwillery as part of our 2011 Debut Author Challenge interviews.

TQ:  What would you say is your most interesting writing quirk?

Allison:  I don’t know if it’s a quirk, so much as a massive tendency to procrastinate. And eat. I have to stop myself from eating myself into oblivion when I write – I suspect it’s more of a nervous habit than anything else. I also spontaneously break into dance around the midnight hour.

TQ:  Who are some of your favorite writers? Who do you feel has influenced your writing?

Allison:  I love high fantasy probably more than anything else, and I’d say a number of them have influenced not only my writing, but how I look at it. (There are a lot of writers I want to be when I grow up). Favorite writers include Jacqueline Carey, Kate Elliott, Lynn Flewelling, Charles de Lint, Robin Hobb and many others.

TQ:  Are you a plotter or a panster?

Allison:  Mostly a punster. I only tend to try to outline if I get stuck at a particular point, but it’s usually just to let my brain sort through it more than the need to write it down, if that makes any sense. The rest of the time I just have a vague idea of what I’d like to see happen in a particular chapter (i.e. they find a body under the bed. Madness ensues.), but then I sit back and see how the characters get there.

TQ:  What inspired you to write A Brush of Darkness?

Allison:  Partially a stubborn streak to see if I really *could* write a book, but part of the concept was inspired by a dream. I wanted to know more about the characters who made up that dream (and the scene in particular is in the book toward the end) and there we go.

TQ:  What sort of research did you do for A Brush of Darkness?

Allison:  Not much, honestly. I was very interested in Faerie folklore from a young age. I just drew on the parts I wanted to use and made up the rest.

TQ:  Without giving anything away, what is/are your favorite scene(s) in the book?

Allison:  Hmmm. Most of the scenes with Phin were a great deal of fun to write, but otherwise I’m rather partial to that last scene at the end with Abby searching for Brystion. Can’t get into any more detail I don’t think, but that’s really the pivotal scene for me.

TQ:  How many books are planned for the Abby Sinclair series? Will there be any short stories or novellas set in Abby's world?

Allison:  There are two more confirmed books so far and the current story arc should mostly wrap up within those three. After that it’s entirely up to the publisher.  That being said, I’d love to do a spin off with some of the secondary characters – Melanie in particular. I also wouldn’t mind doing a short story or two as well. I’m hoping to maybe have a few “freebies” written and uploaded on my website at some point this year – maybe a one-shot on how Abby got her iPod enchanted, for example. Or quite possibly a few alternate scenes from BoD written from Brystion’s PoV. J

TQ:  What's next?

Allison:  Next after what? LOL. The draft for the second book was turned in a short while ago and I’m waiting on revisions for that. The third book is due in August, so I’m turning my attention to that right now, although I’ve got a SteamPunk fantasy thing that I’ve started which I’d obviously like to sell as well.

TQ:  Thank you for joining us at The Qwillery

Allison:  And thank you for having me!


Allison's Books
 
A Brush of Darkness
Abby Sinclair 1
(January 25, 2011)

The man of her dreams might be the cause of her nightmares.
 
Six months ago, Abby Sinclair was struggling to pick up the pieces of her shattered life. Now, she has an enchanted iPod, a miniature unicorn living in her underwear drawer, and a magical marketplace to manage. But despite her growing knowledge of the OtherWorld, Abby isn't at all prepared for Brystion, the dark, mysterious, and sexy-as- sin incubus searching for his sister, convinced Abby has the key to the succubus's whereabouts. Abby has enough problems without having this seductive shape-shifter literally invade her dreams to get information. But when her Faery boss and some of her friends vanish, as well, Abby and Brystion must form an uneasy alliance. As she is sucked deeper and deeper into this perilous world of faeries, angels, and daemons, Abby realizes her life is in as much danger as her heart—and there's no one she can trust to save her.
 
   
About Allison
 

A marine biologist in a former life, Allison Pang turned to a life of crime to finance her wild spending habits and need to collect Faberge eggs. A cat thief of notable repute, she spends her days sleeping and nights scaling walls and wooing dancing boys….Well, at least the marine biology part is true. But she was taloned by a hawk once. She also loves Hello Kitty, sparkly shoes, and gorgeous violinists.
 
She spends her days in Northern Virginia working as a cube grunt and her nights waiting on her kids and cats, punctuated by the occasional husbandly serenade. Sometimes she even manages to write. Mostly she just makes it up as she goes.

Allison's Links:
Website:  http://www.heartofthedreaming.com/
Blog:  http://mynfel.blogspot.com/
Group blog:  http://word-whores.blogspot.com/
Facebook:  http://www.facebook.com/apang
Twitter:  http://www.twitter.com/allison_pang


The Giveaway

THE RULES

What:  One commenter will win a Mass Market Paperback copy of A Brush of Darkness.

How:  Leave a comment telling The Qwillery what miniature mythological creature you would like to live in your underwear drawer? Please remember - if you don't answer the question your entry will not be counted.

You may receive additional entries by:

1) Being a Follower of The Qwillery.

2) Mentioning the giveaway on Facebook and/or Twitter. Even if you mention the giveaway on both, you will get only one additional entry. You get only one additional entry even if you mention the giveaway on Facebook and/or Twitter multiple times.

3) Mentioning the giveaway on your on blog or website. It must be your own blog or website; not a website that belongs to someone else or a site where giveaways, contests, etc. are posted.

There are a total of 4 entries you may receive: Comment (1 entry), Follower (+1 entry), Facebook and/or Twitter (+ 1 entry), and personal blog/website mention (+1 entry). This is subject to change again in the future for future giveaways.

Please leave links for Facebook, Twitter, or blog/website mentions. In addition please leave a way to contact you.

Who & When: The contest is open to all humans on the planet earth with a mailing address. Contest ends at 11:59pm US Eastern Time on Friday, February 18, 2011. Void where prohibited by law.

*Giveaway rules are subject to change.*