Interview with Seressia Glass and Giveaway - July 27, 2011

Please welcome Seressia Glass to The Qwillery.

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

Seressia:  The biggest one that I’m working on now is that it is easier for me to write at my desk at work during lunch and after hours than it is to come home and get stuff done. I definitely need to get a handle on that!

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

Seressia:  Hhm, I read so many different genres and subgenres that it’s hard to name a favorites. Looking at one of my bookshelves, I have Butler, Eddings, McCaffrey, Asimov, Lackey, LeGuin, Rowling, Zelazny, Stephen King, Jayne Ann Krentz, Ilona Andrews. As far as influences, I’ve never really thought about it. I can’t say that I have someone that I look to as a standard I want to achieve because my tastes and the state of writing are too diverse.

TQ:  Are you a plotter or a pantser?

Seressia:  I’m a pantser with delusions of plotting. Actually I plot to become a plotter, but it’s all in my head.

TQ:  Describe Shadow Fall in 140 characters or less.

Seressia:  SHADOW FALL: Kira has to stop Set, Ammit and the Book of the Dead from stealing people's souls. People fight, die and leave. Chaos ensues.

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

Seressia:  My favorite scene is definitely when the crew goes into the Georgia World Congress Center to battle manifestations from the Egyptian Book of the Dead.

TQ:  In Shadow Fall, who was the most difficult character to write and why? The easiest and why?

Seressia:  Balm (Kira’s foster mother and head of the Gilead Commissions) was difficult to write because I go into her back story a bit and you see more of who and what she is and why. I could have gone deeper but then it wouldn’t be Kira’s story.

The easiest was Myshael, the Lady of Shadows. I envisioned her as a psychotic mischievous woman-child, very frenetic and having fun in her badness. Again, could have gone more into her story but it bent my brain a bit.

TQ:  Who should play Kira Solomon if the Shadowchasers series was made into movies?

Seressia:  Kira is loosely based on Jada Pinkett-Smith’s character from Set It Off. But I think Zoe Saldana would also bring fierce intensity to the role.

TQ:  What inspired you to write the Shadowchasers series?

Seressia:  I’ve long been a fan of ancient Egypt, and I’ve enjoyed the African folktales that I've heard and read through the years. I’ve always wanted an opportunity to indulge my interest in African mythology, and this series allowed me to do that.

TQ:  Why did you set the series in Atlanta, Georgia?

Seressia:  Atlanta is my hometown and I just enjoy setting stories here. Plus Oakland Cemetery (on the National Register of Historic Places) and Little Five Points are just wonderfully rich places to experience. There’s a lot of history, diversity, and quirky people and places in Atlanta that I think makes the city perfect for paranormal series.

TQ:  What sort of research did you do to create the world of the Shadowchasers series?

Seressia:  I have quite a few books on Egyptian and African mythology and history, several visits to the Carlos Museum at Emory University to visit their Egyptian and Nubian collection, and online visits to the British Museum, Osirisnet.net, and the America Research Center in Egypt.

TQ:  How many books are planned for the Shadowchasers series?

Seressia:  At the moment, the third book will be the last. I hope to continue it in the future.

TQ:  What's next?

Seressia:  I’m continuing to develop some paranormal and contemporary romance projects and another urban fantasy project. There’s nothing slated for 2012 yet but readers can keep up with me on Facebook and Twitter or at my website.

TQ:  Thank you for joining us at The Qwillery.

Seressia:  Thank you for having me. It was a joy to be here.


About Shadowchasers

Shadow Blade
Shadowchasers 1
(Pocket, January 26, 2010)
For Kira Solomon, normal was never an option.

Kira's day job is as an antiquities expert, but her true calling is as a Shadowchaser. Trained from youth to be one of the most lethal Chasers in existence, Kira serves the Gilead Commission, dispatching the Fallen who sow discord and chaos. Of course, sometimes Gilead bureaucracy is as much a thorn in her side as anything the Fallen can muster against her. Right now, though, she's got a bigger problem. Someone is turning the city of Atlanta upside down in search of a millennia-old Egyptian dagger that just happens to have fallen into Kira's hands.

Then there's Khefar, the dagger's true owner -- a near-immortal 4,000-year-old Nubian warrior who, Kira has to admit, looks pretty fine for his age. Joining forces is the only way to keep the weapon safe from the sinister Shadow forces, but now Kira is in deep with someone who holds more secrets than she does, the one person who knows just how treacherous this fight is. Because every step closer to destroying the enemy is a step closer to losing herself to Shadow forever....

Amazon : Barnes & Noble : Book Depository : Books-A-Million

Shadow Chase

Shadow Chasers 2
(Pocket, July 27, 2010)
In a job like this, one mistake can cost you everything.

As a Shadowchaser, Kira Solomon has been trained to serve the Light, dispatch the Fallen, and prevent the spread of chaos. It's a deadly job, and Kira knows the horror of spilling innocent blood. But now she has a new role, as the Hand of Ma'at, the Egyptian Goddess of Truth and Order, and an assignment that might just redeem her.

A fellow Shadowchaser has gone missing, and so has a unique artifact imbued with astonishing magic. Unless the Vessel of Nun is returned, it will cause destruction beyond anything the modern world has seen. Kira's got a team at her back, including Khefar, a near-immortal Nubian warrior who's already died for her once. But as complicated as her feelings for him are, they're nothing compared to the difficulties of the task she faces.And the only way to defeat the enemy is to trust in a powershe can barely control, and put her life—and her soul—on the line.

Amazon : Barnes & Noble : Book Depository : Books-A-Million 


Shadow Fall
Shadowchasers 3
(Pocket, July 26, 2011)
Truth is the most dangerous weapon of all . . .

Kira Solomon's life has never been simple. Battling against the Fallen, serving the Egyptian goddess Ma'at, becoming romantically involved with a 4,000-year-old Nubian warrior—these are now everyday realities. But something is changing. Kira's magic is becoming dangerously unpredictable, tainted by the Shadow she has been trained to destroy.

Matters grow worse when an Atlanta museum exhibit based on the Egyptian Book of the Dead turns out to have truly sinister properties. As the body count rises, even long-trusted allies start to turn against Kira. She can hardly blame them—not when the God of Chaos is stalking her dreams and the shocking truth about her origins is finally coming to light. As one of the good guys, Kira was a force to be reckoned with. But if the only way to stop a terrifying adversary is to fight Shadow with Shadow, then she's ready to find out just how very bad she can be. . . .

Amazon : Barnes & Noble : Book Depository : Books-A-Million 


About Seressia

Seressia has always been a voracious reader, cutting her teeth on comics, cereal boxes–anything at hand. So it came as no surprise to family and teachers when she began creating stories featuring some of her favorite characters. One of her earlier works included the autobiography of a piece of bubble gum, and a short Halloween story was turned into a PTA play in elementary school.

Her proudest writing moment remains winning the first Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday “Living the Dream” essay contest as a high school senior and getting to meet Coretta Scott King. Since then, she’s channeled her belief in the power of the written word by creating rich, emotional stories of diverse people coming together to achieve the universal goals of love and acceptance.

When not working on her next story, Seressia is an instructional designer for an international home improvement company. She spends her free time people-watching, belly dancing, and watching way too much anime.

Seressia's Links:

Website:  http://seressia.com/
Twitter:  www.twitter.com/seressia
Facebook:  www.facebook.com/seressia


The Giveaway

THE RULES

What:  Two commenters will each win a signed copy of Shadow Fall from Seressia. USA Mailing Addresses only.

How:  Leave a comment answering the following question:

What is your favorite mythology? African? Egyption? Greek? Indian? Something else?

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 and When: The contest is open to all humans on the planet earth with a USA mailing address. Contest ends at 11:59pm US Eastern Time on Wednesday, August 3, 2011. Void where prohibited by law.

*Giveaway rules are subject to change.*