Official Maria V. Snyder Blog

Numerous times over the last nine years, my readers have asked me about T-shirts for my books and characters.  I never really had a way to do it without it involving a ton of time and money and then there was always a chance I'd be stuck with left over merchandise.  However, I recently discovered Teespring and it does all the work of keeping track of orders, printing the shirts, and shipping and all I had to do was find a design and set up a campaign. So...I asked my Facebook friends what their favorite book quotes from my books was and then asked them if there was any interest in T-shirts.  The response was positive, and the most popular quote was, " Sieges Weathered, Fight Together, Friends Forever." So...The Sieges Weathered, Fight Together, Friends Forever T-Shirts are NOW AVAILABLE!! Thanks so much to my reader/friend Daniel M for the design based on my descriptions. There are color, size, and long sleeve options. I couldn't make black shirts as the color of

Here's another author interview - except I should say authorS as I'm thrilled to have both Lorie Langdon and Carey Corp as my guests today!  They co-wrote both DOON and DESTINED FOR DOON, which was released on September 2nd.  I LOVED both books - they have mystery, romance, history, and suspense elements with very likable characters - all my favorites. Plus hot guys in kilts! Below is the interview, plus pictures of their desks - see Carey's for a fun I Spy challenge! DESTINED FOR DOON is the second in a series that will span 4 books.  The authors are giving away a signed copy of DOON for a lucky commenter on this blog - please include your email address, so I can contact you.  This give away is open for US only. Here's the cover copy : Mackenna Reid realizes she made a horrible mistake in choosing to follow her dreams of Broadway instead of staying in the enchanted land of Doon. To make everything worse, she's received her Calling—proof she and Duncan are eac

Here it is!  The cover for SHADOW STUDY which will be on sale on February 24, 2015!  For those who are unaware, this is a new Study series book featuring Yelena and Valek, with chapters from both their POVs! Two Chicks on Books Blog is hosting a give away of a signed early copy of SHADOW STUDY.  I get my author copies anywhere from 4 to 6 weeks before the pub date so if you win you'll get the book mid-January to early February.  Yes - it's open to ALL, including international :). Click Here to enter the give away: http://www.twochicksonbooks.com/2014/09/exclusive-cover-reveal-shadow-study-by.html FRONT COVER     BACK COVER       What do you think?  I LOVE the colors!

Today it's my pleasure to have author Deborah Blake as my guest today.  Her novel, WICKEDLY DANGEROUS will be released on September 2, 2014 and I can tell you that it's truly Wickedly Wonderful!  I had the pleasure of reading it a few months ago to provide a quote for her book.  This is the quote I provided: Baba Yaga is smart, confident, and pragmatic--all the qualities I love in one character! Be prepared to stay up well past your bedtime. Below is a Q&A with Deborah, who is a wonderful lady as well as talented (that's important to me - I never promote authors who are mean or obnoxious).  She has also offered to give away one signed copy of WICKEDLY DANGEROUS to a random commenter on my blog.  The contest is open to international readers and please include an email so I can contact you! Cover Copy : Known as the wicked witch of Russian fairy tales, Baba Yaga is not one woman, but rather a title carried by a chosen few. They keep the balance of nature and guard

I've been invited to be a part of a blog hop and thought it sounded like fun.  I'd like to thank Aoife Marie Sheridan for inviting me to participate.  You can see her post here: http://aoifesheri.wordpress.com/2014/07/28/blog-hop-eden-forest-july-the-28th-to-the-2nd-of-august/ Next up is the answer to the following four questions: 1) What am I working on? Answer: NIGHT STUDY - Book 5 of the Study series, which continues Yelena and Valek's adventures after SHADOW STUDY - Book 4 of the Study series, which is due out March 2015! Next up will be Book 6, which doesn't have a title or plot yet. 2) How does my work differ from others of its genre? Answer: When I'm writing, I focus on the characters.  Plot, action, twists, deceptions all stem from what motivates my characters and how they interact with each other.  And from the overwhelming response from my readers, I think I create characters that they care about and wish to invite over for dinner. :)  I also

July 16 to July 19, 2014 INFO ABOUT THE HUNT: The Summer Reads Scavenger Hunt will run from TODAY until midnight on SUNDAY (19 th July). To enter to win FORTY signed paperbacks by a wide range of authors PLUS $30 worth of Amazon Gift Cards , simply hop around ALL participating stops, collect all of the highlighted numbers, add them together, and then go enter the requested details along with your calculated answer in the ENTRY FORM . You can find more information on how the stop works here: http://summerreadsscavhunt.weebly.com/welcome.html . All stops will direct you to the next place to hop across to. And don’t worry if you get lost, because the entire list of participating authors can be found HERE . One of those signed paperbacks is a copy of my STORM GLASS!   And keep reading this post as I'm hosting a swag give away on my blog (see below) and you'll be able to win super rare swag from ME over on author Jonathan Lister's blog at: http://ijonathanlister

Today, I'm thrilled to be hosting author Mindy Klasky!  She is launching her new Diamond Brides series this month and has written a wonderful post about how she turns a stock character into a complex and unique individual.  Since Mindy's one of my BFs, I had the pleasure of reading the first book in the series, PERFECT PITCH.  I'll admit, I'm not a fan of baseball - the game is too slow for me, but there was nothing slow about Mindy's story! After I finished this fun and entertaining read in a single day, I'd wished the Raleigh Rockets were a real team I could cheer for.  Plus I loved the humor (as I do in all Mindy's stories). Mindy Klasky: Romance.   It's a literary genre built on tropes, on familiar storylines told in unfamiliar ways.   You've probably heard the shorthand before:   Marriage of convenience.   Secret baby.   Virgin bride.   Single father.   May/December.   There are a couple dozen more, but you certainly get the idea.    Eac

Who, you might ask, is Duncan W. Alderson?  Well, I'll tell you!  Back when I started writing, I struggled to find information and guidance about the craft (back when there was no Internet or cell phones - a truly barbaric time ;). The universities in my area didn't offer creative writing classes to the community, and I couldn't find any local writing groups.  Then one day, I see an ad for the Rabbit's Hill Writer's Group offering writing classes.  I jumped on it and signed up right away. Duncan was the owner and teacher at Rabbit Hill.  We had classes in a barn turned art studio turned writing room.  It was wonderful.  I met other writers, received feedback on my stories, learned the craft of writing, and made a few friends.  Not only did my writing improve, but I loved the class style so much, I use it for when I teach (shhh...don't tell Duncan ;).  I credit Duncan's classes as an instrumental part of my writing success. I'm so excited that Dunca

My author page on Facebook has reached over 7000 likes and I'm celebrating by giving away 7 prizes to random commenters on my post (you have to post on Facebook to enter - ALL are welcome and the link is below). https://www.facebook.com/mvsfans/photos/a.10151147255959322.460191.33763514321/10152256754824322/?type=1&comment_id=11734143&offset=0&total_comments=394 I wasn't quite sure what to think of Facebook when it first appeared.  I was a big MySpace user (remember that?) and didn't want to add to my digital work load. My friend, Alethea created an author page for me on Facebook and was answering questions and, when she couldn't answer, she'd email me and I'd tell her.  My niece Amy also helped out from time to time.  Now I answer all the questions/comments and I have a personal page (which I post mostly the same things on - I'll post more about my family and life on my personal page and all my book news on my author page).  As Facebook be

Today, I've a guest on my blog.  Please welcome Jon Sprunk who is a friend of mine and you may remember when I interviewed him a few years ago when his debut fantasy novel, SHADOW'S SON was released and then again when the second book in that series SHADOW'S LURE came out.  I loved the Shadow Saga and am excited about his new book. Jon's here to tell us all about his new fantasy series and how he sparked on the idea for this epic action-filled adventure.  To celebrate the release, I'm offering a copy of his new book, BLOOD AND IRON to a random commenter (international is welcome).  Please post a comment and your email addy by March 19 to be entered to win! BLOOD AND IRON Hello. I’m Jon Sprunk, a fantasy writer living in central Pennsylvania. Thank you all for this opportunity to tell you about my new series, BOOK OF THE BLACK EARTH. The first book, BLOOD AND IRON, just came out [yesterday]. The BOOK OF THE BLACK EARTH is set in the same secondary world as

No, I'm not talking about this winter...although...we've had more snow, ice and polar vortexes than...well, ever here in Pennsylvania that I could be, but I'm not :).  I'm talking about the latest novel in Jennifer Estep's Mythos Academy series for Young Adults that was released today!  Jennifer has taken time out of her super busy schedule to answer a few questions (see below).  She is also offering one lucky winner a signed copy of her latest book, KILLER FROST. Leave a comment on my blog (and your email addy) by March 4th to be entered to win.  (US only please) KILLER FROST is book 6 set in Mythos Academy, a school of myths, magic and warrior whiz kids. Gwen Frost first appeared in book 1, TOUCH OF FROST where she is an outsider both to the students of the Academy and the rest of the world. But when her gift of psychometry - the ability to know an object's history just by touching it reveals dark undercurrents and danger afoot, she has no choice but to

Boy it's dusty in here!  Sorry about not blogging more often, but it seems all I have time for these days is posting on my Facebook page - and if you're looking for up to date info, that's the best place to find it - here's a link: http://www.facebook.com/mvsfans Although I do have news!  We're doing a blog tour for STORM WATCHER and you can read a bunch of reviews, interviews, guest posts (I am blogging just not on my own blog).  We are also giving away 10 copies of STORM WATCHER with four of them slated for my international readers.  The tour started on Wednesday, but the give away is still on going.  Check out the blog dates and sites below:   Feb 19 – Mar 5, 2014 Hosted by readnowsleeplater.com Join us for interviews, guest posts, reviews, and giveaways! Tour Schedule Wed 2/19 – The Book Monsters  - review Thu 2/20 – I Am a Reader – interview Fri 2/21 – Unleashing Readers – guest post Mon 2/24 – Bookalicious – review Tue 2/25 -  Kid

For more info on the show: http://www.cbs.com/shows/intelligence/ Here's the short version - John Dixon, debut author of PHOENIX ISLAND (out today) - the book that spark interest from Hollywood and became the premise for INTELLIGENCE a new TV series on CBS (premiers Tuesday, January 7, 2014 at 9:00 pm Eastern/8:00 pm Central).  For information on how this all happened see the Q&A with John for the long version. Reasons I hate John: The book is fantastic - it's well written, action packed, well crafted characters and satisfying ending.  He has a TV show based on his book - his FIRST book - what a brat, I've 12 books and had no interest from Hollywood.  He's a nice guy - smart, funny, kind to small animals.  He's into boxing and martial arts so he knows his stuff and it shows in the book. Reasons I love John: See above :)  I met John through the Seton Hill MFA program when he signed up for my Fantastic Fight Scenes workshop.  I brought a bunch of rubber k