Today’s post is an interview with Carina Press author Tia Nevitt. Her new book, The Magic Mirror and the Seventh Dwarf, was released this past Monday. It’s an fantasy romance, one of my favorite kind of stories. Check out the bottom of today’s post for a Tia Nevitt exclusive give away!
Not even a stint in the military as an
aircraft mechanic could erase Tia Nevitt’s love of fairy tales. To this day,
she loves to read (and write) books that take her to another place, or another
time, or both. She also dabbles in calligraphy, violin, piano and songwriting.
Tia has worked on an assembly line, as a computer programmer, a technical
writer and a business analyst. She lives in the southeast with her husband and
daughter.
aircraft mechanic could erase Tia Nevitt’s love of fairy tales. To this day,
she loves to read (and write) books that take her to another place, or another
time, or both. She also dabbles in calligraphy, violin, piano and songwriting.
Tia has worked on an assembly line, as a computer programmer, a technical
writer and a business analyst. She lives in the southeast with her husband and
daughter.
Tia’s novella, The Sevenfold Spell, won the 2012 EPIC ebook award for Fantasy.
Here is a short description of The Magic Mirror and the Seventh Dwarf.
This story is about the mysterious face within
the magic mirror of the Snow White story—who he is, how he came to be there,
and why he finds the queen so lovely. It is also about the seven dwarfs, why
they live together, and how two of them fell in love and came to defeat the
evil queen.
Here are some questions that Tia has answered so we can get to know her better.
1. How long did it take you to write The Magic Mirror and
the Seventh Dwarf? About
six months, with another two months of revisions.
the Seventh Dwarf? About
six months, with another two months of revisions.
2. How much research did you conduct for The Magic Mirror
and the Seventh Dwarf and what was the most interesting thing you did while
conducting your research?
and the Seventh Dwarf and what was the most interesting thing you did while
conducting your research?
This
was my most research-intensive book. I researched German farmouses, the
kingdoms of Medieval Germany, images and videos of the Black Forest, the German
language, deaf communities and most of all, achondroplasia.
was my most research-intensive book. I researched German farmouses, the
kingdoms of Medieval Germany, images and videos of the Black Forest, the German
language, deaf communities and most of all, achondroplasia.
For
German farmhouses, it started with a question—what were German farmhouses like?
Aren’t the style of farmhouses universal?
German farmhouses, it started with a question—what were German farmhouses like?
Aren’t the style of farmhouses universal?
Certainly
not. I read, fascinated, of the icon German farmhouse architecture—those
immense buildings covered with windows, and timbers making squares and Xs
almost at random all across the structure. I learned how they were designed
that way so the farm family and the animals all lived in one structure—the
animals in stalls toward the front and the family in more homey quarters to the
back.
not. I read, fascinated, of the icon German farmhouse architecture—those
immense buildings covered with windows, and timbers making squares and Xs
almost at random all across the structure. I learned how they were designed
that way so the farm family and the animals all lived in one structure—the
animals in stalls toward the front and the family in more homey quarters to the
back.
The
other research topics might be obvious, but why deaf communities? I lived near
one many years ago, and I started wondering if the whole idea of seven dwarfs
living together might have evolved in a similar way as deaf communities. I
decided that to reach such a conclusion was well within the confines of what is
permissible with literary license. J
other research topics might be obvious, but why deaf communities? I lived near
one many years ago, and I started wondering if the whole idea of seven dwarfs
living together might have evolved in a similar way as deaf communities. I
decided that to reach such a conclusion was well within the confines of what is
permissible with literary license. J
And
finally, not only did I read all I could about classic
dwarfism—achondroplasia—but I looked into day-to-day living challenges as a
little person. I discovered furnishings for little people, specifically
designed clothing (a grown man can’t shop in the kid’s section), and even
things that don’t apply to the middle ages—like mechanisms to make driving
possible—because it helped me develop what I hope was the proper mindset.
finally, not only did I read all I could about classic
dwarfism—achondroplasia—but I looked into day-to-day living challenges as a
little person. I discovered furnishings for little people, specifically
designed clothing (a grown man can’t shop in the kid’s section), and even
things that don’t apply to the middle ages—like mechanisms to make driving
possible—because it helped me develop what I hope was the proper mindset.
3. Do you write multiple drafts or barely need revisions
when typing, The End?
when typing, The End?
I
needed plenty of revisions! And when I thought I was done, I sent it in. It was
accepted but then what did I need more of? Revisions! Lots of them! With The Sevenfold Spell, I did not have much
of a developmental edit phase at all. But with The Magic Mirror and the Seventh Dwarf, it seemed like there was a
lot more.
needed plenty of revisions! And when I thought I was done, I sent it in. It was
accepted but then what did I need more of? Revisions! Lots of them! With The Sevenfold Spell, I did not have much
of a developmental edit phase at all. But with The Magic Mirror and the Seventh Dwarf, it seemed like there was a
lot more.
Of
course, that COULD have been because the story is almost twice as long.
course, that COULD have been because the story is almost twice as long.
4. When you are writing, who is in control? You or your
characters?
characters?
For
this story, I was more in control. I was definitely more disciplined, and when
I did go off into flights of fancy, I took a hard look at the resulting scene
to determine if it really needed to stay in the story. If not, into the
discards file it went. Ange as the Tattered Princess almost made it into that
file, until I realized how important that scene would be to Richard’s emotional
development.
this story, I was more in control. I was definitely more disciplined, and when
I did go off into flights of fancy, I took a hard look at the resulting scene
to determine if it really needed to stay in the story. If not, into the
discards file it went. Ange as the Tattered Princess almost made it into that
file, until I realized how important that scene would be to Richard’s emotional
development.
That’s
not to say that I don’t have to obey my characters when they insist on having
their way. A certain scene involving Gretchen, Lars, a moonlit river, and
nudity? That was all Gretchen’s idea, and I wasn’t about to stop her.
not to say that I don’t have to obey my characters when they insist on having
their way. A certain scene involving Gretchen, Lars, a moonlit river, and
nudity? That was all Gretchen’s idea, and I wasn’t about to stop her.
(And
believe it or not, this book is rated PG-13!)
believe it or not, this book is rated PG-13!)
5. What advice do you have for other writers?
Finish
your first book, and then write another one.
your first book, and then write another one.
I
ran a blog focused on debut novelists for over three years and almost all of
the writers said that they had written multiple books before they wrote one
that sold. In one case—Alex Bledsoe—he had about 5 or 6 unpublished novels when
his book, The Sword-Edged Blonde, was
published. And then guess what happened?
He started selling his other books.
ran a blog focused on debut novelists for over three years and almost all of
the writers said that they had written multiple books before they wrote one
that sold. In one case—Alex Bledsoe—he had about 5 or 6 unpublished novels when
his book, The Sword-Edged Blonde, was
published. And then guess what happened?
He started selling his other books.
Don’t
think of them as unsold books. Think of them as inventory. J
think of them as unsold books. Think of them as inventory. J
And
yes, I have taken my own advice. I have an unsold series that will always be my
trunk novels, plus two additional novels that I consider inventory. Even my
trunk series is ripe for reuse; I have always wanted to use that magic system
in another story.
yes, I have taken my own advice. I have an unsold series that will always be my
trunk novels, plus two additional novels that I consider inventory. Even my
trunk series is ripe for reuse; I have always wanted to use that magic system
in another story.
6. What do you want your readers to take away with them
after reading the story?
after reading the story?
I
want them to have a smile on their faces.
want them to have a smile on their faces.
7. With so many changes in publishing over the past year,
where do you see the future of publishing going?
where do you see the future of publishing going?
I
think books are going to be cheaper, and authors and publishers will, as a
consequence, sell a lot more of them. I already see fiction evolving to be more
immersive for the reader as ebook readers begin to do more than simply display
text. I see the size of the press mattering less and less, while the quality
still has to equal that of Big Six houses.
think books are going to be cheaper, and authors and publishers will, as a
consequence, sell a lot more of them. I already see fiction evolving to be more
immersive for the reader as ebook readers begin to do more than simply display
text. I see the size of the press mattering less and less, while the quality
still has to equal that of Big Six houses.
Anyway,
those are my predictions.
those are my predictions.
8. If you were a millionaire would you still write?
Are
you kidding me? Being a millionaire would allow me to write for a living. I
would put out a healthy four books a year. When I run into writer’s block for
one idea, I’ll simply pursue another. And thus I would earn my next million!
you kidding me? Being a millionaire would allow me to write for a living. I
would put out a healthy four books a year. When I run into writer’s block for
one idea, I’ll simply pursue another. And thus I would earn my next million!
To tempt you even more, here is the copy for the back cover of The Magic Mirror and the Seventh Dwarf.
Book two in Accidental Enchantments.
Prince Richard is cursed. Enslaved to a
magic mirror, he must truthfully answer the evil queen when she uses it to call
on him. To keep from betraying innocents, Richard wanders the countryside and
avoids people.
magic mirror, he must truthfully answer the evil queen when she uses it to call
on him. To keep from betraying innocents, Richard wanders the countryside and
avoids people.
ll her life, Gretchen has been teased
for being small. When she hears of a hidden farm populated by little people
like her, she sets out to find it—and is welcomed by the mostly male
inhabitants. Lars in particular woos her with his gentle kindness and quiet
strength.
for being small. When she hears of a hidden farm populated by little people
like her, she sets out to find it—and is welcomed by the mostly male
inhabitants. Lars in particular woos her with his gentle kindness and quiet
strength.
Danger looms when Gretchen meets a
runaway princess and offers her shelter at the Little Farm. Wandering nearby,
Richard instantly falls in love with the beautiful princess, and is later
compelled to tell the queen that she is not the fairest of them all.
Enraged, the queen vows to find them and destroy them.
runaway princess and offers her shelter at the Little Farm. Wandering nearby,
Richard instantly falls in love with the beautiful princess, and is later
compelled to tell the queen that she is not the fairest of them all.
Enraged, the queen vows to find them and destroy them.
If either Gretchen or Richard are to
have their happy endings, they must team up to break the mirror’s spell before
the queen kills them all…
have their happy endings, they must team up to break the mirror’s spell before
the queen kills them all…
Get your copy of The Magic Mirror and the Seventh Dwarf at Carina Press and on Amazon.
Find her at her website/blog
www.tianevitt.com
www.tianevitt.com
On Twitter @tianevitt and Facebook www.facebook.com/tia.nevitt
GIVEAWAY: All readers who leave a comment will be entered into my
weekly giveaway, detailed here: http://www.tianevitt.com/2013/02/week-long-giveaway-of-all-my-releases-1/
weekly giveaway, detailed here: http://www.tianevitt.com/2013/02/week-long-giveaway-of-all-my-releases-1/
What a talented woman! Money is what stands in the way of most writer's taking it on full time. I'm glad that you follow the call even with a busy life. May your magic mirror show you great success.
Love the premise of your story,Tia. Your cover is great! Best of luck with it.
Thanks, Sandy and Jana! I do love my Carina Press covers!
Great interview. I agree, German farmhouses are very interesting. I tweeted.
Much appreciated!
Jana, you are my winner! Please contact me at tia @ tianevitt . com (remove spaces) and let me know what format you'd like your books in.