HL: I am thrillled to be able to welcome to my blog today, my 'muse sister'and fellow Wild Rose Press author, the very talented writer Skyhe Moncrief. Welcome Skhye. Tell us a little about yourself.SM: I'm a boring science geek. LOL. Straight out of the mouth of the world's biggest pessimist--I know! Seriously, I'm formally educated in both hard and soft science (geology and anthropology). For me, I'm am defined by my endeavor to master those interests. My three-year old daughter can rack up all the kudos in the world, and they are still hers. :) I only get credit for her outfits! Although, she's particular about which bow she wears...
Aside from being a stay-at-home mom, I write fantasy romance. Getting published since birthing a child has helped me maintain some semblance of an identity. Although, there are days where if I could only go to the bathroom alone... I'd be sane! Right now, I'm worried my monarch caterpillars will eat up the last leaf of milkweed in the yard and starve to death. I told you I was a science geek! We have 7 chrysallises and anxiously await the emerging butterflies.
HL: That all sounds far from being boring or 'gheekie' Skhye. (Is there such a word as 'gheekie'? and your daughter sounds delightful. I remember collecting chyrsallises when I was little. *sigh* my lost youth!)
OK, please tell us about your books.
SM: My Time Guardian series http://www.timeguardians.com is published by The Wild Rose Press. I'm most fortunate that the editors have enjoyed the stories. I currently have 4 stories available and one releasing April 3rd. I'm also most fortunate that the editors have worked with me to get the short novellas in print with the novels. HAUNTED HEARTS contains SACRIFICIAL HEARTS & NAKED ON THE STAIRCASE. THE SPELL OF THE KILLING MOON will be released in print May 1st with my April 3rd release, FORBIDDEN ETERNITY in SACRILEGIOUS SEDUCTIONS. Finally, HE OF THE FIERY SWORD is my once-upon-a-time-King-Arthur-was-a-time-traveling-shape-shifting-dragon tale. So, if anyone prefers the pricier print version, look for them at Ama
zon, Barnes & Noble, or Borders. :) Haunted Hearts and Sacrilegious Seductions both contain a Time Guardian glossary. ;)
Otherwise, I am so lucky to be a part of the same series with my gracious hostess, Lyn. My story, ANCIENT MUSINGS, is part of the SONG OF THE MUSES series. Calliope gets a new lease on life... One's darkness proves the other's light. And one should never tempt Zeus to force a muse into the deepest darkest pit of Hades to renew her purpose. http://www.thewildrosepress.com/ancient-musings-song-of-the-muses-p-841.html If you'd rather own a print copy, SONG OF THE MUSES BOOK 1 is available through Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Borders.
My free read is also available at The Wild Rose Press: http://www.thewildrosepress.com/vow-of-superstition-dragons-blood-p-840.html
VOW OF SUPERSTITION: DRAGON'S BLOOD
When legends speak of passion, Lady Lainy chalks all up to superstition until forced to take Dragon’s Blood at her arranged marriage. Will the beast’s poison herald a life full of love, or will she find myth loaded with lies when facing her father’s VOW OF SUPERSTITION?
HL: 'Vow of Superstition' is a wonderful free read, Skhye, and a great way for readers who haven't yet read any of your books to get a taste of your style and whet their appetites for more! I love your story in the 'Muse' series and 'He Of The Fiery Sword ' is an amazing story - and one of the most striking covers I've ever seen, too. Here's something I'm always interested to know about my interviewees: If someone were to play one of your characters in a movie, which character and what actor would it be and why?
SM: Ooooooooo, Jay Tavare would be cast as the hero in FORBIDDEN ETERNITY, soon to be released with WRP. He's a shape-shifting shaman. And Jay is just gorgeous. Now, you'll like this one, Dafydd Emyr would make an incredible Time Guardian too...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oZm2aUjsx0k
Let's just say Dafydd or Jay are definite hunks!!! But I'm torn between them and David O'Hara in Braveheart. Maybe it's hair? Or his attitude? I dunno. http://www.hotflick.net/pictures/995BVH_Mel_Gibson_078.html
Ooh, great choices Skhye. Unfortunately I only have room for one hunk so - although Dafydd Emyr is a countryman, and David O'Hara is so hunky too, I decided to go for Jay - I've a character myself he would be just perfect for!
What’s you’re writing process Skhye? Has it changed since writing your first book?
SM: My writing process is sit down and write very very fast. LOL. Then go back and analyze the story with a synopsis.
Do you listen to music when you write and if so, what kind of music – or do you find it distracts you?
SM: Music with words distracts me. I'm okay if with instrumentals. No piano please!!! I love New Age. But no piano! Of course, piano is okay with other instruments. I'm a big fan of bagpipes, fiddles (especially Nordic), all sorts of Asian string instruments, base clarinet, and oboe. Japanese flutes are divine.
HL:What is your personal definition of success?
SM:Finally getting a book in print! I keep it on my bookshelf to remind me that anyone can get published if they hang in there long enough. I almost quit writing the first year after my daughter was born. I'm glad I didn't now!
HL: That would have been a terrible loss, Skhye. What is your favourite source of inspiration?
HL:My inspiration comes from documentaries. I'm a fact junkie. So, the more the better. Lately, I've been hooked on HOW THE EARTH WAS MADE.
I'm with you there Skhye. It's all part of the 'but what if?' syndrome I think!
If you were an animal, which one do you think you would be, and why?
SM:I'd be black. And I'd have fur. I actually answered this question in a 5th grade creative writing session in English. I love cats, wolves, and most mammals that are black. But I'd definitely go with a horse given I had to pick a creature. :) I've said this elsewhere. Horses are noble and beautiful beasts. Who wouldn't want to be one? Especially an Arabian! Or a Lippizzaner!
Oh, I so agree with you there Skhye. As a horse fanatic myself, I can't imagine anything that typifies speed, grace and nobility more than a horse. Especially a black one. (My black Welsh Cob Harry agrees too!)
HL: Well thank you so much Skhye. It's wonderful having you here today and finding out a little more about you.
If you'd like to find out more about Skhye and her books, this is her website:
www.skhyemoncrief.com
and her Blog: http://blog.skhyemoncrief.com
Details of all her books can be found on her page at The Wild Rose Press HERE
Your covers are so awesome, Skhye, and congrats on getting your novellas in print! That's a major accomplishment in itself, and I sooo understand about your feeling of success arriving in those words being put to print.
ReplyDelete(Love the bit about the butterflies too. :) )
Thanks, Mae. I decided early on to beg to have my novellas included with the novels just to add that special perk of tangibility because our tradebacks are pricier than standard paperbacks. I was fortunate that my editors agreed. :) I'm always up for a bargain! That's why my house runneth over with a reference book library...
ReplyDeleteAnyone leaving a comment today will have their name thrown in a pot to win a pdf of SACRIFICIAL HEARTS. I'll draw a winner after midnight CST, tonight! ;)
ReplyDeleteHello Miss Mae, thanks so much for visiting and commenting - and that 's a prize worth having, Skhye!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations! Good blog.
ReplyDeletePatsy
P. L. Parker
Thanks, Lyn & Patsy!
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by, Patsy.
ReplyDeleteHello ladies! I never would have guessed you to be a horse Skyhe. They are super intelligent animals, but not quite inquisitive enough!
ReplyDelete"HE OF THE FIERY SWORD is my once-upon-a-time-King-Arthur-was-a-time-traveling-shape-shifting-dragon tale" -- I have to read this book! Very entertaining and witty interview, Skhye. I think geology and anthropology must be fascinating.
ReplyDeleteEmma, horses are inquisitive. How else would Mr. Ed have learned to use the telephone?
ReplyDeleteThanks, Nightingale. Geology and anthropology are the eclectic studies in hard and soft sciences. If you're curious about the world, they'll fill the bill!
Can you believe my word verification is FRASHIES? Is that not too cool? I've got to put that word in a novel...
Hi Skhye! You are really all over the place these days! Nice to "see" you here.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Debra!
ReplyDeleteSkhye I just finished He of The Fiery Sword. Did you ever get that feeling when you finish a book, that you have lost your escape. I consider the mark of a great story, to be when I am sad I have no more of it to read.
ReplyDeleteAnd Skhye when I put it down. I was sad it was over.
Thanks, Mary! But Arthur is still out there, working... That's what happens when you're immortal. ;)
ReplyDeleteHi Emma, thanks for visiting - I did leave you a comment before but for some reason it seems to have disappeared! LOL. As Skhye says, horses are very inquisitive - you should meet my two, they're positively nosey, and nothing much goes on around their field without them noticing! :)
ReplyDeleteHi Nightingale and Debra, thanks for taking the time to stop by and comment.
ReplyDeleteHello Mary. Yes, I agree. 'He Of the Fiery Sword' was 'one of those books'! Thanks for stopping by.
ReplyDeleteGreat interview, Lyn/Skyhe! Someone once said to me, if they came back as a dog, they'd want to be owned by me! That was a lovely compliment, I think.
ReplyDeleteAs for me, I'd like to be a hawk or a kestrel. Don't ask me why. A need to fly, I suppose.
Well done, Skhye. You are a multi-talented, prolific writer and lovely mum. Thank the Lord you didn't give up (with the writing, I mean! :)). And yes, I have to agree, getting in print is the bees knees!
Good luck!
xx
--anyone can get published if they hang in there long enoughanyone can get published if they hang in there long enough--
ReplyDeleteAllow me to disagree Skhye/ There must be some talent along with perseverance. Your stories sound great and come along with super reviews. And your bookcover is amazing, yummy, hot... I can keep on.
Great interview, Skhye. I enjoyed your free read immensely. You do have a great style of writing. In addition, I can't immagine being so prolific with a three-year-old. Congratulations on a wonderful interview. May you sell many, many books! And because of you I continually ponder my word verifications now :)
ReplyDeleteMickey
Aw, thanks, Sheryly, Mona, and Mickey. Let me just add that I wrote the novels before baby. I tweaked them and submitted them AFTER BABY. :)
ReplyDeleteCongrats Skyhe on your achievements!! I downloaded the free book yesterday so I could get a feel for your writing! They sound/look so interesting! I've loved horses too since I was a kid - aaah long time ago! My DH saw the Butterfly Museum in Key West and then decided to try to plant flowers to attract them. Have no idea what species though!!! We get the hummingbirds to visit our balcony though! I wish you continued success.
ReplyDeleteSkhye, congratulations on all your success! I've read your muse story and your free read, and I'm hungry for more ;).
ReplyDeleteAnd Jay Tavare? *sigh* He was one of my first hump-day hunks. A fine specimen...
Helen
Helen, Jay is more than a specimen... LOL. The pictures with that sweater.
ReplyDeleteMartha, I hope you enjoy the free read. We had to release another butterfly today! I planted a butterfly garden ages ago. It's still working hard for me! I'll have to google that butterfly museum. If it's next to the Russell Stover outlet store, it's definitely in heaven. ;)
LOL Skhye! Great interview ladies! I took geology in college and loved it--even though I was social science major. ;) I love your books Skhye. Can't wait to read them all. Congrats on the upcoming release.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Cindy!
ReplyDeleteHi Sheryl, Mona and Mickey
ReplyDeleteThanks for dropping in and leaving a comment - I agree wholeheartedly with everything you say about our multi-talented Skhye.
Hi Martha, Helen and Cindy, thanks for your comments, always good to see you here.
ReplyDeleteSkhye - Isn't it amazing the way a newly emerged butterly knows how to fly! A small miracle.
Uh did you mean this picture? (Eyes right and up a bit)
Yep, that's the picture! The one with the squash blossom necklace you had before is just as nice. ;)
ReplyDeleteI've caught one butterfly just crawling from its cocoon these past few days. I want to see them work their way out... like whether they chew through the chitin (probable chrysallis composition?) or just shove through. Guess I'll need to be more observant. The daughter is a true naturalist now! She's definitely into the magic!!! Like how birds can stand on telephone wires and not get burned. I told her birds are magic.
Thanks for having me here, Lyn. The winner of a pdf of SACRIFICIAL HEARTS is Miss Mae! Mae, email me at skhye@skhyemoncrief.com so I can get your prize to you! Thanks to everyone for sharing your time with me.
LOL Skye - I debated which of those pictures to put up, they're both droolworthy - anyway they've both had an airing now!
ReplyDeleteFrom what I remember the chrysalises (chrysalai?)just seemed to split. I don't have a butterfly garden as such, but I have planted several buddlea bushes to attract them.
Thanks so much for being here Skhye, and for sharing these aspects of your life. It's been fun and fascinating.
Congratulations Miss Mae, you're in for a treat.
Great interview, Skhye. Nice cover art, too. ;-)
ReplyDeleteHi Keena, thanks for calling by.
ReplyDeleteGreat interview, ya'll. I didn't realize that you had a degree in Anthropology. That's so cool. One of my sister's has one in primatology and I've listened to her scientific mind for many years.
ReplyDeleteTake care,
Deb
Thanks for dropping by Deb - yes, a very clever lady, is our Skhye!
ReplyDelete