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Author Interview with Maureen McGowan + Giveaway
Filed in Giveaways , Interview , Maureen McGowan , The Latin Lover Posted on May 14, 2011 @ 6:00 am
22 comments
Today we welcome to Book Lovers Inc. Maureen McGowan the author behind the very original and fun Twisted Tales series: modern retelling of classic fairy tales with feisty, independent heroines who don’t wait around for their princes to rescue them but take matters into their own hands: like Cinderella training to be a ninja warrior and Sleeping Beauty patrolling as a vampire slayer! Please give a warm welcome to Maureen and enter for your chance to win one of her books.
Stella: Maureen can you please tell us a bit about yourself?
Maureen: I’m a recovering accountant who loves shoes and films and art—not to mention books—way more than I ever liked accounting. I secretly always wanted to be an artist or actor or writer, but I was handicapped by an aggressive practical side who thought it was important to earn a living. Luckily I finally saw the light.
Maureen: My typical days vary depending on what stage I am at in a book, but although I often don’t really get going until noon, I work pretty long hours. (I think I might have been a vampire in a previous life.) When I’m at the revision stage 10 hour days aren’t uncommon. But my brain won’t do first drafts for that long at a time. I do often “work” 6-8 hours, but the actual writing is interspersed with long doses of social networking, random net surfing and tetris playing. If I’m honest, I probably can’t work on a first draft for more than 3-4 hours a day.
I’m a bit of a hybrid in the plotter/pantser department. I push myself to plan, and the Twisted Tales required more planning than I normally do, but I usually end up truncating the planning stage and start to write as soon as I get really excited. Then I usually have to stop midway through the book to replan.
Stella: What do you think is the difference between a reader and a real Book Lover?
Maureen: Interesting question. I think it’s about passion. A true passion for books.
Stella: Your Twisted Tales series is a unique blend of modern heroines with classic fairy tales, how did the idea to modernise the beloved stories of our childhood came to you? And how exactly did you put together Cinderella training to be a Ninja warrior and Sleeping Beauty moonlighting as a vampire slayer?
Maureen: I’m never totally sure where my ideas come from, but in this case I was initially approached by a freelance editor with the idea of doing updated fairy-tales including a choose-your-own-adventure element.
Since it wasn’t my idea, I didn’t want to write the books if the editor already had the ideas firmly in her mind. I didn’t like the idea of writing someone else’s stories. She insisted I’d have complete creative freedom, as long as the books would appeal to a wide age range of readers (including pre-teens). To test that assertion, I asked her, “In Cinderella, can there be ninjas?” I was joking, mostly, testing my boundaries. But she said yes and I instantly had an image of ninjas dropping out of trees to attack Cinderella.
The idea was funny to me and also made me realize that I could re-create Cinderella as a girl of action, someone determined to save herself, not needing a handsome prince to pull her out of her misery.
As I was working on the proposal for Cinderella (then called Not Your Mother’s Cinderella Story) I brainstormed ideas for follow up books and the title Sleeping Beauty: Vampire Slayer hit me out of the ether.
I immediately knew I wanted to write a book that fit that title. The original story of Sleeping Beauty was always very dark to me, so the overall story idea came quite fast.
Stella: What can we expect of Cinderella: Ninja Warrior and Sleeping Beauty: Vampire Slayer?
Maureen: Readers can expect a fun, fast read, with strong heroines capable of saving themselves.
Stella: What was the most fun part of writing the Twisted Tales? Was there a favourite scene of yours? (or character if you have one)?
Maureen: I really enjoyed writing the action scenes. The scene that always comes to mind is the beam competition in Cinderella. That scene came to me faster than I could type, as if I were flipping and leaping and diving through fire at high heights along with her. I love when that happens.
Stella: The cover of Sleeping Beauty: Vampire Slayer is very reminiscent of Buffy, did you have any input in the covers or was it the sole doing of the art department? (I love it btw! It looks great! :-D)
Maureen: She does look Buffyesque, doesn’t she? I didn’t have any input on the covers, but love them!
Stella: And speaking of Buffy, did you watch the show, were you a fan?
Maureen: I am a huge Buffy fan. I even loved the original movie, although came to love the TV show much more.
Stella: Can you summarize your novels for us twitterstyle (140 characters or less)?
Maureen: **opens tweetdeck to test length** BTW readers can follow me on Twitter. I’m @MaureenMcGowan.
“Cinderella, trapped by evil stepmother’s black magic, develops ninja and magic skills, defeats her stepmother and meets boy of her dreams.”
“Girl cursed by an evil vampire queen at birth to be isolated in the night slays vampires, defends kingdom, falls in love, and stops a war.”
Stella: Now can you tell us 3 reasons why people should read your Twisted Tales series?
Maureen:
1. They are entertaining.
2. They contain positive messages/images for girls.
3. Reading them will bring about world peace.
*No money back guarantee on #3. Be patient. It’ll happen, especially if you tell your friends to read them, too.
Stella: Will you explore other fairy tales too? How many books are planned in the Twisted Tales series?
Maureen: I hope to. I can’t announce any firm plans yet, but hope the series will continue as I’ve got lots of ideas up my sleeve.
Stella: What shall we expect from you, what is next on your schedule?
Maureen: I’m just putting the finishing touches on a darker Young Adult novel, set in a post-apocalyptic world where the heroine REALLY has to fight to survive.
Stella: What was your favourite fairy tale as a child and why?
Maureen: Several people have asked me this and I think I’ve given a different answer every time, so clearly, I didn’t really have a favourite. But I’m quite sure it wasn’t Cinderella. Even at a young age, I thought it was so wrong that the prince needed a shoe to recognize a girl he’d just fallen in love with.
Stella: If you had a magic power, what would you like to be able to do?
Maureen: Some days I’d just like more hours in the day, or the chance for a few do-overs. But mostly, I’d like to be able to fly.
Stella: Can you share with us some little secret trivia, something that not many people know about you?
Maureen: I played Oliver in my high school musical.
Stella: Thank you Maureen for stopping by and answering my questions! 🙂
You can read my reviews of Cinderella: Ninja Warrior and Sleeping Beauty: Vampire Slayeron BLI.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~*~*Giveaway*~*~
Maureen has generously offered one paperback copy of Sleeping Beauty:Vampire Slayer to be won by one lucky commenter living in the US/Canada!
All you have to do is ask Maureen a questions or leave a meaningful comment about her interview.
(You can read our full giveaway policy here)
Tell us which was your favourite fairy tale as a child?
Please leave us a way to contact you.
(Email in blogger profile or twitter name – no way to contact you – no entry).
This giveaway is open to residents of the US or Canada!
Giveaway ends on Saturday, May 28th and we will announce the winner on Sunday.
Good luck!
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Great interview.
Rumpelstiltskin is my favorite fairy tale.
zombvampire (at) gmail (dot) com
I enjoyed the interview. I would like to ask, is there a fairy tale you really don't like? Which one do you think is the worst one?
I would love to read your book.
twoofakind12@yahoo.com
Cinderella was always my favorite so of course, I had to watch/read every variation there was!
Margay1122ATaolDOTcom
i just heard of this series & have added Maureen's books to my ToBeReadList!!!!!
Maureen: i've been interested in anything that promotes POSITIVE images for girls…..when i look for books/dvds to buy for my Goddaughter & younger female cousins, i always look for a STRONG female character……i've always been about GIRL POWER!!!!
thank you for giving me another INSPIRING gift to give!!!!
thank you for the giveaway!!!
Cynthia
cyn209@juno.com
As a child I really enjoyed reading greek and roman myths, not quiet fairy tales, but they interested me more.
Thanks!
jason [at] jasonkivela [dot] com
As a child my favorite fairy tales were the stories of Snow White and Rose Red. 😀
Ash
ashley.mckinsey(at)yahoo(dot)com
My favorite fairytale is Beauty and the Beast. I love the idea of Cinderella training to be a ninja.
marlenebreakfield(at)yahoo(dot)com
I love the take on Cinderella, giving her all the power instead of her being downtrodden by the evil stepmother and waiting around for her prince to come find her. I loved Buffy too, and I love a heroine who sticks up for herself and doesn't wait around for the hero to rescue her.
Barbed1951 at aol dot com
I forgot to mention my favorite fairy tale. It was Jack and the Beanstalk – he seemed like such a resourceful boy.
Puss N Boots was my favorite fairy tale as a kid.
vsloboda(at)gmail(dot)com
I love stories loosely based on fairy tales.
My favorite fairy tale was Beauty and the Beast.
kissinoak at frontier dot com
Sleeping Beauty is one of my favorite fairy tales with Snow White right behind it. Is Snow White one of the fairy tales you are thinking of tackling next.
I have to admit I laughed when I read the titles. These just look like such fun reads.
heatwave96(at)hotmail.com
great givewaway
follow via gfc
drakebdog@gmail.com
I wanted to ask if you read other mash ups and do you like them?
I was a big Buffy fan. Even the movie, as ill fated as it was. You picked two of the really big fairytale girls for these stories. Have you thought about something like Jack and Jill? Really, the possibilities are endless. The books sound great.
jepeb@verizon.net
Little Red Riding Hood was my favorite, I guess thats why I like reading about werewolves today! tWarner419@aol.com
As a child my favorite fairy tale was Ariel. It's ironic because I hate swimming, but I loved her voice and how adventurous and out-going she was. Her red hair is gorgeous and she is incredibly brave, perhaps foolhardy, to follow her love out of the sea. edysicecreamlover18@gmail.com Thanks for the chance to win your book, I have it on my list as a to-reads!
I love your take on the fairy tales! I never really got into the whole "wait for your prince…happily ever after. However, I did see every Disney movie. The whole idea of lets write them as if these are real girls/women, and how they can mess with the myth, is something I enjoy very much.
linda at gordonvalley dot com
I love Beauty and the Beast and the Little Mermaid. I also loved watching Buffy the Vampire Slayer. I can't wait to read this book. Please enter me in contest. I would love to read this book. Tore923@aol.com
My fav fairy tale as a child was Sleeping Beauty so I am so excited about your book. Thanks so much for this giveaway! Also a question: What inspired you to choose these particular fairy tales for the series (as there are so many out here) Thanks!
Margaret
singitm@hotmail.com
My favorite fairy tale is Beauty and the Beast. But I love them all and I have to tell you that one of my favorite genre/stories to read are the revamped fairy tales. I love it when an author gives us her own take on the tales. it's such fun to read. 🙂
LadyVampire2u AT gmail DOT com
I had a large book of Grimm's Fairy Tales when I was a child and I think my favorite was Snow White and Rose Red.
kkhaas at bellsouth dot net
Cinderella was my favorite fairy tale. Can you imagine if she was a vampire hunter or ninja warrior when I was a kid? That would have been one fairy tale movie my parents would not have taken me too!
meredithfl at gmail dot com