Monday, March 21, 2016

In the Blood by R. L. Martínez Interview, Excerpt & Giveaway


In the Blood
The Witchbreed
Book One
R. L. Martínez

Genre: Fantasy

Publisher: Lakewater Press

Date of Publication: March 21, 2016

ISBN: 978-0-9944511-0-1
ISBN: 978-0-9944511-1-8
ASIN: B019X8WCWI

Number of pages: 370
Word Count: app. 122,000

Cover Artist: E. L. Wicker

Book Description:

The Warrior

The war between Dosalyn and Roanaan has ended, but a new battle begins for prisoner-of-war, Ottilde Dominax. Dreams of her witchbreed twin sister are visions of death and betrayal. Driven by their grim warning, she escapes her captors and races across nations to save her sister.

But she may arrive too late…

The Witch

Oriabel Dominax has kept her healing magic secret while she cares for her family's struggling estate. But the arrival of a new lord with secrets of his own, the discovery of a dark and addictive magic, and threats from a cruel blackmailer push Oriabel closer to disaster.

Through it all, the Witch’s Tree calls…

Amazon    BN

Second Excerpt

Blood slid down Oriabel Dominax’s arm and dripped into the three brass dishes set on the floor. When each was a quarter full, she knotted a strip of cotton around the cut above her elbow. She gripped the counter next to her as a wave of dizziness swept over her. She closed her eyes and sucked in an unsteady breath.
“You take too much, little apple.”
Oriabel opened her eyes and grimaced at the old woman crouched by her side. “It’s nothing, Jacind.” In answer, the old woman slapped her on the shoulder. Oriabel made a face but did not protest the reproof. Instead, she refocused on the Seeing spell. After sprinkling each pool of blood with purplish-grey powder consisting of diamiana, jasmine, and mugwort, she touched a lit candle to the center of the dishes. She squinted as bright blue flames sparked and spat in response. Once the flames died, Oriabel bit her lip and inspected the patterns left on the surface of the blood, Jacind peering over her shoulder. In the first dish, the powder had melted into a swirling black mass that solidified into a long wavy line. The snake. Her eyes moved to the next dish, where the powder had formed a pinwheel with a line running through its middle. She pulled back sharply. A return? She leaned closer to the dish but it remained the same. Ottilde.


About the Author:

R. L. Martinez writes fantasy and science fiction with dark edges and corners. She began writing when she was in the seventh grade when her teacher assigned a creative writing project. She lives in Norman, OK with her husband, two young sons, a mouse-killing cat, and two naughty pooches.


Twitter - https://twitter.com/RobinLMartinez




Interview
Where are you from?
I was born in Ft. Knox, Kentucky and then moved around a bit since my dad was in the Army. We settled in central Indiana in 1989 and I lived there until my husband got a job in Norman, OK. And that’s where we live now.
Tell us your latest news?
I’ve got a lot of appearances and such coming up. In April, I am attending the RT Booklovers’ Convention in April. In May I am taking part in a group signing at a local bookstore. I’m also attending SoonerCon in June and WorldCon in August.
When and why did you begin writing?
In 7th grade, my teacher assigned our class a creative writing assignment: describe something from top to bottom, side to side. This is the first such project I can remember ever receiving. In fact, until then, I had not given much thought to writing. I certainly never pictured myself as “a writer.” Though I LOVED making up stories for my Breyer Horse figures and Shera action figures to act out. And I adored dressing up in costumes and making up dramas.
For my initial crack at the assignment, I chose to describe my bedroom. It was dusky pink and sick with fake flowers, including on the wall paper. About half-way through my first draft, I looked down at my paper and thought, “I can do better than this.” I crumpled up the description of my room and began afresh. This time I imagined walking through a forest – something I have always found restorative and enlivening.
I had to read the assignment in front of my class (my teacher was a bit of a sadist) and when I was done, my teacher looked at me and said, “Beautiful.” I remember the expression on her face and the tone of her voice when she said that and it drove me to write and write and write, trying to get someone else to react that same way to something I had created.

When did you first consider yourself a writer?
When I received $5 from a small e-zine to publish a science-fiction story of mine.
What inspired you to write your first book?
In the Blood‘s history of development is long and convoluted. It’s very first incarnation was as a retelling of “The Twelve Huntsmen” folktale. It went through many different phases after that until it arrived at its present form.
Do you have a specific writing style?
I don’t really know. I never gave it much thought. I would love to say I write in poetic, lyrical prose like Patricia A. McKillip, but I’m afraid that’s not the case. I suppose my style is straight-forward and clear. If that’s even a style.
How did you come up with the title?
Well, originally, the book was going to be titled Blood Magic. But then I found out “blood magic” is a real thing and considered an evil practice. So, then I began playing around with titles that still incorporated blood, which is one of the levels of witchbreed magic used throughout the books. That got me to thinking of how to incorporate ALL the levels of magic in the titles of the books. And that led me formalize the origins of magic in this world I created. Doing that inspired me to write a creation story in verse form, which begins with the line, “In the blood of the witchbreed…”
Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp?
There is no intentional message. I simply want to tell a riveting story that lingers with readers long after they close the book or click off the last page.
How much of the book is realistic?
It’s tempting to say none of it, since it’s fantasy. But I’ve tried to focus on human circumstances that transcend genre.
Are experiences based on someone you know, or events in your own life?
No. I’ve never been a witch or a knight. Nor have I ever been in prison or been threatened with execution J
What books have most influenced your life most?
The Neverending Story by Michael Ende; Animal Farm by George Orwell;
If you had to choose, which writer would you consider a mentor?
Sharon Shinn
What book are you reading now?
When God was a Woman by Merlin Stone
Are there any new authors that have grasped your interest?
She’s not exactly new but Grace Draven definitely has my attention; as well as Leigh Bardugo.
What are your current projects?
I am revising the second book of the Witchbreed; revising the first book in an urban fantasy series; and writing the rough draft of a fairytale retelling.
What would you like my readers to know?

They can connect with me on Facebook and Twitter as well as through my blog at http://robinlmartinez.com


Tour giveaway

1 swag pack (book, bookmark, postcard, heartstone necklace) and

3 ebook copies



1 comment:

  1. Good to know a little more about you, Robin. Loved In the Blood. Hope you reach a million people with it!

    ReplyDelete