Monday, October 08, 2012

Interview with Angela Orlowski Peart




Do you write in different genres?

I mostly write Young Adult books, but I like to enmesh different, although related, subgenres to create a more interesting and appealing to a wider audience story. In the Forged Series I interlace paranormal romance with elements of high fantasy, while the story is firmly set in today’s reality, which puts it also in contemporary subgenre.

If yes which is your favorite genre to write?

I couldn’t really label any of the mentioned above subgenres as my favorite. I like all of them, and that’s the reason why I combine them into one.

Do you title the book first or wait until after it’s complete?

Sometimes the title pops in my head while I write the first draft, and sometimes I know it before I even type the first sentence. Forged by Greed went through at least three titles until I decided to keep this one. And I already have the title for the second book in The Forged Series—Forged by Synergy.

What is your current “work in progress” or upcoming projects?

The second book in The Forged Series, Forged by Synergy, is scheduled for publication in the early summer of 2013. There are new developments of the story that take root in the ending of the first book. There is a new conflict, and all the characters—the main and the secondary—are forced to deal with the brand new personal challenges. Plus there will be a new antagonist.
I am also working on a novella introducing a new sci-fi series. This one will be published in spring of 2013. The story takes place some 50 years from now, when our world is provided with an amazing technology, but human flaws, feelings, and relationships are still similar to what we all currently live with. 

Is there anything you find particularly challenging in your writing?

Writing is a never-ending learning process. In addition to constructing a compelling story, believable conflict, and realistic, easy-to-connect-with characters, I need to make sure the overall flow of the plot is flawless. I am a perfectionist, and that adds to the challenge. I keep rewriting the scenes and even change the characters until I feel completely satisfied with the story.

Do you have to travel much to do research for your books?

Fortunately I can conduct most of my research on the Internet and in the local library. Forged by Greed and the rest of The Forged Series take place in Seattle, where I live, and sometimes I just go to a certain place in town to do a “close-up” research. That’s always a great excuse to grab lunch in one of Seattle’s restaurants, or go browsing in the urban boutiques.

Who designed the cover of your latest book?

It was Jeannie Ruesch. I fell in love with her designs and I knew right away that Jeannie can create a perfect cover for Forged by Greed.

Do you have any advice for other writers?

I think we, authors, should write for the readers, and not for the market. We need to tell the story that needs to be told, and never write it to just sell and make money. We should always put the passion first, and strive for the best quality of writing. We should publish only the polished, ready-to-be-released books.


Angela can be found on:

her website www.angelapeart.com (subscribe to my newsletter)


EXCERPT:
The women came to a clearing in the woods, where a pond shimmered, encircled by a thick row of colorful flowers. A few white water lilies dotted the surface of the water, their large leaves providing a resting spot for huge dragonflies.
Jasmira opened her mouth in awe. Amber watched her, smiling.
“Does this look like a computer-generated scene too?”
Jasmira gave a shaky laugh, unsure if Amber was making fun of her, or if the question was genuine. She decided it was a joke, and relaxed. Amber motioned for her to follow toward the pond.
Jasmira gasped—now the water lilies were clustered at the opposite edges of the pond, like a curtain that just opened to reveal a main stage behind. An image of several leopards playfully chasing each other appeared on the surface. The pond radiated a soft light, and the image retained a fluid-like look of the water.
“What is this?”
“Watch,” Amber whispered.
Right above the water appeared a shimmering, vapor-like substance. Long thin wisps of vapor swirled lazily around. It reminded Jasmira of a ghost, and she glanced at Amber, unsure of what to expect. Standing by the edge of the pond, the Goddess whispered something in a language long forgotten. The foggy matter slowly rose and sculpted itself into a translucent form of a slim woman, her hair cascading down to the water. Right next to her, the figure of a young man started to form and lift. His hair was shoulder length, and he was taller than the woman.
Jasmira’s heart pounded, and she thought her breathing was the loudest sound around. Moving closer to the Goddess made her feel safer. Amber touched Jasmira’s back, smiling reassuringly. The figures floating in front of them turned their faces to look at Jasmira. Their large eyes had the look of a smooth stone sculpture.
“This is our Race’s first Royal couple, HĂȘtshepsu and Banafrit.” The Goddess gestured at the male, and then at the female. She glanced at Jasmira and continued, “And this is our Princess, Jasmira, soon to become the Race’s Queen.”
The ghostly couple remained unmoved, their stone-like eyes fixed on Jasmira. They didn’t speak, only stared at her. Jasmira felt a trickle of sweat rolling down her neck and back, and her legs trembled. The light emanating from the water became thicker and brighter, completely enveloping HĂȘtshepsu and Banafrit. It started to form a dazzling column of a liquid fire around them. With a burst of scorching air, it shot up straight to the cloudless sky.
Jasmira shrieked and covered her face, instinctively taking two steps back. She heard the Goddess’s tranquil voice in her mind telling her to calm down. Jasmira looked at Amber incredulously, her mouth open.  Two huge ghostly leopards jumped out of the light, and disappeared into the woods.
“What was that?” Jasmira screeched.
Amber raised one brow, her eyes following the vanishing leopards. “That was the first Royal couple. I’m sorry, they aren’t very friendly.”




Forged by Greed
by Angela Orlowski Peart

Their choice had been taken away long before they were born.

BLURB

Two Seattle 16-year-old Shape Shifters, Jatred and Jasmira, are torn between following their hearts and protecting the order of the world. The path of the star-crossed lovers leads only to destruction.

The ancient Shape Shifter Races—the Winter wolves and the Summer leopards— live among humans and fit perfectly into modern life, while keeping secret societies with their own laws and traditions.

Two Goddesses, Crystal and Amber command their respective Races. One is on a quest to tilt the scale of power to her side. The other will never let it happen, even if it means sacrificing Jatred and Jasmira’s love.

The Amulet commissioned to bring stability into the world remains hidden and concealed with the help of advanced technology. Jatred is the guardian of the Amulet and key to the Goddesses’ conflict.

When the forces of nature are disrupted, earthquakes, tsunamis, and volcanic eruptions rake the world.  The Goddesses go to war and summon all their Shifters to join in the conflict. Jatred and Jasmira must fight not only for their love but to protect the future of both Races and humankind.


About the Author:

Angela Orlowski-Peart was born and raised in Poland. She describes herself as “European born, American by choice”. She was just seven-years-old when she decided to learn English to translate her favorite Polish fairytales.

Angela is a Young Adult fiction writer. She completed her first YA paranormal romance novel, Forged by Greed, which is scheduled for publication on September 20, 2012. It is the first book in The Forged Series. Angela writes in multiple genres, including paranormal, fantasy, urban fiction, sci-fi, and short stories. She is a member of Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators, Western Washington Chapter (http://www.scbwi.org), and several authors’ and readers’ networking groups on Linkedin and Goodreads. 

Angela loves reading good books almost as much as writing them. She can’t decide which is her favorite season—summer or fall. She speaks with Polish accent, but loves listening to the Southern drawl.

She is passionate about watercolor painting, fashion—especially stilettos, rock climbing, environment, and organic food and gardening. She lives in the Seattle area with her husband, two children, and a very independent and chronically curious cat.

Angela can be found on her website, Facebook, Twitter, Google+, Pinterest, Linkedin and Goodreads.







a Rafflecopter giveaway

1 comments:

Author A.O. Peart said...

Thank you for hosting me today, Roxanne.