Bookish: Interview + Giveaway: Steven Shrewsbury, author of Thrall

Monday, August 8, 2011

Interview + Giveaway: Steven Shrewsbury, author of Thrall

1:47 AM |

Posted by Evie |

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I'm extremely excited to be joined today by Steven Shrewsbury, author of the amazing fantasy novel, Thrall.

Guys, please give a warm welcome to Steven!

E: Evie
SS: Steven Shrewsbury

E: Welcome to Bookish Steven! Please tell us a little bit about yourself.

SS: I'm really tall, a blue collar fella, from the country & love to tell stories. Anyone who has spoken to me casually can testify to that, but I digress. My fantasy work leans toward a harder edge, perhaps heroic or S&S,but they're meant to entertain and make one think a little. I have a good sense of humor, a loud voice and enjoy the old movies more than the new. I'm as happy reading a bio of a historical figure as anything.

E: Who or what inspired you to write Thrall?

SS: I'd finished an historical fantasy novel GODFORSAKEN and liked the name of Lugh's spear, Gorias. About that time I heard an ancient ballad about a wronged Lord with two swords. This and the words of a young lady I worked with started the genesis that became THRALL.

E: Do you mind telling us how long did it take for you to write it?

SS: I do first drafts in a month. The rough of THRALL was done the two months after I recovered from neck surgery. Overdrafts and whatnot, they took place over a few years. Louise Bohmer really cleaned it up

E: Which of your characters do you feel is most like you?

SS: Gorias La Gaul, in some ways, but I'm no where near that crass or violent. Well, on oft days maybe.

E: What authors inspire you? Do you have any literary role models?

SS: Robert E. Howard (whose yarns still hold up), Karl Edward Wagner, Kurt Vonnegut and David Gemmell

E: What advice would you give to writers who are interested in writing Fantasy?

SS: READ a lot first. Don't base your work on your RPG experiences or take all of your info from the D&D manual. Read history, read & research real places, events and weapons. Then get around real folks that may teach one about human nature and characters. Read all sorts of fantasy. Don't think you have to write a 10 volume saga and be more intrested in backstory than THE story. Read other genres

E: Where is your favorite place for writing? Do you have any special writing rituals?

SS: Mostly, I write in my big front room here, but I can take the lap top and do it anywhere. I've written in laundray mats, libraries, the DMV, my mother's chemo sessions, anyplace. Rituals? After the slaugthered sacrifices, black coffee is always by me but other than that...

E: What genres do you like to read in your free time?

SS: Horror, westerns and historical works.

E: Which of your favorite books would you recommend everybody to read?

SS: New stuff? BEST SERVED COLD by Joe Abercrombie. Terrific, brutal and inspiring. Old stuff? SLAUGHTERHOUSE FIVE by Kurt Vonnegut. It's screwy, funny and the storytelling rocks. MIDNIGHT SUN by Karl Edward Wagner, his Kane short stories. That'll give any fantasy reader pause. Del Rey's collection BLOODY CROWN OF CONAN by Robert E. Howard.

E: What's next in line for you, are you working on a new book now?

SS: Yes, polishing a prequel to THRALL called OVERKILL, plus I just wrote a rough of a horror/adventure/survivalist thing set in 1932. My fantasy (Co-written with Peter Welmerink)about a berserker Viking BEDLAM UNLEASHED will see the light of day from Belfire Press soon. My reconstruction era horror-mystery HELL BILLY will be released next year from Bad Moon Books, along with my Lovecraftian westerns LAST MAN SCREAMING.

E: If you could have a dinner with three people/characters (real, imaginary, famous or not, even dead!) who would you choose?

SS: Robert E. Howard, Henry VIII and my late father. Those guys all knew howto tell tales and jokes

E: What are your biggest pet peeves?

SS: Bad drivers; rotten parents and folks that won't read anything but what's on a cell phone screen.

Random Questions:

- white or dark chocolate? Dark.
- coffee or tea? coffee
- favorite fictional character? Doctor Who
- day or night? night

- Spring or Autumn Autumn

- M&M or Skittles? M&Ms

Steven, thank you so much for joining us today!

I'm looking forward to reading and reviewing your next books!

I hope you guys enjoyed the interview, for more information about Steven Shrewsbury and his books, please visit his website: Steven Shrewsbury or/and read my review of: Thrall.

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Giveaway Time!
Seventh Star Press generously provided us with a copy of Thrall plus swag (bookmarks, glossy print card sets, and a collectible magnet)

Rules:
Open to US & Canada (sorry Internationals!)
Ends: Monday, August 22nd

*Mandatory entry: be a GFC follower of my blog and leave a comment with your email address.
*Extra entries:
+1 Follow me on Twitter @SeoEvie
+5 Follow Seventh Star Press on Twitter @7thStarPress
+5 Like Seventh Star Press on Facebook HERE
+5 Follow Seventh Star Press @ Blogspot

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About the Author
Evie is the Blogger behind Bookish. She enjoys reading many different genres, especially YA, Paranormal, Contemporary Fiction and Fantasy.
She loves talking to authors and is always happy to welcome them for interviews, and guest posts. She also likes spreading the love for awesome books and chatting with fellow book-worms.

You can find Evie here: Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads | Shelfari | The Library Thing

Labels: Author Interview, Giveaway

19 comments:

debbie said...: Thank you for the interesting interview. It is always nice for me to find new authors. I would enjoy reading your book, it sounds really good.
twoofakind12@yahoo.com; August 8, 2011 5:14 AM
Coreena McBurnie said...: Great interview and I would like to enter the contest.
coreenamcburnie at gmail dot com
I am a GFC & Twitter follower Coreena McBurnie
I am also following Seventh Star on Twitter, FB (under Books & Other Creative Adventures) and Blogspot.
Thanks; August 8, 2011 6:27 AM
Let's Evaluate said...: Great giveaway! Thanks for the chance to win!

Erin @ Let's Evaluate
letsevaluate@yahoo.com; August 8, 2011 12:45 PM
M.A.D. said...: Mary D
zenrei57 (at) hotmail dot com

GFC follower: Mary DeBorde

Very enjoyable interview post! Thank you both for such a fun giveaway :); August 8, 2011 2:52 PM
Jenn of Frequent Reader, Infrequent Blogger said...: GFC follower Jenn of Frequent Reader, Infrequent Blogger jennlovesed14 at gmail
*Extra entries:
+1 Twitter @jdonnelly14
+5 Follow Seventh Star Press on Twitter @jdonnelly14
+5 Like Seventh Star Press on Facebook - Jenn Donnelly
+5 Follow Seventh Star Press @ Blogspot Jenn of Frequent Reader Infrequent Blogger.; August 8, 2011 5:15 PM
Ricki said...: This looks really good!
rickimc[at]aol[dot]com; August 8, 2011 8:02 PM
Lieder Madchen said...: I would love to read this book, thank you so much for the giveaway!

I follow you and 7thstarpress on twitter as @LiederMadchen.

liedermadchen(at)hotmail(dot)com; August 9, 2011 1:57 AM
Darlene said...: Please enter me in the draw!

I'm following you on GFC (Darlene), and my email address is darlenesbooknook at gmail dot com.

Thanks for the giveaway!; August 9, 2011 8:03 AM
Darlene said...: +1 following you on Twitter (@DarleneBookNook)

My email address is darlenesbooknook at gmail dot com.

Thanks for the giveaway!; August 9, 2011 8:04 AM
Darlene said...: +5 Follow Seventh Star Press on Twitter @7thStarPress (@DarleneBookNook)

My email address is darlenesbooknook at gmail dot com.

Thanks for the giveaway!; August 9, 2011 8:05 AM
Darlene said...: +5 Like Seventh Star Press on Facebook (Darlene's Book Nook)

My email address is darlenesbooknook at gmail dot com.

Thanks for the giveaway!; August 9, 2011 8:05 AM
Darlene said...: +5 Follow Seventh Star Press @ Blogspot (GFC - Darlene)

My email address is darlenesbooknook at gmail dot com.

Thanks for the giveaway!; August 9, 2011 8:06 AM
Vidisha said...: Thanks for the giveaway!!

gfc follower

vidishamun at gmail dot com; August 9, 2011 8:51 AM
SweetShenanigans said...: This comment has been removed by the author.; August 10, 2011 11:40 AM
SweetShenanigans said...: Sounds like a great book!
GFC follower as SweetShenanigans
girl23rocks at hotmail dot com
twitter following you @Alliegal101
+5 Follow Seventh Star Press on Twitter @Alliegal101
+5 Like Seventh Star Press on Facebook as Swee Shenaniga
+5 Follow Seventh Star Press via GFC
Thank you!; August 10, 2011 11:41 AM
Christine said...: Thank you for the interview and giveaway!

I liked your review and would love to read Thrall. :)

GFC- Christine Davis

ceeenndee at gmail dot com; August 11, 2011 8:15 PM
Lisa Richards/alterlisa said...: Thanks for the giveaway!
+1 I'm a follower on GFC-Lisa Richards
+1 Follow SeoEvie on Twitter@alterlisa
+5 Follow Seventh Star Press on Twitter@alterlisa
+5 Like Seventh Star Press on Facebook-Lisa Ann Richards
+5 Follow Seventh Star Press @ Blogspot-Lisa Richards
(\___/)
(='.'=)
(")_(")

alterlisa AT yahoo DOT com
http://lisaslovesbooksofcourse.blogspot.com/; August 11, 2011 11:31 PM
Shae Carcar said...: Ugh thats my biggest pet peeve! Someone that doesnt read! and wont even give reading a chance! Im like... you seriously dont know what your missing out on! thanks for the giveaway! shae_carcar@yahoo.com; August 18, 2011 5:23 PM
Fatty Bumpkins said...: Great interview! I am a GFC Follower (missreneer)
Thanks for the great giveaway :)

Renee
fattybumpkins at yahoo dot com; August 22, 2011 8:27 PM