Welcome to our stop of Shannon Phoenix's Guardian of the Abyss book tour! This tour is hosted by Bewitching Book Tours and we have the chance to get to know the author. So let's turn it over to the absolutely amazing and hilarious Shannon Phoenix!
The Interview
1. Your world is set within our world, but it has differences. What are those differences?
The main difference is what happens right below the surface. We humans go about our lives, and although in the Supernaturals Universe, vampires and gargoyles are known to be real, they aren't the only things that go 'bump' in the night.
There are goblins, dryads, werewolves... and others. Many legends aren't as legendary as we think they are. Once a human gets dragged into this underworld of mystical creatures, there's no going back. You can never again look out the window and feel complacent.
Once you know for sure that you're not alone, life's never the same again.
2. How did Abaddon get to know Geoff the shark? Is there anything you can tell us about him?
Geoff is a silky shark. He was injured as a pup (the technical name for a baby shark), and Abaddon found him. He nursed him to health over a few days, feeding him and keeping him in motion so that he would get water across his gills in order to breathe.
When Geoff recovered, Abaddon assumed he would be gone for good. However, Geoff continued to come back and visit each time he migrated back. On his visits, he would bring gifts, generally a nice, plump tuna. Of course, Abaddon didn't eat them, but he pretended appropriate gratitude.
Sarah was fortunate that Geoff was on migration when she arrived, as it's possible he could have taken offense at her presence. The bright side is, we will never know for sure...
3. What was your favorite scene to write in Guardian of the Abyss? Your least favorite?
Favorite, let's see. I think the one where a certain someone loses control of yon wings and shreds a house. Oops! Let me just turn this way.... ack! Hold on, wait, just a sec, I'll get them out of there... er, was that your door? So sorry! Although it would be a tossup, honestly, with a few other sections.
I'd say that my least favorite was a certain part that made me cry while I was writing it. I can only hope it translated as strongly as it felt for me. Abaddon's courage and then Sarah's during the escape both made me cry so hard. It was very hard to write.
4. How did you learn about free diving?
It's a funny thing. When I learned I was to write this book, I wondered how on Earth did a human woman end up at the bottom of the ocean (or near enough, far as I'm concerned)? I, in essence, told Sarah and Abaddon that it was an absurd concept and it couldn't be pulled off with even enough believability to make a fictional novel.
They continued to insist... that was how it happened. So I had to find out how in the heck Sarah even got down there. And once down there, why didn't she have any proper equipment on?
My search led me to free diving and I was amazed at how it all came together. What had seemed an absurd impossibility and a tall tale became quite the adventure in learning.
5. Is there anything new that you're working on that you can tell us about?
I did NaNoWriMo this past month. The story is set in our world, except that it's shapeshifters who live inside the Earth who have emerged and are mingling with our society in order to hide from the war that has erupted Inside.
It's based on Hollow Earth theory... and it's quite a bit of fun. Who doesn't love a big cuddly cat, and a big cuddly man? It's a win-win!
6. If you could be anyone for an entire day, who would it be?
Me. I'd be me, all day, every day. Because everyone's pain hurts, and because we're all human beings, wonderful and filled with magic. If I can't believe that of myself, I can't believe that of anyone else, either.
7. How was your Thanksgiving? Was Black Friday an early morning for you?
It was fine. I was ill, unfortunately, but I smiled and ate and enjoyed the turkey greatly. We did go shopping on Black Friday with my mother-in-law. I am so fortunate to have such an incredible MIL, too. We went to a store called The Loft and got 5 pieces that will make about 10 different outfits depending on how they're mixed and matched... took us about 20 minutes.
She's amazing and I'm grateful to have her in my life. She's one of the best parts of my husband. Oops, did I say that out loud? :)
And now just some quick questions that reveal a person's true character. Tread carefully, my friends, for these are the decisions that hold the very fabric of our society together.
This or That
Chocolate or Vanilla? Chocolate
Series or Stand-Alone? Stand-alone series. :p
Reading or Writing? Oh god, I have to choose... sometimes one, some the other??
Morning or Night? Morning
Chicken or the Egg? The sasquatch
Prequel or Sequel? Neither, both always suck... why IS that, anyway?
Coffee or Hot Chocolate? Oh, hot choc, hands down
Happily Ever After or To Be Continued? Happily. Continued makes me rip my hair out.
Star-Struck Lovers or Turbulent Relationships? Turbulent
PC or Mac? PC
Star Wars or Star Trek? Trekkies untie! Er, you knew what I meant. Trek, definitely.
YES!!!! Finally some love for Star Trek! This is the best news I've heard all day!
About the Book
Buried at
sea by the sorcerers who created him, Abaddon is unable to heal himself and
unable to replenish his energy. He has lived here for longer than he can
remember, with no hope of escape. Time is against him as the sea eats away at
him, body and soul.
When her
diving partner tries to kill her to take over her company, Sarah finds herself
trapped beneath the waves and dying. Having brought light to Abaddon's dark
existence at last, only she can grant him the courage to do what must be done
to escape his watery prison.
Abaddon must sacrifice his wings to save her. Sarah must come to terms with being trapped wit someone she has been raised to believe is a demon, and face the betrayal that nearly destroyed her and the company she built. Together, they must take on the ocean and their own fears. That consequence of failure is death.
About the Author
Shannon Phoenix
always wrote stories. She watched the characters take on their lives within her
mind, and began to write down what they were doing. She would write the stories
and then let them go. But a few years ago, she got caught writing those stories.
You know... those stories.
To her
surprise, the person who found her stories loved her characters as much as
Shannon did. She tentatively allowed others to read the stories, as well, and
it was from that first foray into the scary world of letting others read her
'little tales' that Shannon Phoenix Books was born.
Shannon
lives in New Hampshire with her husband John, her daughter, and their family
cat, Song. Her full time job is parenting, her part time job is as a mother's
helper to a family friend, and her passion is letting the characters in her
mind out on paper--or keyboard, as the case may be.
Welcome to
Shannon Phoenix Books. May you find the magic in your own life.
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The Tour
December 3 - Interview at The Creatively Green Write at Home Mom
December 3 - Spotlight at Victoria Danann
December - 4 Promo at Book On A Wire
December 4 - Interview at Marked By Books
Good morning, Gabby, Taylor, and readers;
ReplyDeleteI really had a lot of fun with this interview, thank you for having me on your blog and making it so enjoyable, too!
~ Shannon
Aw, thank you! We had a lot of fun reading your answers too. Everybody, this author is awesome!
DeleteTaylor