July 2, 2010
12:45 PM |
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I would like to welcome Liz Fichera on the Blog today. Her debut with Carina Press, CAPTIVE SPIRIT was released last Monday, June 28 and unfortunately due to a vacation, jet lag and time contstraints I haven't had the opportunity to advance review CAPTIVE SPIRIT but I hope to read and review it soon. In the meantime, enjoy her guest post in which she reveals things about herself in a mini-interview and tells us more about CAPTIVE SPIRIT. And there's a GIVEAWAY. Liz has graciously offered a digital copy of CAPTIVE SPIRIT to one of the commenters on this blog. I will randomly pick the lucky commenter on Saturday July 10th.
About Liz:
Liz Fichera is an author who lives in the American Southwest by way of Chicago. She likes to write stories about ordinary people who do extraordinary things, oftentimes against the backdrop of Native American legends. CAPTIVE SPIRIT is her debut historical romance novel with Carina Press. When she’s not busy plotting her next novel, you can find Liz on Facebook and Twitter, dishing about writing, books, hunks du jour, LOST Reruns, and the best brands of chocolate. Please visit her web site at http://www.lizfichera.com/.
The back cover copy for CAPTIVE SPIRIT:
Sonoran Desert. Dawn of the sixteenth century.
Aiyana isn’t like the other girls of the White Ant Clan. Instead of keeping house, she longs to compete on the Ball Court with her best friend Honovi and the other boys. Instead of marriage, she daydreams of traveling beyond the mountains that surround her small village. Only Honovi knows and shares her forbidden wish, though Aiyana doesn’t realize her friend has a secret wish of his own…
When Aiyana’s father arranges her marriage to a man she hardly knows, she takes the advice of a tribal elder: Run! In fleeing, she falls into the hands of Spanish raiders and finds herself being taken over the mountains against her will. Now Aiyana’s on a quest to return to the very place she once dreamed of escaping. And she’ll do whatever it takes to survive and find her way back to the people she loves.
1. Ashley Wilkes or Rhett Butler? No contest. My heart will always belong to Rhett.
2. Edward or Jacob? Definitely Jacob. No question.
3. Chips or Chocolate? I’ve never met a chocolate-covered espresso bean that I didn’t love. Or devour.
4. Favorite all-time book? GONE WITH THE WIND was the first book that I read as a kid where I couldn’t put it down. My older sister lent it to me. Stayed up for two days and two nights reading it. I’ve probably read it 50 times since then.
5. Please start by telling us a little bit about yourself. I’m a full-time writer and part-time college writing instructor who found herself in Phoenix, Arizona, after college. I was born and raised in Park Ridge, Illinois, just outside of Chicago. But let’s just say I never expected to live among cactus, coyotes, and cowboys, but here I am. And loving it. I do get back to Chicago pretty often, especially when I need my city fix.
6. What do you do for fun? Writing is fun for me but when I’m not writing, I like to support local theatre productions in Phoenix. I also like to run (I’ve got to balance out my chocolate habit!), hike the mountains around Phoenix, and travel when time and money permits.
7. What’s your most unusual travel story? I was mugged in Paris, right outside Notre-Dame. Broad daylight. But I’d go back in a heartbeat.
8. What do you like to write? What genres? I like to write lots of different things, particularly young adult and women’s commercial fiction. I’ve written contemporary, mysteries, fantasy, paranormal, and now my historical romance fiction debut with CAPTIVE SPIRIT. Most of my stories, though, are set in the American Southwest oftentimes against the backdrop of Native American legends. I like big themes, strong characters, rugged settings and, of course, a love story. There’s gotta be a love story! J
9. Why do so many of your stories feature Native American characters? I’m drawn to the richness and beauty of Native American culture and legends. The legends, in particular, are fascinating! And there are so many stories there, just begging to be written.
10. Tell us a little bit about CAPTIVE SPIRIT. What’s the inspiration behind it? CAPTIVE SPIRIT is about a young woman named Aiyana at the dawn of the sixteenth century in the Sonoran Desert. Aiyana is a Hohokam Indian and it was really some little-known Hohokam history that inspired my story. The Hohokam Indians lived in the Sonoran Desert from approximately 300 BC to approximately 1500 AD. Then, one day, they just vanished—they left their pit houses, cultivated fields, burial grounds, ball courts, their whole lives. And no one knows exactly why to this day. The book trailer for CAPTIVE SPIRIT shows you some of the Hohokam petroglyphs and Sonoran Desert. Much of it is still pretty rugged today!
11. What’s next for you? I’m finishing up a contemporary romance, and I may start a sequel to CAPTIVE SPIRIT this summer. I can’t seem to get Aiyana and Honovi out of my mind!
Thank you for your time, Liz. I enjoyed getting to know you more and learn more about CAPTIVE SPIRIT.
And commenters...one of you could win CAPTIVE SPIRIT if you leave a (meaningful) comment before Saturday July 10th.
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11 comments:
I've enjoyed many historical romances about Native Americans and look forward to giving this one a try. Thanks for the contest.
Dawn ♥ romance
d53a@aol.com
Hi Dawn,
Me, too! And I wonder why there aren't tons more because there are so many cool legends and such fascinating history. If you've got a fav historical that you can recommend, let me know!
Thanks!
I can't wait to get my hands on Captive Spirit. As soon as I have my credit card paid off, I'll try to buy it. Until then, maybe I'll win the contest first. *Bats eyelashes*
Lia
ca4ac@yahoo.com
Hi Lia,
I hope so too! You've been so supportive this week and I really appreciate it!
Liz
I will have to check this out just because I love to support my fellow Arizonians!!
Hi Nicole,
Thanks so much for the support and hope you enjoy the story!
Liz
I absolutely love strong women. So many women dream of being more than what society tells them they can be, only a few are bold enough to strive toward those goals. The road may be bumpy and not always turn out how they expect, but no doubt the learn from the journey. Thanks for sharing Captive Spirit with us.
Hi Reena,
I agree with you totally on strong women. I prefer strong women in the books that I read and write. And it's my pleasure to share the background on CAPTIVE SPIRIT with you.
Liz, loved hearing more about Captive Spirit. This is definitely on my tbr list and I'm even happier now that you're thinking about a sequel :)
Hi Claire - great to see you here. And thanks!