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Interview with S M Boyce, author of The Grimoire Trilogy

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Tell us about the Grimoire Trilogy
The Grimoire Trilogy (Lichgates, Treason, Heritage) is a paranormal fantasy with a bit of romance and a lot of action. It’s about Kara, a girl who stumbles into Ourea: a beautiful world full of terrifying things. She uncovers an ancient book of magic called the Grimoire, and all the major political players in this new world begin to hunt her for it. A native soldier named Braeden offers to help her, but it isn’t long before a hidden agenda unravels his charming persona.

What genre is it?
Young adult paranormal fantasy. It also has elements of epic fantasy, but they’re subtle.

What kind of readers will it appeal to?
Those who enjoy an action-packed fantasy adventure with magic, crazy creatures, elaborate settings, and complex characters. Deeper themes run through the series and each individual novel, but only for those readers who enjoy analysing literature. My priority with all my novels is always to tell you about a fun adventure.

Complete this sentence for us: If you like __________, you’ll love The Grimoire Trilogy.
If you like Alice in Wonderland or Lord of the Rings, you’ll love the Grimoire Trilogy.

How much of the trilogy did you have mapped out from day one?
Most of it, actually! I’m a plotter. I’ve had the entire series outlined since about 2010. The rest has been finessing various sub plots and fleshing out characters.

It can’t be an easy task creating a whole world such as Ourea; how do you keep all the pieces together in your head?
I don’t know, actually. It comes naturally to me. I know my characters, even the minor characters, in and out. I know their backstory, their family history, who they love, who they hate. I know the kingdoms’ history dating back thousands of years. I know the wars they’ve had, who they hate most…I’m so immersed that I can’t tell you how I know half of it at this point.

Which tools have you found to be most effective in marketing your books?
I love Twitter (@theSMBoyce). I’ve made most of my contacts through that site, and the network of bloggers, authors, and bookworms available on Twitter is incredible. Almost everyone is simply amazing and kind, so I love to just talk with people.

I’ve also made great connections by volunteering to host blog tours. Who knew, right? But some of my greatest writing friends have come from reviewing their book on a blog tour. Funny.

We read somewhere that JK Rowling goes by her initials because she feared that people might not want to read books written by a woman.  That isn’t why you use your initials, is it?
That’s how it started, actually. I’ve had this pen name since middle school, when I first heard her reasoning. Even though the fantasy genre is  now dominated by female authors,  I still like the idea of a gender-neutral pen name. I don’t think gender should matter when it comes to evaluating writing style, so I don’t display mine.

Tell us a bit about yourself.
I’m a fantasy and paranormal fiction author and a sarcastic twit, but I still have friends because some people seem to find me entertaining. I love to connect with readers and talk about life, so feel free to connect with me online.

You’ve got a B.A. in Creative Writing. Your professors would be proud of Boyce’s Guide to Writing. Tell us about it.
Sure! I created Boyce’s Guide to Writing in an effort to encourage authors and help them learn from my mistakes. I discuss publishing trends and writing technique, as well as recommend marketing tools and vendors. It’s a pretty massive project.

We think it’s amazing. What about the rest of your website?
I love to empower others. On my Bookworms-Only blog, I talk about life, inspiration, and fun. I love to engage and talk to people, so I host a weekly “Quick Question” to open the floor to fun experiences that make life more enjoyable. They can be big or small—doesn’t matter, as long as we have fun with it.

My main site has all the press kit/official stuff on it. The coolest part of that is the Fans-Only Photo Album, where interested Boyce geeks can send me pictures of their Grimoire bling and books. I ask only that you keep it PG.

On top of that (I can’t sit still), I have an official site for the Grimoire Trilogy. It has quizzes, book trailers, excerpts, first chapters, and an online encyclopaedia with an ever-growing portfolio of original artwork.

Where can we buy The Grimoire Trilogy?
Lichgates: Amazon – US, UK, Germany, France, Spain, Italy. Buy the paperback.

Treason: Amazon – US, UK, Germany, France, Spain, Italy. Barnes and Noble. Smashwords. Buy the paperback.

Heritage: VIP List. Goodreads.

You can also win a guest appearance in Heritage.

I also have a store, where you can grab jewellery inspired by the Grimoire Trilogy and even autographed books.

What’s next?
The Grimoire Trilogy won’t come to a close with Heritage. I have three novellas in the works to tell you the stories of side characters like Stone, the First Vagabond, and Deidre. If readers really want to hear more about a particular character, I’m always open to the idea of adding another one.

But I don’t sit still. Next month, I start work on a new series that will be a blend of urban fantasy and fairy tale lore. I’m keeping mum on it until I have more details to share, but the first in the series should release with Heritage in Fall 2013. The curious among you can sign up for alerts by following my book blog or keep tabs on review copies by signing up for my ARC mailing list, where I notify you each time a new book is ready to be reviewed (about 3-4 times a year at most).
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Enjoyed this interview? Then check out our conversation with Natalie Wright

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