Interview:
1. What gets you up to write in the morning?
Right now? Deadlines. Haha. There is something nerve-wracking but highly motivating about knowing that someone is waiting on you. Most days though, it’s like having a song stuck in your head. The words and melody keep swirling and repeating, coalescing and separating and eventually driving you crazy until you just listen to the whole song. Writing is my way of listening to that song.
2. If you could spend an afternoon with your characters, what would you do?
I would definitely get Attia to teach me how to handle a sword. I’m sure Albinus would find that amusing, and Xanthus would probably be watching from the side, shaking his head and worrying about someone getting hurt. Lucretia would just laugh while I got everything wrong.
3. What made you choose Ancient Rome as your setting?
I didn’t actually know what story I wanted to tell until I wrote the first line: They called us slaves. Sure, that could have lent itself to a dystopian future or an SFF universe. But I’m a history major with a soft spot for Gladiator and 300, and when I decided to tell my version of the rise of Spartacus, I wanted to ground it in something familiar. Also, I really wanted my MC to have a gladius, so. You know.
4. If you could go anywhere in the world, where would you go and why?
The Isle of Skye in Scotland. I’ve moved around quite a bit, but no place has felt like my place until I went to Scotland a couple years ago. It was that feeling you get when you can finally take a full, deep breath. Like everything suddenly fits together, and you know that you’re home. That’s how I feel about Scotland, and I hope to move there permanently at some point.
5. What advice do you have for young writers?
Focus on finding your voice. Forget what’s popular and break whatever rules you’ve been taught if you feel like it. Instead, create something that only you could have made. The world needs as many stories as you can give it.
6. What would your characters do if they were suddenly transported to modern day?
Well, Lucretia would dominate Twitter, Iduma would fall into a meme-hole, Xanthus would end up being friends with Chris Evans, and Attia would probably have another rebellion on her hands.
7. What characters from other books would your characters be friends with?
General Organa would be the mother Attia always wanted, no doubt. Xanthus would probably want to adopt all the orphans (Oliver Twist, Huck Finn, HP) even though he’d have no idea what to do with them after. And Lucretia would become besties with Sybella from Robin LaFevers’ Dark Triumph and wreak havoc on men.
8. What are you working on now?
The sequel to BLOOD AND SAND! So no spoilers…
9. What upcoming YA books are you excited for?
ALL of them. 2018 is gearing up to be an awesome-sauce year for debuts, in particular. I have so many books on my TBR right now, I’m going to have to buy more bookcases to hold them all. (And I am totally okay with this.)
10. What books did you love as a child?
Some of my favorites were The Mists of Avalon by Marion Zimmer Bradley and the Sevenwaters Trilogy by Juliet Marillier. Fantasy was my jam, and seeing Morgan le Fay riding a horse and holding a giant sword on the cover of MoA was like that scene in Amelie when everything gets bright and the main character hears a random choir singing. An epiphany kind of moment, is what I’m saying.
Synopsis:
The action-packed tale of a 17-year-old warrior princess and a handsome gladiator who dared take on the Roman Republic--and gave rise to the legend of Spartacus....
Roma Victor. The Republic of Rome is on a relentless march to build an empire--an empire built on the backs of the conquered, brought back to Rome as slaves.
Attia was once destined to rule as the queen and swordmaiden of Thrace, the greatest warrior kingdom the world had seen since Sparta. Now she is a slave, given to Xanthus, the Champion of Rome, as a sign of his master's favor. Enslaved as a child, Xanthus is the preeminent gladiator of his generation.
Against all odds, Attia and Xanthus form a tentative bond. A bond that will spark a rebellion. A rebellion that threatens to bring the Roman Republic to its end--and gives rise to the legend of Spartacus....
You Can Find it At:
Amazon
Target
Author Bio:
C.V. Wyk is the author of BLOOD AND SAND, debuting from Tor Teen January 16, 2018. Born and raised in Los Angeles, CA, Wyk has lived in five states in the continental US (and hopes to add a few international locales to that list). Prone to wanderlust and getting lost, Wyk likes to explore local hiking trails, mountain ranges, dark caves where nefarious mythical creatures undoubtedly reside, and libraries. She currently lives in Maryland with a precocious mini poodle and a demanding guinea pig. In her not-so-spare time, she enjoys playing MMORPGs, kayaking, coding, staring listlessly at blank walls, and nursing a totally healthy coffee addiction.
You Can Find Her At:
Website
Twitter
Goodreads
Instagram
Tumblr
Facebook
Right now? Deadlines. Haha. There is something nerve-wracking but highly motivating about knowing that someone is waiting on you. Most days though, it’s like having a song stuck in your head. The words and melody keep swirling and repeating, coalescing and separating and eventually driving you crazy until you just listen to the whole song. Writing is my way of listening to that song.
2. If you could spend an afternoon with your characters, what would you do?
I would definitely get Attia to teach me how to handle a sword. I’m sure Albinus would find that amusing, and Xanthus would probably be watching from the side, shaking his head and worrying about someone getting hurt. Lucretia would just laugh while I got everything wrong.
3. What made you choose Ancient Rome as your setting?
I didn’t actually know what story I wanted to tell until I wrote the first line: They called us slaves. Sure, that could have lent itself to a dystopian future or an SFF universe. But I’m a history major with a soft spot for Gladiator and 300, and when I decided to tell my version of the rise of Spartacus, I wanted to ground it in something familiar. Also, I really wanted my MC to have a gladius, so. You know.
4. If you could go anywhere in the world, where would you go and why?
The Isle of Skye in Scotland. I’ve moved around quite a bit, but no place has felt like my place until I went to Scotland a couple years ago. It was that feeling you get when you can finally take a full, deep breath. Like everything suddenly fits together, and you know that you’re home. That’s how I feel about Scotland, and I hope to move there permanently at some point.
5. What advice do you have for young writers?
Focus on finding your voice. Forget what’s popular and break whatever rules you’ve been taught if you feel like it. Instead, create something that only you could have made. The world needs as many stories as you can give it.
6. What would your characters do if they were suddenly transported to modern day?
Well, Lucretia would dominate Twitter, Iduma would fall into a meme-hole, Xanthus would end up being friends with Chris Evans, and Attia would probably have another rebellion on her hands.
7. What characters from other books would your characters be friends with?
General Organa would be the mother Attia always wanted, no doubt. Xanthus would probably want to adopt all the orphans (Oliver Twist, Huck Finn, HP) even though he’d have no idea what to do with them after. And Lucretia would become besties with Sybella from Robin LaFevers’ Dark Triumph and wreak havoc on men.
8. What are you working on now?
The sequel to BLOOD AND SAND! So no spoilers…
9. What upcoming YA books are you excited for?
ALL of them. 2018 is gearing up to be an awesome-sauce year for debuts, in particular. I have so many books on my TBR right now, I’m going to have to buy more bookcases to hold them all. (And I am totally okay with this.)
10. What books did you love as a child?
Some of my favorites were The Mists of Avalon by Marion Zimmer Bradley and the Sevenwaters Trilogy by Juliet Marillier. Fantasy was my jam, and seeing Morgan le Fay riding a horse and holding a giant sword on the cover of MoA was like that scene in Amelie when everything gets bright and the main character hears a random choir singing. An epiphany kind of moment, is what I’m saying.
Synopsis:
Roma Victor. The Republic of Rome is on a relentless march to build an empire--an empire built on the backs of the conquered, brought back to Rome as slaves.
Attia was once destined to rule as the queen and swordmaiden of Thrace, the greatest warrior kingdom the world had seen since Sparta. Now she is a slave, given to Xanthus, the Champion of Rome, as a sign of his master's favor. Enslaved as a child, Xanthus is the preeminent gladiator of his generation.
Against all odds, Attia and Xanthus form a tentative bond. A bond that will spark a rebellion. A rebellion that threatens to bring the Roman Republic to its end--and gives rise to the legend of Spartacus....
You Can Find it At:
Amazon
Target
Author Bio:
C.V. Wyk is the author of BLOOD AND SAND, debuting from Tor Teen January 16, 2018. Born and raised in Los Angeles, CA, Wyk has lived in five states in the continental US (and hopes to add a few international locales to that list). Prone to wanderlust and getting lost, Wyk likes to explore local hiking trails, mountain ranges, dark caves where nefarious mythical creatures undoubtedly reside, and libraries. She currently lives in Maryland with a precocious mini poodle and a demanding guinea pig. In her not-so-spare time, she enjoys playing MMORPGs, kayaking, coding, staring listlessly at blank walls, and nursing a totally healthy coffee addiction.You Can Find Her At:
Website
Goodreads
Tumblr
Giveaway:
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Tour Schedule:
1/7 Tour Stops
Review - Dani Reviews Things
Review - Flyleaf Chronicles
Interview - Tween 2 Teen Book Reviews
1/14 Tour Stops
Interview -Library Of A Book Witch
Review - Novel Cravings
Review - Inkdin Book Blog
1/21 Tour Stops
Review - Boundless Bookaholic
Review - OMG Books And More
Guest Post - Emily Reads Everything
1/28 Tour Stops
Review - One Way Or Another
Excerpt- Literary Legionnaire
Review - A Gingerly Review
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Tour Schedule:
1/7 Tour Stops
Review - Dani Reviews Things
Review - Flyleaf Chronicles
Interview - Tween 2 Teen Book Reviews
1/14 Tour Stops
Interview -Library Of A Book Witch
Review - Novel Cravings
Review - Inkdin Book Blog
1/21 Tour Stops
Review - Boundless Bookaholic
Review - OMG Books And More
Guest Post - Emily Reads Everything
1/28 Tour Stops
Review - One Way Or Another
Excerpt- Literary Legionnaire
Review - A Gingerly Review
Thank you so much for being a part of the tour and also for posting this lovely interview with C.V.Wyk, Isabel!
ReplyDeleteI absolutely loved reading your questions and her answers!
Best,
Aditi