Sensational 7 Q & A with Maria Snyder!

Have you ever wanted to know what it would be like to hang out with your favorite author(s)? In an attempt to get a better understanding of authors, my Sensational Seven Q & A takes a closer or more personal look at these authors to give you a glimpse of the personalities behind the writing of your favorite books.

“Talent alone cannot make a writer. There must be a man behind the book; a personality which, by birth and quality, is pledged to the doctrines there set forth, and which exists to see and state things so, and not otherwise.” By Ralph Waldo Emerson

Maria V. Snyder earned an MA in Popular Fiction Writing from Seton Hill University. Her freelance articles appear in magazines and newspapers, and she enjoys teaching fiction writing classes at the local college. Other works by Snyder include her fantasy novels, the Study Series and Glass Series. INSIDE OUT is in stores today!

If you were given a chance to travel back in time, what year or place would you go / Why?

I'd go back to 1978 and I'd want to be me again, but with all my current day knowledge :) Why – middle school was a tough time for me and I'd like to replay it.

Describe your novel in seven words or less?

Inside Out: Dystopian, reluctant hero, action packed, big mystery.

Please share with us about your favorite book and fictional crush to date?

I have so many favorites. One of my top ten is Jaran by Kate Elliott. It's a science fiction but the main protagonist crash lands on a planet that has an interesting nomadic tribe. My crush would be on the main hero, who is leader of this tribe, Ilya.

If you could be any character in fiction, whom would you be / Why?

I would be Lessa from the Dragonriders of Pern series by Anne McCaffrey. Something about riding a dragon and being able to communicate with them is just so cool!

If Hollywood made a movie about your life, whom would you like to see play the lead role as you/ Why?

I would like to see Lena Headey play me. She played Sarah Conner in the Sarah Conner Chronicles TV show.

If someone wrote a biography about you, what do you think the title should be – please explain?

Glitter Love. About a year after Poison Study hit the shelves, I received an email from a young lady who told me my book and especially Yelena gave her the hope and courage to not commit suicide (this is dearer to me than any award or being on the NYTimes Bestseller list). She asked me if I would like to be a part of her English assignment. Her class was doing a Tuesdays with Morrie type project where the students talked with someone who inspired them and then write a report. I agreed and every week we emailed each other.

Glitter love became our sign off because she once said she'd love to meet me in person and she would make me a big welcome sign with lots of glitter. And I told her that just because I write books doesn't mean my life is all glitter and sparkle, that if you look close you can see flaws and see some glitter that doesn't shine – it was a way for me to tell her – no one's life is perfect and that we all have ups and downs even award-winning authors :) She titled her report Glitter Love and earned an A!

How would you describe yourself/life in seven words?

I asked my kids to describe me in seven words. Here's what my son, Luke (age 15) typed: very naggy, very momish, ticklish, weak, jelly, bossy, bad singer, crazy. (Obviously I need to talk to his math teacher :)

My daughter Jenna (age 12): momish, happy, nice, boney, knobby knees, soft, squishy.
And mine: tired, goofy, grumpy, creative, busy, generous, tired.

Bonus:

**Is there any additional info you would like to share with your readers about what’s next for you and your books?**.

The next book after Inside Out is Spy Glass, the third book in the Glass series. That is coming out in September. In 2011, Outside In is coming out in January and after that...I need to sit down with my editor and figure out what's next :)

If anyone is interested in my books and would like to read a chapter, I have a chapter of all my books up on my website. I also have a bunch of free short stories to read as well. Here's the url: www.mariavsnyder.com


Thanks Maria for stopping by!

For more information about Maria Snyder and her books, please visit her website here or you can read the 1st 3 chapters of INSIDE OUT and take the INSIDE OUT personality quiz to find out how to become a ‘productive member’ of ‘Inside’ and find the perfect job here.

Check out the book trailer!