Today it's Monday again! Time for a new guest author interview and a fascinating new review. Today my guest is Kathleen Coddington and I'll be reviewing her book, Witch Ball. Please welcome Kathleen who was gracious enough to answer my nosy questions.
1)If you could start over with your writing career, what if anything would you change?
If any thing, I wish I had started sooner. I’ve been writing on and off since I was in elementary school—poetry, short stories even a play for my Girl Scout group. Then I got married and for a long time my energy was focused on my family and my career as a school librarian. On the other hand, I’m a firm believer in things happen for a reason, so probably I’m where I’m supposed to be.
2) What was the best piece of advice you received regarding the life of a writer?
I took a writing course with multi-published fantasy author, Anne Kelleher, when I first started to get serious about writing a novel. She told me that perseverance, as much as luck and talent, is the key to getting published—put your butt in the chair and finish the damn book. Send it out and start another. I followed her advice and kept at it. Although it took a while, her advice paid off ‘because here I am at Cerridwen Press with one book out and second one on the way.
3) If you could meet anyone, living or dead, who would it be?
Gads, the list would be a mile long. There are so many fascinating people—Alexander the Great, Cleopatra, Jesus, Elizabeth I, Shakespeare, Einstein, Stephen Hawking, Anne McCaffrey. At the moment, I think my mother would top the list. She died when I was 28. She loved books. I wish I could share my achievements with her. She’d be so thrilled to find out that two of her daughters (my older sister is published too) turned out to be writers.
4) If you could meet any fictional character, who would it be?
Another impossible list. I’ve always loved Lessa and F’lar from Anne McCaffrey’s Dragons of Pern series. I’d love to meet them and their dragons. I adore the idea of being a dragon rider. After them I think I’d like to meet my characters to see if I did them and their stories justice.
5) What do you want to be when you grow up?
Who says I’m planning to grow up? My two favorite pastimes as a child were playing dress-ups and making up complex stories to entertain myself and my friends. Since my husband and I are both Civil War re-enactors, I dress up regularly. And as a writer I’m still living in my imaginary worlds. Not much has changed, if you think about it.
6) In the next century, what do you hope people will remember you for?
Well, of course it would be fantastic if one of my books survived and ended on the required reading list of every American high school. On a more serious note, I’d want people to remember me as a loving, compassionate, decent person who added something positive to their lives.
Witch Ball by Kathleen Coddington from Cerridwen Press
In Witch Ball, Kathleen has given us an intriguing story of long denied love, vindictive jealousy, and murderous intent. Long ago a small group of people, worshipers of the goddess, came to America and established a colony where they could worship freely. Miranda, the high priestess and Nathaniel, the high priest were destined to marry at Beltane. On the eve of their marriage, Elizabeth met Miranda at the sacred alter and tricked her into holding the witch ball, a purported wedding gift. Setting the final threads of her wicked spell into motion, Elizabeth trapped Miranda in the witch ball.
Three hundred years later, Elizabeth still waits for the completions of her scheme. Nathaniel, reincarnated and unaware, arrives in Lady's Cove and moves into the same home where the original Nathaniel lived. Recovering from the recent loss of his wife, he struggles with parenting his young daughter while beginning a new job. In a frustrated effort to stir his apathetic daughter's interest in something--anything, he urges her to accept the offer of a gift from Elizabeth. Caitlin, his daughter chooses the witch ball hanging in Elizabeth's shop.
Nathaniel accidentally shatters the fragile witch ball, setting into motion the final stages of the spell that was activated so long ago. What follows is an exquisite exercise in frustration. Kathleen provides some interesting and dangerous obstacles to true love. And of course, like all the best spells, there is a time limit.
Will Miranda convince Nathaniel that she's not crazy or a scam artist? Will Nathaniel fall in love with the right woman? Will they survive Elizabeth's machinations? And what about that delicious secondary character, John? Will he get his own story? To find out the answers to this intricate story my recommendation is for you to zip over to Cerridwen Press at once and snap up your own copy of the Witch Ball.
Anny
To find out what fascinating new fact Kelly has dredged up about Australia (and of course her take on the Saga) stop by http://www.kkirch.blogspot.com/ and check her out. Then pop over to Amarinda's blog at http://www.amarindajones.blogspot.com/ to find out how her weekend away went. And then? Blessings on your day.
If any thing, I wish I had started sooner. I’ve been writing on and off since I was in elementary school—poetry, short stories even a play for my Girl Scout group. Then I got married and for a long time my energy was focused on my family and my career as a school librarian. On the other hand, I’m a firm believer in things happen for a reason, so probably I’m where I’m supposed to be.
2) What was the best piece of advice you received regarding the life of a writer?
I took a writing course with multi-published fantasy author, Anne Kelleher, when I first started to get serious about writing a novel. She told me that perseverance, as much as luck and talent, is the key to getting published—put your butt in the chair and finish the damn book. Send it out and start another. I followed her advice and kept at it. Although it took a while, her advice paid off ‘because here I am at Cerridwen Press with one book out and second one on the way.
3) If you could meet anyone, living or dead, who would it be?
Gads, the list would be a mile long. There are so many fascinating people—Alexander the Great, Cleopatra, Jesus, Elizabeth I, Shakespeare, Einstein, Stephen Hawking, Anne McCaffrey. At the moment, I think my mother would top the list. She died when I was 28. She loved books. I wish I could share my achievements with her. She’d be so thrilled to find out that two of her daughters (my older sister is published too) turned out to be writers.
4) If you could meet any fictional character, who would it be?
Another impossible list. I’ve always loved Lessa and F’lar from Anne McCaffrey’s Dragons of Pern series. I’d love to meet them and their dragons. I adore the idea of being a dragon rider. After them I think I’d like to meet my characters to see if I did them and their stories justice.
5) What do you want to be when you grow up?
Who says I’m planning to grow up? My two favorite pastimes as a child were playing dress-ups and making up complex stories to entertain myself and my friends. Since my husband and I are both Civil War re-enactors, I dress up regularly. And as a writer I’m still living in my imaginary worlds. Not much has changed, if you think about it.
6) In the next century, what do you hope people will remember you for?
Well, of course it would be fantastic if one of my books survived and ended on the required reading list of every American high school. On a more serious note, I’d want people to remember me as a loving, compassionate, decent person who added something positive to their lives.
Witch Ball by Kathleen Coddington from Cerridwen Press
In Witch Ball, Kathleen has given us an intriguing story of long denied love, vindictive jealousy, and murderous intent. Long ago a small group of people, worshipers of the goddess, came to America and established a colony where they could worship freely. Miranda, the high priestess and Nathaniel, the high priest were destined to marry at Beltane. On the eve of their marriage, Elizabeth met Miranda at the sacred alter and tricked her into holding the witch ball, a purported wedding gift. Setting the final threads of her wicked spell into motion, Elizabeth trapped Miranda in the witch ball.
Three hundred years later, Elizabeth still waits for the completions of her scheme. Nathaniel, reincarnated and unaware, arrives in Lady's Cove and moves into the same home where the original Nathaniel lived. Recovering from the recent loss of his wife, he struggles with parenting his young daughter while beginning a new job. In a frustrated effort to stir his apathetic daughter's interest in something--anything, he urges her to accept the offer of a gift from Elizabeth. Caitlin, his daughter chooses the witch ball hanging in Elizabeth's shop.
Nathaniel accidentally shatters the fragile witch ball, setting into motion the final stages of the spell that was activated so long ago. What follows is an exquisite exercise in frustration. Kathleen provides some interesting and dangerous obstacles to true love. And of course, like all the best spells, there is a time limit.
Will Miranda convince Nathaniel that she's not crazy or a scam artist? Will Nathaniel fall in love with the right woman? Will they survive Elizabeth's machinations? And what about that delicious secondary character, John? Will he get his own story? To find out the answers to this intricate story my recommendation is for you to zip over to Cerridwen Press at once and snap up your own copy of the Witch Ball.
Anny
To find out what fascinating new fact Kelly has dredged up about Australia (and of course her take on the Saga) stop by http://www.kkirch.blogspot.com/ and check her out. Then pop over to Amarinda's blog at http://www.amarindajones.blogspot.com/ to find out how her weekend away went. And then? Blessings on your day.
I like the sound of Witch Ball - I love intrigue. I also find it fascinating that you do civil war re-enactments. I would love to do a blog with you on that some time.
ReplyDeleteYikes. We're so much alike, it's frightening! :)
ReplyDeleteI love the premise for "Witch Ball" - can't wait to read it!
Vicky B.
Good job! This sounds like another great read with the added element of the ticking time bomb.
ReplyDeleteI agree...this sounds like a great read:) And I'm also a firm believer in 'everything happens for a reason.'
ReplyDeleteLoved Lessa and F'Lar, too! Great interview ladies.
ReplyDeleteThis sounds great - definitely adding to the TBR pile!
ReplyDeleteGreat review, Anny and Kathleen. Looks like a must read.
ReplyDeleteSandra
kathy was one of those students you know should be encouraged!! congrats to her!! im so proud!!!!
ReplyDelete