Author Interview: Vivienne Mathews

Hello Everyone!

The epic adventure stories of our time each have something that no others do, memorable characters, dastardly villains, grand treasure, dashing heroes, and/or epic storytelling; however, as great an adventure as he was, Ulysses, my friends, did not have a tail, and Captain Ahab did not have a giant bird who owed him a powerful debt. Otter Captain Marshall is the ultimate hero of a new generation and the secrets that await you in The Son's of Masguard and the Mosque Hill Fortune will challenge your perception of the meaning of the word epic as all those elements mentioned before are contained here, in one place.
 

It's a grand honor to introduce you to the best writer and storyteller that I have ever read. She is a good friend and my personal muse. Thank you, Vivienne Mathews, for allowing me to interview you for my blog. It is a true privilege to help spread the word of your amazing new book, The Son's of Masguard and the Mosque Hill Fortune.

The honor, dear friend, is all mine. I’ll beg you to forgive my slow responses as I’m currently nursing the mother of all bee stings. My left arm is roughly the size of an elephant’s leg, numb from shoulder to fingertips, and red as the day is long. Take a moment to let the visual sink in. It’s a work of art.

I know you're a hobbyist beekeeper and I suppose that's just one of the toils of the trade. Wasn't it the famous Chunk who said “I'm not all alone in the dark. I like the dark. I love the dark.” [He ducks and crawls under a tree branch] “But I hate nature! I HATE nature!”

I love nature, but bees give me the hebegeebies and make me do the sissy dance. (no I can't spell that word, and my spell checker cares little for it as well.)

You are an absolute riot with your wonderful personality and hilarious sarcastic sense of humor; I’d love for people to get to know you as I do. Please tell us a little about your self. Why do you describe yourself as the ice queen?

I'm a beekeeper, a wife, a mother, and an INSANELY dull person. I don't remember if the whole "ice queen" thing is something that was bestowed on me or if I came up with it myself, but it's a friendlier way of pointing to my (sometimes fairly profound) social phobias. Sadly, introverts are often seen as "cold" and "distant." At some point I decided to just own the labels and see where that got me!

From one hermit to another, I have come to own the notion of recluse due to my inability to be interesting, and I wish to assure you that, if you share similar voices in your head like the ones that keep me company, then you and I, surely, are not insanely dull. One or the other, perhaps, but not both. On second thought, I take that back, we are not dull at all.

Hehe, from one hermit to another... agoraphobia SUCKS, doesn't it? You make an excellent point, though. Being a tad on the wackadoodle side does liven things up, at least a little.


All the brilliant people are, or were as the case may be. Being normal is so boring. Who would want that?

Your new book, The Sons of Masguard and the Mosque Hill Fortune, is now available in paperback and for the kindle and kindle readers for smartphones. Could you give us a brief description of the premise.

Let’s see, I have to give the salesman pitch here, don’t I? *Clears throat.* The Sons of Masguard is an adventure-fantasy series in the vein of Wind in the Willows or Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH. It has tall ships and pirates and the kind of magical artifacts you’d expect to see in Indiana Jones. As a matter of fact, Harrison Ford is in negotiations to play Masguard in the upcoming film.

…Okay, I made that last part up. The rest of it is accurate, though. I swear.

I have no doubts that, with your talent, the universe will conspire to make that last part happen. The epic trailer alone makes me want to see the movie. Your husband, Meral, does an amazing job with the voice over. A very talented man, he is, in his own right. (Take a look at the book trailer for yourself at the end of this interview.)

We have been friends long enough that I have seen first hand how wonderful of a mother you are. I know that your son is your world. Is he the inspiration for this series or for writing children's fiction in general?

He absolutely is my world. Probably because he takes after his father so much! He's been the inspiration for a slew of children's stories, although, I actually wrote the first draft of "The Sons of Masguard" in my late teens, years before he was born. It is definitely fair to say that he was inspirational in the rewrites, however.

He has grown so much since I've last seen him.

Yeah, he won’t stop doing that, for some reason.


Canned question from me to you, what in the world makes you so good and where do these amazing ideas come from? dreams? Little birds? Or bees, perhaps?

Okay, we have to stop for a second because I need to give you an e-hug for saying that. *MASSIVE SQUEEZE!*
 
It's silly, but the initial inspiration for "The Sons of Masguard" came from an ostrich. My mother was teaching preschool children from a book with no pictures, so she asked me to illustrate the alphabet characters for her class. I was happy to do it -- I LOVE drawing cartoons. The book merged the letters "o" and "p" into a painting ostrich. I thought, "How lame is that? Couldn't they have done something clever... like an octopus pianist? Or an otter pirate?" It bugged me until late into the night, when I got out of bed to draw the first images of Captain Marshall and McKinley the Marauder.

That's partially what makes you so amazing. I love how your mind works.

So, as I just learned, you also do the illustrations for the print version of your book; there is no question that your talent for writing is inexorable, although, I had no idea you could draw as well. Are there any other talents you've kept secret from the world all these years?

Baha! Talent? What on earth is that? Would I know if I had it? I'm pretty sure I'd know if I had it. No, I dabble in a lot of things (paint, guitar, piano, voice), but I don't do any of them well. I do make a mean soufflé! That counts for something, right? ... I'm kidding. I actually have no idea how to make a soufflé. At all.

I have absolutely no idea what a soufflé is, but talent I know, and you have it in abundance. For as long as I’ve known you, it's been your nature to be your own worse critic, although, others will now see your talent for what it is … pure magic.

Now, something that I have always wondered, are you a student of the craft, or like Maybelline, were you just born with it?

Ugh, I'm a terrible student! I've tried, honestly. But a person could drive themselves mad trying to consume all of the tips and techniques and dos and don'ts on writing these days. For me, noveling (Is that a verb? It should totally be a verb.) is about the characters. Telling their story through their eyes. If I concentrate on how I'm writing, I completely lose sight of what I'm writing -- and the result is a big pile of beautifully structured words that don't lead anywhere. I tell the story first, work on the form second (and sometimes third, and fourth...), and rely on the beta readers to tell me whether I've gotten it wrong. It's amazing how much you can learn from the words, "This scene didn't really work for me."

Loveable characters are the key. When they want their story told and their voices begin telling their story in your head, craft generally goes out the window and you just write the character's story. Honestly, I think that is the true craft, not all the rules and knowing which to bend. I love your mind set and I think your notion is spot on.

You are one of those writers who puts other writers in awe of your work, writing things that others think "I wish I had written that", does your prose come off the pen as smoothly as it reads? You're so good and natural at this you probably don't even have to edit much.

There you go again, being an insanely kind person! I have a horrible tendency to be REALLY wordy. It takes somewhere around a zillion editing passes to filter out all the unnecessary crap that comes out of my fingertips. Hopefully, the end result is at least somewhat legible!


Your "unnecessary crap" is another writer's golden egg. It's an innate ability that lies within you to craft such realistic images with your words, words that remind me of classic storytelling. Your writing, to me, is not unlike the mastery of artists such as Algernon Blackwood, Washington Irving and, one of your favorites, Richard Adams; how do you craft prose with such precise word choice and imagery?

What an AMAZING compliment! I don't know that I could ever measure up to their works, but I've always been a huge fan of classic literature. I'd love to think that their influence bleeds through from time to time, but... well, I write about talking otters, so...
 
Yes, but you write about them as if they are the classic characters themselves.

Why, thank you! Maybe it's just that Masguard is every bit as wordy as I am... *Grin.*
 

An interesting thing stood out to me as I began reading; the notion of the clock face in the prologue is such a notable symbol, what is the significance of symbolism throughout the book and your writing?

Thank you so much! I try not to go overboard with the symbolism in this series -- readers tend to find that obnoxious. Luckily for me, Masguard is a bit of an over-educated chatty Kathy, so he can get away with saying things I'd otherwise have to leave out. In the opening scene, he's reflecting on his life, writing one last letter before he goes out to face *spoilers*, and he wants to make his words count for something.

Characterization is one of your many strong points, all of your characters are so well crafted it's difficult to choose a favorite.

Without divulging any plot twist, can you give us an idea of the premise of the second novel in the series?

Book Two picks up where Book One left off, on Marshall's ship, en route to Mosque Hill. Things get a little nuttier, a little more fantastical. Some of the lesser characters from Book One turn out to be not-so-lesser characters in Book Two. And of course, you get to find out whether or not I'm evil enough to have murdered everyone's favorite pirate.

You? Evil? Not sure I have reason to believe that. However, I do have reason to believe that the word hoary causes you to break down into uncontrollable, maniacal laughter .... where might you have heard that word before? Could it have been in reference to some hoary marmots? You know, hoary marmots would make excellent villains in the sequel. 

Hoary marmots, I love it! Also, an excellent name for a redneck poetry group.

Lol. I think we could organize one of those.

I was also thinking that, as my best writing friend, I can picture us going the way of Stephen king, Amy tan and Dave Barry; best friends before, during and after fame. Maybe we should start a band as well? The Mosque Hill Tender Hearts Jug Band. Has a clever ring to it, doesn't it? I have dibs on the washboard! 

LoL! I call the triangle! Can we start a band with only two instruments?  

Well, someone has to play the jug or it wouldn't be a jug band so much, would it? Sigh, no band then. let's start a club instead. For Hermits only, of course.

Good plan! Do we get a tree house? I’ve always wanted a tree house…

Absolutely! Wouldn't be complete without one. I look forward to the first annual meeting of the Hoary Marmots Writer's Club for Hermits. Oh, the Tom foolery we'll share.

It has been wonderful talking with you. In addition to being an amazing writer, Vivienne, you are an amazing person as well.

The secrets of The Sons of Masguard and the Mosque Hill Fortune are well kept, as well kept as your art. Your art should be in a shrine, my friend. Your writing is complex, powerful, concise, and hauntingly beautiful. It's a wondrous mix between classic styles and storytelling, and modern notions and imagery. It is an honor above all others, to consider you one of my best friends and more so, my muse. You are the reason I strive for greatness as a writer. The world is a better, more beautiful place with your art in it and very soon the world will know what I know. With all heartfelt sincerity, you my friend, are the world's best kept secret.

And with that, I have to leave. Because you’re making me blubber like a baby. Or a granny. Or a grown man with allergies. In any case, it’s getting difficult to see the screen.

I can’t thank you enough for having me on your site – and for being my friend! We wackadoodles need to stick together. In a tree house.

Yes, we sure do. We make the best company after all. Take good care of that bee sting. I look forward to the sequel with great eagerness!



Synopsis: The Sons of Masguard and the Mosque Hill Fortune

The first installment in a new series from Vivienne Mathews, this anthropomorphic tale is sure to strike a chord with fans of “Redwall,” “Watership Down,” and “Warriors.” Centered on a rivalry between two otter captains and the ancient threat that brings them together, it is an adventure-fantasy on the open sea, described by the author as “’Wind in the Willows’ with pirates.”

*******************************************

A haunting mist has settled on the harbor beneath Secora Tor. Tasked with unlocking its mysteries is the stoic otter Captain Marshall, an accomplished military figure and heir to the greatest explorer in the kingdom’s history. As he sifts through myth and reality, his dangerous journey grows ever more complicated when he learns that McKinley the Marauder – pirate, nemesis, and general miscreant – has ambitions that could put his mission at risk.

Now, accompanied by a gypsy mercenary, a dishonored knight, and a family of thieves – and tailed by the evil wolf Baron Von Ulric, who has ambitions of his own – their paths converge in an uneasy alliance, becoming a race against time as they travel to the legendary island of Mosque Hill, each of them hoping to reach an ancient artifact before it is too late. Each of them desperate to stay ahead of the secrets that they keep.

What will they lose along the way?

And where will they turn when they realize that nothing is as it seems?
  

Website(s)

The Sons of Masguard for Kindle on Amazon
The Sons of Masguard in paperback on Amazon
Vivienne Mathews Home Page Link  
Link To Vivienne Mathews Author Page On Amazon

Vivienne Mathews Social Media Links

  http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7051589.Vivienne_Mathews
  https://twitter.com/VivienneMathews
 

Appalachian Dreams

     There are several writers whose work has inspired me; several people who have influenced and encouraged my writing. However, there are only a select few who I can credit for creating me, creating this love of writing within me. I honored Ray Bradbury last week. This week, I honor Mr. Joseph, my sixth grade teacher. 

      In the summer of 1982, Mr. Joseph took myself and two other students on a cross country road trip. The trip included a hike that spanned the Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Virginia portions of the Appalachian Trail.

            Mr. Joseph is a rabid fan of Mark Twain’s stories of Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn. A writer himself, Mr. Joseph would read to his class chapters from his own book each day just before class let out. It was a story of adventure that rivaled that of Mr. Twain. The students loved it. I loved it.

     Shortly after our trip I kept a journal outlining, to the best of my memory, events and things we saw. That journal has become a short story titled Appalachian Dreams. By pressing the boundaries of creative non-fiction, I have attempted to capture in Appalachian Dreams that “Tom Finn” spirit and style that Mr. Joseph loved so much. I do so to emphasize his heart’s desire to be a character in a Twain novel, and his boyish aspirations to experience such adventure. I also use this Twain "voice" as a tribute to Mr. Joseph whose influence has made a monumental impact on my life. He’s one of the reasons I fell in love with writing and storytelling, giving me my very first taste of it. No, none of the real characters are from the south, none of us really talk this way, although, in the essence of the man that Mr. Joseph is, not to write about our adventures on the “Trail” in that spirit would seem against all that the trip stood for. I do not use the device as an insult to anyone’s education or intelligence; it’s simply flavor, in honor of the stories that Mr. Joseph loves. I have always seen Mr. Joseph as Huck Finn leading us on an amazing adventure to find a lost treasure buried somewhere in the Maryland/Virginia/Pennsylvania landscape.

This wasn’t just a cross country trip. It was a Mark Twain adventure, and for a brief slice of life, we were all characters in this incredible story. 

The following is a short excerpt from Appalachian Dreams: 

That Maryland mornin in ’82 was crisp and chilly. We’d arrived by vehicle the night before. It’d taken the better part of a week to get there. The lushness of the area was amazin. I’d never seen so many trees in my young life. Nostalgia was so thick you could smell the gunpowder of muskets and the smoke of cannon fire and Civil War history was alive in the design of the New England style buildins. Somewhere in your mind you could faintly hear the bugle call of “charge” of union forces echoing over the meadow. There was a sense of fall in the air giving me a feelin of giddiness I hadn’t felt since I kissed Jenny Lee Avery behind the old mill that last Summer.

After near two hours of preparin and packin, we were ready to move out. Lookin off inta the brush just beyond a sign signifyin the entrance to the trail, I felt a bit of a faithless pit in my stomach. The trail was a haunting thing. I reckon it had to do with ghosts of the Civil War and such. Still, there wouldn’t be much nostalgic treasure to find in all that as far as I could tell, though Mr. Joseph saw things different. He knew there was treasure on that trail and we set out to find it.

            Brian took out his rabbits foot an gave it a good rub then put it back in his pocket.

            “Wudd’ya do that for” I asked

             “It’s good luck, ya know?”

            “Can I try?”

            “Naw. Anyone touch it now an it’d rub off my luck.” He said.

            “That’s just a wives tale. It don’t really work.”

            “One time I was walking down the track over by Saw Creek Mill…” Brian explained, “…and my foot become stuck. The Loggin Express was ten minutes early that day. I couldn’t get loose and the express was barrin down on me. I thought fer sure I was done for, so I took out my rabbits foot and began ta rub it. The conductor must’a seen me cause all a sudden I could hear the breaks scrape’n an straight away sparks come a shootin out the wheels. By some miracle the conductor managed to stop the thing some five foot from me.”

            “If it wasn’t for that rabbits foot you’da been squished!” I shouted.

            “Ain’t that the truth.” He said.

Thinkin more clearly on it today, I can’t say I believe his story was the straight truth. Regardless, I spent a good portion of the rest of the trip thinkin of some way ta get that rabbits foot in ta my own pocket. One thing my life has always been short on is luck. I reckon that foot would’a fixed me up right.

Excerpt from

Appalachian Dreams

By M.L. Falconer

Mr. Joseph is still alive and kicking. He continues to embark on multi-mile hikes, cross country bike trips and other amazing adventures with his wife and kids. You can find his work, Family on the Mountain at Amazon.com.

Ray Bradbury: In loving Memory

"Don't think. Thinking is the enemy of creativity. It's self-conscious, and anything self-conscious is lousy. You can't try to do things. You simply must do things."

Ray Bradbury

I was in 4^th grade, Mrs. Taylor's class, when I first read, or was read “All Summer in a Day”. It was also my first experience with Ray Bradbury's writing, though I didn't know who he was then. I remember leaving class that day so sad, pondering the story, wishing that I was in that story … because if I was, I would have gone in to “rescue” the little girl. That feeling and those thoughts stuck with me for days. I wanted so badly to rewrite the story and put me in there to save her. There is no doubt in my mind now, that moment shaped who I am, shaped me to be the man who is always running to the rescue of women, the Knight in Shining Armor Syndrome, as I have dubbed it. And, so it was throughout high school, girls were hurt by their boyfriends and I was always the shoulder to cry on. In '82 it came out in a short television series. All those feelings I had in 4^th grade came rushing back.

Then, roughly in '83, my mom got us HBO. I was in heaven with this new novelty of technology. Well it was new to my family. I immersed myself in so many shows, but one … one changed my life. I was already a writer by that time, well, in a sense. I had recurring dreams that haunted me so terribly that I’d have to write them down. Once on paper they would go away for a few nights until another began. It was a horrible omen. (they were not always nightmares, most were just dreams but it was a real drag to relive the same dream over and over each night.) I had so many notebooks full of these “scribbled genius” notes, and I hadn't a foggy notion what to do with them. 

"My stories run up and bite me on the leg - I respond by writing down everything that goes on during the bite. When I finish, the idea lets go and runs off."

 Ray Bradbury

At some point, late in '85, I caught the beginning of a new HBO series. You see an image of a man outside a door, he opens it and we see his penny loafers walking into an office. The office is decked out with posters, hand drawn pictures, and such. There is only a small walking path between piles of books and desks with nick nacks and stuffed aliens scattered all around and in the middle of it all is his old fashioned typewriter, which he sits down at. His walk into the office is dramatized by ominous music, and then he says something like, “people always ask me where I get my ideas. I say it's all right here. All this is my Martian landscape, my magicians toy box … I’ll never starve here, all I have to do is look around, find what I need and begin.” This was the opening to the Ray Bradbury Theater, a whole new world of creepy, strange and exiting short stories on the television screen.

That's when I knew what my omen was all about; I knew what I was supposed to do with it. That's when I knew I was a writer.

“Love. Fall in love and stay in love. Write only what you love, and love what you write. The key word is love. You have to get up in the morning and write something you love, something to live for.”

Ray Bradbury

I was given Zen in the Art of Writing by ray Bradbury as a gift back in 2006 by a good writer friend. I haven't read it yet … I realize that's a crime to Ray's memory and I won't let another day pass with out rectifying that injustice. I'm beginning it tonight! From the back jacket: “Zest. Gusto. Curiosity. These are the qualities every writer must have, as well as a spirit of adventure... Here are practical tips on the art of writing from a master of the craft-everything from finding original ideas to developing your own voice and style...”

P.S. I just found the opening to the Ray Bradbury Theater I spoke of earlier. You gotta see this. I guarantee you, if you are a writer, this opening will affect you in a way you just can't fathom. This may be the ultimate cure to writer's block. Every writing space I have ever had is fashioned from this intro scene. I didn't throw out my kid's old toys or trinkets I find. They all build up and become my office space. 

Myth & Madness: Free Copy Weekend

Hello all! I have some more great news! My good friend and Personal Muse, K. Bran Bardsley, is offering her NaNoWriMo winning book, Myth & Madness The Prisoners of Solvor, for free on Kindle this weekend, May 26th through May 27th! Please visit her Amazon.com page from the link above to read a sample from the book.

There are a lot of !'s up there, that's because I believe this book will knock your socks off. It's some of the best writing I've ever read. I feel it in my soul that you'll be taken by this book and the author's writing. I hope you'll check it out.

Learn more about K. Bran Bardsley on her blog and read some reviews of Myth & Madness there as well. Here are a few ....

 

Praise for "The Prisoners of Sólvor"

"The most unique combination of fantasy races and supernatural elements to be poured into fiction in recent memory, MYTH & MADNESS is a psychological romp through a dark and dystopian world of anti-heroes. Sólvor will give you zombies and dragons, angels and orcs, knights and spirits, even werewolves. Each element is pulled into a seamless extravaganza of action and subtlety you won't want to miss. A gritty, gripping, up-all-nighter."

*****

"I'm an avid fantasy reader and would only suggest you get this book if you are prepared to be sitting on the edge of your seat completely oblivious to reality until the last page. It has an amazing original storyline with unexpected plot twists and great character depth. Everything to make me laugh and cry and forget about anything but the book. Great writing, great book, I highly recommend to everyone!!"

*****

"MYTH & MADNESS: The Prisoners of Sólvor is a solid bit of fantasy everyone should read! Ask yourself how would you deal with multiple voices in your noggin?"