Author Interview for
Aurora Springer & The Lady is Blue
(Note, to
paraphrase Liza O’Connor, both are scientists but one is FREE from 24-26th.)
Please tell us a
bit about yourself:
I work as a scientist during the day and write
novels in my spare time. I have invented adventures in weird worlds for as long
as I can remember. My novels include science fiction and fantasy with romance,
mystery and a sprinkle of humor. I was born and educated in the UK and now live
in Atlanta with my husband, a dog and two cats to cuddle. Our two sons are
undergraduates at university. My hobbies include outdoor activities like
watching wildlife, hiking and canoeing.
Tell us about The Lady is Blue:
What inspired you to write this particular
story?: This story combines my idea for an unusual mutant with the collisions
of two different cultures – one with a rigid class/caste system and the other
relaxed and fun-loving (the sixties on another planet). I wrote the story some
thirty years ago when I was a researcher at Yale University and the tensions of
the faculty creep into the story. I’ve put aliens and human scientists in the
cafeteria on top of the Kline Biology Tower among other places.
Please share a favourite snippet from your
book:
The Blue rushed
towards her, brandishing a wide blade like a meat cleaver. Lucy grinned in
fierce concentration, backing away slowly as if terrified. He was very eager to
disable a smaller, more vulnerable opponent. Her combat training was superior.
An icy calm settled over her as she crouched alertly before the furious Trapie.
Just as she had
anticipated, the young Blue swept his blade down with his whole strength. The
cleaver slashed toward her head. With an agile sidestep, she avoided the blow
and grabbed his arm, jerking down strongly. The thin Blue slammed to the ground
and slid across the floor. The knife whirled from his grasp.
Lucy straightened and
looked up. Sa Kamizan was staring at her in amazement. He was wild-eyed and
panting from exertion. Two Red Atrapako lay on the floor, and he held another
sword. The crowd was deathly silent.
Sa Kamizan picked up
the second blade. Lucy rotated to scan the circle of faces. No other assailants
appeared. Sa Kamizan was also scanning the crowd silently. He stepped over the
red bodies to Lucy. “Do you have a weapon?” His chest heaved with every breath
and Lucy knew he was exhausted.
She drew out her
laser. “I’ll demonstrate,” she said fiercely. She swiveled in a half circle,
menacing the spectators with her weapon. Then, she raised the laser and sliced
through the cord supporting a large banner mounted on one wall. The banner
crashed to the ground as several nearby Atrapako jumped out of the way.
Sa Kamizan wielded a
knife in each hand. “Hold the gun ready, Lucy.” He draped one large arm
casually over her shoulders. “We walk out slowly.”
~~~
Which comes first for you – a character's
looks, personality or name?:
The personality and possibly the appearance
come first. The name usually comes later.
The female protagonist in The
Lady is Blue, Dr. Lucy Stannis, is named after the Beatles’ song “Lucy in
the Sky with Diamonds”.
Any tips for aspiring authors?:
Don’t expect your first draft to be the final
one. Writing a good story takes hard work and there are many other aspects
involved in publishing a novel.
Questions for fun:
If you had the power of time travel, is there
anything you would go back and change? Why/why not?:
No. Let’s just enter a parallel universe.
What super-power would you choose?: Flying is
my favourite superpower.
If you could have three wishes, what would
they be?:
World peace, finding intelligent
extraterrestrial life, and, well, the first two might be contradictory so I’ll
hold my third wish in reserve for an emergency.
Coffee, tea or wine?: Yes, depending on the
time or day or how I feel.
What is your favourite book? (aside from one
of your own!):
I re-read Jane Austen’s books each year and
also enjoy Andre Norton’s books. My ambition as an author is to combine the
creative world building of Andre Norton with the humor and romance of Jane
Austen.
Favourite genre and why?: Science fiction or
fantasy with romance. I prefer adventures in strange places with a happy ending
for the couple.
Favourite colour?: Rainbow – I like many
colors, blue, purple, orange, green, sometimes mixed together.
Upcoming news and plans for the future?:
I plan to complete the third book in the
Grand Master’s Trilogy, which combines portals to exotic planets with weird
alien and the psychic powers of the Grand Masters. Next, I hope to write a
superhero series and complete a space opera from my files.
Thank you so much for taking the time to talk
to us!
The
Lady is Blue is FREE from 24th to 26th September.
Blurb: Dr. Lucy
Stannis, chief biologist in the peaceful human colony, is thrilled when a
shipload of aliens arrives on the peaceful colony of Eden. Sparks fly when she
meets the spaceship captain, the devious Blue, Sa Kamizan Veedak. With massive,
scaled bodies armed with sharp claws, Atrapako claim superiority over puny,
emotional humans. Lucy will need all her skills as a scientist and undercover
Terran agent to discover their secret weakness before the colony is destroyed.
Media links:
Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/Aurora-Springer/e/B00K2C4NL8
