Sunday, January 13, 2008

Kaza Kingsley Blog Tour 2008



Today is Day Seven of Kaza Kingsley's Blog Tour and her stop at MY blog! (Isn't that a great birthday present?) For those of you that are not familiar with Ms. Kingsley, she is the author of the Erec Rex Series, a Young Adult Fantasy series.

If you have read her books, I'm sure you loved them!! After reading the first book (review is to follow), I've found Erec Rex to be an excellent character!! The book is fun, fast-paced and full of magic. Although I won't even bother to compare the books, I know a lot of Harry Potter fans that are looking for a new character to follow. Erec Rex would be a good place to start!!

Fantasy books have become a staple in my household these days. Not only for me, but for my son Chad. (He wasn't too thrilled that I read his Christmas present first! But I figure he will get over it!) Chad loves anything with dragons and magic, so this series is right up his alley. And it's nice for me to FINALLY have someone in the family to share books with!!




Now, on to the tour:



"Stephanie, thank you so much for hosting me on your blog today! This blog tour has been a fun adventure so far. It's fun traveling through cyberspace! I hope your readers enjoy the kid picture of me - they can watch me grow older on the other blogs on this tour! I'll be here to answer any questions that come up.

Do you have a daily writing routine? What is it like?

I do! My heavy writing days are so methodical, it's ridiculous. Get up. Run. (Under a mile. I'm happy with that.) Shower. (Too much information?) Check email. Eat something: grapefruit a lot. Then I get all set up at my desk with good organic chocolate with yummies in it (nuts, dried cherries, you name it) and a cup o' green or herbal tea, and I'm all set! I get up for a quick lunch and a few small breaks. And that's it!


How do you deal with deadline pressures?

I'm one of those weird, type-A, Virgo types that feel best when they're ahead of schedule. That said, I still get behind schedule regularly. The way I deal is by setting huge, undoable daily deadlines for myself and then actually trying to do them. I break down the work into big daily chunks. Once I get a lot done I start to relax. And I spend so many hours a day writing that it's really no problem once I get going. It actually helps me get into it more.

If you ever have "writers' block," how do you deal with it?

You know, I've never had it. I won't be so smug as to say it doesn't exist (I know, from life, saying things like that guarantee it will happen to you!) I've always heard just write through writers block and it goes away. I do know that when I've been away from writing a while it gets harder to do. I tell kids when I talk at schools that writing is like lifting weights. The more you do it, you get in "shape" creatively. I think when you're in the writing mode it's hard to get blocked. It also helps that I've plotted out my series. There is always more to plot “ so much in each book“ but I generally know where I'm going.

Do you have up and down days? Can writing be stressful?

I definitely have up and down days, but more from the same mundane things that everyone goes through than from my writing. Things like headaches, getting disappointed about something I was looking forward to, the usual thing we all deal with. Writing can be stressful, but it's kind of a good stress. When my characters are in danger, or sad, I feel it with them, but I also know where they are going, so it's different. Overall, writing is a stress release, a creative outlet for me, so it doesn't cause stress. Okay, if I had a computer glitch and lost a chapter's worth of writing I'd be stressed. Very. But not from writing itself.

What do you do for stress relief?

I run in the mornings “ not far at all “ but I find it helps me a lot. Simple things like taking a long shower make me feel better. And chocolate. I'm a big fan of chocolate! If I really need a pick-me-up a big mug of hot chocolate is the best!


Thank you so much for stopping by, Kaza!!! And to all the readers, just post any questions you might have for Ms. Kingsley!!

If you'd like to follow her through the rest of her tour, here's the schedule:
1/14 A Year of Books,
1/15 Author Chris Rettstatt's blog
1/16 Deliciously Clean Reads,
1/17 Into the Wardrobe,
1/18 Real Gurlz Magazine,
1/19 Chauceriangirl,

18 comments:

DesLily said...

Happy, Happy Birthday Steph!..

What a way to start your day! Great interview! I haven't read the books yet but both are on my wish list (high up I might add!)

I guess if I were to ask any question to Ms Kingsley it would be to ask who are her personal favorite authors?

Anonymous said...

Great Interview, I can relate to alot of things even though I'm only thirteen lol. I always write like today was one of those good days that I can't stop writing. I can't wait for the next book, I can't wait to find out what happens to Erec and Bethany. I can't wait for the next adventure.

Kaza Kingsley, http://www.erecrex.com said...

Happy Birthday Stephanie!
Thank you so much for hosting me today! You're awesome. Give yourself a birthday hug from me!

Deslily - I have so many favorite authors it's crazy! I loved L. Frank Baum's Oz series when I was young. Now, among a lot of other things, I like to read Tom Robbins crazy books. I also just read Malcolm Gladwell's Blink, which was really cool. I love the Amy Tan books, read all of those. And, of course, I'm a fantasy fan!

Rissa - It's so great to have days like that where you can't stop writing! Well, hopefully you won't have to wait too long for Book Three - I'm finishing it now! And I'm SO excited about it!!
Luv,
Kaza

Ana S. said...

This series really sounds like one I'd enjoy. And great interview! I especially like the idea of "getting into shape" creatively. The little experience that I have makes me think that's true.

DesLily said...

thank you Ms Kingsley!
I went back and read all the other interviews to date and learned alot! It's nice to get to know you!

This is such a great idea of visiting so many blogs and being interviewed by each! Great promotion! I think more authors should do this, as the more exposure the better!! Super idea, who's ever it was!

Kaza Kingsley, http://www.erecrex.com said...

Nymeth, it's so true, the more you write the easier it gets in so many ways. Now I'm back on a daily heavy-duty writing schedule I can sink right into the story completely, without that wasted "dipping my toe in" time. I find it encouraging - to me it means that we all have a ton of potential.

Deslily - thanks! It's been really fun for me to meet people too, like you! Wish it was my idea - it's been done before - but it's still pretty new to a lot of people. So we can all feel high-tech. :}

Kaza

Anonymous said...

Great interview, Ms. Kingsley! When u were a kid, was there anything else that u thought about becoming (besides an author)? Like a doctor or lawyer? What about now?
- Brian

Chrisbookarama said...

Congrats to both of you on the great interview!

Anonymous said...

By the way, you are my granddaughter's favorite author. Great photo's as well.
#1 Fan

Melody said...

Great interview! And a very Happy Birthday to you, Stephanie! :D

BTW, I'm still waiting for your email re. your snail mail addy, as you have won a book for my BAFAB week. ;)

Kaza Kingsley, http://www.erecrex.com said...

Hey Brian! Um, yes. I wanted to be just about everything. From a zookeeper to an actress, yes a doctor and a lawyer, you name it!

Chris, #1 fan, and Melody - I'm glad you got to enjoy the interview. It was fun!!

And to the birthday girl - you, by the way, have the absolutely most beautiful art on your blog. I love it so much!!!
Luv,
Kaza

Tarie Sabido said...

Happy Birthday, Stephanie!

Erin said...

Happy Belated Birthday, Stephanie!

I'm sorry I missed yesterday; I had meant to pop in to ask Ms. Kingsley a question but the time got away from me.

Just in case she does stop by and sees this, however, I had wanted to ask where her inspiration for stories come from. Do they just spring fully-formed out of her head or does a nebulous idea come about after reading a favorite author?

-Erin

Carl V. Anderson said...

Happy belated birthday! What a great, fun thing doing the blog tour is. I really enjoyed it.

I haven't had a chance to go back and read all the other links but am always curious about authors and whether or not they read other stuff while they are writing or not, and if so what kind of stuff they are reading.

Kaza Kingsley, http://www.erecrex.com said...

Hi Erin! It's not too late - I'll be checking back over the next week or so to answer anything that comes up!

You know, in answer to your question, it's really neither! An initial idea springs into my head. In the case of Erec Rex it was inspired by the Hercules legend. But then I work it over again and again in my mind and on paper. My notes in the development concept for my stories are extensive. I actually try not to let books I've read influence me too much, although of course there are subconscious influences that will be there.

So, I guess the answer is closer to "springing into my head," but there is a lot of work involved at that stage - a lot of writing plot and crossing out, coming up with new, twisted, and fun ideas!

Carl - you know, I don't let myself read fantasy when I'm writing. I'll usually stick with non fiction (my latest was Blink by Malcolm Gladwell - I loved it!) but I'll dip into a little fiction that is far away from my genre, that I won't worry about influencing me or distracting me. Right now I'm reading Crow Lake by Mary Lawson. Can't comment if I recommend it yet, but it's a safe one for me because it's not too distracting. I don't have a lot of time to read when I'm heavy into writing, just a few snippets here and there, anyway.

But when I finish the rough draft of Book Three (The Search for Truth) I'll immediately dive into a fantasy book. Inkheart is next on my list - I want to read it before I see the movie! That will be awesome, to be finished, happy, reading someone else's work. Aahhhh.... But for now, I'm still hard at it.

When I'm editing (not writing the rough draft) it doesn't matter what I read, I've found!

Great to meet you all - great questions!!
Luv,
Kaza

Carl V. Anderson said...

Thanks for stopping back by and answering my question! And with an interesting answer as well! My curiousity is satisfied...for now. ;)

Erin said...

Thank you for such a complete answer, Ms. Kingsley. I always find it interesting to see how authors think to develop their stories.

I hope your current rough draft finishes up for you without too many hitches so that you can take some time off to enjoy yourself. :)

-Erin

Unknown said...

Kaza, what's your real first and last name?