Carol Oates Author Interview and Shades of Atlantis Giveaway

Recently, I read a book that completely captivated me with an unique take on soul mates and mythology. I was so enthralled with Shades of Atlantis by debut author Carol Oates that as soon as I finished reading my ARC e-book, I ordered myself the paperback! And I’m happy that I did because now it is my precious, and I can quickly pick it up and re-read some of my favorite scenes, like when…

As you can guess, this book became one of my favs of the year. So yeah, when I scored an author interview with Ms. Oates, I squeed so loud I shattered glass. I could keep gushing but first I should probably get on with the interview. Please welcome Ms. Oates and make sure to check out the book giveaway below! 

Carol Oates

1. Tell us a bit about Shades of Atlantis? How did the idea for the story come about?
My brother moved to County Cavan years ago and I started traveling past the Hill of Tara on a regular basis to visit. It’s always been one of the most fascinating places in the world to me. When construction work was getting underway for a new motorway that would eventually cut into the ancient site. I began to worry about what future generations would never get to experience. I think sometimes in a race to get to the future that we forget the past. The story started one night when I was on the internet refreshing on the legends I heard about as a child.The story took on a life of it’s own and started coming together piece by piece, not in the right order. It was all jumbled up and more of a jigsaw that eventually fit.

2. How much of the Fae mythology did you already know and how much did you have to research?
Well, see the thing is to me it’s not Fae mythology. It’s Celtic mythology that explained how the idea of the fairy tales came about. I didn’t start this story thinking of Guardians as Fae. To me, Guardians are based on a race of magical beings in Irish mythology that inspired the Fae. Although Guardians are so much more, I wanted to give them a past and a future not afforded to the Fae in legends. I can’t imagine a race of beings so magical and strong just appearing and dying out over the course of a few hundred years. Most of it I knew because I always had an interest in the legends of my country and other countries because we learned these stories in school. The research part came in putting an original twist on things.

3. Will there be a sequel, and if so, what can you tell us about it?
I’m working on a sequel and hopefully when I’m done people will want to read it. The sequel is from Ben’s POV. There is more mythology, more twisted up legends and more secrets revealed. The working title is Shades of Avalon. Shades in the title refers to colors for reasons apparent to anyone who has read Triona’s story in Shades of Atlantis, but it also refers to an old term for ghosts, in this case history and an inescapable legacy.

4. Will I ever be able to forgive Triona for what she did to John? Okay, not a fair question, but Gah! I felt so sorry for him.
I have to say I have a massive soft spot for John. I felt awful for what Triona did to him, but don’t worry about John. He’ll be just grand.

5. I have so many questions about the Guardians! Do all the Guardians have soul mates? What are their lifespans like? And where can I meet one?
About Guardians, there is lots to tell. They all have a soul mate, although some are destined for human soul mates. Guardians are not immortal, they are mortal just like humans. They are just a different kind of mortal. Not every Guardian will meet their soul mate and they are capable of falling deeply in love with someone who isn’t their soul mate. Soul mates is not always a coupling. It can be best friends.

They live roughly 400 years, give or take a few decades. They mature to adulthood at a human rate and then awaken to their true nature. Normally this occurs over anywhere from months to years during which time they undergo physical changes such as skin and hair texture, muscle and bone density, changes in their eye, their aging slows. In some cases previously unused parts of the brain come into use giving abilities that may appear magical. In the case of a child born of a human and a Guardian the time of awakening is accelerated by the human genes suddenly overtaken by the rapid cell turn over that allows Guardians to heal faster. They are beautiful and elegant but can have a deadly vicious if you get on the wrong side of one.

I’m not sure where you will meet one. Maybe you already have. They don’t tend to advertise their presence.

6. What are some of your favorite books?
My favorite books are generally whatever I’m reading. I’m constantly surprised by books. Every time I think something better will never come along, it does. I love supernatural, fantasy anything with a human element but not entirely human. My favorites are books that I can sink into and forget I’m seeing the words on a page in front of me, instead seeing it play out like a movie in my head, especially since I rarely watch television. Two of my all time favorites are the Princess Bride and Practical Magic.

Giveaway!

Time to play Naughty or Nice with author Carol Oates.

1. I have appeared in two reality television shows.
2. My favorite sandwich in school was white cabbage and pineapple. 
3. I speak fluent Irish.

One of these fun facts about Carol Oates is a lie. Can you guess which one? Enter your guess in the comments section. If you guess correctly, you will be entered in a drawing to win an e-book of Shades of Atlantis by Carol Oates from Omnific Publishing!

Enter your guess in the comments along with a way to contact you. Open to Everyone. Contest ends 12/16 at midnight (CST). Winner will be announced on Friday, December 17th.

About the book: Shades of Atlantis by Carol Oates

Since the death of their parents, Triona Pryor and her brother, Ben, have lived with their aunt and uncle in Camden, Maine. Now in her senior year of high school, Triona loves her family and friends, but she has always felt that she didn’t quite fit in…in Camden, or anywhere else.

Enter Caleb Wallace, the devilishly handsome man who has recently moved to Triona’s small town. While their attraction to each other is instantaneous, it also proves to be dangerous…and deadly.

When tragedy strikes, Triona flees to London for solace and to start her life anew. It’s there she discovers from an unlikely source that her family has been keeping secrets from her – secrets about not only her birthright, but her ultimate destiny as well. Armed with this knowledge, Triona finds herself thrown into a whole new world and into a battle to save the lives of everyone she loves.

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Posted at 6:00 am  •  Labels: 2010, author interview, giveaway