Last week Rowena and I had the amazing opportunity to meet Maria V. Snyder at a book signing in Upland, CA. She was so warm and funny, I really felt comfortable with her. She was lovely enough to agree to send us a guest blog, an exclusive excerpt and she signed 3 copies of Storm Glass for us to giveaway on the site!
Before we get to Maria’s guest post, I want to take a second to mention the Upland library, particularly their young adult division. I was amazed at the number of programs they offer for young adults. I really enjoyed speaking with the director and her assistant. If you get the opportunity or live close to Upland, be sure to visit the library there!!
__________________
Glass Magic
by: Maria V. Snyder
The idea for Opal’s glass magic formed when I wrote my third book, Fire Study. For Fire Study, I learned how to work with molten glass to accurately portray Opal and her family’s glass factory. Molten glass glows with a bright orange light that eventually disappears as the glass cools (turning fire into ice). When I worked with the glass, I wished that inner fire would remain. So when I wrote the scene where Yelena sees Opal’s glass animals for the first time, she comments on the inner glow. Well, in real life that wouldn’t happen, so to explain the inner fire, I had Yelena discover that the glow is magic trapped inside. Magic that can be used by other magicians but not Opal. Only magicians can see the inner glow and they use the magic to communicate telepathically with other magicians far away- like magical cell phones.
This wonderful discovery expanded and became one of the core plot lines in both Storm Glass and Sea Glass. Opal’s glass messengers are a major advancement for the people in Sitia and they can also find new magicians who may have been passed over because their magical powers are not traditional.
As a “seat of the pants” writer or “pantser” as we say in the biz – the unplanned discovery of Opal’s magic is the best part of writing process for me. Not outlining a plot can be scary, and I always spend the first half of the book worried I don’t have enough story for a full novel, and then I spend the second half of the novel worried I have too much story.
But when these golden nuggets are uncovered as I write and there have been lots of them– that, to me, is truly magical.
___________________
Would you like to win a signed copy of Storm Glass? Leave a comment on this post or on my review and we’ll toss your name in the hat. As I mentioned above, we have THREE signed copies to giveaway!
Contest ends Friday, May 8th at 11:59p.m.
Storm Glass is available from Mira. You can buy it here or here in e-format.
that sounds just so beautiful, I’ve always wanted to work with glass, but to see living glass animals walking around would be just amazing!
Yes I want to read this book!! It sounds awesome!!!
I’ve enjoyed Ms. Snyder’s previous books. I used to work with glass, so this one really intrigues me!
I love this story of the seed of writerly inspiration. It never ceases to amaze me how a thousand people can see the very same thing, but in the thousand-and-first, it inspires the germ of a book.
Also: beautiful cover.
This book sounds absolutely wonderful! Please enter me in the drawing.
I would love to win a copy. I really enjoyed the Study books and have been looking forward to reading more about Opal.
Non traditional magical powers sound interesting. I wonder if I have any!!
mj.coward[at]gmail.com
Is this contest open to international entries? There is no information in contrary, so I’ll presume it is.
Although I was a bit disappointed with the end of the Study Trilogy, it was enjoyable most of the time, so I would like to have a chance to read this one.
Thanks!
This book sounds like a wonderful read!
This book is right up my alley of books I like to read lately!
Margay
Storm Glass sounds great!
Hi Maria! Thanks for visiting! I loved the Study series and am now looking forward to the Glass series!! I have the Study Trilogy on Audible so I know I will listen to them again! That is neat how you incorporated what you learned about the glass molding!
This book sounds really unique but great. Good luck with it..I’d love to read it!
rachie2004 AT yahoo.com
I love blown glass. Years ago I read The Glass Blowers by Daphne DuMaurier, very interesting reading about the craft.
would love to be entered
gypsywitch36@yahoo.com
I haven’t had a chance to read her books, even though I’ve been thinking about picking up one for quite some time now. So I would love to win one!
chayanna82(at)hotmail(dot)com
Storm Glass sounds wonderful. Would love to read it. 🙂
I’d like to be included!
Storm Glass sounds really great. I love the idea of the magic in the glass and it would be interesting to learn more about glass making.
lynda98662 at yahoo dot com
How neat!
Would love to win this for my daughter. She read Maria’s “Study” series and really loved it. Thanks!
Darn it! I am so far behind in my blog reading that I have only just seen this! If I am not too late please enter me in to the draw.