Gwenda Bond Interview

1)  In three words, describe your upcoming novel- The Woken Gods. [haha. Not a question ;) ]

Girl, gods, D.C. (Three words is hard!)

2)  What was your favorite part about writing The Woken Gods?

I think I’d have to say the research, both in books and in the real world, and both before and during the writing process. That includes all the brushing up on lesser-known mythologies and looking through encyclopedias of ancient deities to get ideas for relics, reading up on ancient beliefs and apocalypses, and—best of all—visiting D.C. and doing location research, like poking around the Library of Congress (while running in lower level hallways to see what kind of sound it made and taking photos in elevators—lucky I didn’t get kicked out).

3)  What was the hardest part?

This was a tough book to crack. Kyra was a character that took a long time for me to understand. She was a secret keeper until I switched to first person. Also, juggling the different pantheons was a fun challenge. 

4)  I have read through a few reviews of The Woken Gods and have encountered a reoccurring question. Do you plan to turn The Woken Gods into a series or is this book strictly a stand- alone?

I love hearing that people want more. That’s music to any author’s ears. And I definitely was thinking of this as a big world that could hold lots of stories, from the very beginning. I know what happens next to Kyra and her friends. But at this point, there are no plans for a sequel. (The more readers who want one, the more likely it is to happen.) That said, I tried hard to make this a satisfying story on its own. As a reader, I like a big ending that opens up a new vantage point, but I also want some closure for the characters—at least in terms of the main story in that given book. That was my goal here.

5)  I love the title of this book! Titles are very important (at least to me) when choosing a book to read. If you were writing a book about your life and past experiences, what would you title it?

Thanks on the title—it was not easily arrived at! And I actually came up with it so: very proud. Okay, I love this question. Maybe… Wise-Cracking Dame Theater: The Incredibly Screwy Life & Times of Gwenda Bond? *Charleston arms* 

6)  These books -as well as your previous book, Blackwood- both deal with legends and myths. Have you always been interested in mythology?

I have—and in any strange ephemera, really. Myths and unsolved mysteries and fringe science and ghost stories and circuses and cabinets of curiosities (the mythic everyday, I guess you could call it—or mythic history) all fascinate me, and I can’t imagine that ever stopping. 

7) Do you have a favorite character from The Woken Gods? If so, can you tell me who it is? (:

Kyra is my favorite, because she’s the heart of the story, but I also loved writing all the gods—especially Anzu. And Oz was fun. And Bree and Justin. And grandfather. Okay, I guess I love them all in different ways. 

8)  The worlds created in both of your books sound both scary and fascinating. If you could live in either one of your books, Blackwood or The Woken Gods, which one would you choose and why? 

Now this is a great question… Because both are our worlds, just with major changes because the specific magic at the center of each world is real. I’d probably rather live in the world of my next book, because it’s a circus and there’s catering. But between the first two…the benefit of Blackwood is you’d get to live on the beach and I do love an island. Plus, Manteo has a great bookstore. But I suspect The Woken Gods is my real answer; I’d love to visit its far corners as a tourist and see the local cults and candletowns and places that I didn’t get to go in this book.

9)  The Woken Gods is set to be released in early September 2013. Blackwood released in early September 2012. Are you currently working on another book? If so, when should we expect that bad boy to hit the shelves? Also, if yes, will this book follow the same pattern as the previous two (i.e. cool twist on some myth)? [I know. The Woken Gods hasn’t even been released yet and I am already asking about your next book.. (: ]

I got ahead of myself on the last question, hm? My next book is Girl on a Wire. It’s about a girl daredevil high wire walker who joins a new circus, and then has to team up with the son of her family’s greatest rivals to solve a mystery. I don’t know exactly when yet, but it will definitely be out sometime in 2014 from Skyscape, and I can’t wait. While there might not be a myth at its center, there’s definitely a mix of old and new, and history coming back and causing problems. I would say that while it definitely has its dark moments, it’s also got more light and humor in it than my first two books.

10)  I would like to end the interview with something fun. Can you tell me something fun/random/wonky/crazy about yourself or your writing habits?

I am a terrible cook. In the kitchen, it’s a regular screwball comedy. When my husband is out of town, especially if I’m on a deadline, friends will bring me lemons and limes so that I don’t get scurvy and take-out so I don’t burn the house down. (Seriously, I’m not kidding. On one of mine and Christopher’s first dates where I was supposed to “cook,” I made a frozen pizza and only when he went to cut it did we discover I’d also baked the cardboard!)

Thank you so much for taking the time to answer my questions!

Thanks for the interview!

The Woken Gods

Goodreads | Expected Publication: September 3rd by Strange Chemistry

The more things change…

Five years ago, the gods of ancient mythology awoke all around the world.

The more things stay the same…

This morning, Kyra Locke is late for school because of an argument with her father.

Seventeen-year-old Kyra lives in a transformed Washington, D.C., dominated by the embassies of divine pantheons and watched over by the mysterious Society of the Sun that governs mankind’s relations with the gods. But when rebellious Kyra encounters two trickster gods on her way home, one offering a threat and the other a warning, it turns out her life isn't what it seems. She escapes with the aid of Osborne "Oz" Spencer, a young Society field operative, only to discover that her scholar father has disappeared with a dangerous Egyptian relic. The Society needs the item back, and they aren’t interested in her protests that she knows nothing about it or her father's secrets.

Now Kyra must depend on her wits and the suspect help of scary Sumerian gods, her estranged oracle mother, and, of course, Oz--whose first allegiance is to the Society. She has no choice if she’s going to recover the missing relic and save her father. And if she doesn't? Well, that may just mean the end of the world as she knows it. From the author of Blackwood comes a fresh, thrilling urban fantasy that will appeal to fans of Neil Gaiman, Cassandra Clare, and Rick Riordan.