I recently posted my review of The Rising (Painted Maidens Trilogy Book #1) by Terra Harmony, which I loved because of it´s uniqueness. In the Rising you can read about mermaids, werewolves and a wonderful underwater landscape that is slowly destroyed by careless human behaviour.
Terra Harmony writes eco-fantasy novels, which means she focuses - among other things- on certain problems concerning our nature and wants to alert the reader, using subtle narrative techniques.
I´m beyond thrilled to welcome Terra Harmony, Author of The Rising, to my blog! She will answer a few really interesting questions concerning her series and her writing process.
Hi Lea! First, thanks so much for having me on your blog – and of course, for your wonderful review of 'The Rising'! I'm glad you enjoyed the book, and I'm already hard at work on the second one!
Lea had several questions/suggestions for a guest post, and I wanted to be sure to address them all!
Why did you choose to write a trilogy featuring mermaids?
Mainly because I like a challenge. Mermaids have been done, but not really in their element. Most books have the mermaids on shore, and when they are underwater they are using telepathy to talk. That is totally cheating! My goal was to show the mermaids in their own environment, and hopefully the readers will fall in love with the mermaids, their society, and their environment (which is where the whole 'eco' part of the book comes in – it is subtle, but the underlying theme of 'save our oceans' is definitely there).
What does your writing process in general look like?
I can tell you it looks a whole lot different than what I imagine it to be before I start a project. I am very image-driven, so before starting a book I like to ramp up my pinterest boards (http://www.pinterest.com/terraharmony/mermaids/). I also spent hours and hours cutting out pictures from my husband's scuba diving magazines and National Geographic to transform our office space into a collage of underwater pictures.
I get nervous that I won't be creative enough, so I'll have to draw on sources like these.
The reality is I wrote almost the entire book on my laptop – in bed – still wearing pajamas – before the sun came up each morning. It is the only time of day when a quiet house and a functioning brain coincide. Not once did I even attempt to write in my underwater office!
Also, no outlining and very little world-building beforehand for me. Working like that, I tend to get bogged down in details. I will say I rely whole-heartedly on my critique group, beta readers, and editors to really help make my book shine!
Where do you get your inspiration from?
I love to write, and now on my seventh book I don't see that changing anytime soon. Even if I didn't make a dime off my novels, I couldn't force myself to stop writing! I have an overactive imagination, which helps with inspiration, but sheer drive is the only thing that can finish each book.
What do you have in store for the next book?
I'm well on my way into it (I have it about 1/3 of the way done). There will be more surprises, of course, and a traitor. And I will definitely delve more into the werewolf society. In fact, I'm considering having several chapters from Liam's point of view…
About the Author
Terra is author of the eco-fantasy novels in the Akasha Series, 'Water', 'Air', 'Fire' and 'Earth', as well as the Painted Maidens Trilogy. Terra was born and raised in Colorado but has since lived in California, Texas, Utah, North Carolina, and Virginia. Terra has served a 5½ year enlistment in the Marine Corp, has earned her bachelor's and master's degree and presently runs the language services division of a small business.
Terra currently lives in a suburb of Washington, DC with her husband of 14 years and three children.
About the Book
The Rising
Book One of the Painted Maidens Trilogy
Book One of the Painted Maidens Trilogy
Fifteen-year-old
Serena is the youngest member of a dying race. The increasing acidity of the
ocean is destroying her home, slowly eating away at the once thriving
underwater landscape. But since the night of Serena’s birth, it is an outside
force that most threatens their dwindling population. Werewolves, who once
served as protectors for mermaids in the Kingdom of the Undine, now seek to
eliminate all who dwell in the ocean—and Serena is about to find herself right
in the middle of the deadly conflict.
Given the title of Werewolf Liaison, Serena is
determined to make things right for her people. When she ventures to The Dry,
she meets Liam, the werewolf with hazel eyes, and her whole world gets turned
upside down. As Serena discovers the real history between werewolves and
mermaids, she is left wondering who her true enemies are.
See my Review of The Rising here
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