A while back I decided to do some interviews with published writers. Meredith Mansfield is the first one. She has out five books which she listed below in response to the first question. THE SHAMAN’S CURSE is the latest.
Her web site is here and you can find the various locations to get her books there Info about her on her About Page
I sent her ten questions and this is how she answered them.
How many book do you have?
Published? Five
BLOOD WILL TELL
& BLOOD IS THICKER
(Paranormal Romance/Urban Fantasy)
FIRE AND EARTH
(YA Fantasy/Sword and Sorcery)
THE BARD'S GIFT
(YA Historical Fantasy)
THE SHAMAN'S CURSE
(Epic Fantasy/Sword and Sorcery)
That doesn't count CHIMERIA OMNIBUS (which is both BLOOD WILL TELL and BLOOD IS THICKER) or several short stories ("Heart of Oak", "Becoming Lioness", "The Music Box", and "Wyreth's Flame")
Where did the idea for this tale come from? I believe it’s on your blog, but could you repeat it?
Actually, THE SHAMAN'S CURSE goes back so far that I can't really remember the original inspiration. I've been toying with this world and parts of this story since college. (And that's longer ago than I'm going to admit to here.)
Who is your favorite character in this book?
Unfair. That's like asking which is your favorite child.
How long did it take you to write? You mentioned deleted scene on your blog. How many and how large where these scenes?
That depends how you count. I think the first draft took about six months, but that doesn't count revisions, coming back to it several times over the last six years, or the abortive attempt to recast it as either middle grade or young adult. Let's just say this one has been cooking longer than most.
Well, the "cuts" file for this book, where I keep deleted bits or scenes, is over 16,000 words long, but that may not be the best indication. I'm quite sure there were other things deleted that aren't in there. (They are preserved in other places, though. It would just take longer to actually find them.) Looking through it, I think I cut six whole chapters. (Some of which will reappear later in the series or as stand-alone short stories.)
Any embrasasssing scenes in this book or a previous one?
Not any more if I've done my job in the editing. J
Actually, depending on what you mean by "embarrassing", I just don't write those scenes. I get things rolling and then draw the curtain and come back in the morning.
Which scene--without too many spoilers--gave you the most fits?
Hmm. I don't really remember any of them giving me fits. Some came easier than others, of course. I think Veleus was the hardest character for me to get a handle on, so possibly his early scenes.
What outfit would you wear, if you were the Main Female Character?
Well, that would depend on where she was, to some extent. Day-to-day, Thekila wears either a tunic (with laces going well down the front) and trousers or a dress that's very like an extra-long tunic. In either case, there'd likely be a band of embroidery around the hem of the tunic. Being Valson, she prefers bright colors.
Is this book in any way modeled after another published book?
No.
What other book world would you take your Main Character to for a day on the town?
Well, Vatar is already the most well-traveled person probably in this whole world. But he's really most comfortable with wide open spaces around him. Even when he's in the city, he tends to prefer to be on the outskirts rather than within the city walls. Oh, and he hates large bodies of water or really anything with waves.
Who is your favorite writing teacher? A pro writer who also shares how to writer workshops, or a collage teacher Or?
I just completed one of David Farland's online writing classes that was very interesting.
