Monday, April 2, 2012

Interview with Sheila R. Lamb, Author of Once a Goddess


Hi everyone! 

Today we are chatting with Sheila R. Lamb, author of the paranormal romance/historical fiction novel Once a Goddess. Sheila R. Lamb will be joining us for a live interview on Blog Talk Radio, Wednesday, April 4th, at 3:30 p.m. Pacific Time. We hope you'll stop by and listen in. 

Hey, Sheila, and welcome! Why don’t you tell us a bit about yourself?

Thanks so much for hosting me on ParaYourNormal. I'm a school librarian by day, and writer - well, much earlier in the day. I teach creative writing classes occasionally and am working on my MFA in creative writing.

How do you carve out time to write?  Carefully. I started a new job this past fall and suddenly every minute counts. But I tend to work best under a deadline.  Being in school also requires that I turn in a new story or chapter every few weeks. I used to spend a lot more time on Twitter and Goodreads before this whole job thing. :)

How did you decide to write a book about historical fantasy? I used to be a history teacher and I love Irish history. Brigid's story came about at first from an academic perspective. I wondered if she and St. Patrick co-existed  and discovered a long line of mythology of Brigid before Saint Brigid.

Which book are we talking about today and what is it about?  Once A Goddess is the first in Brigid's trilogy. This is story of Brigid as one of the Túatha de Danann, the mythical, supernatural founders of Ireland.

What inspired this book?  Brigid herself. I love that throughout myth and history, she is regarded as a Goddess, Druid and then Saint and did a lot of research following her transitions. As one of the Túatha de Danann, Brigid was known as a healer, blacksmith, and poet.

Tell us something about your characters that we wouldn’t be able to figure out by reading the book.
The Túatha de Danann were known through mythology as shape shifters - I didn't make that up. There is a famous battle (the Second battle of Mag Tuired) where it is said they turned to mist.

Is there a book 2 in the works? Can you tell us a bit about it?  

There is. I'm looking forward to the second book, which will hopefully be released next year. Fiery Arrow tells Brigid's story as druid, growing up in fifth century Ireland. I use the device of reincarnation so that eventually, Brigid remembers of her past life with the Danann. In book two, she, a druid, must confront Patrick as he begins to Christianize the island.

Where can readers purchase your book?  

It's available through one of my favorite indie bookstores, FourSeasons Books
Amazon 

May we read an excerpt from the book?

My father’s incantation had ended and it was our turn to speak quietly to each other. 

Danann couples spoke sacred words of magic at this point in the ceremony, words to bind them for a lifetime. Of course, I had been warned not to use those words, our secret. My promise was simple: to uphold the treaty.

Bres spoke first. “Brigid, our joining will be new to both our people and to this island. If you can’t bear the pressures that will be put on us, then you may walk away now.”

He knew I couldn’t walk away. He knew we were trapped together.

“There will be pressures,” I said. “However, the purpose of our union is peace. Not for my personal gain.” I paused. “Nor yours.”

Bres smirked at my implications and our eyes met, each daring the other to turn away first. 

So, this was how it would be. I knew in that instant that I couldn’t let him catch me off guard; I would have to think carefully before I spoke and always remember that cunning motivation hid behind his words. I would protect our gifts, our knowledge of the elements that surrounded us, with my life. The Fomorians would use that information to take the earth, the source of our strength, from us. And as mine was to protect, I believed that Bres’s mission was to discover.

With sickening clarity, I understood why Father and Mother had chosen me. I, Brigid, was quiet and reserved, able to turn to stone. Stone is what they wanted to give to Bres and the Fomorians.

Bres studied my face as though looking for fractures in my expression. I would not give in to him. Instead of showing my trepidation, I smiled and touched a forelock of his black hair that escaped the tight leather band that kept its length pulled back. He grinned and brought my hand to his lips, biting lightly. His gesture sent a chill down my spine.

Where can your readers connect with you on the web?

You can find me on Facebook or Twitter.   
Feel free to visit my website Pagans, Saints, and Potatoes at http://sheilarlamb.com. Sometimes I blog.

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