Author Interview-- Maria V. Snyder!! (And GIVEAWAY!)

Welcome to Maria V. Snyder!!!  Maria was kind enough to drop by for a little Inside Out interview fun!

Britt- I know you wrote Inside Out the same way you wrote your other books, from reading other interviews, but was it hard to switch genres like that? From the fantasy to the dystopian/sci-fi?


Maria- It wasn’t hard to switch. All of my books have a certain amount of world building, and writing Inside Out was just a different set of rules and details I needed to keep track of. The biggest difference is I had to keep a calculator next to me when writing Inside Out – to make sure my metric was correct and keep track of the weeks and hours J My books focus on the characters so the setting and genre are just part of the background.

Britt- How do you handle working on more than one writing project at a time? Is it hard writing more than one series, not to mention the short stories? How do you switch gears?

Maria- I work on one book at a time, and I keep a notebook for each book that has all the information and details for that book written inside. The short stories I write between novels so I’m usually done thinking about that book before I start the short story. In order to switch gears, I’ll write notes about the story and just thinking about it for a couple days before sitting down and writing.

Britt- Do you ever get your different series mixed up? Details here and there that want to cross over? ;)

Maria- No. I think my notebooks really help when I’m writing. I forget details all the time, and have to go back to the book and re-read sections to make sure certain details are consistent throughout the series (like the names of horses and eye color).


Britt- If you were an Upper, what job would you choose?

Maria- Since I use to be a meteorologist before becoming a writer, I think I would be working in the Air Plant, making sure the air is clean enough for everyone to breathe.

Britt- If you were a scrub, what job would you be assigned?

Maria- There is a scrub quiz on the book’s website and I wrote the quiz. I just took it and answered honestly and it said I would be a Laundry Scrub – lol after doing six loads of wash yesterday, I can relate and it’s better than being a waste-handling scrub!

(LOL!  I can totally relate.  With a baby in the house I do at least.... 9? loads a week.  I took the quiz too, and I'd be a shepherd, which made me laugh.)
Britt- Is there a real Sheepy? Is there a story behind Sheepy?

Maria- Yes there is a real Sheepy and Mama Sheepy – you can see their pictures on my website.  You may have to scroll down a bit to see them. They are my son’s and have been his sleeping companions for many years. I think I included Sheepy because in Trella’s hard metal world there is nothing soft and fun. Riley is having a hard time getting her to trust him and she thinks Uppers are all spoiled and entitled. Sheepy is a way for Riley to reach Trella – not as an upper and scrub, but as two young adults. It’s his only toy from when he was younger and Trella slowly learns her biases about the Uppers might not be true. I’m a big believer in getting to know someone first before judging or categorizing them. Some people just don’t make a good first impression and some are shy.

Britt- What book that you were assigned to read in school impacted you the most?

Maria- To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee. The story really struck a chord with me and I loved the main protagonist, Scout. My son is reading it now for school and he’s surprised by how much I remember.

I’d like to thank you for inviting me on your blog! If anyone is interested in my books, but want to know more or would like to read a chapter of the book, they can go to my website and read the first chapter of all my books at: http://www.mariavsnyder.com/books.php I also have a bunch of FREE short stories they can read at: http://www.mariavsnyder.com/shortstories.php And there is a special website for Inside Out that has a video and lots of cool stuff: http://www.whatsinsideout.com/

Thank YOU, Maria!! 

Maria was also generous enough to offer a giveaway!  One lucky commenter will get a SIGNED COPY!!  WOOHOO!!  You have until Friday night-- I'll draw a name Saturday morning!!  (Leave an email address in your comment.)  USA and Canada only, please.  :)