I am so excited to have Anne M. Pillsworth, author of the Redemption’s Heir series, here with me today! Anne’s joining us for the blog tour of the second book in the series, Fathomless. I have asked Anne a few questions, and I have them to share with you- and trust me, you want to read them- Anne has shared both humor and great information with us!! Here’s a bit of info about the book before we begin! 

Fathomless by Anne M. Pillsworth
Published by Tor Teen on October 27th 2015
Pages: 320

Sean dips even further into his magical destiny, but will blood prove thicker than the mysteries of Innsmouth's briny depths?

Sean Wyndham has tried to stay away from the lure of magic—the last time he tried to dabble in the dark studies, he inadvertently summoned a blood familiar, wreaking havoc on his town, and calling the attention of the Elder Gods. But now Sean has been offered the chance to study magic with a proper teacher, overseen by Helen Arkwright, a friend of Sean’s father and heir to ancient order of much power, who protects New England from that which lurks in the coastline’s unseen depths. But will learning theory be enough, when there is a much greater magical secret hidden in Helen’s vaulted library?

Accompanied by his best friend, Eddy, and their enigmatic new friend Daniel, Sean wades out deeper into mystical legend and shadow. With hints and secrets buried long in family lore, they turn to the suspicious Reverend Orne once more for assistance. But as Sean deepens his understanding of his power, a darkness is waking...

The Q&A

Q:  Hi Anne! Thank you so much for taking the time to do this Q&A with me!

A:  Thank you, Shannon!  I’ve been looking forward to it, especially that lightning round, lightning being my protagonist’s magical “element.”

 

Q:  Your Redemption’s Heir series sounds so, so good and I cannot wait to read it! (I mean, sending an email in 1895? I am absolutely going to need to read about this!) But I must admit, I am not very familiar with the Cthulhu Mythos, or H.P. Lovecraft in general (even after some pretty extensive googling). Could you share a little bit about what this shared fictional world entails?

A:  Sure!  Howard Phillips Lovecraft is one of Providence, Rhode Island’s favorite sons and is perhaps the most influential writer of dark fantasy in the 20th century.  Over a number of stories, he created what’s now called the Cthulhu (k-THOOL-who) Mythos, an invented mythology shared by thousands of writers worldwide. Cthulhu is one of the first Mythos characters, high priest of a dragon-winged, octopus-headed alien race who “filtered down” to Earth millions of years before humans evolved.  He “sleeps” in his temple sunk far below the Pacific, waiting until the stars are right for his return.

In fact, the basic premise of the mythos is that a number of alien races colonized the early Earth and may still be around or poised to come back.  Star-headed radiates called the Old Ones or Elder Things had their first and most enduring base in Antarctica and are believed to have created all Earth life through the biogenesis which was their principal technology.  The creatures they “invented” eventually evolved into the diverse species we know today.

Anyhow, the big dogs of the Mythos are the Outer Gods.  Their chieftain Azathoth started everything, sort of like a multi-universal Big Bang.  Yog-Sothoth, Keeper of the Gates and Keys, may be Time or Memory itself, while Shub-Niggurath fills the role of fertility deity.  My favorite Outer God is Nyarlathotep, Soul and Messenger of the Outer Gods, since he/she/it (in various avatars) will actually converse with us puny humans.

I make Nyarlathotep the Master of Magic and a constant seeker of new magicians, whose deeds will contribute to his/her/its own power.  My hero, Sean Wyndham, has recently attracted his attention, oops.

Q:  Have you always been a fan of this world? When did you first know that you wanted to write in it?

A:  I started reading Lovecraft in grade school, drawn to him by the lurid covers of paperbacks at a local bookstore.  I probably wrote my first Mythos-inspired story not long after.

Q:  I have to say that I have visited your website, and it made me chuckle. Several (dozen) times. Why did you decide to let Sean take the lead? It sounds like you two may have some creative differences. 🙂  What do you think Sean would have done to the site if he’d had free reign? I mean, at least he let you put up some of your own information, right?

A:  I think that Sean is me, despite our age and gender differences. Or perhaps he’s a me I’d like to be, except that us adults are expected to at least minimally control our impulses.  Our voices, I’m told, are very similar, and I think our creative styles mesh nicely.  Though I do have to keep up that pretense of being the grown-up, serious one, don’t you know.  For example, I won’t let Sean put up any spells for people to try at home.  Lawsuits aren’t my favorite thing.

Q:  I am so glad that you got to show Sean how hard writing was (see Anne’s website for Sean’s struggles with his Beta reader!) What has been the hardest part for you? And in turn, what has been the best part of it?

A:  Alas, since his BFF Edna (Eddy) Rosenbaum criticized his story, Sean has been sulking and hasn’t added to it.  Well, that’s no way to become a writer, because criticism (constructive and less-constructive and downright snarky) is all part of the game.  Unless, of course, you never show your stuff to anyone.  And even then, you need to develop an internal critic who is neither too harsh nor too lenient.  Now THAT’S hard.

The best part of writing is getting to tell all the stories you most want to read.

Q:  Would you have answered the ad like Sean did? (I confess, I would not, though I would have probably tried to make someone else do it so I could see what was happening!)

A:  Would I answer an ad to become a magical apprentice?  Well, if I thought it was for real, probably yes.  At least I’d want to, big-time.  I’m afraid, however, that I’d be like Eddy and write wizard Redemption Orne off as one more Internet weirdo, poised to stalk anyone who paid him attention.

I don’t know anyone else who’d answer the ad, so I invented Sean to do it for me!

 So, to wrap up, let’s do a lightning round!

Go-to beverage?  AMERICANOS OR COKE ZERO!
Favorite movie?  LORD OF THE RINGS.  AND AMADEUS. AND FIRTH/EHLE PRIDE AND PREJUDICE (okay, so it’s a mini-series…)

Best book you have read this year?  UPDRAFT, by FRAN WILDE.

Do you think you could survive the zombie apocalypse? ABSOLUTELY, BECAUSE I WILL HAVE BEEN THE ONE ENGINEERING IT, MUHAHAHAHA.

Dream vacation?  THE CITY OF THE OLD ONES IN ANTARTICA.  OR A GARDEN TOUR OF THE BRITISH ISLES, PLUS ALL THE HAUNTED CASTLES.

A genie stops by to grant you three wishes. And GO!  TO MAKE ENOUGH MONEY WRITING TO:  (1)  QUIT THE DAY JOB; (2) OPEN A FREE RETREAT FOR COOL WRITERS AND ARTISTS ON CAPE COD; (3) UM, THAT ELUSIVE WORLD PEACE THING, IF ONLY GENIE-MONEY COULD BUY IT.

Thanks so much again, Anne! Congratulations on the release of book two, and I really appreciate you taking the time to chat!

Thanks, Shannon, it’s been lots of fun!  Now, where’d that genie go?

(Ah, if I only knew, Anne!)

One winner will receive a hardcover, finished copy of Fathomless provided by the publisher!! U.S. and Canada only.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

So, are you familiar with the world of H.P. Lovecraft? And seriously, how fun is Anne?