Thursday, September 10, 2009

Author Interview: Lisa Ann Sandell

We've got another Lisa visiting! Today I welcome Lisa Ann Sandell to the Shady Glade. Lisa is the author of Song Of The Sparrow , The Weight of the Sky, and the newly released A Map Of The Known World. Here's my interview with Lisa, with my questions in bold:

Do you have a favorite word?

Sneaked!

Some of your books are written in free verse and some are regular prose. Is it hard to switch between the two writing styles?

Writing in free verse seems to come more naturally to me than does prose. I had written my first two books in verse, and it was definitely a challenge for me to write the latest one, A Map Of The Known World, in prose. But I don't think that switching back and forth was necessarily the hard part; rather: just stringing together words in such a sequence that they sound nice.

What’s your funniest author moment?

I think my funniest author moment has to be when I was filming the Scholastic Book Fair author video for Song Of The Sparrow. The producers took me to Belvedere Castle in the middle of Central Park at night in the middle of winter. It was freezing and the whole place was covered with ice and snow. It was beautiful and sort of dreamy--the sky turned a deep scarlet and the castle was lit up to feel very otherworldly. But the sky had turned red because another huge snowstorm was on the way. And so there I was walking in circles around the castle, trying to sound intelligent and talk about all things Arthurian, while freezing my butt off, trying not to slip and fall down, and waiting to get smacked with a giant snowstorm.

Sounds like some of my college projects in Idaho. You've also done a lot of travelling. What’s your favorite travel destination?

This is a tough question. I've been really lucky and gotten to travel to different parts of the world, and I've enjoyed almost all of the places I've visited, but they're all so spectacularly different, it's hard to pick a favorite. I loved Mongolia, for its vast emptiness and wild beauty. And I love Spain--it's so beautiful and rich and bright and hot and romantic. I guess those would be my two favorite destinations. Can I pick two?

Sure! I would have a hard time deciding between those as well. Well, I guess I would need to visit both first. :) You mention in your FAQs that your love of Arthurian legends was partly your inspiration for Song Of The Sparrow. Do you think you’re done with those characters, or do you think you’ll return to that mythology to write another book?

I don't think I'm done. I love the stories and the characters so much, and I got even more attached--especially to Arthur--as I wrote Song of the Sparrow. I would love to revisit them in another book or a poem....something.

That's great to hear! I love anything Arthurian. Any future projects you can give us a sneak peek of right now?

Well, I'm in the very early stages of something new right now. I don't want to say too much, because it's still kind of sketchy in my own head, but I will say it's another YA novel about a girl, but she's in a situation that is so totally different from anything I've ever written about before. I think it'll be very action- and adventure-packed, and something wholly new for me as a writer. I'm really excited about it, and I'll definitely post some information about it when I'm ready. Stay tuned....

We definitely will. It sounds exciting. Thanks for dropping by Lisa!

Thanks so much and happy anniversary and congratulations to The Shady Glade!

To find out more about Lisa Ann Sandell and her books, visit her at her website. Which, by the way, is pretty much one of the coolest author websites I've seen, so you should go check it out. And I'm not just saying that because I'm on her blog link list either. Though that's really cool anyway.

And here's a little surprise for those of you who read all the way to the bottom of this post. See? You need to stay on your toes if you want a chance at the good stuff! Lisa has very generously donated a signed ARC of A Map Of The Known World for me to give away. So leave me a comment if you want a chance at it.
+1 for comment (make sure you mention that you want to be entered)
+1 for linking to the contest (MUST post a direct link to count)

Rules: The contest is open until September 30th, 2009. This contest is open internationally! The winner will be chosen by a random number generator. Rules about claiming prizes can be found here.

43 comments:

Andrea said...

I would love to win A Map of the Known World!

+1 And I blogged about the contest here.


belle2211(at)yahoo(dot)com

Stephanie said...

I would like to enter!

srjeffrey79(a)yahoo(dot)com

Ellz said...

This may be a silly question, but, is the book all poetry? When I read that some were written in free verse and some in prose that is the impression I got.

Just in case it is, I love poetry! Please enter me for this arc giveaway.
zenfoxflowerATyahooDOTcom

Pam said...

I read all the way to the bottom and I'd love to win it!

melacan at hotmail dot com

BlackWolf said...

please count me in

darksiry(at)gmail.com

Anonymous said...

Please enter my name in your draw. Thanks.
wandanamgreb(at)gmail(dot)com

Cecelia said...

I've got a library copy of A Map of the Known World in my towering TBR pile...it would be great to own a copy for myself, though!

Thanks for hosting this contest!

Haley said...

I posted a link at my blog: (haleymathiot.blogspot.com)

and on Pulse It (haleyknitz)

haley mathiot at yahoo dot com

Lindsay Frost said...

I would LOVE to win this book!!
Thankyou!! :D:D:D

-Lindsay

lindsay15photo@gmail.com

Tarie Sabido said...

Hi! I would like to join this contest. Thank you. :D

peteredmundlucy7@yahoo.com

Cherie J said...

Would love to be entered in the contest for this book which sounds so good.

cherierj(at)yahoo(dot)com

Sam Eddmeiri said...

I'd LOVE to win a copy of "A Map of the Known World" It sounds pretty darn amazing.!

I'll blog about it here in a second;

http://seeddmeiri.blogspot.com/

and

http://pulseit.simonandschuster.com/_The-Shady-Glade/blog/695743/107649.html

right there(:

3 points?
seeddmeiri@gmail.com

Jenny N. said...

Thanks for the giveaway. I would love to win and read this book.

jen4777[at]hotmail.com

jfs11776 said...

I've been gone a few days and WOW...have you been busy! Great stuff...my Amazon cart is filling up fast! Keep up the great work

Ruth (Book Focus) said...

Wow, I can't believe all the international contests you're running! :) Could I enter this one too, please?

It sounds so unusual to me for a whole book to be written in free verse! I don't think I've ever read a non-poetry book like that.

Unless Paradise Lost counts, but I guess that's kind of poetry as well.

Bunny B said...

Count me in please!

bunnybx at gmail . com

Unknown said...

I want to win:)

bjhopper(at)me(dot)com

Unknown said...

Blogged

http://bridget3420.blogspot.com/2009/09/3rd-book-giveaway-list.html

Cynthia said...

good contest

cindysku07@aol.com

queen of entropy said...

Please enter me in this contest!

I followed your link to Amazon and read the description of the book. An excerpt from it included the line "I want to bargain for trinkets in an Arab market in some distant, dusty land."

I just wanted to say that my husband has done that! Um, but the distant, dusty land is Iraq, and I'm sure you can guess that he's not there on a vacation. Haggling over necklaces, oil lamps, and paintings was one of the highlights of his "trip."

Simply Stacie said...

Thanks for the chance.

simplystacieblog@gmail.com

Marie said...

Great interview! The book sounds wonderful!

marielay@gmail.com

Sheila Kishi said...

includ me, sounds cretate

Nina said...

I love to be entered in your contest.

Nina.happyendings@yahoo.co.uk

lag123 said...

Oh this sounds good too! Please enter me.

lag110@mchsi.com

Anita Yancey said...

I would like to be entered. Sounds interesting. Thanks!

ayancey(at)dishmail(dot)net

Sheere said...

Love the interview!
I would love to enter the contest!!

+1 comment

+1 tweet
http://twitter.com/Sheeredry/status/4324947669

sheere.dry@gmail.com

Rebecca N. said...

This sounds like a really good read! I would love to be entered to win! Thanks for the great giveaway!

+1 I tweeted!

http://twitter.com/Sparkleglow/status/4324995550

imsosweepy { at } gmail { dot } com

pepsivanilla said...

This book sounds so good, and I love the cover!

pepsivanilla14(at)hotmail(dot)com

Llehn said...

I would love to play please! Thanks.

lesly7ch(at)yahoo(dot)com

Brodie said...

Great interview! And I love the design of her website, it's gorgeous. I would love to win a copy of this book!

+1 comment
+1 Does sidebar count? - http://liliesveggiesandshootingstars.blogspot.com

Thank you!
hanging.by.a.moment_@hotmail.com

BlackWolf said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Stacey Brucale said...

I would love to be entered!

squiggles87(At)aol.com

~The Book Pixie said...

I own her book Song of the Sparrow and it was my first book in verse. It is also a favorite. She is such a great writer and I'd love to read A Map of the Known World. Count me in.

+1 Comment
+1 Sidebar: http://thebookpixie.blogspot.com/

~Briana
thebookpixie[at]yahoo[dot]com

Giuly said...

I would love to win A Map of the Known World! I would like to enter!

my email is: Giuly_4(at)hotmail(dot)com

thanks for the giveaway!

Ashley said...

I would love to win this book!
booksobsession(at)gmail(dot)com

+1 Posted on my sidebar at http://booksobsession.blogspot.com

Thanks!

Marie (MUM) said...

This book sounds really great and I'd love to win it.

+1 comment
+1 Tweeted: http://twitter.com/utah91960/status/4462075510

Marie
utah91960(at)yahoo(dot)com

Anonymous said...

I'm definitely in! Great contest!

+1 Link: http://bookbutterflyangel.wordpress.com/contests/

~Jacqueline aka "bookbutterfly"
lady.dashti(at)gmail(dot)com

Paradox said...

I have a friend who absolutely LOVES Song of the Sparrow. The next time I come across a copy I will GRAB it!

+1 Tweeted about the contest: http://twitter.com/ParadoxRevealed/status/4484567098

paradoxrevealed (at) aim (dot) com

Meghan said...

Please enter me. Thanks. =)
mdondero@sprynet.com

Melanie said...

I haven't read many books in prose or verse, so I don't really understand the difference. Sounds like a tough time at the Scholastic Book Fair. That would have been interesting!

L said...

I would absolutely love to win this book!
+1 sidebar:
http://hookedonyabooks.blogspot.com/

lovinfitch(at)aol(dot)com

Erica said...

I would absolutely love to be entered!

:) Erica
thebookcellar@wi.rr.com