It's Finally Friday! (7): Interview with Megan Curd + Giveaway!

Hey There!
This week I have the fantastic Indie author Megan Curd, who not only is talking about her book Steel Lily but is also talking about her favorite books, hobbies and more! Continue reading for her interview, and also a bonus giveaway! :D 

What is your favorite book of all time? 

I don’t know if I could pick just one! Can I say the entire Harry Potter series? I think that’s as close to one favorite book as I could get, because I LOVE J.K. Rowling! I would probably hyperventilate and pass out if I ever had an opportunity to meet her, lol.

What was your inspiration to write your book?

Honestly? It was during the holidays and people on the news kept talking about nuclear bombs, about global warming, about every way our world was going to pot (because Christmas is the perfect time to talk about gloom and doom, right?) and I started to wonder what our world would look like if those things played out. What if we didn't take care of our resources? What if there were a nuclear war? How would we deal? How would we survive? And in my head this idea began to manifest until I couldn't ignore it anymore. That’s how the book started developing in my mind. Yes, my brain is a scary pace. :)

What is one book you wish, you had written? 

I don’t wish I had written the Harry Potter series, but I have LOVED reading some of the character development pages that Rowling has put out on the internet. I mean, have you read her backstory on Professor McGonagal? The woman has the entire story of her life! Where she came from, why she’s a professor, what her parents did, etc. It’s amazingly detailed. I would LOVE to have been a fly on the wall to watch Rowling develop her characters, to see how she set up her books. I would love to see her process, because I think she’s a master at making people care about every single character in her books. I would love to be able to harness even a tiny smidgen of that kind of talent. The woman is a genius.

 Why did you start writing books for young adults? And why this genre? 

YA is what came natural to me. The emotions, the raw experiences that come with being a teen…it all just felt natural to write about. There’s so much potential when you write YA. And genre-wise, fantasy/paranormal/dystopian/anything that’s got a little crazy in it is what I love to read. I’d never be able to write a contemporary book, because for me, werewolves or faeries or a giant meteor threatening to take out life as we know it would somehow worm its way in. :)

 What makes your book so different from all the books out there? 

I feel like every book has its merit! But for Steel Lily, I haven’t seen a dystopian/steampunk mash up before…at least, I haven’t read one. And I’m hoping this is a book that stands up to that challenge, but that’s up to my readers. I hope you all enjoy the concept!

  Are you currently working on anything new? If so can we get a clue on what it is ;D?  

I’m actually working on the sequel to Steel Lily. It’s titled Iron Pendulum, and I’m hoping to release it in December if at all possible. :)

Who was your favorite character in the whole story? And why? 

Hmm, that’s tough. Probably Sari or Jaxon, depending on the day. :) Sari is such a spitfire to write, and she’s getting more face time in book two. I really want to dig into her character more as the series progresses. Jaxon, obviously, is way too much fun to write. He’s vivid and has so many different levels. I’m thinking I may have to write a novella from his POV…but we’ll have to see. ;)

Any tips or tricks for aspiring writers? 

No tricks…but the honest truth that you have to write, even when you don’t feel like it. You have to hone your craft, seek out others that have been at it longer than you have, and learn from them. Find a critique group that will rip your book to shreds in a constructive manner, then help you build it back up into something even better than before. Take criticism gracefully and learn from it to write a better book. Always be willing to adapt, grow, and change to become a stronger writer. And never, ever give up. EVER. Dedication is half the battle.

What is your writing atmosphere like? 

At home, I have a room that I share with my husband as our dual office. My portion has a desk littered with pens, sharpies, and Starbucks mugs (surprise, surprise!) I love it. However, most of my actual writing happens in local cafes. We live in Kentucky, and the two I love the most are the Cairn in Winchester and Common Grounds in Lexington. They’re both very chill atmospheres. They serve great food, have great coffee, and they just keep that local feel that I really enjoy.

Speed Round! 

Favorite food ?

Tough, but right now I’d say sushi (cooked sushi…the raw still makes me kind of squidgy lol) and I love crab legs.

If you were stranded on an island what 5 things would you take? 

Well I wouldn’t want to make my family stranded on an island, but at the same time I want them! Ha! So if I didn’t have my family as an option, the 5 would be my Bible, clean water, food, my phone (with endless battery supply…because I need my music/games/kindle app/etc.), and a clean pair of undies! One must always be ready to be saved in a clean pair of underwear. :-P 

Turtle or Fish? 

Well my son played with a turtle today, so let’s go turtle. But I love to fish…I’m trying to convince my husband to take me ice-fishing! :)

Reading or Writing ? 

Depends, but usually writing!

Print Books or E-books? 

E-Books. I know, I’m weird, but I LOVE having my entire collection in one place, without the ridiculous backache from carrying a zillion books around!

Favorite Book Store? 

Barnes & Noble in the Greene in Dayton, Ohio. They have a frozen yogurt shop inside and a MASSIVE YA section. That’s a win/win.

Favorite City in the world? 

Quito, Ecuador. I’ve spent about 4 months there in the span of 3 trips, and I miss that city so very much. I miss the people, and I miss the ministry that my mentors, Jon & Karen Lambert, are doing. I went to college to be a missionary, and I interned there in college, along with going on a couple work camps. If I could move there, I would. Everything about that city and the people there have stolen my heart. (Although, I will give a close second to Rome, Italy. The culture there is phenomenal…even if my friend and I got booted out of the Sistine Chapel after I tried to take a picture…but alas, that’s a story for another day!) :)

About Megan

Megan Curd is a graduate of Northwestern College in St. Paul, Minnesota. While having always enjoyed reading any books she could get her hands on, Megan didn’t begin writing until a friend encouraged her to do so while in college.

When not writing, Megan enjoys spending time with her family and friends. Traveling and snowboarding are hobbies she loves, and doesn’t turn down the opportunity to play xBox with her brother and friends when it presents itself.
Megan currently resides in Kentucky with her husband, son, and Great Dane named Dozer.

About Steel Lily

AVERY PIKE is a commodity. No, more than a commodity. Her existence is guarded at all costs.
She’s a water Elementalist, the strongest of her dwindling kind. She creates steam to provide energy to fuel Dome Four: the only thing standing between humanity and an earth ravaged by World War III. No steam, no Dome. No Dome, no life.
Or so she thinks.
That is, until a mysterious man offers her a way out of having to donate steam. A way to escape the corrupt government of Dome Four. While the offer seems too good to be true, Avery is intrigued. But when she arrives to her new home, she realizes the grass isn’t any less dead on this side of the fence. Instead, the lies are just hidden better.
…Which means digging deeper.
When Avery enlists the help of her friends to uncover the truth, she learns that while some secrets are better left concealed, humankind was never meant to live in a cage. And when you can control the most sought after resource, you can learn to control anything…including the fate of your world. 

Giveaway

One random commenter will get an e-book copy of Steel Lily! 

It's simple!

1) Just for commenting you get an entry

2) If you follow Megan on Twitter you get a bonus entry (+1) @MeganCurd

3) for tweeting about the giveaway you get a bonus entry (+1) tweet with @heyitsfishy!

So comment away!!