You have been "Summoned' by Susan Leigh Noble

 

Today, I want to welcome Susan Leigh Noble to the blog. Susan's book, Summoned, is a fantasy novel, and she is awarding one random commenter on the tour a $15 Amazon GC, just for stopping by to visit. When you comment, please leave your email address so you can be contacted in case you are the lucky one.

Before we start the interview, lets learn a bit more about Susan.

Susan Leigh Noble has always loved dragons and magic so it is no wonder that she became an author of fantasy novels. As a cat lover, she also threw a telepathic cat into the mix for her The Elemental Series. The first two books, Summoned and Quietus, have already been released in e-book format. She is currently working on the third and final chapter of the trilogy.

When she isn’t writing, Susan is an active volunteer in her neighborhood and at her children’s schools. She lives with her husband, two children and three cats in Texas.

She loves to hear from readers:

susannoble@satx.rr.com

Check out her Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Susan-Leigh-Noble/200225396700412

Follow her on Twitter: @SusanLeighNoble

Author website: http://www.independentauthornetwork.com/susan-leigh-noble.html

And now, on with the show....er, interview.

The Writer

Where were you born and where do you call home?

I was born in Maine but coming from a military family we moved about four weeks after I was born. Currently, home is San Antonio, Texas. We have been here for about 10 years and have no plans to move.

What is the best thing about being a writer? The worst?

One of the best things is reading positive reviews from readers. And of course, one of the worst is getting a negative review. You just have to remember that not everyone is going to love your work. Not sure why that is because everyone should love my writing J but I know it will happen.

Do you recall how your interest in writing originated?

As a child I loved to read. I loved to immerse myself in the story. During the summer, we would take long trips in our RV, and I would spend my time making up stories in my head to pass the time. I began with writing poetry but then moved on to short stories and didn’t try a full-length novel until after college.    

What fuels you as an author to continue to write?

I love my characters. You really feel like you know these people - or as a fantasy writer - sometimes creatures. There is a certain “high” that I get when writing a particularly good scene. I write because I enjoy it, and I certainly hope others enjoy reading my novels.  

Where can we find out more about you and your work?

I don’t have my own website yet but do have a page on the Independent Author Network - http://www.independentauthornetwork.com/susan-leigh-noble.html and of course, an Author page on Amazon - http://amzn.com/e/B005HDMM4W.

Can you tell us a bit about what book(s) you have coming out next and what you’re working on now?

The sequel to Summoned, Quietus, was released at the end of 2011. I am currently finishing up Book 3 in “The Elemental” trilogy. After that I have an idea for a stand-alone fantasy novel. I have the storyline and a few of the characters already developed.  

The Person

When you get a chance to read, what books do you love to read?

I read fantasy of course but also like romance and mysteries.

What bores you as a reader?

I don’t like books with lots of description. I think the best example here is I remember reading one of the classics in high school, and the description of the landscape went on for pages. I know the author was trying to “paint the scene” but I much prefer action or dialogue to the long poetic descriptions.  

What do you think is romantic? What does the word Romance mean to you?

Romance is part of the intense feeling of being with the one you love. It doesn’t have to be a big display or giving of material things but could be gentle words or a loving touch. My husband bringing me flowers for no reason or even just holding my hand while watching a movie are romantic.  

You’ve been given the honor of naming a planet, what would you name it?

I would call it Alexandria, which actually is the name of the fantasy novel that I plan to write after I finish “The Elemental” trilogy.  

You’re having a dinner party, what five people would you invite?

Johnny Depp, Tom Hanks, Jon Bon Jovi, Whoopi Goldberg, Sarah Michelle Gellar

Random Questions

If you could create your own drink what would go in it and what would you call it?

I rarely drink alcohol so it would probably be a non-alcoholic drink and since I love strawberries, I think it is a given that it would contain those. Hmmm, maybe call it Strawberry Mist, which would be strawberry puree and a clear-type soda mixed together.    

You have been locked in a mall and told you can get anything you want and when they open in the morning you won’t have to pay a single cent. What stores would you hit? Better question how would you haul away all your loot?

Well, I love to spoil my kids, so I think for sure I would be hitting the toy store. And then of course, clothes for me or my daughter. Anything technology related - games, TVs, DVDs - would be for my husband. To haul away my loot, I think for the clothing, I would probably pack it up in a rolling suitcase or two. For the toys and other stuff, I would probably place them on a comforter or blanket that I could drag behind me.  

If you were in a rock band what would the name of your band be? What would your rocker name be?

The rock band would be called “Dragon’s Fire” - which, by the way, is a cuss word in my “The Elemental” trilogy. My rocker name would be Red Eye.

If you were a pirate what would your booty consist of? What would your pirate name be?

My pirate name would be Scarlet Rose, and I would probably hoard the usual golden coins and pretty trinkets and jewels.  

Let’s talk characters. If you could cast an actor/actress for your leads, who would they be? Do you have someone in mind as you write your characters? What kinds of character aids do you use in your writing process?

I really have no clue what actor or actress I would cast for my main characters. I didn’t base them on anyone in particular and I don’t watch a lot of movies to know which actor or actress would be right for these parts.

Lightning Round (Don’t think, just answer)

Vanilla or Chocolate? Vanilla

Steak or Sushi? Steak

Summer or Winter? Summer

Dog or Cat? Cat

Las Vegas luxury or Country Inn quaint? Las Vegas

Boots or Sandals? Sandals

Beach or Mountains? Beach

Beer or girly drink with umbrella? Girly drink

And finally, have you got a sneak peek excerpt from your current work in progress you can share with my readers and me?

Sure, I do. The following is a scene where Lina and Val (the two main characters) search for a renegade dragon (Kset) and are attacked by Dakos (small flying cat-like creatures with sharp claws). Zoot, Gre and Tre are all dragons and communicate telepathically.

In the distance, Val caught sight of a farm. Two barns were positioned behind the small white house. The empty brown fields were framed by tall trees. It was there by the forest that he caught sight of a red dragon.  

“Is that Kset or Tre by the trees?” Val asked Zoot.

Tre. Kset is by the barn.

Val was just about to ask which one when one of the barns moved. He then realized that it wasn’t a barn at all but the red dragon Kset. The dragon reared up as he spotted Zoot and Gre flying toward him. Half of a horse hung from his jaws. Blood covered his mouth and chest as he bellowed a warning to the approaching dragons. 

“Dakos,” Lina cried.

Val quickly turned and saw her pointing at the five small cat-like creatures flying with their claws extended toward them. Their faces were feline, but their eyes glowed red as their long thin wings beat rapidly bringing them closer. Zoot dove quickly to avoid them. Val gasped at the sudden move and grabbed the ridge in front of him. He reached for his sword. Before he could draw it, one of the Dakos swooped toward his head. He raised his arm, hitting the creature. Sharp claws grazed across his skin, leaving behind faint red lines. A second Dako veered toward him. Suddenly, a gust of wind blew it away. Whether the blast of wind came from Lina or Taylor, Val didn’t have time to wonder. He quickly pulled his sword, swinging as yet another Dako made a pass at him. The creature’s dark green hide glistened in the sunlight. It turned its red eyes toward him. It shrieked as it flew at him but easily darted out of the range of his swinging sword.       

One after another, the Dakos dove at Lina and Val. With every swing of his sword, the creatures darted away. One snagged Lina’s hair. She screamed as it pulled at her long honey-colored locks. Val caught the look of concentration on Lina’s face as she sent a vicious gust of wind at the beast. The creature tumbled through the air and in front of Zoot. The Dako shrieked as the black dragon opened his mouth. With one quick motion, Zoot chomped down and tore the creature in two.

Suddenly, Val felt claws hit the back of his head, digging slightly into his neck. He cried out as he turned. The Dako made another pass. He swung his sword. But again, the agile creature darted out of reach as another Dako came toward him. Val recalled that the nimble creatures liked to coordinate their attacks. In their first meeting with the Dakos, they had used that knowledge to predict the creatures’ next moves in order to plan their counterattacks. But that battle had been on the ground, and they had had room to maneuver. 

Val swung again at the Dako hovering over his head, his blade cutting into its wing as the creature was not quite nimble enough this time. Dark blood gushed from the wing as the creature went spinning toward the ground. But even as that one disappeared, another took its place. He swung his sword as the Dako before him burst into flames. The shrill cry of the creature pierced the air as it fell toward the ground. Again another of the agile creatures flew at him. Val leaned toward it, swinging his sword, just as another crashed into his back. Val pitched forward. His stomach tightened as he viewed the ground below them. As Lina grabbed his arm, Zoot twisted slightly in the air, trying to stop Val from sliding off.  Lina pulled on his arm, but she wasn’t strong enough, and he slipped from her grasp and fell.       

Blurb for Summoned:

Lina wants an ordinary life in the Grasslands of Zena. But she isn’t ordinary at all. At the age of four, she discovered she could start fires with a mere thought - an ability believed to have died out long ago. Cautioned by her telepathic cat, Tosh, she keeps this Elemental power a secret in fear of how the outside world would react. There is something else different about Lina - she feels a strange force compelling her to go north.

Before she can decide whether to give into this mysterious urge, she is kidnapped by gypsies and wakes in a foreign land. The desire to travel north is as strong as ever. When a strange raging fire prevents her return home, Lina realizes she must find out once and for all what or who is summoning her.

On her journey, she befriends an odd assortment of allies including the son of a High Council member, a thief, a former guardsman and a large sarcastic black dragon. Together they battle mystical creatures and unnatural forces, although such magic had ceased to exist over 800 years ago.  During each battle, Lina must use her innate Elemental power as she becomes more certain that someone is using magic against her. When she discovers the shocking truth, it will change her life in ways she could never imagine.

Excerpt from Summoned:

Excerpt # 1 - Stern Prison  

The cold surrounded her, chilling her bones. She woke slowly, rubbing the sand from her eyes. Only a thin sliver of light from the narrow window barely illuminated the small room. Lina sat up, her boots scraping across the stone floor. Where was she? She glanced around; her fingers reaching out to brush the damp stonewall. She wrinkled her nose at the musty odor. A scratching sound came from the far corner of the small room. She thought of rats and quickly pulled her feet back onto the narrow cot.

As her eyes grew accustomed to the darkness, she saw the door on the other side of the cell. She pushed the thoughts of rats out of her mind and stood up. The room spun. She grasped the wall. Her body felt weird as if it was not fully hers. She vaguely remembered a man knocking her to the ground and the sweet smell of the cloth over her face. She had a faint memory of being thrown on the back of a horse and being forced to drink something with a strange aftertaste.

She leaned against the wall until the room stopped moving and then hesitantly, Lina shuffled toward the door, her arms outstretched until she felt the cold metal door. She pushed and pulled at the handle but the door did not budge.

 “Tosh?” she called. Her voice echoed in the stone cell. She pounded on the door. “Val? Anyone?” She pounded on the door again but no sounds came from the other side. “Tosh? Tosh where are you?”

There was no answer. She glanced around the tiny room. It was bare save the cot. She edged away from the dark corner where she had heard the scratching. The lone window was too high for her to reach, and even if she could, it was barely a slit. Her only exit was the door. But even as she turned to consider it, she knew that her Elemental powers couldn’t help her. Maybe if the door had been wood, then she could burn her way out, but not metal. She would incinerate herself before the door would begin to melt. The walls were made of thick stone. There was nothing she could do. Wearily, she climbed back onto the cot. Cold and hungry, she curled into a ball. She wondered where her friends were and if they had survived the battle.

I want to thank Susan for coming by, and I hope everyone will come and sneak a peek at the interview. I an definitely getting this one. After all, dragons are near and dear to my heart-I've never read a story with dragons that I didn't love. Don't forget, comment and please leave your email address.