Paranormal/Fantasy author Brandice Snowden is here to spend some time with us! Winner of the Nano-Virtuosos 2013 Competition, her first book, Demon's Veil, is out on Amazon. Before you check it out, let's get to know her a little better ...
Brandice Snowden grew up around
storytellers. Tall tales, family curses,
ghosts and goblins, stories of unending love (message her about it sometime,
it’s an interesting story). Soon even
the numerous stories surrounding her weren’t enough. So she started creating her own. She has been
an artist, teacher, military wife, mother and now novelist. She spends her free time indulging in her
fantastical side, learning first hand skills her characters use in her books. She has a passion for history and mythology
and uses much of what she has learned to create new worlds. Brandice currently
resides on the Texas/Oklahoma border with the love of her life and her
children, of both two legged and four legged variety.
Brandice, welcome, talk to us a bit about your journey in
writing. What made you decide to write
and eventually try to publish?
I have
always created in one form or another entire life. I spent much of that creative energy telling
stories. Mostly it was short stories
until one night I had a nightmare that just wouldn’t leave me; so I wrote it
down. My friends and family kept telling
me that the story would make a great novel and I should write it. I decided to give NaNoWriMo a try last
November and that short story became the start of my novel.
The publishing
came into play in the form of a contest, which I won. I realized through that experience that this
was what I had been missing. Despite the
hardship of finding time and the difficulties of the publishing process, I
wanted and needed to continue writing.
We know what your bio says.
Tell us one thing about yourself that you think might surprise us.
I actually
know how to use a sword. Through the
Society for Creative Anachronism, I have been taught the art of a rapier.
Do you remember what it was like, the feeling you had when you
learned your first book was out there in the world?
I do. It was a rush and at times it felt like I was
watching someone else accomplish this and not me.
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| I love this cover! - Aaron |
The first book of your “Veil Prophecy” series is out, “Demon’s
Veil”. Please tell us a bit about the
concept of this series and how it came about.
I love
mythology and I always wondered what the world might be like if myth was real
and the majority of the world just didn’t know it. The biggest issue was, how could such amazing
beings stay hidden for so long. That is
why I came up with the idea of the Earth being a dimensional nexus between many
different worlds and their being barriers or “veils” over the portals of these
worlds. We know that the veils open
sometimes, otherwise we wouldn’t have the legends we do; and the series
basically follows a group that has to protect our world as these veils open.
Did you find it a challenge combining something from a world
we know (special ops) with the paranormal?
Not
really…coming from a military family I have heard a lot of crazy stories about
what they have experienced in battle.
You would be surprised how many soldiers already have a strong belief in
the paranormal in real life. So it
wasn’t really a crazy leap to combine the two.
If there is one character you’ve written or are writing that
you would really like people to meet, who would it be?
It’s not in
this series, but I have a shape shifting dragon named Ladon that I am currently
writing that I think a lot of people would love. He’s a great mix of tough warrior and
sarcastic softy at heart.
What do you have coming up next in the sequel?
In the
sequel we meet death himself, also known as Mort. We get a clearer picture of who Mr. Raziel is
and what his agenda is as well.
What other ideas do you have bouncing around in your head?
Well I have
already told you about my shape shifting dragon, but I have a few more things I
am working on as well. I have an epic
fantasy based on the legends of King Arthur but set in a post-apocalyptic
future where magic is reawakening into our world. I have also been jotting down notes for a
story involving alien werewolves.
What about being published and the book industry in general
has most surprised you?
I would
have to say how many different paths to publishing there actually are. I have also learned that in the beginning you
may think you want one path until you are actually walking it. The whole thing is a learning process and you
have to find the niche that fits you best as an author.
What other things besides writing do you have going on that
keep you busy?
Mostly
being a mom; but I make sure that I keep my life balanced. My hobbies include the sword fighting as
previously mentioned; but I also paint, sing, go on fossil hunts with the
family, and I just recently started belly dancing classes.
To close the interview, I have ten questions for you, plus
one. Here they go!
- What is your favorite word? indubitably
- What is your least favorite word? Axe (as in “can I axe you a question?”)
- What turns you on? Intelligence and creativity
- What turns you off? Bigotry and intolerance
- What sound or noise do you love? Rain on the roof
- What sound or noise do you hate? artillery
- What is your favorite curse word? Sh*t
- What profession other than your own would you like to attempt? Pastry chef
- What profession would you not like to do? Office drone
- If heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the pearly gates? “Hey, sorry about the whole winning the lottery thing. Acquisitions lost the paperwork and by the time they found it….well.”
- What question have you never been asked, that you wish someone would ask you? “What does the little voice in your head actually sound like?” Just so you know his name is Velvet Blue and he is *Fabulous* and a very funny drunk.
Brandice, thanks so much for spending time with us. Can you let us know where to follow you, and
where we can go to purchase your work?
Facebook:
Twitter:
I can be found on Amazon.
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Rudy and Trish are the main characters in Patricia and my published short stories in the "Evernight: Romance in a World of Darkness" anthologies. You can get to know them as well as get 23 other great stories! Here's where you can find them:
More news will be coming soon. Keep up with our books past, present, and future on our Book Page.
Ah, a kindred spirit! The voices in my head are also Fabulous, but range from hilarious to maudlin drunks. (There are a lot of them.)
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