Ravenne's Pi

I met Nancy Holzner in class at Writers' Village University online. Actually, I met her in revision. At the time Nancy was working on the draft of Deadtown (release date December 29, 2009) and was posting her progress daily in a novel writing classroom.  She was the sole occupant of the classroom, just a name posted beside a "progress report". At her invitation, I took a "cyber" seat and joined her. While I struggled through my first draft of my own novel, Nancy steadily progressed through the revision of Deadtown.  It is a time I remember with great appreciation because, even then, I knew Nancy was going on to greater things. The opportunity to work beside an author with such dedication and talent is something I will always treasure.  Working side by side, posting our daily success and frustration, we both completed our manuscripts.  When we were finished, Nancy went on to pursue the next process of getting her manuscript published and I went on to take additional classes in revision.

A year later, I was thrilled to learn that Deadtown had been accepted for publication and was due out in December of 2009.  Of course, I immediately contacted Nancy and asked whether she'd answer a few questions about herself and her book. She was kind enough to take time out of her writing schedule and answer my questions.  I'll be breaking up the interview into a series of posts on my blog until her book makes its debut on December 29, 2009.

Interview with Nancy Holzner on her new novel Deadtown

First, I'd like to thank Nancy Holzner for taking time out of her busy schedule to answer my questions.  It's a pleasure to be able to discuss the work of a writer that I've come to know as one of the most dedicated and generous authors I've had fortune of meeting on my own creative journey.

We'll  begin with a traditional question. Nancy, where are you from and where were you born?

I grew up in the Berkshires in western Massachusetts.  Now, I live in Ithaca, a college town in central New York State.  In between, I've lived in a bunch of other places, including Goston, London, and Auburn, Alabama (where I was an assistant professor at the university).

Many of today's writers come from a diversity of educational experiences.  What is your educational background?

I majored in English in college, and then went on to earn a masters and a PhD in English, as well.  My specialty was medieval English literature, and my doctorial dissertation was on Old and Middle English saints' lives (which tell some pretty wild stories).

I can see your interest in literature is a lifetime interest.  How did you get started writing?

I loved to write when I was a kid—poems,plays,stories, all kinds of stuff.  In college and grad school, I shifted my focus to academic writing.  But I've always been a reader, and about seven or eight years ago I got the urge to start writing down stories, myself.  So I took an online class and then joined an on line writers' group and spent the next several years learning how to write. 

You're certainly are no stranger to the publishing world, having cowritten ten nonfiction books and as well as your mystery novel, Peace, Love, and Murder (released in August of 2009). As a multi-talented writer who writes fiction and nonfiction, what was your inspiration for Deadtown?

I don't think the novel had a single inspiration.  I remember reading the blog of an agent or editor who complained about the phrase "so-and-so wrestles with his own personal demons," wondering who besides you would wrestle with your personal demons.  The idea of a demon slayer who specializes in killing personal demons sounded like fun.  But that was just a seed.  Other inspirations include the "Mabinogi" (medieval Welsh legends), my experiences  living in Boston, the whole genre of urban fantasy, which I'd read avidly for years—it was fun to do my take on how society would respond if it was forced to accept monsters as real.

Deadtown is an urban fantasy. Did you find writing this genre harder to write than mystery or nonfiction?

Not really.  All kinds of writing have their own challenges.

What is unique about Deadtown?

I think the way I use the mythology behind the story, drawn from Maginogi, puts my own spin on the story.

Do you have any favorite moments in the book?

Lots of them!  It's honestly impossible to pick just one.  The first chapter was a lot of fun to write, but so were many other scenes.  There were a couple of scenes that surprised me in the writing—that is, I expected one thing to happen but in the writing events took an unexpected turn.  Thos scenes are always fun (but I can't say much about them without divulging the spoilers.)

Is there a sequel in the works?

Yes, the sequel is currently with my editor.  In it, Vicky has to face the consequences of choices she made in the first book.  She returns to Wales to step up her training with her Aunt Mab and encounters a new nemesis there.

The release date for Deadtown is December 29, 2009.  Where can readers order your book?

Deadtown will be available in major bookstores, as well as on retail websites such as Amazon, Powells, Barnes and Noble, Borders and so on.  It'll also be available in several ebook formats, including for the Kindle.

Do you have a website for readers interested in learning more about you and your work?

www.nancyholzner.com

And here are some blurbs from other urban fantasy authors:

“DEADTOWN is full of dangerous magic and populated with characters so realistic, they almost jump off the page. I loved this book. Nancy Holzner is a master of characterization and I’ll be buying her next book the moment it hits the shelf.”

Ilona Andrews, New York Times bestselling author of MAGIC BLEEDS

“DEADTOWN is fresh and funny, with a great new take on zombies.”

Karen Chance, New York Times bestselling author of DEATH’S MISTRESS

*Next installment: Nancy Holzner discusses her writing process.