Source: http://effortlesslyreading.com/2014/04/sip-slowly-an-interview-with-maria-v-synder/
Timestamp: 2019-04-22 14:34:57+00:00

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Kelly: A month or two ago, I was browsing the website for one of the local bookstores in NYC I frequent when I saw three words that made me gasp out loud: MARIA V. SNYDER.
That’s when I (finally!) found someone that shared my love for Maria and her books; this awesome person named Chiara. Together, we fangirled all over Maria, her books, and how we can’t wait for SHADOW STUDY until we finally decided on a *secret plan*…namely to ask her for an interview. I, myself, was ready to beg if I had to.
We proceeded to flail and cry and weep over many a thing (okay, let’s be honest it was mainly Valek), and then came the *drum roll please * SECRET PLAN. Of which I never truly thought would happen until we actually got a reply and a confirmation. I couldn’t believe it. Blogging life (and maybe life itself) was made.
Kelly + Chiara: So today, we’re interviewing Maria V. Snyder to learn a little bit more about herself and her books! Make sure to enter the giveaway for an ARC of STORM GLASS, courtesy of Maria V. Snyder herself! Isn’t she generous?
And so Yelena chooses to become a food taster. But the chief of security, leaving nothing to chance, deliberately feeds her Butterfly’s Dust — and only by appearing for her daily antidote will she delay an agonizing death from the poison.
When I was growing up in Philadelphia, I took gymnastic classes at the local Police Athletic League (a.k.a. PAL), and while I was pretty good on the mat, I once was “stuck” on the uneven parallel bars. I was too afraid to let go of the upper bar so I could swing down and dismount. Two of the coaches had to help me down! While gymnastics wasn’t quite my thing, I did use the experience when writing about Yelena’s acrobatic exploits in Poison Study.
2. Out of all your published novels, which story was the first to present itself to you as an author? How did you get the idea?
This comment led me to think about a person who was close enough to the center of power to witness important events, yet not be the Prince or Princess. I thought about a food taster and a scene jumped into my mind. I saw a woman tasting food that was most likely poisoned through the eyes of the King. He watched her with heartbreaking horror because he had fallen in love with her. That led me to wonder about this woman. Who was she? Why was she there? Why would a King fall in love with her? And Poison Study was born. Of course things changed as I worked on the story with the Commander and Valek assassinating the King.
And the reason I thought of a food taster is because of my husband. He works with chocolate and had to taste it as part of his job so I heard a lot about tasting and chocolate.
3. Did you have to do any research for Poison Study and if yes, what was the creepiest/weirdest/most gross thing you had to research about?
I did a great deal of research for Poison Study. Among the things I learned were how to properly taste foods—there’s a science behind it. I also learned how to pick a lock and took fencing classes. The grossest thing was learning all about the tongue and all its parts, including the taste buds. It was way more information that I really needed to know. Yuck!
The biggest reason was because of my readers! They weren’t content with the short stories I’ve written, and they’ve been begging me to write more about Yelena and Valek since Fire Study was published in 2008. The next reason was I finally had a great story idea. I wasn’t going to write more novels if I didn’t have a complex plot with conflict, tension, and interesting antagonists.
5. Are there any romantic moments between Yelena and Valek we can look forward to in Shadow Study?
Yes. Although I will admit they spend most of the book apart. In Night Study, book #5 they’ll be together more and there should be a number of romantic moments.
Meteorologist turned novelist, Maria’s been writing fantasy and science fiction since she was bored at work and needed something creative to do. A dozen novels and numerous short stories later, Maria’s learned a thing or three about writing. She’s been on the New York Times bestseller list, won a half-dozen awards, and has earned her MA degree in Writing from Seton Hill University where she’s been happily sharing her knowledge with the current crop of MFA students. She also enjoys creating new worlds where horses and swords rule, ’cause let’s face it, they’re cool, although she’s been known to trap her poor characters in a giant metal cube and let them figure out how to get out. Readers are welcome to check out her website for book excerpts, free short stories, maps, blog, and her schedule on her website.
This contest is for US OR CANADA ONLY. Sorry international people!
The giveaway will run until May 12, 2014.
Damn straight. Everyone should love this post because it’s AMAZING.
Great interview! I really want to pick up Poison Study now!
AND YES. PLEASE DO. YOU WON’T REGRET IT.
I borrowed poison study from the library some time ago, and I absolutely fell in love with Yelena and Valek! I definitely need to pick up copies of the books in the Studies series. I have yet to read any of her other books though, I would love to!
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You HAVE TO read Maria’s other books Ri – it is SO good.
I need to read her other series too, which I’ve heard so many great things about!
Whoops I need to keep up! Apparently Storm Glass is already out?? Going to read that right now!
Yep, Storm Glass is already out and so is her other series!
I read “Poison Study” years ago and I still love it. I’m glad to hear there will be more books (partly so I can read more Yelena and Valek interactions).
And YESS. I am SO excited for Shadow Study! :D!
Oh my goodness, I completely understand your levels of flail. There’s just something about the level of girl power in Maria V. Snyder’s books that gets me every time. I loved the “Healer” series and I can’t wait for more Yelena/Valek in these new additions to the “Study” series!
I still have to read the Healer series and will definitely read it once finals are over. I can’t wait!
OMG!!! My poor fangirl heart is freaking out right now!! An interview with Maria V. Snyder, My day/week/month has been made!!
Poison Study has been one of my favorite books for years now!! I can’t wait for Shadow Study to release!! It looks so amazing!!!! But why does it have to release in 2015, why not 2014!! Why!!
A Maria V. Snyder signing in NYC?!?! Now I really wished I lived there.
I LOVE MARIA V SNYDER!!!! I actually love her Inside Out series, because it was my first of her books. It was one of the first things I read after reading The Hunger Games series and has always been one of my favorite dystopian books.
Great interview and SO awesome that y’all got to do this together!
Excuse me? WHO DOESN’T KNOW ABOUT MARIA V. SNYDER? I’m literally on the brink of tears right now you lucky soul! I’m really pleased for you, being a fellow Snyder lover, I know exactly how you must have felt!
MORE MARIA V SNYDER FANS YEESSSSS. She’s such a good author, I can’t believe not many people know about her. I think we all need to get together and stage an intervention.
I was lucky enough to meet Maria V Snyder all the way back in 2010 or so when she was in Australia. It was my first book signing and the first time I’ve met an author, I believe (out of a total of 3). Very nerve wracking.
Yes, Maria did mention that she went to Australia back in 2010 when I asked her if she'll ever go there again because Chiara wants to meet her.
I’m blushing right now :) Thanks for all the LOVE and fangirling – it’s super sweet! I’m happy that everyone has enjoy my books. Kelly and Chiara – thanks for inviting me to do an interview with you!
There is no need to thank us! You deserve all this fangirling, and more.
And thank YOU for agreeing to do the interview – it means so much!
Great interview! I’ve read another series by Maria V Snyder that I’ve loved, but I haven’t read Poison Study, but I guess that I really need to read this one!
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YESS. YOU MUST READ POISON STUDY ASAP.
I can’t even say for sure how many times that I have read the Study series. It stays on my Kindle at all times so that I have it with me whenever I want to read it.
You need to start it Kate! I promise you, you won’t ever regret your choice!
This is awesome! I’m so glad for this interview!
I love Maria V. Snyder and all her books. She is such a great writer and so fan friendly.
I need to reread Poison Study! I can’t wait until summer break is here so I can just sit down all day and readdd.
Maria should publish audiobooks of all her books. I know people who don’t have time to read but listen to books during long commutes to work. They would love her books.
I would love to read her books they sound AMAZING!! :) I loved your interview with her. Thanks for the giveaway!!
Love the excerpt and the cover is gorgeous.
I am a HUGE fan of the Study series and all of Maria’s other series including the Touch of Power. Great interview. Cannot wait for the new books to come out. I mud have read Poison Study at least 6 times over, plus the audiobook. I got my book club girls into it too. I picked up Poison Study when it just came out. I loved it so much that I emailed Maria which I’ve never done after reading a book I enjoyed. Even more surprising is getting an email back from her! Keep up the great work!
I adore Maria V Snyder! I read Touch of Power first but then Poison Study the same week and went on a binge of as many Maria V. Snyder books as I could manage through both of those series and a few of the Storm Glass ones also.
I love this series!! I can’t believe there is going to be a fourth book!!
Hi Maria! I love your study series! I felt it was Christmas when you announced that there will be more three study books! And it will feature more on Valek! wooooohooooo!!!
The idea of a food taster is so creepy! How horrible would it be to know that each bite could kill you? And in this case if you run away you die by poison anyway? I haven’t started this series yet but I am definitely intrigued and want to find out how she lives with all this!
I have never read any of her books BUT I have looked at a few on Amazon and read all the reviews, and I am so excited to get my hands on my first book!
My goodness, I loooved Poison Study!! However, I have not yet read the following books. Thanks for this giveaway!
I haven’t read any of her books yet but I’ve been wanting to read Poison Study and Inside Out.
I love her Study series and Inside Out and Outside In. I can not wait to read more from her.
Do you mean to say there are actually people that have not heard of Maria V Snyder. You are so lucky you got to interact with her. I just recently completed Fire Study and the only thing holding me together is that there are 3 more books. I LOVED the Poison study series. I also own all of the Opal Cowan trilogy so I shall get on that bandwagon soon.

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