TQ: What would you say is your most interesting writing quirk?
Allison: I don’t know if it’s a quirk, so much as a massive tendency to procrastinate. And eat. I have to stop myself from eating myself into oblivion when I write – I suspect it’s more of a nervous habit than anything else. I also spontaneously break into dance around the midnight hour.
TQ: Who are some of your favorite writers? Who do you feel has influenced your writing?
Allison: I love high fantasy probably more than anything else, and I’d say a number of them have influenced not only my writing, but how I look at it. (There are a lot of writers I want to be when I grow up). Favorite writers include Jacqueline Carey, Kate Elliott, Lynn Flewelling, Charles de Lint, Robin Hobb and many others.
TQ: Are you a plotter or a panster?
Allison: Mostly a punster. I only tend to try to outline if I get stuck at a particular point, but it’s usually just to let my brain sort through it more than the need to write it down, if that makes any sense. The rest of the time I just have a vague idea of what I’d like to see happen in a particular chapter (i.e. they find a body under the bed. Madness ensues.), but then I sit back and see how the characters get there.
TQ: What inspired you to write A Brush of Darkness?
Allison: Partially a stubborn streak to see if I really *could* write a book, but part of the concept was inspired by a dream. I wanted to know more about the characters who made up that dream (and the scene in particular is in the book toward the end) and there we go.
TQ: What sort of research did you do for A Brush of Darkness?
Allison: Not much, honestly. I was very interested in Faerie folklore from a young age. I just drew on the parts I wanted to use and made up the rest.
TQ: Without giving anything away, what is/are your favorite scene(s) in the book?
Allison: Hmmm. Most of the scenes with Phin were a great deal of fun to write, but otherwise I’m rather partial to that last scene at the end with Abby searching for Brystion. Can’t get into any more detail I don’t think, but that’s really the pivotal scene for me.
TQ: How many books are planned for the Abby Sinclair series? Will there be any short stories or novellas set in Abby's world?
Allison: There are two more confirmed books so far and the current story arc should mostly wrap up within those three. After that it’s entirely up to the publisher. That being said, I’d love to do a spin off with some of the secondary characters – Melanie in particular. I also wouldn’t mind doing a short story or two as well. I’m hoping to maybe have a few “freebies” written and uploaded on my website at some point this year – maybe a one-shot on how Abby got her iPod enchanted, for example. Or quite possibly a few alternate scenes from BoD written from Brystion’s PoV. J
TQ: What's next?
Allison: Next after what? LOL. The draft for the second book was turned in a short while ago and I’m waiting on revisions for that. The third book is due in August, so I’m turning my attention to that right now, although I’ve got a SteamPunk fantasy thing that I’ve started which I’d obviously like to sell as well.
TQ: Thank you for joining us at The Qwillery
Allison: And thank you for having me!
Allison's Books
A Brush of Darkness
Abby Sinclair 1
(January 25, 2011)
Six months ago, Abby Sinclair was struggling to pick up the pieces of her shattered life. Now, she has an enchanted iPod, a miniature unicorn living in her underwear drawer, and a magical marketplace to manage. But despite her growing knowledge of the OtherWorld, Abby isn't at all prepared for Brystion, the dark, mysterious, and sexy-as- sin incubus searching for his sister, convinced Abby has the key to the succubus's whereabouts. Abby has enough problems without having this seductive shape-shifter literally invade her dreams to get information. But when her Faery boss and some of her friends vanish, as well, Abby and Brystion must form an uneasy alliance. As she is sucked deeper and deeper into this perilous world of faeries, angels, and daemons, Abby realizes her life is in as much danger as her heart—and there's no one she can trust to save her.
About Allison
She spends her days in Northern Virginia working as a cube grunt and her nights waiting on her kids and cats, punctuated by the occasional husbandly serenade. Sometimes she even manages to write. Mostly she just makes it up as she goes.
Allison's Links:
Website: http://www.heartofthedreaming.com/
Blog: http://mynfel.blogspot.com/
Group blog: http://word-whores.blogspot.com/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/apang
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/allison_pang
The Giveaway
THE RULES
What: One commenter will win a Mass Market Paperback copy of A Brush of Darkness.
How: Leave a comment telling The Qwillery what miniature mythological creature you would like to live in your underwear drawer? Please remember - if you don't answer the question your entry will not be counted.
You may receive additional entries by:
1) Being a Follower of The Qwillery.
2) Mentioning the giveaway on Facebook and/or Twitter. Even if you mention the giveaway on both, you will get only one additional entry. You get only one additional entry even if you mention the giveaway on Facebook and/or Twitter multiple times.
3) Mentioning the giveaway on your on blog or website. It must be your own blog or website; not a website that belongs to someone else or a site where giveaways, contests, etc. are posted.
There are a total of 4 entries you may receive: Comment (1 entry), Follower (+1 entry), Facebook and/or Twitter (+ 1 entry), and personal blog/website mention (+1 entry). This is subject to change again in the future for future giveaways.
Please leave links for Facebook, Twitter, or blog/website mentions. In addition please leave a way to contact you.
Who & When: The contest is open to all humans on the planet earth with a mailing address. Contest ends at 11:59pm US Eastern Time on Friday, February 18, 2011. Void where prohibited by law.
*Giveaway rules are subject to change.*
28 Comments on The Qwillery: Interview with Allison Pang and Giveaway - February 11, 2011
+1 for being a follower.
Thanks for the great giveaway I just love the cover and the concept for this book.
apk1princess(at)live(dot)com"
I'm also a follower.
(Side note- I live in NoVa too! Don't worry, I'm not crazy. Just fun to see that since it seems all the authors in the genre live in the pacific northwest.)
b(dot)cardone(at)hotmail(dot)com"
Thanks for the giveaway!!!
I am a follower.
artgiote at gmail dot com"
The book looks fantastic! horny unicorns! I totally want to read it.
thank you for putting a copy out there for us."
Great interview I cannot wait to read this book now. Thank you."
I'm a follower-BLHmistress
vampiremistress2010(at)gmail(dot)com"
www.twitter.com/smw2485
http://www.facebook.com/#!/profile.php?id=100001973092988
and i a gfc follower"
I'm a GFC follower
Skk25@aol.com"
I'd say a miniature dragon.
I am a follower
tweeted http://twitter.com/elaing8/status/36153060854079488
elaing8[at]netscape[dot]net"
What miniature mythological creature you would like to live in your underwear drawer?
a fairy... one that has lots and lots of magically skills to bring me happy things (like books, or maybe the cover girls abs. )
+1 for my wonderful comment ;)
+1 follow Blog (Kelly M)
+1 RT http://twitter.com/kelAmU
+1 pimping ya on my blog.. :)
http://qwillery.blogspot.com/"
+1 I'm a follower of your blog (kimbers10)!
+1 I'm tweeting this giveaway!
twitter.com/kdaze10
kimbers10[at]yahoo[dot]com"
meredithfl at gmail dot com
+1 old follower"
Barbed1951(at)aol(dot)com
GFC follower"
I have enough trouble already with things such as moths etc.
However if you can recommend some being being that would keep all my things, pressed, clean, sweet smelling and tidy, I sure could use them, so send them my way.
Thanks for the giveaway.
Carol T
buddytho {at} gmail DOT com
+1 I am a Follower via GFC"
follower
beatrixtroels @ gmx . com"
+1 Follower
jessbess2505[at]yahoo[dot]com"
+1 I'm a follower via GFC.
+1 Twitter: http://twitter.com/jmspettoli/status/36919438309588992
spettolij AT gmail DOT com"
+1 follower
+1 twitter - http://twitter.com/#!/DonnaS1/status/36990484752637953
+1 blog - http://donnasbloghome.blogspot.com/2011/02/qwillery-interview-with-allison-pang.html
bacchus76 at myself dot com"
I'm a follower
Tweet: http://twitter.com/#!/Entre_Libros/status/37053878474121216
Thanks!
entrelibros_blog at hotmail.com"
=1 follower"
iqb99@yahoo.com
blog follower"
+1 Blog follower
+1 Tweeted: http://twitter.com/#!/petit_sayumi/status/38387018379567105
Thanks for the giveaway! :D
sweet.sayumi@yahoo.com.br"
I'm a follower.
juliecookies(at)gmail.com"