Blog Tour: A Q&A with Maria V Snyder!

Today I am very pleased to welcome Maria V Snyder to the blog! Six years after her incredible Study trilogy finished, Maria has answered the calls of her readers and brought Yelena and Valek back for us!

1. What made you return to Yelena and Valek after six years?

MVS: My readers!  They’ve been clamouring for more stories with Yelena and Valek and were not content with the short stories I wrote after Fire Study.  However, I wasn’t just going to write just anything about them, I needed a good idea and I wanted to explore Valek’s history more in depth.  Then one day, I sparked on an idea and my editor liked it so when I finished my Healer series, I started writing Shadow Study.

2. Your books are set in a rich, complex world. Which are your favourite fantasy worlds to read?

MVS: I really like the Edge series of books by Ilona Andrews, and I enjoyed all of Anne McCaffrey’s Dragonrider books – would love to be a dragonrider someday ;)  I also really loved the world created by Gail Carriger in her Parasol Protectorate series.  Soulless is the first book.

3. If you had to choose, would you be a poison taster like Yelena, a Healer like Avry or a magician like Opal?

MVS: This one is easy!  I’d be a healer like Avry.  In fact, that’s what drew me to the character. Her ability to “take on” another’s illness or injury really appeals to me as a mother. When my kids are sick or hurting, I just wanted to take all the pain away.

Quick-fire round!

4. Favourite word?

MVS: Ruckus.  Love this – it’s perfect for when Ari and Janco are getting in trouble and making a ruckus!

5. Obsession of the moment?

MVS: Skiing.  I love to ski and the weather has been good this winter so any chance I can get, I’m out on the slopes no matter how cold it is.  You’d have to be obsessed in order to go out when the wind chill is -30F (-34C)!

6. Current read?

MVS: In the Woods, by Tana French – it’s a mystery and I’m enjoying it very much!

Thank you so much, Maria! Be sure to check out the rest of the blog tour and pick up a copy of Shadow Study – it’s out now from MiraINK!

Sophie